Ragman's Roll is the story of the unsung hero of the Civil War, General William HL Wallace. This novel has multiple story lines. The main story follows two men, Tom and Will, who are Lincoln aides who help Lincoln win the nomination for President at the Wigwam in Chicago in 1860. They also help in the security of Lincoln and his family on their famous train ride into Washington DC. The two men enlist when the war breaks out. They fight in the major battles out west for the Union army, Fort Donelson and Shiloh, both in Tennessee. General Will is the hero in both battles and saves General Grant's army at Shiloh. Tom is Will's scout and assists him in his campaign for freedom for all even though he isn't an abolitionist like Will. The sub text to the novel is the Mother Africa scenes. She appears in the dreams of a severe wounded commander, General Will, who lies on a bed recovering from his injury at the Cherry Mansion in Savannah, Tennessee. She shows General Will the real reason for his sacrifice, and his duty to his country. His goal is to insure that slavery end and to preserve democracy.