Chapter 1: The Perilous Road
lively and playful behavior, but sometimes in a sassy or mischievous way
"Then scraping off the hair, that was a job to take the pertness plumb out of a body."
a high, steep area of land, like a cliff
"Shoot him and shove him right off the bluff and wouldn't nobody ever know, just me and Silas, and we wouldn't tell."
Test your knowledge of Chapter 1 with this fun and interactive quiz!
The story is set on Walden's Ridge by Signal Mountain in Tennessee. Using a US map, find the location of Signal Mountain. What is this area of Tennessee like? Find the elevation, climate, and photos of the region.
| City | Signal Mountain |
|---|---|
| State | Tennessee |
| Area Code | 423 |
| County Name | Hamilton |
| Latitude | 35.1598 |
| Longitude | 85.3333 |
| Elevation | 685 |
Mark key locations from the story on the map.
Research battles and other notable events that took place nearby. Write a paragraph that explains how the geography in this area influenced military decisions during the Civil War.
Confederate General Joseph Wheeler was mentioned in the author's note at the beginning of the book, and Confederate General Braxton Bragg was mentioned in this chapter. Learn more about these Confederate generals and the campaigns mentioned in the book.
"...there can be no doubt that Confederate General Joseph Wheeler led a devastating cavalry raid on the Federal wagon train in Sequatchie Valley, October 2, 1863."
Learn more about Joseph Wheeler
"How come the Yankees are running around loose? Up at Grassy Cove, we heard tell General Bragg had them sealed up inside Chattanooga like a frog in a bottle. Has Bragg got 'em or ain't he?"