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2024-10-29 19:42:56Cordia gasped. Barely any light was coming in through her bedroom windows, making it difficult to see who she was looking at, but she thought the form and the voice were familiar. Finally, she said in a very meek voice, “Frieda, is that you?”
The shadow shifted a little bit, and the voice boomed, “Yes, it’s me. Where have you been child?” She stood up now and reached over and lit the lamp next to Cordia’s bed, her face portraying she was unhappy with finding the girl sneaking back into her bedroom so late at night.
Though Cordia was about as frightened as she had ever been, she suddenly became very aware that she was still wearing Will’s ring. She slid it off before Frieda turned back around and shoved it down the top of her dress. She decided to play nonchalant. “Oh, Frieda,” she said smiling, “don’t you know I sometimes like to go for walks? I was just out for a little stroll.”
Frieda didn
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Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Carey
March 1862“Let the blessings of spring be bountiful, and let our hearts be open in this time of new life and new promise. In Jesus blessed name we ask these things, Amen.”Cordia had been trying to listen to Rev. Jacobson’s sermon, but her mind was full of turbulence these days, and she was having trouble concentrating on the outside world. Thankfully, she had been hearing from Will on a regular basis. Throughout the winter, there had been little need to worry, as his unit had not been very active, only a small skirmish from time to time. Yet, as the days started to grow long again, and all things dead seemed to reawaken, she grew more worried that the spring would change its role from bringer of life to the season of mourning. With warmer weather, more battles were apt to happen, more lives likely to be lost. And though Will had promised he would return, part of her still agonized over the idea that he might not be able to keep that promise
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Better
When Cordia arrived at the Adams Farm, Julia was sitting on the swing under the oak tree, a light blanket wrapped around her to help combat the cool March breeze. She looked pale; her eyes had dark circles under them. Cordia wasn’t sure she should even be out of bed, but she knew it was no use trying to tell Julia that. “Mornin',” she said as she approached. She sat down next to her friend who acknowledged her arrival with a smile. “How are you feeling today?”Julia peered off beyond the horizon for a few moments. Finally, she said, “I feel all right. I didn’t want to stay in that stuffy bedroom anymore. Aunt Margaret finally said I could come outside for a spell, but only if I stayed wrapped up.”Cordia could plainly see the agitation on the young woman’s face. She knew that Julia was a very capable person, and as hard as it was for Cordia to see her a prisoner of her own body, it must have been exponentially harde
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Shiloh
Will had heard that some were calling this place Shiloh after a church nearby. However, from his vantage point, Will could see nothing peaceful about it. The day before, he and the rest of Grant’s men had been bivouacked near the river, waiting for reinforcements from Ohio. They knew that P.G.T. Beauregard and his troops were in the area; however, they had no idea that they were so incredibly close.The Rebs had been successful that first day, pushing them back toward Owl Creek. The ground had been terrible, like fighting in a pile of fresh horse manure, the mud clinging to their shoes and their pants, weighing them down and making any sort of a hasty retreat impossible. Luckily, the enemy had seemed confused, and Will and the men he was fighting with were able to drop back to a better position. It seemed like the Sunken Road they chose for cover was good ground, and it proved to be so when the Confederate Army could not make its way through what they were now calling t
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Discussion
“Tell us, how are the city militia boys keepin’ up?” Cordia’s father asked, a large piece of pot roast poised on his fork as he asked Carey Adams questions about the war over dinner.Carey chewed a bit before answering. “Very well, sir,” he replied. “We are in fine shape to hold off even the most deliberate of guerrilla raiders. Why, I assure you, even Quantrill himself would not be able to step foot within our city limits without our forces crushing him and his men. Not even the army of Gen. Grant would stand a chance against our fine Lamar fighting troops,” he continued, his chest puffing with pride.Cordia couldn’t help but snicker. “Do you mean the same Gen. Grant who has Braxton Bragg and his forces high-tailing it to Chattanooga? That must be quite some force of farmers and merchants you’ve put together there.” She had begun an intricate process of moving small portions of her food from one p
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Intentions
“Lovely evening, isn’t it Miss Cordia?” he asked. He was walking on her left side so that his right arm, his only arm, was near her, and she anticipated that, eventually, he would offer it to her. Despite his disability, Carey seemed to do everything any other man could do, and it was quite easy for her and others to forget that he had returned from war less than whole.She peered up at the stars for a moment, considering the question. If he were speaking of the works of God that surrounded them, then, yes, it was a lovely evening. If he were referring to the company, her answer would be far different. Finally, she replied simply, “The sky is gorgeous.”“So it is,” he agreed without so much as glancing up. “As are you, Miss Cordia,” he added, trying a bit of charm.Ignoring his comment and hoping to remind him a bit of the sorrow that hung over her now as she made a familiar journey with a less familiar indiv
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Vicksburg
The battles leading up to the siege of Vicksburg were bloody and had put a strain on Will’s division. He had recently been promoted to captain and was leading a company. Though the position had been offered to him several times before, he had not accepted because he did not want the responsibility of having the lives of other men in his hands. However, after the Battle of Raymond when they had lost their captain, he had been all but ordered to assume the responsibility, so he had reluctantly accepted this time. Now, perched on a hill outside of Vicksburg, congregating with other leaders, he wasn’t sure exactly what he had gotten himself into.It was May 21, 1863, and the plan they were devising was to be carried out the next day. From the beginning, all involved had known that it would not be an easy assignment. Yet, they recognized that, if they could find a way to force Pemberton and his troops out of Vicksburg, they would have the port city at last, and with it
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Engaged
As Cordia pulled into the drive that led to the barn, she noticed a familiar horse tied outside of the stables. She found it rather odd that Carey Adams would be at their house this early on a Wednesday afternoon. It wasn’t quite super time yet, and though he had been a frequent guest of late, he usually didn’t arrive until much later in the day. She also noticed that her father’s cart was in the barn, which meant that he was also home. At first, her heart caught in her throat, afraid they had some terrible news to tell her. But then she realized that no one had any idea that she was in love with Will. If something happened to him, she would have to find out from Julia or his aunt. Her parents would never think to break such news on her lightly.Neither would Carey Adams. He would probably be sufficiently delighted to find out that something awful had happened to Will, simply because Carey seemed to be pleased anytime another human being suffered. The though
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Whirlwind
The next few hours were a whirlwind of gifts and baked goods, congratulator hugs, followed by a meal, piano playing, and dancing. Cordia was obligated to dance with her new fiancé though it was awkward to say the least, not just because of his missing arm but more so because she could not stand to be held so closely to him. Everyone clapped and cheered, some insisting that the new couple kiss, to which Cordia was able to draw the line, based on her own modesty.At the end of the evening, the visitors slowly started to file out. Cordia had found her way out to the porch swing, where she was sitting with Susannah, who was going on and on about how unfair it was that Cordia’s husband would never have to go off to fight again. Cordia was lost in her own thoughts and barely noticed exactly who was stopping by to tell her they were leaving until Susannah finally stood and hugged her goodbye, her little ones pulling on her skirts as they made their way down the porch st
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Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Over
Carey’s horse ran straight past him, seeing the other riders off in the distance, and Carey knew he was trapped. Will was certainly behind him now. He dropped the derringer to the ground, hoping compliance would be beneficial. His only option was to find a way to get close enough to Cordia to take that gun away and use her body as a shield. “Cordia,” he said as sweetly as he could muster, “you’re not going to shoot me,” he smiled at her, nonchalantly. “Go ahead and step out of the way, darlin’ so I can join my men.”“You and your men shot my daddy,” she replied, her voice filled with hate.Carey swallowed hard. It had never been his intention to physically harm her father. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said quietly. “Your father and I have always been such good friends. I’m sure he would understand why you would let me go.”It was a stretch, and they both knew it
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Fire
Carey’s plan was working. The cavalry was not prepared for an assault on the munitions, and when they blew, it shook the entire square. Glass shards flew through the air, people went flying, horses darted off, some with riders still holding on. The explosion had caught the wooden steeple and roof of the courthouse on fire, and the structure was going up in flames. Within a few moments, the entire top of the building was burning.The Union troops realized that their focal point was rapidly disappearing. While this was certainly devastating to their purpose, it did suddenly create a sense of mobility to the commanders. No longer tied to a structure to protect, they began to pour out in formation, engaging the enemy where they were, rather than waiting for Quantrill and his men to come to them.Quantrill recognized this problem almost instantly. He had hoped to acquire some of the weapons and munitions that had been stored there, but at least they would no longer be
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Defense
The group of men Carey was leading were pyromaniacs, apparently. His understanding was that Quantrill wanted them to converge on the square, take the outpost, and then light the town on fire as they made their escape. These men spent a great deal of time throwing torches through broken windows, and it seemed that they would never make it to the heart of the battle unfolding on the square a few blocks away.At last, Carey gave the order to ride on, and then did so, not caring who followed. He could see that a large contingency of the men had accompanied him, while only a few stayed behind to torch the houses along Tenth Street. He covered the few blocks to the square quickly, hoping to get in on the fight. It had been almost two years since he had tasted battle, and he was eager to feel the rush of assault again. However, once he got to the square, he realized Quantrill and Lewis had not organized their attack as well as he had hoped. The 8thCavalry appeared to be ready
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Carey was furious. “This is my aunt and uncle’s farm!” he was yelling, bringing his horse between the torch men and the shed they had just lit on fire. “You have direct orders from Quantrill not to touch any of our property or our relations’!”“Sorry! We didn’t know!” an older cross-eyed soldier spat back before riding off. Though it was too late for this particular shed, Carey was hopeful that he could save the rest of the farm from a similar fate. He was leading a small band of marauders into town. Quantrill had split his men into smaller groups so that they could enter the city limits a bit more stealthily. They would meet back up at the courthouse directly. Carey had given very specific directions to everyone as to which houses were to be spared, this being one of them, but apparently these outlaws had not listened as closely as he would have liked, and he began to fear for the safety of his father who was likely sleep
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A few hours into Will’s vigil, he realized that Julia’s breathing had changed. The door to her bedroom was ajar, and he could hear his aunt bustling around, keeping herself busy. “Aunt Margaret,” he said as loudly as he could muster. “I think you should probably come in here.”Margaret had been present at quite a few deaths over the years. Thankfully, most of them had been the passing of elderly members of her family, such as her grandparents, though she had watched her mother breath her last at the age of fifty-two. She had always regretted not being there for her brother and his wife, Will’s parents, but they had lived such reclusive lives. She didn’t even know they were sick until after they had passed. Entering the room, she could tell immediately that Julia’s time had come. Her breathing was very shallow and uneven. Several seconds passed between breaths. Catching Will’s eye, Margaret nodded solemnly.He
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Family
Cordia’s parents were elated to see her, though hearing of the circumstances that brought her diminished their joy significantly. They invited Zachariah in, but he declined, thinking his mother may need him back at the house. He knew that, once Julia had passed, his mother would be extremely emotional, and he wanted to be there to comfort her.Once Frieda had greeted her, she disappeared into the kitchen, pouring drinks and preparing something for Cordia to eat. Though she protested that she was not hungry, Frieda insisted that she would need her strength. Cordia joined her parents in the parlor, feeling awkwardly like a guest in what was, until very recently, her own home for so long. She sat on the duvet across from her parents, who sat in their usual chairs. The fire was blazing in the fireplace, and Cordia suddenly became very aware of how cold she had been, despite her heavy winter coat.“Well, Cordia, dear,” her mother began. “How have you
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Jules
The ride from the Tucker house to the Adams Farm was nearly silent and forced. The horses were spurred on in a full gallop for as long as they could bear it. Arthur did not have to say anything more for Will to know that, if Arthur was riding out to retrieve him, Julia must have grown much worse.When they arrived, Zachariah came out and took their horses. Arthur helped Cordia dismount but by the time she was off of her horse, Will was already inside the farmhouse, flying toward the back room. Cordia caught up with him at the door of Julia’s room, where he paused to compose himself before entering. She put her hand gently on his back, giving him the assurance he needed to enter the room and survey his sister’s waning condition.As they entered the room, they could see Dr. Walters sitting on a chair next to her bed, Margaret at the foot of the bed but within reach of her niece. Julia’s breathing was labored, but she was breathing. Her cheeks were flush
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Evil Plans
Carey was encamped with Quantrill and his band of raiders, which numbered nearly two hundred, in a wooded area north of Lamar, for several days before they finally rode out to meet up with a few stragglers who had been out visiting family. Quantrill had been corresponding with Col. Warren Lewis of the Missouri State Guard, and they both had their eye on the outpost located in Lamar at the courthouse. On November 4, Quantrill gathered up his forces and began the ride north. Carey and the few men who had come along with him were instrumental in giving information about roads and the location of troops, etc. Carey also suggested that they try to take out the prominent businessmen in town and their families, hoping to use the famous rebel as a means to get revenge on those he believed had done him wrong. Quantrill agreed. Any permanent scars they could leave on the face of the town would be well worth it. Carey sketched a rough map of the town, placing an “X” on the homes of
Cordia's Will: A Civil War Story of Love and Loss Hurry
The trip into Nevada took about thirty minutes each way. Besides sending the telegraphs, they had also gotten some much-needed supplies. Will was anxious to hear how Julia was doing, and he didn’t want to stay cut-off from his family for too long, but he also wanted to make sure that Cordia’s father had the opportunity to receive the telegraph and calm down the authorities some before they headed back to Lamar. That was assuming that anyone was even looking for them. They weren’t even sure that Carey had reported anything to the sheriff at all. They decided to wait about a week before venturing back to the Adams Farm to ascertain the situation.They had done their best to avoid as many people as possible, particularly other riders. The fewer people who knew the old Tucker homestead was occupied again, the better, especially since the town was alive with whispers and rumors of guerrillas and marauders. Despite the fact that the house she was staying in had be
