United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
"Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our Hymn of grateful praise."
The hymn swelled, a mighty, powerful wave of sound. Drew's hard,
calloused hands closed on the back of the pew ahead. Hearing Boyd's
voice break, Drew knew that within them both something had loosened. The
apathy which had held them through these past days was going, and they
were able to feel again.
"Drew--" Boyd's voice quavered and then steadied, "let's go home...."
They had shared the talk at camp, the discussion about slipping away to
join Kirby Smith in Texas, and some had even gone before the official
surrender of Confederate forces east of the Mississippi three days
earlier. But when General Forrest elected to accept Yankee terms, most
of the men followed his example. Back at camp they were making out the
paroles on the blanks furnished by the Union Command, but so far no
Yankee had appeared in person. The cavalry were to retain their horses
and mules, and whole companies planned to ride home together to
Tennessee and Kentucky. Drew and Boyd could join one of those.
As they moved toward the church door now three of the Union soldiers who
had attended the service were directly ahead of them in the aisle. Boyd
caught urgently at Drew's arm.
"Those spurs--look at his spurs!" He pointed to the heels of the middle
Yankee. Sunlight made those ornate disks of silver very bright. Drew's
breath caught, and he took a long stride forward to put his hand on the
blue coat's shoulder. The man swung around, startled, to face him.
"Suh, where did you get those spurs?" Drew's tone carried the note of
one who expected to be answered promptly--with the truth.
The Yankee had straight black brows which drew together in a frown as he
stared back at the Confederate.
"I don't see how that's any business of yours, Reb!"
Drew's hand went to his belt before he remembered that there wasn't any
weapon there, and no need for one now. He regained control.
"It's this much my business, suh. Those spurs are Mexican. They were
taken from a Mexican officer at Chapultepec, and the last time I saw
them they were worn by a very good friend of mine who's been missing
since February! I'd like very much indeed to know just how and where you
got them."
Lifting one booted foot, the Yankee studied the spurs as if they had
somehow changed their appearance. When his eyes came back to meet Drew's
his frown was gone.
"Reb, I bought these from a fella in another outfit, 'bout two or three
weeks ago. He was on sick leave and was goin' home. I gave him good hard
cash for 'em."
"Did he say where he got them?" pressed Drew.
The other shook his head. "He had a pile of stuff--mostly Reb--buckles,
spurs, and such. Sold it all around camp 'fore he left."
"What outfit are you?" Boyd asked.
"Trooper, any trouble here?" A Yankee major bore down on them from one
side, a Confederate captain from the other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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