Drummer Boy at Bull Run Read Online Free Page A

recruit, Daniel,” the big man responded. He shook his head. “Never seen nothing like it! Everybody’s here, and it looks like every young feller in the county is bound to get into this here war!”
    Mr. Carter got down slowly and gazed at the milling crowd in the square. “Are they recruiting for the Union—or for the South?”
    Potter gave him a sharp glance. Tempers were short, for Kentucky had not come out for either side. “Well, Kentucky is a border state, you know”—one of the states that lay between the North and the South.
    “I guess there’s more Union sentiment here, Clyde.”
    “Well, reckon that’s right,” the blacksmith admitted. “I’m Union myself, and I reckoned you was too.” He waved his brawny arm toward the west. “There was a feller from Virginia over toRipley three days ago. Lots of Southern sympathizers in that part of the state. I guess the Rebs did their recruiting there. Feller who’s come to raise a company for the Union is Silas Bates. He’s from Kentucky but he’s raising a company called the Washington Blues.”
    Mr. Carter understood at once. “Both the North and the South want Kentucky to come with them. But until this state comes out openly, both sides will be recruiting our men to fight.”
    “Pa, let’s go watch!” Leah begged.
    “Guess we will, Pet.” He asked the blacksmith to replace a shoe on one of the horses, then the two moved toward the square.
    It was so crowded that they could not get close to the platform where the mayor and several other town leaders were sitting. Finally they found a place to one side where they could see, and as soon as they were settled, a band began to play.
    For the next hour the square was filled with music and then a speech by the mayor. None of it interested Leah much, but when Mayor Buckley introduced a tall man dressed in an immaculate uniform, she grew more attentive.
    “… and now, I introduce to you Major Silas Bates!”
    Major Bates—wearing a saber with a glittering hilt—was greeted with wild applause. He held up his hand for silence, then began to speak in a powerful voice. “I come to give a call to action! The rebellion has begun, and all good men of the North must answer that call …”
    He spoke with enthusiasm, and when he was finished, he cried out, “Which of you young menwill join in our noble cause? Do you have a soul to free the slaves from their shackles of bondage?”
    Loud cries arose, and Major Bates looked at the crowd with satisfaction.
    “My sergeant is here to enlist you. Your tour of duty will be for ninety days—and by that time we’ll have crushed the Rebels into the dust!”
    Leah watched as a line formed instantly, and she said, “Look, Pa! It’s Royal!”
    Mr. Carter had seen his son earlier and had known this would happen. He said nothing.
    Royal finally turned from the recruiting table, his face flushed with excitement. When he saw his father and sister, he came to them at once. “I wanted to talk to you before I joined, Pa,” he faltered. “But you knew this was coming, I think.”
    “Yes, Royal. Now you must be the best soldier you can. It won’t be easy in the army, but you’ll have Jesus with you.”
    Royal was obviously relieved. “I’m glad you understand, Pa,” he said. “Now, sister, let’s go get some of those refreshments Major Bates has furnished!”
    All over the land the scene that had occurred at Pineville was duplicated. Young men rushed to enlist—most of them fearing that the war would be over before they could see action.
    President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for three months. In the streets of the large cities, men surged to the colors. The whole North rose as one man.
    Everywhere the drum and fife thrilled the air with their stirring call. Hastily formed companies marched to camps, and the measured tread of soldiers filled the land.
    And as it was in the North, so it was in the South. Four more states joined the Confederacy—Virginia,