Published Feb 23, 06 | 3:15 pm
Book Review: On a Rising Tide A Tale of Running the Civil War Blockade
By Mitchell
Houska
Staff Writer
"On
a Rising Tide" set in North Carolina in 1864, is a tale
that follows the adventures of Captain Wade McKay, captain of a southern
blockade-runner known as the Atlantis.
Blockade-runners were used during the Civil War, to supply the troops
of the Confederate Army and goods to essential port cities. Captain
Mckay's journey takes him from port-to-port, delivering precious cargo,
all the while dodging the gunfire and cannonballs of the Federal Navy.
Blockade-running brings Captain McKay to our own 'port city," Wilmington,
where he falls in love with the daughter of a local shipping agent,
Brooke Snow. After that, the book takes you on a journey through a most
random series of events that will keep you guessing. Most of the events
that take place, such as running of the blockade and the battles at
Fort Fisher, actually happened. Some of the characters, such as Colonel
William Lamb, Confederate Generals William Whiting and Major General
Braxton Bragg, are real and accurately portrayed. "Richard Triebe has
masterfully blended historical and fictional characters in his story
of Civil War blockade-running.
On a Rising Tide has romance, murder, freed slaves, combat at sea, and
suspense-each fits nicely into the author's exciting tale," in a quote
from, Wilbur D. Jones, a Jr. award winning author and military historian.
Having read the book myself, I find the story to capture the very essence
of what Wilmington, Fort Fisher and the surrounding area was really
like during the Civil War.
When reading you get a real sense of actually being there, due to the
author's unique and detailed depictions of the surrounding landscape
and the people of the Civil War era. You can't help but wonder, while
walking the streets of Wilmington or during a visit to Fort Fisher,
where these characters may have traversed so many years ago, or if you
have walked the same path as them or stood in the same place, "On a
Rising Tide" is wonderful account of the history of our area and a grim
reminder of our country's broken past. If you are interested in the
Civil War, the history of our area and love to hear a good story, I
suggest you read this book.
Author Richard Triebe, a native of Chicago, currently resides in Wilmington
NC where he works as a freelance writer. Triebe holds an
Associate degree in Applied Sciences in Marine Technology and much of
his work as a writer concerns the sea and underwater activities.
The author's hobbies include, the Civil War, scuba diving and underwater
photography. "On a Rising Tide" is Triebe's first published novel. A
book signing will be held on Saturday, February 25th from 1:00pm to
3:00pm at Pomegranate Books, located at 4418 Park Avenue, in Wilmington.
"On a Rising Tide” is available through AuthorHouse, a premier publishing
house for emerging authors and new voices in literature. For more information,
visit www.authorhouse.com.