by Nancy Jane Calenberg

John Norton was born in Cabot, Vermont, in 1842. His family made the journey from Vermont to Portage County, Wisconsin, in 1854. John was a simple farmer who was compelled to join Lincoln's Army. In 1862, he traveled to Camp Bragg at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and enlisted as a private in the 32nd Infantry of Wisconsin Volunteers. John's letters to his family are filled with intriguing insights into one man's struggle to survive. This collection of thirty-five letters provides a unique history lesson for children