Beyond Their Years: Stories of Sixteen Civil War Children

To examine the Civil War through the eyes of children is to perceive the conflict in a whole new way. To many children, unburdened with the worries of their parents, the war brought only glamorous events and daily excitement. Others less fortunate found themselves suddenly dealing with chronic uncertainty and great loss. Still others found a way to join the ranks as nurses, spies, drummer boys, buglers, or full-fledged soldiers. All experienced a childhood unparalleled in American history.
The 16 children--male and female, white and black, Confederate and Union, and between the ages of three and 17--profiled in this book left written records of their turbulent journeys through four years of fighting. Their remarkable stories evoke courage, horror, tragedy, patriotism, and incredible endurance, and give tribute to the resilient generation that survived the turmoil, reunited, and went forth to rebuild America.