Novel Guide: Charley Skedaddle
Story Synopsis
Charley Quinn is a twelve-year-old boy living in New York City and is part of a gang known as the Bowery Boys. His older brother, Johnny, had been part of this same gang and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. Charley idolized his older brother. As Charley is watching a parade he recognizes one of Johnny's "friends", Con Sullivan. Charley joins the parade and the men on their journey to Virginia. On the boat ride Charley is befriended by Jem Miller. Jem tells Charley that Con probably joined for the bounty money.
After reaching Virginia, Charley joins the 140th Regiment as a drummer boy. He learns dozens of drum beats to help the army communicate with the soldiers. After two months the Army of the Potomac plans to march through the Wilderness to a clear area. The Confederates surprise them in the Wilderness, however. The 140th was separated by the thick underbrush and trees. Charley helped bring them back together by his drum rolls. The 140th charged the enemy and Charley's drum was destroyed by a mine ball. He saw Jem Miller shot and killed, so he picked up Jem's musket and fired at a Confederate. He saw a Confederate clutch at his shoulder and fall. Charley skedaddled and was jeered at by the other Union soldiers.
Charley was captured by the Confederates but was released when a Confederate officer refused to send him to Andersonville. Charley escaped into a thicket and hid there with a rabbit until the fires and smoke from the battle drove him out. He must forage for food and water and attempt to head north.
Charley finds himself in the Blue Ridge Mountains at a small group of buildings. He attempts to steal eggs but is startled by a goose and is held by Granny Bent. She is a "wise woman" who helps others with her herbs. She keeps Charley to help with the chores and warns him not to talk as others would recognize that he was not from the area and might shoot him.
During their first trip to town Charley is tripped by Cois MacRae and challenged to fight. Cois does not fight as Charley expects and Charley loses. When they meet again at a church gathering and Cois bothers Sarie Griffin, Charley again fights him and this time he wins. He feels he has done right.
When Granny Bent goes to help others, she locks Charley in the hen house. He gets out but stays at the farm. Charley becomes very proud of all the things he has learned to do. One night Granny locks him in the hen house after hearing a hoot owl. Charley escapes and spies on Granny and her visitor, a black Union soldier, Thad Porter. After Thad leaves Charley confronts her and she explains that she and her late husband had been stations on the Underground Railroad and that Thad had been a young boy when they had helped him.
Christmas was celebrated on January 6 in the mountains. Charley gave Granny a whistle he had carved. She called him by his name. She also allowed him to shoot her antique rifle as this was a custom for this day.
In the spring Granny Bent was needed as a midwife. While she was gone a "painter" or panther killed many of the chickens. Concerned about her not returning Charley decides to go look for her. He is attacked by the painter and kills it with the antique rifle. He rescues Granny who has fallen into a ravine. Both these events prove that Charley is not a coward.
Web Sites
This site is the Civil War Gazette and gives information on how to create your own Civil War newspaper.
This site is WONDERFUL! Your one stop shopping Civil War Center.
This sit happens to include Lncoln's Gettysburg Address in 28 languages among other things.
Full Lesson Plan
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