CHAPTER 10 ? PAGE ? AS THE TWO sergeants and I rode back toward Richmond we saw a soldier walk out of the woods and cross the road to our front and enter into the old store building where we had stopped a couple of hours ago as we came up this way. He was dressed in gray sir, said Sergeant Presher. I thought so said, Sergeant Tester, but as worn and torn as his uniform was I really couldn’t tell. Me either I said. He would have to be one of ours or he would never have come out of those woods. Well sir, said Sergeant Tester, we’ll see in a minute for sure. Whatever he was wearing didn’t look much better than rags. I’ll second that, I replied. Reaching the store we three reined up and dismounted. I’ll stay with the horses sir, said Sergeant Presher. We’ll be right back sergeant, I said. As we entered the store I saw the soldier at the counter and overheard him ask the store clerk if he had a little food he could spare for ah half starved soldier. Where you been man, asked the store clerk. Sorry I look like ah tramp sir, but I been on thu road fer days answered the ragged soldier. I been walking fer weeks now. Walked all thu way from Goldsboro, North Carolina. Had ah furlough and trying to make my way back to thu company. I walked right on over them ole Blue Ridge Mountains. From my home I caught ah ride on thu train to the foothills up at Seneca, South Carolina wher thu train went another direction and I got off. I thought thu shortest way back to Richmond was to cross over thu mountains so I caught ah ride on ah wagon train that was going up to ah place called “Stump House” wher they was tunneling thru thu mountain fer thu railroad to go but instead ah taking stuff up ther to work with they was branging it back. Said they run outta money n’ powder and was short ah men to do thu work cause of thu war. I was wounded about six er seven months ago fighting thu Yankees on thu other side of thu river when I was with Colonel Mann. Them Yankee shells got me. They took me and ah bunch of other wounded to Richmond ’n after ah while decided to furlough me home to git well. They put me on ah train toward home to South Carolina bout five months back ‘n it run off thu track ‘n I set out to make my way home on foot. I walked some, rode ah mule awhile, rode on uh wagon a little, but I mostly walked. Had a rough time of it gitting ther too. You look like you did soldier, Tommy Craig, the clerk said as he poured him up a tin of milk and handed him a small pone of bread. How long’s it been since you eat, asked the clerck. Well sir, said the soldier. Don’t call me sir, said the clerk. Just call me TC. Ever body calls me TC around here. My name’s Tommy Craig. TC for short. OK then TC, said the soldier, I been walking fer days now since thu flood washed out thu trestle down close to Goldsboro. Ah captain down ther with them “tar heel” boys told me to just stay with them, but I showed’em my furlough paper n’ told’em I was supposed to port back with thu unit up at Richmond ’n that was what I was gonna do if’un it killed me. It bout near did too. I walked beside thu river fer days and come to wher it split ’n I stayed to thu left cause ther was ah railroad track near thu place ’n figured if I just stayed on it ah train would be coming along any time and I was right bout that. I flagged down thu train ’n got on with a bunch ah Georgia boys going to Tennessee. I told’um I didn’t want to be going to Tennessee. Ther captain told me they was supposed to be going to Richmond, but had to go ther first ’n put some men off ’n then they would be going on to Richmond. I was to tard to walk anymore and decided to just go on with‘um and rest on thu long train ride.. Well, thu captain ‘n me didn’t know it, but we went ther as reinforcements at ah fort. After ah while no Yankees showed up ’n they sent us other places to help other units. I’ve bout had it trying to get back to my unit and bout starved too. Ain’t eat much of nothing but some ramps ’n dried acorns in thu last few days, replied the soldier as he gulped down half the tin of milk and bit off half of the bread. As I walked on over to the counter and stood beside the soldier he looked toward me and said, sir, er major I’m shore glad to see you. Been days since I seen one of us, but I seen a bunch ah Yankees ride’n to and fro back younder ah piece. They didn’t ever see me though cause when I seen’um I got off thu roads and walked through thu woods. I overheard what you told the clerk here, I said. You’re only a few miles to Richmond where we’re headed and we’ll see that you get there real soon, said Sergeant Tester. Turning back to face me he asked, you know wher Colonel Hevy Mann’s men er quartered? What’s your name and rank soldier, I asked. My name’s Tommy Lowe and my rank is corporal sir. I’m from Anderson, South Carolina. You related to Eric Lowe from South Carolina, asked Sergeant Tester. Yeah, I’m his pa, replied the corporal. He alright, he asked. Oh yeah, Corporal Lowe, he’s alright. I just saw him early this morning when he brought the morning report to the orderly room for Captain Bowie. That’s good to hear sergeant, replied the corporal. Me ’n his momma’s been worrying bout’em since I left. You been worrying for nothing then corporal cause that boy can take care of his self, replied Sergeant Tester. You do know that Colonel Mann was killed a while back don’t you, I asked. Yes sir, he answered, my neighbor showed me about that in thu Anderson Independent paper while I was home. We rode thu train up above home to a little settlement called La France wher he was from. They put on ah good one fer’em ther. Thu people ’n soldiers come from all around to pay ther respects to thu colonel. Well soldier, I said, eat that up and you can double up with the sergeant here and ride on to Richmond with us. We’re headed for the same place you are. The soldier thanked the clerk for the food and apologized for not being able to pay for it. That’s alright soldier. You owe us nothing, replied the clerk, can’t do to much for you soldiers after what you’ve done for us. I told the clerk thanks for what he had done for the soldier and offered to pay for the soldiers food. Whether the soldier knew it or not, he was a member of my battalion and I thought it was the right thing to do. I told Sergeant Tester to ride on ahead and get a suitable uniform for’em and to meet Sergeant Presher and the corporal near the officers wash area with it. Get’em a whole new outfit, I said. Boots, cap, belt and all, I added. He can go right on over to the headquarters bath area to clean up and don the new uniform before joining his company. Bring’em one of those Yankee rifles we captured on the field the other day too. I’d like that sir, said Corporal Lowe. Well corporal, I said, I don’t want the enlisted men you’ll be serving with to see you looking all tattered because that would probably affect their impression of you and you already being a corporal your next step up is sergeant and sergeants don’t need the men they’re leading to remember them looking like beggars. I thank you right bout that sir and I pologize fer my looks, replied Corporal Lowe as he caught Sergeant Presher’s arm and swung up behind him for the ride to Richmond. No need for the apology corporal, I said. At least you came back for duty and had a hard time of it too. That says a lot for you right there. Upon arriving back to the battalion area the sergeants and Corporal Lowe went on about their business and I headed to my office. As I stepped up onto the porch of the headquarters building I was informed by the guard, Corporal Norman Mason that Lieutenant Rick Forrest and his wife Regina were waiting inside to see me about some matter. As I stepped inside the door I noticed the two of them sitting on the padded bench near the open window. Upon seeing me Lieutenant Forrest got to his feet saying, Sir, I’m glad to see you‘re back. I’ve been waiting over an hour to deliver to you this message. Seeing the pretty young lady I asked, who’s the young lady Lieutenant? Oh, he said, sorry about that sir. This is my wife Regina. I have a thirty day furlough and we’re going down to Carnesville, Georgia for a visit with my parents. Regina is from here in Richmond and hasn’t met my parents yet. First furlough I’ve had since the war started sir, he said. How long you two been married, I asked. Four months sir the lieutenant replied looking at his wife for support. It’s five months lacking a couple of days, Major Manley she said. I’m thrilled about getting to go meet Rick’s parents. Newly weds, I said. I hope you two have a great trip. When are you leaving. That’s what I was saying sir, I was thinking that if you were much later coming in we’d miss the departing train. We were cutting it close, he added. The train leaves in thirty minutes and we can make it since you’re here sir. I’ve got a message from Secretary of War, General Seedon about the prisoner exchange. I was told to deliver this message to you in person he said as he took the written message from his shirt and handed it to me. The big wigs on the hill have finally got their ducks in a row and it’s to take place day after tomorrow at 11 o’clock in the morning. They want you to report to Secretary of War Seedon’s office at the Capitol Building at 9 o’clock Thursday morning for a briefing. I’ll be there, I replied. Handing me a paper the lieutenant asked me to sign for it. It just assures anyone wanting to know that I delivered the message and you got it sir, he said. I understand lieutenant. I’m used to signing papers lately, I said as I signed the paper and handed it back to him and wished them both a safe trip. Thank you sir, he said as he and his pretty young wife stepped to the door. As they were leaving they met in the doorway two officers coming in. Upon hearing the two soldiers coming in I turned and greeted them. I asked what I could do for them. One asked me if I was Major Manley. I answered in the affirmative. As I sat down I nodded for them to have a seat. Major, the ranking officer said, I’m Major Houston Massey and this is my assistant, Lieutenant Howard Stuart. We’re here to inform you of the charges that have been placed against one of your battalion officers. Lieutenant Adam Land has been charged with cowardliness for leaving the field during battle without permission I figured you men would be getting down here. Surprised me that you didn’t get here sooner, I said. You men going to take the lieutenant in, I asked. I’m hoping we don’t have to do that sir, the major replied, Colonel Milam and Sergeant Major Simmons say they have spoken to you about this matter and you seem to think that Lieutenant Land is innocent. If you take the responsibility for the lieutenant showing up to answer the charges at the stated time and place specified in this order he may remain free, but must remain in the battalion area. Well men, I said, I wasn’t there when this incident took place, but I’ve been told all about it by the lieutenant and others. From what I’ve heard I believe the incident happened like Lieutenant Land says it did. I know him and in my opinion he is no coward. Give me the paper and I’ll sign it and take the responsibility for him showing up at the time and place of the court martial. Gotta have a witness too major , the officer said. I quickly signed the paper and stepped to the headquarters door and asked Corporal Mason to come in. Getting to the desk I handed the corporal the paper, told him to read it and sign as a witness. After quickly looking the paper over he signed it and handed it back to me. Taking it, I handed it straight to Major Massey After looking the paper over the major folded it, unbuttoned two buttons and placed it inside his shirt, thanked me, bid me good evening and the two officers walked out of the building with Corporal Mason following. I thought to myself, what a day I’ve had. I wondered what else might come up. Where was Captain Ducworth I wondered. I wanted to put him in charge of this matter and get it off me. I was thinking that I had to much to take care of already. I stepped to the door and asked Corporal Mason where the Headquarters Sergeant was. Said he’d be back in a jiffy and left about the time you got here sir, he replied. Do you know Captain Ducworth, I asked. Yes sir, he replied. Then go find’em and tell’em I need to see’em right away and fifteen minutes ago would have been to late for me. Who’s gonna relieve me of my guard post sir, asked Corporal Mason. I am, I said, now get going. Yes sir, he said as he hurried off to find the captain. BEN, THE NEXT CHAPTER I’AM STARTING ON WE’RE BACK UP IN WASHINGTON WITH THE SENATOR AND THE PATES.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:28:52 +0000