An Undivided Union

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25440

Title

An Undivided Union

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set during the Civil War, this final volume of the "Blue and the Gray—On Land" series follows the Riverlawn Cavalry, a Union regiment from Kentucky, as they participate in daring campaigns against Confederate forces. Major Deck Lyon and his foster brother Artie navigate battles from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga, showcasing bravery, loyalty, and the enduring spirit of an undivided Union.

Summary up to 500 words

An Undivided Union serves as the concluding volume of Oliver Optic's "Blue and the Gray—On Land" series, completed posthumously by Edward Stratemeyer. The narrative follows the Riverlawn Cavalry, a Kentucky regiment led by the daring Major Deck Lyon and his cousin, Captain Artie Lyon. Following the exhausting Battle of Stone River, the regiment faces logistical challenges and Confederate raids around Murfreesboro before advancing through the campaigns at Tullahoma, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga. The story highlights the resilience of the Union forces and the unbreakable bond between the Lyon brothers, supported steadfastly by Captain Life Knox. A significant portion of the plot involves a deceptive Confederate escape through underground waterways and caves near the Tennessee River. Major Lyon tracks a retreating enemy force that has vanished from sight, only to discover they have ridden through a subterranean passage leading to a swamp. In a climactic engagement, the Confederates, led by a surveyor from Montgomery, attempt to flee into the swamp but are cornered. During the ensuing fight, Major Lyon's famous charger, Ceph, saves his master from bayonets by trampling an attacker, contributing to the capture of the enemy force and the recovery of Union prisoners. As the war nears its end in April 1865, the narrative shifts to the mustering out of the regiment. The book concludes with a celebration at Lyndhall, where Rosebel Greene marries the soldier she nursed back to health, and Kate Belthorpe becomes Mrs. Dexter Lyon. The veterans hold a grand reunion, where Colonel Dexter Lyon offers a powerful toast to an "Undivided Union." This final message emphasizes the author's moral stance against evil and his enduring dedication to preserving the nation's unity, reflecting the series' consistent theme of loyalty and the preservation of the United States.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25440.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25440.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-02 19:25 UTC

Categories

• History
• Fiction