Brooke Albertson

Johnny Comes Marching Brooke Albertson

Devastated by the death of his Confederate father, and amid rumors of his father's cowardice, fourteen-year-old Johnny Shipley, now orphaned, is on fire to kill Yankees, salvage his family's name, and prove himself a man. Johnny must find a way to get into the conflict. But how? He is drawn into numerous adventures and misadventures, but principally into friendship with Jeremiah, a runaway slave, who, unaccountably, has some connection with the name "Shipley" and who instills in the boy a new vision for his quest. Jeremiah takes an uncommonly keen interest in Johnny. But why? Following a life-altering tragedy of his own making, Johnny embarks on an odyssey that thrusts him into encounters that bring startling changes to his self-awareness and fill him with a new sense of purpose. He is confronted by soldiers of both sides of the conflict, and with death staring him in the face more than once, he remains conflicted. What are they fighting for, or against? Is it because of slavery or, as many have said, to put down rebellion and keep the Union intact? He becomes convinced that there must be more to it than either of those compelling incitements to violence. His surprising face-offs with both Union and Confederate soldiers, from privates to generals, before and during the Battle of Antietam, fought near his home, bring him to a different realization, to reconciliation and newfound respect. In the end, he has escaped death, overcome failure, and with dedication and courage, has come marching to an enthralling and consummate achievement-how to prove himself worthy and stand up for his hard-won beliefs.