Part 35 (2/2)
”Sounds closer than that, Missy. Look there. . . .” Tessie pointed to the southeast where flashes of light illuminated the low-hanging clouds like summer lightning. ”Those big guns gotta be this side of the river.”
”I think you're right. Maybe it's coming from Fort Harrison.”
Caroline knew from months of spying that the outer ring of Confederate defenses encircling Richmond was less than ten miles away; the inner ring, not even four. This current battle, which had begun yesterday, September 28, was one of the closest ones yet to her home. She also knew that Lee's troops, defending this sixty-five-mile-long perimeter, were spread very thinly in places.
Charles and Jonathan might be fighting out there somewhere. In his last letter, Charles had said they were being sent up from Petersburg to counteract a rumored buildup of Yankee forces near New Market Heights. Now a horrific battle was raging out in that direction. At times, the artillery fired so rapidly that it sounded like one continuous boom.
”Here comes Eli,” Tessie said, pointing down to the street below them. ”Let's go see what he find out.”
”Yankees started attacking the Confederate lines yesterday,” Eli told them when they reached the backyard. ”Rumors say they already capture Fort Harrison. Now they trying to capture Fort Gilmer.”
”Get the carriage ready, Eli. I'd better go up to Chimborazo. It's the closest hospital to where they're fighting. They'll be bringing the wounded there first.”
Tessie held Caroline's arm to stop her. ”Honey . . . you can't,” she said quietly. ”Remember?”
Caroline moaned and leaned against her friend. ”No . . . I completely forgot.”
Two days ago, Sally Fletcher had come to her front door-a very different Sally from the friend and near-sister Caroline had known for so long. Sally had offered no word of greeting or other pleasantries, refusing to look Caroline in the eye, and would come no further than the foyer. She delivered her message in a voice that was distant and cold.
”My father told us what you've done, Caroline. I didn't want to believe it. The shock of it has made Father so ill-” she paused as her voice quavered. ”So ill that he's been bedridden ever since.”
”I'm so sorry.”
Sally held up both hands to silence her. ”Don't talk, Caroline, just listen. Father sent me in his place to tell you that until he's well enough to decide what to do with you, he wants you to remain at home. Don't go anywhere, not even to church, or he will have you arrested. Don't leave the house, and don't entertain visitors. When you write to Charles, you can't tell him anything about this.”
”Sally, please listen. You're my dearest friend, and nothing I've done will ever change that.”
”You're wrong. I feel so betrayed by you, Caroline. I trusted you . . . loved you. I can't even imagine what this news will do to Charles, but I agree with my father-Charles must not be told about you while he's still fighting. If he found out right now that he's in love with a traitor, it would kill him. But as soon as Charles is safe, Father is going to tell him everything.”
Even now as Caroline stood in her backyard, the memory of Sally's words sent a s.h.i.+ver through her. Her dearest friend wouldn't even try to understand or forgive her. She was not trusted to care for wounded soldiers at Chimborazo.
The sounds of battle continued all day. Artillery still echoed sporadically off Richmond's hills later that night as Caroline sat in the kitchen with her servants, talking quietly after their evening meal. The only light came from the fireplace, now dying into embers. Outside, clouds shrouded the moon and stars while cannon fire flickered on the horizon.
A sound outside made Caroline look up. Her heart pounded with dread when she saw Josiah standing in the open doorway.
He wore no s.h.i.+rt, only ragged trousers. Dried blood smeared his broad chest and hands. Caroline took one look at his dark, somber face and scrambled to her feet, terrified of what he might say.
”Make her sit down,” Josiah said, pointing to her.
”No . . . Oh, G.o.d, no . . . not Jonathan . . .” she cried out. Eli pulled Caroline into his arms and held her tightly. She felt as if she stood onboard a s.h.i.+p in a storm and was about to be blown overboard.
”It ain't Jonathan,” Josiah said. ”It's Ma.s.sa Charles.”
”No!” Pain tore through Caroline, as sharp and real as any gunshot. Pain tore through Caroline, as sharp and real as any gunshot.
”He's hurt real bad,” Josiah continued. ”They bring him to that big hospital up on the hill, just now.”
”Oh, G.o.d, please don't let him die,” Caroline wept. ”Please . . . please . . .”
”I'll get the carriage ready,” Gilbert said. Josiah stepped aside as the servant hurried out the door.
”What happened, son?” Eli asked.
”They been fighting hard all day. I went looking for Ma.s.sa Jonathan when he ain't coming back with some of the others. Couldn't find him. I look everywhere . . . lots of dead and wounded . . . but I ain't seeing him. I only find Ma.s.sa Charles, lying there in that hole.”
”Sweet Ma.s.sa Jesus . . .” Tessie prayed as she rocked Isaac, who was sleeping on her lap. ”Help him, Ma.s.sa Jesus . . .”
”Ain't gonna lie to you and pretend it ain't bad,” Josiah said. ”The men who picking up the wounded walk right on past him, thinking he good as dead with two big holes in him and bleeding so bad. But I tore up my s.h.i.+rt and stuffed the hole in his chest like I seen the doctors do, and I wrap one of the s.h.i.+rtsleeves around his leg. His head bleeding bad, too. Then I carry him to the forward aid station, but they keep walking past him, saying there ain't much hope. So I carry him to the field hospital, about half-mile back, and put him on the first ambulance I see, not waiting for n.o.body's permission. Ambulance just now bring him to that big place up on the hill.”
Esther handed Josiah his father's coat to put on. ”Does his family know about Ma.s.sa Charles?”
Josiah shook his head. ”I came here first.”
”Guess someone better go on down and tell them,” Eli said. ”But first we got to get Missy up to the hospital.”
Gilbert returned to the kitchen just then. ”Carriage ready,” he said.
Caroline tried to walk but her legs wouldn't hold her. Eli lifted her into his arms. ”Oh, G.o.d, please don't take Charles,” she pleaded as he carried her outside into the dark autumn night. ”Please don't take him!”
They crossed the backyard toward the open gate, and a memory came to Caroline, sharp and clear. Eli had carried Tessie in his arms the same way while Tessie had pleaded, ”Don't take him . . .please don't take him!” ”Don't take him . . .please don't take him!” But the men had dragged Grady through the open gate in spite of Tessie's pleas. But the men had dragged Grady through the open gate in spite of Tessie's pleas.
A terrible fear suddenly gripped Caroline. Charles was going to die in payment for that sin.
[image]
It seemed to Caroline that hours pa.s.sed before she found out where they'd taken Charles in the sprawling hospital complex. In spite of Josiah's warning, she wasn't prepared for the sight of him- his uniform drenched in his own blood, his face as pale as death. Huge, raw wounds punctured his right shoulder and thigh and creased the side of his head. She lifted his hand and found a faint heartbeat, touched her lips to his and felt the warmth of his breath.
”Please, G.o.d . . .”
It took longer still for Caroline to find a doctor who would agree to waste time on such a seemingly hopeless case. He finally consented only because he recognized Caroline and remembered her tireless work at the hospital. Charles' family arrived, and they waited in icy silence for the doctor to finish the surgery. He came out to speak with them when he was done.
”He's still alive . . . but barely. I'm sorry I can't offer you a great deal of hope.”
”We're taking him home,” Charles' father announced.
”If you move him now you'll kill him,” the doctor said. ”He's too weak. Wait a few days, until he recovers from the surgery. Miss Fletcher knows how to administer the very finest care. She has done excellent work here.”
The St. Johns stayed for several hours, hoping in vain that Charles would regain consciousness. But Mr. St. John was still quite ill himself, and Sally was distraught over the news that Jonathan was missing. They decided to return home for the night. Before leaving, Charles' father stunned Caroline with an announcement. ”Your cousin's servant, Josiah, will remain with us. Since Sally is Jonathan's wife, the Negro now belongs to her.”
<script>