Rulon Owen loves two things more than life—his country and Mary Hilbrands.
When Virginia secedes from the Union, Rulon enlists, and finds himself fighting foes both in battle and in his own camp. He struggles to stay alive against all odds, with a knife-wielding tent-mate and a Union army that seems impossible to defeat. It will take every ounce of vigilance he has to survive and, with a little luck, he might make it home to his wife and the son he’s never seen.
Forced to live with her parents for the duration, Mary faces a battle for independence. With a mother whispering that her husband won’t come home to her and a son who needs her to be both father and mother, Mary has to dig deep for strength to overcome her overwhelming loneliness and the unknown future ahead.
Separated by war and circumstance, Rulon and Mary discover that not all enemies wear the Union blue.
The Owen Family Saga
A novel
Marsha Ward
© Copyright 2014 Marsha Ward
http://marshaward.com
Cover Design by Linda Boulanger
http://www.telltalebookcovers.weebly.com
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Dedication and Acknowledgements
Connect Online with Marsha Ward
Dedication and Acknowledgements
For the readers, without which writers have no reason for being.
With grateful thanks to Becky Rohner, Julia Griffin, Connie Wolfe and Justin Knudsen for their suggestions; to C. Michelle Jefferies, Carol Crigger, Bill Markley, Patricia Nipper, and C. David Belt for their endorsements; to Taffy Lovell and Deb Eaton—who won naming rights for several characters—for the use of family and other names; and to all those who have encouraged me to keep writing.
Notes and Disclaimers
Since the Shenandoah River flows south to north to empty into the Potomac River, locals refer to points south on the river as up, and points north as down. Thus, one would go up to Harrisonburg from Mount Jackson, and down to Winchester. It’s an elevation thing.
You will encounter words and phrases used differently here than in our century. Dear in one instance means costly. Make love to means pay court to, except where it doesn’t. You will know the difference. I use the term secesh early on as an adjective. It was slang for secessionist. Waynesborough, Spottsylvania, and Harper’s Ferry are spellings used in those times. Many people did not adhere to established spelling norms, although they considered themselves literate.
For purposes of story, the details of some military encounters may not align exactly with the historical record. I have, however, made such attempts as were possible after almost two years of intensive research, to use existing accounts with as much accuracy as possible in regards to troop movements, skirmishes, battles, and the like in this novel.
Where I have had characters enroll in military units, they are actual companies in actual regiments and brigades. Their commanders are genuine, in most cases.
The notable exception is the cavalry company raised by the character Roderick Owen. It is entirely fictitious, although I have inserted the “Owen Dragoons” into actual encounters with enemy forces.
The Owen Family of Shenandoah County, Virginia
Roderick Owen, farmer, horse breeder
Julia Helm Owen, his wife, whom he calls Julie
Rulon – age 20, sometimes called Rule
Benjamin – age 19
Peter – age 17
Carl – age 16
James – age 14
Marie – age 13
Clayton – age 11
Albert – age 10
Julianna – age 8, also called Jule or Anna
The Hilbrands Family of Mount Jackson, Virginia
Randolph Hilbrands, merchant
Amanda Hilbrands, his wife
Mary – age 14
Ida – age 13
Sylvia – age 11
India – age 7
Eliza – born late in 1861
The Allen Family of Shenandoah County, Virginia
Theodore Allen, wealthy businessman and landowner
Louisa Allen, his wife
Merlin, their son, who doesn’t play much of a role
Ella Ruth, their daughter – age 16, who does
Ren Lovell, corporal in Rulon’s company
Owen Leoyd, private soldier in Rulon’s company
Garth Von, private soldier in Rulon’s company
Vernon Earl, from whom Rulon learns a valuable skill