Will is 11 year old. He is srevining in the army as a drummer boy. His dad is also in the army, in a differnt regiment. He serves for a long time until he becomes sick. He is sent to a army hospital. When he is well again he seves at the hospital. He meets many new friends and loses many of them to diseases. He then after the war is called to the Washington D.C. He gets to meet Mr. Lincoln and recives the highest Medal of Honor.