American Spirit by Roger Smith

Author:Roger Smith [Smith, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781475965292
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2013-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

Reprinted with permission of the National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center for Media Services

“Good afternoon, Jacob,” replied Eva. “I was just thinking about you the other day. Can you believe it has been almost fifteen years since you sat in my classroom?”

“No, ma’am. Seems like the years have flown by. Seems like just yesterday when your son was racing me around the schoolyard, and now he’s off fighting with General Rutherford. From what I hear, he’s made a good soldier. I reckon they had a big fight down at Ramsuer’s Mill.”

“Yes, I heard about that. I pray that all our men are all right.”

“Well, I think John is. Looks like you got a letter from him,” he said, pulling the letter from his pocket. “A fellar was through here this morning and dropped it off at Johnson’s Store.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. I never know what to expect anymore. After we got that letter from my sister in Kentucky last month telling me about our father’s death, I seem to stay on pins and needles all the time.”

“Yes, ma’am. I sure was sorry to hear about Bernhardt. I really liked him. I’ll bet he really fought those Indians that found him by that spring. Your daddy was an older man, but my goodness, he was a fighter. He even stood by his Loyalist beliefs when everybody around here was getting sick and tired of Loyalists and Tories. I didn’t agree with him, but I sure admired the way he stuck to his principles.”

“Thank you, Jacob. Yes, my father was a man of principle, whether it was his faith in God or his views of government, it didn’t matter. Once he decided something was right, there was no changing his mind. I’m afraid I’m the same way, and John is even more so. He not only got it from me, but from his father, Stewart, my first husband, as well. Stewart was Scots-Irish, and once those people get their temper up, there isn’t much to stop them.”

“I ’spect there’s a lot of them old Redcoats and their Hessian friends finding out that very thing here in Carolina.” Jacob laughed. “Well, better run. My best to Frederick. Good seeing you again, Miz Smith. You know, you still look as pretty as you used to when I was a schoolboy sittin’ here on these benches.”

“Why, thank you, Jacob. Good seeing you again, and thanks for bringing this letter by.” She waved as Jacob tipped his three-cornered hat.

Eva quickly tore open the letter and began to read.

Dear Mother,

June 25, 1780

I hope this finds you, Frederick, and the children well. I wanted to write a line or two to let you know I’m all right. My conscription is up July 15, and I ought to be home shortly after that. I reckon by now you have heard about the big fight we had here at Ramseur’s Mill on the twentieth.

When I got down here, they assigned me to Colonel Francis Locke’s regiment. After going up and down

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