90 Miles to Richmond

Ever since I can remember, my grandmother was always working on “The Book.” It was a story passed down to her by her grandmother—Frances Hardin, the heroine of the tale.

My grandmother had a photographic memory. Even in her 80s, she could recite lengthy poems she’d learned in grade school. I believe the story she told is accurate.

In the chaos of the American Civil War, when loyalties were tested and courage measured in blood, one woman defied the impossible.

90 Miles to Richmond tells the extraordinary true story of a young woman who risked everything to save her husband—a wounded Union soldier trapped behind enemy-held territory.

Only 25 years old, with a family farm to protect and children to raise, she faced an unthinkable wait and pray or set out across enemy lines on a desperate mission that might cost her her life.

Drawing from historical records and family archives, Russell A. Beck breathes vivid life into the story of his second great-grandparents, painting a powerful portrait of love, war, and courage.

From the scorched fields of Kentucky to the crowded hospitals of Richmond, this gripping novel follows a woman's harrowing journey on a buckboard wagon pulled by a blind horse. With sheer willpower, she navigates around enemy columns, scavengers, paroled soldiers, and shifting front lines—all for the man she refuses to give up.

What unfolds is more than a Civil War drama—it's a timeless story of devotion and the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction, wartime romance, and heroines who fight with heart as well as with determination and perseverance. 90 Miles to Richmond is a reminder that sometimes the bravest battles are fought not with weapons but with love.