The Fire Within

Chapter 14

July 2, 1863

As the dawn takes over the early morning, the blues, purples, pinks, and oranges of the sunrise take over the sky over Gettysburg. The silence of the fields and the beauty of the morning could almost lead one to forget where they are and what is happening all around them. Gettysburg is a beautiful farming community in the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania. How this war found this place, this quiet little community, is unknown. But now here they are, the people of the town, having to share their land, their homes, and their lives with soldiers, blood, and devastation.

Ezekiel sits upon his mare taking in the beautiful morning sky but watching as the Union soldiers move around him on Little Round Top, positioning themselves like pieces in a chess game. The fresh Union forces were arriving from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce the severely damaged Union lines. There was no doubt that yesterday's battles won the Rebels the upper hand here. These reinforcements and the others that weren't far away were a welcome sight to the worn colonel.

Just out of sight Rebel forces were once again maneuvering themselves for another attack on the Union. With the Union having kept control of the high ground, they felt they had the upper hand in what was to come.

Ezekiel sits alone, listening to the sounds of shouting and small skirmishes throughout the land around him. He doesn't see where these battles are occurring, but the rising sun brings the visions of smoke from the firing of rifles and cannons, resembling fog below the hill that he sits upon. Even if he were part of the fighting that happening right now, he still wouldn't be able to see well.

He thinks about just a few days ago, having been in the arms of his beloved wife in a safe place with no fighting and bloodshed. Surrounded by friends and family, he was happy and content. Today, after having lost about a fourth of his troops in yesterday's battles, he worries if he William see his beloved again. This battle yielded so many deaths in one day, worse than almost any other battle that he's been involved in to now. It's a frightening thought that he may never see her again. He may never know if she is with child or not and if she is, what that child would be and what they would look like. He realizes that he hasn't seen Zachariah since before the fighting began yesterday. A feeling of worry and sadness engulfs him even more. If something happens to Zachariah, Grace may not survive it. She allowed him into her life, something that is quiet unlike this girl who's withstood so much to defy her family and the life that she lived. Without him, that girl William throw herself into this war and probably meet him sooner than she should.

The sounds of the battles grow around Little Round Top. Cannon fire echoes throughout the small farming town. He looks out beyond where he sits and is saddened for the people in the homes below. They didn't ask to be shoved smack in the middle of the fighting, but they are doing what they can to help the Union troops, without angering the Rebels. So far it seems that many of them have escaped their town for safer places.

Ezekiel leads his mare down the back side of Little Round Top toward where the group of soldiers are waiting to be given their orders for the day. By the looks on their faces, many of them know that today they are going to die. Many William not be returning to their families and friends after this day and they know it. But yet they still sit here and await their deaths with dignity and bravery. The sight is quite impressive.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a majestic black stallion moving through the Union ranks toward him. He's happy to see the sad but playful smirk of his friend and now cousin, Zachariah.

"Where have you been? Where are your troops?" Ezekiel asks him when he gets close enough.

"We are dug in on Cemetery Ridge awaiting our commands. I came to see what's happening. There are battles all around, but yet we await our commands," Zachariah tells him.