Washington's Boy

By: Frank Cahill

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

A historical novel for young readers and teens from eight to eighteen. It follows the epic story of a boy’s life during the American Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States Constitution. He begins as a drummer boy at age ten in the American army, and follows his life for fourteen years when it concludes as he witnesses the signing of the Constitution.

After the death of his father at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, young Samuel Stafford joined the American army in 1777 as a drummer boy who gave signals to direct military activity during battles. Drummers were the tongues of the Army. They signaled meal time and other events of the day such as reveille and assembly. Their steady beat provided the marching rhythm for soldiers. During the danger of combat, the soldiers paid close attention to the loud drum calls. Their loud drums relayed commands to the soldiers on the battlefield to advance, commence firing, and to withdraw.

Drummers were often targets of enemy soldiers. And many drummers were recognized for their bravery. General George Washington expressed his admiration for Samuel, and it developed into a long lasting friendship.

Thousands of women followed their husbands and sons during the war. They helped by washing clothes, cooking meals, nursing the wounded, and tending the dead. Sam’s mother was among those who supported the American army. Sam and his mother served in the army for nine years as he grew in age from ten to nineteen years old. The story follows them through the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, the desperate winter at Valley Forge, and the final siege and victory at Yorktown.

After the war, General Washington invited Sam and his mother to work at his Mount Vernon plantation. It became a wonderful opportunity for Sam to learn surveying and other trade skills. But unrest developed in America after the war, and the American leaders realized that a new constitution was needed. Knowing that James Madison was working on a new plan, General Washington sent Sam to study with Mr. Madison at his Virginia home in Montpelier.

Mr. Madison and Sam read books about theories of government that were sent to Virginia by Thomas Jefferson. These were books by great men from around the world, including England, Scotland, French, and other Americans. Sam was fascinated by the ideas of men like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and others.

Sam admired the work of James Madison as he developed an outline for a new form of government by the people. A Constitutional Convention was scheduled in Philadelphia, and Mr. Madison planned to begin with consideration of his outline. Because Sam had been a great help in organizing his notes and references, the father of the constitution appointed Sam to be his clerk and accompany him to Philadelphia.

Sam was delighted to see his old friend, General Washington at the convention. And he saw many great Americans from numerous backgrounds at the convention as they exchanged ideas about new government. There were small states, large states, and different religious creeds. Each wanted to assure that their liberty would remain secure under a new law.

After months of laborious meetings, an agreement was reached. Then after several months of waiting for ratification by the states, the Constitution was ratified and George Washington took office as president of the United States on April 3, 1789. After the Bill of Rights was accepted on December 15, 1791, the story closes as Sam vows to preserve the Constitution.

The entire story is surrounded with the rich history of America’s early struggle for independence. It provides a thumbnail history of the American Revolutionary War, and the Constitutional Convention with its ideas of self-government. The book is enriched with illustrations for younger readers, and it presents a good story as seen through the experiences of a young boy and his growth to manhood.