Chapter 7: The Death of a Friend

On the top of Mcpherson's Ridge, Reynolds arrived with Dib and Tak behind. A large body of men in blue uniforms was moving into what Tak recognized as a battle formation. They all wore large black hats, with one side of the brim turned up and fixed in place with a brass eagle. A high ranking officer wearing a similar hat rode up to Reynolds, who reigned his horse to a stop.

"General Meredith." Reynolds said in his cordial tone. "We have to hold this hill. We cannot allow the enemy to gain possession of the hills."

"General Reynolds sir," Meredith said with a salute, "The Iron Brigade is ready for a fight."

"And you will soon have it. "Reynolds replied. "Continue forming a line of battle here, and extend it to meet the 2nd Brigade."

"Yes sir." General Meredith said, and turned his horse.

"Are we really gonna try to hold this hill?" Dib asked. "Wouldn't the town be more important?"

"If they take these heights," Reynolds explained, "they'll have the high ground, and there's no way we could drive them off. If we can keep them down there, we have a better chance of defeating them."

"Oh…" Dib said. He didn't really understand the first thing about military tactics, but if a general had said it, it must make sense.

"Now you two find someplace safe to be." Reynolds ordered. "I don't want you two getting hurt." They were helped off of the horse as Reynolds trotted off to talk to another officer.

"Dib, you have to tell me who won this battle." Tak asserted. "Are we on the winning side?"

"Uh…I think so." Dib answered, trying to remember U.S. history. "I think the south lost at Gettysburg, and we're on the northern side..."

"Jeez, Dib!" Tak said, grabbing his collar. "THINK! Is there anything else we need to know that might help us survive this battle?"

"Umm…" Dib thought. "Yeah, the union won, the other guys lost…uh…this became a national memorial afterwards, and…uh…we should stay away from someone named Pickett."

"Pickett?" Tak asked curiously.

"Yeah, something about him leading a charge, and everyone in it died or something."

"Oh. Well let's hope that this Pickett is who is leading the guys that are coming across that field for this hill then, huh?" Tak asked, releasing Dib.

"Yeah…WHAT?" Dib exclaimed. He looked out over the flat land below as a veritable ocean of men moved toward the heights where he now stood. Dib's knees felt weak.

"Ready, Iron Brigade!" Reynolds yelled, galloping back across the line with his sword held high. Tak watched the general as he called out to the men. "Remember Antietam! You are the Iron Brigade! Show them your mettle, men! The enemy drew nearer, advancing up the slope. Dib and Tak could hear the roll of gunfire nearby. The enemy were so close now, that Dib could see the buttons on the gray and brown uniforms. The air was heavy as lead, and quiet as death. Then at once, they stopped in a line. Shouts were heard from the ranks, and the enemy raised their long rifles. Dib yelped and dove to the ground. There was a deafening peal, like a long boom of thunder. Several of the men in the union line fell to the gunfire. Tak flinched, but stood rigid as bullets whizzed past her, hitting trees and rocks.

"FIRE!" Reynolds yelled.

"Fire!" The officers shouted. The men in blue stood, and returned a volley of fire. The first rank of the enemy was thinned by the effectiveness of the volley. They quickly filled the gaps, and prepared to fire again. They raised their rifles, and another volley tore through Reynolds' men as they loaded their muskets. A round struck the ground inches from Dib's head.

"Ready!" Reynolds called. "Fire!" The men fired again, with the same effect as before. "Fire at will!"

"Fire at will, boys, fire at will!" The line officers called. The men began loading and discharging their weapons as quickly as they could. Tak stood as rigidly as before, watching the battle in morbid fascination.

"Get them. Get them." She muttered lowly, silently cheering the Union soldiers on in the carnage.

The tide of the rebel soldiers that had been advancing up the slop of the hill where Dib and Tak stood began to retreat back in the face of heavy fire from what Reynolds called "The Iron Brigade". As with Buford, Reynolds seemed indifferent to the enemy rounds flying about him. He still sat atop his horse, giving orders to a number of officers. Tak watched the battle with wide eyes, as if drawn into its hypnotic fury. Dib now watched from behind a large oak tree.

"Young lady, please find a safer spot." Reynolds beseeched to Tak, riding over.

"I'm fine, general." She said. "You shouldn't be on a horse though, it's too dangerous."

"The men need a leader up front." Reynolds said. "You shouldn't concern yourself with me. I'm just an old soldier. You on the other hand…do please try to find a safer spot, we're about to move forward, and I think it's going to be terrible." With that, he spurred his horse to the front of the line. "Men, forward!" He called. "Iron Brigade! Move forward and meet them, men!" He rode about 50 feet down the slope from Dib and Tak, where a group of soldiers were still firing from a kneeling position. He turned in the saddle and raised his sword.

"2nd Wisconsin!" He called. He pitched forward in the saddle and dropped his saber.

"General Reynolds!" Tak cried. The general fell from his horse as the men continued onward, forcing the enemy back. Several officers and soldiers ran up to where Reynolds lay. Tak ran to Reynolds, with Dib close behind. She knelt beside the fallen commander, and looked upon the general she had come to revere. A pool of blood was forming below his head, running from a wound behind his right ear. Lieutenant Carter knelt beside Reynolds, his face full of emotion. Tak looked at the officer.

"He's…dead." Carter said sadly to the group of mourners.

"No…" Tak whispered. She knelt beside Reynolds, and placed a hand on his chest. Dib crouched beside Tak and gently held her shoulder in consolation.

"I'm sorry, Tak." He said. Tak leaned forward, and pulled a white handkerchief from the fallen general's pocket. The thin cloth was embroidered with a gold J.F.R. She looked at Carter, who nodded in affirmation. Tak clutched the handkerchief in her hand.

"You were a fine commander." Tak said. "And a good man. I will remember you...and make sure they pay for what they did." She stood, and walked away, back to where they had been before.

"Tak?" Dib asked, approaching. She stood, leaning against a tree, looking out over the field. "What do we do now?" Tak inhaled and sighed.

"We kill them, Dib." She said solemnly. "We fight, and if this side wins, we will help it win." Dib looked at the ground.

"I…I don't want to die, Tak." He muttered. Tak looked at him hardheartedly.

"We might die anyway, you know." She said. "We'd might as well do something worthwhile before we do."

"I'll…" Dib began. He looked into Tak's eyes. If he were going to show her his worth, now was the time. "I'll go wherever you go, Tak." He said. She clenched Reynolds' handkerchief, and smiled tragically.

"Thank you." She said. She looked around. "We need to move, Dib." She took him by the sleeve, and they started into the woods.

Well, what did you think of the first big death scene? I feel I could have done better, perhaps built up General Reynolds a bit more, but as it stands, I'm halfway through the first day of a three day battle, and this fic will probably end up being nearly 30 chapters if I keep it up, so I'm regrettably compelled to shave off a bit here and there as needed. As to the characters, well it looks as though they're drawn into the fray for their own personal reasons, eh? Much like the soldiers on both sides during the war. What will happen next? You'll just have to wait and see. So until next chapter, cheerio!