Lessons of war: the Civil War in children's magazines

Introduction : "The great importance of little things"

Chats with readers "Round the evening lamp" : Creating a literary community

Patriotism and perseverance : Oliver Optic's Civil War

Playgrounds into paradegrounds : Civil War children at play

The roll call of the brave : loss and sacrifice

"Some day I shall be with you again" : children and soldiers

Home guards : virtue and the war effort

Times of wretchedness and brighter days : magazines for southern children

"Joy for the conquering right" : mourning and celebrating the end of the war

Epilogue : "This cruel war."