About The Fourth of July Series




The Fourth of July is a trilogy of books by Kevin Yaney. Book one: A Call to Arms follows George and Chester as they join the Indiana 19th Volunteer Regiment, part of the famed Iron Brigade. This group of volunteers encounters some of the most intense fighting in the eastern theater of the war. As they enlist, they meet and are befriended by Reverend James Franklin Turner, a radical abolitionist who has joined the Union cause to see an end to slavery. The three of them are recruited to cross the enemy lines and spy on the Confederates. Along the way, they encounter much more than just the espionage they have been sent to conduct. Reverend Turner takes advantage of this clandestine operation to conduct his own private war.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this Civil War novel will take you to the fronts of some of the most significant battles of the war. It will also take you behind the curtain of spy networks and the freedom movement that continued in earnest during the war.

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Fourth of July - A Call To Arms Book 1

AVAILABLE NOW!

The Fourth of July
Book 1: A Call to Arms

$24.99

On the night of July 4, 1861, two teenage boys slipped from their homes in Delaware County, Indiana. George McLain and Chester Gerber made their way to Muncie, where they jumped a train bound for Indianapolis. The next morning, they found themselves on the grounds of the state Capitol along with hundreds of other men volunteering to join the Union army.

George left a letter telling his mother that he and Chester had left to join the Union effort against the rebels in the opening days of the Civil War. Now, 60 years later, George’s aged mother, Louisa, pulls out this letter and reads it just as she has each July 4th since that day.

About the Author

Kevin Yaney is a businessman and writer from Noblesville, Indiana. His fascination with American history, his own family lineage and engaging storytelling has resulted in the Fourth of July trilogy. These books represent the third, fourth and fifth books he has published.

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Schedule Kevin Yaney to speak to your group

Kevin Yaney is the author of The Fourth of July trilogy, historical fiction novels set during the war and chronicling the trials and tribulations of two Indiana brothers involved in the war and their widowed mother. He speaks to groups about Indiana's involvement in the Civil War and incorporates local history into all of his talks. 

Find out more about Kevin Yaney.

Upcoming Speaking Events in 2024-25

Join Kevin Yaney as he speaks about the Civil War at these events

Dec 5, 12:30 p.m. - Excel Center, 300 N. 17th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060

Feb 15, 9:00 a.m. - Honor Flight meeting at Barrington of Carmel, 1335 S Guilford Rd, Carmel, IN 46032

Feb 25, 10:00 a.m. - International Women Indiana (IWI) meeting at the John Hensel Government Center,                                                10701 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46280

Our Rotary Club thoroughly enjoyed hearing from Kevin as our speaker at a recent club meeting.  We have many educators and history buffs in our club, and his presentation was engaging and well researched.  He presented in a way that was interactive and made the topic of the Civil War as it pertained to Indiana's involvement very interesting .
It was great to hear how that important time in history related to our local community!  I would recommend his presentation to any group, young or old!
Carrie Dixon

President-Elect and Acting Secretary, Noblesville Rotary Club

Crownland Cemetery Tour 2024

Civil War Veterans Walking Tour November 9, 2024

How do you know a Civil War veteran's headstone from other military headstones?

Soldiers Lot at Crownland Cemetery

Jason Shonkwiler instructs a volunteer artillery unit on how to shoot the big gun!

The 30 pounder Parrot rifled gun is a rarity and sits in the Soldiers' Lot at Crownland Cemetery.

Hamilton County Civil War Memorial

This monument contains the names of the nearly 2,400 men who served in the Civil War from Hamilton County.

Crownland Cemetery Walking Tour

Crownland Cemetery Walking Tour

Riverside Cemetery Tour, July 6, 2024

The storyline was captivating. The back and forth and following up with each of the main characters was well done. I have been to the 22 major battlefields of the Civil War. All the back and forth in Virginia, the trip to Andersonville brings back many fond memories of my trips there.

Charles F. Bragg, Ph.D.

President Emeritus, The Society of Indiana Pioneers

Every high school and college student should be required to read the introduction to your books. Excellent books!
Well written and researched.

William C Jeffries

Lieutenant Colonel (retired), U.S. Army

Your program was A+, and highly informational and educational.  Your presentation pacing was spot-on and the amount of information covered was excellent.  Your engagement of all ages that attended is to be commended, as was your recognition of the military veterans in the group.

Don Nicholls

I really enjoyed the event!  You are an excellent speaker with great knowledge to share. I like how you engaged and included your audience and captured the attention of the kids as well.

Karen Baird

OUTSTANDING presentation!  Thank you so much for being with our group today.

Gary Lawrence

Bus Captain, Indy Honor Flight

Veterans Day walking tour at Crownland Cemetery

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Civil War Veterans Walking Tour at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville, Indiana. Here are some photos of the event.

Thank you to the Hamilton County Civil War Roundtable for allowing me to speak about local veterans of the Civil War. 

Shop our publications

Order Your Copy Today!

Fourth of July - A Call To Arms Book 1

The Fourth of July
Book 1: A Call to Arms

Fourth of July Book Two Sifting Out the Hearts of Men

The Fourth of July
Book 2: Sifting Out the Hearts of Men

Fourth of July Book Three My Brothers Keeper

The Fourth of July
Book 3: My Brother's Keeper

Fourth of July Book Three My Brothers Keeper

Memorial Day

Spies, slave-runners and two brothers' struggle to survive the war

The Fourth of July is a Civil War trilogy that will have you turning pages to see what will happen next

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