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THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--AFLOAT
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TAKEN BY THE ENEMY WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES ON THE BLOCKADE STAND BY THE UNION FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT A VICTORIOUS UNION
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--ON LAND
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BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER IN THE SADDLE A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN (Other volumes in preparation)
Any Volume Sold Separately.Lee and Shepard Publishers Boston
"Three Cheers for Captain Passford" (Page 75)]
The
BLUE AND THE GRAY
Series
By Oliver Optic
TAKEN by the ENEMY
_The Blue and the Gray Series_
TAKEN BY THE ENEMY
by OLIVER OPTIC
Author of"The Army and Navy Series" "Young America Abroad""The Great Western Series" "The Woodville Stories""The Starry-Flag Series" "The Boat-Club Stories""The Onward and Upward Series" "The Yacht-Club Series""The Lake-Shore Series" "The Riverdale Series" "The Boat-Builder Series" etc.
_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers
Copyright, 1888, by Lee and Shepard _All rights reserved._
Taken by the Enemy.
To
My Nephew,
HERBERT W. ADAMS,
This Book
is Affectionately Dedicated.
PREFACE
"TAKEN BY THE ENEMY" is the first of a new series of six volumes whichare to be associated under the general title of "The Blue and the GraySeries," which sufficiently indicates the character of the books. At theconclusion of the war of the Rebellion, and before the writer hadcompleted "The Army and Navy Series," over twenty years ago, some of hisfriends advised him to make all possible haste to bring his war storiesto a conclusion, declaring that there could be no demand for such workswhen the war had come to an end. But the volumes of the series mentionedare as much in demand to-day as any of his other stories, though fromtheir nature the field of their circulation is more limited. Surprisingas this may appear, it is still the fact; and certainly the author hasreceived more commendatory letters from young people in regard to thebooks of this series than concerning those of any other.
Among these letters there has occasionally been one, though rarely, inwhich the writer objected to this series for the reason that he was "onthe other side" of the great issue which shook the nation to the centreof its being for four years. Doubtless the writers of these letters, andmany who wrote no letters, will be surprised and grieved at theannouncement of another series by the author on war topics. The writerhad little inclination to undertake this task; for he has believed fortwenty years that the war is over, and he has not been disposed to keepalive old issues which had better remain buried. He has spent some timein the South, and has always found himself among friends there. Hebecame personally acquainted with those who fought on the Confederateside, from generals to privates, and he still values their friendship.He certainly is not disposed to write any thing that would cause him toforfeit his title to the kind feeling that was extended to him.
It is not, therefore, with the desire or intention to rekindle the firesof sectional animosity, now happily subdued, that the writer beginsanother series relating to the war. The call upon him to use the topicsof the war has been so urgent, and its ample field of stirring eventshas been so inviting, that he could not resist; but, while his ownopinions in regard to the great question of five-and-twenty years agoremain unchanged, he hopes to do more ample justice than perhaps wasdone before to those "who fought on the other side."
The present volume introduces those which are to follow it, and presentsmany of the characters that are to figure in them. Though written fromthe Union standpoint, the author hopes that it will not be found unfairor unjust to those who looked from the opposite point of view.