W.G. Raymond and the First Federal African-American Union Troops

Authors Donna Burtch and William Burtch will discuss finding a lost piece of Civil War history and writing their book, W.G.: The Opium-Addicted Pistol Toting Preacher Who Raised the First Federal African American Union Troops. William Gould (W.G.) Raymond was a staunch abolitionist and Union officer; under President Lincoln's authority, he raised hundreds of Black Union soldiers eager to fight for their freedom.

Donna is an author and poet, currently serving as a director for the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia. William is a finalist for the American Fiction Short Story Award; his 2025 book, Otherwise Wretched, was listed as a “Get It” title by Kirkus Reviews.