In a Dry & Thirsty Land
Nehemiah Folsom is a farmer, decorated Civil War veteran and a loving father, but is he a murderer as well? He is a simple yet deeply conflicted man who is fiercely loyal to his friends and family. Proud of his country and heritage, Ned must choose between serving the Union or caring for his dying wife. All of the issues of Ned's life are complicated even more by his addiction to whiskey. Is he a praiseworthy hero or a despicable villain? In a Dry and Thirsty Land is the story of one man's search for justice, religion, and redemption during the most violent period of American history.
Based on a true story and set in the rustic and picturesque hills of New Hampshire, the story takes place between two principal characters, Nehemiah Folsom and the elder of the local Shaker community, Daniel Cobb. Folsom signs a contract and leaves his children with the Shakers before going off to war. Wounded at the Battle of Antietam, he returns home only to discover that Daniel Cobb will not return his children. Folsom now becomes locked in a bitter personal struggle with Cobb. Soon after, it is alleged that Folsom killed Cobb in a drunken frenzy when he went to the Shaker community to take his children back. Folsom stands trial, is convicted of murder in the first degree and is sentenced to death. However, after the trial, new evidence is discovered, but will it be enough for Folsom to be acquitted or reveal the true identity of the killer?
While similar to the book Cold Mountain, this story differs in that it is set in New England and presents a character in conflict with one of the most controversial religious sects in American history. In a Dry and Thirsty Land vividly describes the horrors of the Civil War battlefield yet also contains poignant and moving scenes set in a Shaker community.This intriguing story is all the more fascinating because it is based on a true crime that occurred in New Hampshire in 1863.