in the footsteps of daniel lobdell

To author Kayla Lobdell, Daniel Lobdell was only a name from family history. Kayla grew up in the same house as Daniel. She knew he died in the Civil War and that his grave was up the road. As to his life and his experience, family history was blank.

Kayla set out to change that. Over 30 years, she drew upon Daniel’s war record and visited each of the places Daniel went to during his service. Some spots were preserved as battlefields-Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Vicksburg. Some spots had markers and monuments. And some spots were now parking lots or buildings.

In this extraordinary and personal work, follow Kayla’s journey as she traces the footsteps of Daniel Lobdell, a Civil War soldier in the 46th Illinois Infantry, Company B.