Chesson Valley-The Choice

Slavery, States’ rights, Northern aggression, Southern rebellion

so many issues fraught with emotion dominate American life in 1860, causing it to be described as an overwhelming flood of confusion. Such is the world of Peter Brenton, a nineteen-year-old young man in Chesson, Virginia. Over the past several months, he has become convinced that slavery in any form is wrong, and thus determines to disavow any connection with the institution. With such an attitude, he sets out on his own to live a simple, peaceful life as a God-fearing, loyal citizen of the United states. His countrymen, however, have other plans. First one state, then another, then another secedes from the Union, forming a rapidly growing Confederacy. As the new nation begins to grow and the threat of war looms ever darker in the near future, Peter does not know what to think, what to believe. He had not asked for the conflict, but still finds himself swept up in the hostilities, regardless of his own personal feelings. Facing struggles within and pressures without from his friends and family, he knows that he cannot remain a spectator indefinitely. On the one hand, the cause of freedom for slaves pleads for his energies, but on the other, his homeland calls for his assistance in its defense. He must choose one or the other

or his nation will choose for him.