Boys of Wartime: Will at the Battle of Gettysburg by Laurie Calkhoven Page A

here to whip all the Rebs in the South,” Albertus McCreary yelled.
    My stomach was beginning to fill with dread, but I pretended to share his excitement. “I bet the war ends today,” I said. “And we’ll win it!”
    I saw a column of Confederates being marched through town under a Union guard. Prisoners! I thought the Union must be winning. Abel’s face flashed across my mind for a moment, and then I shook him off. The Union and Abel couldn’t both win this battle, and I was for the Union. Abel would have to lose with the rest of the Rebels.
    I cheered and cheered until my voice was hoarse and my throat sore. I realized I had better head on home and make sure Mother was all right.
    Grace and I reached the kitchen door at the same time. She carried an empty basket.
    â€œI hope you gave those soldiers nourishment instead of nosegays,” I told her.
    She grabbed my ear and dragged me into the kitchen. “You’ve had Mother worried sick,” she said.
    I shrugged her off. What did she know? “I was helping a general,” I told her. “A Union general,” I said again, waiting for a reaction.
    She ignored me. Only set down her basket and walked into the parlor.
    I followed her.
    Mother was talking with Mrs. Shriver and Tillie Pierce. The noise from exploding shells had grown considerably now that the infantry was in the fight. The twins jumped with each boom. China clattered in the cabinet. Jacob’s picture fell from the wall, and the glass in the frame shattered.
    Mother went white. The twins clung to her and started to cry. Grace’s lips trembled.
    â€œDon’t you see?” Mrs. Shriver said, wringing her hands. “If we don’t leave here, we’ll all be killed.”

CHAPTER TEN
    A Family Separated
    Wednesday afternoon, July 1, 1863
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    M other picked up the frame and slipped it into her apron. “I don’t believe the Union will let them take the town,” she said.
    â€œThe children, then,” Mrs. Shriver said. “Let me take them with me.”
    â€œTake them where?” Grace asked.
    â€œMrs. Shriver is taking her children to her parents’ farm until the battle is over,” Mother said calmly. “Tillie is going with them.”
    I knew the Weikert farm. It was about three miles away, out by the hills called the Round Tops. We picnicked there sometimes in the summer, and cooled ourselves in Rock Creek nearby. It was far from the fighting.
    Was Mother going to send us away? Already Father and Jacob were far from home; would Mother further divide us? Stay here by herself with a battle waging outside? I couldn’t let her.
    â€œI’m not going,” I said. “I’ll stay with you. Send the girls away.”
    Mother eyed me steadily for a moment, and then turned to Grace. “I want you to take the twins and go with Mrs. Shriver,” Mother said. “You’ll be safer there.”
    Grace started to object, but Mother shushed her. “It will give me peace of mind to know that you’re away from all this.”
    I steeled myself for a battle of my own.
    Mother surprised me. “Will can stay here with me. I’d appreciate the company.”
    I pushed my shoulders back and stood tall, proud to be singled out to stay. I told myself that Grace had to leave town just when things were getting exciting. That I wanted to be in the middle of all the action.
    After a short whispered exchange with Tillie, Grace ran upstairs. She clattered back down with her best dress in her arms.
    â€œWhat in the world?” I blurted. Where did she think she was going, to a church social?
    Grace ignored me. She went out front and opened the cellar doors. A minute later, she came back empty-handed. “I’ll not have my best things ruined,” she said.
    â€œI’ll see you for supper tonight, or in time for breakfast tomorrow. This battle will be over before we know it,”