Billy Yank

Ch.1: The Soldier

The cold rain pattered against the tired and ragged men. I slowly trudged my feet, my rifle leaned on my shoulder as the water dripped off my hat. The water soaked my clothes and my body. My sight was very weak, considering the water running down the base of my hat and onto the visor, sending the water to roll down each side of the visor.

It was another day.

My boots sank in the mud as I took each step. The water gathered in small ditches splashed unto my pant legs as I just walked through.

I was tired and hungry. My eyes were getting heavy as I closed my eyelids to try and forced them open. My stomach growled every five minutes. My bayonet clanked against my thigh. The men around were in the same shape as me. I heard the steady thumping of the horse's hooves and a few gun shots here and there from skirmishes around us about a mile or so off. I heard a few mumbles and mutters, maybe even some cursing.

I continued to walk. This march had been going on for at least two weeks, I was beginning to wonder that where we were headed wasn't real or we were just plain lost. I heard the soft murmurs of the officials.

At first I thought being part of a glorious army was going to help put honor to my name, however I am nowhere near a fight or anything to help clear my name.

"Halt!" came the gruff voice of my officer. We all stopped as we looked up, he stood on his horse, sitting straight with pride. "We will camp here and continue on in the morning, you are relieved"

We set up parts of camp, the rain was never ending. I tried to find a good tree to use as shelter. The fires were hard to keep going in the downpour, however it was beginning to light up a bit. I leaned my back against the tree and sighed.

"Hard day huh?" came a voice. I looked up and saw Kuzon. He took a seat next to me.

"Hey Kuzon" I greeted.

"You alright lad?" he asked me. Kuzon was a man of twenty, about four years older than I was. He was a man from my hometown and we were the great of friends. I nodded as I took off my soaked hat. "Heard Bobby Lee gots his men towards the capital"

I gave a slight sound of agreement.

"I heard where headed up to some town called Sharpsburg" Kuzon told me as he looked across our little encampment. "We may see some action"

"If we ever get anywhere" I said.

"Damn right" Kuzon agreed. "I'm ready to make 'em Rebs run"

"I just want this war to be over with" I said.

"You here that if we get a major victory, Honest Abe will create a proclamation on freeing the Slaves?" Kuzon asked.

"I've heard some things about that" I said.

"McClellan ought to kick it up," Kuzon said. "We need to strike those Johnny Rebs hard"

I nodded in agreement.

"I've also heard this war may be over by Christmas" Kuzon said. "Those Rebs can't win against us"

'You never know' I thought. 'They defeated us at Ft. Sumter and Bull Run'

I let sleep take me prisoner as I began dreaming off home. My dreams carried on until they were interrupted by a loud blowing of a horn. My eyes shot open as I saw my surroundings. Kuzon dosed off on the ground, sleeping on his back. I noticed my hat was in my lap as I was still against the tree. The rain seemed to stop only leaving the puddles and the mud.

I kept hearing the bugle ring off in the field. The notes echoed in the trees and further into the forest. I groaned as I rubbed the sleep from my eye. I saw Kuzon still sleeping, I grinned a bit. How could he sleep through a loud noise like that?

I shook him a bit and he woke up with a start.

"Wh-What?" he asked confused.

"Time to go" I said. He growled and grumbled along the lines of 'damn', 'bugler' and 'kill'. I got up on my own two feet and stretched my arms before picking my hat and sliding it on my head. I snatched my rifle that was leaned against the oak tree. I slowly walked over to my pack that was a few feet away. I slung it over my back and walked away from the tree, Kuzon slowly following.

We ate some breakfast, which was the ordinary stale hardtack crackers that were filled with worms and some month old coffee. I sat on a stump from a fallen tree as I heard the clanking of tin cups and canteens around me.

"So looks like Reb Bait woke up," said a familiar voice. I looked up and saw Jet making my way. Jet never really liked me, he thinks I'm just a worthless piece of trash and he thinks I can't fight in the war because of my age and physical appearance.

"Leave him alone Jet" Kuzon said as he ate next to me.

"You hear we might be joining the rest of our regiment up north?" Jet asked as he took a seat across from us.

"We were just talking about that last night" I said.

"We finally will be seeing some action," Jet said as he leaned back on his chair. "About time"

Jet had shaggy black hair with brown eyes, he had a good looking face that could bring in girls and have them fawn over him.

Sergeant walked up to us.

"Hello boys," he greeted. We stood up and gave him a salute. "As you were"

We nodded as we relaxed a bit.

"Lt. James wants to depart in ten minutes," Sergeant said. "I want you boys to meet the rest of the company in that time"

We nodded. Sergeant walked away up towards Lt. James.

"Sergeant seemed to be in a good mood today" Kuzon said. I watched Sergeant walk up to Corporal Stevens, they were just conversing.

I got up after about five minutes to get myself prepared for another long day of marching. I slung my ammunition pouch over my shoulder, resting the strap on my right shoulder as the pouch sat at my left hip. I could the faint sounds of gunfire east of here about three miles away. I slid my canteen on my body and then picked up the rest of my pack that contained my bedroll, some tent parts I shared with my tentmates and some other useful things. The Bugler rang again with a different song as we soon rejoined each other in lines of five, six to each line. The drummerboys were in front of us as well as the flag carrier. Lt. James rode up to the front and examined us.

"Men," he said. He pointed to the road upwards. "Today will be a long march. Colonel Burke is waiting for us up that road to Sharpsburg. We must get there in good time before General Lee reaches there first"

We nodded in understanding.

"You are the strongest men in all of the Union Army," he said. "We can handle this march"

We nodded again. Lt. James jerked his reins a bit, having his horse about to turn. The signal went up and the drummer boys rolled their sticks against the hides as we began to march. We marched in time to the beat as we prepared for a new day.

To be continued.