The Mockingbird's Ballad

"May 26, 1864, near Cassville, Georgia. Day before yesterday we had a rip-roaring fight. Lost near fifty-nine men, but ran off Yankee troopers and took Union supply train. Over 80 filled wagons taken and we captured about 110 prisoners. Worn out. Carmago has had stone bruise. The young farrier, Lou Fields, has been doctoring him. I used a big red mule for a week or so while Lou tended Carmago. Fields said he worked with the mule some and it was a jumper and had good speed that stretched out 'bout as far as he'd ever seen. Mules sure have a different gate and feel. By the Almighty, that Fields kid was right. He did the work and was ready for more. I've got a regular 'War Mule'! Fields calls him 'Cousin'. I'm having Lou keep him with the farrier section as a remount. I may use Cousin some and rest Carmago. He sure has earned some time off."

"Lou Fields, our apprentice farrier from up Sequatchie way, has become a real trooper and pure pleasure. Kid doesn't miss anything and those brown eyes got a brightness about them that shows something special. I tease him too much. Not sure why. When he's around I pick at him something awful cause of the way he reacts - open, kind and gracious. He just smiles and blushes. He's a good kid. It feels like his youth and brightness draws me away from this killing and dying we're about. That surely is taking its' toll. Losses, great losses. I feel so very, very burdened of soul. . . . "

"Word came from General Johnston yesterday. He congratulates the General and us for our efforts at Cassville. Much obliged, I'm sure. - Old Joe. I'll tell the graves."

He looked up to the bright sunny patch and sadness covered him like a big heavy quilt. He nearly couldn't breathe. Then he sucked air into his lungs and blew it out slowly. Wetting his short pencil he'd squirreled out of his tunic pocket, he wrote: "August 5, 1864, southwest of Dalton, toward Macon - 5 generals and near 3,300 Yankees taken in raids of McCook division at Newnan. We also captured a big chunk of Sherman's cavalry and General George Stoneman and 700 of his troopers at Macon. Near a hundred supply wagons and six artillery batteries, 21 guns acquired. Bet "Red" Sherman is fit to be tied. Rough, mean work - 79 dead, 63 missing, 116 wounded. Whole cavalry command down to a little over 5,000; 4,200 effective. Last few weeks have been as hectic as we've endured. They keep coming with more of everything and we keep having less and less to fight with. Dog tired."