The American Civil War is an extremely complicated event. Supporters of southern secession believe that the Federal Government is acting in a dictatorial manner leading to tyranny. To their way of thinking, their rights are being suppressed by the Federal Government.
Northern supporters of the invasion of the South by the North believe that states cannot leave the Federal Compact. Additionally, allowing the South to secede would leave intact the violent and evil system of slavery. The "peculiar institution" as slavery is known in the South is a dehumanizing system that robs the humanity of both the enslaved and the white slave owners.
Because of all these conflicting ideas, the Civil War is inevitable. After war breaks out, thousands of soldiers are called to arms by both sides. In the North, the idea of black regiments begins to form. One of the most famous black regiments is the Fifth United States Colored Cavalry. Alison Hart writes a gripping account of the battle of the Fifth Cavalry at Saltville, Virginia. The name of this compelling story is "Gabriel’s Journey."
Thirteen-year-old Gabriel Alexander is a free black boy living on the Kentucky horse farm of Mister Winston Giles. Gabriel’s parents, Lucy and Isaac Alexander, live in a Union military post in Kentucky named Camp Nelson. Isaac has enlisted in the northern army and has been promoted to the rank of sergeant Company B of the Fifth Cavalry. Lucy works nearby as a washerwoman. Gabriel is an excellent horseman, having learned the craft from his gifted father.
After much inner turmoil about whether he should leave the farm and join his parents at a Union military base, he decides to attach himself to the northern army. He walks to Camp Nelson, where the Federals are stationed, and soon becomes the assistant to Captain Henry Waite, the white officer commanding the Company.
Lucy can’t believe her son has left such a comfortable position at the farm of Mister Giles, and begs him to return. Isaac also thinks his son is too young to live at a military base. But Gabriel is steadfast and soon earns the respect of Captain Waite by training his wild horse named Champion.
As the days pass, the black cavalrymen train hard for combat. They endure insults from the northern white soldiers and usually receive the worst equipment. But they are stalwart in their determination to fight in the war and end the evil system of slavery.
Soon word comes down from headquarters that a major attack is being planned for the salt works at Saltville, Virginia. While not completely trained, the Fifth Cavalry is assigned an important role in the battle. But first the entire army must march over a series of mountains in order to attack the Confederates in Virginia. Captain Waite tells Gabriel that he wants him to accompany Company B to Saltville. His task is to care for the horses if the cavalry has to dismount and fight. Full of vim and vigor, Gabriel prepares for battle and sets off with the Fifth United States Colored Cavalry. After several perilous days passing through the mountains approaching Saltville, the attack begins. Gabriel watches Company B disappear over a ridge into an infernal din of gun powder, bullets, artillery shells and agonized screams of wounded soldiers.
As the battle rages, a retreat is sounded. When Company B staggers back, Gabriel sees that his father and Captain Waite are missing. He must find them. Springing on the back of Champion, he rides straight into the battle where Confederate troops are already shooting wounded black soldiers and their white officers.
What happens to Gabriel? Does he find his father and Captain Waite? Is he captured? How can love and courage overcome fear and doubt? To find out, read this fictionalized yet gripping account of the Fifth United States Colored Calvary’s Battle of Saltville, Virginia.
This is the third book in Alison Hart "Ride to Freedom Trilogy." Gabriel Alexander is the central character in each book. The stories are exciting and Hart is able to write a compelling tale without resorting to profanity and vulgarity. Let us hope that she starts a trend. I hope you get a chance to read this or any of the other books in the series. They are well worth your time. Enjoy!
