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Listen children, closely, for this is not a story 

about how the leopard got his spots, or how the 

world was made, but a story of how America was 

made, and how the slaves got their freedom.

Once upon a time, long ago in 1861, a Yankee 

by the name of William heard tell of a commotion 

in South Carolina and his country’s need.

William Wright, and his friend John Colling, 

decided to sign up together. After all, it made 

them look brave, they were getting $13 a month, 

and they would be home by Christmas, if not 

sooner.

South 

Carolinians 

fire on Old 

Glory!

Will ends up taking part in the First Battle at Bull Run (Manassas), 

where he sees Stonewall Jackson sitting on horseback. Will loads 

his musket with minie balls and fires, but not fast enough. The 

Union army is overrun.   Northern picnickers shout insults as the 

troops flee.

Will finally receives a letter from his wife Emma.   Her letter thanks 

him for sending her a little money and says that some of his 

friends from the factory had gotten raises recently, because of the 

Morrill Tariff Act.   “Isn’t it funny that you would be making more 

money if you were back here in NY?” she writes.

George McClellan then takes command of the Union troops.   Will 

likes him.   There is a long wait time before next battles, because 

Little Mac liked to plan. During the long wait, Will complains to 

John “why do we want the south, they are either lazy or stupid or 

uneducated, and why do the only good ones have to be leading the 

armies?” There are immigrants in the armies. 

A year later, after Pope was put in charge, Will finds himself again in battle 

near Bull Run Creek.   Gen Jackson cut off Pope’s supply line and both sides 

withdrew.   Will is discouraged and disillusioned.

However, the morale of Will’s unit was lifted when they learned of the 

union success at the Battle of Fort Henry in western Tennessee.   They 

heard that U.S. Grant had turned the tide and things were looking up, 

although spring of 1862 still seemed a long way off.

Will receives another letter from Emma (1862).   She writes, "Guess what, 

honey? I read in the paper that Congress has passed a law granting land 

to homesteaders. If you decide to leave NY, we could go west traveling on 

the new transcontinental railway they are finally building—that just got 

passed too, in the Pacific Railway Act. Anyway, this new Homestead Act 

would let us get title to land out west just by filing an application, 

improving the land, and filing for title, as long as you don’t decide to “take 

up arms against the U.S. government”, ha ha. Your sister, Mary, sent a 

letter recently and she thinks she wants to send her youngest, George, to 

the new land-grant university that New York plans to build after 

Representative Morrill helped create new colleges through a new law.  

Imagine that—we might have an educated nephew!”

Will writes Emma back.   He does not tell her about his experiences, but he 

tells her the story he heard from a runner with a dispatch about a great 

naval battle in the Chesapeake Bay of VA between iron-clad ships, the US 

Monitor and the Merrimac.   The runner said that the US won the battle and 

that the blockade of Virginia ports held. He hopes to also be successful in 

his battles. "I just want peace for my kids".

The marching and the battles went on, and Will came to a rebel town. 

Under orders, he looted the town for supplies and burned and broke 

railroad tracks (just like Sherman would do later down in GA). Will was 

ordered to nail Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to the courthouse 

door. His lieutenant loudly shouts that, “Since this town was in a state of 

rebellion as of Jan. 1, 1863, according to the Confiscation Acts and this 

Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln’s, all those held as slaves 

here are declared to be free and the property of no man!” His troops 

cheered. Will began to feel like all the awful things he had seen in war may 

do someone good after all.

The company then brought the town inhabitants to court martial for rebellion.   Then 

out of the blue masses, a bespectacled man proceeded to argue. “I’m a lawyer, and 

ex parte Milligan says you can’t try civilians by military court!” says he. “This is a Reb 

state, there are no constitutional civil courts, it doesn’t apply,” says the lieutenant. 

The lawyer replied, “If we have just legally captured this town, then it is now part of 

the union, legally speaking,” asserted the lawyer, thinking quickly. The young 

lieutenant decided against taking risks, so the towns people were left guarded, a few 

clapped in irons, because everyone agreed that habeas corpus had been suspended 

by Lincoln and the supreme court, and people could be imprisoned, even without 

official charges.

This victory is shortlived, unfortunately, once John dies of dysentery (diarrhea). With 

his best friend gone, Will is struck with great depression as he begins to witnes many 

more deaths of innocent friends and peers.

Will's unit carries on to face the Confederate troops commanded by Col. Pettigrew in 

the Battle of Gettysburg. They charge directly at the fort between the lines of Union 

soldiers (Pickett’s charge).   Casualties, dead, dying, and wounded, are all around him 

on both sides.   He hears one southern commander shout, “never forget that you are 

from Virginia, but for the love of God, remember that they have FOOD in their 

packs!” At this battle he notices young confederate soldiers, many without shoes, and 

a heart-shaped locket that was shot through. Somewhere, soon, someone will be 

crying for their lost loved ones.

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