Ashes in the Air

July 10th, 1861

Will

I rode through town in Chester, my large grey horse to get to edge of the tiny town of Gettysburg. I was assigned to be a Major for a small reserve regiment currently stationed about a mile off one of the five highways leading out of the town. Looking around and seeing many American flags flying, I couldn't help but wonder-

How would I make these soldiers trust me?

I don't know how I never thought of this before; most of the volunteers in the regiment are around fifty with some military experience. Will they ever trust a skinny 25-year-old fresh out of West Point? It took me more than a year to gain the trust of my neighbors when I moved up to Pennsylvania with my wife in '56, and that was before the war. I've been a Republican ever since I was little but people tend to assume I am a rebel sympathizer after they hear my accent and hear that I was raised in Georgia. A lot of these people have lost loved ones to the war and have a personal vendetta against the south.

I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

* * * * *

Pat

"Why are you dressed like that? And what did you do with your hair?" Curtis asked.

"I cut my hair, and I'm in a uniform because I've enlisted with you. We both saw the flier, the army needs as many able bodied people-" I responded679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6JoEJW5q3
"Men, Pat, the flier said able bodied men. You're not a man!" he snapped

Curtis' voice was annoyed, but there was concern in his small brown eyes. "You're all I have. We're in a war and if we die who would take care of the kids? Your niece? Shes only eighteen and James is twelve-"

"She's got a husband, he's older and can help. Both have already agreed and have thought of a story. They are going to say that we have hit some hard times and sent the kids to them. It is a believable story, she married rich so they would be an obvious choice."

"What if I loose you and don't die? What would I do with myself then?"

"Why do you think I want to fight? If you die, we would at least be able to die together protecting our country. And I think the same thing as you! I love you, and if you were gone there would be no way I'd be able to take care of the kids, I would be able to provide better if I were dead."

* * * *

Peter

"I'll give you twenty three hundred for them and the girl," the man said to Camilla's, Owen's and my owner, "You said the girl can cook?"

"Yes, the best I've had. I'd say this raises their value as a set to twenty five hundred."

"That would be the case, but it seems that the little one cant see very well."

"Sure he can. Boy," My owner gestured towards me so I walked over to him, "Read that sign."

The sign my owner points at a sign around five feet away. It is not at all blurry, and it says 'Spaar Plantation- slaves for sale'

"Sp-," Camilla shook her head at me, and I remembered that I'm not supposed to know how to read, "I don't know. I can not read."

My owner sighed and pointed at a sign around twenty feet away. "What is that? You should know this."

Squinting at the sign hanging above a stall, I said, "I don't know. It's very blurry. Apples, maybe?"

It is definitely peaches. I see peaches clear as day, but I really do not like my master and wish the worst upon him. My owner's face turned red. "The big one is stronger than he looks. $2,400 is my final price."

The buyer held out his hand to my owner. "Done."

* * * * *

Jennifer

Ruby jumped up and down excitedly, her red curls bouncing. "How long till we get to Granny's farm?"

"I love their farm," Christine said, looking around the carriage, "But I wish Dad could come with us."

"Dad is going to help defend Gettysburg from possible attack! He's going to be a war hero when he is called to fight!" Charlie excitedly uttered, "Major William Spaar, keeping the rebels out of union territory!"

"What if dad gets hurt when he fights? " Christine asked, her big blue eyes staring into my soul.

"That won't happen, Chrissie, so far the war has only been in the south and he is helping with a reserve unit. The war will be over soon, and everything will mostly be back to normal."

"I don't know," Christine said as she pulled at a lock of her cinnamon hair, "I don't like this war. I feel like it will just get worse and worse and go on forever."

"Don't worry about it. President Lincoln knows what he is doing," I responded calmly.

I feel a little bit guilty for lying to the kids, but any rational adult would know that this war is not going anywhere anytime soon.

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