Harry Turtledove - How Few Remain

PRELUDE

1862

10 SeptemberOutside Frederick, Maryland

The Army of Northern Virginia was breaking camp. The lean, ragged soldiers, their gray uniforms and especially their shoes much the worse for wear, began the next long tramp, this one north and west toward Hagerstown. They were profoundlyand profanelyglad to be getting away from Frederick.

That Bonnie Blue Flag, that aint nothin but a damn pack o lies, a corporal announced to anyone who would listen as he slung his haversack over his shoulder.

Youd best believe it is, one of the privates in his company agreed, pausing in the middle of the agreement to spit a brown stream of tobacco juice from the chaw that bulged out his left cheek. This here miserable Frederick town, it aint nothin but a stinkin ol city full of damnyankees. Sons of bitches wouldnt take our money, wouldnt open up their stores so as we could get the supplies we needed, wouldnt

Taking a corporals privilege, the corporal interrupted: You cant even get into that there town without you have a letter in writin from your officer, says you can. Otherwise, them lousy provost guards, theyd just as soon arrest you as look at you, goddamn miserable snoops. Hear them talk, youd think we was the ones in the Yankee uniforms.

Hell, I am in a Yankee uniformYankee trousers, anyways, the private answered. The Northern fellow I took em off, he didnt need em no more.

The couriers horse daintily picked its way through the chaos, careful where it set its feet. The lieutenant aboard the bay gelding didnt blame the animal for that; once an army had camped in a field, it wasnt a pleasant place any more, no matter how pleasant it might have been to start out with.

They said that, once youd been encamped for a while, you stopped noticing the stink. The lieutenant wrinkled his nose. Hed never found that to be true. Every time he breathed in, he smelled the slit trenches (and the men hadnt been all that careful about using them; this was, after all, Yankee country), horse manure, thousands of bodies that had done a heap of hard marching without baths any time lately, and the choking smoke from thousands of little fires. The good odors of cooking food, coffee, and tobacco had to fight hard to make themselves noticed against all that.

Lieutenant! somebody called from behind him. Hey, Lieutenant! The courier paid no particular attention. The Army of Northern Virginia wasnt as big as it should have been, but it was big enough to have a hell of a lot of lieutenants.

Then the call got more specific: You there, Lieutenant, up on the bayhold on, will you?

The courier reined in and looked back over his shoulder. You want me?

Noyour cousin back in Richmond. The corporal whod been grousing about the provost guards grinned impudently up at him. Getting men to give officers the respect their rank deserved was a battle the army hadnt won yet and wouldnt any time soon. The courier was about to tell the infantryman off when the fellow held up a fat white envelope, now somewhat stained with mud. You dropped this, sir.

Good God! The courier felt woozy, light-headed. Give it to me!

Here you go. The corporal handed it to him. He cocked his head to one side. You all right, Lieutenant? You dont mind me sayin so, you look white as a ghost, you do.

I believe it. The lieutenant clutched the envelope as if he were a drowning man and it a plank. Do you know whats in here?

Cigars, felt like, the corporal answered with the casual expertise of a man whod done a good deal of foraging.

Cigars it is. The courier opened the envelope and took them out. There were three, all of them nice and long and thick. He handed the corporal the biggest one. Herethis is for you. The next went to the private with whom the fellow had been grumbling. And this is for you. He stuck the third in his own mouth.

Obliged, sir. The corporal walked over to the nearest fire, stuck a twig in it, and got his cigar going. He came back pugging happy clouds and leaned close to the private so he could start his. Then he came up to the courier. After hed given him a light, he remarked, Thats good baccy, but it dont seem enough to be makin such a much of a much over, like you was doin.

No? The lieutenants laugh was the high, sweet sound of pure relief. Do you know what was wrapped around those cigars?

The corporal shook his head. Cant say as I do. Reckon youre gonna tell me, though, so thats all right.