Chapter Two
"Papa! Papa! Papa?" asked Jeb excitedly as he ran into the kitchen waiving a newspaper in the air as he nearly tripped over the rug at the front of the door.
"What is it Jeb?" returned his father with a small face of interest in his son's question.
"There was a massive battle just south of here, at a Tennessee town called, umm... O-N-E-I-D-A."
"Let me see the paper," Mr. Smith said taking the paper from his son who handed it too him. William Smith turned to the pages containing the information of the battle, quickly scanning it; it read: 'Confederate's Draw First Blood.' As there wasn't much on the battle in particular other than Brigadier General Nathaniel Prentice Banks was unable to defeart his counter part, Braxton Bragg in the heat of the conflict, the paper depicted the battle as the first 'tragedy of our times' with Americans fighting Americans. "Just to be the way of the American dream," said Mr. Smith, "a man from New England is the commanding officer of the Union Armies in Tennessee. There is just simply something wrong with that."
Tom got up from his resting place on his bed, "Pa?" he questioned, "When will you allow me to rejoin my regiment?"
"I talked to Captain Hilton, he said you can rejoin when they move out from here. Three or four days, they should send a courier according to the good man, I'll take his word on it."
Jeb jumped up to see if there were any depictions of the battle, he saw nothing and quickly calmed himself down.
"Well Jeb," started his father, "it looks like the old man of America will take to the fields, Winfield Scott."
The old General of the Army, Winfield Scott. Now replaced by President Lincoln for not moving against the Confederate Armies in Virginia.
Two days passed as the Carlisle Family was spending the afternoon over for dinner and Thomas Carlisle and William Smith were engaging in a long and large conversation as dinner was being served.
"All I have to say is the old man was incapable of leading the American armies into Virginia," said Mr. Carlisle to Mr. Smith.
Will replied, "But who shall they replace them with? No other American soldier has any experience in commanding an army. You saw and heard about it first hand with the battle at Oneida. Nathaniel Banks, the New Englander and Don Buell of Ohio got their a** handed to them by Albert Sydney Johnston of the Confederacy. He's old but experienced."
"I don't believe everything I hear in the media."
"And if you were President Lincoln who would you send to take command of the Army?"
"I don't know to be honest. I really don't know many generals, however he does so this man named George Brinton McClellan must be a talented commander."
Mr. Smith answered Mr. Carlisle, "And yet he still sits in front of Washington and doesn't move on the smaller Confederate Army in northern Virginia."
"You shouldn't rush inexperienced men into battle, you of all people should know this since your family has been involved in every war this nation of ours has ever had: The Revolution, 1812, and Mexican-American War. Discipline and experience is more important and defeats overwhelming numbers."
"And you now just solidify my point Tom," said Mr. Smith to his friend. "The rebs are just as inexperienced as the men under McClellan. Now his overwhelming odds should be enough to win the day. Christ! The Confederates have moved their capital and the government to Richmond! This war could be over in a matter of weeks if he'd move out and whip on the main Confederate Army standing in the way to Richmond."
"But what of Johnston's Army of Tennessee. They still have a large number of men and just defeated Banks a week ago."
"They're so far away from Richmond they matter not. Anyways, Banks is rallying his armies and will return into Tennessee with a much larger and more experienced amry than before. Johnston won't stand a chance in a second battle against the Union forces."
"I hope you're right," said Tom Carlisle as he bit into his biscutt, "I hope you're right."
The new commander of the Union Army of Maryland, the newly promoted Major General George McClellan.
The dinner was interrupted when Tom Smith exited his seat, dressed in his full military attache with papers from his company commander telling him that the regiment leaves in the morning, the healed up Tom kissed his tearful mother good-bye with a handshake and hug from not only his father but his younger siblings as well, Jeb being the most emotional.
"When will you be back Tom?" asked Jeb.
"I don't know Jeb," answered Tom.
"Get me a reb will ya?"
"I shall Jeb, the first one will be for you," smiled Tom. He walked to the edge of the kitchen and paused. A tear fell from his eye as he turned about to look at his family and the Carlisle's who were also tearing up. He took a deep breathe and stood straight up and saluted his family and was quick to turn about and march out of his home into the countryside. From their kitchen window all could see a proud but sad Union soldier march off into war, a war pitting father against son, and brother against brother.
Mrs. Smith left the kitchen with Abigal and Mrs. Carlisle to comfort her as she cried away as her son left.
Mr. Carlisle looked back at Mr. Smith with some of the kids still at the table. "Well Mr. Evan Harris is starting up a stir in town hall."
"Is he really?"
"He's calling for a Confederate uprising in this town of ours. Says that they fight for liberty and equality and if the Union wins our lives and lifestyle will be endangered."
"Mr. Harris is messed up in the head. He's nothing but a drunken English fool who knows nothing of America as us Americans do."
"He is infact Irish I believe," corrected Mr. Carlisle.
"Irish or not, that European has no business messing with American business. Regardless of him being in Tennessee and therefor being an American himself, he knows nothing of this country other than the typical thought by all men. That being the 'American Dream.' "
Both fathers became relaxed as Mr. Smith looked out the window to see if he could have one more glimpse at his son, nothing. He stood up, "If you excuse me Tom I would like to comfort my wife at this moment."