One Wore Blue by Graham Heather

Author:Graham, Heather [Graham, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780440209638
Publisher: Dell
Published: 1991-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Confederates were indisputably able to claim the victory at Bull Run. The Union troops had flown like the green recruits they were, leaving the field uncontested.

But both sides had suffered badly. A Harper’s Weekly correspondent Jesse saw soon after he finished patching up what men he could told him he estimated the North had probably lost close to five hundred, with maybe twelve hundred wounded. It was hard to make a count and might be hard for some time in all the confusion. Close to twelve hundred men were missing, too, but who knew what “missing” men were lost and shell-shocked and what “missing” men were flat-out deserting now that they knew war wasn’t going to be a glorious triumph.

The South had lost, too, the correspondent was convinced. Maybe close to four hundred had been killed, and fifteen hundred wounded—but not nearly so many were “missing.” Jesse got what information he could out of the men and learned what he could about the southern troops. He found out nothing about his own brother, but the correspondent knew someone who had said that Jeb Stuart had been leading cavalry damned admirably, and a parlay with him might still be possible.

Jesse didn’t seek permission from a superior officer. In the confusion that reigned, he wasn’t about to go through military red tape to confer with Stuart, an enemy officer. He sent out Private Gibbs into the recent battle zone with a white flag and a message. It took Gibbs some time, but he managed to reach Stuart and arrange a meeting.

Jesse met his old school chum on a ridge where the left flank had fought.

Bodies littered the ground. Trees and grass had been mowed down from the hail of bullets and artillery. Stuart, an incredible horseman, came galloping upon the field with neither fear nor suspicion. Jesse didn’t gallop to meet him, for the body of Anthony Miller was on a litter affixed to his saddle by splints.

The two soldiers—Confederate and Union—met.

Jeb nodded to him gravely. “Jesse. It’s a damned sorry thing, but it’s good to see you alive.”

“You, too,” Jesse agreed. “Daniel—”

“Your brother’s company was under me. He’s fine. He didn’t receive so much as a nick.”

“Thanks,” Jesse told him.

“We can’t meet long,” Jeb warned him.

“I know,” Jesse said. “But I found someone who was once an old friend among our dead and wounded, Jeb. I reckoned you could see him returned to his father for burial.”

Jeb arched a brow and looked to the sheeted bundle in the litter. He leaped down from his mount and came around, lifting the sheet.

He looked up at Jesse. “Jesu,” he murmured. “I can’t take him to his father. Andrew Miller was with Johnston’s army. He was killed, too, not far from here, in the early stages of the battle.”

Jesse felt his throat tighten. Father and son together in one day? Two bodies would have to be received by the children. All that remained of the Miller family now were Anthony’s younger brother and sister, he thought.

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