The Scouts of Stonewall

MP3 Audio CD. The Civil War Series written by Joseph Alexander Altsheler is a juvenile historical fiction work that consists of 8 books covering the American Civil War. The Scouts of Stonewall is the third book of the series and tells the story of the war in the southern part, following a young man, Harry Kenton.

Kenton is a lieutenant that proves to be very brave and catches the attention of the famous General Stonewall Jackson. The general had discovered Harry on a scout patrol in the Shenandoah Valley. The Invincibles of South Carolina, led by Stonewall, experience great casualties in the Battle of Bull Run, but the General knows the war is not lost.

Kenton becomes somehow indispensable to the General who praises his devotion every time he gets the chance. The young lieutenant is bold, defies the challenges he meets on the way without hesitation and inspires his fellow soldiers. He escapes death several times, which makes him even more courageous.

Most of the historical facts presented by Altsheler in the book are accurate to the detail. The style is very well adapted to the young audience and makes it an easy read. Even if intended for an adolescent public, the book is widely enjoyed by adults as well, especially by those with a keen interest in war literature.

Joseph Alexander Altsheler was born on the 29th of April, 1862, in Kentucky. He was an editor and newspaper reporter, but is famous for his juvenile historical fiction novels. He wrote seven series on different historical subjects, gathering a total of thirty-two novels. The most notable are: The French and Indian War Series, The Civil War Series, The Texan Series, The Great West Series, The World War I Series. He also wrote short stories and two non-fictional works. He died in June, 1919.