Turn Homeward, Hannalee Summary
Patricia Beatty

Turn Homeward, Hannalee Summary

Turn Homeward, Hannalee tells of the adventures of Hannalee Reed, a twelve-year-old who works at a mill in Roswell, Georgia. The mill manufactures grey cloth for the uniforms of Confederate soldiers. When some of General Sherman's soldiers take over Roswell, they round up all of the mill's employees and declare them to be traitors because they made cloth for rebel uniforms. They are shipped north to Kentucky, where they are separated from each other and given to whoever needs workers. Hannalee ends up being a servant.

As Beatty points out in her notes, the novel covers historical fact up until Hannalee begins work as a servant.

Roswell is a real place which was captured by Union soldiers in 1864 and burned down, with its mill being destroyed. The events of the employees being rounded up and held outside for five days, their rescue from drunken guards by Union cavalry...

(read more from the Short Guide)