Events & Programs

Union general John Reynolds was one of the most beloved and respected military leaders of the Civil War, yet beyond the battlefield, the captivating true story of his secret romance with Catherine “Kate” Mary Hewitt remains etched into his legacy. Clandestinely engaged before John marched off to war, the couple’s love remained a secret. Kate made a poignant “last promise,” a commitment to enter into a religious life if her beloved were to be killed. Tragically, Reynolds lost his life leading troops into action during the opening phases of the Battle of Gettysburg. Within days Kate was embraced by the Reynolds family and soon began to honor her promise of a religious life. Yet a few years later she seemed to disappear. Author Jeffrey J. Harding unveils new findings on Kate’s life before and after John’s death as he recounts Gettysburg’s saga of star-crossed love.

Jeffrey J. Harding currently works as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, a freelance historian, a leadership consultant and a motivational speaker. Over the past decade, Jeff has joined with numerous others in a number of sleuthing efforts to resolve mysteries of historical significance. Jeff’s accounts of these endeavors and his analysis of additional historical subject matter have graced the pages of noted publications such as Civil War Times, Naval History Magazine, Gettysburg Magazine, the Washington Times and The Gettysburg Experience. Jeff has conducted numerous interviews for podcasts and major media, and he delivered a keynote speech about FADM Nimitz during a special event held on the Battleship Missouri Memorial commemorating the sixty-eighth anniversary of the end of World War II.

You can purchase his books here: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467151597