Savannah, Ga., July 31, 2017- The Georgia Historical Society is hosting a members-only discussion and book signing with Vince Dooley, GHS Board Chairman, legendary football coach at the University of Georgia, and historian and teacher. Dooley will discuss his most recent book The Legion’s Fighting Bulldog. The event will take place this Tuesday, August 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Georgia Historical Society Research Center, 501 Whitaker Street in Savannah.
About the Book:
Greatly loved by those who served under him, Lieutenant Colonel William Gaston Delony possessed three admirable attributes: “commanding presence, bull dog courage, and superb generalship.” The Legion’s Fighting Bulldog relays the story of a young man, on the cusp of a promising law career in the 1850s who comes to the conclusion that his way of life, and that of his neighbors, is about to change forever. Interwoven with those of his wife, Rosa Eugenia Huguenin, the Delony correspondence furnishes us a window into the lives of independent individuals during the Civil War who also happened to be well-placed in society due to birth. These writings give the reader insights into what soldiers thought and felt, and of what their families went through, both on the battlefield and at home. Delony doesn’t just write about his movements or the battles he has participated in—although he does a very good job of relaying information on that front—he also writes about the military and domestic activities taking place, as well as some of his innermost feelings. Delony expresses concern for his wife’s struggles with her pregnancy as well as his own woundings, even though he attempts to play down the latter. Rosa’s letters in response express her concerns for her husband and the wellbeing of their children. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Delony was well educated for the period. A lawyer prior to the war, his tremendous inherent tenacity and fighting ability made him the first Georgia Bulldog.
When: Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 6:00 P.M.
Where: GHS Research Center, 501 Whitaker Street, Savannah
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.
The event is open to GHS members only and RSVP is required. Members who wish to attend and members of the public who want to become a member and attend should contact Theresa Clausen at 912.651.2125, ext. 110 or email tclausen@georgiahistory.com.
Members of the media who wish to cover the event should contact Patricia Meagher at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or pmeagher@georgiahistory.com.
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