Chapter Six
The first few weeks of the war were almost a gay affair. The Confederacy celebrated its victory at Fort Sumter and saw an easy campaign ahead. Louise and Isobel received news of the gathering army along with the other women of surrounding farms, and they tried to keep track of their loved ones throughout the bustling preparations for the fighting.
Rob had opted to volunteer in the infantry, while Kid had taken a position in the cavalry. His experience with the Pony Express saw him in good stead and his captain had already selected him as a scout. His outfit was kept busy making patrols of northern Virginia, scouting out the landscape before any battles commenced.
Louise heard of these early days of the war through letters from Kid which arrived regularly. He had promised faithfully to write before he left, and duly filled her in on the day to day life in camp, the patrols they made, the countryside he saw. Kid always had some humorous anecdote to relate to her — something one of the privates had said or done, or about the loyal Virginians who cheered them on each day. Just the sight of the cavalry in their brand new gray uniforms inspired such confidence in them. Kid was immensely proud of his troop, and he shared these feelings with her in each of his missives.
Isobel heard from Robert too, albeit via a comrade in his troop. Rob had received little schooling and his writing was only passable, but Isobel read his letters out loud to the children with great pride. Louise couldn't understand her change of heart — Isobel had always been set against the war, but now she acted like a good Confederate wife, honoring her husband's brave and glorious defense of The Cause. Lou suspected it may have been an act for the children's sake, but as the weeks passed she could see that Isobel really was immensely proud of Rob and all the Rebel soldiers. The world was buzzing with excitement over the whole affair and she was not immune to the grandeur of the Southern fight.
Lou was less open with her letters from Kid, unable to share them with anyone else. Her heart pounded every time the mail arrived and she had to stop herself from tearing open the envelope immediately. She would wait and hear Rob's letter first, if there was one, carefully secreting her own letter in her pocket. It wasn't until she was alone that she would open it so she could savor each and every word.
Apart from telling her about life in the cavalry, Kid would close each letter telling her how much he loved her, and how he couldn't wait for the day when they would be together again. The words made her heart ache, but there was also joy in the realization that Kid missed her as much she longed for him. With any luck they would not be apart for long.
The early skirmishes of the war were small affairs — each side testing its forces and strength. Lou and Isobel made a point of traveling to Williamsburg each day for news, but there were no alarming reports of the armies being engaged. Weeks dragged into months and still neither Kid nor Rob had seen any real fighting. The women in their lives prayed this might continue.
Then, in the middle of summer, the Union and the Confederacy soldiers finally met head on in northern Virginia, in Kid's own home town of Manassas. Reports were sketchy at first, and many women waited anxiously for days to hear of the outcome and the fate of their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers. It was the first major fight of the war, and many believed it would set a telling scene for the future.
When Isobel returned breathlessly to the farm a few days later and announced triumphantly that the Federals had high-tailed it back to Washington, the neighborhood celebrations lasted for days. The Confederate army had dug in and rebuked the invasion of Union troops on their sacred Virginia soil, and watched as the blue-coats ran all the way back to their capital.
The war was won. The farming families firmly believed that now the Federals had tasted defeat at the hands of their Southern brothers, peace was now at hand. Isobel and Corinne — firm allies now, united by Southern pride — speculated it would be only a matter of weeks before the boys could come home. Louise smiled and laughed along with them, but did not share in their certainty, even though she desperately wanted to. She would not let herself succumb to the temptation until Kid was home safe in her arms.
Isobel declared they would be celebrating that night with the other neighbors, and she was even going to allow the children to stay up so they could be witness to the great Confederate victory. She was making excited plans with Corinne for a picnic supper when she remembered the letter she had picked up in Williamsburg.
"Oh, Louise," she said absently, digging into her skirt pocket. "I almost forgot, this was waiting for you in town."
Lou accepted the letter as casually as she could but she already recognized Kid's handwriting on the front. She thanked Isobel quietly and tried to steal away to her room.
"And where do you think you're going, missy?" Corinne's voice grated sharply. "You're expected to help at the celebrations tonight."
"Leave her alone, Ma. Let Louise read her letter," Isobel answered instead. At one time she would have let Corinne get away with her bullying, but Isobel used their new, uneasy friendship to set the old woman in her place when it was necessary.
Corinne humphed in her chair, annoyed at the audacity in the young, but she said nothing further. Lou took the opportunity to leave the room before she changed her mind.
Safely tucked up in the rocking chair next to her bedroom window, Lou carefully opened the letter. She smiled at Kid's familiar penmanship and settled back to read his news.
July 20th, Manassas.
My dear Lou,
I'm writing you this letter from home, my true home. We are camped on the very land I was born on just outside Manassas. It is hard to believe that this will be the place we will first meet the enemy. All indications are this will be tomorrow or the next day, for their Army is camped just across Bull Run Creek. Weaver and I scouted out their position tonight. Captain Phillips chose me for this Honor because I am a Manassas boy. The Union army is large, but we are expecting reinforcements any hour now.
The feeling in camp is high, and the boys are looking forward to the fight. You must not worry about us, Lou. We will make a good stand. The South will be proud of us as we defend her. I hope you will be proud of me.
I may not be able to write for a while. But do not suppose I am not thinking of you. You are in my thoughts every minute of the day, in camp and on patrol. I think about the night we spent under the stars a few months ago and I cannot wait to hold you again. The feeling is so strong sometimes I have to stop myself from turning South and riding home to you. Your picture and letters are in the pocket above my heart always, and your face is in my dreams at night.
The boys are bedding down now. I must take this letter into Town tonight in case we move out at first light. There is more I wanted to say, but I lack the words to describe the feeling in my heart. I feel so close to you at this moment and yet you are far away.
Lou, I think about the promise I made to you when we parted and I pray each day that I am able to keep it. You will be angry at me if I say it, but if this coming fight decides my Fate, never forget how much I love you. I will always love you, even in death. And I will always be with you, no matter what happens. Remember this.
Kid.
Lou brushed the tears from her cheeks and folded the letter carefully. She could hear the cheerful voices in the kitchen and yet she felt so distant from the rest of the household. Kid had never mentioned death before in any of his letters, nor of the promise she had him make. It was almost an unspoken rule between them that they not mention the possibility of him being killed. And yet he had felt the need to write this to her before the Manassas fight. Lou thought of her premonition and shuddered. Could it be that Kid had a premonition of his own?
Unable to even consider the thought, she tucked the letter into her dress and decided to rejoin the others. She needed to be around other people in order to silence the black thoughts in her mind.
Hundreds of people gathered in Williamsburg to celebrate that evening. Bonfires had been lit despite the warm evening, and the air was filled with the smell of roast suckling pig and various other delicacies the women had prepared. Musicians played, people danced and others listened as old men regaled them with war stories from the Mexican campaigns. The town's militia also joined in the feast, some lamenting the fact they had missed the opportunity to shoot a Yankee. With peace expected to be proposed by Lincoln after the North's embarrassing defeat, they had been denied their chance to fight.
Lou did her best to join in with the others as they laughed and joked. But in the back of her mind she pictured Kid on the battlefield, dying along with the thousands of men who had perished in the first major battle of the war. Again she pictured herself a widow in black standing over his open grave, the drooping mayflowers in her hand. Lou felt a chill despite the summer heat and wished they could return home. It was not something she could dare mention to Isobel or Corinne though, as they proudly served up their rabbit stew to friends and neighbors. They were oblivious to her unease and she had never felt more alone.
Several hours later as the dancing and singing began in earnest, Lou decided to return to the farm alone. She could no longer stomach the jubilant crowd and their idle chatter. She felt ill from worry, a great sense of foreboding overshadowed her attempts to dismiss her fears. She nudged Isobel's elbow to try and attract her attention as she and Corinne gossiped with neighbors. It was then that she noticed the militia courier ride swiftly towards the crowd, seeking out his commanding officer. He was a boy really, no more than sixteen, but he bore himself with great pride as he delivered an official looking message the captain.
A small group of militia crowded around their leader, deep in conversation. Lou watched carefully as the captain discussed matters intently with his men. Then she felt a cold hand grip her heart as the man raised his eyes and looked right at her through the crowd. One of the others nodded and the captain began walking grimly towards her, the letter in hand.
Louise found she couldn't move. She could only wait as the uniformed soldier made his way towards her through the revellers. His actions went unnoticed by the rest of the crowd. It was if Lou was the only one who could see him. He approached her slowly but with purpose, it seemed as if he never took his eyes off her. Lou put a hand to her throat but it did not alleviate the difficulty she was having swallowing. She wanted to run away before the captain came near her, but her legs refused to budge.
Seconds seemed to drag into minutes. But then he was before them, standing a polite distance away as Isobel and her friends finished their conversation and the latter moved away. The captain removed his hat, his face solemn and unreadable. He drew up before the three women and bowed politely. Isobel smiled to greet him, but Lou's face remained stony. She knew what was coming. She had foreseen it all.
"Mrs. Owens?" the captain inquired. "Mrs. Robert Owens?"
"I'm Mrs. Owens." Isobel frowned at the grave way in which he spoke.
"This letter is for you, ma'am." He held out the folded paper regretfully.
Isobel did not immediately comprehend what was happening.
"It is from your husband's commanding officer," he continued, bowing his head again.
"A letter for me?" she echoed softly, but she did not take it from him.
The captain shifted uncomfortably. He felt foolish standing there with his arm outstretched. The two women either side of Mrs. Owens were staring hard at him. Then the younger of the two reached forward and removed the paper, thereby releasing him.
"My sincere apologies, ma'am," he mumbled into his clipped beard before walking quickly away.
Lou looked at the letter in her hand — addressed to Isobel, not her. She was dizzy, and the arm she reached out to Isobel with was as much to steady herself as to comfort her friend.
Realization about the letter's contents was slowly dawning on Isobel, but she couldn't bring herself to take it from Lou. People around them began to stare, waiting to see what she would do. Her eyes were vacant so she didn't see them, but Corinne refused to be a subject for gossip. She briskly took Isobel by the other arm and began pushing her through the crowd to their wagon.
Lou was left to round up the children, which she did without speaking. When they were all loaded into the wagon, Lou went to pick up the reins and found the letter still in her hand. Without a word, Isobel took it gently from her and sat rigidly on the buckboard as they drove home in silence. The message remained unopened and unread.
July 27th, 1861
Dear Kid,
I can only pray that this letter finds you safe. We have had no word of casualties so I have no way of knowing if you were unharmed at Manassas. I cannot think of anything else.
I must tell you some bad news. Isobel received word tonight from Rob's commanding officer. He was killed early on the first day of the fight. I can't leave Isobel for long so I must be brief. She has been crying all night and I must look after the children and try to comfort her. I do not know what I can say to her. All I can think about is you out there still fighting - I don't even know where you are. When the letter came I was sure that it was meant for me. Then when the captain handed it to Isobel I felt only blessed relief. God forgive me but I was so happy for myself at that instant that I can barely look at her now.
It is getting light now and I must tend to Isobel. I fear she will be a long time recovering from this loss. I pray I shall never experience it myself. Come home soon as you promised, Kid. You must keep your promise.
Your loving wife,
Lou.
