Will’s latest piece is a wild ride through Civil War history. He shares a story about his friend’s family plantation near Vicksburg, where a drunken Union officer met an unexpected end thanks to a loyal enslaved man wielding a pickaxe. The officer’s body? Conveniently planted beneath a rose bed. The only trace left was his M1855 Harper’s Ferry pistol, which became a family heirloom. It’s a gripping tale that blends dark humor with a poignant look at loyalty and the complexities of that era. 

READ MORE: An Heirloom Pistol, a Loyal Slave, and Some Well-Fertilized Roses – American Handgunner