Russel H. "Cap" Beatie graduated from Princeton University and Columbia Law School, has been a trial lawyer in New York City for more than three decades, and is the author of several articles and books, including Road to Manassas (Cooper Square, 1961).

His interest first began at a young age when he read Douglas Southall Freeman's Lee's Lieutenants. A Kansas native and former lieutenant in the field artillery and infantry, Cap has lived in the New York City area most of his life.

He has completed the second volume of this series, and is currently writing the third.