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    The Songs of Stones River: A Civil War Novel
    The Songs of Stones River: A Civil War Novel
    The Songs of Stones River: A Civil War Novel
    Ebook79 pages51 minutes

    The Songs of Stones River: A Civil War Novel

    By Jessica Gunderson and Tony Foti

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    About this ebook

    This historical novel tells the story of two boys living in the South during the tragic days of the Civil War. James is a proud Southerner who feels responsible for providing for his newly widowed mother and his younger sister. Eli is the lone outdoor slave of a bitter man who sold off Eli's mother two years earlier. When circumstances force them to work side by side, each boy's eyes are opened to new ways of thinking, leading to an exciting conclusion. Filled with thoughtful prose and historical references, The Songs of Stone River brings the Civil War era to life.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCapstone Young Readers
    Release dateJan 7, 2015
    ISBN9781496522009
    The Songs of Stones River: A Civil War Novel
    Author

    Jessica Gunderson

    Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than one hundred books for young readers. Her book President Lincoln’s Killer and the America He Left Behind won a 2018 Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Silver Award. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

    Read more from Jessica Gunderson

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      Book preview

      The Songs of Stones River - Jessica Gunderson

      History

      Chapter 1

      Yankee Betrayal

      October, 1862

      Murfreesboro, Tennessee

      James

      Get on your Yankee horse and ride on outta here!

      Those were the last words I said to my best friend, Stefan, after he told me he was joining up. I wouldn’t have minded if he’d joined the Confederates. In fact, I might’ve followed him.

      But no. He was joining up with the bloody Yanks.

      We’d been walking along Stones River, near our town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. As usual, we were headed toward our favorite spot to catch catfish. The river flowed as peacefully as ever, and birds whistled and swooped above us. The war seemed to have no effect on nature. Those birds chirped away happily, not knowing that in nearby battlefields, men were falling dead and bloodying the soil.

      I could tell there was something on Stefan’s mind. He was always quiet and thoughtful, but today his silence was punctuated by a worried line across his brow.

      You think this war will ever come to an end? Stefan said at last. He didn’t look at me as he spoke, just stabbed at the earth with a long stick.

      Yep, I answered. Our boys will fight until the South is finally free.

      Stefan fell silent again. We never talked much about the war, partly because we were only twelve years old and would rather run around the woods than talk, but mostly because we just didn’t agree. Stefan and his family were Unionists, which meant they were against the war. They wanted the South to stay in the Union. I, on the other hand, firmly believed in the Southern cause. The Confederates could build a great country. We didn’t need the North telling us what to do.

      My great-grandfather gave his life to win independence from the British, Stefan said.

      "And my father gave his life to win independence from the North!" I retorted. I grabbed the stick from Stefan’s hand and threw it into the river. Tears churned just behind my eyeballs. The pain of losing my father was still deep and raw. I wouldn’t let Stefan see me cry.

      Our country is worth fightin’ for, Stefan went on.

      Sure is, I muttered.

      James, I’m joining up, Stefan said. His words tumbled out, tripping over each other. "I’m gonna go to Kentucky. Maybe join the Ohio infantry. Maybe be a drummer boy or help at the field hospitals. I know I ain’t old enough to fight, but I look old and can shoot a pigeon from a fencepost from near a mile. I can’t sit by no more and watch —"

      Hold on, I said. My heart was hammering and my blood boiled, though my skin felt frozen as ice. "You’re joinin’ the Yanks?"

      I’m sorry, James. I know your daddy —

      Don’t you be bringin’ up my daddy! I shouted. You’re about to buddy up with the very scoundrels who killed him!

      I gotta do what’s right. I gotta preserve the Union.

      No. What you gotta do is get out of my face! I hollered. I doubled my fists, ready to take a swing at him. But he just stood there, looking solemn. And those blasted birds were still twittering away.

      In the end, I didn’t swing at him. I spat in the dirt then whirled away and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Get on your Yankee horse and ride on outta here! I yelled over my shoulder.

      James, wait! Stefan called.

      But I didn’t turn around, just kept running as though the Yanks themselves were after me.

      * * *

      Back before the war, we didn’t pay much attention to the political talk of our fathers. We didn’t understand it much. All we knew was that my father wanted Tennessee to secede from the Union, and Stefan’s father didn’t. When Tennessee finally did secede, I felt a little victorious, as though my family was right and his wasn’t. But I didn’t lord it over him.

      After the war broke out in 1861, we never thought the fighting would reach Tennessee. South Carolina, where the war had started, was far off. Word leaked in about battles in Virginia. Most were Confederate victories, like the Battle of Bull Run. I thought we’d lick them Yanks quick, and the Confederacy would be free.

      At first, Stefan and I thought war was

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