The murder of a Union payroll officer by the West-Kimbrell outlaw gang, or clan, at the old springs near Goldonna, Louisiana, is an enduring local tradition. It is commemorated in the name of the church that was built close to the site in the late nineteenth century and is still in use today, the Yankee Springs Methodist Church. Richard Briley III, late Winn Parish historian and author of Nightriders, Inside Story of the West-Kimbrell Clan, gives the name and rank of the officer as Colonel Henry Butts, along with many details of the killing and its aftermath gleaned from oral accounts from old-timers in the area. Official documents supporting the stories are scant to nonexistent, however. There is a single reference to a Lieutenant Butts killed in the Natchitoches military district during the Reconstruction period, but without any indication of where, how, or why. Numerous researchers have attempted to make the connection but have failed. The legend does seem valid; there was apparently a payroll officer killed at the spring. Lacking proof of his identity, however, and having every intention of constructing a fictional background for him for Southern Rapture, it seemed best to give this fallen soldier a fictional name as well.
The West-Kimbrell outlaw gang operated under the confused and near-lawless conditions of the Reconstruction era much as indicated. Their depredations were ended in the spring of 1876 by a vigilante group made up of local citizens who rounded up and disposed of the leaders and known members by firing squad and hangman’s noose. There was, to my knowledge, no involvement of the Knights of the White Camellia, a well-known organization of night riders of the time.
The Reconstruction period in Louisiana was more corrupt, venal, and violent than is possible to show within the scope of a single romance novel. It lasted for eleven long years, until 1876, when President Grant, fearing another civil war on top of other political disasters, finally lifted the military occupation. There was no rider of the night called the Thorn to right the wrongs and soothe the injustices that were perpetrated. In the best tradition of storytellers and their heroes from D’Artagnan to Luke Skywalker, I feel there should have been.
The way of life, attitudes, and regional characteristics depicted in Southern Rapture are a part of my heritage. This, more than mythical mansions like Greek temples and fancy dress balls lighted by thousands of candles, is my South. It was, and still is, a place of hard work close to the earth, cherished family relationships, pride, and the joy of living. The view of the time period covered faithfully reflects what I have been taught over the years and what I have discovered for myself. Before you call it biased, remember that victors write the history books, and consider that among my ancestors I number not only three Confederate soldiers but also a Union sympathizer and a Yankee officer — and the lady who after being widowed during the war took that same Yankee officer as her second husband.
When Reconstruction was finally over, there appeared in the New Orleans Daily Picayune an exultant and prophetic editorial that ended: “The years may come and go, the woods decay and wither, but father shall hand the story down to son, how she struggled, suffered, and triumphed, poor, proud, heroic — Louisiana.”
The writer failed to acknowledge that mothers could hand the tale down to daughters. It was an oversight. Southern Rapture is, in a sense, a remedy.
Jennifer Blake
Sweet Brier
Quitman, Louisiana
About the Author
Since publishing her first book at age twenty-seven, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Blake has gone on to write over sixty-five historical and contemporary novels in multiple genres. She brings the story-telling power and seductive passion of the South to her stories, reflecting her eighth-generation Louisiana heritage. Jennifer lives with her husband in northern Louisiana.
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To find out more about Jennifer’s books, see the Steel Magnolia Press website at www.steelmagnoliapress.com.
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Jennifer would love to hear from you! Other places to connect with her:
Website: www.JenniferBlake.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.blake.3914
Twitter: @JenniferBlake01
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If you enjoyed this work, please leave a review to help other readers decide if it’s a story they too would like to read. A couple of sentences are all you need to write. Thank you!
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Much of Jennifer’s backlist — historical and contemporary — is still available in print and/or digital format.
Browse all the Steel Magnolia Press ebooks at Amazon’s Steel Magnolia Press display site:
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HISTORICAL ROMANCE
THE LOVE AND ADVENTURE COLLECTION
The LOUISIANA PLANTATION COLLECTION
The LOUISIANA HISTORY COLLECTION
THE ROYAL PRINCES OF RUTHENIA
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CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
THE ITALIAN BILLIONAIRES COLLECTION
Jennifer’s brand-new contemporary romance is an Amazon Top 100 bestseller, with over 50,000 copies downloaded in its first 2 weeks.
SWEETLY CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION
And look for 5 of Jennifer’s most popular backlist Contemporary Romances to be released for the Kindle in early January 2013.
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Table of Contents
SPANISH SERENADE
BEGINNING
MID-POINT
AUTHOR’S NOTE
PERFUME OF PARADISE
BEGINNING
MID-POINT
AUTHOR’S NOTE
PRISONER OF DESIRE
BEGINNING
MID-POINT
AUTHOR’S NOTE
SOUTHERN RAPTURE
BEGINNING
MID-POINT
AUTHOR’S NOTE
ABOUT JENNIFER BLAKE
Louisiana History Collection - Part 2 Page 152
