Prisoner of War: A Civil War Short Story

By Haley Whitehall

Thomas Lindt was eating breakfast at his sister's house when a knock at the door turned his life upside down. Union soldiers have taken possession of their Southern town and have orders to torch the place. Taken prisoner, Thomas is surprised to know one of the Yankee colonels. His old friend offers him a temporary parole. Can he set his sister's life back to rights before his time runs out?

What is ahead in his future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Expanding Horizons Press
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386851196

Book preview

Blurb

Prisoner of War is a Civil War Short Story of approximately 6,000 words. Published in the short story collection Brother Against Brother it is now available as a stand-alone title.

Thomas Lindt was eating breakfast at his sister's house when a knock at the door turned his life upside down. Union soldiers have taken possession of their Southern town and have orders to torch the place. Taken prisoner, Thomas is surprised to know one of the Yankee colonels. His old friend offers him a temporary parole. Can he set his sister's life back to rights before his time runs out?

What is ahead in his future?

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Prisoner of War

A knock at the door disturbed my early morning breakfast. Jim passed me the biscuits and then stood.

Narcissa motioned for him to sit back down. I’m already up. I’ll get it. You boys eat. Narcissa strolled to the door carrying baby Gwen in her arms.

She opened the door and screamed. Gwen cried. She buried her tear streaked face against her mama’s chest.

Jim and I ran to see what was wrong.

My heart ground to a halt. A Yankee captain stood at the door. His steely brown eyes looked past Narcissa to me.

I sucked in air. The barn was on fire, the yard with teaming with Union soldiers. Had I brought this on? Luckily, my brother-in-law hadn’t enlisted. But I had and I knew my gray uniform wouldn’t be well received. Without being asked, I handed the captain my pistol I had stuck in the front of my trousers and surrendered.

Glad you could join us, Reb. Anyone else inside?

No, sir.

Good because we’re torching the place.

No! Jim said. He tried to punch the captain, but I stopped him. I held his arms until he reined in his anger. He breathed heavily, shooting daggers at the Union officer. We didn’t need to cause more trouble. If he acted