The Mockingbird's Ballad

"I know, Solon. If you hadn't, I would have," the first sergeant allowed. Then he chuckled, "What do you reckon - firing squad or medal - would have been our reward?" Charlie broke out in a belly laugh, his red face becoming redder.

"Yeah, wonder which," the major said and even broke a smile. The wolf was caged with that gesture.

===

The general paced in front of his desk in the barn hall. His soiled, scuffed boots knocked up barn dust and decayed chicken droppings. J. N., Alex and Lou stood fifteen feet from the desk.

"Boys, I could have you court martialed for putting us through this hoax. Might just do that, too." Then to himself as he quickly went to his chair behind the desk, "Yes, I might just ought to do that very thing."

"Sharpshooter, what do you have to say. By the great Jehovah, man, you're too old to be playing such a dangerous game."

"General, Sir. You don't understand, Sir. I tried, Sir, I truly did. Her grandfather tried. There just was no way she would not come and get in this war. No way, Sir, that I know of short of crippling her. No Sir, no." J. N.'s steam was released and his engine ran down.

"And you, bugler, what about you. This 'sister' got some power over you, too?"

"No Sir. Well. Sir, that is ------ she was going to come, Sir and she is the most determined person in our whole family. Heck, Sir, I haven't ever known anybody as stubborn." Alex paused and looked at the front of the general's desk. Then he said, "She came, Sir, and I came."

Wheeler shot up from his chair, dust rising from the ground. He whirled and walked away from the desk, his back to the convicted. His head was shaking slowly, his hands finding purchase across his low back. He muttered, "Damnation!" He was one part exasperated and one part impressed by this kid and family.

===

It had been decided by noon. Orders had come for the cavalry to move out the next morning to make mischief with the Union's stretched supply line through the Sequatchie Valley, Cumberland Plateau and on to Nashville. General Hood wanted a major disruption of communication and supplies. Sherman had to respond by pulling off troops on the offensive to take Atlanta. Hood needed to diminish as much as possible the great number differences in north Georgia.

The major sat in his shirt at the front of his tent, shell jacket spread to air on a branch of the middle-sized elm. In front of him First Sergeant Maddox and Lt. Muskgrove braced the three condemned.