Well-known Civil War tragedy in North Carolina about the Lanier brothers drafted to served for Confederacy who left their home near Hickory, fought in 3 of the bloodiest battles of the war in a year, then left camp after Gettysburg Battle to find "green apples and corn" nearby. Chased down, they were held two weeks then executed. Jacob was 18, his brother Elkanah was 26. Another brother Joseph died of scrofula in Richmond from drinking tainted local milk. Authentic letters were sent home to record this tragedy. Author Lisa C. Rudisill's Great Great Grandmother Maria Holler Gilbert was their first cousin and lived nearby. Sad Tale and True