Reaching Tidewater: Life on the Delaware Canal

In the spring of 1862, with the American Civil War raging, Anna and her family prepare for their annual trip down the Delaware Canal to tidewater at Bristol. Anna's older brother, John, understanding the impact the "Iron Horse" will have on the Delaware Canal, no longer wants to continue driving the mules. John dreams of moving to the city of Easton and becoming a writer. To his father, John's talk of the "Iron Horse" is nothing short of disloyalty. Events and changes that affect the Delaware Canal and the entire country will have a profound effect on Anna, her family, and the rest of her life. Anna shares her excitement and fears with her friends at home. As difficult as it is to leave Smithtown and her friends, events make it even more difficult to return home.