John F. Hartranft
And
His Treatment of Those Confined
For the Lincoln Murder Trial

Al Gambone

Al Gambone is a native of Norristown, PA., and has written/published 6 volumes that include 4 books on local men: John F. Hartranft who took the bridge at Antietam and defeated Lee's last offensive at Fort Stedman; Samuel K. Zook who was killed at Gettysburg on the 2d day; Winfield Scott Hancock who was, for many, the savior of Gettysburg for the Union and Adam Jacoby Slemmer who probably fired the first shots of the Civil War near Fort Pickens in Florida. The other two are bio's on Union Major-General Darius Nash Couch, leader of the Union's Second Corps before Hancock, and Lee at Gettysburg, Commentary on Defeat. Currently, Al researches and writes about a South Carolina man, James Lawrence Orr, and that work is thought to be about a year away from completion. Orr was considered a "moderate" during his time because he was strongly against the single secession of South Carolina. When war came, as a politician he signed the articles of secession, raised Orr's Rifles, and was elected to the Confederate Senate in Richmond where he frequently was at odds with Confederate President. Jefferson F. Davis. After the war he was the first Governor to be elected by the South Carolina people, afterwards appointed a circuit judge, he campaigned for U. S. Grant for President became a Republican and Grant awarded him the position as Minister to Russia where he suddenly died before his 51rst birthday.
The major emphasis in all of Al's writings is the people. He believes that the war was a human tragedy and has produced much exaggeration [or BS] on both sides. Consequently, it is not an easy matter to understand.
Al moved from this area in 1965 and has spent about 5 years in New Hampshire, 30 years in Connecticut and the past 12 years, with his wife Nancy, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When asked about the most important aspect of the war, he is quick to respond: The People!

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