As part of Christmas on the Square activities last night, James Parrish signed his new book, “Wiregrass to Appomattox: the Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA.”

Parrish signed copies of his book at The Book Nook from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s part of the annual Christmas on the Square event with merchants open late to enhance the Christmas shopping season. Other events that evening will include hayrides, marshmallow roasts and traditional music the downtown historic park.

The book follows Confederate soldiers from Gettysburg, Savannah, Sharpsburg and Winchester, soldiers who joined the 50th Georgia from the counties of Decatur, Thomas, Colquitt, Brooks, Berrien, Lowndes, Echols, Clinch, Coffee, Ware and Pierce.

The reader can easily follow the trail of these men as they left their homes and headed toward Savannah and then to the seat of the war at Richmond.

The book contains the discovery of many previously unpublished letters, diaries and photographs and ensures that the 50th Georgia veterans never-before told story will finally have an audience.

Robert Krick, author of “Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain,” and “Lee’s Colonels,” said “the book has an array of unpublished uniformed photos, excellent modern views of battlefields, and detailed maps augmenting the text. They combine to make a unit history well worthy of attention from students of Lee’s Army.”

In the diaries and letters, the words of these men paint a vivid picture of war that extends beyond the battlefield. This story follows their sad trail as they dealt with illness, exhaustion, starvation and death. Yet, despite the problems and the difficult odds they faced, most of the soldiers refused to quit. They fought at many bloody places in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Tennessee under the command of famous men like Paul Semmes, James Longstreet and Robert E. Lee.

The author was born in Quitman and was raised in Greenville, Fla. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida. He previously worked in local government in Leon County. He now lives in Tallahassee where he operates his own consulting business.

Parrish also will be guest speaker at the January meeting of the Decatur County Historical Society, Monday, Jan. 19.