Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2019 07:48:03 -0400
From: wildwing4160@gmail.com
Subject: Memories of Gettysburg - Chapter 10

Preface: This is a love story between gay youth and adults.  There are
vivid descriptions of consensual sex between the characters so the usual
warnings apply.

The story is completely ficticious but is built around the true events of
the American Civil War.  In that regard I have tried to be as accurate as
possible.

Thanks to all those who have responded to my story to date.  Please keep
the emails coming to wildwing4160@gmail.com.  I answer them all, even those
with criticisms.

Please consider donating to Nifty.  I's important that we keep this
precious resource alive.

Enjoy!

			  Memories of Gettysburg

Chapter 10

Jordan rose quickly thanking his pa for waking him.  He raced to the
pasture and whistled for Cloud offering him the carrot he held in his
flattened hand.  Retrieving the saddle from the barn he slung it over
Cloud's broad back and did up the saddle strap once more.  Adding the reins
he pointed the animal towards town. It was dawn, Independance Day, July
4th, 1863.

He soon enough came across the garbage of war.  He saw empty ammunition
boxes strewn everywhere.  A discarded musket leaned against a fence post.
He passed a waggon smashed beyond repair resting on its side. Jordan felt
badly for a dead horse that lay bloating in the morning sun.

He reached the Rose farm and was sorely tempted to turn in.  He knew the
chance of finding the Roses, at least alive, were nil. He'd be wasting
precious time he needed to find a doctor for Andrew.  He pushed on.

He approached the town with some trepidation expecting to find the
smouldering ruins that pa had predicted.  Instead looking ahead he could
see the church steeples standing as proudly as they ever had. Jordan
furrowed his brow in puzzlement and moved on.  In fact as Cloud entered the
main street Jordan had yet to see a single instance of damage anywhere.  It
was if the great battle had occurred a thousand miles away.  The town had
been spared!  Jordan was more than grateful for he realized that the doctor
no doubt was still alive.

Mind you the town showed no sign of celebrating the national holiday
either.  Not one patriotic decoration did he see.  What few people he saw
appeared to be in a daze.  It was if the whole town was holding its breathe
to make absolutely sure the battle was really over.

Pa was to learn later that General Lee, the fine southern gentleman that he
was, had given strict orders to his troops to spare the town and its
citizens.  The Union forces wern't goimg to fire on their own kind either
so the town was saved. In the end a single stray bullet pierced a door and
killed a woman in her own home.  She was the only known civilian casualty
within the town of Gettysburg.

It was still early morning but Jason headed straight to the Richards
residence.  He banged loudly on the door expecting the family may still be
in bed.  A young boy with an unruly crop of red hair soon appeared.

Lucas was happy to see him. "Oh hi Jason, how are you?"

"Hi Lucas, I'm fine.  Look I need your dad real bad. Is he here?"

"Nope, but mother is.  I'll get her for you."  Lucas disappeared before
Jordan could respond.

"I havn't seen hair nor hide of him for two days," she admitted.  "He told
me he was heading to Cemetary Ridge to help the Union cause."

That was more or less what Jordan expected to hear.  He thanked the woman
and pointed Cloud towards the southwest side of town. It wasn't long before
he found himself in the midst of the entire Union army.  The surrounding
hillsides were smothered in hundreds of tents.  Thousands upon thousands of
soldiers were going about their business.  He could smell breakfast in the
air.  They had just achieved a great victory yet there was no euphoria.
The cost had been too high and the soldiers knew there was still work to be
done before they could claim final victory.

Jordan figured Ben was out there somewhere among the masses.  Cloud slowed
as Jordan peered into every face hoping the next one he saw would be his
brother.  He pondered whether or not he should do a serioua search for Ben.
He realized that such an undertaking could take hours and Andrew was
waiting. He kept moving.

The hospital tents were not difficult to find.  He came across a line of
injured soldiers, hundreds of them.  Some were holding an arm or dragging a
leg but most of them were laying on makeshift stretchers or simply laying
in the grass. Jordan saw more blood that day than he thought possible.  The
line threaded its way leading Jordan directly to three tents perched on top
of a small hill. He tethered Cloud and climbed to the first tent.

"State your business," the sentry barked.

"I'm looking for Doctor Richards," Jordan replied.

The sentry raised his hand and pointed to the third tent.  "He's in there."

He explained his mission to the third sentry and then added, "Tell him
Jordan O'Reilly is here to see him."

The sentry soon returned and told Jordan to wait. He waited ten long
minutes before a very tired Dr. Richards appeared wearing a large blood
spattered apron.  He appeared to have aged ten years.

"I'm happy to see you survived the battle son but be quick about what you
have to say.  You can see I am extremely busy."

Jordan leaped right in with all the passion he could muster.  "Sir, I've
got a wounded soldier at my home.  He's hurt something awful!  He needs a
doctor real bad or he'll die!"

Doctor Richards frowned. "I'm sorry Jordan.  You can see I've got more
patients here than I can count. I can't ignore them and go running off to
save just one patient somewhere else.

Desperate now Jordan blurted, "But you promised sir!"

Doctor Richards did not answer.  He pursed his lips and then turned towards
the tent.  The sentry lifted the flap for him to enter.  The tears were
already streaming down Jordan's face. He had failed yet again.  The pain
was just too much! Just as Dr. Richards was about to duck his head he
stopped and turned.

"Look Jordan," he stated, "There is a chance. We sent a telegraph wire out
this morning to Philadelphia and to Pittsburgh begging them for doctors.
There is a train coming this afternoon. I'm hopeful there will be doctors
on board. If they come I'm going home to bed but I promise you I will visit
your farm first.  All right?"  The doctor gave Jordan a small salute then
disappeared into the tent.

Jordan pointed Cloud homeward satisfied he had done his best.

As per usual ma treated Jordan as if he had been gone a month.  She held
him to her bosom.

"Seems Andrew has really taken a liking to you son. He keeps asking for
you."

Jordan quickly went to Andrew's bedside and held his hand once more.
Andrew weakly opened his eyes and smiled.  "Kiss me," he said.

Jordan hesitated for he knew his mother was watching.  What would she
think?  What would she say? He decided to cross that bridge later.  Andrew
needed him and he wasn't going to let him down.  He reached over and
carressed Andrew's lips with his own.  Andrew smiled again and closed his
eyes.

Jordan was scared because it was obvious Andrew was extremely weak.  He
literally yelled at Andrew. "You hang in there you hear!  The doctor is
coming!"

Andrew took several deep breathes.  Each one seemed to hurt him more than
the one before it. He slowly turned his head towards Jordan and murmured,
"As long as you promise to stay with me I'll be okay."

That moment was a turning point for Jordan.  He realized that the deep
affection he felt for Andrew was more than that now.  It was love!  Oh how
he yearned to see Andrew healthy again.  But it was better than that.  Even
in his weakened state Andrew had reached out to him.  He knew that in
Andrew's eyes he was his saviour.

Later that afternoon ma in an aside to Jordan stated, "Son I really don't
know what's keeping that boy alive.  He's so weak."

Jordan grinned. "I know why he is alive ma. The reason is us. Between your
nursing and my kissing we are both keeping him alive."

Ma gave Jordan a big hug.

Meanwhile pa was puttering around the farm tending to the chores once more.
Joshua was with him.  He had his own horse now.  Her name was Moonbeam.
Joshua in fact had made himself indispensible.  He constantly rode back and
forth between the farm and the cave helping both parents.  It seemed the
more responsibility he was given the more he wanted.  It was impossible to
tire the ten year old out.

Pa arrived at the cave about three o'clock with the doctor. Jordan gave a
huge sigh of relief.  The doctor quickly ducked his head, entered the cave
and got to work.

"Now before I begin I have to follow army regulations.  I need his full
name and the unit he was with."

Jordan had decided beforehand that Andrew's true identity would remain a
secret. Now he was being forced to admit the truth.  He pondered whether or
not he should use a false Union identity.  However if he did that it would
be too easy for the Union forces to check the records and find he was
lying.  The consequences could be brutal. No he thought, it's best we tell
the truth.

"He's with the Fourteenth Tennessee Vounteers sir," Jordan ventured.

"What!" the doctoe sputtered, "He's a rebel?"

Jordom spoke meekly in response. "Yes sir, he is a rebel."  But then he
quickly added, "But he's only a child and he didn't deserve what happened
to him. He'll die without your help!"

The doctor stared Jordan down.  "Are you asking me to get shot?"

"Of course not sir, but I'd appreciate anything at all that you can do for
him."

The doctor turned his head and stared at Andrew for a moment before turning
his attention back to Jordan.  "If I was of right mind I would be walking
out of this cave right now.  The only reason I haven't is because I admire
you Jordan.  You did some fine work with Lucas and yes, I did make a
promise."  He smiled and concluded, "Let's get to work!"

Ma had already removed the poultice so Doctor Richards could examine the
leg.  After mere seconds he shook his head and turned his attention to
Andrew's side.

"Ah yes, there is a piece of shrapnel here. It has to come
out. Mrs. O'Reilly I need some hot water lots of bandages and something
wooden for the boy to bite on."

Jordan had seen and heard enough.  In fact he had seen far too much in the
last couple of days.  He was not prepared to watch a painful operation on a
boy he loved.  He strode out of the cave and wandered off towards the
creek. He followed the creek for a while stopping only when he came to the
swimming hole.  He stared at the water recalling all the fun times he had
there.  He remembered the times he and Ben used to run and jump together
into the deepest part of the pool.  He remembered the crazy drunk games
that he played with Joshua.  He remembered too the time he and John soaped
each other up after they cut up the firewood.  They were good times.  He
slowly turned back to the cave.

The operation was over for he found Doctor Richards talking to ma beside
his horse.

"It's an absolute miracle that the boy is still alive," he said, "He's lost
a way too much blood.  He should be dead.  I don't understand it."

"The Lord works in wondrous ways," ma proclaimed.

Spying Jordan's return Doctor Richards turned towards him.  "Ah Jordan, I'm
glad you are back.  I was telling your mother there is nothing I can do
about the leg.  He is too badly injured.  Infection always sets in, in a
wound that bad.  Infection kills and the only way to stop it is to take the
leg off.  He's too weak today. We'll wait ten days. If he is still alive we
will take it off then.  I have instructed your mother to get as much fluid
and food into him as you can to make him strong enough for the operation."
The doctor reached for Jordan's hand and shook it.

Through misted eyes Jordan thanked the doctor profusely.  The doctor loaded
his saddle bags, tipped his hat and was gone.

No sooner had the doctor rode off Jordan clutched his mother and cried out
in anguish, "Oh ma even if Andrew does survive, he's going to be a cripple.
How awful!"

Ma patted her son on the back.  "There, there son, don't you go worrying
none. He's not going to be a cripple, not if I can help it.  I've seen my
poultices work wonders on bad injuries before. They didn't get infected
none either! You wait and see."

It would be decades before antibiotics were discovered.  What ma could not
have known was that the mold that grows penicillin loves sphagnum moss.
Each time she changed the poultice she was giving Andrew a fresh dose of
antibiotics.

Ma also recognized the value of the growing bond between her son and
Andrew.  She knew Jordan's affection stirred the juices in Andrew's body
and gave him the will to live.  She never saw the bond in a sexual way and
even if she did it wouldn't have mattered.  In her world everying was
preordained.  It was God's will and who was she to argue with that.  She
set up a mattress adjoining Andrews bed so that Jordan could be with him
twenty four seven.

Ma's cooking didn't hurt none either.  Like everyone else Andrew loved her
food.  Day by day his appetite grew stronger and so did his body.

"Your ma is a great cook," Andrew said as he finished yet another bowl of
rabbit stew.

"The best!" Jordan agreed.

On the third day Andrew sat up for the first time. It was only for a little
while but it was a start.

Andrew insisted on a sensual kiss from Jordan at least three times a day.
He didn't care who was watching or what they thought.  He was very open
about his emotions.  If they weren't kissing the boys were holding hands or
staring deeply into each other's eyes.  Neither spoke of their longing for
each other.  It wasn't necessary.  They both knew.

Ma was true to her word in attending Andrew's leg.  She changed the
poultice three times a day now.  She looked carefully each time for signs
of infection.  There were none!  The wound in his side, now sealed with cat
gut was healing nicely too.  Andrew got excited on the fourth day.  He
could feel his toes!  He wiggled them to show ma.

Pa continued his steady banter on the progress of the war.  "Gettysburg was
a great Union victory ma. We got the rebs on the run now.  If Lee is smart
he'll sue for peace.  I reckon this war is about done. Another two weeks, a
month at the most and it should be over."

In fact pa had learned the entire Union army was heading south to chase the
rebels.  President Lincoln urged them on looking for a final decisive
battle to end it all.  The Union forces were already replacing many of
their losses with new recruits.  The South on the other hand had already
been bled dry. There were precious few new recruits.  Still, the
confederates were a proud group who still felt their cause was just.  The
war ground on.

The O'Reilly clan wasn't entirely happy.  Andrew didn't like it but Jordan
excused himself one day and rode out to the road.  He intended to
investigate the Rose farm but after just a few steps he reined Cloud in.
The prospects of what he might find were too gruesome to contemplate.
Instead he just stared down the road..........waiting ......... hoping. He
slowly turned back.

As each day passed ma grew more worried about Ben.  At the end of the week
pa returned from town with a single letter.  It was stamped U.S. Army but
unlike previous correspondance the writing on the cover was not Ben's.  The
entire family held their breathe as pa slowly opened the letter. Pa read,
"We regret to inform you that as a result of the Battle of Gettysburg, your
son Benjamin O'Reilly, is listed as missing in action".

"NO!" ma screamed and she fell to the floor. Pa, tears streaming down his
face, lifted her up and placed her on the bed.

"Does that mean Ben ain't never coming home?" Joshua cried as he sought the
comfort of his father's arms.

"I'm afraid so son."

Jordan was more pragmatic. "Missing?  He can't be missing.  He knows
Gettysburg.  He lives here. He would just walk home wouldn't he?"

"No son he can't .  You see after every battle there are always a few
soldiers who for one reason or another can't be identified.  They are
placed into graves marked name only known unto God.  No, I am afraid we
have lost him."

Jordan flung himself on his mattress and began to soak a pillow with his
sobs. Andrew as painful as the gesture might have been, rolled over and
grasped Jordan's hand.

As the curtain came down on another day each member of the family grieved
in their own way.

The next morning ma was surprisingly chipper.  "Ben is alive!" she
proclaimed.  "I know he's alive!  I can feel it in my bones."

"Don't you start running around like a silly goose," pa warned.

"Silly goose nothing," ma replied, "Ben spoke to me in my sleep last
night. He called out to me.  I reckon he's in a hospital in town. I'm going
to Gettysburg today to find him and that's a fact!"

Pa went to open his mouth but then stopped. He knew ma got into these moods
from time to time and once she did there was nothing he could say or do
that would change her mind.  He knew he had to drive her to town if for no
other reason than to get this inane idea out of her head.

Ma changed all of Andrews bandages before she left.  She made sure Jordan
was watching so that he could do the job in her absence.

Post battle Gettysburg had become one gigantic hospital.  Patients by the
thousands were crammed into every nook and cranny.  Every public building,
every meeting hall, a seminary, the churches, and the schools had all been
turned into hospital wards.  Doctors had come from miles around to aid in
the effort.  While the nursing profession did not yet exist, dozens of town
ladies gave of their time to assist the doctors and the patients where ever
they could.

For the first time Joshua was asked if he would do all of the chores today.
He was more than willing. He jumped onto Moonbeam and headed for the barn.
Jordan knew it would take Joshua most of the day to complete the itinerary.
Meanwhile he and Andrew had the cave to themselves.

As was his habit Andrew needed his morning pee.  Jordan figured he was
strong enough to pee on his own now yet Andrew insisted Jordan help him. In
fact he asked Jordan to hold it for him while he peed.  Jordan was not
going to turn down that request!  He held the penis gently as Andrew
emptied his bladder.  When the job was finished he was in no hurry to put
it away.  He revelled in its silky softness.  Jordan looked into Andrew's
face and the boys traded smiles. He could feel Andrew's boyhood expand in
his hand now. He gripped it with several fingers luxuriating in its warmth.

"Nice," Jordan said simply, "Real nice!"

Andrew was eager for more.  "Come to bed with me please."

Jordan responded by slipping off his pants and crawling in to bed with him.
He was careful to lay on Andrew's good side.

"Kiss me." Andrew demanded.

Jordan rolled on to his side facing Andrew.  Being careful not to put any
weight on the boy, Jordan bent over and kissed him passionately.  Some time
passed before Jordan felt a small hand reach down and grasp his hardness.

Andrew released the kiss and moaned, "Ohhhhhhhh."

Jordan knew that with Andrew's condition there would be little more in the
way of sex that day.  However the ice had been broken. There would be
better days ahead,

Ma hadn't realized just how many patients there were that day in Gettysburg
and how spread out they would be.  While pa visited the Gettysburg Compiler
office and picked up some supplies, ma proceeded on foot.  Because of the
excessive activity going on outside each door the hospitals were easy
enough to spot.  Approaching the first building she spoke her business to
the sentry just inside the door. She was shown a list containing the names
and their units of every patient in that building.  She checked the list
twice before moving on to the next ward.

It took ma all day and into the early evening before she was finished.  She
reckoned she had read through some seven thousand names. Not once did she
see the name O'Reilly.  If pa figured ma had had her fill he was sadly
mistaken.

"They made a mistake someplace," she insisted. "I know he's there. I'll
check again in a couple of days."

Pa shook his head and stayed silent.

It had been ten days since Andrew had been operated on.  True to his word
Doctor Richards arrived at the cave about noon. He was amazed.  "I've never
seen a boy with such grevious wounds recover so quickly!  He's in fine
shape for the operation."

Ma grinned smugly.  "I think ya better check his leg first before you pull
your saw out."

The doctor pulled the blanket back and his jaw dropped. "What the
......... How ...........? I dont' believe this!" he stuttered.  The doctor
spent several minuted examining the leg again and again.  He had a hard
time accepting reality.  Try as he might he could find no sign of
infection.  "This is impossible! Never in all my years have I seen such a
terrible wound heal so well without any complications!  It's a miracle".

Andrew added, "If you tasted ma's cookin you'd know why I 'm doing so
good."

Ma just smiled, happy with herself. She probably should have left it at
that but she pressed on. Ma was hoping the doctor had some word for her
about Ben or perhaps at least a word of advice as to how she might find
him.  With a pained face he expressed no knowledge of his whereabouts and
had no further advice either.

Doctor Richards gave his final synopsis. "Well I'm happy to say I'm just
about done here. You just keep treating Andrew the way you have been doing.
It has obviously been working." As he was closing his bag he turned to pa,
"Let me have a private word with you outside if you don't mind."

Pa obediently followed Doctor Richards to his horse.

"Look there is a tiny possibility I have good news for you. I didn't want
to give Mrs. O'Reilly any false hope.  You know how sensitive woman folk
can be."

"Go on," pa encouraged.

"I haven't seen him but I understand there is a patient that we haven't
been able to identify.  He's in rough shape but he is expected to survive.
He can't write and he can't speak due to an injured throat so we don't know
who he is."

"Can I see him?" pa inquired.

"Of course."  He handed pa a piece of paper.  "Here is where I will be
tomorrow.  Come and see me and we will go and take a look."

Ma continued to rant about her quest to find Ben that evening. This time it
did not upset pa.  In fact he smiled inwardly.  Perhaps, just perhaps, ma
wasn't so crazy after all!

It didn't surprise ma at all when pa announced the next morning that he was
returning to town for a spell.  After all she knew pa needed his latest fix
on the various troop movements.  What she didn't know was that pa had a
hidden agenda.

Joshua rode off to the barn once more.  He was as eager as ever.  With pa
out of her hair too ma went to packing.  She figured it was time to move
back to the house.  Andrew was well enough now that Jordan could look after
him alone in the cave, at least until the war was over in a months time or
so.

"It's time for me to do some proper cookin," she declared.

Jordan couldn't wait to show Andrew what great bread she baked.

Andrew was well enough that he could now carry out a reasonable
conversation without getting tired. The boys were talking quietly at the
side of the room.

"I guess when you're better and all you'll go back to Tennessee?

"No I won't," Andrew said defiantly. "I ain't never going back there."

"What about your pa?"

"I hate my pa and he hates me.  He never called me Andrew. He called me
Sissyboy.  I reckon he made me join the army so's I could get killed."

Andrew was crying now and Jordan reached out to console him.

"I' m sorry Andrew, I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's okay," Andrew snivelled.

Jordan had no intention of continuing the conversation.  It was Andrew who
felt otherwise.

"After the war I was hoping I could live here," Andrew said quietly.

"You mean with us?"

"Oh I wouldn't be a burden to ya.  I promise.  I'm used to farming and
all. You'll see.  I'll work hard, real hard."

Jordan couldn't wipe the smile of his face. It was the best proposition he
had heard in a month of Sundays.  But then he thought seriously of some
problems.  "What happens if your pa comes looking for ya?"

"I dunno.  Maybe I could change my name."

"To what?"

Andrew thought for a moment and then replied, "Andrew O'Reilly sounds kinda
nice."

The boys grinned their pleasure.

Ma interrupted the boys with two bowls of her squirrel soup.  "I'm sorry I
ain't got no bread for dipping but just wait.  When I get back to the house
I'll fix that good and proper.  Meanwhile Joshua is bringin me a fine
supply of fresh rabbits and squirrels. I do declare he can shoot as well as
Ben now."

The boys chowed down again. The soup was great even without the dipping
bread.

The meal was interrupted by the sound of a galloping horse.

"What in tarnation?" ma exclaimed.

She ran outside to find pa jumping of his horse. He ran to ma, picked her
off her feet and swung her around.

"Land sakes, put me down," she screamed.

"You crazy goose!" pa yelled.  "You were right all along. It's Ben! He's
ALIVE!"



Send all comments and suggestions to wildwing4160@gmail.com.