Ambrose Bierce was an American newspaper columnist, satirist, essayist, short-story writer, and novelist, an enigmatic figure, and some say he was simply a cold-hearted bitter person. His death is still a mystery, but in 1913 Bierce set off for Mexico and stated, "If you ever hear of my being stood up against a Mexican Stone wall and being shot to rags please know it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs." He is presumed to have died in the siege of Ojinega on January 11 1914. Bierce is best known for his writing in short stories collected in TALES OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. These stories are said to show the influence of Edgar Allan Poe. Bierce was actually annoyed being compared to other authors and thought it was disrespectful.
             Ambrose Bierce was born in Meigs County, Ohio; he was one of thirteen children. Each of the children was given a name beginning with the letter "A." Bierce's father had a large private library, which he spent a lot time with the books this private reading was the primary source of his education. Bierce did go to one year of military academy, which he soon dropped out of.
             In 1861 he enlisted in the army and served as an officer until 1865 in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This experience in the war was a major part for his life. Bierce was a topographical officer on General William B. Hazen's staff. He fought in several bloody battles including one that later was used for the setting for 'CHICKAMAUGA', one of his best stories. It told about a little boy who sees wounded soldiers crawling from a creek from one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. He leads the company to his home. The place is burning, and finds his mother dead. This type of bitter writing is no surprise for Bierce who never liked happy endings.
             At Kenesaw Mountain Bierce was wounded in the head, a bullet was lodged in his skull behind ...