Red Cap

by G. Clifton Wisler

Book Overview

R.J. thought that war would be the ultimate adventure--until he was in the middle of it.

In 1862, thirteen-year-old Ransom J. Powell lies about his age and joins the Union Army as a drummer boy. At first, he is thrilled to be defending his country, but by the time he has been in his first skirmish he sees war for the brutal horror that it is. Then he and his regiment are captured and taken to Camp Sumter, a Confederate prison. With its disease...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140369368
• ISBN13: 9780140369366
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Amazing!!!

When I was in 4th grade we read this book, I was extremly interested in this book, after we finished reading the book I told my mom she HAD to buy me this book for my birthday. I read it about 6-7 times over the years (yes I am a bookworm), I would absolutely recommend to people that like reading about historic events like war. To this day it's the best book I've ever read.

Great History Novel!

I personally loved "Red Cap." If you're reading this for school, you (or your teacher) picked a good choice! I even wrote a basic summary of the book (if you're writing a book report or something and you just can't think of what to write!). You can thank me later. ;) This is a story about a young Yankee drummer, Ransom J. Powell that left his home because all of his friends were signing up for the army. Ransom wasn't allowed by his parents to become a drummer in the army because of his lack of height, and because he was too young. He left home without telling his family to become one of the Union Army's drummers. He said that he was 15 when he was really only 13, and he was very short, so some people had suspicions. He didn't think or know that war would be the terrible, horror occurrence that it is. Ransom's home is in Frostburg, Maryland. Mostly, the book takes place in Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland. Ransom traveled to Piedmont, on the Maryland-Virginia border to sign up for the Union Army. This story took place in 1862; during the civil war period. Later in the story, Ransom is captured in a side battle (known now as the Battle of Moorefield Junction in January of 1864) and is shipped by train into Libby Prison camp, Andersonville from Richmond. The most important historical people mentioned in the book are Ransom Powell (Red Cap), Lewis Jones, and Captain Wirz. One of the 2 most important conflicts in the novel is the fighting against the rebs. The rebs constantly attacked the Union Army when the Union Army traveled through (Winchester) Virginia, and on the steep, rocky soil of Droop Mountain. They even killed Ransom's friend Danny, who was also a drummer, and at age 14, lied about his age. Ransom was very upset about this and had a hard time overcoming his friends' death. Another important conflict was at Andersonville. Ransom was against the nature, his shelter, and the fatigue that his body suffered. To him, it was like a nightmare; he was starving, not clothed well, and the guards abused him. There were also mosquitoes and deadly blood-thirsty centipedes, which only added to the problem-Ransom felt terrible all the time. The most important decision in this novel is when Ransom decides to leave his home, like his friends, to join the Union Army, at only age 13 and barely over 4 and a half feet tall. Even though his friends were killed in the war, he wanted to go too, to prove himself. He left at night when his parents were sleeping to head for Piedmont. The novel ended when the Union Army wanted to trade naval prisoners. Ransom lied and said he was one and was sent back home. Ransom also was given money-close to a hundred and twenty dollars-for his fighting in war and every day he was in Libby Prison. There weren't any unresolved issues-Ransom was happy because soon he was going to be sent home. Ransom was shipped back by a fourth-class carriage that traveled to Cumberland, Maryland so he could go see his family

My thoughts on Red Cap

who said that history wasn't for children?Red Cap was a great story of how an underaged boy was able to sneak into the Union Army during the Civil War and become a drummer-boy. The suspense carries you from the very beginning of the story, through all of Ransom's (main character) prison experience, all the way to the very last page. All of Ransom's friends and company-mates are dying of diseases such as scurvy-will he be the next victim? Read and find out!G. Clifton Wisler did a great job of making every single character believable and with their own special personalities. Also, every situation seemed like it was actually unfolding as you read. It was a great book and I give Red Cap 5 stars!!

A book well worth reading

Though I agree with the reviewers who say this book starts out slowly, it packs quite a punch. In part, for me, the punch was that I have been to Andersonville, in fact, I bought my copy at the Gift Shop there. I went to several Civil War battlefields this summer, Andersonville was different, more like a concentration camp. It's been a long time since I read every war book I could find, but I was glad I bought and read this one. Ranny's story is at once general and specific, innocent and world-weary, like him.

the book was very believable even though it was fictional

i loved the book even though there wasn't anything about the confederat solidiers of alabama after leaving camp sumpter OVERALL it was a great book