Tears on the Bluestone tells the overlooked, little-known story of the militia, guerrillas, and veterans of Mercer County, West Virginia. More importantly, it is the tragic account of the individual men and families whose lives were altered forever by the American Civil War and its aftermath. A glorious, short-lived war was a hopeful, naive fantasy. Lives were lost. Property and homes were ruined. Friendships and families were shattered.