“What will you do?”
“Good with numbers. I’ll become an accountant.”
“Tell ’em about the letters,” Theo teased.
Cpl. Wilbur appeared embarrassed. “My wife sends me at least two letters a week…full of stories from home and lovey stuff.” He thought for a while, sighed then said, “Can’t wait to get home to her and the kids.”
Lt. Scharf said, “Our horse seems to be moving at a steady trot.”
“This could be the last trip for Beau,” Cpl. Theo said.
“Why?” Lt. Scharf asked.
“He’s old and seemed reluctant to get in position for hitching to the wagon. Normally he can’t wait to get hitched and begin pulling. Some horses live to be ridden but this guy, until this morning, lived to pull.”
The road they traveled, climbed slightly for a couple miles then followed between a series of multiple mile long ridges, each of which attained a height of a couple-hundred-feet above them.
“We’ll proceed between ridges for a number of hours,” the private said. “Another hour and we should stop to let Beau rest.”
They stopped in a small glen between the ridges.
“This is beautiful country,” Abbey said while gazing at the lush hillsides. She alternated raising each arm above her head, while twisting and stretching. “So green. I’m from the Northwest and we have green like this all year long.”
Pvt. Theo shook his head while Beau slurped water from the bucket he held. “Can’t imagine a place where the trees are green all year long.”
For the next few miles the only sounds emanated from the jingle of the horses harness and the rhythmic sound of the horse’s hooves plus an occasional bird call.
They crossed a low ridge and entered another narrow valley with steep sides covered in a lush growth of bushes and trees. A small stream paralleled the road. Another two-hours passed.
Their horse slowed. Despite Private Theo’s urging, the horse continued to slow then stopped. “We should give him a chance to rest.”
Abbey got off the buckboard and stretched as did Lt. Scharf. Abbey watched as dark clouds approached.
“Looks like rain coming,” she said.
The horse slowly kneeled, then rolled on his side.
The doctor asked, “What’s going on?”
“He’s old and he’s dying,” Pvt. Theo said.
“If he’s going to die, why not put him out of his misery with a bullet?”
Cpl. Wilber said, “Because we don’t want to attract unwanted attention.”
Abbey slowly gazed at the seemingly empty hillsides.
“Whose attention?”
The corporal said, “Don’t look now, but for the last hour, at least four Confederate soldiers have been just below the lip of the ridge yonder, paralleling our progress and gradually coming down the ridge. We need to get into the greenery on the opposite hillside.”
“Were you ever in combat?” Lt. Scharf asked Pvt. Theo.
“No Sir, but I’m a hunter.”
“Everyone grab your rifles and ammunition,” the lieutenant said.
Cpl. Wilber said, “Once we’re in them woods on our left, we’ll split up. I turn left and you right. I’ll attract their attention then catch up with you. Once together, we Alabama High Shuffle back to our lines.”
Abbey asked, “Alabama High what?”
“We’ll be moving fast and quiet; fast like with our knees nearly hitting our chest and quiet like we’re careful where we step to minimize noise.”
Abbey’s pulse rate increased as she looped the ammo boxes’ straps over her shoulder. “Please Lord. No combat today,” she implored.
“Abbey,” Lt. Scharf said, “your surgical pack.”
“Too heavy to hike anywhere. I’ll hide it when we leave the trail and come back for it another day.”
They walked directly into the woods on the hillside and into tall brush.
“I’m turning left to drop back and setup an ambush,” Pvt. Wilber said. “You three head right and we’ll meet up later.”
Once in the trees, they began moving parallel to the road and angled their progress slightly up the ridge. They moved for an hour then rested under the cover of a grove of four-and five-foot-tall bushes. Shooting broke out behind them.
“Should we go back to help?” Abbey asked.
“The lieutenant shook his head. If he’s okay he’ll join us but if not, going back will endanger us. We need to keep moving.”
After another hour of hiking through the woods, Pvt. Theo said, “I’m going to climb a tree and see if they’re still following.” He slowly climbed an oak.
Abbey examined the steel-grey sky and shivered, “The wind is picking up and the temperature is dropping.”
Pvt. Theo dropped out of the tree. “They’re still coming but not gaining on us.”
“How many?” Abbey asked.
“Six—possibly eight.”
“Let’s move,” Lt. Scharf said.
They hiked for an hour then dropped into cover as they heard running footsteps approaching.
“Over here,” Lt. Scharf called to Cpl. Wilbur.
The corporal said, “There’s at least six soldiers following us. Maybe more.”
They’d walked a number of hours when Abbey felt a single cold rain drop slide down her neck. The wind picked up. She shivered. They heard more rain hitting the leaf-lined canopy above them. Large drops began falling off the trees. Each hit them with an audible sound. A bright flash and thunder exploded causing her to jump. The intensity of the rain increased. She felt the rain slowly soaking through her shirt and britches. The sun going down didn’t help as the temperature dropped considerably.
“We should make camp for the night,” Lt. Scharf said over the sound of the rain and thunder.
“Won’t they continue following us?” Abbey asked.
“Unlikely in this weather,” he said.
They gathered pine branches and sat on them. “We need to establish watch,” Lt. Scharf said.
“Hour on, three-hours off?” Pvt. Theo said.
“Sounds right,” Cpl. Wilbur said.
Lt. Scharf and Abbey nodded.
“The off watch should spoon to conserve body heat.”
The three men turned to Abbey who was shivering, her arms wrapped around her upper torso. “Fine with me,” she said. “I’m freezing.”
“I’ll take first watch,” Theo volunteered.
They were so chilled the following morning they shivered uncontrollably and their skin was blue.
“Let’s get moving,” Abbey said through chattering teeth.
“Maybe we’ll warm up.”
“At least it’s not raining,” Pvt. Theo said.
“We need to conserve our ammo as we’re out numbered,” Lt. Scharf said. “If you have to shoot, make sure they’re close enough to hit what you’re aiming at.”
After four-hours in hot, muggy air under a sunny sky, they stopped to rest in an area where they could conceal themselves in a large stand of shrubs.
“I think the squad is gaining on us,” Abbey said. She raised up to get a better look.
Pvt. Theo yanked her down. “Keep your head down. Lots of soldiers get their brains blown out trying to see what’s going on.” He shook his head. “Keep quiet and we’ll see them coming when they’re close enough.”
Lt. Scharf peered through binoculars, pointed then handed them to Cpl. Wilbur.
The Confederate soldiers, in a straight line, followed their tracks in the damp earth. The lead soldier kneeled and studied the foursome’s boot-prints. He showed four fingers to his trailing compatriots, slowly stood and continued following their footsteps.
Cpl. Wilbur whispered, “When they get to the bush with red and gold leaves, open fire. Spread out.”
They positioned themselves on a line perpendicular to the trail and five-yards-apart. They aimed back the way they came. They opened up on the Confederate patrol. The first two were hit but the rest dove into the
brush and crawled rapidly away.
“Let’s move,” Cpl. Wilbur said.
They hiked in and out of the canopy of tall trees. While the trees provided occasional shade from the blazing sun, the humidity caused profuse sweating.
Abbey’s body was wet and uncomfortable as if she’d been dunked in a river of warm water. Her clothing stuck to her body.
Cpl. Wilbur kept watch to the rear.
Five gray coated soldiers suddenly jumped up in front of them, rifles shouldered and pointing at them.
“Shit,” Cpl. Wilbur muttered. “They got around us.”
“Drop your guns,” one of the gray-coated soldiers said.
“Damn, this is the one,” another said while Abbey and the others slowly began lowering their rifles to the ground.
“She looks just like this picture.”
“You Dr. Kaplan?”
“Yes.”
“She’s the one we want.”
“What?”
“You the surgeon who’s fixin’ gut-wounds?”
“Not all.”
“You’re gonna come with us. Put your rifle down. Slowly.” Just before Abbey’s rifle was at ground level, she fired at one soldier, hitting him in the abdomen, she dove to the ground then rolled over as bullets narrowly missed her. The doctor racked the lever on her rifle then shot a second soldier in the belly.
The soldier’s eyes went wide as he put both hands over the bloody wound. “Damn. Never thought…” he stared at Abbey in disbelief, “you killed me.”
The third and fourth soldiers, having fired their muskets, attacked Wilbur and Theo who engaged them in hand-to-hand fighting.
The fifth soldier tried to bayonet Lt. Scharf. He twisted to the side but the blade pierced the side of his shirt slicing across the side of his abdomen. He used the butt end of his Spencer to slam the soldier in the face, fracturing the soldier’s eye socket. Yelling in pain, the soldier again tried to use his bayonet but the lieutenant managed to chamber a round and fired into the man’s chest.
Cpl. Wilbur retrieved a small knife from his pocket and used it to cut the throat of the man he had engaged and then did the same to the man wrestling with Cpl. Theo.
“We need to get moving,” Cpl. Wilbur said. “I’ll lead.”
Pvt. Theo said, “I’ll take the tail and watch behind. Any one hurt?”
Lt. Scharf yelled, “Me. But not bad.” He enlarged the opening in the side of his shirt and saw a four-inch-long cut about three inches above his pelvis. “Need to wrap this.”
Abbey quickly bandaged the area. “How the hell did they get this drawing of me?”
“This was a setup. They knew we were coming.”
They began hiking again but with a bit more purpose in their steps. Lt. Scharf said to Theo, “From now on, while we hike, point your rifle in the direction you’re looking so you can take a quick shot from your hip.” Theo nodded
Abbey, her hands shaking, took another glance at the drawing then folded and pocketed it. She put her canteen up to her lips and downed the balance of its contents.
Hiking up a long ridge, Abbey remembered Andre the trapper, teaching her to shoot rifles and pistols from the hip and other odd positions. “Thank heavens we played what seemed like games back then,” she thought.
The foursome hiked for an hour then found it necessary to cross a wide dust covered road. Theo shinnied up a tree to see if they were being followed.
“At least one still trailing us,” he reported.
Cpl. Wilbur said, “We’ll run across the road one-at-a-time and get in the bushes on the other side. I’ll go last and provide covering fire if needed.”
Abbey ran across the road and into the cover followed by Lt. Scharf. He motioned to Pvt. Theo to head across.
The private made it to the middle of the road then yelled as he collapsed midway. His legs appeared to have quit working. He used his forearms to pull himself along, grunting with each pull and choked on the dust his arms stirred up. More rounds kicked up dirt as they hit around him. Lt. Scharf and Cpl. Wilbur fired at their pursuers.
Abbey broke cover and ran to Pvt. Theo.
“Go back,” he pleaded. More bullets were throwing dust into the air as they struck the ground around them. Lt. Scharf’s rapid return fire filled the air. Abbey felt something like razor burn on her upper arm. She ignored the pain, grasped the private’s hands and pulled him into concealment. A three-inch cut had opened her skin. She pushed a bandage against it. Abbey took another bandage and wrapped the wound.
Lt. Scharf joined them and stared at the bandage “Abbey?”
“A scratch.”
“Pvt. Theo…”
“Sorry Sir. Something hit my lower back. Can’t move my legs.”
They examined him and found a small injury on his spine.
“We’ll have to take turns carrying him,” Lt. Scharf said.
Abbey nodded and packed Pvt. Theo’s wound.
Cpl. Wilbur came crashing into their position. “We took out most of them. The others are heading away from us for now. It’s going to be dark soon. We need to find a place with decent cover. I’ll scout around.” He stood, took one step and a rifle round slammed into his chest. He looked at the others with shock written on his face then collapsed. Abbey checked for a pulse but found none.
Abbey and Lt. Scharf took turns carrying Pvt. Theo on their backs.
They traded their human cargo for an exhausting two- hours then stopped at the base of a large, steep hill.
“We get two-hundred-yards up the hill,” Pvt. Theo said, “and we’re across Union lines.”
Abbey peered up the considerable incline.
“Nervous sentries will shoot at anything that moves,”
Theo told them. “We got to be careful and quiet.”
Lt. Scharf said to Abbey, “If you can get him up the hill, I’ll stay behind and ambush anybody trailing. For God’s sake keep low. They’re gunning to capture you.”
She nodded then dragged Pvt. Theo slightly up the incline. Dropping on her side, she moved an arm’s length up the hill, reached for Pvt. Theo’s hands and pulled him towards her. She repeated the process until her arms and back ached. Abbey felt pain in the tendons on the inside of her elbows. She pulled his arm over her shoulder then used her other arm and legs to push up the hill. He moaned with each movement. An hour of dragging the wounded man and Abbey panted heavily, her body drenched in sweat. She glanced back down the hill and realized they hadn’t moved far.
“I’ve got to rest a minute,” she said.
Theo’s face showed substantial pain while he nodded.
They heard gunshots further down the hill. “Never mind,” she said and began dragging him again.
Abbey’s legs were aching; particularly her right calf. She stopped for a moment and glanced back down the hill. No sign of Lt. Scharf. In the dim light, she saw steam coming off her sweat soaked clothing then returned to hauling Theo’s crippled body up the considerable incline. She quietly grunted with each exertion. They were ten-yards from the top when a bullet struck next to her. Abbey flattened herself and Pvt. Theo.
“Union Soldiers,” she yelled. She wasn’t heard as gunfire from the top of the hill erupted.
Burying her face in the dirt, she thought, “Will I die on this damned hilltop shot by our own soldiers and thrown into a grave that my family will never find?”
“We’re Union soldiers,” she yelled again.
A voice yelled. “What unit?”
“222nd Massachusetts. I’m Doctor Kaplan and I’ve got Pvt. Theo with me. He’s wounded.”
A head partially exposed itself and carefully peered down the hill.
The head exposed itself further and an agitated voice shouted, “Doc? What the fuck you doing out there?”
She recognized Cpl. Silver’s voice then shouted. “I need help down here, damn it.”
The doctor checked Pvt. Theo. He was still face down in the dirt.
“Oh no. Please Lord, no.”
The doctor lifted Theo’s head and saw a bullet hole in the left side of his forehead. Abbey rolled on her back and gazed at the sky. “Why?” She shook her head. “After all the shit we survived to get back to our lines. Why now?”
Three Union soldiers came down the hill.
“Let me help you, doc,” Cpl. Silver said. “There’s Confederates down there. He put an arm around her and assisted her in climbing up the hill.
“Lt. Scharf is still down there. Don’t shoot him please.”
“Thought you said you had a wounded man with you,” one of the other soldiers said. “This one’s dead.”
“He was alive until one of you shot him.”
Cpl. Silver said, “You shouldn’t a been out there.”
“But we were and…” Abbey took a deep breath, “Shit. Never mind.”
“I see Lt. Scharf,” Cpl. Silver said.
“For God’s sake, don’t shoot him,” Abbey said.
The lieutenant approached her but stopped to stare at Theo’s body.
In a voice filled with disgust, she said, “Shot by our own troops.”
She turned and took a few pain-filled steps. “Damn.” She waved Lt. Scharf over. “I’ve pulled my calf muscle. I can hardly walk.” Lt. Scharf put an arm around her and she put her arm around his neck.
Cpl. Silver moved to her other side. They walked to the officer’s area.
“We were surprised and overrun,” Cpl. Silver said. “Lots of hand-to-hand fighting. Cpl. Lawrence hasn’t been seen since.”
Abbey asked, “Tell me. How did the enemy surprise our troops?”
Silver said, “They took out our pickets an hour before dawn, seemed to know right where they were, and moved two companies close before first light. They poured cannon fire on top of us initially. As their infantry attacked, the cannon fire was directed beyond our initial position thereby killing many who tried to escape by scattering into the fields around our camp.”
“Glad we missed that,” Lt. Scharf said.
The two men assisted Abbey to her tent. She stood leaning on her desk. “Thank you, Cpl. Silver. You can go now.” He did and she turned to Lt. Scharf. “Please secure the tent flap then help me out of these clothes. My entire body aches and it’s difficult to stand on my right leg…pulled my calf muscle. I’ll need your help to get cleaned up and dressed.”
The Surgeon: A Civil War Story Page 18
