The Lincoln Boys' Adventures Sample Text

For President Lincoln, the Civil War was very real. For his eight-year-old son, Tad, it was a game played with his brother and friends.

Chapter Four: War Games, September 1861

(This is just an excerpt)

“Load the cannon, Captain!” I ordered from our rooftop fort. My friend, Holly Taft, scooped up pebbles we’d collected for ammunition.

“Yes, sir,” he said, saluting. Holly poured the pebbles in the drainpipe we used for a cannon.

“Give ’em everything you’ve got,” I commanded.

Holly pointed our artillery toward Virginia where we imagined advancing Confederate soldiers threatened Washington. “Set the fuse, Captain,” I shouted. Holly slapped the pipe with his palm.

“Fused and ready, Major,” he hollered.

“Then…fire!” We held our ears and braced for the blast. In our minds, we saved the city. Our heroics stopped the Rebels from overrunning the capital.

“That should keep ’em across the river,” Holly yelled in victory.

“At least for now,” I agreed.

“All this fighting makes me hungry,” Holly said. “Let’s raid Mrs. Adams’s kitchen.”

But we couldn’t leave our post undefended. “Jack, you take first watch,” I said.

Holly propped up our soldier doll, Jack, so he could keep an eye on the Confederate troops. Jack looked sharp in his Zouave uniform with red cap and pantaloons, short blue jacket and gold trim. “You better stay alert this time, Jack,” Holly warned.

“No more sleeping on duty,” I reminded him, “or we’ll hang you—again.”

We left to fortify ourselves with hardtack. Unlike the tough, tasteless cracker the soldiers ate, ours was more like gingerbread cookies. When we returned, Jack was fast asleep. He’d fallen over and lay face down behind the wall.

“Jack, you are the sorriest soldier in the Union Army,” I said. “You’ll be shot by a firing squad at sunrise. That’ll teach you a lesson.”

Some soldiers were court-martialed for sleeping on duty. Some were shot. Hanging was usually for spying or desertion, like if you ran away during battle. The only way to save a condemned soldier was by a Presidential pardon.

(the story continues on)