The Starbuck Chronicles

The Starbuck Chronicles are a series of historical fiction novels by British author Bernard Cornwell set during the American Civil War. They follow the exploits of Boston-born Confederate officer Nathaniel Starbuck.

Four novels have been written, and the series is still unfinished due to Cornwell's commitment to other projects. However, he has stated on many occasions that he wishes to return to the character's story.^[1] The series presently includes the following novels:

Rebel (1993)^[2]^[3]
Copperhead (1994)^[4]^[5]
Battle Flag (1995)
The Bloody Ground (1996)

Plot overview

Rebel begins in

Faulconer County. He succeeds by dedicating the grave of Truslow's wife and officiating in the marriage of his wayward daughter Sally Truslow. Many other events occur between this and the start of the hostilities, when the Faulconer Legion marches off to the First Battle of Bull Run. It is here that Starbuck alienates himself from Faulconer. Copperhead follows Starbuck during the period of the Union invasion of the Confederacy by the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan. Battle Flag is set during the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Bloody Ground follows Starbuck as the Confederate army under Robert E. Lee invades the North, culminating in the Battle of Antietam

.

Major characters

Nathaniel "Nate" Starbuck – The protagonist of the novels, Nate is a young Boston-born

Yale

theology undergraduate who finds himself in Richmond upon the outbreak of the civil war. He is described as tall, handsome and clean shaven with grey eyes and long dark hair.

Washington Faulconer – A wealthy Virginia land owner who uses his own finances to raise the Faulconer Legion, which he also commands. He is described as tall and fair with a square cut beard and blue eyes.
Thomas Truslow – A farmer whose past ventures include fighting in the Mexican–American War and various criminal activities. He is pursued by Washington Faulconer to enter the Legion and is persuaded to join by Nate Starbuck. He begins life in the legion as the most respected (feared) sergeant and is elevated to the rank of captain after the battle of Cedar Mountain. The novels describe him as squat, tough and bearded.
Sally Truslow – The daughter of Thomas Truslow, who after the outbreak of war becomes a whore at Richmond's most exclusive establishment. She is described as not older than 16 in the first novel and of breathtaking beauty.
Adam Faulconer – The son of Washington Faulconer and best friend of Nate Starbuck. He is described as similar in appearance to his father but despite being an officer in the Legion has a strong
pacifist
streak. At the end of Copperhead, he leaves the Legion and crosses the lines to fight for the Union.
Belvedere Delaney – A lawyer in Richmond who works in various capacities for the Confederate army but also is a spy for the north. He uses his position to empower and enrich himself and has many business interests including Sally's brothel. He is described as rotund with a perfect set of teeth. He is the half brother of Ethan Ridley, Starbuck's main antagonist in Rebel.
Thaddeus "Pecker" Bird – The Faulconer County school master and brother-in-law of Washington Faulconer. He is described as tall and thin with a long beard, who bobs his head back and forth when laughing, which has earned him the nickname "Pecker". Although firstly thought of as an eccentric fool, he gains the respect of the legion with his natural battle leadership abilities.
Patrick Lassan – A French cavalry colonel who begins the story as an observer in
Sharpe series^[6]) and carries his father's Pattern 1796 heavy cavalry sword
.

Historical figures

Faulconer Legion

The Faulconer Legion is a fictional regiment of the

Commonwealth of Virginia and the Confederate Army, the central unit of the Starbuck Chronicles. Shortly after the beginning of the war, Washington Faulconer is determined to set up a regiment free of state government control because he was unimpressed by Robert E. Lee and his lack of support. He returns from Richmond to find recruitment in full swing for the Legion; at least 10 companies have been recruited, along with a squadron of cavalry and two crews of artillery. Faulconer is the regiment's first colonel; his senior officers are Major Pelham, a veteran of the War of 1812, having fought at Bladensburg, and Major "Pecker" Bird, Faulconer's brother-in-law and a schoolmaster by profession. Major Danson is the Legion's initial surgeon and the local doctor. Faulconer leads an attack on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

which fails. It is an unfortunate start to the war for Faulconer, and he shows a distinct lack of military judgment—although he thinks of himself as a competent soldier and tactician.

First Battle of Manassas

On the

Adam Faulconer

is wounded and the Legion collapses. Faulconer tries to rally them but is himself wounded. In the panic Truslow and Bird save the colours. After the battle, Faulconer claims that Starbuck killed Ethan Ridley, but this is put down to delirium; his claims are true however. An embittered and wounded Faulconer is promoted to brigadier general and Major Bird takes command of the Legion.

Ball's Bluff and Seven Pines

With Faulconer away in Richmond supposedly recovering from his wound, Bird makes Starbuck the captain in command of K Company, with Truslow as his sergeant. The Legion takes part in defeating the Union crossing at the

Battle of Gaines Mill

, Adam deserts to the Union troops in full view of everyone. The Legion drive the northern forces from the ridge but suffer heavy casualties, reforming with eight companies of surviving troops.

Cedar Mountain and Second Battle of Manassas

General Faulconer appoints an alcoholic veteran and ex-slave merchant, Colonel Swynyard, as his second in command. At the

Second Battle of Manassas, Major Medlicott, who Faulconer attempted to make Legion commander ahead of Starbuck and who has command of the right hand wing, repeatedly refuses to fight until Starbuck kills him for refusing an order to advance. Galloway is killed when the horse are caught up in the flanking movement by Lee's

reinforcements. In the aftermath, Starbuck burns Galloway's farm in retaliation for the burning of the tavern and recovers the battle flag from his father.

Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg

Starbuck leads the Legion at the

Battle of Sharpsburg, Swynward's brigade is decimated by Hooker's

repeated attacks but manages to stand their ground, with Maitland drinking heavily to make it through the battle. Blythe flees back to Northern lines after manipulating Captain Dennison and Sergeant Case into trying to kill Starbuck; the attempt fails and Starbuck turns a cannon on them in retaliation. As the Confederates prepare to withdraw, Maitland is sent back to a staff position in Richmond, Starbuck is given command of the surviving members of both the Legion and the Yellowlegs, and Swynyard is promoted to brigadier general.

Colors

The colours of the Faulconer Legion are composed of the Confederate Battle Flag and the Faulconer coat of arms with the motto "Forever Ardent". They are six feet by six as opposed to the four feet advocated by the War Department.

Tie-ins to other Cornwell books

In the second book of the Starbuck series, Copperhead, Starbuck encounters Patrick Lassan, Chasseur Colonel of the

Richard Sharpe. His sword, described as an oversized steel-hilted straight sword, is likely the same Pattern 1796 heavy cavalry sword carried by his father throughout the earlier Peninsular War

. He indicates to James Starbuck that he lost an eye to a “Russian shell” which, based on timing, was likely during the Crimean War.