‘If We Hadn’t Been Soldiers…’ is a compelling and gripping novel that takes place during the American Civil War. It chronicles the dilemmas and ordeals Simon and his wife Olivia encounter when he leaves the Danton Plantation. Simon is a family man and a dedicated servant with a burning desire to provide a better life for his wife, Olivia, and their son, William. His desire for freedom clashes with his comfortable life as the carriage driver for Mr. Danton, the plantation owner. Simon takes an uncertain and unorthodox method to achieve their freedom. In his travels, he encounters some unlikely allies who can help him. After arriving in New Jersey, Simon is shocked to see another world where blacks are free and, in many cases, prospering. Not forgetting his overall purpose, he makes his way to joining the Union Army. In one of the battles, his friend dies, leaving Simon with deep thoughts of his own mortality. Wondering if he made the right decision, he labors on, hoping to fulfill his self-imposed destiny.
