Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second: Being the Second Book of the Series

In Short

Published in 1863, Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second is a mid-nineteenth-century American juvenile book written by "Aunt Fanny's" Daughter (Sarah L. Barrow). Set during the height of the American Civil War, the story follows a group of energetic young boys—calling themselves the "Dashahed Zouaves"—who set up a makeshift military encampment on a country estate. Through rigorous drills, playful disputes, a terrifying encounter with a runaway bull, and a patriotic grand review, the boys practice self-discipline and loyalty. It remains an evocative time capsule of how wartime domestic culture shaped children's play.

The Story

The narrative opens on a bright Tuesday morning at the country estate of Mr. Schermerhorn, where a group of young schoolboys have gathered for a summer week of mock military camp. Styling themselves the Dashahed Zouaves, the boys elect little Freddy Jourdain as their Colonel. Eager to transform from mere children into proper soldiers, they enlist Jerry, an old retired military veteran who works on the estate, to put them through their paces. Jerry’s stiff, traditional drill routines quickly prove both hilarious and exhausting, as the boys stumble over their own feet trying to master basic maneuvers.

Political tensions from the real world soon intrude upon their game. Tom, one of the boys with Southern sympathies, bristles under Colonel Freddy’s authority and Jerry’s strict drill. When Tom angrily insults the Union, the patriotic young Zouaves instantly hold an impromptu court-martial and vote to lock him up as a traitor in the estate's stone smokehouse. Shortly after confining their rebel comrade, real danger strikes the camp. A rogue bull escapes nearby and charges toward the boys on the road. Colonel Freddy bravely lags behind to rescue little Louie Hamilton, who is too small to run fast enough. Just as the bull closes in, Will Costar rushes down with a wooden lawn rake, striking the animal across the head and forcing it to retreat.

The strain of the rescue causes the delicate Freddy to faint. When Mr. Schermerhorn returns from New York City, the boys confess their unauthorized court-martial of Tom as well as the bull encounter. Mr. Schermerhorn gently scolds them for taking the law into their own hands, releases a chastened Tom from the smokehouse, and commends Freddy’s genuine bravery.

To boost their spirits, Sergeant Jerry sits down with the boys and shares a sobering, heartfelt story from his own past, recounting a battle before Monterey during the Mexican-American War and the death of his young comrade Bill, who died honoring the flag. Inspired by the story, the boys plan a grand military review for their visiting friends and families. Tom shows his renewed camaraderie by offering his own leftover Fourth of July fireworks to simulate artillery fire for the event.

On the day of the review, the boys execute their drills and marching patterns before an admiring audience of parents and friends. The climax arrives when young Jessie Carlton presents the regiment with a custom blue silk standard, singing a patriotic anthem to the assembled crowd. The day concludes with a festive outdoor banquet hosted under a canopy of flags. On Monday, the camp breaks up, the tents come down, and the boys return to New York City. Marching down Fifth Avenue to bid each other farewell, Freddy and Tom express their shared ambition to attend West Point together when they grow up. The framing narrative concludes as a mother reads this tale to her children, who eagerly discover that another volume of stories awaits them.

How It Unfolds

The regiment assembles The young Dashahed Zouaves gather on the sunny lawn early in the morning, eager to begin their life as mock soldiers. They engage in lively banter about performing impossible feats of battlefield bravery, all while waiting hungrily for their breakfast to arrive.

Drill under Sergeant Jerry The boys persuade Jerry, an old veteran dressed in faded regimentals, to put them through a authentic military drill. Jerry’s wooden posture and sepulchral commands lead to endless comedic tripping and confusion as the boys attempt to master basic step-marching.

A rebel in the guardhouse Tom rebels against Freddy's leadership and utters anti-Union sentiments, provoking his patriotic comrades. The boys hold a swift court-martial, declare Tom a secessionist traitor, and forcibly lock him inside the stone smokehouse until he apologizes.

Flight from the bull A runaway bull wanders onto the grounds, sending the boys fleeing for safety toward the main house. Colonel Freddy risks his own life by stopping to carry small Louie Hamilton, escaping death only when Will Costar fends off the bull with a heavy rake.

A veteran’s solemn memory After Mr. Schermerhorn returns to iron out the boys' disputes, Sergeant Jerry gathers the Zouaves to tell a realistic story from the Mexican-American War. He describes the tragic death of his mate Bill, moving the listening boys to quiet tears.

The grand review The boys prepare the camp for visiting families and execute complex marching patterns before a delighted crowd. Jessie Carlton presents the regiment with an embroidered blue silk flag, leading to a celebratory feast under the trees.

Homeward bound The boys pack their gear haphazardly into valises, drop the tents, and ride stages back into New York City. Marching down Fifth Avenue to their individual homes, Freddy and Tom pledge to pursue real military careers at West Point.

The People

• Freddy Jourdain (Colonel Freddy): The soft-spoken, sensitive, and deeply brave leader of the Dashahed Zouaves. Though physically delicate and prone to fainting when overwhelmed, he exhibits genuine heroics by carrying a smaller child away from a charging bull, earning the respect of adults and peers alike.
• Tom: An outspoken boy whose Southern familial ties lead him to clash with his Northern playmates. He starts off stubborn and hot-tempered, landing himself in the smokehouse for insulting the Union, but he eventually matures, makes amends by offering his fireworks for the review, and pledges his friendship to Freddy.
• Sergeant Jerry: An aging, stiff-jointed military veteran employed on the Schermerhorn estate. He acts as both a patient instructor and a moral anchor for the children, teaching them official army tactics while offering sobering real-world perspective through his memories of war.
• Peter Schermerhorn: A spirited, mischievous boy who acts as a primary instigator of camp schemes, including the court-martial of Tom. He fears his father's disapproval but approaches camp life with untamed energy and humor.
• Will Costar & Louie Hamilton: Will is the quick-thinking private who uses a garden tool to save Freddy from the bull. Louie is the lisping, youngest Zouave whose small size and innocent eagerness make him the baby of the regiment.
• Mr. Schermerhorn: The tolerant, kindly host who allows the boys to transform his grounds into a camp, balancing gentle discipline with generous hospitality.

In Its Own Voice

"The fust manoover I shel teach you, genl'men, is the manoover of 'parade rest.' Now look at me, and do as I do."

Sergeant Jerry tries to instil stern military discipline into his unruly group of wealthy young recruits.

"I wor tired enough wi' the day's fight, an' worrited, too, wi' a wound in my shoulder; but the tent wor no better nor the open field, an' we got up an' went out."

Jerry remembers the brutal heat and exhaustion experienced by soldiers on the battlefield before Monterey.

"'Tis the Flag! the old Flag! to our country God-given, / That gleams through our ranks like a glory from heaven!"

Jessie Carlton recites a patriotic poem during the presentation of the handmade regiment colors to the Zouaves.

What It's Really About

Beneath its cheerful depiction of childhood play, Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second examines how real-world political conflict and war permeate the moral lives of children. Written during the Civil War, the story uses the miniature society of the "Dashahed Zouaves" to explore themes of patriotism, loyalty, and personal honor. The boys' mock court-martial of their friend Tom reflects the intense national anxieties of 1862, demonstrating how quickly ideological differences can rupture personal friendships. However, the narrative advocates for forgiveness and reconciliation: Tom is restored to the group not through force, but through shared experiences, mutual apologies, and generous contributions. Additionally, Sergeant Jerry’s war story reframes military life away from mere boyish glory toward duty, sacrifice, and spiritual faith.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in nineteenth-century American history or historical children's literature will find Red, White, Blue Socks. Part Second a vivid, engaging artifact. It offers a rare, immediate look into how Northern home-front families processed the Civil War through domestic storytelling. The prose moves at a brisk, lighthearted pace, balancing physical comedy—such as boys tripping over their own feet during infantry drills or accidentally burning their noses with gunpowder—with moments of authentic drama.

Readers should be prepared for period-specific elements, including Sergeant Jerry's phonetically written dialect ("fust manoover", "wictories", "sogers") and unvarnished mid-nineteenth-century Union sentiment. The book does not dwell on graphic violence, but Jerry's battlefield reminiscence touches honestly on grief, death, and field hospitals. Ultimately, the story retains a warm, nostalgic charm. It captures the universal textures of boyhood play—building camps, dramatic roleplay, eating outdoors, and making long-term pledges of friendship—framed against a pivotal moment in American history.