This includes a sweet romance in a good history of the early part of the Civil War.
The Crossing, Last Cavaliers Series #1
by Gilbert Morris
BARBOUR PUBLISHING / 2011 / PAPERBACK
- Series: The Last Cavaliers (Book 1)
- Paperback: 366 pages
- Publisher: Barbour Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1602609071
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
In the years leading up to the Civil War, widower Daniel Tremayne leaves his wife's Cheyenne family and returns to the Virginia Amish settlement where he grew up. He joins the church and remarries, but his son Yancy has trouble conforming to civilized life and the rules of the church. He continues roaming the woods and hunting. When the war begins, he jumps into the fray, despite the community's pacifism. He is soon a lieutenant under General Stonewall Jackson. When Yancy rescues a Union soldier at Bull Run, he meets the man's sister, Lorena. Will Yancy finally find a home for his heart?
Review:
Yancy and his father, Daniel, had continued to live on the outskirts of his mother’s Cheyenne tribe after her death. But at age 13 Yancy is rejected by the tribe as a half breed. Daniel moves them back to his roots, an Amish community in Shenandoah, Virginia. Yancy quickly learns to love his strong hearted, but gentle in spirit, grandmother but he struggles with the restrictions of the strict Amish rules. Daniel agrees that Yancy can take a handy-man job in town working for Anna Jackson, the wife of Major Thomas Jackson. Yancy meets Major Jackson at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where the Major teachers.
The job outside of the community creates a problem with the Amish leaders especially after Major Jackson includes Yancy in some field activities of racing and shooting. The military activities are particularly against the Amish views of nonviolence. Yancy is excited to be offered a scholarship to VMI and goes with the blessing of his father and grandmother rather than remain and cause difficulties due to being shunned.
The story follows Yancy’s training with four good friends. When Virginia joins the Confederacy the four move serve under Jackson, with Yancy and Peyton being favored couriers. The young men declare themselves to be the “Stonewall boys” after General Jackson earns that nickname. Yancy rescues a Union soldier and becomes friends with the family outside of Richmond. He begins to fall in love with the daughter of the family but she suffered through a deceitful relationship and is very wary of men.
The history is fascinating and I appreciated (“enjoyed” would be an awkward word) the Southern war strategies and scenes. This is not the first story of the Civil War that comments on the differences of the Confederacy and Union military leaders. There are hospital scenes as well which are interesting, although difficult.
There are circumstances and events that make one think regarding the various communities: Cheyenne, Amish, ‘English’ and military. Yancy struggles with his understanding and acceptance of faith but a stark event brings him to a point of commitment. The romance is sweet and natural and adds a softer element to the balance out the violence of war.
The story starts rather slowly as the characters are introduced and the settings developed. It isn’t until midway that the pace picks up. I did like the characters and I loved the historical elements. The romance is very nice too. The writing style is clear, straight-forward and easy to read.
Gilbert Morris has written many Christian fiction books. I have only read one before but I hope to read more. I own eight of the Seven Sleeper Series and plan to get the two missing and read them with my Grandson. The members of my ladies’ book club enjoyed this book too. I recommend it particularly for those who like Civil War history.
This was our Ladies' Book Club read for May.
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