Yankee Belles in Dixie by Gilbert L. Morris

Author:Gilbert L. Morris [Morris, Gilbert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8024-7880-1
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 1995-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

10

Richmond

As soon as the two young women got off the train at Richmond, Leah looked at her sister and laughed. “Your face is so dirty!” she exclaimed. “It’s all covered with soot.”

Sarah touched her cheek with one finger and stared at the residue on the fingertip. “Well,” she said, shaking her head in disgust, “no dirtier than yours. Those coal burning engines really make a mess, don’t they?”

As they turned to collect their baggage, a middle-aged man, with one arm missing and wearing parts of a Confederate uniform, came up to say, “Here, ladies, let me help you with your suitcases.”

“Why, thank you.” Sarah smiled. “Those three large bags and those two small ones right there.” The man scurried around and, despite the missing arm, managed the baggage very well. He whistled for a carriage, using two fingers on his surviving hand. “You’re going down to the hotel, I guess?”

“No, we’re going to 1120 Elm Street.”

“That’s over on the east side of town. Well, here you go.” The wounded soldier cheerfully piled their bags in the back of the buggy that drew up and said to the driver, “Take these two ladies to 1120 Elm Street, Harry.”

“Sure will,” the driver replied cheerfully. He was a tall, lean man with a shock of white hair, which was revealed when he pulled his hat off. He watched while the soldier helped the two young women in and as Sarah pulled a bill from her purse.

“Will Union greenbacks do?” Sarah asked tentatively. “I don’t have any Confederate money yet.”

The soldier with one arm grinned and winked at the driver. “Sure will, ma’am. I wish I had my pockets full of those Union greenbacks. You won’t have any trouble spending them here in Richmond.”

Harry, the driver, said, “I’ll take care of them, Perry.” He spoke to the horses. “Hup, Babe! Hup, Mame!” and the carriage moved off, the driver threading through the busy traffic.

“Perry lost that arm at Bull Run,” he said, “but I guess he’s better off than those that didn’t make it back at all.” He greeted several people as they made their way along the bustling street that seemed clogged with civilians and soldiers, horses, buggies, and wagons.

“Pretty busy town, Richmond. You ladies come from around here?”

“From Kentucky,” Sarah said.

That seemed safe enough, Leah thought. Kentucky was one of those border states controlled by neither the North nor the South.

“Come for a visit?” the inquisitive driver asked, his sharp eyes turning to examine them.

Leah saw no harm in saying, “Yes, our father’s uncle is quite ill. My sister and I have come to see if we could help nurse him. His name is Silas Carter. I don’t suppose you know him?”

“Well, no, ma’am, I don’t—but with two pretty young nurses like you, I don’t reckon he’ll have any trouble getting well.” The driver grinned and slapped the backs of the horses with the line. “Get up there, you lazy hosses!”

They passed through the main part of town and then through what seemed to be an industrial district.

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