Confederates

Blurb

Confederates is a novel by the Australian author Thomas Keneally which uses the American Civil War as its main subject matter.
Confederates uses the United States Civil War as a setting for a more personal conflict between neighbors. In the midst of the war's climactic battle -- Antietam -- another conflict is underway. Ephie Bumpass' husband Usaph and Ephie's lover Decatur Cate are thrown together to fight in the Shenandoah Volunteers. Cate's emasculating injury in the battle is a symbolic punishment for his sin.