Olivia was in front of the hospital tent when the ambulance arrived. “A battle? I didn’t know anything was happening.”
“Naw. A detachment out doing damage to the Rebels’ railroad. We need a stretcher for this one; he’s lost a lot of blood, leg injury.”
As they lifted the soldier out, she gasped and threw herself at the stretcher. “Alex!” He opened his eyes. “Oh, thank God, he’s alive. Please hurry. What is it?”
“My leg. Olivia, my dear—” he murmured. She took the hand he tried to lift. Running to keep up with the stretcher, she helped lift him onto the surgery table and hung over Dr. Jason. As he cut away the cloth, he said, “Looks to be just a flesh wound. Ugly, but the bleeding has stopped. We’ll get him into bed and keep him flat.”
“Are you certain there isn’t shattered bone?”
He smiled. “I’m certain. My dear Mrs. Duncan, I do believe you’ll be more trouble than your husband.”
Alex turned his head, smiled weakly and asked, “What, dear Olivia, have you done?”
“I’m pregnant.” He struggled to sit up. “Lie down,” she murmured. “I can handle this, and I do believe it will be nice to have you where I can keep my eyes on you.”
The male nurses lifted Alex to a cot on the sunny side of the tent. They removed the tatters of his uniform and Olivia came with a basin of hot water. “I’ll bathe him; he’s my husband.”
Crooning over the abrasion on his face, she pressed her cheek against his. One of the nurses returned with a hospital gown. With a wry smile he said, “Better watch it, or we’ll have to import all these fellows’ wives.”
Olivia looked up. “Oh, I had forgotten; were there more patients?”
“Yes, but they’ve been taken in to Dr. Jason and he said we shouldn’t bother you. I think he’s spoiling you. Call us if he needs to be lifted.”
Alex appeared to be asleep. Working quickly, she finished bathing him and covered him. He opened his eyes and grinned. “I’ll expect this treatment all the time.”
“Want some soup?” He nodded. When she sat down with the bowl and picked up the spoon, she saw his puzzled frown. “What is it?”
“Things are pretty fuzzy. Did I hear you say something special?”
“You did. Alex, I’m certain we’re going to have a baby. But don’t worry,” she whispered. “Even Dr. Jason thinks that we’ll do just fine.” When she brought the spoon to his mouth, he swallowed the soup, took her hand, and kissed it.
“Want to hear something else? Crystal is also going to have a baby. When I told her about ours, she confessed being fearful of telling her good news because of how I would feel.”
“So now I’ll be a father and an uncle.” He chuckled weakly while his eyes warmed her. “Wish I could congratulate Matthew; I haven’t seen him for over a month.”
“He was in camp just a week ago. He was concerned about you, because it had been so long since he’d seen you. I’d think since you’re neighbors in those trenches, you’d be waving to each other occasionally,” she said. “He told us they are continuing to hold the Confederates in Petersburg and Richmond with artillery fire, but material and supplies are still coming in to them.”
“I know; we were out tearing up railroad line when skirmishers got us.” He rubbed her hand gently. “Nearly as rough as it was from washing dishes on the Golden Awl.”
“Oh, Alex,” she whispered, “I’m so sorry you were hurt, but it’s such a relief to have you here.”
Crystal came rushing through the tent, “Olivia—Alex! They told me you were here. What happened? You look a little pale.”
He grinned. “Is this the way mommies always act?”
She glanced at Olivia. “I think he’ll recover.”
****
Later that week, Olivia began to see the symptoms she had dreaded. The jagged furrow cutting into the muscles on Alex’s leg had begun festering and his temperature climbed.
Dr. Jason looked grave. “There’s not much to be done, except to encourage the drainage and keep him resting.”
“And pray,” she added soberly. With a nod, he moved on to the next bed.
By the end of the week, when Matthew came, Olivia was beginning to see improvement. Matthew frowned as he looked toward the cot. “Infection?” She nodded, watching Alex’s face brighten as Matthew stepped up to the bed. “Am I going to have to rescue you from this place?”
“Matt, am I glad to see you!” Alex clasped his hand, adding, “It won’t be necessary; I’m better, and I expect to be back in the trenches in a couple of weeks.”
“Better hurry, or you’ll miss the war.” Matthew settled back and crossed his legs. “Things are starting to look good. Sherman took Savannah in December. The nervy guy broke all lines of communication and cut himself off from both supply and help. I hear General Grant’s been pretty concerned about him.”
“How did he feed his army?”
“Lived off the land. There’s no doubt about it—people are scattering like leaves in the wind. They said the mayor of Atlanta protested when Sherman shooed all the residents out of the city before he leveled it. Sherman told the mayor war was hell and there wasn’t any way to refine it. And the sooner the people accepted it, the better it would be for them.”
“I’m sorry for the people,” Alex muttered, “but I admire the general’s grit. The Army of the Potomac would probably have done much better if we hadn’t let the South intimidate us. From the way we’ve reacted most of the time, you’d think we were the ones in the wrong.”
Matthew nodded. “Is it lack of confidence or lack of conviction? There’s been enough opposition in the North to sway us either direction.”
In a moment Alex asked, “You in just for the day?”
“No. The commanders have been good about letting us break out of the trenches on a regular basis. I guess it’s about the only way we’ll hold up under this.” He paused. “Those poor fellows in Petersburg and Richmond. I heard a report that Richmond’s been out of meat for some time. The last of it was issued to Lee’s army. The Southern economy is ruined. Most of their rail lines have been destroyed. Some supplies are coming through the blockade. I suppose that’ll be Grant’s next target.”
“I’ve been reading all the old newspapers,” Alex said, rubbing his forehead wearily. He looked at Matthew. “At least I believe I’ve learned why the South’s been so doggedly determined to win the war. In an address just before the ’64 campaign began, General Lee stated that if the South was victorious in this war, they would have everything to hope for in the future, but if they were defeated, there would be nothing left to live for.”
Matthew shook his head sadly. “I’ve heard they fight like madmen. Maybe that’s the reason.”
“I wish they’d quit stalling and get this over,” Matthew added. “I’d like to get home before this baby comes.”
“Olivia told me,” Alex said. “We’re happy for you. By home, do you mean Pennsylvania?”
Matthew nodded. “Where else? I don’t expect to be welcome in the South. This war has changed us all forever. I’m concerned for our parents, but—” Alex was asleep, so Matthew left.
Olivia and Crystal were working together in the next tent. Matthew approached them. “I have a gift for each of you ladies. Hold out your hands.” He dropped a coin in each hand.
Olivia turned the bronze coin. “A bright, shiny two-cent piece!”
“Read the inscription,” he urged. “It’s the first coin to bear it.”
Crystal read, “United States of America, In God We Trust.”
Olivia clenched her coin. “In God We Trust,” she repeated slowly. “This is just what I need. Thank you, Matt.”
****
It was dark when she started back to the tent where Alex lay. Shivering in the January wind, she hurried inside. He was awake, and his forehead seemed cool. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving. Had a good chat with Matt.”
“He gave me a gift; I’ll share it with you.” She dropped the coin in his hand and went to the kitchen. After she distributed the meals to the other patients, she carried Alex’s food to him.
He still held the coin and was smiling. “Olivia, I’m going to save this coin for our grandchildren. I’ll tell them how it became a bright promise in the final days of the Civil War, just before the Union victory.”
She brushed the tears from her eyes and bent over to kiss him. “Alex, I love you. May you have many children and grandchildren to share the story of the coin with.”
Within a few days Alex was out of bed, testing his wounded leg gingerly as he hobbled around the tent on crutches.
Matthew came in, dropped several newspapers on Alex’s bed and said, “I’m returning to the trenches, but I thought you’d like these papers. The December one has lines from Lincoln’s address to Congress. Read it all; he says the resolve of the people to maintain the integrity of the Union has never been more firm. He goes on to talk about how we’re doing. He says production is up in every area, and that we’re better off financially than before the war. Encouraging, isn’t it?”
“What else do you have?”
“The story of Fort Fisher being taken. Butler tried to bomb the place with a boat loaded with explosives. Quite a fiasco.”
“I think you should volunteer your services as a bomb expert,” laughed Alex.
“Sorry, I haven’t seen a peach can since,” Matthew murmured.
Alex shook the paper. “This is encouraging, Matt. There’s only one more port which the blockade runners can enter. After that—”
“Lee’ll have to surrender.”
“Here’s the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution!” Alex exclaimed. “Short and to the point: ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.’ Man, am I glad to see this.”
Matthew got to his feet. “See you in a couple of weeks, unless you decide you want to join us before.”
“I’ll wait until I have two good legs. Right now, I know just how Mike Clancy felt.”
****
Spring came in late February. Grass began to show green, and the dogwoods began to bloom. Union casualties had decreased markedly, and Alex was starting to use his leg. He had been discharged from the hospital, and had moved into the tent with Olivia.
One day Crystal came to visit while he was admiring Olivia’s thickening waistline. He eyed Crystal’s expanding figure and said, “Crystal, I think you’d better retire from nursing. I’ll find a rocking chair for you.” She protested, and he teased, “You’ll have to give up feeding soldiers unless you grow longer arms.”
“A rocking chair sounds wonderful,” she admitted. “I may even learn to knit.”
Before long Alex took Crystal’s place at the hospital. When Olivia protested, he said, “I can’t outrun the Confederates, but I can push a washcloth and change bandages just as well as you.”
When Matthew returned, he chuckled and said, “Alex, I’m going to find one of those head dresses for you. And I think you ought to borrow Crystal’s apron.”
Matthew managed to fit a rocking chair into their tent. “It’s a good thing this baby will come in the summer,” he said. “Otherwise I’d be shipping you home.”
He turned to look at Alex. “The Confederate soldiers are deserting,” Matthew continued, “and coming into our camp. I hear they’re leaving North Carolina at the rate of around a hundred a night. We’ve been getting a large number.”
Olivia sat up. “Why would they come to you?”
“Mostly for food. They know we’ll feed them. I think one of the main reasons they’re heading home is to plant crops for their families. They certainly can’t be blamed for that, but it’s a big drain on Lee. I don’t know where he’s going to find food for his men. Wilmington has finally been closed; that’s the last of the blockade runners’ ports. Most of the North Carolina coast is in Federal hands.” He paced restlessly around the tent. “It’s exciting, but frustrating. The end is right here, but Lee doesn’t see it that way.”
“I have a newspaper you haven’t read.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Because you’d be talking about it. Since General Sherman left Atlanta, he’s had thousands of Negroes following him. Naturally he’s not doing anything for them—he can’t fight a war at the same time.
“News of the situation hit Washington and Secretary of War Stanton went to Savannah to talk to him and to contact the black leaders. He wanted to see what could be done to help them.
“The slaves asked to be given land, so Sherman took military action under war powers, designating the sea islands and the rich plantation land along rivers in South Carolina for settlement by former slaves. Each family will receive forty acres.”
“That’s wonderful news!” Matthew reached for the paper.
“Yes,” Olivia said, “they certainly deserve the help. Many of the freed slaves are fighting in the army. I read that Southerners put strong pressure on the Confederate government to use the slaves as soldiers.”
“My guess is,” Matthew said slowly, “Lincoln’s refusal to talk peace with the South apart from unconditional surrender will produce a move toward enlisting Negroes as soldiers.”
****
By the middle of March, the spring rains appeared to be over. Puddles disappeared, and the fresh scent of spring nearly made it possible to forget the horror lying just beyond their camp. The sound of artillery still came from the entrenchments, but except for small skirmishes, war no longer seemed a constant threat.
News drifted out of Richmond, giving them a picture of life there. The first informant was a peddler. The old man seemed to relish having an audience. “Naw, nobody’s worried about the war. President Davis seems as happy as the rest. Them people are celebrating the Confederate victory every Saturday night. Guess it’s all right, since they’re all in church come Sunday morning. But life goes on as usual. Sure, food’s hard to come by. No different than other places.
“Without a doubt, them people have confidence that General Lee will win this war. Nearly every day the newspapers carry news that’s encouraging them on.”
Olivia watched the peddler walk out of camp and said, “Do you suppose he’ll go back into Richmond and tell some outrageous tales about us?”
“Might be outrageous, but it might be the truth,” Alex said thoughtfully. “But given the evidence, I wonder why Richmond is so happy?”
“What evidence?”
“All winter General Lee has advanced his troops only two miles. He is hurting for men to cover his lines. Perhaps this winter hasn’t been a waste.”
“The injuries and deaths indicate General Lee is still active.”
“Proportionately, Lee has lost more. With spring upon us, we can expect action to increase.”
She looked at his worried frown and said, “You’re thinking about Crystal?”
“And you. I wish you would both take the supply train back to Washington.”
“Since spring is upon us,” she said lightly, “I think we might be safer right here.” He kissed her cheek and headed for the surgeon’s tent.
When Olivia went to the supply tent the next day, she looked around at the opened packets of bandages. “Dr. Jason cleaning house?” she asked Sergeant Howe.
“No. We’re gearing up to meet any need.”
“And that means I’d better be ready too,” she said. “What shall I do here?”
“We need bandages separated by size. Supplies must be packed to go in the ambulances, and surgery needs help. Dr. Jason has a theory that if instruments are handled differently, there won’t be as much infection among the men.” He shrugged, grinned, and said, “I don’t have any patience with the idea, seems a waste of time. However, if you’re inclined to pamper him, go in there and see what you can do.” He shook his head. “Never heard of boiling stuff like that.”