Isaac's Storm Read Online Free PDF Page B

thatspentalotmoretimeputtingmenthroughcavalrydrillsthanteachingthemtoforecasttheweather.GeneraloftheArmyP.H.Sheridan,aroundwhomtheauraofCivilWarheroismstillglowedbright,declaredFortMyerawasteofmoney.Theall-importantChicagoBoardofTradefiledaformalpetitionwithCongressdemandingreform.ComplaintsalsorosefromwithintheSignalCorpsitself,wheresomeveteranmilitaryofficers,amongthemaMajorH.H.C.Dunwoody,opposedapushbyGeneralHazentoconductprimaryresearchintothecausesandcharacterofweather.DunwoodyobjectedinparticulartoHazen'shiringofcivilianscientistslikeClevelandAbbe,easilythemostprominentpracticingmeteorologistofthenineteenthcentury.TheassaultgotpersonalwhenaPennsylvaniacongressmanaccusedGeneralHazenofcowardiceintheBattleofShiloh.
    ThereweremanythingsyoucouldbeinthenewAmerica,butacowardwasnotoneofthem.
    ANARMYSURGEONexaminedIsaac.Hesawaleanyoungmanofmiddleheightwithangularfeatures,livelydarkeyes,andanexpressionofsobrietythatmadeyouwanttotellhimsomeawfuljokejusttoseeifhecouldlaugh.Thesurgeonhadseenmanyboyslikethis,butunderverydifferentcircumstances,andhewantedtotellthisboynottobesofrightened,thathisnextstopwasFortMyer,notBloodyRun.Likemostboysfromthecountry,Isaac'sfacewassun-torchedtoapointaboutthree-quartersuphisforeheadwherehisskinturnedtrout-bellypale.Theboyhadgoodhands.Strong,weathered,nicked.Enterprisinghands.Thedoctorpronouncedhimfit.
    Isaacandthreeothernewmenclimbedintoawagonledbytwostronghorsesanddrivenbyamaninuniform.ThewagontookthemwestthroughaneighborhoodthedrivercalledGeorgetown,wherethree-andfour-storybrickhousesstoodjammedsidebyside.ThewagonturnedsouthandclatteredacrosstheGeorgetownBridgeintoVirginia,whereitcontinuedtoclimbuntilitreachedArlingtonHeights.Eveninthesteamofthathotafternoon,theviewwasstunning.TotheeastwasthegreatdomeoftheCapitolgleamingintheheat.AmileorsocloserwastheWillardHotelandthetuftofforestthatmaskedthepresident'smansion.Agreatstonetowerdominatedthelandscape.Itrosehundredsoffeetintotheskyanddwarfedeveryotherbuildinginsight.Thetowerwasnotyetfinished.Buthowmuchhighercoulditpossiblygo?Nearerathand,IsaaccaughtflashesoftheArlingtonmansionofRobertE.Leeandthegreatcemeterynowaborningonitsgrounds.
    ThefirstsoldiertogreetIsaacwas1stSgt.MikeMahaney,agruffCivilWarveteranwhoshowedIsaactoanoblongroomwithonewindow,runningwater,twodoubledesks,andfourbeds.Thefort'scommander,Capt.DickStrong,hisnaturalseriousnessamplifiedbyhisheavybeard,welcomedthenewmenandgavethemhisstockcharge:"Youwillcheerfullyobeyallorderswithoutquestionandrefrainfromsayinganythingeithercommendatoryorcondemnatory."
    Isaacreceivedacavalrysaberaspartofhisofficialkit.Heloveditsheft,anditscoldhardlines,andhowitevokedthestorieshehadheardmentellofPickett'sCharge.SoonIsaacfoundhimselfonhorseback,learninghowtokillmenatagallop —