The Opium-Addicted Pistol-Toting Preacher, on the Sunbury Press Books Show!

American history is full of larger-than-life characters, many of whom made a difference that went unnoticed and unrecognized. One of those was William Gould (W.G.) Raymond. His descendants, brother and sister William and Donna Burtch have rectified this, in "W.G. - The Opium-Addicted, Pistol-Toting Preacher Who Raised the First Federal African-American Union Troops," on Sunbury Press Books.

Joining host Lawrence Knorr, the Burtches tell of Raymond's early life in the Finger Lakes Region New York State, his later move to Pennsylvania, and how he went from a Baptist minister to enlisting in the Union forces. Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln, Raymond served as a hospital chaplain in Washington, DC, and was the first commanding officer responsible for raising what became the 1st United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) of the District of Columbia.

While poiltical infighting pushed Raymond's role out of the history books, he could not be fully erased. Drawing from his autobiography, "Life Sketches and Faith Work," plus that of Civil War scholars, the life of Raymond is examined during tulmultuous professional and personal times, including an addiction to opium, and how his spirituality, Raymond found, surpassed any denomination.

An author and essayist, William Burtch has written for several publications and anthologies. Donna Burtch has published a biography of their late father's life, "In the Key of the Sea: the Life and Times of William A. Burtch. They both live in Columbus, Ohio.