On to Richmond (7 page)

             
Robert nodded.  “I believe that too, sir.  After the ease of taking Fort Sumter, I’m afraid I jumped on the bandwagon with those who believed the war would be little more than a scuffle.  That the North would see we are serious and elect to let us go in peace.”

             
“You’ve changed your mind?”

             
“I would say General Lee changed it for me.”

             
“General Lee?” Thomas continued before Robert could answer his question.  “Lee is a fine man - a real gentleman.  He is a man all of Virginia can rally behind.  Besides being a fine man, he is an excellent soldier.  Virginia can be proud that he chose to take his stand with her.”

             
“As far as Lee is concerned, sir, he had no choice.  He has no use for slavery and hoped fervently that secession would not be the result of the last years of conflict, but once the decision was made he knew he could never take up arms against his native state and the people of the South.  His resignation from the U. S. Army broke his heart, sir.”

             
“Yes, I’ve heard it was very difficult.”

             
“He has family fighting for the Union.  He has left his home overlooking the city of Washington.  He is aware he may never go back.”

             
“Surely he does not think the South will lose!”  Thomas’ voice was suddenly sharp, and he leaned forward to stare at Robert intently.

             
Robert shrugged.  “Lee is going to give the South the best he has.  But he shares none of the disillusions I carried for a while.”  The young lieutenant paused, took a long swallow of his drink, and stared out over the streets still bustling with activity even though night had settled in.  He fought to contain the emotion his own words created.   “Lee has told me this is going to be a long war.  There will be much pain and suffering on both sides.  He does not believe for a minute that the North will turn away from its quest to preserve the Union.  He has served alongside many of the men who are now considered his enemy.  Lee insists the Northern people will never yield in the contest except at the conclusion of a long and desperate struggle.”

             
Both men fell silent as they envisioned the results of a long conflict. 

             
Finally Thomas spoke.  “You have spent time with Lee.  What kind of man do you think he really is?”

             
“None finer,” Robert responded immediately. “He is a leader well worthy of the state and of our cause.”  He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and carefully smoothed it on the table.  “I believe the Richmond Dispatch says it best.” 

             
A more heroic Christian, noble soldier and gentleman, could not be found.  Of him it was said before his appointment, and of him it may be well said, no man is superior in all that constitutes the soldier and the gentleman - no man more worthy to head our forces and lead our army.  There is no one who would command more of the confidence of the people of Virginia than this distinguished officer, and no one under whom the volunteers and militia would more gladly rally.  His reputation, his acknowledged ability, his chivalric character, his probity, honor, and  - may we add to his eternal praise - his Christian life and conduct make his very name a tower of strength...

             
“He sounds a little like God,” Thomas said dryly.  Then he smiled, “And I find I agree with all of it.  I recently read a report that General Winfield Scott said he had rather have received the resignation of every general than that of Lee.”  Thomas smiled again, even more broadly.  “Let the battle be long.  Victory will certainly be ours.  The price will be high, but it will be worth it!”

             
His attention was drawn away by the waiter once more appearing at the edge of the table.  “Ready to order now, sir?”

             
Thomas nodded.  “Robert?”

             
Robert had barely scanned the menu while they were talking but already knew what he wanted.  Camp food was adequate, but he was ready for a good meal.  “I’ll have the roast duck, please.”  Quickly he added to his order:  potatoes, green beans, biscuits, and fresh strawberry pie.  Then he leaned back to continue talking, his stomach growling in anticipation.

             
“One more question, Robert?”

             
“Only one, sir?” Robert asked smiling.  “I had anticipated many more.”

             
Thomas chuckled.  “You’re right.  Just one more about Lee.”

             
“Ask what you’d like.  I’ll do my best to answer.”

             
“Lee has no affection for slavery.  He was not in support of secession.  Yet just a few days after he resigned from the United States Army, he agreed to command the Southern troops.  Why?”

             
Robert took another long draught of his drink and sat back.  “It’s rather simple.  At least in Lee’s mind.  His first thoughts and considerations have always been of Virginia.  It’s true he resented the attitudes of many of the secession leaders.  He felt they were trying to force the involvement of the border states in their struggle. He refused to be pulled in.  Virginia’s secession changed all that.  He is well aware of the vulnerable position of our state in relation to Washington and the northern part of the country.  Quite frankly, he knows we stand no chance without the assistance of the rest of the South.   It was Virginia’s welfare that put him on the side of alliance and common effort.”

             
Thomas nodded.  “He is quite a remarkable man.”

             
“That he is.”  Robert was ready to change the subject.  “You seem to be doing well.  Are you happy with your new position with the Virginia government?”

             
Thomas nodded thoughtfully.  “My heart is with General Lee.  I will give my all for Virginia.  For my home!” he added almost fiercely.  Then he shook his head.  “I suppose all this has done me somewhat of a favor.”

             
Robert leaned forward a little and looked into his face.  He was pretty sure he knew what the older man was talking about.  He was not disappointed.

             
“I couldn’t seem to find a reason for living after Abigail died.”  A long pause then, “She meant everything to me, you know.”

             
Robert nodded, his mind traveling back to the gracious and beautiful woman who had made him feel so much at home the first night he met the Cromwells.  “She was indeed a special woman.”

             
Thomas shook himself as if to bring his thoughts back to the present.  “That she was,” he said briskly.  “I floundered for quite a while, trying to find something to live for.  Leaving Carrie with the plantation...”  Again he paused.  “Well, it wasn’t fair to her.”

             
“Carrie is content on the plantation, sir.”

             
Thomas leaned back in his chair.  “That’s enough of that, young man.”

             
“Excuse me?”  Robert asked in confusion.  “Enough of what?”  Did Carrie’s father not even want him mentioning her name?  What had he been told?  Suddenly, the blood began to roar in his ears.  He had had such hopes...

             
“Enough of calling me sir.  You are a lieutenant in the Confederate Army.  You are not a boy.  I would appreciate it if you would call me Thomas from now on.”

             
Robert leaned back with a rush of relief.  “Whatever you say... Thomas.” 

             
Thomas nodded, not seeming to have noticed Robert’s momentary panic.   “And I know Carrie says she is content.  I also know the depth of my daughter’s ability to dream.  She is on the plantation because it is her duty, not her love.  When duty no longer demands her presence, she will move on to follow her dreams.”

             
Robert merely nodded, knowing Thomas was right.  Carrie’s shining green eyes, and glistening black hair rose up to taunt him.  It was her aliveness that had drawn him from the moment he had first laid eyes on her.  She radiated a life and exuberance that seemed to explode from her.  She also knew what she wanted.  Her independence and strong will had proven to be a magnet for him.  Until...

             
“Why the frown, my boy?”

             
Robert flushed.  He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk about his feelings.  He looked up and saw the genuine look of caring and warmth shining from Thomas’ eyes.  Thomas knew how Robert felt about his daughter.  And he had told Robert the secret...  He still harbored a hope that Thomas could help him see a way out of this mess.  Robert managed to shrug lightly, knowing Thomas would see right through it.  “I’m hoping you can help me understand your daughter.”

             
Thomas gave a short laugh and leaned back again.  “Understanding most women is a difficult thing.  I think Carrie stands in a class of her own.”  He paused then hastened to add, “That’s what makes her so special.”

             
Just then the waiter arrived with their meal.  Robert waited until the food had been set on the table before he responded to Thomas’ statement.  “Carrie is special indeed.”

             
“Then what’s the problem?”

             
“I asked her to marry me.  The night before I left for Charleston.”

             
Thomas looked at him sharply.  “I didn’t know that,” he said simply.  Then he waited for Robert to continue.

             
“She wouldn’t have me.”

             
“I know Carrie loves you!”  Thomas protested. 

             
Robert shrugged.  “Yes - she told me she loves me.   She said she couldn’t marry me because of slavery.”

             
Thomas took a deep breath and leaned back.  “Maybe you should explain a little more.”  He looked down at his plate heaped with food.  “While we eat, of course.  I suspect you haven’t had a meal like this for a while.  Letting it get cold would border on criminal.”

             
Robert forced a smile, along with several forkfuls of food, while he allowed his mind to carry him back to the night he had sat on the steps of St. John’s church - so hopeful.  Finally, he spoke.  “Carrie is quite adamant in her belief that slavery is wrong.  She doesn’t believe marriage would work between us because we cannot stand united on this subject.”  Hesitating, he wondered if he should tell Thomas about his father’s death - about watching him be killed by a runaway slave when Robert was just a boy.   Carrie was the only person he had ever told.  She had been sympathetic, but still... now she was telling him she could not marry him because of hatred in his heart.  He swallowed his words and shook his head.  “I don’t know what to do.”

             
“Did you tell her it is our divine destiny to be slave owners?”

             
“She doesn’t believe that, Thomas.”  Robert paused, pulling his thoughts together.  Why did Carrie’s words still haunt him?  “I told her the Bible sanctions slavery.”

             
“Yes.”

             
“She wanted to know where it says that.”

             
“What did you tell her?” Thomas’ eyes bored into him.

             
Robert shrugged helplessly.  “That I didn’t know the answer.  I told her it wasn’t my job to know - it was a minister’s.”

             
Thomas nodded.  “That’s true,” he said firmly.

             
“She doesn’t agree,” Robert continued.  “She told me the Bible doesn’t sanction slavery - that people can find a way to justify anything they want to believe.  She said she had sought God’s heart - that she could no longer condone slavery.”

             
“Yet she is running our plantation with our slaves,” Thomas said wryly.

             
Again Robert shook his head.  “She says she owns not a single slave - that they belong to you.  If she had her way, she would let them all go free.”

             
Thomas looked startled.  “That would mean the end of all we’ve ever known.  Surely she can’t mean that.”   He paused for a moment.  “It’s a good thing Cromwell Plantation isn’t completely in her hands.  At least I’ve had the comfort of mind knowing Ike Adams is doing his job to keep the slaves in line.”

             
Robert shrugged, already wondering if he had said too much. He had kept Carrie’s secret about Adams since Christmas.  There were many times he had wondered at the wisdom of his promise, but still... a promise was a promise.   It was also obvious Thomas was going to offer him no way to change his daughter’s mind.  For weeks now, Carrie’s words had haunted him.  “Where does the Bible say slavery is sanctioned by God, Thomas?”

             
Now Thomas looked at him sharply and spoke in a stern voice.  “You need to be asking a minister those questions.  It is their job to interpret the scriptures for us.”