Description

From the discovery of oil at the Drake well in Titusville in 1859 to Ida Tarbell’s 1909 article about how Northern women “met the experience of war,” there has been a connection between the American oil and gas industry and the Civil War. When the war ended, thousands of veterans rushed into the oil regions to start their lives again and seek their fortunes in the new petroleum boom.

From Battlefields to Oilfields explains the relationship between the American Civil War and the development of the United States petroleum industry. After the discovery of oil by Edwin Drake in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, Union oilfields became strategic targets, and attacks on northern whaling ships helped grow the demand for kerosene. After the Rebellion, Civil War veterans played a significant role in the growth of oil exploration. Former soldiers and officers searched for oil and gas, developed new transportation and production technologies, and discovered new uses for petroleum products.

From Battlefields to Oilfields examines the involvement of Civil War officers and soldiers in all areas of the oil and gas industry. Their sacrifices on the battlefield saved the nation. Their contributions to the petroleum industry helped build the country.

Other Details

From Battlefields to Oilfields contains 50 images, an oil industry timeline, a glossary of terms, an index, and a 290-resource bibliography.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the following individuals who permitted me to include their research in From Battlefields to Oilfields:

• Mr. Joshua Orsag – “Whales and War.”
• Ms. Allison Sheridan – “The History of the Kerosene Lamp.”
• Mr. Matthew Silverman – “Pipelines Big Year.”
• Mr. John T. Griffith – Image of “John Joyce Carter” from the Find-a-Grave website
• A very special thanks to Mr. Bruce A. Wells for images and content from the American Oil & Gas Historical Society website. Please sign up for the monthly newsletter.

Author’s Comments

This book took longer to publish than originally planned. The first publisher canceled the publication after a year of waiting and released the manuscript to me. A second publisher reviewed the manuscript for three months and decided that they were not interested. Third and fourth publishers also passed on the book. With these rejections, I decided to self-publish the book.