Thank you, George Chapman, for surviving.

Mentioned throughout the book was George Chapman, who at 22 years of age joined the 18th NYI on May 10, 1861, as a first lieutenant in Company I. His diary, shared from one of his direct descendants, aided the book with his intimate anecdotes, weather patterns, and interesting complaints of a soldier in the field. His resignation from ill health in January of 1863 was a choice that essentially saved his life. Lucky for us, he survived the war, and ten years after his resignation, he and his wife bore a son, Arthur Chapman. Below is a candid photo shared by one of his descendants of George and his son Arthur playing chess. I say "lucky for us, he survived" for had he not, you would never have heard of the poem, "Out Where the West Begins" written by Arthur Chapman.