Torn Into Pieces--3

Chapter 3: Letters From The Battlefield

September 29, 1861
Sitting Room
Mrs. Melissa Thurber-Wright's Residence
Richmond,Virginia
5:30 P.M.

Mrs. Wright sat in the parlor, reading Phoenix's latest letter to the assembled household. Each member sat entranced as he recounted the events of the latest round of training or laughed at some of the more humorous accounts of daily Army life. He remembered each person individually by name and wished them all well; after she had finished reading the letter, each one had gone back to their duties with renewed spirit and vigor.

Mrs. Wright smiled softly as she watched them leave before she took out another letter that had been tucked into the one that she had just read to her household. This one she would read privately since it concerned matters that the house staff were unaware of or, if not unaware, then at least ignorant of the facts and she was content to leave it that way.

Her last visit with Mrs. Edgeworth had been wonderful and they had exchanged their respective children's letters since both mothers were remembered in each letter. She shared Mrs. Edgeworth's sorrow over the death of her youngest child, Martin, at Second Manassas that past August which Phoenix had written to both to tell them the sad news.

He had been in the brigade that Phoenix commanded and he shared how badly the young man's death had affected him; he wrote that he had come under fire when the Federals were retreating and stayed behind to help some wounded comrades when a volley of bullets had cut him down. He had 'fought bravely until the last and was helping some of the wounded when some retreating Federals had fired upon him, killing the young man instantly. He felt no pain so Mother Edgeworth need not worry that he suffered before his passing' and, even though she missed her youngest child terribly, Mrs. Edgeworth had derived great comfort from Phoenix's letters.

With a deep sigh, Mrs. Wright unfolded the latest letter from Phoenix, written nearly two months earlier.

July 21, 1861
Manassas Junction, Virginia

Dearest Mother

This letter comes to you from the battlefield where we have prevailed in our fight against the North. Thanks to our glorious army, we have managed to repel the invaders! What a spectacle that was!

Mother, you would be proud of your son since I took my men and made a grand showing, leading them right into the mouth of Hell and the guns; no man hesitated, no man shirked or did not do his duty; we have made a fine showing of it. Lt. General Longstreet was quite pleased with our performance and said as much after the battle was over. What a glorious beginning we have made that will, God willing, grant us complete victory in the end. I can only pray that this success will be the first of many for the Confederacy and that this late unpleasantness and this will soon be over.

The Federals, such as they were, made a strong showing at first but, after General Jackson and his Virginians made their stand, they turned tail and fled. It was remarkable! God has shown us His merciful face and I pray that it will not be long until the North lays down their swords and we can come to some kind of agreement.

I must confess that I was amazed at the number of carriages that we saw on the bluffs overlooking Manssas Junction; there were people picnicking on the bluffs! I must confess that this surprised me greatly-who on earth would want to be near a battlefield?-but have learned since that they were civilians who had come to watch the Federals route us, no doubt expecting to see a quick and decisive victory for the Union forces. It must have come as quite a shock to them when we soundly defeated them and they were in as panicked a state as the retreating Union army that caused quite a kerfuffle! It was, on one hand, vastly amusing at watching them scrambling to get away and being passed by the fleeing Federal Army which caused no end of confusion and, on the other, it was something that was, I suspect, to them terrifying. It was quite the thing!

I must also tell you, Mother, that I also saw Miles today across the field of battle. I must confess that my heart was pounding in my chest when I saw him leading his men into the thick of battle but he commended himself honorably and his men did not falter nor did they hesitate but waded in to where the fighting was thickest. He was a sight to see, encouraging his men onward, marching back and forth as hails of bullets whizzed by him, waving his sword in the air!

Remarkably, though there were those who were cut down around him, he, himself was unscathed; I must also admit that I am glad that he came through without a scratch as there were many of his young soldiers that were not as lucky. I closed the eyes of many an enemy soldier that had gasped out his last breath on that blood soaked land and helped who I could with what I had which, regrettably, wasn't much. Please let Mother Edgeworth know that he is all right since I saw him on the field after the battle helping wounded Federals to field hospitals before he went back to Washington.

Tell her that he would do her proud and, while other soldiers had turned tail and fled the scene, he did not until he had finished helping those he had come by and he prudently decided to make his way back to Washington in order to avoid capture. I helped him, Mother; I could not do otherwise. He has, and always shall, have my heart and this hasn't changed even though we are on opposing sides. He would have done the same for me but at least I was happy to have the chance, fleeting though it was, to see him again and be able to render him this service.

I kissed him goodbye before sending him on his way and I was relieved to learn that he had made it safely back to Washington a week or two later; it took a great weight off of my heart to know that he was safe and send him all the love I can, praying for his safety in these trying times.

There isn't much more to tell you Mother, so I will close for now. Give my love to Prentiss, Myers, Cecilia, Martin, Jonathan, extended family and friends and, especially, to Mother Edgeworth and her family. I hear that two of her sons have signed up for duty in the Federal Army with another that just signed up today in the Army of Northern Virginia. Maxwell sends his love to his mother and brothers and sisters and also told me to remind Clara Dawson of his undying devotion (why he did not tell her so himself I can't imagine but we know that he is a bashful sort and probably thinks that she would reject him when I know quite well that she would not; the good lady has told me so herself on many an occasion and only awaits a word from him to confess all).

Col. Mason sends his regards and asks your permission to come and call upon you. He asked me for mine, being the Master of the house, but I told him that you were quite capable of making your own decisions in that regard and to ask you himself. I don't doubt that he may come calling within the next few weeks unless there is a battle to fight by then.

Mr. Barry, Mr. Cross, Mr. Valen, Mrs. Seldana, Mr & Mrs. Henry Brackenridge and Mrs. Coombs also send their love and their hope that you will come to visit soon; I suspect that they may have a wish for you to regale them with the latest exploits of your soldier son of which there really are not many; despite what the papers might say, my men deserve all the glory that I get.

I wish that they would recognize the common fighting man but I suppose that this is my cross to bear; I must confess that I don't feel like I deserve such honors and that my men are far more deserving of them than I. They are the ones who have the unenviable task of rushing into the teeth of the storm. Although I am there with them to encourage and lead them, I feel that they are much braver than I.

Take care, dearest Mother, and I will write again when I can. Perhaps this War will be over soon and then we'll be together again for Christmas; I can only hope, and pray, that this is so.

As Ever,

Love, Phoenix

Please Tell Mother Edgeworth that I KEPT THE FAITH, as I promised.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mrs. Wright put the letter down on her lap, taking her reading glasses off of her face, placing them on the table next to the settee, a sad but proud smile on her face.

I knew you would, Phoenix, she thought, her breast swelling with maternal pride. You have confirmed my fondest hopes. She closed her eyes momentarily. God go with you, beloved son, and God grant you both come home safely!

Mr. Myers stood at her elbow behind the chair in which she sat and she impatiently gestured for him to take the chair across from her which he did, a proud smile on his face.

"Master Phoenix is a good man," he said quietly.

Mrs. Wright nodded, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath.

"He is indeed and I couldn't be prouder of him." She opened her eyes and smiled softly. "He's confirmed my fondest hopes when he was a child that he would grow into a fine man and it appears that he has done so."

Myers nodded, his liquid brown eyes shining.

"Indeed he has. His father would be proud of the man he's become."

"He would at that." Both fell silent for a moment, thinking of Mr. Wright with fondness before their eyes flickered over to a portrait of him that stood on the mantle over the fireplace.

His kind blue eyes shone out from a heart shaped face with firmly chiseled features, snow white shoulder length hair and full lips that always seemed to have a smile for all that he met. His death five years earlier had been quite a shock but Phoenix, despite his great grief, had bravely announced after the funeral that he "would make Papa proud and take care of her and the household" and he had proceeded to do just that.

Mrs. Wright smiled sadly before she looked at Myers again.

"Very proud."

"Indeed, Madam." He paused a moment. "Do you miss him?"

She nodded. "Yes. Very much." Her voice was soft and Myers didn't miss the catch that was barely discernible.

She had loved her late husband very much and he knew that she still did which was why she hadn't had male callers until recently with the persistent attentions of Col. Mason, a Confederate officer in the Army of Northern Virginia, 2nd Brigade.

He was a good man in every sense of the word and treated all he met with respect which was unlike the mean condescension he'd felt over the course of his life. He truly hoped, for her sake, that Mrs. Wright would allow herself to fall in love again for, in truth, she had much to give and he knew that Col. Mason would treat her like the lady she was, without condescension.

Mrs. Wright looked at him with a slight smile gracing her lips, extending her hand which he took, holding it tightly. Myers nodded and both retreated into silence once more, the soft late afternoon sun shining through the stained glass windows.

~FIN~

Here I am once again
I'm torn into pieces
Can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up deep inside
But you don't get to see the tears I cry...

Kelly Clarkson—Behind These Hazel Eyes