"The Tree of Appomattox" is a historical fiction novel by Joseph A. Altsheler that takes place during the American Civil War. The novel follows the story of Harry Kenton, a young Confederate officer, and his comrades as they fight for the Southern cause. The story begins with the Confederate Army under the command of General Robert E. Lee retreating from Gettysburg after a crushing defeat. Harry and his friends are a part of the Army of Northern Virginia, and they witness the devastating loss suffered by their fellow soldiers. As the story progresses, Harry and his comrades participate in several key battles. They experience the brutal realities of war, including the loss of friends and the horrors of battlefield injuries. In the final battle at Appomattox, Harry and his friends find themselves on the brink of defeat. They are forced to make difficult decisions about whether to continue fighting or surrender. In the end, they choose to surrender, and Harry reflects on the war and the sacrifices made by both sides. "The Tree of Appomattox" is a gripping tale of the Civil War, full of vivid descriptions of battles and personal struggles. It portrays the complexity of the conflict and the toll it took on the soldiers who fought it. The novel also offers a glimpse into the political and social climate of the time, highlighting the tensions and divisions that led to the war and continued to shape the country in its aftermath.
Joseph A. Altsheler was born on April 29, 1862, in Three Springs, Hart County, Kentucky, to Joseph and Louise Altsheler. He was a newspaper reporter, editor, and author of popular juvenile historical fiction. He wrote fifty novels and at least fifty-three short stories. Seven of his novels were in sequence. He worked as an editor at the Louisville Courier-Journal in 1885. In 1892, he started to work for New York World and then as the editor of the World's tri-weekly magazine. He wrote children’s stories due to a lack of suitable stories. On May 30, 1880, Altsheler married Sarah Boles and had a son named Sidney. In 1914, during World War I Altsheler and his family were in Germany and they were forced to remain there. Altsheler died at the age of 57, on June 5, 1919, in New York. His wife, Sarah Boles died after 30 years. Their bodies are buried at the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. Although each of the thirty-two novels constitutes an independent story, Altsheler suggested reading in sequence for each series (that is, he numbered the volumes). You can read the remaining eighteen novels in any order.
