Chapter 19: What Makes a Hero
Zim was led into a large canvass tent in the Confederate camp. It was becoming late in the evening as the soldier with Zim sat him on a cot in the wall tent and left, leaving Zim alone. He sighed, and lay on the cot, recounting the horrors he'd seen. He felt cold. He had finally seen what war really was, and hated himself for having wanted it for so long. After several minutes, he finally stood, and walked to the flap of the tent. He pulled it aside and looked out. In the distance, the sound of cannons echoed in the air. Zim closed his eyes. The sounds meant that more men were dying. The thought of it was like a nightmare.
"How can it still go on?" He muttered to himself. "How can they still keep fighting and dying like this?"
"Because unfortunately there is no other way." General Lee said, slowly coming up to stand beside Zim. "Because war, as terrible as it is…and yes it is terrible, when the two sides cannot peaceably come to an agreement, it becomes the only other option."
"How can humans want such…such death and destruction over an argument?" Zim asked. "How can it be rationalized, General Lee?" The old general sighed.
"War cannot be rationalized except to say that it is the duty of some to fight. Indeed sir, it is our duty to fight and die if we must in order to obtain the peace we seek. If there must be war in order to gain that peace, and if so many good men are to die, then we must fight to win. We fight for our homes, for our families, and for our country. We fight for things far greater than us, and if by our deaths we win that war, then it becomes not about us, but about the cause."
"I understand." Zim whispered. "You are right."
"A soldier's duty is only to fight where his commander orders him to do so, and to be willing to die if need be." Lee said. "Anything else a soldier does to aid his commander, or help his fellow soldiers shows his true worth. Some things a soldier can do goes far beyond what his commanders and comrades could expect from him. Those kinds of men, those few are the heroes that can turn the tide of a war." Zim looked up to see Lee smiling kindly down at him. "You sir, have shown yourself to be one of those men."
"Zim is no…hero." Zim said. "I did what I thought I should do."
"Yes, young man." Lee replied. "You did what you thought needed be done. Not just what you had to do. I was told of what you did in the battle earlier. General Hood may owe his life to you."
"There were three other soldiers…" Zim argued.
"Hm." Lee said. They stood in silence a moment. "I admire humbleness as much as I do bravery. And I do believe this army needs good noncommissioned officers. How would you like to be corporal?"
"I…I would be honored." Zim replied.
"Very well. I will have Major Taylor find some stripes for you."
"Thank you, General Lee." Zim said. He came to attention and saluted. Lee saluted back.
"How are your wounds?" General Lee asked. "I do hope they're not too bad." Zim worked his shoulder. It was stiff and sore, but it wasn't a dangerous wound.
"I will be fine." Zim answered. "It hurts a little, but I'll be okay."
"Good." General Lee said. "Would you please accompany me, corporal?"
"Yes sir."
The two walked down the rows of tents toward Lee's headquarters in the nice old house. Every soldier that saw Lee called out greetings and praise to him, or took off their hats and held them over their chests. Zim had never seen such love of a commanding general. Not just respect, not just a sense of duty to their leader, but genuine love and admiration. And yet he understood it. General Lee wasn't just a General. He was like a father to his men. Zim felt the same way now. He would without question fight for General Lee. He would die for the General if he had to.
Up ahead, a man on horseback approached. Behind him was a group of more mounted soldiers, no doubt his staff, as Zim saw that two of the men bore flags. General Lee stopped and leaned on a rail fence near the porch of the house as the group approached. Major Taylor stepped out of the house, and officers seemed to materialize out of the air.
"General Lee sir!" The man on horseback said in a happy voice, reining his horse to a quick stop. "Virginia is finally here sir! I present my compliments, and trust I have arrived in time to do some good."
"General Pickett." Lee said. "It is good to see you well. Your division will be needed soon."
"May I implore the location of General Longstreet, sir?" Pickett asked, hopping down jauntily from his horse. He was a very well dressed man, his uniform decorated with gold braiding and silk, and his belt and sword polished brightly. His hair was a bit longer than most of the other officers Zim had seen, falling in curly locks onto his shoulders. He had the look and attitude of some wealthy lord who had just enough power to warrant little restraint, but also the air of a true military officer, and Zim didn't know quite what to make of him.
"The general and the rest of his divisions are currently engaged on the field." Lee replied. Pickett looked at the ground as if he were let down in some way.
"Then the rumor was true." He muttered. "General Lee, may I ask permission to send my division to his aid at once?" Pickett asked.
"No general," Lee replied. "I would like you to make camp and rest your men. They will be in action soon enough." Pickett once again looked disappointed, but saluted. Lee returned the gesture. "Oh, General Pickett, this is Corporal Zim of my staff. Zim, this is Lieutenant General Pickett of Longstreet's corps." Pickett saluted Zim smartly.
"Pleased to meet you, son." The new general said. Zim saluted back.
"Good to meet you too." He replied, still unsure of the strange, colorful man.
"Corporal, would you please accompany General Pickett to the right of the army's bivouac and show him good ground to make camp?"
"Yes sir." Zim said.
"Then return to headquarters, please."
"I will, sir." Zim answered. "General…Pickett, was it?"
"Indeed it was, young man." The general said with a smile.
"I'll show you to your camp." Pickett quickly mounted his horse, and gave a signal to his men. They followed Zim at a trot around the back of the confederate camp.
"Are you not rather young to be pulling duty in this army?" Pickett asked as he rode along.
"I don't think so…" Zim replied somberly. "And I feel so ancient now that I've been fighting."
"I know what you mean, corporal." Pickett said. "This war has made men of many boys, some before their time."
"Yes sir." Zim agreed.
"No doubt it will be over soon though." Pickett mused. "Maybe we can crush the Yankees here on this field, and you can go home and be a young lad again, and I can be with my fair LaSalle."
"La…Salle?" Zim asked, looking up at the general. Pickett smiled.
"Yes, the most beautiful young woman all the South. My dear young LaSalle Corbell." Pickett smiled warmly at the thought of his sweetheart. Zim smiled. They had reached the right flank of the Confederate Army.
"You can set your men up here, general, sir."
"Thank you, corporal. I shall do so at once." Pickett acquiesced.
"If you need anything," Zim added. "Just ask."
"Thank you, young man." Pickett said with a theatrical bow from atop his horse. "If I encounter any problems, I will do you the honor of calling upon you first." Zim smiled. This general was a strange one. He seemed more like a showy teenager than a battle-worn man in his thirties. But under the surface of Pickett, one could sense a great amount of courage and resolve. So it seemed with most of the men in this army. Zim had to reflect on it. In the future, the time he had come from, humans were shallow. They were very predictable, and not very intelligent. They had no honor, no endeavor could bring them together as a race to promote a common good. These men, these humans of a time over 140 years earlier had more bravery and more honor than all the people from Zim's time combined. He respected this race of men like he had never respected an alien race before.
"I will return to General Lee then." Zim said, saluting General Pickett. Pickett hopped off of his horse and saluted back.
"And please give him my compliments." The commander said. He gave his attention now to an officer who had just dismounted. "Major, please instruct the company commanders to set up here." Zim began to make his way back to Lee's headquarters as the sky began to darken in the east. He still didn't feel much like a hero.