milliken's bend was unique when compared to those other two battles because at milliken's bend the majorityof the union force for african-american troops. that was not the case in the other two battles. in addition they were former slaves which again was not the case at the other two battles. milliken's bend today no longer exists. it was washed away years and years ago but there has been a renewed interest. but it was a very small find but an important fight and that is what part of motivated me to write the book. i had to know more and the more i've went on to greater questions i had. there are all sorts of twists and turns to the story, the unexpected things like the black troops thought -- fought well and it's a story that i think has been missing from civil war history for a long time. so that is the end of my formal presentation. i do have a web site where you try to post when i can. there is more information on the battle they are and also links to the e-books if your inches in those and we will open it up for questions. oh i do have to tell you that i'm leaving out an awful lot of s

milliken is banned today no longer exists. it was washed away years and years ago, but there have been a renewed interest, but it was, you know, a very small fight, but an important fight. that is part of what motivated me to write the book. i just had to know more. the more i went on, the greater questions i had. there are all sorts of twists and turns to the story, i expected things like henry mccaw like saying that the black troops falwell. and it is a story that i think has been missing from civil war is tree for a long time. so that is the end of my formal presentation. i do have a website where i try to post my can. there is more a information on the battle there. also, links to e-books if you're interested in those. and we will open it up for questions, no, and i have to tell you that i am leaving out an awful lot of stuff. this is only about two chapters of the book. any questions? and please use the microphone at the back. >> did you happen to discover how the black jurors were recruited? was there any impressment for

session the next group is coming in but i want to thank linda barnickel for introducing us to "milliken's bend" think you. [applause] state people drew writes about slavery are accused of being divisive to open old wounds says if we were not already divided your already opened however we have become of the matter how eager the baby we must remember it will be more than another century before we are free of slavery in this country for as long as we had it. anyone who writes about slavery does so at his or her own peril it was of such corrosive is to leave its mark and almost every aspect of american society. prefer steadied slavery and was afraid this growing obsession would drive me crazy or leased lead me into some literary backwater. the first booker tried was almost incoherent with rage and to try to find a story but the book was the saga of those seniors that to exceed incomes of their bondage to teach some world of the culture of black america. so then why would i turn to a the massacre of one of the most divisive battles of the civil war? to begin with great instincts take me back t