The Battle Cry of Freedom

CH 5

All around me were men and boys of all ages.

The room was dimly lit with the orange glow of several gas lamps. The aroma of burning tobacco stuffed my lungs.

A union officer sat at a desk that had been dragged to the middle of the small store. A generous amount of men formed a sloppy line leading to the desk.

“Next,” Commanded the officer softly. His voice was far from hoarse which shocked me.

The line moved rather quickly. I assumed it was because of the lack of concern for the men’s background due to the army’s desperateness after their great loss of men at Bull Run.  We thought the Union would wipe out the Confederates with ease, but our assumption took a sharp turn after facing the enemy for one of the first times.

I recited my lines in my head: “ My name is Same Huff,” Lie. “I am nineteen years old,” Lie. “I come from Maryland, I have no home, I spend my nights hopping inns and selling ‘Miracle’ cough syrup,” Also a large lie.

The man in front of me stepped up to the desk. My stomach churned, my heart pulsed in my throat.

Before I could even prepare myself, the officer called me forward.

            Baffled, I inched toward the desk and spat out, “Evening, sir.”

            “Age?” He replied blandly.

            “Uh, nineteen.” I said.

            The officers eyes looked to me, then back to his slip of paper that he stained with ink. “Name and location?”

            “S-Sam Huff. And Maryland. Sir.”

            The large man paused to look at me, my heart seized.

            “Where in Maryland, son?”

            “Rockville.” I spat out. I visited the city once before.

            “You come a long way to enlist,” The officer cleared his throat. “And your horse?”

            My horse? Why would he think I brought a horse along?

            I glanced at the top of the sheet of paper. The title read: “23rd PA Cavalry Company A”

            Oh no. I have made a huge mistake.

            I opened my mouth to speak. “I-I don’t have one, I’m afraid…” I trailed off. I popped another cluster of words out of my mouth without filtering them, “Poor girl died on our journey here.”

            “That shouldn’t be a problem. We got a few men in dismounted.” The officer lit his pipe. He handed me the slip of paper and slapped twenty five cents in my hand. “Welcome to the army, boy. Next.”

            I gaped at him and slowly walked away as the man behind me gave me a nudge.

            I just enlisted. I am now in the 23rd Pennsylvania Cavalry.

            I thanked God graciously for my long legs and boyish frame, for I wouldn't have passed without them. 

            As I walked out toward the small group of newly enlisted men, I smiled because I was grateful for my body and my mind, for the first time.