HF The Scott Boys

[TennesseeZ4]

After six years of research and writing my book, The Scott Boys, is now published. This is the saga of my Roane County Tennessee ancestors during the Civil War. Inspired by actual events this historic novel will connect you with those men and women of the Scott family in East Tennessee who lived the hell that was the American Civil War. Six Scott brothers and a nephew, four who fought for the Union, two who fought for the Confederacy, with all but one surviving.

This chronicle covers the war through the experiences of those brothers, as well as their families left in East Tennessee; placing you into the battles, the prisons, the persecution, the hardship of the time, all inspired from pension records, family letters, Bibles and site visits. From the family decisions on who to fight for, to Resaca, Cahaba, Belle Isle, Franklin, Vicksburg, and the Sultana, the Scott brothers story covers a great deal of our Civil War from both sides, and to those at home.

Now available on iUniverse ( https://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/863188-the-scott-boys ), via Amazon and soon on iPage (Ingram).

 

[TennesseeZ4]

It's summer, it's hot, grab a sweet tea, find a shady spot and read about the men and women of Roane County Tennessee during the Civil War.

The first reviews of my book are coming in and are most humbling:

Your book makes me think of the quote by Otto Von Bismarck: "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war."

Your book is very well done! I thoroughly enjoyed it! The ending was well done. I even got teary eyed when Lizbeth was raped, when Robert died, and at the end with John R.

I had forgotten about the Sultana disaster! Yikes!

Would be a great movie! Expensive to make, of course. A Civil War movie would have quite the audience. Especially if it really splits the reader/ watcher down the middle. Takes a Yank and makes them see the Rebs as humans and VICE VERSA. So interesting to see a family split as was the nation.

 

[TennesseeZ4]

The Scott Boys continues to receive very favorable reviews.


Herb B

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Read

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2025
Verified Purchase
As a Civil War buff and avid reader of historical fiction, I found this to be a terrific book. Most Civil War books focus on leaders and battles. This book focuses on the common folks who did most of the fighting, suffering and dying. The story shows the dilemma of families being forced to pick sides. It vividly captures the carnage of combat, deprivation of prisoner of war camps, and struggles of the families left behind. A great Civil War novel based on true events.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Congratulations! I need to put this on my "to read" list. I've lived all my 77 years in "Little Confederacy," Sullivan County. with ancestors who fought on both sides and a few who switched sides. I'm always happy to see the history of the war in East Tennessee presented in print. It's been ignored way too much for far too long.

 

[TnFed]

Congratulations! I need to put this on my "to read" list. I've lived all my 77 years in "Little Confederacy," Sullivan County. with ancestors who fought on both sides and a few who switched sides. I'm always happy to see the history of the war in East Tennessee presented in print. It's been ignored way too much for far too long.

It has indeed been ignored..Will definitely read this book..the war was so divisive in East TN...let's see 31, 000 white tennesseans fought for the Union, most of them from East TN and they write books about Newt Knight. I mean were there even 150 white men from Mississippi in the the Union Army? Not that he was a legitimate combatan anyway in my view.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

It has indeed been ignored..Will definitely read this book..the war was so divisive in East TN...let's see 31, 000 white tennesseans fought for the Union, most of them from East TN and they write books about Newt Knight. I mean were there even 150 white men from Mississippi in the the Union Army? Not that he was a legitimate combatan anyway in my view.

He deserted the Confederates twice and came back for the bounty. He attempted several times to obtain pensions for himself and his followers. The Government failed to recognize their service. There was a Union 1st Mississippi Cavalry from January 64 to the end. The other Union Mississippi regiments were USCT..

 

[TnFed]

He deserted the Confederates twice and came back for the bounty. He attempted several times to obtain pensions for himself and his followers. The Government failed to recognize their service. There was a Union 1st Mississippi Cavalry from January 64 to the end. The other Union Mississippi regiments were USCT..

Well Glenn, you can't blame him for wanting those pensions..with two or three wives and all those kids. He had a lot to provide for.

 

[TennesseeZ4]

A number of folks have asked about the cover photo on the book. That is a picture which I took at Camp Sumter / Andersonville cemetery a couple of years ago. The tombstone in the lower left corner is that of Robert Lafayette Scott, who was my GG Grandfather's youngest brother. He had been interred at Belle Isle for some months prior to moving to Andersonville, and was in dire straits with regard to his health. Robert passed away just about a month after arriving in Georgia. His stone is #776. Of the six Scott brothers, he was the only one who died in the war.

 

[TennesseeZ4]

In case you are casting about for a good read, the reviews for The Scott Boys continue to be most positive, and humbling!

 

[TennesseeZ4]

The Scott Boys is a Finalist in the Chanticleer Laramie Awards and the Independent Author Network. Here is what one reviewer said about this story:
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro for Reader Views (01/2026)
The year was 1861, and the Scott Brothers were facing a consequential decision. As a war between the Union and the Confederacy began, they would need to choose a side to fight for. While the state of Tennessee had seceded from the Union, the men of East Tennessee were more conflicted about their loyalties. As spring turned to fall in 1861 and able-bodied men were sought to fill out the ranks of both armies, the six Scott siblings would make their fateful choices in enlisting in a war that would last the next four years and cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

The toll of human misery wrought by war is deftly chronicled in The Scott Boys, a historical fiction novel inspired by true events, that tells the story of a Southern family riven by the war between the states. The compelling narrative explores the experiences of the young Scotts as they fight on both sides of the line and attempt to survive the fierce and pitched battles that unfolded throughout the course of the war. Author S. Scott Anderson has written a rousing narrative that is filled with high drama and intense action. Anderson proves adept at crafting a convincing multiperspective storyline that never loses its edge as the book progresses.

The heart of the story is the Scott Boys (Robert, James, Elisha, Israel, John R, Billy) and their respective experiences during the destructive war. Their reactions to enlisting, whether it be enthusiasm or trepidation, provide a layer of authenticity to their characters. The trauma that each of the men deals with as a result of the horrors they witness both on and off the battlefield is handled with gravity and sensitivity. The bond between the brothers is both palpable and often portrayed with a particular poignancy.

The Scott Boys effectively explores the incomparable bond of brotherhood during wartime. The story is filled with both heart and depth, and populated with terrific characters that keep the narrative moving with a steady flow. S. Scott Anderson's period piece is affecting, well-researched, and compares equably with the work of Jeffrey Shaara (Gods and Generals, The Last Full Measure) & Shelby Foote (Shiloh).