Chapter 2
Author's notes: There is no way of accurately aligning the time frames (date lines) of the series to this event. I have done my best. As we know Sully is in the army at the date of 20th June 1863 and he was a Second Lieutenant. This was stated in the war office when Michaela found the orders signed by Colonel George Steward.
He couldn't have become a 2nd Lieutenant over night so I have had him enlisted a number of years. I have researched and they were not called snipers but sharp shooters also referred to as skirmishers (in the time frame of the Civil War and those orders). These men engaged the enemy marching on the perimeter of the columns of troops and shooting from there. Now we know that in Washington Affair Sully said that this man was his first target. I am writing this as his first ordered assignment on his own as a sniper (again not a term used then), although they did not work alone then nor did they use camouflage either until much later wars.
Sully's experience was the worst he could have been involved in; war made him into a pacifist, and he hated war after he lived with the peaceful Cheyenne. He spent his time from then on to prevent the Army going after the Indians.
Please be kind and remember this is a fan fiction story with some facts I felt may explain his time in the army culminating in his arrest in Washington Affair.
…
Sully sat dejectedly on the hard bench with tears pouring down his grimy cheeks unchecked. It was cold and damp the musty smell was an indicator of mould growing in the dirt. He knew he would get sick; but he didn't care his for life was over. His thoughts wandered back to his army history the cause of his current situation and despair.
….
He went to join the army with the intention of ending the misery that he felt. His grief so absorbing he felt like a man drowning. His life had become like a tragedy that one read about in a novel or sad sonnet of poetry. Once again his family had been snatched away when there had been so much hope and joy in his life. His love Abigail and Hanna the anticipated baby were both gone. He had nothing to live for.
While on his way to sign up to the army he met with a free slave soldier named Jacob whom he had travelled with awhile. They'd shared food and shelter and Sully had been appalled when he had seen Jacob's back one night when he removed his shirt.
"What are they?" he asked astounded at the sight of the man's back with the deep lined scars covering the dark shiny skin.
Jacob looked surprised and answered, "Why, Sully man, they're from my bosses rage….they're where the man whipped me for any little thing he found wrong at the farm. Ya' could say I was his whippin' boy," he finished off sadly.
Sully was horrified but Jacob also showed him a brand that said whom he belonged too. This only encouraged Sully to believe he was doing the right thing.
Jacob was eager to join with other black soldiers eager to enlist in the Union Army. He was anxious to join the fight against slavery and believed that military service would allow him to prove his right to equality.
….
Sully finally enlisted in Saint Louis and was placed in the newest regiment. He was issued with the uniform of the United States army. The boots were tight but he knew once he'd worn them awhile they would stretch and feel more comfortable. He knew they would be marching where ever he was needed.
"Private what are ya good at?" The question was fired at Sully by the officer he'd been assigned to in the rookie platoon. He had snapped this same question down the entire line of new recruits, expecting some type of intelligent answer.
"Dun'-no. Sir!" he replied not game to have eye contact with the Sergeant assigned to them.
His commanding officer asked, "Ever fire a rifle before Private?"
"Yes Sir! Since I was a small boy, Sir!" Sully answered again, this time returning the officer's direct gaze.
"Here, try this," he handed Sully an old flint rifle.
Sully examined the weapon with an expert eye. He felt that the site would be out a little as the rifle was old. Holding it up to his eye he looked down the barrel and sites. He noted that they were out and any bullet would veer to the right. "Sites out," was all he said handing the defect rifle back to the officer. He and Daniel had had to hunt for food for many years as they had gradually travelled west. He had learnt to handle a rifle quickly or they would have starved. Being the expert marks man between the two he had been the one scavenging for food.
The officer's eye brows shot up as he stated, "Good." This was his only reply as he went off to retrieve another rifle.
Not sure what was expected Sully watched as the line of other recruits grew gradually shorter as the men were assigned to other regiments within the huge army compound.
Eventually he was the only one standing and considering what was best to do as he hadn't been assigned to another unit nor been dismissed.
Still deciding what was the best measure the officer reappeared carrying a new rifle. Handing it to Sully who examined the weapon with a degree of renewed interest. It was a fifty calibre Sharps Rifle used by the union army and recognised for its precise accuracy. Sully was interested in the new acquisition and studied it with intently. He looked at his commanding officer.
"Private Sully, follow me," he commanded as he marched over to a range that had been set aside for rifle practice.
Handing Sully some shell casings Sully proceeded to load the weapon. Facing the stuffed targets he aimed and fired straight into the heart area.
The officer raised his eye brows again and instructed Sully to fire the whole ten bullets he'd been handed. This Sully did each one entering in the exact same spot as the previous one.
Impressed the officer stated, "You can certainly fire a rifle young man, we need men like you."
"Thankin" ya,' Sir," he snapped back.
"First and for most you are being promoted to Corporal and assigned to the Second Regiment of the US Army of the Potomac Artillery division," the officer informed him.
Sully looked at the uniformed man standing in front of him in disbelief. Had he heard right? Walking in the morning and by afternoon he was promoted. Were they so short in this army that they just promoted anyone who walked in?
...
Reporting to the officer in charge of the Second Regiment of the Artillery stationed at the far end of the compound Corporal Byron Sully was assigned a billet in the non-commissioned officer's quarters. He kept to himself not wishing to become familiar with any of the others.
The following day Sully was once again escorted to the firing range with other members of the unit. They had exercises in marksmanship that Sully performed effortlessly. Not missing a single shot he hit the target with what appeared effortless ease. He came to the attention of his superior officers.
Then the group had retired to a huge tent and it was explained that this troop of selected men were going to become sharpshooters, also referred to as "skirmishers". Their job was to engage the enemy and protect the troop formation. This selected group of scouts were chosen on the basis of skill or experience. Older, more experienced men were preferred, but these young men were also selected on the basis of talent and field crafts. Sully was one of these elite brigades. This war was going to become nasty they had been informed.
The coming weeks and months Sully advanced with his regiment. The officers became aware of his unique talent in being the most accurate shot there. Quickly he was promoted through to Sergeant and then to first Lieutenant. His regiment was assigned to skirmish duty or they were allowed to roam around the battlefield to find good positions from which to shoot at enemy officers.
In 1862 he was involved in a number of major fights against the enemy battles like Antietam or the infamous battle of Fredericksburg. Being busy and his mind away from his past suited him fine. The year flew by in a blur. But Sully was witness to the great horrors of battle as well as to it's aftermath. It haunted him to see, women after fierce fighting wandering through the dead and wounded looking for sons and husbands who may have fallen. The continual wail of the women who had discovered a fallen mate was more than his soul could bare.
And there were the cries from the surgical tents where mere boys lost limbs or their life for one cause or another. Lads never to be the same again coming out seeing more than what their tender years should allow them. All this added to Sully's feelings of despair. He seldom slept without vivid nightmares, those of Abigail and Hanna now being replaced by the daily torture of battle. He was amazed that he had not been one of the continual lines of casualties.
By 1863 he had been promoted to Second Lieutenant. Then in June there were two hard battles they only heard of Gettysburg and the battle of Brandy Station. The scuttlebutt was toing and froing, depending on the story teller. The leadership was changing as well the combined battery was commanded by Lieut. Vincent until June, 1863, then replaced by Lieut. Heaton.
On June 20th 1863, 2nd Lieutenant Byron Sully was ordered to report to the headquarters tent immediately.
"Ah! Sully, I have called you in as there is a special assignment the army needs you to do," his Commander stated, shuffling through the papers scattered on the table.
Sully was dressed in the uniform the Pre Civil war rifleman's blue uniforms were trimmed in green, musket shooters in blue. Standing and waiting till the order was found Sully sighted a large table with small lead soldiers placed in strategic positions for battle. He wondered how officers could determine the outcome of battles in tents set up away from any action.
"Ah! Here they are." This brought Sully's wandering mind back to the present with a jolt.
He accepted the piece of paper with the orders on it. Reading them he took some notes and re-read the orders, signed by a Colonel George Steward. The name didn't ring a bell, but that was none of his concern. He was given the orders to follow not to question. This was his first real assignment and the orders stated he was to shoot and kill a Confederate Major, resident at the camp ten miles away.
"You are our best marksman Sully, so I expect you to complete these orders without difficulty. Get as close to the encampment as you can and use your brains and keep your wits about you, lad," said the officer with some degree of concern.
Going back to his billet Sully lay down to rest before nightfall when he could begin his journey that would become part of his destiny.
….
In a precarious position Sully blended into the grasses and bushes. He had used the available natural cover to camouflage and merge into his surrounds. His orders were not of a normal nature; as a sniper they usually worked in a team. It did not occur to him that the situation he now found himself in was unusual. He once again had long hours to contemplate his past for there was no future for him even to dream of. He would carry out the orders, report back and maybe be fortunate enough not to have to be going on as a stray bullet may just put him out of his misery.
Three days later on that fateful morning the target came into view away from the tents shaving in the early morning sunlight, and Sully got away a clean shot. All hell immediately broke loose. As the man had fallen a scream filled the air with anguish when his wife and children appeared on the scene. Sully stared down the telescopic sight and instantly realized he had been deceived into committing an act that hadn't been an act of war; this man wasn't a Major but a civilian and it tore his heart to tatters. He had robbed a child of its father and a wife of her husband. How had this awful mistake occurred?
He managed to return to his barracks and report that he had carried out his orders and signed the appropriate documentation to that effect.
"Here is my signed report on the killin' as ordered. Sir!" he stated handing over the form to his superior officer.
"Job well done, Sully. Go and rest and report for duty in the morning," the officer replied.
He then had just vanished as if into thin air. On staggering back towards Colorado Springs he encountered many soldiers on both sides returning home disheartened and disillusioned. It was reported by many that General Hooker estimated in 1863 that 85,000 officers and men had deserted from the Army of the Potomac.
…
Suddenly Sully was transported into the present, hearing the outer iron bared door lock snap back and the iron hinges creek. He waited to see who the new guard was going to be. It was a little early for there to be a change at this time. The conditions were so dirty and the grime oozed from every corner of this dank dark place. Did this mean he was going to have to endure another round of torture and abuse from the prison officials and officers of the army who considered him the scum of the earth as he was a deserter?
Yet then all the blood in his face drained from under the filth and his heart lurched. He felt he'd throw up, first hearing the familiar rustle of her skirts and then seeing Michaela coming into his line of vision.
"Why had she come? Why was she here? She shouldn't see me like this!" His shackled hands flew up to cover his face and wipe away the tears. He stumbled to his feet but the secured iron manacles held his ankles firmly together, causing him to stumble forward flinging his hands out to grab at the bars to stop himself from falling.
He was in the uniform of an army prisoner, and he had not been this bedraggled in all the years since the torrid event that was the cause of his current grief. Why did this have to happen now? He had gained so much lately and was the happiest he had been in his entire life. His mind was screaming at the spirits, "Why? You gave me hope and snatched it away because I was happy?" His anguished gaze looking at the dirty ceiling above.
Was this now part of his destiny to pay for the crime of taking that man's life?