By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER

marcie@bradfordera.com

In response to popular demand, Duke Center writer Bill Robertson has released a second edition of his work ‘The Bucktails’ Last Call.’

The book, originally released in 2007 by Robertson and co-author David Rimer, had gone out of print when the print-on-demand publishing company Infinity Publishing went out of business.

It’s a continuation of a story about two men who served in the Bucktails, the Civil War regiment formed locally.

With the first edition, the cover showed a photo of reenactors. However, in order to make the covers tell the same story throughout the series, the author turned to artist David Cox to redesign the cover, carrying through images of the two men the stories are about — Bucky Culp and Jimmy Jewett.

Robertson said the book prior to this one, called ‘Hayfoot, Strawfoot,’ ‘is now in its third edition. The second all sold out.’

Why do these books sell so well? The storyline ‘has good Christian values, that’s what we try to push in these books,’ the author said.

With this book, ‘Last Call,’ ‘there’s a Christian theme that runs through it. Jimmy is a preacher’s son and is trying to keep the hard-fighting, hard-drinking guys in line.

Sarah Pfaff, a daughter of German immigrants who is the only member of her family to speak English, met Bucky on the Antietam battlefield. And he deserted the army to marry her.

‘Bucky marries a farm girl,’ Robertson said. ‘He ends up getting saved to spend eternity with his new wife. ‘This book is as much a romance as it is a war book,’ Robertson said.

‘There’s some real tearful moments in this book.’

The author explained this story begins right after the Battle of Gettysburg. ‘The Union Army shadows General Lee’s Army, but both are so beat up they can’t attack one another.’

For historical accuracy, Robertson turned to a ‘History of the Bucktails’ that told of the day-to-day lives of the soldiers. And then he added the fictional elements.

The story sees the protagonists face the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and Bethesda Church.

‘Then they mustered out of the army,’ Robertson said. ‘While he was in the army, Bucky’s new son was born.’

Bucktails… page A-8

Writer Bill Robertson of Duke Center has released a second edition of his work “The Bucktails’ Last Call.”

Cover image courtesy of Bill Robertson The author said he owes gratitude to David Rimer, who did the research and dug up historical anecdotes to be added to the plotline.

“We added in some information from the McKean Miner, the newspaper at the time,” Robertson said. “I actually got those papers and we could tell what the residents of Smethport were

thinking.” A prolific author, Robertson said he’s going to slow down a bit. One of the things he has to do is re-release the next book in the series, “Bucktails Perils on the Peninsula.” And after that, it will be back to a bit more of what we’ve come to expect — “Ghosts Revisited Nine.”

Referring to the Bucktails books, the author said, “The only reason I put these back out is because I have a big demand for them. When I do a signing, people ask ‘What happened to the other books? I want them.’” He’s hopeful that those people will show up in droves for the chance to continue with the story of the Bucktails.

“I haven’t done any book signings with them yet,” Robertson said. “(Fans) have even asked about the ‘Perils on the Peninsula.’ I probably won’t get to do that one until the fall.’” His next book signing appearance will be at the Franklinville, N.Y., Maple Fest at the end of the month.