The Unfinished Work

Jacob Becker had a decision to make. Actually, he had several life altering decisions to make. First, there were the two Bigler girls, which should become his wife? Then, the war, for which side should he fight? He could see both points of view, but which one was right? His dilemma was not uncommon for the times; families were divided between North and South. Cousins fought each other on the battlefield, friends faced each other across battle lines, but Jacob never expected to battle across from his own father. Frank Meredith, author of The Unfinished Work, from Savannah Books (www.TheUnfinishedWork.com) masterfully spun a tale of love, war, and coming of age during the Civil War.

When Jake decided to fight for the South's right to govern itself, he left home as an idealistic youth, ready to fight for his beliefs and in the end, win the right to court the woman he thought he was in love with. He battled himself while making the decision to fight with the Virginia regiment, knowing he did not believe in slavery, but strongly believing in the country's right to govern itself and not be bullied by the North. His father, David, understood his son's reasons and gave his blessing for his son to fight for what he believed in.

"Though his heart felt like crumbling, David managed a smile," wrote Meredith. "Jake's reasoning seemed sound, and he truly believed he was following God's will. What more could a father ask?"

Before he left for the war, Jake visited with his intended sweetheart, Eliza Bigler, only to find himself intrigued by her younger sister, Kathleen. Kat had seemed to blossom into a young woman overnight, and the love for him that shone from her eyes warmed his heart in ways Eliza never had. Confused, Jake thought he would have time to sort that out during his time away. He soon found out how wrong he was. When Jake joined up with Confederate Jeb Stuart's cavalry, he was given the job of guiding the troops through his area of Pennsylvania, and he later served as a courier, shuttling messages back and forth among Stuart's generals.

Meanwhile, the Union army was traveling through Jake's hometown of Hanover. When the lead elements of Stuart's forces arrived, the first battle on northern soil broke out. David realized that his children and grandchildren would never be free of war if the country remained split in two. He joined the Union army on their way out of Hanover, headed for Gettysburg. David's hope was that he and his son would never see opposite sides of the same battle.

"David took a deep breath and joined the file of cavalry on the road west to Gettysburg," wrote Meredith. "For the first time in David's life, he prayed his son would keep his distance."

Meredith's story was full of historical facts and people. The battles were so finely crafted that you could almost smell the smoke and feel the heat of the blasts. The budding romance between Jake and the Bigler sisters brought welcome relief to the intensity of the battles and the emotions on both sides of the war. He easily made a case for the North and the South, leaving the choice of who was right up to the individual reader. The tragedy of war was clearly defined in the deaths of the brave soldiers on both sides of the war and the emotions of the families and friends who knew them. The battles of Hanover, Hunterstown, and Gettysburg were intricately weaved together and left no time to stop to take a breath. Anyone interested in history, romance, or human nature will find this book a non-stop source of information and entertainment.

Article Source: Articles World

About the Author

Suzanne J. Best is a staff writer at News & Experts.

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