Across Five Aprils

Across Five Aprils
Irene Hunt
Historical novel
Pages read 212/212

Summary

Many men offers the Creightons a helping hand and help their recovery. A soldier named Dan Lawrence visit the Creigtons and tell them that Tom passed away at the battle of Shiloh but died instantly without pain which relieved them at the least. Ross Milton publishes a letter in his paper to the men who harassed Creightons saying that Matt Creighton has not only suffered the loss they made, but the loss of his son who died in battle as a Union soldier and they are nothing more than people who damage a man's property and hide.

The war seems to be advantagous for the Union in 1862 and the men who are helping the Creightons talk about the war with different perspective as they work while Jethro does the errands. The Creightons receive a letter from Shadrach saying that soldiers are loyal to General McClellan and he does not wish to send his loyal soldiers to death resulting in another defeat. Ambrose Burnside, a general assumes his job but creates another tragedy He causes numerous deaths of his soldiers and was stopped by generals of lower rank from causing more death. Shadrach says that the Union soldiers lost faith in their leaders and that deserters began to pour out.

Armed deserters gathered at a place called "Point Prospect" and foraged and stole food to survive. Some time later, a man named Hig Phillip who hired someone to fight in the war instead of him with no good reason, is murdered by these former soldiers which made people grow afraid. One night, men from Federal Registrars visit the Creightons and say that Eb is likely to be a deserter and search the house but finds nothing. The tell them to report to them if they see him and leave. When Jethro was plowing his field, he hears a strange racket and finds Eb hiding. Eb says that he had to leave after seeing so many deaths but regrets having left and refuses to go to his house because he might cause trouble. Some time later, they receive a letter from Lincoln that says that deserters can rejoin the army and Eb gladly follows. Then, the Creightons are informed that at the battle of Gettysburg, Shadrach was severly injured and Ross Milton suggests that she visits him and agrees to accompany her and they leave the next morning. After a few months, Jenny and Shadrach ask for permission to marry and Matt permits it.

Nancy gets worried about John who fought in the battle of  Chickamauga, in which only one union army held on. At last, Nancy hears receives a letter from John that he is in that army and is told about John's story about in the war. Meanwhile, Lincoln announces that he will let the confederates join the Union if they swear by the constitution and the reelection begins. As for the war, although Grant was losing to Lee, he does not give up and redirects his army to Petersburg, a city with railroads that Lee uses to supply his army. After a while, the Union navy sends a Confederate ship sinking one after the other. Sherman's ship disappears and Lincoln is reelected. The north loses two battles in Nashville, and John sends a letter that he was in the second one and that he saw bill when he was taking care of the rebel prisoners. He says that Bill said to send word that he did not fire the bullet that killed Tom.

Suddenly, in December, Sherman wires Washington and tells them about his arch from Atlanta to the ocean. After a few weeks, the news of Sherman's army eating all the food and burning everything in their way spread. Sherman's army changes route to the norht to face Grant, to South Carolina. People predict that the war will soon end in Union victory because the confederate will be near its end after crossing 300 miles of enemy territory. However Ross Milton tells Jethro to be wary of the fact that the scars of the war will take time to heal.

Finally, in April, the war ends and the two men sign peace in a courthouse. Everyone celebrates, the southerners, northerners, including the Creightons but soon hears the death of the president. Jethro fulfills his duty in the fields quietly and Shadrach appears. He tells him that he will be coming with him and Jenny to study. Jethro worries about his family after he is gone but Shadrach tells him that it is what his family wants. Jethro is pleased and reunites with his sister in the house of Creightons.

Reflection

I think it is a reasonable ending that not all of Jethro's brothers were able to come back from the conflict "Civil War". There might have been some conflicts between the Union and the Rebs as well as between the Creightons but it was good to see "the scars of the war" heal and resolve.

Passage

"Yes let's go see Jenny," Jethro said huskily.

This passage shows Jethro's development from a child to a man after 4 years due to the war. The word "huskily" describes Jethro more like a man than a 13 years old boy.