The Reluctant Drummer

One of the few surviving veterans of the American Civil War, Joseph "Jos" Anthony has grown old and now lives in the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Grand Island, Nebraska. At age fifteen, he began his service as a drummer, but eventually became a full-fledged infantryman. During the course of the war, Jos served in twenty-four battles. His son, Henry, has come to visit, and has brought along two of his own sons, Alfred and his little brother Dick. Jos's wife, Esther, still lives on the family farm, but has gotten too old to go on living there alone. Henry has made this trip to help his mother move into an apartment in Saint Paul, and hopes to leave Dick with Grandpa while he and Alfred move Grandma into town. Jos is elated at the prospect of spending a few days with Dick and telling the boy all about his exploits in the Union Army, and Dick couldn't be more thrilled to hear Grandpa's tales. For several days, Jos delights his grandson with stories of battlefield heroism, glorious victories, and the heartbreaking loss of friends and comrades in arms, in this fact-based novel by Jos and Esther's great-grandson.