When the Blue Meets the Gray

II. A Nation at War

The firing finally stopped mid-day on April 13. I knew the evening paper would be discussing what happened.

After supper, I was laying in my bed writing in my journal when Thomas appeared. "I'm going to do it."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go fight. You saw the newspaper; we're at war. I want to fight for what I believe in. I'm going to join the Union army. I leave for training in a week."

"Do Mama and Papa know? What of Mary? What of us, Thomas?" I protested as my voice slowly increased in volume.

Thomas held a finger to my lips. "Mama and Papa don't know. Please don't tell them. You know it would kill Mama and Papa would be furious. Mary and I are to be married when I come back. As for you, and Mama and Papa, well, I'll come back to you."

"All these promises. Do you know what you're getting yourself into? War is messy. It's bloody and heartbreaking. It's one of the most devastating things that can happen."

"Lizzie, I've thought this through. You can't change my mind. Mary already tried to, but my mind is made up. I'm going to fight."

"Very well. I'm planning to be a nurse to help the cause. All the wounded men will need someone to take care of them when they get injured. You know I have an interest in helping those in need and this is an opportunity to do so."

Thomas smiled. "We will go off together, then."

"But what of Mama and Papa? What would they think if both their children disappeared at the same time?"

"Think about it, Lizzie. It's better if both of us go than one and then the other."

"Thomas Hawkins! You are a terrible influence on me!"

He threw his head back and laughed. "Ah, but they need not know. We can send them letters telling them of how we are."

One week later, Thomas and I were heading off to training. I'd talked to Mama and Papa, at least about what I wanted to do, and they had come around.

When we arrived in a Union camp, Thomas was told to talk to a general and to fall in with the other volunteers. I found my way to a medical tent and met various nurses.

A young man, maybe three years older than myself, came by the tent and smiled. "Hello. I haven't seen you around before."

I frowned. "I'm new."

The man chuckled. "Clearly. Sergeant Scott, at your service."

"Do you have a first name, Sergeant?"

He smirked slightly. "Daniel. Most everyone calls me Danny, though. Did you come by yourself or were you accompanied by someone?"

"I came with my brother."

"Your accent. You're southern, right? Where?"

"I'm from South Carolina. My family are Southern Loyalists, which is why my brother is fighting for the Union and why I am here as a nurse for the Union army."

"I am glad you decided to help. We're going to need people who are willing to help injured men on both sides. I have to go, but welcome to the war effort and I hope to see you around. Wait, I never caught your name, ma'am."

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Hawkins."

Daniel took my hand and kissed it. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Elizabeth Hawkins."

He ran off and the other women in the tent with me smiled and began fawning over me. I blushed and tried to get them talking about something else. Eventually, they began helping me with what would need to be done. They showed me the materials that we would be using and told me how to help with certain things. More would be taught when it came along.