Valley Forge

Chapter XIV

Friday, February 13th, 1779

The skies cleared after six days of storming.

Eben came in after the sun rose with an armful of wood "We're supposed to line up outside for an inspection. Bunch of bastards on horses is making their way down the outer line"

"Here? Not on the Parade" I asked

"Maybe they've come to their senses," Benny said, Wrapping his hands in rags. "No point in walking all that way."

"Maybe its the brigadier general," said Aaron "Come to send us home until spring" 

I rolled my eyes at the comment knowing it wasn't true

Benny shook his head, "No uniforms on 'em and their horses are fat. Cant be officers."

I wrapped my canvas blanket that Aaron stole around my middle and quickly buttoned my jacket over it "Let's hope they're quick about it"

We waded in the knee-deep snow covered with all the rags and blanket scaps we owned. The wind blew hard driving the snow into small mountains on the north side of every hut.

Aaron Barry approached. "Three lines, Three lines," he shouted to us "Everybody out no excuses!" 

His cry was echoed by the other captains and sergeants. As far as I could see in both directions along the outer line, soldiers stumbled out of their guts into the deep snow. Some leaned against others deep in fever or, weak from frostbitten in the feet. My stockings stayed dry for a few heartbeats, then the snow seeped into the wool, From my toes up to the knee buckles. The cold knifed through my skin and seared my flesh, buried deep in my bones. Tears came to my eyes, it burned. I wiped them away before anyone noticed. If I could stand the pain a few more moments, my feet would go blessedly numb.

A collection of gentlemen in long warm coats atop healthy horses approached from the north. Eben was wrong; there was one officer among them, one I recognized as Major General, Marquise de Lafayette. 

When Aaron Barry walked away to confer with another captain. Eben dashed over for a quick prayer with the fellows in front of our neighboring hut and came back grinning

"Its the committee of Congress!"

"Oh Ha," Benny mumbled "They've come to watch us starve"

"Don't be grumbler," I replied "Your the one saying they're ignoring us"

"Tsst" warned Henry Barry. "Aaron is coming back."

Aaron Barry took his place in between the fellows from our company and the next hut south, which was also under his tryant command

He wore the same boots from the beginning but I was certain his greatcoat was newly acquired, Likely the trade he made for my boots.

"Maybe they'll send us home" Eben repeated to me "Just until winter ends" 

I shook my head "They'll write reports and drink rum in front of us and a blazing fire. Instead of making any decisions, they form another committee"

"Shut your mouths" Aaron Ordered and I mumbled under my breath that man is deaf and as stupid as a bat.  One day I would toss his greatcoat into the deepest and foulest privy trench in the camp. I would make sure he has wrapped in it after.

As the congressman approached, we put our shoulders back and lifted our chins, Even small Benny and lazy Aaron. We are American soldiers and there was pride enough in that to make a fellow stand tall.

The wind swirled ropes of snow around our legs. You could barely see past two feet in front of you

The four committee members and Marquise were wrapped in so many layers of warm clothing that they more resembled bolts of cloth than congressmen. Their hats pulled low and their scarves wrapped high against the wind. The Major General was more hardened to the cole and did not require so much padding. A sixth man traveled behind the group. His horse smalled and he wore an ordinary surtout instead of the comfortable and luxurious greatcoats of the other men. At first, I thought he might be a scribe or a clerk hired for the writing of notes and reports. But not all men of the Congress were rich; this fellow could be one from a humble background. 

The Major General waved to burns to step forward and join them. The two lead riders unwrapped the scarves from their faces and leaned forward, their hands on their saddle too, ask a question, Aaron. We could not hear what was said; the wind blew their words away from us.

The gentleman on the brown stallion turned in his saddle to speak with the man at the trailing edge of the group. The poorer fellow spurred his horse forward a few steps, bent forward to listen, then unwrapped the cloths from his face so that he could speak.

The sight of his face staggered me as hard as a blow from an ax

Charles Bellingham had come to camp.

(A/n): They organized cabins by alphabetical order, so Barry-Bellingham just explaining why a large group of family are in one cabin. Also the family line is confusing if needed ill draw up a family tree.

Word count: 805

Page Count on an average book 2.3

*Surtout;  a man's overcoat of a style similar to a frock coat.

*Scribe;  a person who copies out documents