The realities of war are not ignored, but are handled in a way suitable for younger readers. With Lee in Virginia tells the story of a Southern soldier and the slave he helps during the Civil War. His best-known works are historical adventures written for young boys. While not an an exhaustive work, With Lee In Virginia covers the main generals (Lee, Jackson, Stuart, Grant, McClellan, Sherman, Pope, etc.) and the most important battles of the war in an interesting and instructive format. G A Henty was a 19th century novelist, special correspondent and Imperialist. The issue of slavery is discussed several times from the viewpoint of an Englishman who detested the institution, but saw that most slaves on large plantations were well treated. Henty in this book gives an overview of the causes of the Civil War, and follows the battles and movements of the army in Virginia and the surrounding area. Lee in Virginiais one of the few Henty novels that take place in America the majority of his books deal with stories of British soldiers in the far-off colonies of the Empire. He rises in rank in the Confederate army, and after the war is over, he marries and returns home to manage his mother's plantation.

He has several private adventures as well, including a personal enemy, prison escape, rescue of a young lady, spying expedition, and recovery of a stolen slave. When the country goes to war, he enlists in the cavalry, and sees action under the various generals commanding the army in and near Virginia. Vincent Wingfield is the son of a wealthy Virginian planter.

With Lee in Virginia by G.A. Henty