Mr. Lincoln's Drummer

Rating:
Summary: Drummer Boy From Vermont
Review: A boy, somewhere in Vermont, never thought he would be in the Civil War. Willie Johnston impulsively enrolls in the army. Although too young to be a soldier, he enlists as a drummer boy with little experience. Willie is not the only Johnston going to Virginia to fight. His father also went with him. Willie meets many friends and struggles along the way.
When Willie arrives in Virginia with his father, he learns, to his disappointment, that he and his father will be separated into two different Companies. To top it off, his new friend and cabin mate, Russ, dies in their first battle. But there are a few positive things that happen. He meets Julian, who works at a small hospital. He also befriends Jeb, a soldier from the south side, who trades products such as tobacco, blankets and other things needed from side to side.
Now all Willie has to do is overcome the many obstacles of war. I suggest this book to people who love the Civil War. G. Clifton tells a heroic story of a young boy.

6th grade student from OHES

Rating:
Summary: An Eye-Opener
Review: I read this book in the summer of 1999. It opened my eyes to history and I have now developed such a love for history and deep interest in the Civil War that many have called me a "Civil War Buff" and now actively take part in Civil War re-enactments with a Confederate artillery unit. Now I'm much older. Mr. Wisler, thank you so much for this book. It has truly changed my life.

P.S. I met you once at the Missouri Literature Festival a few years ago. Thanks for being so nice! (A lot of the other authors were pretty mean to us)

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Lincoln's Drummer book review by Alex
Review: My spirits weren't lifted when we entered the anchorage off Fort Monroe. A sea battle had taken place there recently, and the U.S.S. Cumberland, a big sailing ship, had been sunk by the rebel ironclad Merrimack. The Cumberland's masts still stuck up above the water, and a flag blew bravely from one of them. That both saddened us and cheered us. I couldn't help thinking about the drowned sailors, but that defiant flag put us in a fighting mood.

In G. Clifton Wisler's Mr. Lincoln's Drummer, ten-year-old Willie Jonston joins the Civil War as a drummer boy. His job is to signal retreat, breakfast, and other things. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is a tough fighter. The general for the Union, Ulysses S. Grant, is just as strong. In the beginning, Lincoln isn't doing very well. He lost the first few battles. By the time Willie came, the war had gotten very rough. One day, the battle of the two ironclads took place. The Union lost many battles. Will Willie survive this dangerous war, or will he fail? Although the main character in this book may be a boy, this book isn't only for boys. Girls that are interested in the Civil War may also like this book because that is what this book is about. This book is probably best for fourth graders because in fourth grade, we learn about the Civil War.