CHAPTER 1
A FAMILIAR FACE
"Robert! Over here!" Harry cries, standing in the center of the field similar to a detective overlooking a crime scene. He is surrounded by dead Irish soldiers at Manassas Junction. Harry spots at a young Irish drummer boy motionless. The boy's eyes at stuck staring up at the sky. Each are wide open. Harry leans closer to the dead boy noticing a picture of four people in it.
Robert sobs and desperately shoves aside the dead. Harry screams louder, "Robert! I think I found him!" Robert wipes off his tears using his blood stained hands. Not hearing Harry he pushes over another died soldier. A puny, tiny green clover fell off the soldier's hat.
He hears coughing behind him and discovers a confederate sergeant. The sergeant hovers over a wounded Irish soldier. Tears of sadness fell from the sergeant's eyes while the dying soldier cried for his children.
Moments later he discovers the 28th's regimental flag. There are several bullet holes scattered upon the fabric. Its fabric has holes similar to a pen poking through a sheet of paper. A golden harp is in its center. The designs are hand sworn within its greenish background.
Robert grasps the flag putting his fingers through each of the tiny holes. He feels blood stains upon its soft surface. Releasing the flag, he watches it fall on the ground. It covers the tips of his shoes acting like a blanket. Robert lowers his head staring at the once beautiful flag now in ruins.
Tears begin leaking out of his eyes while visions of his cousins came into view. He raises his head. Robert has a vision of Conor standing over a young dead soldier.
Conor, with a saddened expression, folds his arms over one another. The transparent vision of Conor ends up suddenly pointing at him.
He cries out to Robert like a victim toward the captor, "Why did you shoot me Robert? I was scared and terrified seeing you pulling the trigger."
Robert cries out, falling to his knees, "Oh God Conor! I swear I didn't know it was you until it was too late!" His vision of Conor dashes into a tree. Robert's cousin vanishes traveling through it. It's almost as if the transparent vision is Conor's spirit.
"God no! Please, do not let that soldier be Conor." Robert's mind screams. He spots a soldier lying face down behind the tree. He races over toward the corpse and rolls over the body.
The corpse's eyes are a dark hazelnut color. Its skin has pale look almost like a ghost. Touching the cold lifeless face, Robert feels its skin turn hard. Its skin acts as if it turned into ice cubes.
Robert realizes the body isn't Conor. He moves his head from the horrid stench of the corpse. His eyes catch a gold rusty chain. It sparkles similar to gold dust. The round object sticks out from under the soldier's shoes. He pulls the shoes out of the way and discovers a gold pocket watch. What is this? His mind thought as he heard a click. It popped open like popcorn springing from its hardened shell.
A tiny picture is seen within the watch. The picture is of Patrick standing in the center. His son and nephew are on each side of him smiling. Uncle Patrick and my cousins. Robert's mind shouts as his eyes became watery like a vessel sinking to a watery grave.
He raises up his head crying out, "Oh God! Why did I pull the trigger? Why?"
Robert's reaction is like a peacock on a tree branch observing the field. He puts the watch into his pocket sobbing in a hysteric way. Robert slowly stands to his feet like a policeman after a shootout with villains. "Why did I join the southern cause, God? Why?" his mind cries. Robert continues to search for his relatives not hearing Harry shouting at him in the background.
Robert falls to his knees reacting like a man in prayer. Each of his hands are placed against his face. The palms of his hands fill with salt watery tears.
He begins to cry, "Oh Conor! I hope you are ok. I'm sorry my cousin. Please forgive me."
Feeling a tagging on his uniform, he twists around, reacting like a child to a mother's touch. Harry is at his side. Half of a picture is within Harry hands. He replies, "Is this your family relative?"
Robert takes the picture and shakes his head adding, "No, but, this young boy in the photo is familiar. I recognize his face; although, I can't quite figure out who this child is. Where did you get this Harry?"
Harry points toward the dead Irish drummer boy adding, "Over there."
Robert stands up and walks over to the dead drummer boy. Standing over the corpse, he leans closer to get a better look. Robert scratches his forehead puzzled for a while. That's it. His mind replies.
He stares at the photo once more. Robert explains to Harry, lowering the photo, "I thought this boy looked familiar."
Harry shouts, "What?"
Robert spots the familiar boy wounded under two dead soldiers and answers, "Look! It's Conor's closest friend Dan."
Harry turns his head confused in both directions and expresses, "Who, where?"
Robert points to Dan spitting out blood and coughing. He watches Dan try and free himself from being stuck under two bodies. The boy, half awake, faintly glances up toward him.
Harry replies, "Where damn it? Can't see anything alive except us!"
Robert expresses rushing over to him, "He is under those two dead soldiers."
Robert immediately turns and rushes back over to Dan. Harry starts running to catch up as if they were kids playing tag. He stops, out of breath. Both of his hands are upon each knee while he bent over.
Harry expresses, winded, "Hang on! Oh man, got to stop eating all those apple butter biscuits. It's making me fat." He stands up, reaching out toward Robert, and expressing, "Wait for me dang it."
"Will you stop eating all those damn apple biscuits? Harry!" Robert replies.
"They're so good, but, yes I'll try," Harry answers with a saddened tone.
Both of them reach Dan shortly afterwards. They pick up the first dead soldier and toss him aside.
Robert replies to Dan half dead, "Hang on Dan. We're going to get you out."
Dan faintly whispers, grasping Robert's lower left leg, "Help me ..."
Dan tugs on Robert's leg almost like a tug boat guiding a large ship. Robert grasps the next dead soldier's upper extremities. He quickly tilts his head sideways. Each of his eyes spot Dan's face beginning to shiver. Dan's eyes try to glance at him and act like a lighthouse to a boat.
Robert expresses, "Dan, we're trying to help, remain still. You're among friends now."
Dan replies, "Robert? Is that you?"
"Yup!" Robert shouts.
Dan shows a puzzled expression and struggles to talk. "What are you doing in that damn red uniform lad?"
Harry shouts, interrupting, "Frighten for our independence Irish Yank! What else do you think it was?"
Dan rolls both his eyes like a spinning ball while his hands act similar to a wavering ship upon the sea. Blood slowly leaks out of the bullet hole. It pushes through tiny pockets of air between Dan's fingers. He feels a sensation of warm water ooze down his hand. A sharp pinch dashes throughout his chest acting like a burning log. An elderly cough is heard from the young boy. The child grinds his teeth in vigorous pain.
At the same time Robert hollers toward Harry, "On the count of three. We pick this dead guy up and toss him aside." Harry nods as he hears Robert shout, "One, two ..." Picking up the legs, Harry feels a slimy substance touch his hand.
He loses his grasp of the skin while feeling a rock hard sticky surface. Harry turns to look at it. Its skin and tissue slide down the legs reacting as if the skin is a sock being pulled off. Harry screams dropping the body's lower extremities.
Robert tosses aside the upper part of the corpse glancing to his friend in complete shock. He notices the soft tissue replying, "Oh God Harry!"
Hinged over his knees Harry clenches his stomach answering, "Think I'm going to throw up! I can feel those apple butter biscuits we ate earlier." Harry pukes. This causes Robert to relieve the night before the second day of battle ...
A wolf starts to howl in the night. It is heard throughout the confederate line within a long road throughout the forest. Robert awakens to the howl almost like a hunter awaiting its prey. He pushes aside his musket. He gets up to a sitting position. Both of his eyes peek over the dirt wall and act like rabbits curiously seeking food. Robert's head turns to the darkness of the forest.
Enemy campfires crackle like firecrackers within the short distance. Logs ablaze act similar to a guiding lighthouse for a ship's crew at sea. Random sparks are sent flying out as if each were popcorn popping out of its shell.
A green emerald flag was on a pole near a campfire. It has a golden harp sewn into the fabric being display from the lit campfire. The flag sways like a tree within a wind storm and makes a slapping noise.
Parry lends toward Robert's right ear and whispers, "Those Irish Yanks just set up camp. Each are positioned against our line maybe about an hour ago."
Robert explains, "Well, my cousins and uncles may be within one of those units ..." Robert pauses for a brief moment. Parry pats his back and forms a heartwarming facial expression. Robert turns to look at Parry as though his heart broke. He glances back at the Irish encampments. He continues in an emotional voice, "I'll still fight my hardest, but, if it is me who shoots a family relative ... Then God strike me dead!"
Parry adds, "Oh heavens Robert, don't say that." Feeling his stomach ache, he clenches down toward his feet. The stress and envisioning of shooting a relative causes him to throw up his dinner. Parry concerned for his friend grasps his left shoulder for comfort. He spots chunks of Robert's meal all over the right side of them.
"Jackson sir! Robert E. Lee had me send this dispatch to you personally." Came into their ears. Robert and Parry stand up and walk over to the noise.
Another voice is heard saying, "Well. If I don't receive reinforcements soon, this army will be shattered."
Robert mutters out to Parry, "What?"
Parry shrugs his shoulders as they rush to the brush up ahead of them. Arriving at the brush they peek through to discover Stonewall Jackson leaned over a wooden table. His hands covered a small portion of a tactical map upon the table`s surface. Jackson's reading spectacles are slanted downward toward the map. His officer's uniform is covered in patches of filth. Both his boots are covered in swampy muck.
Across from Jackson is a dispatcher with a letter. The dispatcher is in his confederate uniform. His right hand is seen placed around his lower waste while his left hand holds a letter.
He expresses, "No way would you lose!" Jackson stands up and grabs a nearby lemon like a wolf wanting its food. He uses a knife to slice it in half as though the blade were his sharp paw. The dispatcher hollers, "You're Stonewall Jackson! You've not lost a single battle yet!" Jackson begins to suck on the lemon as his face showed total satisfaction from the overpowering taste. The man expresses, "Sir! You're our savor! You can't lose."
Jackson puts down the lemon and explains, "Look there on that map!"
The soldier looks like a husband in disbelief toward his cheating wife. Three of Jackson's lower ranking generals popped into view from hearing the commotion. A. P. Hill is seen next to Jackson and holding his sword.
Jackson explains, "The federals have overwhelming numbers here, here and here. They also just got reinforcements throughout most of the night. My men have either little or no ammunition to shoot with. Some are using whatever they can to compensate! I've seen rocks being used as a melee weapon. I assure you that defeat will come by mid-day tomorrow!" The soldier drops to his knees in despair.
A. P. Hill adds, "My God!" He looks to Jackson with a saddened look. He continues after taking his sword and slamming it down upon the table, "I'll be damned if we became prisoners sir!"
Another general adds, stepping toward Jackson, "Sir, we could move the men out now while under the cover of darkness!"
Jackson replies, "Can't do that general. The federal troops will sweep us on our feet and they'll take Richmond by weeks end."
A. P. Hill puts his hands gently on Jackson left shoulder and expresses, "Then what shall you have my men and I do ... General."
Robert and Parry watch from the brush in disbelief as the dispatcher replies, "Sir! Lee's letter." He stands up in tears and hands Jackson the letter. He reads it to himself. It reads:
Dear Jackson,
To the finest commander I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I've received word of your recent situation at Manassas Junction. How the federals put the pressure on your troops all day. They forced you to take up positions along an entrenched road. I have decided to willingly race with all possible speed to your aid.
Tomorrow, around 11 a. m., look to the south. Hopefully with the graces and will of God, my general, Longstreet will arrive with his men to your aid. Shortly after, I will arrive with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia around 1pm.
Respectfully, Robert E. Lee
Jackson places the letter on the table as tears leak out his eyes. A. P. Hill bends over the table and reaches for it. He begins to read the letter out loud. Afterwards, the generals begin to cheer and clap. Jackson turns to A. P. Hill and instructs him to ready the men at dawn. A. P. Hill solutes.
Jackson finishes the shortly held meeting by saying, "Tell the men to take from the wounded and dead. Make very round of ammunition count. We have got to hold until Lee's army can reach us. Failure is not an option! It seems the return to Manassas will end similar to the first time. Pope's army will get a big surprise tomorrow afternoon."
A. P. Hill puts his hands together and adds, "Yes! They shall general!"
Jackson replies, "Men! You're dismissed!" ...
Robert begins awaken from blacking out. Harry shakes him like a concerning detective toward a hurt civilian. Robert pushes Harry aside replying, "I'm fine." He turns to Dan lying on the ground face up beside him. Dan slowly loses the will to fight against his wounds. Robert notices Dan dying and grasps hold of him shouting, "Dan, is Conor hurt or ... dead?"
Dan's eyes start to roll over as he struggles to answer in a faint whisper, "Don't know, but his uncle Sean and his father where next to him as the enemy charged toward our lines."
Violently shacking Dan Robert cries, "Is there any other information you can give me!"
Dan closes his eyelids replying faintly, "Why are you acting this way Robert?"
Robert answers as Harry watches helplessly, "Cause I don't know if I shot him or not."
Dan barley keeps his eyes open and coughs out in shock, "Robert ... Why would you shoot at your own flesh in blood?"
Robert replies in a dramatic tone, "I don't know ... Reckon I was in the heat of the moment." He stops and starts frolicking in his head. Wet tears land upon Dan's face. Robert lowers his head in sadness and adds, while Dan`s eyelids are almost shut, "Oh God, help me find him."
Dan's eyes shut completely like a garage door locking in place. Harry nudges Robert as they spot Dan, not responding. Robert quickly shoves Harry aside and grabs both Dan's shoulders. He forcefully starts to shake him and hollers, "No Dan. You're not going anywhere ya hear."
Dan suddenly takes a deep breath of fresh air while opening his eyes. He turns to look at Robert and grabs his arm. He slowly remembers the epic battle end expresses to Robert while struggling to speak, "Oh ya ... I remember he was fighting over next to that tree near the end of the ... Battle." Robert embraces Dan's head to his chest like a cat to its kittens. Blood starts to soak into Robert's frock coat from Dan's wound.
Robert answers, "Thank you Dan."
Dan's head tremors furiously almost like an engine in overload. He tries to glance up to Robert's face. He places his hand upon Robert's back and pats him as if he were a pet. Dan replies while coughing out blood, "Can you tell him to send a letter to my mom? If you find Conor?"
Robert adds, "I will."
Dan struggles to breathe almost as if he's drowning. The boy continues fighting his dying body and throws up. His vital signs rapidly begin to fail. He drops his head into Robert chest. Dan replies forcing himself to speak,
"Sorry ... I couldn't give you more information... God it hurts Rober ..." Robert lowers his head to Dan. He notices Dan's eyes motionless.
Robert spits out, "Dan! Dan!"
Harry places his right hand upon Robert's shoulder adding, "It's no good Robert ... He's gone!"
Robert shouts out, "I know that Harry! God damn it I think I killed him Harry ... Oh God what have I done?"
A nearby wounded Irish soldier is lying beside Robert. He faces toward the opposite direction. He slowly unbuttons his beat up uniform and pulls out a photo of his children and wife back home. Starting to smile while staring at the picture he places his free hand upon it acting as if it's the last memory he'll ever have. Tears pour out of his eyes. Will I ever see me family again? His mind shouts. The soldier heard Robert's sobbing thought. The Poor lad. Guess I should tell him about his relatives. Damn this war for causing families to fight each other.
