Free Confederate Gold and Silver by Peter F. Warren Page B

While he was not totally refreshed, he felt significantly stronger than he had when he went to bed. As he washed his face with water from a small bowl within his tent, he sensed the high humidity his army had endured on their march south through Virginia had finally broken. As he finished dressing, he could smell fresh coffee brewing nearby outside of his tent.
    Stepping from his tent, Lee spied Captain Francis and his heavily bandaged left hand. He was seated at a nearby table awkwardly attempting to eat his breakfast. Major Taylor, joined by Captains McAulay and White, stood off to the side of Lee’s tent talking as the Confederate camp began to come to life that morning. As he walked to the table, Francis saw him approaching and started to stand to salute him. As he did, Lee waved him off, motioning for him to remain seated. With too much respect for Lee, Francis stood and saluted him sharply. Lee returned his salute.
    “Captain, good morning, I am pleased to see you again. I do hope the doctors have done well for you. I also hope you are indeed on the way to a quick recovery.”
    “Good morning, sir. Yes, and thank you, they have done their best for me. I am most grateful for their skills.”
    “Very good! I am pleased to hear you are on the mend. Please, be seated and please continue eating your breakfast.”
    Lee had known of Captain Francis and of his daring military exploits for just over two years, first taking real notice of him after hearing of a cavalry ride he had made one night through Union picket lines. With only a handful of other cavalry officers, Francis had almost single-handily rescued General John Legg who had been injured and then captured by Union forces during the Battle of Big Bethel. This daring ride had earned Francis the nickname of ‘Bull Rider’ as he had bullied his way through thick brush and Union picket lines to rescue Legg.
    In his earlier years, Lee had become close friends with Judiah Francis’ father, Major Peter Francis, when they had served together in the Union army. Peter had sustained a severe back injury in early 1861 after being thrown from his horse; an injury which had occurred just months before the war had broken out. Lee knew it pained his good friend not to have an active role in defending Virginia during the war.
    From their friendship Lee had learned Peter’s father, James Peter Francis, had disgraced his family many years ago due to his problems associated with alcohol. The problems also included him taking up with several of his female slaves. Peter talked little about his father to others, but he had with his friend, Bobby Lee. He had called Lee by that name when no one else had dared to, but they had been good friends for many years. Lee had long known about the story of Peter’s father’s problem with the slave women and with alcohol. As little as he had spoken about his father, he had spoken plenty about his great grandfather, William Peter Francis. As a young man, William had bravely fought with George Washington’s troops at Yorktown when they had defeated the British at the end of the Revolutionary War.
    It had been two years since Lee had seen his old friend, but when he had, in a brief encounter during the summer of 1861, Peter had proudly compared his son to his great grandfather. He had told Lee he knew his son would live up to his great grandfather’s reputation. Partially because of his close friendship with Peter, Lee later had taken a liking to Judiah the first time they had met.
    “General, please excuse me for starting my breakfast before you arrived, but Major Taylor insisted I eat as soon as the food was served. As you can see, I am somewhat handicapped at the time due to this bandage on my hand. I . . . . well I just need a little more time to eat these days. I need to work through this injury I have sustained, so please forgive me for being so clumsy. Sir, I am reporting to you as ordered and I can assure you I will not allow this