Undaunted Love (11 page)

Chapter Ninteen

June 17, 1861

Near Vienna, Virginia

R
AFE WAS SLOGGING ALONG NEXT to Satchel, sweltering in the heat. Ever since they’d been in Virginia, the days had been uncommonly hot and humid, the mosquitoes multiplying by the thousands. Nothing kept them out of their tent at night, and they were attracted to the sweat rolling off the men by day. Swatting the buzzing around his ears, he tried to keep his focus on the line of men in front of him.

The commander of their regiment since arriving in Virginia was Colonel Maxcy Gregg. The 1st South Carolina Volunteers had combined with two companies of cavalrymen and a company of artillery that morning to do a routine scouting mission from the Fairfax Courthouse out towards the Potomac, where they’d encountered even more mosquitoes and biting no-see-ums. They’d been marching close on ten hours, with a short stop for hard tack and water at noon, and Rafe was more than ready to return to their camp and rest his feet.

In the distance, they all heard a train whistle. Ahead, Gregg stopped his horse and held up an arm to halt. The sergeants passed back the command, and all stood still and silent. Even the horses barely moved; only the occasional snort or soft whinny could be heard. Suddenly Gregg shifted into action, talking quickly to his officers, and leading some the cavalry off to a nearby hill. The mood of the foot soldiers immediately shifted from apathy to expectation, and Rafe gripped his rifle, anxious to find out the plan.

Sergeant Lawrence talked to Lieutenant Moultrie, then came back to their company. “Colonel Gregg is moving the guns into position to fire on the train. His cavalrymen will be positioned on the hill, and we’ll be with the artillery at the bend in the tracks. Move out!” He set the pace himself by jogging off down the road.

Rafe watched as the train backed slowly down the track. There were open platforms full of Union soldiers. Suddenly there was a shout and much pointing and consternation as someone on the train spotted Gregg’s cavalry up on the hill. Multiple shots were fired at the mounted men, although they were well out of range. Once the men on the train were thoroughly distracted, Gregg opened fire with their big guns. Men leapt off the train to both sides as most of the cannon fire went high, but a few found their mark and Rafe stared as he watched men die for the first time.

The Union soldiers ran into the woods or sheltered themselves around the train cars, returning fire. Soon the train started going forward, away from the big artillery, leaving several of the cars behind.
Someone must have uncoupled them,
Rafe thought, sighting his rifle and firing. Soon the train was out of sight, leaving the men behind.

Night began to fall, and Rafe heard the same crickets and frogs that he heard every night. He thought it was strange that they would go on as if everything were normal, when he could hear the moans and cries of the wounded and dying men, and the occasional gunshot. They sat in full darkness for an hour. Rafe thought he saw shapes move in and out around the train cars, but he couldn’t be certain. Finally, word came back that the Federals had eluded the cavalry. They were to scavenge the trains for anything left behind, then regroup at the road.

Rafe and Satchel jogged together to the farthest rail car and climbed up. Boxes were stacked all around it, apparently used for benches by the soldiers who had been riding down the track. Satchel picked up a crowbar and pried one open, finding bottles of chloroform, rolls of linen gauze, and other various bottles and boxes that were unlabeled. They began to hand them down to the waiting men, quickly clearing off their car and hopping down, each carrying a large box on their shoulder.

The four miles to their camp passed quickly, although the boxes got heavier with each mile. Colonel Gregg was cautiously happy about their small victory, his regiment having sustained no casualties, and having recovered a good deal of supplies and equipment from the train. He was concerned, however, that the unit they’d confronted was part of a larger force so he posted extra guards on the camp and sending out his six best scouts.

Back in their tent, bellies full from an extra ration of salty cured ham and beans, Satchel stretched out on his blanket and fell asleep instantly. Three other men were asleep in the small tent, and three bedrolls were empty. Rafe sat on his own, his legs crossed, writing a letter to Livvie using his Bible as a writing desk.

My Dearest Liv,

We engaged in our first battle today. I am uncertain that it was a great one, to be sure, but men on the Union forces were injured and perhaps died, a sight I’ll not soon forget. Colonel Gregg is an experienced battlefield commander, and he led us to the unexpected battle and to victory with nary a casualty for the 1st South Carolina nor the North Virginia. Would that all our upcoming battles be so easy!

I thank you for the visit to the farm, and for your care and consideration of Mama. Whether she can tell you or no, I am certain she appreciates your visits, and I know that old Nackie is never happier than when you’re about the house. I can still see you laughing with him, standing over the burnt flapjacks. It is a vision I hold in my mind when I feel despairing over the bugs and the wet and the heat. Tell him that I know about that broken window, and he should just board it up for now, leastwise until I get home.

God willing, we will have no battles in the coming days. Please continue to pray, as I know it was your prayers and those of the other wives and mothers and fathers that have kept us safe thus far.

All My Love,

Rafe

Using the candle to affix a bit of wax to the envelope, he addressed the letter and left the tent. He threw it into a large canvas sack that was used to collect post, hoping that the corporal in charge of it would take it into Vienna on the morrow. Walking slowly through the camp, he listened to the murmur of men talking around their campfires. Here and there he could hear soft singing. A few sat on chairs cleaning and polishing their weapons. Two scrawny dogs fought over scraps until someone dumped a bucket of water on them, and they skulked off into the darkness. The smell of so many men, hot and sweaty and dressed in wool all day, not to mention the nearby latrines and piles of refuse, gave off a pungent odor. Usually he didn’t notice it, not after the first few days at a new campsite, but the night was still and the air heavy, and the smells seemed greatly intensified.

Ducking into the tent, he removed his clothes down to his drawers. His feet had blisters, and his boots were fast wearing out. He had talked to the regiment’s supply clerk, but new shoes were in short supply, so if he couldn’t get them from home, he probably wasn’t getting them. Spreading grease on the blisters, he flexed his toes, grimacing at the pain. At least they weren’t scouting tomorrow so he could go barefoot for the day and let the blisters dry.

He flopped back, throwing his arm over his eyes. The men around him muttered and snored, but his exhaustion soon took him and he fell asleep, finally unaware of the mosquitoes buzzing around his head and feet.

Chapter Twenty

July 25, 1861

My Darling Rafe,

We have had word of the Battle of Manassas, and all of us in Byrd’s Creek thank God that the 1st South Carolina wasn’t in it. General Jackson is being called “Stonewall” now because General Bee said to his troops, “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians!” It has been the talk of every gathering since it was reported to us, and he is quite the hero. While I know that many more of the Federals were killed than our boys, our losing near on 400, with over 1500 wounded, is what has made us all so thankful you weren’t there. If that’s selfish of me, that’s because I want you home in one piece come October, and I pray the Lord will forgive me.

I am uncertain what the disbanding of your regiment means, as it seems that nothing has changed for us but that you are now in the South Carolina 1st Infantry Regiment instead of the Volunteers. President Davis is still calling on men, and some from Edisto are volunteering. Mr. Porcher up and left his family with scarce any notice, and took his young Will with him. Charles Peck has gone, and Louis Mercer. Even our small town is yielding up its young men, and some not so young, like Solomon Blanchard who is close to forty.

I spent a night out at the farm two days ago, telling mama I was staying with Sally Porcher. Mrs. Porcher never comes to town now, with the rheumatics, so I don’t reckon the truth will find me out. Daddy is so caught up in the war effort and what he can do for the new government that he scarce comes out of his study, and there is a steady stream of men here night and day. Unfortunately Wyman Phelps is one of them, writing letters and taking notes and pouring whiskey. I stay out of their way, preferring to help Emmy now. I made a cake yesterday, I’ll have you know, and it was actually quite delicious!

Your mama is the same, and Nackie is taking care of the place as best he can. I was able to bring some things out to them, a few chicks that had hatched for us, and a basket of eggs, with a basket of vegetables. They shan’t starve, and your mama eats little now, as you know.

Lastly, I am not with child, as I had suspected in my last letter. While I long for children with you, my love, appearing pregnant in my daddy’s house when he doesn’t know we’re married was a great fear of mine. We have plenty of time, and I am glad to be able to carry on as I have been.

I pray for you daily, and you are always in my thoughts.

All My Love,

Your Livvie

August 8, 1861

Dearest Livvie,

I miss you, my love, and I both sorry and glad that we are not yet to have a child. With me here, and unable to come back to Byrd’s Creek, the burden of confronting your father would fall on you, and I find no joy coming out of that. As much as I dream of our family, the good Lord knew this was not the time.

As you know, our regiment is now the South Carolina 1st Infantry Regiment. We are still under Colonel Gregg, and feel proud to be so. They even call us Gregg’s Regiment. As you see from this letter, we are now stationed in Richmond under Brigadier General A.P. Hill. It seems exciting, but mostly we do what we did in Charleston – drill, march, train. It has been wet here, and hot, but with blessedly few biting critters, so I am content.

There are rumors, which I hesitate to tell you about, only I don’t want you to believe I was keeping anything from you. They are saying now that we aren’t going to be allowed to leave at the end of our six months, should we want to. To be honest, I can’t say what I’d do if given the choice. The situation of the South seems precarious, and without quitting ourselves finally and for good from Lincoln and the Federals, I despair of what we can accomplish. But they say – and remember that many of these tales end up being quite tall, in the event – that it may be needful for us to serve one year.

Right now I am in no danger, other than from the sicknesses that run through the camp like wildfire. But I am of hearty constitution, as you know, and the Lord has kept me well thus far. My heart is ever with you and home, and I long to see Byrd’s Creek and the ocean and our river. But I am also loath to quit when the army seems content to pay me, and now $2 more a month. Yes, I have been made a corporal, my darling! So please don’t fret, and pray for wisdom for both our leaders and your husband. I am far from needing to decide, and it may yet be that the decision is taken from our hands.

I have to answer for Nackie on how to replace Norah. The horse was a faithful servant to our family for many years, and gave her all long past her rightful time. I am not happy to spend our small reserve on a carthorse, and yet I know the difficulty for him to go to town without the cart. I will perchance write to Mr. Greene, our ever-faithful friend, and inquire as to a horse we may borrow, although the getting of a horse from Charleston to Byrd’s Creek is a right problem.

Satchel is begging me to blow out the light, as he has had a fever these last two days and his head aches. So for now, goodbye, my love.

Always and Forever,

Rafe

October 20, 1861

My Darling,

I must admit, I was sad to receive your letter that the regiment will not be allowed to dismiss any soldiers, regardless of their commitment. I thank you for your warnings, though, as I was able to not despair in front of Mama and Daddy. I trust that the good Lord knows all that is occurring, for us and for our beloved Confederacy, and I will continue to lean on him for strength while I endure this time alone.

Daddy has gone to Columbia until Christmas. He will be working with Governor Pickens, doing I know not what. He has left the miserable Wyman Phelps here to ‘look after’ Mama and me, but we neither one like him, and Mama has ‘suggested’ that he work at the law office, and said she will contact him if we need her. I think it is her fervent hope that we will not. We both know that Daddy means for me to marry Wyman, although Mama certainly doesn’t know the reason why I cannot. But she does know many reasons why I will not, as she feels the same way about him. He seems to have charmed many here in town, but his charm is hollow when one knows him better.

The horse Mr. Greene sent has been helping Nackie to a marvelous degree. Poor old Norah was slower than molasses in the wintertime, and now Nackie can get to town and back in half the time. He says he figures he’s like old Norah, slow, deaf and half blind, but he reckons he’ll go on til the good Lord calls him home. Then he breaks into song, singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” or “There is a Balm in Gilead.” Thankfully he and Emmy don’t sing at the same time. They might never stop!

Things are getting scarce in town. The Union ships have been blockading or raiding ships coming to bring supplies to Charleston, so much is gone from the shelves everywhere. More men have volunteered, so many of the women are helping on farms or sewing uniforms for the boys. Solomon Blanchard has returned home, sick almost to death with typhoid. He swears he will go back and fight when he’s well, but Mrs. Blanchard swears equally well that he won’t do any such thing. We’ll see who’s more stubborn should the time come.

Madeline and Gardner have finally moved into their new house, although it’s smaller than the last and not fully finished. Madeline will have the baby by Christmas, and she wanted it born in their own home, so Gardner and their men got what they could done. Maddy is stubborn – I reckon Gardner knew she’d move in without a roof or kitchen if she got a mind to it. Mama said I must go help her, and I think I shall for a week or two, but I will fix the time with Nackie to make sure he and your mama have everything they need.

I pray for your protection and health every day, my love, and pray also that God will bring you back to me soon. Sometimes I do wish that I was carrying your babe, so that I would have part of you with me.

All My Love,

Liv