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Teen Enlisted in Union Army After Being Sent for Firewood

By Capper's Staff
Published on October 4, 2012

Here is an interesting story concerning my grandfather who served in the Civil War.

At 16, his folks wanted him to stay at home, but he was insistent on joining the Union Army. One day his mother sent him for an armload of firewood, and instead of bringing the wood, he ran away and enlisted. He served three years, part of which was under Gen. Sherman, and then came home carrying the wood his mother had ordered three years before.

Mrs. T.W. Neil
Austin, Colorado


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then CAPPER’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from CAPPER’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.