Death before Dishonor

Dear Readers,

This is the second novel in a series.  The time period is 1861-69.  Its location was inspired by my retirement home which I leased on Dataw Island from 2003-08.  The next barrier island is called Pollawana and it was chosen as the fictional setting for the Caldwell family plantation.  To my knowledge, there was never a Caldwell living in Beaufort.  The fictional account is based, in part, on the lives of the Barnwell and Bull familes who lived durng these times.  They owned the homes described along Bay Street and they attended the St. Helena Church.  And yes, they did have a vice-admiral in the family.

The historical events in this book all took place.  The dates and locations are accurate, but the characters are products of my overactive imagination.  Some persons mentioned, however, are real.  You can not write about this period of history without making reference to commanding admirals and generals or serving presidents.

Here is one of my favorite passages from the chapter where Father Timothy says: "Enclosed in a high brick wall, she sits like an ecclesiastical poem among its grayed lichened gravestones; its slender spire piercing the green masts of the trees like a clear bugle call.  Ancient live oaks, with their swaying banners of gray moss, weave myriad leafy designs of light and shadow to fling against its mellowed, pinkish walls of brick and tabby.

When the wind blows, the palmettoes chant a requiem for those who sleep beneath the stones.  The tall sycamores, green in summer, gold in autumn, silver green in spring, march two by two like loving sentinels from the east gate.  In early spring, a purple flame of wisteria creeps along the walls, creating a scene of such breathtaking beauty that artists easels set up along the path seem almost a natural part of the scene.

We now sit in one of the oldest, as well as, beautiful, of the early churches in America.  Built to fill the need of a struggling young colony, it is simple in design, almost to austerity, rising four square and solid to withstand storms, war and time.

This old church has witnessed prosperity and adversity.  She is filled with memories of joy and sorrow.  She has witnessed the heartbreak of death and parting.  For many generations tiny infants have been christened at her font.  Young girls in gossamer white and solemn little boys, have knelt at her alter for first communion.  As I look upon you, her congregation, I see a people who will not tolerate the death of a church or its people.  Within these walls is Beaufort's unwritten story of birth, faith, life, war and death.  It can not be erased by an invading army.  It can not be wrought asunder by those who plundered its valuables.  The valuables that we hold dear are each other and the families that have toiled so many hours to restore this church.

A former President of the United States sits with us today.  He and his nephew have donated countless hours to our building and replacement efforts here at St. Helena Episcopal Church.  His sister married a man from this congregation and she has returned with him to help heal those of us in need.  She has paid all the outstanding taxes on all homes of this parish.  She has encouraged all of us to have faith in God and in each other.

It is the pride that God gives all of us to enjoy his blessings, that we rededicate this church today and every day that we enter and kneel in prayer."

Sincerely,

Dan Ryan