Cedar County

By Dr. Joe D. Dillsaver

In rural Cedar County, Missouri, the Sprague family manages to avoid the chaos of the Civil War--until a heated remark from their eldest son, Jesse, to a drunken Southern sympathizer sets off a chain of violent events. Soon after, Confederate scouts ambush the family, leaving Jesse's father badly wounded. With the help of his loyal friend Rooney, a young man with special needs, Jesse holds the farm together until his father recovers. But peace is short-lived. One summer evening, after walking his sweetheart Sissy home from a church service, Jesse is ambushed by Southern sympathizers. He narrowly escapes with Rooney's help and is forced to flee Cedar County. Determined to find a new path, Jesse heads south, hoping to reconnect with two friends serving in the Union Army. Along the way, he meets Chauncey, a spirited drummer boy, and Lena, a young woman who captures his attention. Together, Jesse and Chauncey narrowly escape a Confederate raiding party and make it to Monett, where Jesse is recruited as a scout. Back in Cedar County, Rooney struggles with Jesse's absence. When Sissy tragically dies, he sets off to find his friend and deliver the heartbreaking news. But upon reaching Monett, Rooney learns Jesse has been wounded and taken to Arkansas--accused of spying and sentenced to execution. Now, it's up to Rooney to do the impossible: rescue Jesse, nurse him back to health, and bring him home.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5WR51W2
• ISBN13: 9798319098429
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 412 Pages
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.9" x 5.5"