In recognition of the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Gettysburg, I’ve decided to give away some signed Jackson Speed books.

The rules are pretty simple: be the first to answer some Gettysburg trivia questions and win a book.

Here are the next two questions. Answer either of them correctly and you can win your choice of “Jackson Speed The Hero of El Teneria” or “Jackson Speed and the Blood Tubs.”

1. On June 29, 1863, Federal cavalry rode into Gettysburg and occupied the town. These Union troopers were the first to fight the Confederates in a holding action until Union infantry could get up. Who was the commander of the Union cavalry that occupied Gettysburg and held McPherson’s Ridge on the morning of July 1 while waiting for Reynolds to get forward?

2. The Confederates went into Gettysburg looking for shoes. They first tried to get to the town on June 30. Who North Carolinian general led the brigade that marched toward Gettysburg on June 30 but turned back after encountering two brigades of Federal cavalry?

Use the form below to shoot me an answer to either of the above questions if you think you’ve got the answer. I’ll let you know if you win and put a signed book in the mail to you!

As always, if you don’t know the answer and your fingers are too tired to Bing the answer, feel free to visit amazon.com and just buy a book!

I’m working on Volumes III and IV of the Jackson Speed books.

From Little Round Top at Gettysburg, overlooking the wheat field and peach orchard.

Volume III, which sees Ol’ Speedy through the Battle of Chancellorsville, is very nearly done. My editor, the lovely and brilliant India Powell, is finishing editing the last chapter or two this week.

Volume IV takes up Speedy’s fascinating role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Speed enthusiasts are likely aware that he won the Congressional Medal of Honor during this battle, a startling fact considering that he is the 19^th Century America’s biggest chicken-hearted rascal.

I still have a ways to go in writing Volume IV, but it should be out before Christmas.

As I write about the Gettysburg Campaign, it is not lost on me that we are rapidly approaching the 150^th Anniversary of that famous battle.

In recognition of that, I thought I might give away a few signed books during the Sesquicentennial of Gettysburg. The first opportunities to win a signed book come today.

Two big events happened 150 years ago this week in the Gettysburg Campaign. 150 years ago yesterday (June 26), the first of the Confederate troops marched through Gettysburg, spending a little time in the town but they weren’t there long because they were bound for York, Pennsylvania. While there, they happened to hear a rumor that there was a large quantity of shoes in the town, something their army desperately needed.

Be the first to tell me who commanded the Confederate force that moved through Gettysburg on June 26, 1863, and I’ll send you a signed copy of either El Teneria or Blood Tubs.

150 years ago tomorrow (June 28) another big event happened. General Hooker was replaced as the commander of the Army of the Potomac (the order was issued 150 years ago today and Hooker received the order on June 27, but the man who replaced him received word of his promotion on June 28).

Be the first to tell me the name of the Yankee general who replaced Hooker and was the commanding Union general at Gettysburg, and I’ll send you a signed copy of either El Teneria or Blood Tubs.

Or if you don’t know Gettysburg trivia and just want to get the Jackson Speed books without all the hassle of answering a question, you can still get them through Amazon.com by clicking this link.

Use the contact form below to send me your answers and I’ll let you know if you’ve won a book!