I may not live to see our glory

1 ~ I may not live to see our glory

Screams and cries flooded the battlefield as war raged in the hellhole of South Carolina. 1782, and the Battle of the Combahee River raged on, blood staining the coats of Brits and Americans alike. I allowed myself a smile, as it was clear that we were winning. If we won this battle, we would be one step closer to winning the war and abolition of slavery, and I would be closer to my dream of a black battalion, but what I was really looking forward to was going home to meet Alexander again.

"Oh, I can't wait to see you again, it's only a matter of time..."

Shaking myself out of my reverie, I spurred on my horse as I bravely charged towards the remaining redcoats to get to our hideout for the next phase of our plan. I couldn't afford to lose focus for just a second, or it would be all over, and my dreams would be shattered, as well as my skull.

My plan to attack the British was a risky one, but if it succeeded, it would be a crucial step in America's independence and I'd be an honoured war hero for life. At the moment, we were hiding in a plantation house near Combahee river and were waiting for the British to start their ambush.

At 3 am, they finally struck. Rising from the tall grass like ghosts, the redcoats didn't waste a second, immediately opening gunfire on my regiment.

"SH!T!" I exclaimed, getting to my feet and fumbling with my gun.

"Sir, what do we do?" came a panicked whisper of one of my regiment members, his voice shaking like a leaf.

"Listen, we are going to charge in there with all we have got and take down as many redcoats as we can. You with me? We cannot let a single one of us get left behind. If-" my voice cracked as i realised the severity of what I was about to say.

"-if something happens to me, see to it that this gets delivered to George Washington or Alexander Hamilton."

I handed my second-in-command a small parchment envelope with HAMILTON written on it with my own thick, bold script. It contained all the things I felt about him but was afraid to say to his face.

Now that that was taken care of, it was time to fight. Mounting my horse, and motioning the rest of my crew to do the same, I summoned all the courage I required, before yelling out a fearsome war cry that probably sounded like a strangled buffalo.

Oh well. The price we pay for freedom. Guns blazing, we all trampled into the mass of redcoats, that gradually became redder as our bullets met their mark. Letting out a triumphant yell, I surged forward through the crowd, I am running with the sons of liberty and I am loving it!

Enjoying the moment of adrenaline, I mercilessly shot a couple of redcoats. I'm probably going to regret that later, that is, if I'm alive to be able to regret my actions. We're outnumbered and it's a miracle if we don't lose anyone. I have to stay alive for my wife and daughter, but most importantly for Alexander. I am invincible and I will stay alive!

"SIR! LOOK OUT!"

I whip my head towards the call, strangely distant through my ringing ears, startled by the sharp crack! of a gunshot and a splat as it meets its target.

What?

I look down at my chest, horrified, at the bloody mess staining my uniform.

No.

No way.

This isn't happening.

Someone lets out a terrified squeak, and it takes me a moment to realise it's me. The metallic tang of blood fills my mouth, and I cough out blood, struggling to stay atop my horse and yell a command to my soldiers.