The DeserterRobert Koch's gripping Civil War novel of a young man working out his relationships -- to his country in the midst of war, his heritage of faith, his father, and his sweetheart.Joseph King, like many patriotic young men in the Civil War summer of 1862, enlists in the Union Army.Before long he is faced with violence and the death of friends in the battle at South Mountain, near Frederick, Maryland. For the first time, the teachings of his Mennonite minister father about Jesus' way of nonresistance and love for the enemy begin to make sense. When he lands in prison after deserting the army, he realizes he may never get to live out his newfound convictions. |
Common terms and phrases
army asked aware Ben King Ben's breath buggy Carey cell chest chuckled Claude Fournier coffee dark deserter doctor door eyes face father feel feet fell fingers gave geant glanced gone grin hand hardtack haversack Hawkins's he'd head heard heart heart attack Hetty horse Joseph felt Joseph King Joseph River Kalamazoo Kate knew Lafayette Baker lamp laughed light lips looked Lovina McClellan Mennonite Michigan mind mother mouth moved never nonresistance Old Capitol Old Capitol Prison pain Prince prison pulled Rachel rain Randall realized ride Robert Mulligan Rose Second Bull Run seemed seph Sergeant Hawkins shivered shook shoulder sighed smile soldier sound South Mountain stared started step stood stopped suddenly sunshine surprise tears telegram tell thing thought took train trees turned voice window wondered words wound Zack Zack's Zook