Chapter Six
“Damnation, this is getting ridiculous,” complained James as he mounted his horse and joined Matthew in riding back to town. “Maybe we should just quietly move out. This town is not worth this.”
“Cannae do that,” said Matthew. “The major thinks it is better to stand firm.”
“He hasn’t seen what is gathering.”
“True, but we have gathered a goodly number of soldiers as weel. All the scouts have returned.”
“I know. Reckon the Rebs are just deciding when and how to come at us.”
“Slow thinkers.” Matthew grinned when James laughed.
“Or they know we are spying on them and hesitate just to make us relax our guard.”
“True. That is verra possible. But for all they ken, we are getting weel prepared for a battle.”
“They may be right although being well prepared isn’t always a guarantee of winning.”
“True again, but I think we have done weel. Still it is a puzzle that they have made no move for a month now. Might as weel get back to headquarters and leave them to it. They cannae be that indecisive. They cannae puzzle over it too much longer either. It is never good to have an army sitting about for too long.”
James grunted in agreement and waved at a few men as they rode through the guard posts. Matthew also took time to greet a few. It was comforting to find the guard alert. He could not shake the feeling that they were headed for a hard fight.
His thoughts veered to Abigail and he wondered if he should warn her. That would be against orders but he was becoming more and more uncomfortable about giving her no warning. He did not like leaving her unsuspecting and unready. He would feel better if he knew she was at least keeping her weapon close to hand.
When they reached the house the major now claimed as his headquarters, Matthew and James went in to make their report. As they entered the office, Matthew studied the man behind the desk. With his head bent over some papers, it was all too evident that the man was beginning to lose his hair. Matthew hoped that was the man’s only loss to the war. Major Cummings was a good man, a fine officer who was neither too harsh nor too kind. He was also an excellent strategist.
“Are the Rebs still there?” Major Cummings asked as he looked up from the paper.
“Aye, sir,” Matthew replied. “They have added a few more men but the constant trail of men coming in has ended. We just cannae figure out what they plan.”
“But they have enough to attack?”
“They do and they also have a cannon.”
“Damn. Well, we have three so we ought to be able to counter that. How many men?”
“Hard to say, sir,” said James. “Not easy to count them, but I would say they have enough.”
“MacEnroy?”
“Aye, sir. There are at least several companies in the camp. I even recognized one or two men as ones who led a couple of skirmishes against us.”
Major Cummings rubbed his hands over his face. “I am weary of skirmishes. Little clashes where we kill each other, farms and towns get destroyed, and too many who are not even soldiers end up dying. God alone knows what is going to be left of the people who lived in these hills.”
“Too few, that’s certain, sir,” muttered James.
“Well, we’ll keep a watch on them. They may not be interested in us but there is no way to be sure of that. One cannon doesn’t imply such an engagement nor does our size or theirs. That doesn’t mean they won’t come looking for some supplies. Or, hell, some women. Keep the watch on and alert. I have been getting rumors that a big move is planned on the South so they may be gathering to go and fight in that. So, all we can do is keep alert.”
“Aye, sir.” Matthew saluted and walked out, James right behind him.
“I checked and all four of us have about a month left before we would have to sign up again and decide if we are staying in or not,” said James.
“Are ye staying in?”
“I don’t rightly know. Damn sick of the killing. Too much of it is senseless shooting of farmers and town folk who are just trying to survive and hold on to their land. A lot of the army is conscripts now. There are just too many times when I have to stop myself from just turning my horse east and riding on home. I damn sure don’t want to be in the South at this time of year.”
Matthew nodded slowly. “I feel the same. I just dinnae have to ride so far to get home. But it weighs on me what is being done in these hills.”
