What is Gettysburg by Morning about?
One young woman’s courage will change the course of history.
Gettysburg by Morning vividly brings to life the turbulent era of the Civil War through the eyes of teenage firebrand Eloise Jacobson. On July 4, 1861, Eloise delivers a rousing speech in Concord, Massachusetts, condemning the South’s attack on Fort Sumter and denouncing the horrors of slavery. Her impassioned words inspire her brother Edward to enlist in the Union Army. But when their father, a proud descendant of a Revolutionary War veteran, unexpectedly dies, Edward flees, abandoning his patriotic duty. Shattered by her brother’s betrayal, Eloise returns to the family’s telegraph office, resigned to a life of monotony.
Determined to restore her family's honor, Eloise makes a bold and unthinkable decision: she will take Edward’s place on the battlefield. Disguised as a man, she enlists in the renowned Massachusetts 20th Regiment, enduring the brutal realities of war—from harrowing skirmishes to the blood-soaked fields of Gettysburg. Her exceptional telegraph skills soon catch the attention of General George Custer, and she finds herself working directly with President Abraham Lincoln in the heart of the White House war room.
In a poignant twist of fate, Lincoln stumbles upon a newspaper article recounting Eloise’s Independence Day speech, drawing inspiration from her powerful words for his iconic Gettysburg Address.
This riveting novel explores themes of women’s courage, sacrifice, and patriotism during one of the most defining moments in American history. Featuring historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, George Custer, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Gettysburg by Morning immerses readers in the Civil War, following a determined young woman who risks everything to fight for her country’s future.
With over 200 documented cases of women disguising themselves as men to fight in the Civil War, this story shines a light on the untold acts of bravery that helped shape a nation.