The Lost Army

Two boys from a modest Dubuque street stand on the brink of history. Jack Wilson and Harry Fulton, not yet sixteen, have spent a decade as schoolmates and workmates, their lives rooted in the steady rhythm of a Midwestern town. As the nation splinters over the question of Union and secession, they feel the pull of duty and adventure, daring each other to step forward and enlist.

The bustling recruiting office is a micro‑cosm of the era’s fervor: a soaring flag, heated debates, and a crowd of hopeful men convinced the war will be brief. Jack and Harry listen to arguments about the South’s resolve, the North’s industrial might, and the uncertain length of the conflict, their youthful optimism tempered by the seasoned voices around them. Their decision to join the ranks marks the start of a journey that will test the friendship forged in peace against the harsh realities of a nation at war.