Then to Hannah, "Get us some lye soap, clean soft cotton pieces and some good strong string. Check for the string in the sewing room." Turning to Lou, "well, let's see what we've got here, Boy."
"Ma'am, please don't trouble yourself. Wrap it up if you'd be so kind and I'll be on my way to Dalton." The general whispered, lifting himself with difficulty, on his left elbow to hazily find the people around him planning his treatment.
"Nonsense, Sir, you'll get lockjaw or lose that foot. I surely am not going to trust your health to the barbers posing as healers. Sir, I am the granddaughter of Joseph Vann, daughter of James Vann. Cherokee blood flows in my veins and we are a mighty civilized people. We know more about medicine than the butchers who stole our country!" Miss Vann stopped herself, realizing she was wasting time preaching and justifying her actions.
"Sir, rest. Boy, in that cabinet, hand me that decanter and glass in there."
"Yes, Ma'am." Lou surveyed the direction Miss Vann had indicated and accomplished the chore.
The willful hostess administered to her wounded guest a half glass of ten-year-old sour mash whiskey.
"Boy, find Hannah upstairs and tell her to get a sharp pair of scissors from my sewing basket and a sharp knife from the kitchen." Miss Vann directed Lou.
Before Lou could react, the general stirred and said, "Ma'am, here, my pocket knife." He fumbled into his worn blue trousers and drew out a shining, burnished, silver-plated five-inch knife and waved it.
Miss Vann handed the warm knife to Lou, "Well Son, cut that bandage off and let's see what we have to deal with."
"Yes Ma'am," Lou said and got busy doing as told.
Between Amelia Vann's will, dried herbs, lye soap, Lou Field's tender ministrations, and Mama Bear's Cherokee medicine, Joseph Wheeler's life was saved. So was his foot.
The General gave Lou his knife, which she tried to return before they moved out. His father gave it to him when he left for West Point in '54. It was silver and had an inscription, "Honor". The General told Lou, "Consider it a gift. You surely gifted me with your Indian conjuring." He smiled and saluted her.
She blushed and looked at her worn out brogans. "Much obliged, Sir."