by Oliver Optic
PREFACE
"AN UNDIVIDED UNION" is the sixth and last volume of the "Blue andGray--On Land" series. Like its predecessors it relates the adventuresof the Riverlawn Cavalry, a Union regiment, raised in Kentucky, andparticipating in the daring campaigns undertaken by the Army of theCumberland. The fifth volume of the series left the regiment atMurfreesboro, after most gallant service performed at the battle ofStone River; in the present book is given an account of the operationsaround Murfreesboro, before Tullahoma, and through the bloody battles ofChickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and othercontests leading up to Sherman's famous March to the Sea.
As in the other stories of this series, Deck Lyon has again come to thefront as a daring hero, but his achievements are closely seconded by hisfoster brother, Artie, and by the firm friend of the two, Captain LifeKnox. If Deck does some smart things, it must be remembered that he wasa smart young man or he would not have risen to be senior major, firstbattalion, of the Riverlawns. Besides this, the major still had with himhis famous charger, Ceph, a steed with almost human intelligence oncertain points, and one that had helped him to escape from many aperilous position.
In the completion of this work some thirty authorities have beenconsulted, including the Government Records, records of the Army of theCumberland, and biographies of the principal generals on both sides whotook part in the various operations. Thus the book has been made, froman historical standpoint, as accurate as possible. It may be that errorshave crept in, but if so it is hoped that they will not be of sufficientimportance to mar the general usefulness of the volume, outside of itsvalue as a bit of fiction.
