When The Drums Stop

Two: The Farm – July 1863-1

Two: The Farm – July 1863“A.J.?” a voice called out gently and then a frigid hand gripped my shoulder like death itself and shook me something fierce. “A.J. git up lazy bones!”

“Huh?” I turned over peering through the slits of my eyes; something blurry standing above me waving a hand back and forth.

“A.J. get up you lazy bones before your paw catches you sleeping in again. There's work to be done in the fields but first you best to git yourself on to school.”

“School? Aw, c'mon maw. Today's my birthday!” Mother grinned and turned away.

“Son, you're not gonna skip out on your education. I've got big plans for you boy and you're not going to disappoint your mother; are you?” I rolled my eyes slightly annoyed and shook my head a few times. Maw and Paw ain't never been to school so I don't know why in thunder I had to.

“No maw…” I replied unconvincingly.

“Good. Stop shakin your head at me young man. Now git your clothes on and make yourself proper. I set a pot of clean water. Wash your face and be on your way. I don't want to hear any more sass out of your mouth. Do you understand?” I nodded, wiping the drool from the corners of my mouth.

“Yes maw.” I pulled the dark wool cloth off my body and sat up rubbing my eyes to greet the day. It was my birthday of all days and I had just turned seventeen years of age, the age of manhood. The last thing on my mind was school. My brother had been fighting for the mighty Union for nearly two years taking up all the glory. He left when he turned seventeen and I was sure it was my time to go so I could help beat back the Johnny Rebs. Maw was determined to keep me out of the war but I was a man now and it was my choice and I was done with farming this dirt patch. I grabbed my leather boots turning them upside down and shaking them out to make sure there weren't any critters inside. I strapped them on then shook out my white long sleeved shirt; pulled it over my head and buttoned up the two wooden buttons on top. Our log home stank of smoke from the previous evening's fire and the coals from the oak timber still burned hot in the pit. I had hoped to see maw working on breakfast but instead she pushed some five-day old bread towards me that had been sitting on the wood cooking table. I grimaced and slowly retrieved the bread from the counter. I pawed at it for a while breaking up small pieces between my fingers worried I might find a maggot or some mold on the inside but thankfully it was clean. I hesitantly took a bite and ripped a piece off with my teeth. The bread wasn't yet hard but tough to chew making my teeth ache a bit. What I wouldn't give for an egg and a fresh slice of bacon.

“If you're still hungry grab an apple from the orchard on the road and make sure it's from our orchard and not the neighbors. You know how they feel about you swiping their crops. Last thing I need is to have you coming home with a bottom full of shot.” School was nearly two miles away, it seemed like five miles, but between home and school was an orchard owned by the Petersons. Maw thought they were a mean bunch but they weren't so bad. They didn't mind much people snatchin' an apple on the road if they were hungry but you best not be caught taking entire baskets away or else they will sick the dogs on you. Mean little bastards those dogs, mutts through and through. They've chased me all my life but never got a piece of me yet. I had fun teasing those mongrels every chance I got. I took the bread with me and pushed open the heavy oak door that creaked something awful. I caught the glint of my musket next to the door and looked back to see maw still had her back to me.

“Have a good day Maw!” Leaning over I snatched the rifle as quickly and quietly as I could.

“Don't you even think about taking that rifle coon hunting. A.J.?” I slammed the door shut on the way out and ran for my life straight through the fields. “A.J.!” I looked out in the pitches for Paw but couldn't spot him, he must've been on the far side somewhere so I decided to get done with coon hunting and then get on to school without seeing him. The stables were quiet even for Digger our donkey who stood silently outside tied to an old hitching post. The chickens were out doing what they do best eating seed and digging for grubs while a couple of our mutts ran in the fields like they owned the place. Up against a tired looking shed our shovels and axes rested waiting for us to pick them up and go to work; but today would not be a day for the tools. The dirt roads were warm already and the sun was coming down hard on my head. I sped up a bit and then ran to the end of our property line until reaching the main road that led to town. The orchard was not far off and I smiled just thinking about getting my teeth around one of the Petersons apples just to get the taste of stale bread out of my mouth. I ran down to a creek where a row of trees lined the bank as far as the eye could see. The coons always stayed close to these trees and they'd come down at night to kill our chickens when the dogs slept. The rifle was always loaded just in case there was trouble so I had one shot to get even with those coon varmints. I heard some scratching against the trees and then ahead about fifty yards I saw a whole family of coons just having a good time up in the branches swinging this way and that. I took a good spot near a smoothed-out rock and leaned against it while I c****d back the hammer. The big one walked right into my sights so I rested my cheek firmly against the walnut buttstock and tucked it tight into my shoulder.

“Breathe…” I said quietly. I took a lungful in and slowly let it out. I placed my finger firmly against the trigger but was careful not to be too firm. Breathe in, breath out; my breath paused naturally and the big one was in my sights. I pulled the trigger, a loud bang and a flash of fire erupted in the dry creek bed as smoke surrounded me. The coon dropped fast out of the bush and the others scattered to the wind leaving their kin behind. I got up and ran straight to him to see him shot good and dead. The round hit him just behind his shoulder and probably went through his heart, couldn't have been any cleaner, no Sir. Picking him up by his long striped tail I ran back home and as I approached the doors I slowed down and hushed my steps lightly placing the coon on the ground and the rifle leaning against the door frame. I knocked hard three times and ran back to the road.

“A.J.!” Maw yelled as she opened the door to see the surprise I had left her. Maw was furious but at least I got her a fresh coon to skin for a hat and meat to cook for super. I hoped she'd thank me later but didn't count on it. Once on the road I heard a clamor come up from behind me and then recognized the sound of horse hooves.

“Yah, yah!” a man yelled in the distance. Around the corner of the orchard came a soldier clad in blue and gold carrying a cobalt flag on a wooden staff. I stepped aside briskly to let the rider pass and then I noticed a wagon pulling up behind him being towed by two beautiful Clydesdales. The wagon was filled with Union soldiers and I could feel the excitement rising in my scrawny bones. Their barely used muskets sat upright shining brightly like swords in the morning sun. The wagon driver slapped the reins loudly and the horses approached passing me quickly. I turned my head following the flash of blue and metal insignias that neatly presented themselves in front of me like a parade.

“Where yall headed?” I asked aloud. A solider in the back turned towards me placing his hands on the rails and leaning out the wagon.

“Were going to town kid. You comin?” I smiled from ear to ear and chased after them running as fast as my legs would carry me but the wagon was just too fast. I could see the soldiers smiling and laughing at me as I tirelessly tried to catch up. Shortly I ran out of breath and after a brisk run I stopped in place putting my hands on my knees to brace myself as I leaned forward panting like a hound. Those were federal soldiers! Maybe they knew something about my brother? Where he was, what he was doing? I stood upright and walked onward reaching a fork in the road that I had passed many times before; but today it just felt different. To the right was school where maw expected me to be and to the left was town where the soldiers had gone. If I didn't go to school maw would have me paddled or take me out in the orchard and beat my bottom with a switch, especially after going coon hunting when I wasn't supposed to. But if I didn't go to town I might not find out about my brother. Maybe if they heard something I could tell maw and paw and then they'd be excited for what I done.

“It won't hurt none if I go to school late.” I said aloud and turned to the left making my way to town. Maw didn't like me going to town by myself neither. She said I'd get into trouble and that I needed to stay away from strangers but of course I never listened any good. I snuck away to town every chance I got meeting up with my friends to see who was riding in. Wasn't much in town to look at anyway, just a post office, lumber yard, saloon, and a church. The brush on either side of the road began to clear and the dirt path opened up to the town. I found several soldiers posted up just outside the post office drinking from their canteens and snacking on salted crackers. Without delay I approached them and nodded gleefully when their eyes swiftly met with mine.

“Well hey boy.” One of the guards called out to me. “I didn't think you'd make it running after the wagon like that. You here to enlist?”

“Enlist?” I asked curiously. I thought they were just running through town? The soldiers almost never stopped here; the town was too small for them to pay much mind.

“Yeah, Sergeant Hollyfield is just inside getting some other boys signed on. You should go on inside and talk to him.” I was ready to jump through that door and sign papers set for the adventure of a lifetime but I stopped myself short thinking about maw and paw and what they might think about it.

“Hey, my brother has been fightin with the Union for the last two years. You might know him, his name is Alfred, Alfred Franklin Roach. Sometimes he goes by Al.” The soldier looked up for a moment and thought about it but then shook his head.

“Can't say I do son but if you join up maybe you'll get a chance to see him. There's plenty of brothers and even fathers and sons fightin side by side.” I like the sound of that!

“He's serving with the First Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry. You sure you haven't heard of him?” He shook his head again.

“How old are you son?”

“Seventeen this day Sir.” I replied without hesitation. He looked over at the other guard.

“Well I'll be. Seventeen? You hear that Private Nicholas?” He nodded.

“I heard that Private Carter.” He leaned forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Look son, you look like a healthy young man. We need more spring chickens like yourself to help win this war. If you just go in there and talk to the Sergeant he'll tell you about all the great things you get for joining. What'd ya say?”

“Like what?” I asked curiously.

“Well, first of all you get paid to carry around a rifle and you get three square meals a day. Have you ever had three square meals everyday son?” I shook my head. Best I ever got was one and a half.

“Well if you join up you will and none of that old bread or rotten fruit they probably got you eating out here. No Sir, you'll be eating like a king. Fresh meats, baked beans, and all the clean water you could hope for. Hell, we even drink whiskey in the camp.”

“Whiskey?” The solider stared at me perplexed.

“Ain't you ever had whiskey before boy? Some of that good old Tennessee brown?” I shook my head again.

“No? Well, if you join you'll get that to. It'll put fire in your blood so you can run straight at them Johnny Rebs like a real man. They even get you brand new clothes, boots, and no more hand me downs like the rags you're wearing. Only the best for those that serve in the Union, that's what Sergeant Hollyfield says. So, what you think boy? You gonna go talk to the Sergeant? He ain't got all day and when we ride out of here we won't come back for a least a month. Wouldn't want to see you and yours get swept up by them Johnny Rebs.” I stood there feeling pulled apart. One side of me wanted to say no and respect the decision of my parents but there was another side that just kept screaming at me ready to head out of town and finally be a man; a real man. If I stayed here I might miss the war entirely and then when my brother got back I'd never hear the end of it; how he was a veteran and how I never lifted a finger to fight against the South. I could feel a crooked smile creep up on my face and I nodded enthusiastically.