Well Coz, this AAR is certainly coming along very nicely. It's been a splendid read, and I hope you update again soon. 
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Fantastic work coz1! I wasn't able to read much, if any Vicky AAR's recently so I better get back to reading!
Having finally managed to work my way through this, my friend, I must say that you have been doing a masterful job with this backstory before the main event of the game and the tale you will continue to craft I have no doubt will still have the great detail and characterization that is quickly becoming your hallmark!
Fb-fb:
Suvorov - Glad you like the way I'm setting Tanney up. He was a boy himself, at one point.
Flavius Aetius - Thank you sir
jwolf - You are right on the money - stay tuned.
Supreme Emporer - It is different from a game-play chronicle, that's for sure, but there are a few other narratives going right now, especially Suvorov's and Flavius Aetius's - thanks for reading
Ksim3000 - Yes, the feud will move right on into the war and that will be coming soon
Lord British - Thank you for the compliment and update will follow
Wamo - Warships? Not sure right now, though perhaps - who knows quite yet? Anything could happen.
Semi-Lobster - Yes, you had better get back to reading - they are coming fast and furious lately. Glad you liked it.
Amric - Very much a compliment, coming from you, sir. I have worried that the backstory might take too long to tell, but if you think about it, really the entire AAR is just one long backstory totake you all back to the very first chapter. I had hoped that it might work and so far so good.
I really must say once again to all of you - thank you so very much for following along and bearing with me as I update somewhat sparingly. It takes me some time to do the research and figure out how each scene will be constructed and play into the story as a whole and unfortunately, I am unable to do that on a daily basis, especially with bAARtending duties, the gazette and trying to keep up with all of the wonderful AARs across the forum. I really do appreciate you all reading, enjoying and commenting! Thank you very, very much!
Next update will follow after one pass with the typo gun, and though it is a tad shorter than the last two, I hope to have at least one more up sometime before Sunday. Chapter II will soon be coming to a close and then it's on to Chapter III. I look forward to it, but it also scares me to death because it will be the hardest to write so far. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself...read on for now.
Suvorov - Glad you like the way I'm setting Tanney up. He was a boy himself, at one point.
Flavius Aetius - Thank you sir
jwolf - You are right on the money - stay tuned.
Supreme Emporer - It is different from a game-play chronicle, that's for sure, but there are a few other narratives going right now, especially Suvorov's and Flavius Aetius's - thanks for reading
Ksim3000 - Yes, the feud will move right on into the war and that will be coming soon
Lord British - Thank you for the compliment and update will follow
Wamo - Warships? Not sure right now, though perhaps - who knows quite yet? Anything could happen.
Semi-Lobster - Yes, you had better get back to reading - they are coming fast and furious lately. Glad you liked it.
Amric - Very much a compliment, coming from you, sir. I have worried that the backstory might take too long to tell, but if you think about it, really the entire AAR is just one long backstory totake you all back to the very first chapter. I had hoped that it might work and so far so good.
I really must say once again to all of you - thank you so very much for following along and bearing with me as I update somewhat sparingly. It takes me some time to do the research and figure out how each scene will be constructed and play into the story as a whole and unfortunately, I am unable to do that on a daily basis, especially with bAARtending duties, the gazette and trying to keep up with all of the wonderful AARs across the forum. I really do appreciate you all reading, enjoying and commenting! Thank you very, very much!
Next update will follow after one pass with the typo gun, and though it is a tad shorter than the last two, I hope to have at least one more up sometime before Sunday. Chapter II will soon be coming to a close and then it's on to Chapter III. I look forward to it, but it also scares me to death because it will be the hardest to write so far. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself...read on for now.
Chapter II (cont.)
* * *
Missouri, February 1861
The Gambles and McElderrys had gathered for their usual family gathering on Sunday, and were waiting for Will McElderry to return from town. Mary and Clara were out in the kitchen with Margaret and little Nellie, and the men sat in the parlor discussing recent events. The Reverend McElderry, now eighty-one years of age had taken to a nap.
“It don’t look good, Mac,” Kinchen said as he tried to relight his pipe. “How long do you think it will be ‘fore them other states break away?”
Mac scratched his head and sighed before answering, allowing Dinny Gamble to interrupt.
“I hope not too long, da. How can a President that don’t get one vote in the South claim to lead the South?”
“Now just a minute, son. I didn’t vote for him, but he is the President. We got to keep this Union together for the sake of the future,” Kinchen tried to reason with his son.
“Kinch…I don’t know about all that. You know I voted for Douglas and he took the state, but that’s the only one. Lincoln and his bunch will do everything they can to outlaw slavery down here and I just don’t think that’s right. Your boy has a point,” Mac explained.
“I recognize that, and you know I’m just as much a state’s righter as you are, but not for the sake of ruining this country. This thing can’t end peacefully. Especially now that South Carolina’s gone and seceded.”
Dinny stood and looked at his father, “How can you say that, da? It’s the damn Republicans tryin’ to ruin the country! You talk like South Carolina’s started this.”
“Language son, your ma’s not that far off. And I know you feel passionately about it. Everyone does, but it ain’t cause for fighten’s all. I just hate to see it,” Kinchen tried to explain.
At that moment, Will busted in the front door and into the parlor, out of breath and excited. “Six more states have gone with South Carolina! Just got the news in town.”
Kinchen bowed his head and tried to make sense of it all as Mac went to his son. “Which one’s Will?”
“Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And I hear the Missouri lawmakers are meetin’ in convention right now up to the capital,” he answered.
“That’s it for sure,” Dinny said excitedly. “’Ol Claiborne Jackson is sure to get us on the right side of this!”
“He ain’t called up the militia yet, but I hear tell the federals have already surrounded the arsenal in St. Louis. We got to get together on this before they act,” Will suggested. He went over to the sideboard and poured a drink. “Anybody else need one? I know I do.”
Everyone nodded, except young Sonny of course. He sat and listed as he always did, but his emotions were torn. He understood enough of what the adults were saying but he could not decide which one was right. Kinchen saw him looking somewhat confused and went to him.
“Son, I know some of this may be strange to you. You ain’t had much book learnin’ but we’ve all tried to teach what we knew, especially your dear ma. But lemme see if I can put it this way, for your sake and your brother’s.” Kinchen looked at Dinny as he said this last part. “When I came over to this country, I only had my own ma with me. Me da had died not long after I was born. She took sick on the trip over and when the boat landed in New York, she was dead. I had nothin’ but the bag I came over with and no family to speak of. Now I got that and this country has provided me and everyone else in this room with the means to live our lives far better than anyone of us would have been able to back in the old country.”
Mac nodded at this, even though he had been born and raised in the United States. No one was aware, but the Reverend had opened his eyes and heard Kinchen speak. Rising slowly, he added, “Your da is right boys. I have always had common cause with this great country, as we have both feared the British. The act of forming this country was an historic act and though it was done through an act of secession, it rebelled against tyranny. But that was the British frame of mind, always taking up arms instead of discussing. Here in America, men talk about their problems, rather than fighting against one another with guns and knives, though we’ve seen too much of that lately. But if we act out of hastiness, we are sure to see bloodshed and this is something that I and your father would hate to see.”
Mac went to his father and helped him sit as he could tell he was getting too excited. “Da, you talk sense, but I don’t see how we can avoid it now.”
“There ain’t no way to avoid it, and as soon as they call us to arms, I’m joinin’ up,” Dinny exclaimed.
“Me too, da. I ain’t gonna stand by and see them Northerners come in and take all that we have,” Will added. “We worked too hard for it!”
“But boys, why do you want to fight for an institution that we all know is wrong?” Kinchen asked.
“Da…it ain’t slavery we’re fighten’ for. It’s like you told me when I was young. It ain’t right, but it ain’t their place to tell us that. If we can’t make those decisions on our own, we’re no better off than the colonists what first moved here, takin’ orders from some King. We ought to be able to choose our own future and not have it forced on us like them boys in Washington want to do.” Dinny was proud of his reasoning, and Kinchen could see there was no talking him out of it. He hated to see his wife’s reaction to her son’s decision, but he was also proud of Dinny for taking a stand.
“I can’t stop you from doing what you have to do, son. You are a man now and you got to live your life by your rules. But I fear I’ll lose you. And your ma has already lost two children in childbirth. We felt safe once you became a young man. All we got are you and Sonny here, and it would be too much for us if you were killed in this unfortunate mess.”
“Uncle Kinch, you both done taught us how to shoot…how to ride. We know this territory like the back of our hands. Sides, once them boys up North see how strongly we feel, they’ll back down. They don’t want no war anymore than we do,” Will said trying to assuage his uncle and father’s sure worry.
“I hope you’re right, son…but I just don’t know,” Mac said as he sat in a chair by the front window and looked out at the farm he and his family had built up from scratch. “I fear that if we move to war, this land will be burnt to the ground. Ruination will be upon us. We’ll have to start all over again. And, God forgive me for saying it, without you boys there with us. War changes a man, even if he ain’t kilt.” Looking back at his son, he continued, “You boys’ll never be the same if it comes to that.”
Dinny started to speak up, but he was interrupted by his mother calling out from the dining room announcing that supper was on the table.
“Boy’s, don’t you mention this here talk to them women yet. Mac and me’ll break it gently when the time is right. And I hope maybe you’ll change you’re mind before then,” Kinchen pleaded with Will and Dinny.
Sonny had started into the dining room and heard his brother say as they were following, “I doubt it, da…I doubt it.”
To be continued...
Wämö said:I liked the update, Coz1.
I agree! A great update coz1!
I'm looking forward now that The Civil War is starting, very good Coz1! It'll be good to see how Sonny gets involved in The Civil War and it seems Sonny dosen't really seem bothered to join up for The Civil War. Still I look forward to it, update soon!
The dogs of war about to be unleashed! I'm looking forward to how your characters will handle themselves in the brewing crisis.
Just as in real life it appears the Civil War tore apart families, it looks like it just might do the same to this one. Although they are still acting nicely about it, I have a feeling it won't continue to be that way. Excellent again, coz1! You're going to start making me work harder on my Lenape story! Which I just haven't had a chance to update yet. I really need to start working on that!
coz1 said:
*sniff*
Well no Wild West mentality there I guess. Perhaps the Indians wouldn´t agree :rofl: Great writing coz, now we have a war on our hands
Fb-fb:
Wamo - Thank you for being such a devoted follower of this AAR. It really helps to keep me updating.
Semi-Lobster - And the same goes for you, sir. Don't know where I would be without your undying support.
Flavius Aetius - Figured something out, have you? Or confused? Either way, it will all be made clear fairly soon regarding Tanney and Sonny.
Ksim3000 - Sonny will get into the action sooner or later. Trust me.
Suvorov - You and me both!
Amric - I hope you do with the Lenape tale. Everyone reading this should be reading that as well. Do you hear me folks? And there will be some major problems with the family that will be made apparent fairly soon.
Judge - Well, we are not quite to the Wild West period yet, plus, the Reverend is speaking more along the lines of government and inter-country squabbles. He and his own family remember very well the problems of Ulster and Ireland around the turn of the 19th century.
Well, I told you I would have another update this weekend and I have accomplished it. The customary pass with the typo gun is needed and then it will follow. The last portion of Chapter II may take a bit longer to produce, but hopefully this part will suffice until then. Thank you all for being such faithful readers and commenters. Hope you enjoy.
Wamo - Thank you for being such a devoted follower of this AAR. It really helps to keep me updating.
Semi-Lobster - And the same goes for you, sir. Don't know where I would be without your undying support.
Flavius Aetius - Figured something out, have you? Or confused? Either way, it will all be made clear fairly soon regarding Tanney and Sonny.
Ksim3000 - Sonny will get into the action sooner or later. Trust me.
Suvorov - You and me both!
Amric - I hope you do with the Lenape tale. Everyone reading this should be reading that as well. Do you hear me folks? And there will be some major problems with the family that will be made apparent fairly soon.
Judge - Well, we are not quite to the Wild West period yet, plus, the Reverend is speaking more along the lines of government and inter-country squabbles. He and his own family remember very well the problems of Ulster and Ireland around the turn of the 19th century.
Well, I told you I would have another update this weekend and I have accomplished it. The customary pass with the typo gun is needed and then it will follow. The last portion of Chapter II may take a bit longer to produce, but hopefully this part will suffice until then. Thank you all for being such faithful readers and commenters. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter II (cont.)
* * *
Missouri, August 1861
Sonny Gamble sat at the edge of the lake and wrote in a new journal his mother had recently given him.
August 30, 1861
This is the first page of this log that my dear mother has given to me. I do not know what to write other than what has been happening in my life. I hear there is to be war after all. My father is against it, but my brother has gone to fight so we all are very worried about him.
It has been four months since federal troops fired on the fort in South Carolina and the other southern states have left the Union along with them. Missouri has not. My father told me that federal troops have entered the state in the north and are pushing south towards us. He says they could pass through any day. My uncle says that the Governor of the state has been replaced by federals and that he is now fighting with the state militia. My brother and cousin are both fighting with him. I hope he is going to be safe and not get killed
My grandfather has not been feeling well the last couple of days. He says his head hurts him all the time. This worrys me to. He is my mothers father and it worrys her also. I have been by myself lately. I help my father in the fields, but he is not like himself. He seems like he is somewhere else. Maybe he is thinking about Dinny too.
I just wish this war gets over soon and Dinny and Will can come home…
This is the first page of this log that my dear mother has given to me. I do not know what to write other than what has been happening in my life. I hear there is to be war after all. My father is against it, but my brother has gone to fight so we all are very worried about him.
It has been four months since federal troops fired on the fort in South Carolina and the other southern states have left the Union along with them. Missouri has not. My father told me that federal troops have entered the state in the north and are pushing south towards us. He says they could pass through any day. My uncle says that the Governor of the state has been replaced by federals and that he is now fighting with the state militia. My brother and cousin are both fighting with him. I hope he is going to be safe and not get killed
My grandfather has not been feeling well the last couple of days. He says his head hurts him all the time. This worrys me to. He is my mothers father and it worrys her also. I have been by myself lately. I help my father in the fields, but he is not like himself. He seems like he is somewhere else. Maybe he is thinking about Dinny too.
I just wish this war gets over soon and Dinny and Will can come home…
Before Sonny could finish the last sentence, he was startled by the sound of a horse coming closer. He looked around and finally saw a rider approaching him from the north. Scared at first, he quickly realized that the rider was his best friend Thomas Bowers. Standing to greet him, he soon noticed that Thomas did not appear to be coming for play.
Thomas Bowers stopped and jumped down from his horse. “Hey ya Sonny. Thought I’d come by and say goodbye before I left.”
Sonny looked at Thomas’ horse and realized that he had strapped bedding and other travel supplies to his saddle. “Where ya off to?” Sonny asked him.
“Well…um...” Thomas started to answer but seemed reticent to come to the point. “I…uh…well Sonny…I’m gonna join up.”
“Join up? What you mean? We ain’t old enough to fight.” Sonny said, still confused.
“Well, I ain’t gonna fight, I don’t figure…but maybe they’ll let me be a runner or some such…maybe an aide to an officer.”
“Why you wanna do something like that? You could get killed Thomas…don’t you know that? My da says men are already dyin’. Shoot, the Confederates already lost a ton a men over to Virginia and Union troops have already started taking ground in Manassas.”
“I know Sonny. And I want to help them?”
“Ain’t much you can do to help them. They’re on the run, dummy. Sides, you may be a decent shot, but you’ll go runnin’ scared when them bullets come flyin’ at you.”
“You don’t understand Sonny. Ain’t the Confederates I’m helpin’. I’m headin’ up to St. Louis to join up with Colonel Blair and the feds.”
Sonny was shocked. How could this be? His very best friend was going to join the Union Army and fight against his own brother. “How could you?” he asked in disbelief.
“Ain’t personal, Sonny. I just gotta do it. You know we talked about the slaves before and I think we can do something good if we can get ‘em their freedom.”
“But that ain’t it, Thomas…how could you fight against us?”
“Us? You decided you’re rebel?” Thomas asked flatly.
“Rebel? The Confederates didn’t start the damned thing. The President…our President called up troops to invade our lands. And you’re gonna help ‘em!” Sonny said as he was quickly becoming incensed at Thomas.
“Look…don’t wanna fight with ya, Sonny. Just wanted to say I’m leavin’ and fare thee well. Don’t know if I’ll get to see you again and I wanted you to know there ain’t no hard feelin’s. I didn’t realize you had decided to go with the rebels, but seein’ as how your brother an cousin are fightin’ with ‘em, I guess it makes sense.”
Sonny just stood there, not knowing what else to say. His first instinct was to hit Thomas, but he knew that was not the answer. He wanted to keep questioning his friend and convince him not to go. But he realized that this too would be a fruitless endeavor. He looked up at the sky and remembered many days by this lake with Thomas, sunny and peaceful just like this one, and he feared they would never have another day like that again.
“Sonny…I got to go. It’s a long ride up to St. Louis. I’m sorry…you know you’re my best friend…but it’s what I gotta do.”
Sonny extended his hand and Thomas took it. They started to shake but quickly Thomas pulled him forward and gave him a hug. Sonny could feel the fear in Thomas and realized that Thomas knew he might not live through the war if he joined up. Thomas adjusted his coat and got back onto his horse. With a smile, he turned it around and took off at a gallop.
Sonny looked after his friend and though he was angry with him, also felt a feeling of pride that he would be willing to make such a sacrifice. Just like his brother and Will. He still did not know which side was right in this conflict, but he saw bravery and admired it.
He picked up the journal from the ground and started walking back towards the farm, thinking all the way. He made it down past the barn and was about to head up the road towards his house when he heard another horse. Thinking maybe it was Thomas again, he quickly reeled around. Instead of his friend, he saw his cousin Will riding up with his arm in a sling.
Running quickly to meet him, he hollered out, “Will! Boy, are you a good sight. What are you doin’ back here?”
Will slowly came to a halt and got down off his horse, tying the reins to a post. “Long story, and I’ll tell you all about it when we get up to the house. But the General gave me some leave on account of a shot-up arm.”
Sonny became worried. “What about Dinny?”
“Aah, he's alright. Come on, let’s go back to the house and I’ll tell you what’s happenin’.”
They walked up the road and entered into the Gamble house. Everyone was surprised and overjoyed at seeing Will, gathering around and hugging him endlessly. Sonny was told to run and get his Uncle Mac and Aunt Clara. He did so and soon the family was sitting around the parlor as Will told them all what had transpired with the war in Missouri since he and Dinny had left.
“It’s been pretty hairy, that’s for sure. Me and Dinny got signed up and stationed with General Price, one of the Governor’s men. We were a pretty small force by ourselves, but soon an Arkansas brigade and some boys up from Louisiana joined us. Them boys are tough, let me tell ya. The Federals have crossed over the Missouri and took Jefferson City ‘bout a month ago.”
“Yes, we heard that news,” Kinchen said with a grim face. “What of Dinny?”
“He’s a right hero, Uncle Kinch. We already seen some pretty tough action. Not much after we were drilled and trained, which weren’t but about two weeks, we were sent to try and hold Springfield. Ended up meeting some of them Yankee boys up by Wilson’s Creek. This was about three weeks ago. We was camped close by and were told that federals were approaching and to form a line. Me and Dinny were part of the center line and as we marched forward, we were met in a cornfield with them not fifteen yards away from us.”
Will’s mother pulled out her handkerchief to blot her eyes as she began to cry and Mac tried to comfort her as Will continued,
“When we first come upon ‘em, they hollered out and asked if we was volunteers and we yelled out that we sure were. They seemed to scoff at that and that only made us more determined. Them boys had rifle-muskets and most of us only had them old smoothbores, but we gave ‘em a pretty darn good fight. See, we was hidden in some old brushwood and the federals couldn’t see us rightly and they was out in the open, so we had a pretty good advantage over ‘em. But that didn’t last long since the smoke from the guns killed any chance we had of seeing who we were shootin’ at. They tried to move off our flank, but we countered ‘em pretty good and we just kept going back and forth with fire. We got ‘em pretty licked, cause when the smoke started clearing, we saw more of ‘em on the ground than was standing. And we had them ‘ol buck and ball shots so it whipped ‘em up pretty good. We was so confident at our stand, we yelled out ‘How about volunteers now!’ and that just made 'em even more mad. They started yellin’ for us to come out in the open and one of our officers yelled out to charge, so we went out runnin’ with someone hollerin’ ‘Give ‘em steel boys!’ We charged right at ‘em with bayonets and their line was broke. We got into the thick of it pretty good and Dinny just kept takin’ one after the other like he was blessed or something. Nobody could touch him. It was a sight, lemme tell ya.”
Now it was Mary’s turn to cry, but Sonny was fascinated. He had never heard a story about real battle and it sounded exciting to him. He imagined what Dinny must have looked like in the middle of the charge and fighting like he couldn’t lose. He asked Will, “So where is he now?”
“Well, after the battle, them federals pulled back and General Price says we got pretty good control of the southeast at least, so we are all pretty safe right now. After we all got back into camp, Price went through the volunteers and asked if any of ‘em wanted to transfer into the Army of Tennessee under General Jackson since they was meetin’ with pretty stiff resistance from the Kentucky border and they was afraid that if the federals took Tennessee, we wouldn’t be able to hold out here. Dinny was one of the first to jump at the chance. I might have too, but I got hit pretty bad in the arm after we came out rushin’ and they wouldn’t take me.”
“Does it hurt, son,” Mac asked.
“Naw, not too much. Sides, they give me a couple of weeks leave and it let me come see you folks. Sure glad too ‘cause I missed you all somethin’ awful.”
“Well, we’re glad to have you home for a little while at least,” Mary said as she rose and started out towards the kitchen. “Now let’s get you something to eat. Clara, this boy needs some nourishment.”
Clara stood and went to Will. She hugged him hard and he winced when she pressed against his arm, but it felt good to have his mother’s arms around him. Clara kissed him on the check and then followed after Mary as she started to cry again.
After they had left the room, Will looked up at his father and Uncle Kinchen with a more worried look on his face. “Heard somethin’ else too, da. And it ain’t good.”
“What is it, son?”
“Well, some of the boys said they heard that Old Man Tanney had passed. That true?”
“We have not heard that news, Will, but we haven’t gone up to town much lately since we didn’t know if the federals had taken it or not. How long ago?” Kinchen asked.
“’Bout a month ago maybe…and the boys also said that they heard ‘ol Bill was working with a band of irregulars. Don’t know where, but you better watch yourself ‘cause they might be workin’ this area. Them irregulars ain’t regular army and they don’t follow rules like ‘em either. I can help ya while I’m still here, but I gotta get back to the regiment in two weeks. Just keep an eye out.”
“We will, son. Don’t you worry about us. You just try and keep safe, you hear?” Mac reassured him.
Kinchen followed, “Your da is right, Will. We’ll be just fine.”
After some time and more conversation, the women returned and said that food was on the table. The family ate together and talked of earlier times when life was not so complicated. It felt strange that Dinny was not there with them, but they were glad to have Will back, at least for a short while.
To be continued...
Another interesting update, and things continue to become more and more clear too see
Once again, another good chapter Coz1! Also, which side of The Civil War of you playing? The Confederate or Union? Also I hope Dinny will be okay in Tennese and it's a shame Old Man Tanney has passed away. Now there is no one to keep Bill in check. Also it is interesting that Sonny's friend, Thomas Bowers has gone to join The Union. I wonder if him and Sonny will meet up again? Anyway uodate soon!
God I have missed an update here despite subscribing on this great tale. It is unforgivable of course. Great writing, I liked the interaction between Sonny and Thomas very much. Poor women, they just have to sit and wait at home. I have a feeling that next update will bring bad news
Another fantastic update as usual coz1! It always amazes me on how well you do accents, I'm awful with them but with you, Sonny and Thomas are all the more real!
I had written a response to this already, and somehow it seems to have disappeared...Anyway, another excellent update! Now the women will be waiting and worrying at home....unless you do something truly bizarre and have one of them enlist, pretending to be a man....which some women actually did in RL during the Civil War....