Storybook-Civilwar-Marinacf10

All My Work

STORYBOOK

storyline: six year old girl with a father whose gone to fight in the war // (1) My name is Elizabeth Flox and I'm six years old. Today is the day that father told us that he would be leaving first thing tomorrow morning to participate in the war. I never really understood what that meant but all I know is that war means that people will fight each other and they will eventually die fighting. I begged father not to go but he wouldn't listen."Father why do you have to go fight in this war? Why can't you stay with me, mama, Meg, Alex, and Rich? We need you. You can't just leave!" while I said these words to him I felt tears running down my cheek. "Don't cry Bethie. I have to fight in the war. I have to fight for our country, for me and for us." papa said. I guess I sort of understand why he has to go now but I still don't want him to go. “Papa?” I asked "yes Elizabeth." "What would happen if you die in this war?" I asked him. He seemed to consider this for a moment and eventually he said, “If I die in this war then I want you to help take care of your mama, brothers and sister for me. Listen Bethie, I want you to remember that even if I do die I'll always be with you. Got it and don't forget." “I won't forget papa" I told him and with that I fell asleep.

(2) It has been two years since I've last seen papa. I've been helping mama around with the yard and our farm. Alexander and I are preparing for the winter. Alexander is my older brother he's almost 18. Father made him promise to not go fight in the war with him and even though he promises he had this distant look in his eyes as if he were thinking about something. "Alex, when is papa coming home?" I asked him one day when we were working out in the yard. "I don't know" was all he said. When he said those three words he got that distant look in his eyes again."Father wrote the other day when you were away." I told him. "He wrote that he hasn't fought yet but there will be a battle coming and he has to do everything to get ready. He said it'll be around Tennessee." I said He still hasn't said anything so I continued. “Brother, I'm sad." that got his attention. He asked me why was I sad. "Because didn't you hear me? Father is getting closer to fighting which means it’s getting closer to the day he might die." I said suddenly realizing my voice shaking at every word I said. “Don’t worry Elizabeth. Father won't die. He'll always be with us like he said." "I miss him" I told Alex and that’s when he came over to hug me and whispered." I miss him too"

(3) we’ve received another letter from father today. It said that he fought his first battle today and that he wasn't beaten or cut up too bad. I really hope he doesn't die in this war. He's been gone for two years so far. I just want him home with me, mama, and all of us. Before father left to go fight in the war, I asked him what side he was fighting for and he told me the union. I had asked him why he is fighting for the Union and he said it was because he believed that people should be free and no one should be able to own another person. I really hope the Union wins this war.

(4) Right now it is around the holiday season and my brother, sister, and I have been trying to help my mother get set up for the winter. We have been working extra hard this e. With some soldiers camping nearby we had to worry about the animals on our farm. The soldiers came by one day last week and they took our horse away. Mama and I grab as many chick eggs as we can and put them in a pillow case so no one would find them. We guarded the animals as much as we can but one day when we weren’t looking they stole one of our cows. I wish those soldiers would just leave and never come back.

(5) Father had written to me that the battle they had that day was tough. Today is December 24th, Christmas eve. Father is still not home and is off fighting. Papa wrote that he wished he could've come home especially at this time of year but I said I understand. He had a duty to his country and he couldn't stand back while everyone else fought. He told me that he had a duty to his family too and said shouldn’t have gone off to war and just stayed home. I told him that he was brave to go off to fight for something he believed in. Papa told me that he should've been brave enough to back down to the war and stayed home with the family. That night I had a lot to think about. I was told that being brave meant that you have to do something to stand up for what you believe in. I didn't know that the word "brave" could be use as in being brave to not do something.

(6) Today we received another letter from papa. We sat around the fireplace while mama read it out loud. **"Dear Elizabeth, Alex, Meg, Bethie, and Richard," ** Elizabeth is also my mother’s name just like how Alex is my papa's name. **"My Christmas was strange, if you can say." ** strange I thought, what could that mean. **"I hope your Christmas had been good. We had a battle that morning on Christmas Eve. But that wasn't the strange part. ** “Mama read.”Having to fight a battle on Christmas Eve isn't strange?" Richard said. “If that isn't strange then I don't know what strange is anymore." **"That night, after the battle, we were sitting by the campfire listening to military folks playing and singing to enlighten the mood." ** "How could that enlighten the mood?" Richard asked again. “They just fought a battle!" I just rolled my eyes. Richard could be clueless sometimes. **" **// //**I'll tell you that did not enlighten any of our moods. The only thing that has been on my mind was you guys, my family. I guess all the other men had the same thing in their minds. They and I including want to go home in peace and see our families. The military band has been playing Yankee Doodle while from across the woods we could hear the rebels playing Dixie. It’s become a song battle after that. Each side competing to play the loudest tune." ** "That’s weird." I said. "Aren’t they supposed to be having shooting battle instead of a song war?" "I agree." said Richard. Oh no I thought I'm turning into a Richard with asking all these questions. Ahh. I must've had a weird look on my face because Meg said “Liz are you alright?" yeah I'm fine. Meg is the only one who calls me Liz. Alex calls me either Bethie like papa or Elizabeth. Rich calls me Beth While mom call me my full name. "yeah, I'm fine." mom continued reading. **" later on, one of the band hit a wrong note and started playing "Home Sweet Home" we were all sad and the other band played together then before I knew it both s have put away their differences and sang together. That was my favorite moment since I entered the war. Seeing everyone put their differences aside and sing together with harmony. Love, Papa" ** // // That a great letter. That proved that we could all get along. This turned out to be my favorite story and I'm glad papa shared it with us.

(7) Today I've waited all day for father's letter but didn't receive one. He sends one every Monday of every week. I was kind of sad that we didn't get a letter. Today is December 31st. New Year’s eves. Last time father wrote he said that today would be the day he is fighting. He's at Stone's Rivers. Mama and I both wish that he could just come home but we both knew that wasn't going to happen. Father had a lot of pride in him and when he does something he is committed to it and wouldn't back down. That’s one of the things I love about my papa.

(8) This morning I was playing checker with Richard. He is 4 years younger than me. He may be 4 but he is really good at it. I'm 8 years old now. Meg was sitting on the couch reading a book while Alex was outside cutting down wood for the pot. Mama was cooking like usual. Someone knocked on the door." Elizabeth would you get that?" mama asked. "Sure" I got up to go to the door and I brought Richard with me so he wouldn't cheat. When I opened it an officer was standing there." Hi kids my name is Arnold, is your mother home?" "Mama? Someone’s at the door for you." When mama came to the door she and the officer stepped outside to talk. I had a feeling I knew what they were talking about. I watched them from the window and saw a tear slide down mama's cheek which made a tear come down my cheek. Alex was with them to and he seemed to be comforting mom." when they came inside mama told us what had happen and she said the papa has died doing a great deed. Alex had excused himself and went outside. I wouldn't blame him. The house felt emptier now than in the past months fathers been gone. It now feels sad, hollow and empty just like me.

(9) Today is April of 1865. It’s been two years since father has passed away. He died on January 1st, 1863 at Stone's River. The war has ended. I found out that Stone's River was the bloodiest battle fought west of the Appalachian. Mother remarried in the past two years to a man named Philip. Philip is a great guy and kind to my family. Richard started calling Philip dad but I can't seem to bring myself to call him that. Rich barely knew dad. He was only two years old when he left. He needed someone to call father so he chose Phil since he was the closes thing to a dad. The other day Phil taught me and Rich how to ride a horse and since the day papa died Alex has been very distant to everyone and the family. Just like me and Meg he calls Phil, Phil. I know Phil is a great guy but he just isn't my papa. Even though papa is gone he will always be with me like he said before he fought in the war.

(10) On April 9th 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. He surrendered the army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant. President Abraham Lincoln had plans for reconstruction in the south but sadly he was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Military rule was instituted until Rutherford B. Hayes officially ended Reconstruction in 1876. //