It was a time of high romance, when noble causes were openly fought with force of arms and righteous conviction. Character virtues such as courage, honor and strength were prized and rewarded, while traits such as cowardliness, duplicity and thievery were despised and punished. Modest soldiers with hearts pure and brave in battle became "lost at sea" in formal parlor rooms vying with a rival ally for the attention of a dove-eyed sweetheart. Elegant women in beautiful evening gowns would swoon and faint into the strong arms of their heart-throbs as battles of a different passion raged in the darkness outside. Such was the time of soldier and author General Charles King.

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