Cease Firing »

Mary Johnston (1870-1936) was one of the most popular authors of her generation. Granddaughter of the renowned Confederate commander General Joseph E. Johnston, she had more than an academic interest in the Civil War.

1912. Johnston, an American novelist, wrote books that combine romance with history. She is chiefly remembered for To Have and to Hold, a story of colonial Virginia, and its successor, Audrey. She also wrote two novels that were Civil War stories, including this volume, Cease Firing.

Library Journal

Written back-to-back in 1911 and 1912...these were considered the finest fictionalization[s] of the Civil War up to that time. The story follows Confederate artillery commander Richard Cleave through the war's notable battles. To achieve an authentic flavor, Johnston based many of her characters on actual soldiers, including her grandfather, Gen. Joseph Johnston, and some of her material is drawn from their memoirs.