The Guidons Fly Forever

by CAVALRYMAN1863

Sgt Chesterfield tells the story of a mission they were on in 1862, they had to escort 50,000 Dollars in gold back east along the Santa Fe Trail and much of a raided area of Kansas to reach St Joseph, Missouri and get the gold on a train, even when the going gets tough, they always remember, The Guidons Fly Forever.

9. The final Milestone

That night when the other men were asleep, Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch laid awake that night thinking about the mission, and what has happened so far on this mission.

Sgt Chesterfield: "You know, a lot has happened since we volunteered for this."

Cpl Blutch: "You mean when you volunteered the both of us."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Hmph, well I've been thinking."

Cpl Blutch: "About what?"

Sgt Chesterfield: "About command of the regiment, how Lt Danford should, well, get a promotion."

Cpl Blutch: "Yeah, it seems that all the other officers under Capt Stark are smarter than him in so many ways."

When the conversation was finished, the two Non Commissioned Officers fell asleep, they would need plenty off it for the next day's ride.

The Next Morning

The men saddled their horses and formed a column of fours and moved Northeast once again towards Fort Leavenworth, but the Confederates hadn't finished with them just yet. They were still determined as ever to get that gold away from the Federals and take it in the name of the Confederacy.

Cpl Blutch: "Sarge, I'm telling you the Rebs will still try and take the gold."

Sgt Chesterfield: "They've already tried twice, I doubt they'll try again."

But Sgt Chesterfield was wrong, Capt Britten and two of his Sergeants were watching from a cliff above where they could overlook the entire column of Federal Cavalry troopers.

Later

The Company pulled into Fort Leavenworth, they were watched by the sentries on the wall of the fort, one of which came down to talk to the Sergeant and Corporal, probably about what they were doing there. The two of them looked at each other and then at the trooper that wanted to talk to them.

Sentry: "Well hi there, welcome to Fort Leavenworth."

Cpl Blutch: "Thanks for the welcome pal."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Yeah pal, thanks."

Sentry: "Your from back east aren't you?" The Sergeant looked at the Corporal with a little suspicion about the sentry.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Why do you ask?"

Sentry: "Look, I'll level with you Sarge, we've heard that the war hasn't been going good for us back east, me and some of the others want to know if that's true."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Well, I'll level with you too, what you heard is right, the war hasn't exactly been going our way, but we're not without victories, especially with Gen Grant in Tennessee."

Sentry: "Well, at least they haven't taken Washington yet."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Yeah, let's hope we can keep Jeff Davis out of the White House."

Just then, Lt Danford approached the two NCO's, but he was running towards them with a worried look on his face. Both Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch looked at each other, wondering what the problem could be.

Lt Danford: "Sergeant, give the men thirty rounds each, we're gonna be in for a fight here."

Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch: "Sir?"

Lt Danford: "Those Texas Dragoons are making another strike at the gold, there gonna attack this fort."

Cpl Blutch: "How do you know?"

Sentry #2: "REBELS OUTSIDE THE FORT!"

Lt Danford: "That's how." He looked at the men wandering around scratching their heads not knowing what to do. "WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE, GET YOU WEAPONS AND HOLD THE FORT!" The men scrambled when the bugler sounded to arms.

Bugler: *To Arms*

The men quickly got on the walls of the fort and opened fire on the Rebs constantly circling the fort, but the men in the fort were behind good cover and had a better arsenal, they even had two Napoleon cannons in the fort. Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch got on a position only a few feet away from one of the watchtowers, they pulled up their Carbines and fired on the Rebs, the Rebels were continuously galloping around the walls of the fort trying to cut down the Fed troops, but for every Union soldier dead, three more Confederates died. The cannons fired and shot at Rebs outside the fort and at least a dozen died from the canonns, the Rebs were on their last legs, so Sgt Chesterfield went to make a suggestion to Lt Danford.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Sir, If I can make a suggestion?"

Lt Danford: "Go ahead Sergeant."

Sgt Chesterfield: "When they break and run, we should go after them in a saber charge."

Lt Danford: "Are you mad?! We'll be cut for ribbons."

Sgt Chesterfield: "It'll be the only way to break them completely."

Lt Danford: *Sigh* "Alright, we'll do it, I just hope we don't lose many men."

After that, the Rebs decided to fall back and regroup for another attack, but they didn't count on being chased by Lt Danford and his command.

Lt Danford: "COMPANY B, CHAAAAAAARGE!"

Cpl Blutch: "Somehow, he sounds natural saying that."

The fort gates were opened and the entire company poured out waving their sabers, the Rebs looked back at the Federal troopers and were in shock to see that they were charging into them.

Capt Britten: "HEAD FOR HILLS, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!"

The men all scattered like Indians into different directions, to the North, South, East, and the West, but the different platoons of the company managed to split up and follow them. They chased the Rebs for at least four miles before returning to the fort, Lt Danford, Sgt Chesterfield, and Cpl Blutch (He had finally participated in a charge) they were discussing the event.

Sgt Chesterfield: "You know, this might be the first time you participated in a charge."

Cpl Blutch: "It felt different with Lt Danford leading."

Lt Danford: "Alright you guys, we'll go back for the wagon and then head on for St Joseph, it isn't far now, about a half a day's ride."

The entire company assembled in front of the fort, got their wagon and were about to head out when both Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch made a request to Lt Danford.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Lieutenant, I have a request to make."

Cpl Blutch: "Yeah, so do I."

Lt Danford: "Well, what is it?"

Sgt Chesterfield: "With your permission sir, we would like to bear the colors."

Lt Danford: "Very well Sergeant, I see no reason why you cannot, tell the color bearers they are relieved and you two will take over."

Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch went over to the color bearers and they took over carrying the colors, Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch smiled at eachother.

Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch (Unison): "The Guidons Fly Forever."

I hope you enjoyed this story, comment. :)