Chapter 2:
The Forest Of Misery
In New York Marcus continues to spend his leave with his mother ignorant to what has happened in Chancellorville. "Marcus I would like you to deliver this to your father" She said handing Marcus the Envelope. "Very well I will be back in a few days goodbye mom" Marcus said walking out of the house. It took Marcus several grueling days to reach the camp but when he got there what he found was horrid, tents were burnt to the stakes bodies littered the ground. Marcus was disgusted by this the solider in him was gone he was the innocent 16 year old that left Washington with his father not being able to fathom what could have gone on here "Father" he screamed he began to cry and then he heard a click It was the sound of a gun cocking "Get up and start walking boy, by order of the confederacy you I place you under arrest" the soldier looked to another man poking about the rubble "Take this one to Chancellorville and tell the General we got another one" the soldier laughed. Marcus was so Scared of what was to come that he heard nothing the guards has said but the one thing that he heard was the enslaving clicking of the handcuff's locking into place. The 101st had another survivor after all and that survivor was going to be reunited with his remaining brethren one last time
The 101st now lay in ruin all of 301 survivors left deserted and hopeless by their leader Marcus was without his father and the men were without a leader and now they were to be publicly executed by the hands of the confederates. Marcus before his capture with some shred of hope, left a letter in the house, which amazingly still stood even under the confederate assault, The men were left in an old Jail now made into a confederate prison with the exception of the guards mindlessly rambling on and on with each other there was now Nothing but a deafening Silence which seemed to actually scare the guards into adding to the dead quiet of the jail. "We're going to die here" one of the soldiers said sighing. Jameson looked up "Maybe so but we have the consolation of one thing" Jameson said Smiling. "Oh a what's that" the soldier said. Jameson looked at the man and said. "Soldier no matter how cold these men are they all have a conscience they are all Christian and feel guilty when they kill they are going to have to live with what they have done for the rest of their tortured lives we may die but the guilt of our deaths will make them suffer more then we ever will,men we must not fear…." Jameson was interrupted by a loud pounding of footsteps the men grew silent but the footsteps grew louder second by second and all but coming to a pause in front of their cell a confederate officer stepped forward and silently opened the cell "You have a new cell mate make room" The officer yelled. The man who now joined the remnant of the 101st was not a soldier but a boy covered in black dust 2 of the men closest to the cell pulled the boy in to make sure he was unharmed by the confederates the boy was frail as if he hadn't eaten in days. But little did the men in the cell know that the boy in the cell with them was none other then the son of the man who deserted them…
Meanwhile back in the forest. I had not written in my journal since I left the men but the things I felt in this forest the things I dreampt were utterly horrific one dream that seemed to profoundly stand out the most occurred on the night I set out I had fallen asleep and In the dream I was outside of the camp and when I tried to go into the camp I couldn't then I saw buildings burning and my men falling it amazed me to see what my departure had done I couldn't help but stand there and stare as my own men were falling and dieing around me but what really made my dream into a nightmare several hours into the battle 2 men entered into the camp. It angered me because I was able to identify one of these men with such Clarity it was Jake Claiborne and a tall bearded confederate officer and a rather high ranking one surveying the continual damage and at first I felt I couldn't run but I felt myself moving and with almost lightning speed all the while fixated on killing Claiborne ending him Claiborne turned and fired all I can remember after that is hearing the horrid gunshot and then I awoke with pistol drawn I awoke only to see the empty serenity of the forest. I still had the feeling what I did was a mistake I sat back against an old oak and wondered "What is going to happen to my men" I worried me to not know I told them to forget me and I cannot forget them. Little did I know the worst had already come to pass the men had been caught and my only son had been caught and were slated to be killed by the Confederates.
Back in Chancellorville the damning calm of the jail seemed to all but break the minute this strange soot covered boy entered the jail. Jameson walked over to the boy "do you mind if I wipe the soot of your face you look terrible" Jameson didn't get a response the boy just looked at him with a blank stare and the boy began to wipe it off of his own face to reveal Marcus but not as a soldier as a child innocent and afraid. "Marcus oh my god I thought u left with your father I thought u left with him" Jameson said shaking "My father? Where is he lieutenant where is my father" Marcus yelled. Jameson looked at Marcus with sad eyes and said "I'm sorry Marcus just one night he up and left all his clothes personal effects just took his gun and his horse and left with the sunrise" Jameson said sadly. "What? why did my father leave". Marcus began to cry silently as Jameson paced back and forth about the cell. "You do know why we are here yes" Jameson asked? . Marcus just looked at him blankly. "We are here because your idiot father decided to up and leave and without his leadership ability we failed we failed Marcus and now were going to be killed because of that my failure to lead and your fathers desertion we both failed and these remaining men will die because of us and we will be joining them. I wish your damn father would be here to suffer with us" Jameson looked down on the floor and punched the wall he winced slightly and held his hand in pain. Marcus continued to cry Jameson looked down on him and took the space beside him "Marcus I don't want you to cry your father may have left but your still here" he said calmly. "So what does that matter" Marcus yelled. "It means you're the better soldier you and your father both took an oath to serve the country he betrayed his vow you did not your still here" Jameson said with his head in his hands. "Were going to die aren't we?" Marcus said sighing. "Yes we are Marcus I'm sorry I should have done better". A confederate man approached the cell "All right you dogs time to go" the soldier said. The men got up and began to move out but Marcus stayed as if he was trying to say the guard Try to move me and you wont
With the majority of the men outside the Cell Marcus Remained. "What the hell get up boy" The soldier said angrily. Marcus refused to move the soldier entered the cell to pull him away but Marcus was limp completely and utterly limp. "Fine if you wont move ill make you move the soldier brandished his pistol by the barrel and smashed Marcus on the head completely knocking him out. The Soldier pointed his gun at the temple of one of the soldiers "Drag him out with us or I will kill you right now!" he screamed. The Soldier scared out of his wits grabbed Marcus by his legs and dragged him out of the cell. "All of you walk its time" The Soldier yelled. The men then took that somber march down that dark corridor to their final moments on this earth. All was quiet for that one brief moment it seemed as if time itself stopped as these men were being led to their demise as the remnant of the 101st walked out to the courtyard the mournful stares of the inmates followed the men as they walked. "God be with you" a man called out from a cell. "Thank you" a union survivor choked out. And then the line stopped all the men ceased to move the confederates ran down the line like men possessed the men tired and afraid strained their ears to hear the atrocity the soldiers were committing "No please don't" a voice screamed from the cell a shot rang out and a loud thud emanated from the cell. The soldiers retuned to the head of the line "Keep Moving". The Last of the 101st continued their somber march to the courtyard were they would meet their fate.
The date April 25th I haven't written in my journal in three days I have left the men as far as I know my son is in New York safe and sound with Marie. I hope to return to them but this damn forest is so deep I haven't found my way out. While riding yesterday I had fallen off my horse and gashed my arm terribly I dressed my own wound but I feel the work I preformed on myself was not good enough with every passing moment I seem to lapse into a momentary daze and then regain myself as if nothing happened I feel so guilty for what I did I can still remember the faces of those beheaded men looking back at me with those dead icy stares it chilled me to the bone to know That in all my years as a soldier I failed my men and now their dead. I wish I didn't allow Claiborne to join us if only I took to heart what Jameson said, I should have killed the bastard I should have shot him right then and there but I didn't. I trusted that man and because of him those men died. I do not know what is in this forest but at night I hear a woman's voice bidding me to leave the forest. It Scares me when I hear this voice I end up firing my pistol into the emptiness of the forest. There is someone or something in the forest and I pray to god I never find it
I put my journal back into my bag and I fell into a deep sleep and what I dreamt was a fathers worst nightmare I dreamt that I saw my son in a walled courtyard with the rest of the men and what I then saw is the reason I call this a nightmare I saw a tall bearded man put a gun to my sons head and fired. I awoke drew my weapon and fired into the darkness I remembered screaming "Marcus Look out!" I fired shot after shot into the blackness of the woods only to realize it was just a dream I sat back against a tree and cried to myself thinking of the wrong I have done I allowed a confederate into my ranks he earned my trust and because of it my men are dead and now that I am gone It scares me to not know what will happen to them and then I heard it again that same fetid voice I heard time and time again in the damn place. It was the same voice I had heard so many times before but unlike the other times I did not fear it in fact I found myself drawn to it. I mounted my horse and followed the voice "this way, this way to your salvation" the voice called to me I continued to follow it the voice was sweet and mellow it reminded me of my wife which is why I decided to follow it. "This way the way out is here" the voice started to sound distant so I made my horse gallop faster and then I felt my horse wash out from under me and when I regained consciousness I saw my horse writhing in pain and I awoke broken and bruised I was alive but badly hurt my gun was still in working order so I did the only honorable thing I could I drew my revolver and fired a single shot mercifully ending my poor horses life. Then I thought to myself I've no way out im to battered to walk. So shakily I brought my revolver to my forehead to end it all. With one bullet I would end my suffering and leave this world behind. I then prepared to fire "Click" all I heard was a click frantically I pulled the trigger five more times but all I heard was click click click. I laid back against the still body of my now dead horse I looked at the barrel it was full I put the gun back At my temple and tried to fire again.Click all I heard was a click for every time I pulled that trigger a click followed it I pulled the gun away from my head I aimed for the sky and pulled the trigger A shot rang out across the forest I put the gun back to my head and tried to fire but it was no use angrily I threw the gun away. Then I heard some rustling In the bushes I ignored it and then I heard a voice "your biggest mistake was throwing out your gun" I don't know in what direction the voice came from But all I remember was being knocked unconscious I laid there helpless in the middle of a dark forest alone and with no hope of survival
Back at the prison things have not been going well the guards escorted the surviving union men outside but they did not execute the minute the reached the courtyard instead they ordered them to the middle of the yard they herded them together like a pack of dogs they sat them all down in a circle under the heaviest of guard. "Do the right thing grant us an honorable death we at least deserve that" a union soldier cried out. A confederate man walked up to the soldier. "Do you really want an honorable death" the soldier put his sidearm to the cowering soldiers face he pulled the trigger and the soldier then lay dead in a pool of his own blood,"You asked me for an honorable death I cant help but grant it" the confederate soldier said coldly. "Well what do we have here" a man said "General Riggs we have grouped them together as per your request. "Excellent cadet you're a service to this regiment" Riggs said praising the young cadet. "Jonas are they all here" Claiborne yelled. "Good" Jonas said walking around the circle of men he stopped "I though we had 300 but 301" Riggs got down on one knee and looked at Marcus. "Well now you don't look like a soldier" he said to Marcus "Where did you find this one" Riggs said looking to one of the soldiers. "We found him in the union camp we found him crying outside one of the burnt out tents. "It was my father tent you monster" Marcus Screamed. Jonas turned around "And who is your father boy" Jonas snarled. Marcus didn't answer. "Answer me boy" He slapped Marcus. Marcus didn't answer "Who is your father boy" Riggs readied his gun. "My father is General Jonathan Walker he leads these men". A smile came across the face of the general.Riggs got off one knee and began to walk around the grouping of soldiers. "Is there a Jonathan Walker among you pathetic rabble of soldiers" Riggs said violently. "I will say it again now dont make me ask a thrid time Is there a Jonathan walker among you". Jameson rose to his feet "Walker left us some time ago".Jonas quickly turned around "Really then who leads... well the the real question is who led you?" Riggs said laughing slightly. Jonas looked at jameson with an Icy stare and said "Identify yourself".Shakily Jameson said "I am Jameson leader of the 101st Infantry division I lead these men". Riggs Giggled slightly "Well then Jameson leader of the 101st Infantry division goodbye" several shots wrang out and jameson fell to the ground dead. The look of horror in Marcus's eyes would be enough to bring down the toughest soldier.Riggs laughed as he kick jameson's lifeless husk he motioned to two of the guards "erect him on a steak". The two men dragged off Jameson's corpse."YOU MONSTER HOW COULD YOU" Marcus charged at the general with such a ferocity he seemed as if he were fired out of a cannon,alas his charge was to no avail Marcus was caught by the throat by the general "Its Simple Child I killed him because I can" Riggs threw Marcus back into the crowd of doomed soldiers."Prep these fools for execution I want them dead". General riggs walked away leaving the 101st to their demise.
I dont know what happened to me after I lost coniousness in the forestI seemed to be in a house although I could not say where.My vision was distorted and blurry all I saw was shadow I could not see I couldnt lift my head even if I tried a woman was among them she reminded me of My wife although I could not see her compeletely she reminded me so much of Marie I called out my wifes name."Marie who the hell is he talkin about" one of the men chuckled. "Oh hush up Otis cant you see hes hurt" The woman said sternly. She continued to look upon me shaking her head "poor poor man" she said. "You didnt have to bash him in the head like that Otis" the woman said angrily. "What girl I never seen him before hes an outsider and I dont take kindly to outsiders". The woman seemed to get angry over this Otis's overtly apparent stupidity "Oh shut up Otis thankfully u dont have much power in your arms or u would have killed him!" she averted her gaze from the man and returned to tending to my wounds allthough I could not see this womans face I felt that she could save my life and mend my broken body I tried to speak but inaudible noises came outof my mouth she put her hand over my mouth and said "quiet u shouldnt speak I dont know who you are stranger but by the looks of things you been through hell and back I just hope I can fix you".I dont know what happend then but I felt myself being lulled into a deep sleep. At that point I was still ignorant to the fate of my men and I knew my son was still out there still alive I prayed in my sleep that I would find im and we would be reunited once again.
Within Chancellorville town square the state of affiars seemed to be at their grimmest the remnant of the 101st with Marcus Walker in toe was herded out to the middle of the city like lambs to the slaughter. An ignoble end to a grand regiment left deserted and alone by the man they trusted most and the man who so bravely stepped in to take Walker's place was dead and erected up on a steak for the world to see.General Riggs got atop the large podium in the town square he started to speak up but was interupted by the roar of the crowd. "Excuse me" He screamed "Excuse me" he said again the crowd was still going on as if General Riggs was not present general Riggs reached for his revolver and fired several shots into the crowd several people then lay dead. "Now then I said excuse me If you dont wish to end up like the folks on the ground I suggest you Quit your yammering shut your mouths and listen" the crowd fell to a dead scilence."Good now then before I start I would like my brother to join me on stage jake come up here please" Jake stepped foward onto the stage. "Today was a day were Union blood was supposed to be spilled but today it truly pains me to know that confederate blood will have to be spilled" the crowd started to grow in volume again "Ahh im sure the questioun in burning on your minds like wild fire then im going to indulge your thirst for an answer".General Riggs walked over to his brother and grabbed him furiously by the head "Sadly the blood must be my brother's Jake here thought he could be a sneak and betray me isnt that right Jake!" the general kocked Jake out cold with one fowl blow Angrily he began to speak once more "Yes thats right my brother Wrote to general Grant of the union army asking for his help" Riggs began to grip the hilt of his sword and slowly pull it out "Traitors are not meant to be soldiers" Claiborne started to regain conciousness."To all in Chancellorville my men know never to betray me and the penalty for betrayal...as claiborne started to rise to his feet Riggs with all his might impaled his own brother upon his blade Jake's last words to his brother were "You'll burn for this you fratricide" this baught a smile to The generals face "Be that as it may you betrayed me you'll burn worse than I ever will".Riggs removed the sword from his brothers back and beheaded him in one god awful blow as his brother lay their dead Riggs kicks the corpse out of spite and said
"Atone in hell you damn traitor".The General lifted Claibornes head as high as he could for all to see "To all who abide in this town This is the penalty for betrayal" he throught the head into the crowd "Death"