University of Virginia Library

Preface

THIS fourth volume of Source Readers attempts to Put before teachers and children the qualities of the Civil War period. It contains something of the spirit of North and South at the beginning of the war, and much about the life of the soldier and the citizen while it was going on, with some of the battle smoke and dust. If the Civil War was worth fighting, if it brought out heroic character, and abounded in gallant deeds, it is worth while for children of the present day to know some of the men and women of that time. No period in American history so abounds in lively narrative and in the principles and the achievement which have made the nation great. In this book the fathers are speaking to their children.