Free Drummer Boy at Bull Run by Gilbert L. Morris Page A

Leah Carter, and this is my father, Daniel,” Leah answered quickly. “And my brother, Royal, is in A Company.”
    “So the whole family has come to help the Union?” The president smiled. He did have a homely face, but there was a kindness and a warmth in it that seemed to shed light as he looked around. He shook hands with her father, saying, “You are to be congratulated, sir, on your efforts.”
    Daniel Carter cleared his throat and nodded.
    “Mr. President, I pray for you every day of my life. I know the heavy burden that you’re under, and I pray that God will give you strength to bear it.”
    Lincoln’s eyes opened wide, and he grew sober. “I thank you, sir, and I encourage you to continue to do so. Without the help of the Almighty there is no way that I could carry this burden, but with His help we cannot fail.”
    A murmur of appreciation ran around, and Leah suddenly put out her hand. “Mr. Lincoln,” she said, “can I shake your hand?”
    At once her hand was enclosed in the president’s. It was so large that hers seemed lost, but he held it gently. “Well, I never refuse a chance to shake hands with an attractive young woman,” Lincoln said with a smile. “Where are you from, Miss Leah?”
    “From Kentucky, sir.”
    “Ah, yes, Kentucky.” Lincoln shook his head sadly. “One of our border states, neither Confederate nor Federal. You have great problems there.”
    “Yes, sir. Many of our friends went to be with the South.”
    “Yes, I too have fine friends in the South,” Lincoln said at once. “We must pray that one day soon we will all be united again.”
    Leah looked up and asked before she thought, “Will we win, Mr. President?”
    Lincoln stared at her for a long moment, then whispered, “Yes, Miss Leah, I must believe that the Almighty will bring this country back under one flag again.” He studied her. “You worry about your friends and perhaps relatives in the South?”
    “Yes, sir, I do.”
    Lincoln nodded. “A sad thing.” He hesitated and then put his hand out again. When he had hers in his, he said, “I thank you on the part of your government for what you’re doing to help our brave boys. If you ever need help that I can give, I hope you will come and ask for it.”
    And then he was gone.
    Leah’s hand seemed warm after the pressure of his. As she watched the president walk away, surrounded by the officers and statesmen, she thought suddenly of Jeff so far away in the South. Sadness came over her, but she thought of the president’swords—“The Almighty will bring this country back under one flag again,” and she whispered, “Pa, he’s right, isn’t he? One day this will all be over.”
    Dan Carter put his hand on her shoulder and whispered, “Yes, daughter, one day it’ll all be over, and we’ll be one people again.”

8
A New Recruit
    A s Jeff stepped down off the train, he discovered that war fever had come to Richmond. A host of young men had flocked to the city to enlist, and he soon learned that their greatest fear was that the big battle would be over before they could become a part of it. As he pressed his way through the streets, the people behaved as though they were infected. They rushed from rally to rally, faces flushed, shouting war slogans.
    “I guess I better go find Pa,” he murmured and managed to make his way through the crowds. He noticed that the volunteer companies that were seeking to enlist new members had rather awe-inspiring names, such as Baker Fire-eaters, Southern Avengers, Bartol Yankee Killers, Cherokee Lincoln Killers, and Hornet’s Nest Riflemen.
    I hope they’re as rough as their names
, he thought with a smile.
    He paused beside a platform where a battle flag made by the ladies of Richmond was to be presented. This company had the rather ferocious name of Southern Yankee Killers. Jeff watched as the volunteers stood in ranks, their eyes fixed on the speakers, who gave them a flowery tribute. Then the color sergeant