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Thecoldpassedreluctantlyfromtheearth,andtheretiringfogsrevealedanarmystretchedoutonthehills,resting.
Asthelandscapechangedfrombrowntogreen,thearmyawakened,andbegantotremblewitheagernessatthenoiseofrumors.
Itcastitseyesupontheroads,whichweregrowingfromlongtroughsofliquidmudtoproperthoroughfares.
Ariver,amber-tintedintheshadowofitsbanks,purledatthearmy’sfeet;andatnight,whenthestreamhadbecomeofasorrowfulblackness,onecouldseeacrossitthered,eyelikegleamofhostilecamp-firessetinthelowbrowsofdistanthills.
Onceacertaintallsoldierdevelopedvirtuesandwentresolutelytowashashirt.
Hecameflyingbackfromabrookwavinghisgarmentbannerlike.
Hewasswelledwithatalehehadheardfromareliablefriend,whohadhearditfromatruthfulcavalryman,whohadhearditfromhistrustworthybrother,oneoftheorderliesatdivisionheadquarters.
Headoptedtheimportantairofaheraldinredandgold.
“We’regoin’t’movet’morrah—sure,”hesaidpompouslytoagroupinthecompanystreet.“We’regoin’‘wayuptheriver,cutacross,an’comearoundinbehint‘em.”
Tohisattentiveaudiencehedrewaloudandelaborateplanofaverybrilliantcampaign.
Whenhehadfinished,theblue-clothedmenscatteredintosmallarguinggroupsbetweentherowsofsquatbrownhuts.
Anegroteamsterwhohadbeendancinguponacrackerboxwiththehilariousencouragementoftwoscoresoldierswasdeserted.Hesatmournfullydown.
Smokedriftedlazilyfromamultitudeofquaintchimneys.
“It’salie!that’sallitis—athunderin’lie!”saidanotherprivateloudly.
Hissmoothfacewasflushed,andhishandswerethrustsulkilyintohistrouser’spockets.
Hetookthematterasanaffronttohim.
“Idon’tbelievethedernedoldarmy’severgoingtomove.We’reset.
I’vegotreadytomoveeighttimesinthelasttwoweeks,andweain’tmovedyet.”
ThetallsoldierfelTcalledupontodefendthetruthofarumorhehimselfhadintroduced.Heandtheloudonecameneartofightingoverit.
Acorporalbegantoswearbeforetheassemblage.
Hehadjustputacostlyboardfloorinhishouse,hesaid.
Duringtheearlyspringhehadrefrainedfromaddingextensivelytothecomfortofhisenvironmentbecausehehadfeltthatthearmymightstartonthemarchatanymoment.
Oflate,however,hehadbeenimpressedthattheywereinasortofeternalcamp.
Manyofthemenengagedinaspiriteddebate.
Oneoutlinedinapeculiarlylucidmanneralltheplansofthecommandinggeneral.
Hewasopposedbymenwhoadvocatedthattherewereotherplansofcampaign.
Theyclamoredateachother,numbersmakingfutilebidsforthepopularattention.
Meanwhile,thesoldierwhohadfetchedtherumorbustledaboutwithmuchimportance.
Hewascontinuallyassailedbyquestions.
“What’sup,Jim?”
“Th’army’sgoin’t’move.”
“Ah,whatyehtalkin’about?Howyehknowitis?”
“Well,yehkinb’lievemeernot,jestasyehlike.Idon’tcareahang.”
Therewasmuchfoodforthoughtinthemannerinwhichhereplied.Hecameneartoconvincingthembydisdainingtoproduceproofs.Theygrewmuchexcitedoverit.
Therewasayouthfulprivatewholistenedwitheagerearstothewordsofthetallsoldierandtothevariedcommentsofhiscomrades.
Afterreceivingafillofdiscussionsconcerningmarchesandattacks,hewenttohishutandcrawledthroughanintricateholethatserveditasadoor.
Hewishedtobealonewithsomenewthoughtsthathadlatelycometohim.
Helaydownonawidebunkthatstretchedacrosstheendoftheroom.
Intheotherend,crackerboxesweremadetoserveasfurniture.Theyweregroupedaboutthefireplace.
Apicturefromanillustratedweeklywasuponthelogwalls,andthreerifleswereparalleledonpegs.
Equipmentshungonhandyprojections,andsometindisheslayuponasmallpileoffirewood.Afoldedtentwasservingasaroof.
Thesunlight,without,beatinguponit,madeitglowalightyellowshade.
Asmallwindowshotanobliquesquareofwhiterlightupontheclutteredfloor.
Thesmokefromthefireattimesneglectedtheclaychimneyandwreathedintotheroom,andthisflimsychimneyofclayandsticksmadeendlessthreatstosetablazethewholeestablishment.
Theyouthwasinalittletranceofastonishment.Sotheywereatlastgoingtofight.
Onthemorrow,perhaps,therewouldbeabattle,andhewouldbeinit.
Foratimehewasobligedtolabortomakehimselfbelieve.
Hecouldnotacceptwithassuranceanomenthathewasabouttomingleinoneofthosegreataffairsoftheearth.
Hehad,ofcourse,dreamedofbattlesallhislife—ofvagueandbloodyconflictsthathadthrilledhimwiththeirsweepandfire.
Invisionshehadseenhimselfinmanystruggles.
Hehadimaginedpeoplessecureintheshadowofhiseagle-eyedprowess.
Butawakehehadregardedbattlesascrimsonblotchesonthepagesofthepast.
Hehadputthemasthingsofthebygonewithhisthought-imagesofheavycrownsandhighcastles.
Therewasaportionoftheworld’shistorywhichhehadregardedasthetimeofwars,butit,hethought,hadbeenlonggoneoverthehorizonandhaddisappearedforever.
Fromhishomehisyouthfuleyeshadlookeduponthewarinhisowncountrywithdistrust.Itmustbesomesortofaplayaffair.
HehadlongdespairedofwitnessingaGreeklikestruggle.Suchwouldbenomore,hehadsaid.Menwerebetter,ormoretimid.
Secularandreligiouseducationhadeffacedthethroat-grapplinginstinct,orelsefirmfinanceheldincheckthepassions.
Hehadburnedseveraltimestoenlist.Talesofgreatmovementsshooktheland.
TheymightnotbedistinctlyHomeric,butthereseemedtobemuchgloryinthem.
Hehadreadofmarches,sieges,conflicts,andhehadlongedtoseeitall.
Hisbusymindhaddrawnforhimlargepicturesextravagantincolor,luridwithbreathlessdeeds.
Buthismotherhaddiscouragedhim.Shehadaffectedtolookwithsomecontemptuponthequalityofhiswarardorandpatriotism.
Shecouldcalmlyseatherselfandwithnoapparentdifficultygivehimmanyhundredsofreasonswhyhewasofvastlymoreimportanceonthefarmthanonthefieldofbattle.
Shehadhadcertainwaysofexpressionthattoldhimthatherstatementsonthesubjectcamefromadeepconviction.
Moreover,onherside,washisbeliefthatherethicalmotiveintheargumentwasimpregnable.
Atlast,however,hehadmadefirmrebellionagainstthisyellowlightthrownuponthecolorofhisambitions.
Thenewspapers,thegossipofthevillage,hisownpicturings,hadarousedhimtoanuncheckabledegree.
Theywereintruthfightingfinelydownthere.
Almosteverydaythenewspaperprintedaccountsofadecisivevictory.
Onenight,ashelayinbed,thewindshadcarriedtohimtheclangoringofthechurchbellassomeenthusiastjerkedtheropefranticallytotellthetwistednewsofagreatbattle.
Thisvoiceofthepeoplerejoicinginthenighthadmadehimshiverinaprolongedecstasyofexcitement.
Later,hehadgonedowntohismother’sroomandhadspokenthus:“Ma,I’mgoingtoenlist.”
“Henry,don’tyoubeafool,”hismotherhadreplied.Shehadthencoveredherfacewiththequilt.Therewasanendtothematterforthatnight.
Nevertheless,thenextmorninghehadgonetoatownthatwasnearhismother’sfarmandhadenlistedinacompanythatwasformingthere.
Whenhehadreturnedhomehismotherwasmilkingthebrindlecow.Fourothersstoodwaiting.
“Ma,I’veenlisted,”hehadsaidtoherdiffidently.Therewasashortsilence.
“TheLord’swillbedone,Henry,”shehadfinallyreplied,andhadthencontinuedtomilkthebrindlecow.
Whenhehadstoodinthedoorwaywithhissoldier’sclothesonhisback,andwiththelightofexcitementandexpectancyinhiseyesalmostdefeatingtheglowofregretforthehomebonds,hehadseentwotearsleavingtheirtrailsonhismother’sscarredcheeks.
Still,shehaddisappointedhimbysayingnothingwhateveraboutreturningwithhisshieldoronit.
Hehadprivatelyprimedhimselfforabeautifulscene.
Hehadpreparedcertainsentenceswhichhethoughtcouldbeusedwithtouchingeffect.Butherwordsdestroyedhisplans.
Shehaddoggedlypeeledpotatoesandaddressedhimasfollows:“Youwatchout,Henry,an’takegoodcareofyerselfinthisherefightingbusiness—youwatch,an’takegoodcareofyerself.
Don’tgoa-thinkin’youcanlickthehullrebelarmyatthestart,becauseyehcan’t.
Yerjestonelittlefelleramongstahulllotofothers,andyeh’vegottokeepquietan’dowhattheytellyeh.Iknowhowyouare,Henry.
“I’veknetyeheightpairofsocks,Henry,andI’veputinallyerbestshirts,becauseIwantmyboytobejestaswarmandcomf’ableasanybodyinthearmy.
Whenevertheygetholesin‘em,Iwantyehtosend‘emright-awaybacktome,so’sIkindern‘em.
“An’allusbecarefulan’chooseyercomp’ny.There’slotsofbadmeninthearmy,Henry.
Thearmymakes‘emwild,andtheylikenothingbetterthanthejobofleadingoffayoungfellerlikeyou,asain’tneverbeenawayfromhomemuchandhasallushadamother,an’a-learning‘emtodrinkandswear.Keepclearofthemfolks,Henry.
Idon’twantyehtoeverdoanything,Henry,thatyehwouldbe‘shamedtoletmeknowabout.JestthinkasifIwasa-watchin’yeh.
Ifyehkeepthatinyermindallus,Iguessyeh’llcomeoutaboutright.
“Yehmustallusrememberyerfather,too,child,an’rememberheneverdrunkadropoflickerinhislife,andseldomsworeacrossoath.
“Idon’tknowwhatelsetotellyeh,Henry,exceptingthatyehmustneverdonoshirking,child,onmyaccount.
Ifsobeatimecomeswhenyehhavetobekiltofdoameanthing,why,Henry,don’tthinkofanything‘ceptwhat’sright,becausethere’smanyawomanhastobearup‘ginstsechthingsthesetimes,andtheLord‘lltakekeerofusall.
“Don’tforgitaboutthesocksandtheshirts,child;andI’veputacupofblackberryjamwithyerbundle,becauseIknowyehlikeitaboveallthings.Good-by,Henry.Watchout,andbeagoodboy.”
Hehad,ofcourse,beenimpatientundertheordealofthisspeech.Ithadnotbeenquitewhatheexpected,andhehadborneitwithanairofirritation.Hedepartedfeelingvaguerelief.
Still,whenhehadlookedbackfromthegate,hehadseenhismotherkneelingamongthepotatoparings.
Herbrownface,upraised,wasstainedwithtears,andherspareformwasquivering.
Hebowedhisheadandwenton,feelingsuddenlyashamedofhispurposes.
Fromhishomehehadgonetotheseminarytobidadieutomanyschoolmates.
Theyhadthrongedabouthimwithwonderandadmiration.
Hehadfeltthegulfnowbetweenthemandhadswelledwithcalmpride.
Heandsomeofhisfellowswhohaddonnedbluewerequiteoverwhelmedwithprivilegesforallofoneafternoon,andithadbeenaverydeliciousthing.Theyhadstrutted.
Acertainlight-hairedgirlhadmadevivaciousfunathismartialspirit,buttherewasanotheranddarkergirlwhomhehadgazedatsteadfastly,andhethoughtshegrewdemureandsadatsightofhisblueandbrass.
Ashehadwalkeddownthepathbetweentherowsofoaks,hehadturnedhisheadanddetectedheratawindowwatchinghisdeparture.
Asheperceivedher,shehadimmediatelybeguntostareupthroughthehightreebranchesatthesky.
Hehadseenagooddealofflurryandhasteinhermovementasshechangedherattitude.Heoftenthoughtofit.
OnthewaytoWashingtonhisspirithadsoared.
Theregimentwasfedandcaressedatstationafterstationuntiltheyouthhadbelievedthathemustbeahero.
Therewasalavishexpenditureofbreadandcoldmeats,coffee,andpicklesandcheese.
Ashebaskedinthesmilesofthegirlsandwaspattedandcomplimentedbytheoldmen,hehadfeltgrowingwithinhimthestrengthtodomightydeedsofarms.
Aftercomplicatedjourneyingswithmanypauses,therehadcomemonthsofmonotonouslifeinacamp.
Hehadhadthebeliefthatrealwarwasaseriesofdeathstruggleswithsmalltimeinbetweenforsleepandmeals;butsincehisregimenthadcometothefieldthearmyhaddonelittlebutsitstillandtrytokeepwarm.
Hewasbroughtthengraduallybacktohisoldideas.Greeklikestruggleswouldbenomore.Menwerebetter,ormoretimid.
Secularandreligiouseducationhadeffacedthethroat-grapplinginstinct,orelsefirmfinanceheldincheckthepassions.
Hehadgrowntoregardhimselfmerelyasapartofavastbluedemonstration.
Hisprovincewastolookout,asfarashecould,forhispersonalcomfort.
Forrecreationhecouldtwiddlehisthumbsandspeculateonthethoughtswhichmustagitatethemindsofthegenerals.
Also,hewasdrilledanddrilledandreviewed,anddrilledanddrilledandreviewed.
Theonlyfoeshehadseenweresomepicketsalongtheriverbank.
Theywereasun-tanned,philosophicallot,whosometimesshotreflectivelyatthebluepickets.
Whenreproachedforthisafterward,theyusuallyexpressedsorrow,andsworebytheirgodsthatthegunshadexplodedwithouttheirpermission.
Theyouth,onguarddutyonenight,conversedacrossthestreamwithoneofthem.
Hewasaslightlyraggedman,whospatskillfullybetweenhisshoesandpossessedagreatfundofblandandinfantileassurance.Theyouthlikedhimpersonally.
“Yank,”theotherhadinformedhim,“yerarightdumgoodfeller.”Thissentiment,floatingtohimuponthestillair,hadmadehimtemporarilyregretwar.
Variousveteranshadtoldhimtales.Sometalkedofgray,bewhiskeredhordeswhowereadvancingwithrelentlesscursesandchewingtobaccowithunspeakablevalor;tremendousbodiesoffiercesoldierywhoweresweepingalongliketheHuns.
Othersspokeoftatteredandeternallyhungrymenwhofireddespondentpowders.
“They’llchargethroughhell’sfirean’brimstonet’gitaholtonahaversack,an’sechstomachsain’ta’lastin’long,”hewastold.
Fromthestories,theyouthimaginedthered,livebonesstickingoutthroughslitsinthefadeduniforms.
Still,hecouldnotputawholefaithinveteran’stales,forrecruitsweretheirprey.
Theytalkedmuchofsmoke,fire,andblood,buthecouldnottellhowmuchmightbelies.Theypersistentlyyelled“Freshfish!”
athim,andwereinnowisetobetrusted.
However,heperceivednowthatitdidnotgreatlymatterwhatkindofsoldiershewasgoingtofight,solongastheyfought,whichfactnoonedisputed.Therewasamoreseriousproblem.Helayinhisbunkponderinguponit.
Hetriedtomathematicallyprovetohimselfthathewouldnotrunfromabattle.
Previouslyhehadneverfeltobligedtowrestletooseriouslywiththisquestion.
Inhislifehehadtakencertainthingsforgranted,neverchallenginghisbeliefinultimatesuccess,andbotheringlittleaboutmeansandroads.
Butherehewasconfrontedwithathingofmoment.
Ithadsuddenlyappearedtohimthatperhapsinabattlehemightrun.
Hewasforcedtoadmitthatasfaraswarwasconcernedheknewnothingofhimself.
Asufficienttimebeforehewouldhaveallowedtheproblemtokickitsheelsattheouterportalsofhismind,butnowhefeltcompelledtogiveseriousattentiontoit.
Alittlepanic-feargrewinhismind.Ashisimaginationwentforwardtoafight,hesawhideouspossibilities.
Hecontemplatedthelurkingmenacesofthefuture,andfailedinanefforttoseehimselfstandingstoutlyinthemidstofthem.
Herecalledhisvisionsofbroken-bladedglory,butintheshadowoftheimpendingtumulthesuspectedthemtobeimpossiblepictures.
Hesprangfromthebunkandbegantopacenervouslytoandfro.“GoodLord,what’sth’matterwithme?”hesaidaloud.
Hefeltthatinthiscrisishislawsoflifewereuseless.
Whateverhehadlearnedofhimselfwashereofnoavail.Hewasanunknownquantity.
Hesawthathewouldagainbeobligedtoexperimentashehadinearlyyouth.
Hemustaccumulateinformationofhimself,andmeanwhileheresolvedtoremaincloseuponhisguardlestthosequalitiesofwhichheknewnothingshouldeverlastinglydisgracehim.“GoodLord!”herepeatedindismay.
Afteratimethetallsoldiersliddexterouslythroughthehole.Theloudprivatefollowed.Theywerewrangling.
“That’sallright,”saidthetallsoldierasheentered.Hewavedhishandexpressively.
“Youcanbelievemeornot,jestasyoulike.
Allyougottodoissitdownandwaitasquietasyoucan.
Thenprettysoonyou’llfindoutIwasright.”
Hiscomradegruntedstubbornly.Foramomentheseemedtobesearchingforaformidablereply.Finallyhesaid:“Well,youdon’tknoweverythingintheworld,doyou?”
“Didn’tsayIkneweverythingintheworld,”retortedtheothersharply.Hebegantostowvariousarticlessnuglyintohisknapsack.
Theyouth,pausinginhisnervouswalk,lookeddownatthebusyfigure.“Goingtobeabattle,sure,isthere,Jim?”heasked.
“Ofcoursethereis,”repliedthetallsoldier.“Ofcoursethereis.Youjestwait‘tilto-morrow,andyou’llseeoneofthebiggestbattleseverwas.Youjestwait.”
“Thunder!”saidtheyouth.
“Oh,you’llseefightingthistime,myboy,what’llberegularout-and-outfighting,”addedthetallsoldier,withtheairofamanwhoisabouttoexhibitabattleforthebenefitofhisfriends.
“Huh!”saidtheloudonefromacorner.
“Well,”remarkedtheyouth,“likeasnotthisstory’llturnoutjestlikethemothersdid.”
“Notmuchitwon’t,”repliedthetallsoldier,exasperated.“Notmuchitwon’t.
Didn’tthecavalryallstartthismorning?”Heglaredabouthim.Noonedeniedhisstatement.
“Thecavalrystartedthismorning,”hecontinued.
“Theysaythereain’thardlyanycavalryleftincamp.
They’regoingtoRichmond,orsomeplace,whilewefightalltheJohnnies.It’ssomedodgelikethat.Theregiment’sgotorders,too.
Afellerwhatseen‘emgotoheadquarterstoldmealittlewhileago.
Andthey’reraisingblazesallovercamp—anybodycanseethat.”
“Shucks!”saidtheloudone.
Theyouthremainedsilentforatime.Atlasthespoketothetallsoldier.“Jim!”
“What?”
“Howdoyouthinkthereg’ment‘lldo?”
“Oh,they’llfightallright,Iguess,aftertheyoncegetintoit,”saidtheotherwithcoldjudgment.Hemadeafineuseofthethirdperson.
“There’sbeenheapsoffunpokedat‘embecausethey’renew,ofcourse,andallthat;butthey’llfightallright,Iguess.”
“Thinkanyoftheboys‘llrun?”persistedtheyouth.
“Oh,theremaybeafewof‘emrun,butthere’sthemkindineveryregiment,‘speciallywhentheyfirstgoesunderfire,”saidtheotherinatolerantway.
“Ofcourseitmighthappenthatthehullkit-and-boodlemightstartandrun,ifsomebigfightingcamefirst-off,andthenagaintheymightstayandfightlikefun.Butyoucan’tbetonnothing.
Ofcoursetheyain’tneverbeenunderfireyet,anditain’tlikelythey’lllickthehullrebelarmyall-to-oncetthefirsttime;butIthinkthey’llfightbetterthansome,ifworsethanothers.That’sthewayIfigger.
Theycallthereg’ment‘Freshfish’andeverything;buttheboyscomeofgoodstock,andmostof‘em‘llfightlikesinaftertheyoncetgitshootin’,”headded,withamightyemphasisonthelastfourwords.
“Oh,youthinkyouknow—”begantheloudsoldierwithscorn.
Theotherturnedsavagelyuponhim.Theyhadarapidaltercation,inwhichtheyfasteneduponeachothervariousstrangeepithets.
Theyouthatlastinterruptedthem.“Didyoueverthinkyoumightrunyourself,Jim?”heasked.Onconcludingthesentencehelaughedasifhehadmeanttoaimajoke.Theloudsoldieralsogiggled.
Thetallprivatewavedhishand.“Well”,saidheprofoundly,“I’vethoughtitmightgettoohotforJimConklininsomeofthemscrimmages,andifawholelotofboysstartedandrun,why,Is’poseI’dstartandrun.
AndifIoncestartedtorun,I’drunlikethedevil,andnomistake.
Butifeverybodywasa-standinganda-fighting,why,I’dstandandfight.Bejiminey,Iwould.I’llbetonit.”
“Huh!”saidtheloudone.
Theyouthofthistalefeltgratitudeforthesewordsofhiscomrade.Hehadfearedthatalloftheuntriedmenpossessedgreatandcorrectconfidence.Henowwasinameasurereassured.
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