The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign

Name: The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign
Author: Joseph A. Altsheler

by Joseph A. Altsheler (1862–1919)

Free to read
6 hours to read
17 chapters
Reading level: 6th grade

"The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign" by Joseph A. Altsheler is a historical romance written in the early 20th century. The narrative follows the adventures of Harry Kenton, a young Confederate officer, during the American Civil War, particularly focusing on the strategic maneuvers in the Shenandoah Valley under General Stonewall Jackson. The opening of the book introduces us to Harry Kenton as he embarks on a scouting mission through the Virginia woods. The atmosphere is imbued with a sense of adventure and danger as Harry, despite his youth, demonstrates skills honed from extensive field experience. He encounters a troop of Union cavalry, assesses their strength, and forms a plan to protect Confederate supplies in a nearby village. In a twist of fate, he meets Captain Philip Sherburne, and together they rally a group of southern soldiers to prepare for an imminent attack, highlighting themes of courage and valor against the backdrop of a divided nation. This early setup not only establishes the stakes of the impending battle but also the camaraderie and youthful zeal of soldiers engaged in a grueling war.

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United States · History · Civil War, 1861-1865

Read the opening

Chapter I: In the Valley

A young officer in dingy Confederate gray rode slowly on a powerful bay horse through a forest of oak. It was a noble woodland, clear of undergrowth, the fine trees standing in rows, like those of a park. They were bare of leaves but the winter had been mild so far, and a carpet of short grass, yet green, covered the ground. To the rider's right flowed a small river of clear water, one of the beautiful streams of the great Virginia valleys.

Harry Kenton threw his head back a little and drew deep breaths of the cool, crisp air. The light wind had the touch of life in it. As the cool puffs blew upon him and filled his lungs his chest expanded and his strong pulses beat more strongly. But a boy in years, he had already done a man's work, and he had been through those deeps of passion and despair which war alone brings.

A year spent in the open and with few nights under roof had enlarged Harry Kenton's frame and had colored his face a deep red. His great ancestor, Henry Ware, had been very fair, and Harry, like him, became scarlet of cheek under the beat of wind and rain.

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About this edition

This free edition of The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign by Joseph A. Altsheler comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #6094, released 2004-07-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Historical Novels, Adventure, American Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).