I Shall Be Near to You(45)

‘It isn’t usual, that’s all I mean,’ Will answers, but his words are careful, like he is measuring something he don’t like in my voice. ‘Can you imagine after what Hiram—’

‘Plenty of things that ain’t usual ain’t wrong,’ I say.

‘I heard they found some ladies in soldier’s clothes in the Second Maryland,’ Jimmy says, and it is my turn to look at him with my mouth gaping.

‘What happened to them?’ I ask.

Jimmy says, ‘They drummed them out of the Regiment with their heads shaved and then they clapped them in jail.’

‘How’d they get found out?’ I ask. The look Mrs. Greenhow gave me flashes in my mind, and I know right then I ain’t going to Captain with anything. That woman can’t be trusted if she knows what I am.

‘Don’t know,’ Jimmy says, and shrugs.

Henry looks at me and says, ‘Oh, a woman couldn’t stay a soldier long and not get caught. They should have made them put on dresses and go back home.’

‘Being a soldier isn’t a job for women,’ Will says.

‘Surely ain’t,’ Sully says, looking at me. My thoughts go dark and I wish Jeremiah were here. I take another bite of meat to keep from saying anything.

‘Isn’t a job for any of us, really,’ Will says, and gives me a look I can’t read.





CHAPTER

17


FORT CORCORAN, VIRGINIA: JUNE 1862

The relief of being back at Fort Corcoran after the week of prison guard has long since worn off with weeks of drilling when I decide I ought to send word home, even if my folks ain’t ever going to write me a kind word again. With Jeremiah sitting at our fire and the water on for coffee, I pull out my papers and write:

June 8, 1862

Virginia

Dear Papa, Mama, and Betsy,

I think You don’t like me to Write before now, but I thought You should Know how I fare.

I liked to hear about the Farm in your Letter. I want to know how that Spotted Calf does and if the Fields are planted and what in (Wheat or Potatoes or maybe Corn) and have you had Help to do it?

I have been Drilling and cooking for Jeremiah and the Flat Creek boys before now. We had Prison Duty and what do you think I saw there but a Lady Spy who is called Rebel Rose. She is a handsome figure and most of the boys don’t think she can be a Spy, but I know better.

I can get plenty of money for myself so whatever I send, I want you should keep it. When All this is through I hope to come see You, if you will have me. My future is with Jeremiah and after we visit we will be gone to take care of ourselves out West, where no one cares how I dress or what I do.

If you write, You can direct it the same as Before, but to Virginia.

Good-bye for this Time,

Rosetta



I have only just sealed the cover when a loud cheer goes up from the boys down the way. I know in my bones that it is our orders to battle and drop down on my stump, wondering how long ’til we know for sure where we’re going, if I should open that letter back up and tell my folks the whole of it. Jeremiah stands to look down the aisle, his head cocked.

Edward calls over to us as he saunters up to his tent, ‘You heard the news about the lady spy?’

Jeremiah shakes his head, and the gallows at Old Capitol Prison come up in my mind.

‘They deported her back to Rebel country. Guess you got lucky guarding her, Little Soldier,’ Edward says. ‘They say she’s been spying the whole damn time she’s been in prison!’

‘And they sent her home?’ Jeremiah asks.

‘Yep. Right to Richmond. Guess they figure she can’t do much harm there.’

I can’t help but be glad she’s been sent home safe, away from the likes of Hiram, even after being caught passing messages, even if she was doing it right on my watch, like I thought. It almost serves the Army right, if they ain’t taken her serious, sending her back to her own folks to live like she really is only some silly gossiping widow. Jennie Chalmers said that making slaves free will help women, but I don’t know how she can be right when there’s still most men who can’t see the things a woman does, even when she’s doing them right under his nose.

Sully comes back, all full of smiles. ‘Well, it ain’t a battle victory, but getting rid of a Rebel traitor is something to celebrate! We ought to go for a swim, wash ourselves clean of that Rebel filth, and get the laundry done at the same time!’

None of it seems right, not Rebel Rose going free, not celebrating it like a victory, but the idea of swimming being the same as doing laundry makes me snort. Course, it ain’t surprising seeing how most these boys think licking their mess plate is the same as washing it.

‘No one’s going anywhere ’til this coffee gets drunk,’ I say.

Jeremiah and Sully are already done gulping their coffee when Will comes from down the aisle, his hands behind his back, his hair wet and fresh combed.

‘Where you been so early?’ Sully asks. ‘You heard the news?’

‘I heard,’ Will says, and comes over to me at the fire. From behind his back he holds out a big cup with a lid and a handle on it.

‘You want coffee?’ I ask.

‘No,’ he says. ‘I found this mucket at the sutler’s. Might be better than what you have there. You want it?’