"Sons Of The Commonwealth" is a history of the Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves. 

The author of this book, Samuel Martin Kier, had more reasons to inspire him than the fact the two central soldiers of his story were in his family; he is also a ten-year veteran of Civil War Reenacting with the Seventy-First Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. 

Though some of the dialogue and personal references are ficticious, the author's objective is to cover the daily events of the Twelfth Regiment and their significance to Private David Kier and James Lyons. The author has included 20 map drawings pin-pointing the Twelfth in various battles and theaters of operation. The letters home and personal conversations between these two soldiers of the Army of the Potomac are used to bring these ordinary heroes to life for the readers, and as the author states:

"..compelled to tell their story so that the reader might further appreciate the investment in human suffering and courage that was required to preserve our country."

 
Uptons Hill, Virginia
January 20, 1863

Dearest Maggie,

Thank you for your kind letter of the 12th. I am well at presant and hope you are enjoying the same blessing. We left Bell Plain two weeks ago and are now camped father north at a place called Uptons Hill. We was sent here to rest and recruit but we'd of been about as well off a stayin at Bell Plain.
Our job is to guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. A reb urilla leader named Moseby has been making things lively for our pickets. Picket duty comes round more than before because our numbers is so small. We are still living in tents. Hunderds of boys from the Reserves is still a healing up at home or in hospital and are in no hurry to rejoin there units.

All in all life is some better under Genl Hooker. We have new clothes and overcoats an plenty to eat. He is a stickler for helth and has given orders that we are to wash our hands and faces once a day, our feet twice a week and bath our hole bodies once a week. We wont be follering that order until the weather gets a little warmer.

And now for my good news. I will be a coming home on the 1st of febrary. I will catch the cars in Washington City on the 2d. Im happy as a flea in a doghouse. I have so much to tell you. I hope you will be as glad to see me. Capt Oliver cant spare both of us at the same time. I feel like nothing bad can happen when I am with James. I am closer to him then I am to my own family. But he will get a furlow when I return.

Well this is the 4th letter I have rote today. I rote the folks and rote letters for James Chapman and Sam Collins so there folks would know that they was a coming home too. I must close for now. That is all the news I have. Save your news until I get home. A letter would not get here before I leave.

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