The Battle of Gettysburg,1863 - Chapter 1 - July 2, 1863

Sep 29, 2026

Survival stakes unfold at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 through the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy, Thomas, newly torn from slavery on a Virginia farm. Three weeks earlier, Thomas struggles to help on Knox’s farm and tries to find food, until war collides with his life. When a cannonball destroys an ammunition wagon, Thomas is wounded and forced to flee, only to face a charging rebel soldier.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages116

Reading Time2 h 59 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 1

July 2, 1863 - A Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Chapter 2

Three Weeks Earlier - Late Afternoon, Knox's Farm, Oak Ridge, Virginia

ATLANTA-FULTON PUBLIC LIBRARY VED THE BATTLE OFGETTYSBURG,1863 by LaurenTarshis SCHOLASTI Do you have what it takes to survive? www.scholastic.com/ISurvivedWww.laurentarshis.com NV3 1SBN 978-0-545-45939-5 50499 # THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG,1863 THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC,1912 THE SHARK ATTACKS OF 1916 HURRICANE KATRINA,2005 THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR,1941 THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE,1906 THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER ll,2001 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG,1863 THE BATTLE OFGETTYSBURG,1863 by Lauren Tarshisillustrated by Scott Dawson Scholastic Inc. # TO KAREN TARSHIS,MY BEAUTIFUL MOM Ifyou purchased this book without a cover,you should be aware that this bookis stolen property.It was reported as “unsold and destroyed”to the publisher,and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this“stripped book.” No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,ortransmitted in any form or by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without written permission of the publisher.For infor-mation regarding permission,write to Scholastic Inc.,Attention:PermissionsDepartment,557 Broadway,New York,NY 10012. ISBN 978-0-545-45936-5 Text copyright ◎2013 by Lauren TarshisIllustrations copyright ◎2013 by Scholastic IncAll rights reserved.Published by Scholastic Inc.SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/orregistered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. 1415161718/0 Printed in the U.S.A.First printing,January 2013Designed by Tim Hall # CHAPTER1 JULY 2,1863 A BATTLEFIELD IN GETTYSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA It was the battle of Gettysburg,the biggest andbloodiest of the Civil War. Mighty armies from the United States'Northand South were fighting to the death.Cannonsshook the ground and set the sky on fire.Bulletsflew through the air like deadly raindrops. And in the middle of it all stood an eleven- year-old boy named Thomas. Just three weeks before,Thomas had been aslave living on a farm in Virginia.And now hewas on this battlefield in Pennsylvania,trying tohelp the Northern soldiers,who were fighting sohe could be free. Thomas had come to bring the men moreammunition for their rifles.He had to get awayfrom here.He needed to get back to his littlesister,who was waiting where it was safe. But then a huge cannonball came sailing throughthe air.It crashed into an ammunition wagon. Kaboom! Flames shot up.Tree branches turned intotorches.Razor-sharp strips of metal and nailsflew through the air,stabbing Thomas in the legand cutting his forehead.He dove for cover,rolling down a slippery hill.Gun smoke filledthe air,choking him,blinding him.He had toget away! He staggered across a field,coughing and gagging.Blood spilled into his eyes from thegash on his forehead and gushed from the cut onhis leg. And through the blood and smoke was a terri-fying sight:hundreds of rebel soldiers chargingacross the meadow,their rifles pointed rightat him. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thomas ran,but not fast enough. He turned and saw a rebel soldier runningstraight for him.The soldier's eyes were red withfury.His face was twisted into a crazed grin. He aimed his rifle at Thomas. No!Thomas couldn't die here! Boom! Thomas's chest seemed to shatter like glass. He jerked back,and fell onto the blood-soakedgrass. # CHAPTER 2 THREE WEEKS EARLIERLATE AFTERNOONKNOX'S FARM,OAK RIDGE,VIRGINIA Thomas crept slowly toward the squirrel.It wasfat and would make a fine supper.Just thinkingabout it made his stomach rumble.Times weretough on the farm.His owner,Mr.Knox,couldbarely feed his horses —or his slaves. Thomas was just about to snare the squirrelwhen his little sister's voice sang out.

FAQs

Who is the main character during the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863?

The story follows an eleven-year-old boy named Thomas as he tries to help Northern soldiers and seek freedom.

What event triggers Thomas’s fight for survival in Chapter 1?

A huge cannonball crashes into an ammunition wagon, causing flames, flying metal, and severe injuries to Thomas.

What does Chapter 2 reveal about Thomas’s situation before the battle?

Chapter 2 shifts three weeks earlier to late afternoon at Knox’s farm, where Thomas faces hunger and hard living while his sister’s voice interrupts him.

Sep 29, 2026

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