Page 121 of After 5

A sharp crack of thunder and my outhouse appeared a short distance from me.

“Now you decide to appear?” I yelled at my vessel.

The door banged open and General Lee stumbled out.

I rushed to his side. “General Lee.”

He blinked rapidly. “What happened?”

My mouth flew open. He smelled of Mamma Bea’s moonshine lemonade. Where would my vessel have taken him? Then the obvious hit me. My outhouse went home. Like a scared rabbit, it hid in the safety of its rabbit hole, my backyard. General Lee had spent the night drinking moonshine with my cousin Darryl.

Lordy, how was I going to explain? I waved my outhouse away and prayed it would return at my summons.

“Where am I?” His words slurred slightly.

General Lee was a little tipsy—I’d use it to my advantage. “General, we’re riding to the most important battle of your life. General Pickett’s leading a charge toward the enemy’s center.”

“Pickett?” he removed his hat and scratched his head of gray hair.

“Yes sir. General Longstreet has followed your orders to attack the Federals at the copse of trees on Cemetery Ridge.”

“I can’t remember.”

“You’ve had a spell of germs and you’ve been recovering. You might be having a relapse.”

“Germs?”

“Yes, sir, do you remember who I am?”

He shook his head. “I’m the doctor who’s been taking care of you.”

“I recall the most interesting of dreams, but I do not recall riding out here.”

“You wanted to give the troops support, sir. Maybe it’s too soon.”

I spoke the magic words. Never suggest to a general that he’s weak.

General Lee squinted his eyes, determined. “I must ride to my men and give them my support.”

I remembered reading the historians believed General Lee watched the battle from Seminary Ridge. “General it would be safer for you to watch from the ridge there.” I pointed at a high area of ground.

“I should do that, yes. Where’s Traveller?” He scanned the area, stopping when he saw his trusted stallion.

The horse lifted his head high, an intelligent look in his eyes. A loyal friend to the general.

General Lee mounted Traveller. I wished him luck and raised my hand, palm up, to salute.

“I bid you thanks, Doctor. I’ll request President Jefferson to reward your valiant efforts.” He returned my salute, gathered his reins, and rode toward the thousands of men about to die fighting a losing battle.

I watched him from the woods. The soldiers cheered when they saw him. The men not yet in formation touched his boot for good luck. One of his aides rode toward him. “General, glad to see you’ve recovered.”

“Yes, it was germs that had me under.”

I smiled after him as he rode away to command his men.

A bugle played, and the men gave one last whoop. Different versions of the rebel yell echoed down the mile of soldiers, and then quiet fell over the troops as they moved forward.

I ran behind the lines of men in the direction I thought Sam would be marching. I searched, but there were so many. I wanted to shout, don’t go, but the hands of liberty covered my mouth, and the words of the Gettysburg Address kept me from it. All men are created equal. This charge must happen in order for one of the greatest leaders of our country to write the most profound speech ever spoken.

---