
In the turmoil of the Civil War, the story turns its gaze away from the roar of cannons to the quieter, steadfast efforts that kept the Union moving forward. It paints a vivid picture of towns, riverbanks, and bustling workshops where ordinary men and women supplied the lifeblood of the army—food, clothing, medicine, and unshakable moral support. The narrative reminds listeners that victory was forged not only on battlefields but also in the countless unseen acts of dedication that sustained those who fought.
At the heart of the tale is Christy Passford, a young naval lieutenant still healing from a wound he received aboard a gunboat in the Gulf. Fresh from a reflective morning at his family’s Hudson estate, Christy grapples with his sense of purpose, balancing personal recovery with a fierce commitment to the cause. His quiet determination and earnest devotion to duty set the tone for a journey that explores honor, sacrifice, and the many ways one can “fight for the right” without ever brandishing a sword.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (377K characters)
Series
Blue and the Gray--Afloat, book 5
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Louise Hope, David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library)
Release date
2006-07-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1822–1897
A 19th-century American storyteller and educator, he wrote lively adventure books for young readers under the pen name Oliver Optic. His tales of ships, schools, and moral choices made him one of the best-known juvenile authors of his era.
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