I Shall Be Near to You(25)

‘Thank you. You’re kind to show me,’ he says so nice I feel bad for not being more friendly. ‘My name’s Will.’

‘Ross. You want a biscuit? They ain’t very good, but it’s something to fill your belly.’

‘Things taste better when you share them,’ he smiles.

‘Well, in that case,’ Jeremiah calls real loud from where he is sitting in a small patch of sun, ‘maybe if you can get Sully to stop sulking and come on over, between the two of you, our food will get to tasting like home-cooked!’

It gets my dander up, to hear him judge my cooking and all the other boys laugh. All the boys except Will.

‘You want to come try? You think you can do better?’ I ask, fighting to keep my hand from going to my hip as I stare over at Jeremiah.

‘No, Ma’am!’ Jeremiah says with a smirk I want to slap off his face. ‘But I think maybe we could improve our chances of getting a decent meal, if what he says is true.’

Sully swaggers into our camp from where he’s been sitting across the way at Will’s tent, saying, ‘I ain’t been sulking. I was only making room—I can see when I ain’t wanted.’

As he passes me, he shoves my shoulder. ‘Looks like you’re doing the sulking now,’ he says.

And that is how Will and Sully along with him come to be at our fire most mornings.





CHAPTER

10


UTICA, NEW YORK: MARCH 1862

‘Soldiers!’ Captain calls from the front of the parade ground where a wagon has been parked since first thing this morning. He stands prouder than ever. ‘Today is the day many of you have been waiting for!’

Every head snaps forward, but eyes keep wandering to the wagon on Captain’s right, filled with wooden crates. Sergeant Ames and Sergeant Fitzpatrick from Company G clamber up into the bed and work with crowbars at prying off those lids.

‘You thinking what I’m thinking?’ Sully asks Jeremiah, only he don’t give anybody a chance to answer. ‘I bet he’s got our orders!’

‘It is my privilege to issue each of you a Springfield Model 1861 Rifled Musket,’ Captain says, and Sully whoops, ‘Hot damn!’

A smile flickers across Captain’s face, but he goes back to being stony and serious when he says, ‘These weapons are entrusted to you by the United States Army. This weapon is your life. It is your safety. It is the life and safety of our great nation. You must take proper care with it.’

Jeremiah watches me, but I don’t do a thing but stare straight ahead. I ain’t forgiven him for calling me Ma’am in front of all the boys, even though he hasn’t said a word about me going home. He ain’t been the least bit tender or easy with me. I’m not easy either, especially not thinking about that gun, thinking about what I might have to do with it, but I can’t let that show. Most of these boys can’t hardly wait to get their hands on that rifle and so I’ve got to be pleased too. I step in line behind Jeremiah and the rest of them making their way toward that wagon.

‘Now here is something might help us win some fights,’ Thomas Stakely says from the front of the line. ‘Get me home to my girls sooner.’

‘I’d like to meet your girls,’ Hiram says, and it is a wonder how he makes everything that comes out of his mouth sound foul.

Thomas turns on him, the sinews in his neck standing out even more than usual, and Leatherskin John Morgan steps closer behind him.

‘You ain’t to talk about my girls,’ Thomas says.

Hiram puts his hands up and backs away, ‘Oh, I see. You think they won’t do for a rowdy like me, eh?’

Thomas says, ‘Something like that.’

‘Well, most times I can make any girl serve the purpose just fine,’ Hiram says, thrusting his hips.

Thomas don’t look away from Hiram, but John puts his hand on his arm, nodding at the officers. ‘He’s only blowing off some steam.’

‘I’m looking to blow more than steam!’ Hiram shouts. ‘But I ain’t got to fight you old men for permission to do it!’

‘Come time to use those guns up there, I think you’ll find these old men got more than enough fight,’ Thomas says, shrugging off John’s hand and taking a step closer to Hiram.

‘I can take anyone here and any Rebels that come at me. You name your day, old man, and we’ll see who walks away with one of your girls over his shoulder.’

‘Hiram, ain’t you wanting your Rebel-killing rifle? We’re all waiting on you!’ Jeremiah hollers, and he must be daft to do it.

‘Hell, yes, I want me a rifle! These old fellas got me distracted, talking about pretty girls!’ And then Hiram turns away from Thomas like he ain’t done a thing.

Sully finally gets to the head of the line, and there’s never been a blind baby bird looking so hungry as Sully is for that rifle. When Sergeant Ames sets his rifle in Sully’s hands, he don’t notice the weight, how it makes them sink. He turns and lifts that gun over his head, saying, ‘Gonna get me some Rebs!’ forgetting to move until Jeremiah pushes him forward.

Sergeant Fitzpatrick holds out a cartridge box to me, and I take it, slinging it over my shoulder so the brass oval saying us is right across the middle of my chest and the leather pouch rests at my hip. Then I raise my arms to Sergeant Ames and he puts my rifle right into my hands. It is even more of a burden than I thought, heavier than Papa’s gun for sure, and I don’t know how I’ll ever keep the barrel up to aim while I’m running at our enemy. All of it is so much to carry.