Stand by the Union

As the nation tears itself apart, young Christy Passford prepares to serve the Union. But before he even reaches the front lines, a far more personal betrayal awaits him aboard the ship Vernon: his own cousin Corny has stolen Christy’s name, rank, and identity, pursuing a treachery that could endanger the Northern cause. Now Christy must fight a two-front battle, defending his honor while proving his loyalty to a country that doesn’t yet know the man wearing its uniform is an imposter. The identity theft at the novel’s core transforms this Civil War tale into something stranger and more urgent than a typical historical adventure. What begins as a patriotic coming-of-age story twists into a mystery of mistaken identity, family betrayal, and the question of what it truly means to stand by the Union when even your own blood has turned against you. Written for young readers in the late 19th century, the novel pulses with adventure and moral clarity, offering a window into how Americans once imagined their Civil War: as a proving ground where character, not just courage, determines who deserves to wear the uniform.