Gallant Boys of Gettysburg Read Online Free PDF Page A

some’ll come in on one of the blockade runners,” the major replied.
    They were talking of the battle that was to come when suddenly Tom said, “You know, Pa—I mean Major,” he amended hastily, “I’ve been thinking. What would happen to Esther if we weren’t able to take care of her?”
    Looking up quickly, Nelson Majors understood that Tom had been thinking exactly as he had. “Well,” he said, “if something happened to me, you boys would have to take over.”
    Jeff said, “Yes, but what if something happens to us too? Don’t like to think about it, but it could happen.”
    “Esther’s in good hands,” Nelson said slowly. “The Carters have been so good to take her. If something did happen, they would raise her in a Christian way.” He did not want to talk about this and said instead, “She’s doing fine. I miss her a great deal though. Not right for a girl child not to have her father and family around.”
    Jeff had spent more time than the other two at the Carter house. He had made more than one visit back there. “You wouldn’t ever know her name’s notEsther Carter. They baby her to death. She’ll be spoiled rotten, Pa—I mean Major.”
    “I know, but I wish
we
could do those things for her—spoil her, that is.”
    “We will when it’s all over.” Tom nodded firmly. “One of these days this war’ll be over, and we can get Esther and get us a farm, and it’ll be great.”
    “It’s not just Esther you’re thinking about, though,” Jeff said slyly. He saw Tom give him a warning look and said only, “Don’t shoot! I guess we’d all like to see Sarah and Leah and all the folks there again.”
    The three finished their pie and walked back toward camp. There was more movement than usual.
    “I expect we’ll be pulling out of here pretty soon,” the major said.
    He was right about that, for the next morning bugles were blowing and officers were meeting. Everyone in the army knew that great things were afoot.
    Late that afternoon Jeff got the word from Tom, who had gotten it from his father. “We’ll be pulling out. You got anything to do, you’d better do it.”
    Jeff, along with the rest of the squad, began making hasty preparations. None of them knew how long they would be gone. All of them were certain they would be moving north to attack the Yankees on their own ground. This had happened once before, but they had been stopped at Antietam. Now, however, the Army of Northern Virginia was fit and ready and well-equipped, better than it had ever been.
    It took two days to get the army ready to roll, and when they were about to leave, the streets of Richmond were lined with people gathered to see them off.
    Jeff and Charlie Bowers stood in place with their drums as a band began to play. The troops paraded through the crowded streets with flags flying and banners waving, and there was a thrill in Jeff’s heart as he thought,
I’m a part of all this. Next year I’ll be old enough to be a regular soldier. But even now I’m part of it
.
    The company was dismissed after the parade, and there was a time of farewells for the soldiers who had families present.
    Jeff was standing to one side watching all this when he heard his name called. He turned to see Lucy Driscoll coming toward him.
    Lucy was a small, well-shaped girl of fourteen. Her blonde hair was tied back, and her blue eyes were bright. She wore a white dress with blue trim on the collar and sleeves that matched her eyes. She stopped exactly in front of him. “Oh, Jeff! I thought I’d missed you!” she cried.
    Jeff smiled down at her. He remembered that the first time he had met Lucy he hadn’t had to look down so far. There had been times when she had not been his favorite, but their friendship had survived, and now he said simply, “Nice of you to come out and tell us good-bye.”
    Lucy made a fetching picture as she looked up at him, but her face was troubled. “I’m proud of you, Jeff—but I’m worried