4/6/65

Coming up the road to Rice’s Station, George has a spring in his step despite the run-down brogans. Past this junction is the Appomattox River. At best, II-Corps is already there burning the high bridge, blocking the Army of Northern Virginia’s escape. At worst, General Lee is working his way into one hell of a bottleneck.

He’d not see it. Rumor had it that Birney’s division—his division, temporarily attached to Gibbon’s XXIV was ordered back to Petersburg. It isn’t exactly fair. George had fought hard for his freedom. He'd joined the 8th U.S.C.T. mustered out of Philadelphia bouncing back south almost immediately after disembarking a steamer he’d stowed-away on in Savannah.

He’d not see Lee’s surrender. Nor the Minié ball from Longstreet’s sharpshooter which takes off the top of his skull. He’d not see it, but his wife and son in Georgia would see the life he’d fought for.