Billy Yank

Ch.25 pt.1: The Before

I slowly got up from where I was sitting, I slapped my hat against my knee to shake off any dirt or dust blown on it from the wind last night and slipped it on my head.

It was a very hot day, the humidity was causing me to sweat through my thick jacket already. I sighed as I headed over to my men, I picked up breakfast from the cook, eggs and some bacon. There wasn't a whole lot to go around but it worked. I sat with my men, eating as they chatted up a storm. One man noticed my presence.

"So how'd the Lieutenant fair last night?" he asked. "Got a good night's sleep sir?"

I raised my cup of coffee as a yes as I chewed my breakfast.

"That tree must have been real comfortable" he said. I rolled my eyes and chuckled slightly.

"Didn't want to be cooped up in a hot tent I'll tell ya" I half-lied. "Last night was pretty damn hot as it was"

"Can't argue" the man said. I chuckled slightly as I ate some more. Ryan came up to us.

"Hey Lt. Hamilton," Ryan greeted. I looked up and saw him. "There's someone who wants to meet you"

I looked at my boys.

"Excuse me" I said. I got up and followed Captain Ryan over to the headquarters of Hancock and Meade. Captain Ryan brought me inside. I saw two men hovering over a desk with a map of the area unrolled over there.

"Sir?" Captain Ryan asked. They looked up. Ryan motioned me to come over to the men. "This is Lt. Hamilton, the youngest commander in the 63rd New York"

One man walked over to me.

"So you're the young lad who I've heard so much about" he said as he extended his hand. "My name is General Winfield Hancock"

I shook his hand.

"Aang Hamilton sir" I said. He cleared his throat as he released my hand. "John has been telling me much about you Lieutenant"

I bowed my head.

"Now there's nothing to be ashamed of" he said. I looked up. "I heard that you have strong loyalty to this regiment, you chased them down along with your friends so you could join backup"

"Yes sir" I said. "I never run from my duty"

"I can see that," he said. "I heard you have been leading your company pretty well lately"

"Yes sir" I said, nodding in conferment.

"I think you should be promoted soon"

My eyes widened.

"Sir," I said. "You might want to think that one through"

"I will," Hancock told me. "I don't give a promotion unless it is needed"

I smiled slightly.

"You make a very good officer," Hancock said. "Someday soon, you will be a lot like me"

I smiled wider at his joke.

"So sir?" I asked as he returned back to his map. He looked up. "What are we doing today?"

"Well," he said. "Today we're going to set a stronger defensive position around this ridge, I've heard the Confederates might make one more strike at us and we have to be ready for it"

I nodded.

"We're going to have our infantry men against the wall prepared for a strike and have our batteries fire from behind." He said. "Of course you guys will be on the ground, waiting for the strike while we fire"

"Some defense plan sir" I said. He chuckled slightly.

I left after about 15 minutes, I walked out the door when I bumped into someone.

"Pardon me" I said. I noticed I bumped into Katara. Great. She blushing madly.

"Aang?" she asked.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Where were you last night?" she asked.

"Up late talkin' to my comrades," I said. "Fell asleep by that tree over there and got a rude awakenin' this morning"

She smiled slightly.

"I best be going" I said as I took off. I just couldn't face her again, after what happened last night. I sighed as I walked over to Captain Ryan and the other officers.

To be continued.