CHAPTER SIX
1870 October 29th…
John was sleeping in his bed aboard the vessel Ernestine. The troopship was taking him to America, to fight in the now quickly escalating New England War. He wondered what challenges he would face on the battlefield. He looked for Nathan that day and found him on the stern. He could tell Nathan was nervous about going to fight. Nathan was looking at a picture of his sweetheart.
"Still looking at that picture Nathan?" John asked.
"I just want to make sure she's close by if I do die on the battlefield." Said Nathan.
"I don't think you're going to have to worry about dying on the battlefield Nathan. It's the enemy that needs to worry. Our rifles are superior to theirs." Said John.
"Don't put too much faith in your weapon. It could still jam. A bullet is a bullet. Plain and simple." Nathan said dryly.
In two days they'd land at Boston and group with their squad. What new experiences would they experience? Would this war be over quickly? Word from the higher ups was that this war wasn't going to be quick. It was going to be a war of attrition. They could easily still be there in America by 1874.
The next morning, John awoke at 5:30. Chow was served and John ate it with much gusto. He hoped they would make it to Boston, and that they wouldn't sink. He could tell by the construction method used on the Ernestine that she was indeed a sturdy vessel. An hour later, there came a cry from the crows nest.
"Raider, Eleven o'clock!" All the soldiers were assigned to battle stations. John picked up his rifle, and went to the ammunition station to get a magazine. He loaded his rifle, and headed to his assigned spot. He put his rifle butt against his shoulder and waited. The raider drifted into view and he fired. He hit somebody. The enemy crumpled under his own weight and lay there lifeless. He pulled the bolt open and ejected the spent shell. It landed with a ping onto the deck. He closed the breech and went to work firing again. He hit another person, this time in the head. He had just killed two people. Two of the enemy. The raider, not wanting to engage in any more firefights, pulled away back into the fog. John was on high alert.
"Some welcome to America huh?" He said to Nathan. Nathan only shrugged and put his rifle down. John slapped him on the back, and began to walk away. He retired to his bunk. He didn't get much sleep the previous night, and now was a good time to catch up on some well deserved rest. He took his boots off, and lay on the bed. He drifted off to sleep. Two hours later, he woke up to the sound of running. The same raider which had pestered them two hours prior was back for more. Once again, John reached his battle station, and picked up his rifle. He paused to size up the situation, and fired. He couldn't believe his luck. He hit the captain of the raider. He watched as the captain grabbed for his chest and collapsed. It all seemed to be in slow motion. The deck of the raider erupted into total chaos. The men aboard the Ernestine were picking off the enemy one by one. After the last of the enemy was killed, the Ernestine backed away, and fired her guns. Sinking the raider. John watched as the raider slid under the waves. The Ernestine steamed away, remaining on her course. Wanting to retire to his bunk again, he was stopped by Nathan.
"You took out the captain of that raider? Good shot, you ought to be a sharpshooter." Said Nathan.
"If I was a sharpshooter, I'd have to be on my toes all the hours in a day. I have a little girl, another child on the way, and a wife to fight for. I want to be there for them when this war ends, if it ever ends."
"Your wife, how did she take the news that you were going off to fight?" Asked Nathan.
"She understood. Her brother is in the British Army." Said John.
"So your wife is British?" Asked Nathan.
"Yes. She wanted our marriage to be arranged, but I'd have no part in that. I work with her father back in Fall River. He travels between our nation and Britain regularly."
"You work for Shiverick don't you?"
"Yes. I understand that your steel company ships us steel for the vessels we build?"
"Yes. We have an almost exclusive contract." Said Nathan.
"Your family, you said that you cannot stand your father. What are they like?" Asked John.
"My father is a bit of a hard-ass. My mother is so air headed. My oldest brother is dead. My sister wants to be a teacher, and me; well I seem like the only normal one out of the group. I decided to leave home and join the army. My father wishes for me to own the steel business. My oldest brother was going to become owner, but he contracted meningitis and died. What is your family like?" Said Nathan.
"My family, well my father fought in our civil war. He told me it was every bit as uncivil as a schoolyard fight. My mother, stood by him. I was born in '50. I am the eldest child. Jacob, my brother attends a boys school out in Bellingham. My younger sister, Caroline will be attending a girls school in New Bedford. As for me, I have a baby daughter named Ruth. She has her mother's spirit. Sadly, she is no longer with us. She died immediately after giving birth. I married Edith, my current wife months after the death of Jessica. I have another child on the way." Said John.
The Ernestine sailed into the sunset. They'd arrive in Boston the day after the next, and they'd be assigned a position on the front. He was good friends with Nathan Hockley. He hoped they'd be together on the front. John had never been to America, neither had Nathan. This was going to be their baptism under fire. John thought of Ruth and Edith. He needed to be strong for them. He would write to Edith, letting her know he was all right. He looked out over the ocean, he saw clouds on the horizon, these clouds threatened rain, and war.