by S A Ison
Theo’s voice held no emotion as he read the letter aloud, “It’s from Maj. Gen. Stuart’s aide, he says that Todd Randal Anderson was killed in York county, Hanover. It says that they were trying to push back a Union Calvary regiment when Brig. Gen Farnsworth’s brigade attacked. Todd had saved Maj. Gen. Stuart’s life by taking a bullet meant for the Major General. He sends his deepest appreciation and condolences. It goes on to extol Todd’s bravery.” Theo ended bitterly, flinging the offending sheet to the floor.
Walking over to the sideboard, he opened a decanter of peach whisky, pouring himself and his father a tumbler. Walking over to the desk, he handed his father the glass. He went back to retrieve his own glass then sought out a chair to sit. Mary left the room, her heart heavy. She didn’t know Todd very well; he was a grown man before she was born and seldom came to visit. It had been the same with Samuel. Only Theo had been there, she’d grown up with him. Theo and Henry were about the same age. She had even played with Theo on occasion, when she was small. He had given her rides on his shoulders. And had let her chase him about the yard. But the older brothers were strangers to her.
Mary knew that Todd’s wife, Alison would be distraught. She had gone north to New Jersey to live with her parents while her husband was away. Their farm had been left in the hands of the overseer and his family. She had taken both her sons, fearing for their lives, should they be caught in the skirmishes. It had been a smart move on their part, but had left Victoria and John heartbroken.
Mary knew that John or Theo would write and send the missive along, to inform Alison of her husband’s death, if she didn’t know already. Mary had never cared for Alison; the woman was spiteful and used her children to get what she wanted from Victoria. She had sent no reply to Mary’s letter, informing her of Victoria’s death. The woman had given Mary the evil eye when Victoria had shown affection to Mary. No, Mary didn’t care for Alison at all, but she did feel sorrow for Todd’s grown children. They would miss their father.
Mary walked down to the slave quarter to find Liza, who was taking care of the children. She found Liza out in the yard with her two, along with Nan’s four boys. Their laughter brought a smile to Mary’s weary mind. It had been so nice lately; the pall of sadness had lifted and now this. She knew that the war was for her freedom, but it had come at a very high cost. She thought of Nan and her babies. When she looked at the children playing before her, she thought perhaps it was worth it. To see all of their children free. To live their lives on their own terms and to have autonomy over their own futures. To not fear separation due to someone else’s whim. Never to be beaten because you didn’t work hard enough or broke something due to an accident.
Since Clark’s death, no one had been beaten, their lives had settled into a rhythm of cooperation. They’d banded together to keep each other safe from the aggression that had headed their way from both armies. But they were still in bondage, they were still owned. Mary didn’t know if it would happen in her lifetime, but she hoped that her children would see freedom one day. It was coming at a heavy cost, but it was right, it was just. No one had the right to own another human being. Mary was sorry for the loss of both brothers, but she was not sorry that her children had a chance to be free. Around them was war and they each held their breaths, waiting for the outcome.
At night, they could hear cannon fire, far in the distance, it rolled like summer thunder. Sporadically, throughout the day, the soft popping sound of musket fire could be heard. It sent chills through Mary, knowing that people were dying in those moments. She wished she could go and fight too at times. But she knew she couldn’t leave her babies.
Word reached the farm, the fighting was intensifying, they dare not go to Savannah for fear of being shot in crossfire, or robbed of their goods. They still hid the food stuff and with Theo there, they were let to themselves, though there was the occasional visit and confrontations. Mary worried, what would become of them all when the war was over.
NINE
A flash of white bottom streaked across the yard, followed as quickly by a brown bottom. Mary’s arms were full of laundry that needed to be washed. She was walking toward the slave quarters; it was a warm spring morning. The birds were in glorious form, singing to their mates. The air fairly smelled of wildflowers, jasmine and honeysuckle. Ida brought up the rear, adding to the trio of bare bottoms that flashed by with gleeful abandon.
Drake and Victor were growing fast and keeping up with them was a chore. Ida had dubbed herself mistress of them both, at four, she was a sassy and bossy little girl. She hustled the boys around the yard like a mother hen, her energy endless. Mary smiled after them and haled Liza who was stirring the large vat of boiling clothes. The smell of lye soap stung her eyes when she reached Liza.
Joseph and Lil Gabe stayed close to their grandmother; the memory of their mother’s rape still apparent in their solemn black eyes. Lewis and Willy were off to join Drake and Victor, their raucous giggling drifted over the yard, Ida now had four boys to herd. Many of the slaves were out in the field, planting the crops for the summer. This year tobacco and indigo were to be planted in freshly turned fields. Theo and Tall Tom had decided that if and when the war ended, those would be the best cash crops besides cotton.
The children ran with boisterous abandon, through the yard and woods. Bethy sat at her cabin’s door, she had aged beyond her years with the loss of her son Ellis. Her hair had grayed and had nearly fallen out completely. Her wasted body was covered by a faded calico dress that was many sizes to big. She watched the children feverishly, as though afraid they too would be sold away as her son had been. Mary and Liza looked over at Bethy, thinking the same thing, it was a shame that the woman had nearly lost her mind with her child.
“I don’t know what it be like to lose a child, but I wish I could ease her soul.” Mary said softly. Liza grunted softly in agreement.
“It’s a terrible thing. Losing Nan and those babies nearly drove me to madness. It’s only cause of the boys that I keep sane. It sho is cause of them boys.” Liza sighed.
Mary knew that Liza still grieved for the loss of her daughter and grandchildren. Mary grieved for their loss as well. Her eyes drifted back to Bethy, and she was glad that Liza hadn’t been lost like Bethy. Bethy’s body was there, but not her mind. The only relief Bethy would have, would be on her death bed.
“I heard John and Theo talkin’ last night.” Mary said to Liza, as she took up a long paddle to stir the churning laundry. Liza grinned at Mary and told her to speak on, and not to keep her waiting. Both women laughed and Mary continued.
“When Theo had been in the army hospital, he had received a letter from his fiancé, Sarah Calhoun. The gal had cried off of the engagement and went up north to marry a wealthy merchant in Boston.”
“Faithless, but I expect that’s just as well.” Liza grunted, shaking her head.
“He was right torn up about it, sounded like he was crying when he told his daddy.” Mary said.
“Well, seems like he can’t be too broke up, looks like Patina is swellen again with child.” Liza said and laughed. Mary joined in; it was common knowledge that Theo was fatally under Patina’s spell. There were few secrets on the farm.
“I think it was more about his pride with that goose, Sarah. He doesn’t need a twit like that. Patina will keep him a crowin.” Liza said and crowed like a rooster. Both women broke out in hysterical giggles, drawing the children to them. Victor was jumping up and down wanting his mother to hold him. He was always hungry.
Mary went to the cabin to fetch some cornbread from breakfast and gave a piece to Victor and Drake. The boys sat on the porch and nibbled their treats. Mary went back to the wash tub. She smiled shaking her head. Each boy was dark and light, smelling of sweat and sweetness. Their rounded cheeks echoed their childishness, their small bodies sturdy and strong. Drake’s light hair was spiked up with sweat, his little cheeks red from running. Victor too was flushed a delicate pink. Both boys glowed with health.
Once the boys finished their snack, they both jumped up and ran off, Ida in their wake. Mary watched the children smiling. She began to pull the clothes from the boiling vat and placed them into cooling rinse water. Her face was sheened by sweat and she wiped at it. Wringing out the wet clothes, Liza and Mary then hung the clean clothing on lines strung across the yard. The breeze snapped and popped the clean laundry dry. The day wore on with the wash, it took two days to complete and then the ironing had to be done. The laundry was ironed in the back of the main house, right off the kitchen. Several of the young women spent the day ironing the sheets and clothes.
Dark Henry sat at the new table; he had built it for their growing family. He had also made more chairs to accommodate his large size. He always feared one of the chairs would splinter and he’d find himself and his dinner on the floor. He was holding Victor in his arms as he watched his wife make their dinner. Joseph and Lil Gabe had caught a string of fish and Mary was frying them up for dinner. Liza had Ida and Willy in her arms, while Lewis and the older boys were with their father. Gabe was still melancholy over the loss of his wife and children. Gabe had however, taken notice of a young woman of seventeen, Anna.
Anna was a round robust little woman and was missing her front teeth. Clark had kicked them out when she was nine, when she hadn’t stepped out of his way quickly enough. She was shy about her missing teeth and when she laughed, she held her hand daintily up to her mouth to shield it from view. Gabe had started sparking her some nights ago, Joseph had relayed this information to his grandmother and Liza had told Mary.
Mary had looked at Dark Henry with a gimlet eye, he had not mentioned a thing. Henry looked helplessly between the women.
“I didn’t know, honest.” Henry assured Mary. She smiled. It would seem that Gabe was hushed mouth about everything now a days and didn’t share a thing. Slightly mollified, Mary went back to cooking. The pong of fried potatoes, onions and fish filled the tiny cabin. Henry’s stomach growled loudly, startling Victor, who had dosed off in his father’s warm arms. Laughter filled the cabin and Henry lifted up his son over his head, eliciting a squeal of delight from his son. Ida promptly hopped off Liza’s lap, wanting her turn. She pulled insistently at her father’s shirt, demanding the same treatment.
Setting Victor on the floor, Henry picked his daughter up and lifted her up in his arms and shook her around. Her tinkling laugher filled the cabin and Henry took her out into the yard, with Victor hot on their trail. Willy jumped down, not to be left out and ran with them, leaving the woman to talk around the table. Mary placed a lid over the fry pan and grabbed the kettle of hot water to pour into her cup.
Mary smiled, it reminded her of when her mother and Liza would sit at the table and drink tea. She felt a pang of sorrow and longing shoot through her.
“I miss mamma. I miss you and her sitting here drinking tea.” Mary said softly. Liza smiled and reached over a calloused hand and placed it gently over Mary’s hand, squeezing.
“I do too, child. Sometimes I dreams about her. Makes me sad to wake.” Liza smiled and shrugged.
The gentle moment was broken when the door burst open and Henry came in with the children wrapped around his long leg. He limped into the house, panting heavily.
“I brung ya some squirrels for supper.” He laughed, the children hanging on. Mary went to grab them and the children squealed and scattered, going to the back of the cabin. Ida took up her mother’s corn husk doll to play while the boys played in the bed covers.
Later, the adults sat at the table eating a quiet dinner, the children already fed and bedded down for the night. Gabe came by earlier to collect Willy. The small group looked at Gabe pointedly, but he didn’t say anything about Anna. Mary’s mouth quivered with suppressed laughter. Henry was squirming and Mary knew the subject of a new woman made him nervous. No woman liked to think she was replaceable. After dinner, Liza left them alone, finding her own bed.
Henry pulled Mary onto his lap, glad that company was gone and he had his wife to himself. With each passing year, Mary seemed to become more beautiful to him. The pregnancies had filled her body out, her breasts and hips were lush. His hand swatted her haunches playfully and he waggled his eye brows and nodded toward their bed. Mary grinned at the blatant invitation and blew out the candles on the table. Taking his larger hand in hers, she led the way to their bed. Their soft laughter filled the cabin, their whispers floated about them like wisps of smoke.
He loved the feel of Mary’s hand gently on his back. The ropes of the bed creaked softly under their shifting weight. The soft sighs of the children did not disturb their lovemaking, they were in a world of their own. Nothing mattered in those precious moments, except the two of them.
As the spring blended into summer, Gabe increased his pursuit of Anna, much to the delight of Anna’s mother, Ruth. Anna positively glowed, so happy to have the handsome man’s attention. It would be an instant family for her, but Anna was use to taking care of children. She had seven brothers and sisters of her own, four of which had been sold years ago. Some of them had been taken, along with Ellis, gone from their lives.
Liza presided over the ceremony of marriage, it was held in late fall, as beautiful leaves showered over them. She had taken over Old Bitsy’s duties. Anna and Gabe went to their cabin, while Gabe’s children went to stay with Liza, where they would stay for the next few nights. The children ran wild around the adults, playing tag and war. Food was placed on makeshift tables. There was cool cider to drink as well. One of the men, Carl, brought out a fiddle and played jigs and reels. The music went on into the night.
News came almost daily about the fighting around the country. Patina had delivered a daughter; Theo had named her Rachel. Rachel was as pale as her older brother, though she had brown eyes. John was becoming senile, and had to be taken in at night, he sat on the porch all day. Drake was a rascal, and was the bane of Ida’s life, with his antics and rough housing. Drake and Victor played hard, coming in the house bloody from rough play. Their happy faces glowing with giddy rapture. Both boys played about John’s knees, running up and down the porch with tiny iron soldiers.
A contingent of dust beaten Rebels came riding into the yard, causing the two boys to hover about John’s side. Calling to one of the children in the yard, John sent him to get his son. Joseph brought out one of Theo’s pistols and gave it to his master, his small jaw jutting out belligerently. His remembrance of the white deserters, who had killed his brother and mother, painfully clear in his mind.
John went back to his rocking chair, gathering up the two boys, small Drake’s chubby arms around Victor and his grandfather. John’s hands curled from arthritis, he comforted the babies as the old rocker creaked back and forth. A low humming rumbled deep in his chest; the riders already forgotten.
The group of horsemen sat silently, looking around the farm, waiting patiently for its master to come. Not long, Theo came thundering up on his horse, its sides bellowing out mightily from the exertion of a quick hard ride. Reining up, but remaining on his horse, Theo wished to be eye to eye with the strangers.
“What’s your business here?” Theo asked brusquely, he didn’t want them on his farm.
“I’m Lieutenant Parker. The war isn’t going as well as we’d hoped. There have been a lot of losses in the last skirmishes. We desperately need more men. Black or white. I see that you’ve lost your arm. May I ask where.”
“No.” Theo said bluntly, rage roiling within. The lieutenant narrowed his eyes, his mouth thinning and his cheeks burning red.
“By order of Jefferson Davis, our courageous President, I am here to conscript all able-bodied men. Be they white or niggers, for the war effort. I want your slave brought in and we are to choose the best you have and enlist them for Confederate militia.” Lt. Parker announced, handing over the conscript notice to Theo.
Violently, Theo knocked the paper from the lieutenant’s gloved hand. “You bastards!” Theo roared. “You have taken my br
others, you have taken my arm, you have raped and pillaged my farm. Now you want to take the little help I have to fight this God forsaken war?” spittle flew from Theo’s mouth, as he drew from his vest pocket, the death notice for his brother Todd. He flung it at the lieutenant, telling him to read it.
Not surprised by the young man’s rage, Parker had seen it before, as he sought to replenish his numbers. He opened the missive, his tired eyes scanning the parchment. So, this man’s brother had saved Stuart’s life, well, that was something wasn’t it? He handed the ragged document to the one-armed man, who skillfully folded it one-handed and tucked it back into the vest pocket.
For a long moment, Lt. Parker looked into the clear angry blue eyes, torn with his duty and the knowledge that this family had sacrificed much. Christ, he was tired, had they only been fighting a short span of years? The blood and brains that he had seen, splattered on the fields and forest would never leave him. They plagued his dreams at night, leaving him weak and haunted at dawn.
“I won’t take all, but I must have at least twenty men, I will leave it to you to pick them and send them up the road, about eight miles. We are quartered there for the next fortnight. If you don’t send them, I will be back to collect them all.” Parker said curtly, nodding, he turned his horse around and led the group of men away.
Theo remained on his horse, long after the soldiers had ridden away. Shaking with helpless fury, his hand gripped the reins tightly. He would have to comply or lose all his men. But who to send? Could he be sending them to their certain deaths? How ludicrous for slaves to fight for their enslavement, they would be forced to fight their liberators. This whole war was ludicrous, Theo thought bitterly.
He dismounted and a slave came and took his horse away. Then he went to the calling bell and began to viciously ring it, calling in all the slaves from out in the field and the quarters. Before him stood the people under his care, his people, his slaves. The word slave was like ash in his mouth. He wanted to spit it out. He looked over the worn, sweating people before him, question and trust in their eyes. Since he had taken charge of the farm, he had gotten to know his people, through Tall Tom.