Death Before Dishonor: describes in vivid detail what may have occurred in the United States under the Lincoln and Johnson administrations. The narration is by a career naval officer, born in Beaufort, South Carolina and serving in the Army Navy Building, Washington City. The historical events of 1861 through 1869 are carefully followed. The imagination of the author provides rich characters in powerful settings from the mountains of Nevada to the port of Havana, Cuba. The time old love story between a man and a woman continues throughout the book when the naval officer, married to President Buchanan's sister, adopts two children only to find themselves expecting a third child. Scenes are set carefully with attention to accurate research of the low country of South Carolina as well as our Nation's Capital circa 1861- 69. The People's Standard History of the United States written by Edward S. Ellis and published in 1895 by Western Book Company have provided background materials, maps of the period and needed information on how the federal government was organized and functioned during this period of history. Additional Information was taken from the Autobiography of Lieutenant General Scott, published in New York, 1864. The chapters on Mexico were referenced from Ladd, The War in Mexico, New York, 1883 and Bancroft, History of Mexico, vol.v, San Francisco, 1885.