The Travellers Chronicles Book Five: To Build A Country

Chapter Two

20 July 1861

Sybille, Tess, and Lisette waited patiently for their open carriage to arrive. They were to accompany Mrs. Lincoln to the scheduled Battle of Bull Run. Sybille, not knowing every battle's outcome, would be in for a shock the next day.

When the carriage arrived Mrs. Lincoln greeted them. "Good morning, all."

"Good morning." They said in unison as Tess helped her friend and niece into the carriage. She and Sybille sat next to one another, and Lisette sat beside the First Lady.

Tess cleared her throat and tried to start a conversation. "Lovely day for a battle is it not?"

"Oh yes." Mrs. Lincoln agreed. "It is absolutely splendid with the sun full and bright."

"The warmth is nice, not overly hot. Especially for this time of year." Sybille added.

"Yes, yes." The carriage departed for the trip to Bull Run. It was a thirty-mile trip and thus they would stay nearby the battle for the eve.

The conversation never died the whole journey. Mrs. Lincoln was very talkative, especially to Lisette. She had no daughters of her own and enjoyed speaking to young women. Eventually, the First Lady took a nap, but the conversation did not end, only turned to whispers. They were careful not to say anything she might overhear about their secrets.

By twilight they arrived at a small inn five miles from the would-be battlefield. Mrs. Lincoln had awoken a few hours before. After checking them in, in many rooms (as Mrs. Lincoln had brought bodyguards), Tess, Sybille, and Lisette let the First Lady retire to her room. They then found a table in the near empty bar and sat down.

Sybille sighed. "I do not like this."

Tess took her hand, as though she were a husband comforting his wife. "I understand, but we could not turn down the offer from her."

"I know, it is just...how can they sit by and literally watch men die like this?"

"It is barbaric." Lisette added. "Even more so than people from my time in some ways."

"It is."

Tess sighed as well. "I know, but all we can do is sit by and watch too."

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21 July 1861

The next morning the ladies again sat in their carriage as it made its way towards the Battle of Bull Run. They were not the only ones there to see it, it was a party. There had to be at least seventy-five people there. Sybille hated the sight.

"Yes, right here, Laurens." Mrs. Lincoln instructed. "We have a perfect view from here."

The carriage was turned east so all four could look out without having to turn too harshly to see. The ladies watched as the soldiers on both sides lined up, ready to fight.

They watched as the Confederates moved in first. Suddenly, and without warning, the battle was on. No one could see anything for the chaos that it was. Soon, the Union began losing; it was a slaughter. Tess realized first what was happening, as Sybille had made her study military tactics for this trip. She called out to the driver as the Union Commander called a retreat. "We must leave! Now! As fast as we can!"

With that order, their driver, Laurens, pushed the horses past their limit, trying to get the First Lady to safety, with the bodyguards on their heels. They went well past the inn, at least fifteen miles from the battlefield before Laurens stopped. Mrs. Lincoln hadn't spoken the whole time. She was frozen in a state of shock.

"Those men, those poor men." Mrs. Lincoln began to bawl, and Lisette put an arm around her. "I knew war was terrible but this...this is madness."

"Yes, it is." Sybille agreed. "However, in some cases, it is necessary."