Rebel Heart: (Swept Away) Of Life and Love during the American Civil War

A chilling thought, campfires and her letter

Altogether, Jenny felt she had said too much about the girl. One thing she did not mention to Daniel was her thought that Samantha's bodice, beautiful as it was, with the lace trim and puffed sleeves, was cut a little low, especially for a church affair. Jenny had noticed more than one man eyeing her.

There was something else on her mind, troubling her. A thing she also didn't mention to Daniel. Her brother had joined the northern side. She didn't know how he was doing, as, so far, he had not written to her father or anyone. She hoped he was all right. What troubled her is that he could be in the army fighting the "rebels" as the paper called the secessionists. Her own brother could be killing people like Daniel.

A chilling thought came to her. Daniel would be on the other side killing "Yankees." He could even kill her own brother. Suddenly, the terrible complication of this war came to her, overwhelming her. Tears began flowing freely from her eyes and down her cheeks. She pulled out her handkerchief, wiping away the tears, barely able to keep herself from sobbing. She suddenly was able to stop, remembering what her father had told her, "Big girls don't cry."

Chapter Seven

Daniel knew something was up. Everyone knew it. But the generals all the way down to the lieutenants weren't saying anything to the men. The training was getting intensive. Five times a day now. Not only was it not easy, it was monotonous. After the last one, he sat on the ground by their tents eating with his friends, Hank and Eli. Eli was smaller than him, wiry, and seemed something of a thinker. He was the second fastest man in the company, a fact proven when the men held an impromptu race.

Next time, he would put his money on Eli. Hank was something of the opposite, a big, husky farm boy, strong as an ox, but a bit clumsy. Daniel was glad he had gotten to know them both. They were from the same part of western Virginia, and they even knew some of the same people he knew.

"I'm thinking we'll be marching soon," said Eli. "To battle," he added.

"Now what's making you say that, Eli? Just as I'm starting to enjoy all this drilling," said Hank.

Daniel saw Hank's smile. He knew he hated their five times a day routine.

"Just the way I notice them checking out the wagons and paying attention to the horses."

'Well, if we're ever going into battle, you'd think they would give us more practice with shooting. Not like everyone here is a crack shot," said Daniel.

"Yeah," agreed Hank. "Think I can count on two hands the times I've actually pulled the trigger and shot at something."

"They want to conserve ammunition," said Eli.

Just then, they heard the loud voice of Sergeant Evans. "Mail call!"

Those were about the only words he ever uttered that were always well received. The three of them jumped up immediately as the sergeant sounded out the names.

"Tom Clancy, Tyler Simmons, Billy Sacko, Emmet Stone . . ."

The list went on and both Daniel and Hank were happy to get mail. Eli turned away downcast after all the names were announced. Daniel knew he missed not getting a letter. Especially as they were lucky to get anything from home more often than once a week. He looked at the return address and was a bit surprised. A letter from Jenny, but still nothing from Samantha. Was the girl going to forget him the entire time while he served his country? When the war was over, hopefully in a month or two, he was going to have a talk with her.

The men went back to finishing their meal. Daniel tucked the letter into his pocket. He was going to wait until he could read his letter in private. He noted that Hank did the same. Suddenly, commands rang out throughout the company and regiment. "Fall in." "Hurry up soldier."

More instructions came when they were lined up in their places. "Boys we are getting out of here and likely won't come back. I'm giving you fifteen minutes to get your gear ready to march. Don't anyone from my company be late or you're going to be on my list. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," was the expected answer, and each man gave it.

"Fall out."

Everyone slung cartridge boxes over their shoulders and added the haversack and bedroll, then finally their canteen, before picking up their rifles. There was plenty of talk.

"Any idea where we might be going," Daniel asked his friends.

"We're going to do battle with the enemy," said Eli.

"Why do you think that?" asked Hank.

"Cause it's so sudden. You'd think we would leave in the morning, rather when the day's more than half over. The general knows something."

"Sure enough hope he does," said Hank.

"Haven't heard of any Yankee armies around here," added Daniel. "Think we're going to be in for a lot of marching."

Daniel was right. They marched and marched and marched, stopping only occasionally for five minute rests and for water. He had never hiked so hard in his life. Sweat dripped from his brow. No wonder, they had to be heading up and over the mountains. Glad he could handle it, for there were a few who had fallen out and were now clinging to the tops of loaded supply wagons at the rear.

Finally, as darkness was falling, the order was given to halt. Here, high in the mountains overlooking a valley far below, they would bivouac.

The order was given to "fall out," and the men looked around, trying to select the best place among the long grass and trees to choose where they would sleep the night. Campfires were permitted, and before long a number were started, some of the larger ones throwing long shadows of the men on nearby tree trunks.

Daniel and his friends, Keith, Eli, and John, decided they would make a shelter. Staking out a tree by laying their haversacks beside it, they tied two of the blankets together. Then they went into the nearby woods and found suitable limbs, after breaking off their branches, to place on opposite sides to hold up their homemade tent.

Keith had the idea they should slant it strongly in one direction. That way, he said, if there was rain, it would drain off. Good idea. Eli offered his blanket to tie with the other two, which they fixed on one side coming straight down to help keep out any rain on that side. Wasn't the best, thought Daniel, but would offer some protection from the elements.

Once that was done, they went to one of the larger campfires, and sitting on the ground, Indian style with their legs crossed underneath them, they watched four chickens being roasted. Where did they get the birds? thought Daniel.

Daniel was tired from the long, mostly uphill march. He knew that everyone was, and talk was sparse. The sun dipped below the horizon, and darkness closed in on them. Only the campfires brightened the gloom of night. Daniel and his friends looked hungrily at the fire, waiting for the birds to be fully cooked.

At last, they were lifted off the glowing embers, pulled off the spit, and though still hot, pulled apart by the seven men who had been watching it with anticipation. Daniel was happy to get a large thigh and leg, as well as the neck of one of the chickens. From his haversack he brought out a piece of corn bread along with some dried peas. With that and water, he ate, thankful to quench the hunger pangs that had been growing on the long march.

He and his friends ate companionably, until their appetites were sated. Talk went to what the morrow would bring. By all accounts, they were still a long way from where they expected to meet the Union army. At least one more day of long marching, everyone thought.

Gradually, the seven men around the still glowing embers left, to retire for the night. "Good night," Daniel's messmates said on leaving. Daniel had been waiting for such a time to read his letter from Jenny. He pulled it out of his pocket, edged closer to the fire, and in the dim light slowly began to read.

Dear Friend,

Got your letter, and was glad to learn that you are in good health. I'm happy you were honored on stage for your nobility of being willing to fight for the South. Glad you didn't take up with any of those "beautiful" girls that put a wreath of flowers on your neck. As you know, you have a girl here waiting for you to come back.

Daniel chuckled at what Jenny said about the "beautiful girls." He knew he had a girl waiting for him. But why didn't she write?