Red Cap (book)
Encyclopedia
'Red Cap' is a historical fiction book, first published by G. Clifton Wisler in 1991
by Lodestar Books. It was published again in 1994 by Puffin Books.
The book takes placed during the Civil War
in 1862. Ransom J. Powell, a boy who lives in Frostburg, Maryland
, decides to join the Union Army
against his parent's will. He manages to lie, and convince people that he's 15, though he is small for his age of 13. At first, he is very excited and proud, but he soon realizes the brutal, bloddy horror of war. He is soon taken prisoner during a battle, and is taken to Camp Sumter, a Confederate camp. Over time, he watches all of his friends die one by one in the prison, but he keeps hope.
Danny Hayes - the other drummer boy, and R.J's best friend for some time. He is known by the everyone as a trickster and he obviously enjoy's this. He dies later on in the book during a rebel attack. He is only 14, though he's supposed to be 15.
Oliver "Ollie" Wilson - One of R.J's best friends before he joins the union army. Oliver is against slavery, and doesn't get along with the Enos Perkins as much since he is for slavery. He leaves to join the Fourth Maryland, United States forces. He is around R.J's age, but "around half a head taller".
The Perkin Brothers - Enos and Pat Perkins, two boys who grew up in R.J's hometown, who believe slavery is okay. Enos was around R.J's age, and one of his good friends. Enos is also said to be around Ollie's height. Pat was murdered in Culpepper, Virginia, and Enos' head was taken off by a cannonball in Manassas, Virginia
.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell - R.J's parents. They don't agree with the of him joining the war, and stop him at first, before he sneaks out. They have two daughters (Mary and Nancy), a little boy Jamie, R.J, and his father has an apprentice named Johny McDonald.
1991 in literature
The year 1991 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Douglas Coupland publishes the novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term Generation X as the name of the generation....
by Lodestar Books. It was published again in 1994 by Puffin Books.
The book takes placed during the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
in 1862. Ransom J. Powell, a boy who lives in Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
, decides to join the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
against his parent's will. He manages to lie, and convince people that he's 15, though he is small for his age of 13. At first, he is very excited and proud, but he soon realizes the brutal, bloddy horror of war. He is soon taken prisoner during a battle, and is taken to Camp Sumter, a Confederate camp. Over time, he watches all of his friends die one by one in the prison, but he keeps hope.
Characters
Ransom J. "R.J" Powell - the main character and narrarator of the book. He is small for his age, said to be small for a 12 year old at the age of 13. He becomes a drummer boy and is an icon of hope throughout the entire book.Danny Hayes - the other drummer boy, and R.J's best friend for some time. He is known by the everyone as a trickster and he obviously enjoy's this. He dies later on in the book during a rebel attack. He is only 14, though he's supposed to be 15.
Oliver "Ollie" Wilson - One of R.J's best friends before he joins the union army. Oliver is against slavery, and doesn't get along with the Enos Perkins as much since he is for slavery. He leaves to join the Fourth Maryland, United States forces. He is around R.J's age, but "around half a head taller".
The Perkin Brothers - Enos and Pat Perkins, two boys who grew up in R.J's hometown, who believe slavery is okay. Enos was around R.J's age, and one of his good friends. Enos is also said to be around Ollie's height. Pat was murdered in Culpepper, Virginia, and Enos' head was taken off by a cannonball in Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell - R.J's parents. They don't agree with the of him joining the war, and stop him at first, before he sneaks out. They have two daughters (Mary and Nancy), a little boy Jamie, R.J, and his father has an apprentice named Johny McDonald.