Publisher's Synopsis
This book describes how various characters experience the suffering and, yes, the excitement, of the American Civil War. Jack Kelly is afflicted with a serious fear of separation, so he decides to follow the advice of his religious advisor and "do the thing he fears." It is January 1864, and he decides to enroll in the US Army when he reaches age eighteen in a month. The second reason he wants to fight is because he detests slavery and struggles to understand how others can accept it.
On a train to Washington, however, he is persuaded to collaborate with Allan Pinkerton, the famous Scottish detective, his associate Kate Warne, and abolitionist Harriet Tubman to help Yankee officers escape from the notorious Andersonville prison. They are aided by his well-trained dog, Ulie. This team is at first successful, but then Jack is caught by the prison commandant, who kills Ulie. Jack manages to escape his clutches, only to face numerous other close calls. In the end, the frightened but brave young man is any of the following: (a) successful, (b) shot to death, or (c) something else!
