Taken by the Enemy

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Taken by the Enemy

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Taken by the Enemy, by Oliver Optic This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Taken by the Enemy
Author: Oliver Optic
Release Date: June 14, 2006 [EBook #18579]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--AFLOAT
Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated Price per volume $1.50
TAKEN BY THE ENEMY WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES ON THE BLOCKADE STAND BY THE UNION FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT A VICTORIOUS UNION
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--ON LAND
Two colors cloth Emblematic Dies Illustrated Price per volume $1.50
BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER IN THE SADDLE A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN (Other volumes in preparation)
Any Volume Sold Separately. Lee and Shepard Publishers Boston

[Illustration: "Three Cheers for Captain Passford" (Page 75)]

The
BLUE AND THE GRAY
Series
[Illustration]
By Oliver Optic
TAKEN by the ENEMY

The Blue and the Gray Series
TAKEN BY THE ENEMY
by OLIVER OPTIC
Author of "The Army and Navy Series" "Young America Abroad" "The Great Western Series" "The Woodville Stories" "The Starry-Flag Series" "The Boat-Club Stories" "The Onward and Upward Series" "The Yacht-Club Series" "The Lake-Shore Series" "The Riverdale Series" "The Boat-Builder Series" etc.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers

Copyright, 1888, by Lee and Shepard All rights reserved.
Taken by the Enemy.

To
My Nephew,
HERBERT W. ADAMS,
This Book
is Affectionately Dedicated.

PREFACE
"TAKEN BY THE ENEMY" is the first of a new series of six volumes which are to be associated under the general title of "The Blue and the Gray Series," which sufficiently indicates the character of the books. At the conclusion of the war of the Rebellion, and before the writer had completed "The Army and Navy Series," over twenty years ago, some of his friends advised him to make all possible haste to bring his war stories to a conclusion, declaring that there could be no demand for such works when the war had come to an end. But the volumes of the series mentioned are as much in demand to-day as any of his other stories, though from their nature the field of their circulation is more limited. Surprising as this may appear, it is still the fact; and certainly the author has received more commendatory letters from young people in regard to the books of this series than concerning those of any other.
Among these letters there has occasionally been one, though rarely, in which the writer objected to this series for the reason that he was "on the other side" of the great issue which shook the nation to the centre of its being for four years. Doubtless the writers of these letters, and many who wrote no letters, will be surprised and grieved at the announcement of another series by the author on war topics. The writer had little inclination to undertake this task; for he has believed for twenty years that the war is over, and he has not been disposed to keep alive old issues which had better remain buried. He has spent some time in the South, and has always found himself among friends there. He became personally acquainted with those who fought on the Confederate side, from generals to privates, and he still values their friendship. He certainly is not disposed to write any thing that would cause him to forfeit his title to the kind feeling that was extended to him.
It is not, therefore, with the desire or intention to rekindle the fires of sectional animosity, now happily subdued, that the writer begins another series relating to the war. The call upon him to use the topics of the war has been so urgent, and its ample field of stirring events has been so inviting, that he could not resist; but, while his own opinions in regard to the great question of five-and-twenty years ago remain unchanged, he hopes to do more ample justice than perhaps was done before to those "who fought on the other side."
The present volume introduces those which are to follow it, and presents many of the characters that are to figure in them. Though written from the Union standpoint, the author hopes that it will not be found unfair or unjust to those who looked from the opposite point of view.
Dorchester, June 12, 1888.

CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I.
Astounding News from the Shore 13
CHAPTER II.
The Brother at the South 24
CHAPTER III.
Dangerous and Somewhat Irregular 35
CHAPTER IV.
The First Mission of the Bellevite 47
CHAPTER V.
The Bellevite and those on Board of her 58
CHAPTER VI.
Mr. Percy Pierson introduces himself 69
CHAPTER VII.
A Complication at Glenfield