“Whatever may be my fate may you be happy.”

Historian Thomas D. Perry recounts the story of Civil War General J.E.B. Stuart and his first love, Elizabeth "Bettie" Hairston, exploring their romance and lives before, during, and after the War Between the States. Drawing from Stuart's letters to Hairston, the book offers a personal look into their relationship amid the tumult of Virginia's history. The narrative also touches on the cultural backdrop of their shared musical moments before the nation was torn apart by war.