The Civil in the War

Chapter One

Susan H.

The youngest soldier, Billy, wandered away from the fire. He shoved a wad of tobacco between his cheek and gum and returned the tobacco to his knapsack. He settled to the ground, and laid his head on the knapsack. He closed his eyes and listened as a harmonica sang a soft song to the night.

A crack and flash destroyed the peaceful night.

"Damn Yanks!" he heard Johnny shout. Boots kicked the fire out as more shots and flashes tore through the camp. Billy spit out his wad and grabbed his musket. He lay on his stomach and used his elbows to pull himself to the cover of some brush.

He lay next to another soldier who had found the hiding place first. The two didn't move. The battle raged, and he heard some in his unit cry out. He heard bodies hit the ground, and felt guilty to be safely hidden. He was reassured by the soldier next to him. At least he wasn't the only one hiding.

Eventually, the battle sounds died. Billy listened as the wounded moaned, and others tended to them. He saw shadows as other soldiers came out of hiding. Leather boots thumped inches from his face. He listened to deep voices muttering. He caught an occasional word, "retreated," "ambush", "gone now," "couldn't catch 'em,". The voices reassured him and he fell asleep.

***

Billy opened his eyes with the rising sun, and the other soldier grinned, and stared at him with empty eye sockets. Billy screamed, and the skeleton's frozen smile mocked him.