Young Captain Jack; Or, The Son of a Soldier

"Young Captain Jack; Or, The Son of a Soldier" by Horatio Alger, Jr. and Arthur M. Winfield is a coming-of-age story set during the Civil War, revolving around a young boy named Jack Ruthven, raised on a Southern plantation, who seeks to find his true identity. Adopted into the Ruthven family, Jack's life of relative peace is disrupted by the war and by a cousin's cruel taunts about his unknown past, sparking a quest to learn about his origins and to prove his worth. The story begins with a tense encounter with a Confederate surgeon, setting the stage for Jack's personal struggles and the impact of war, all while highlighting his deep loyalty to his foster family, particularly his sister Marion.