Sergeant Decker

10

1

I was checking my pockets as the sun was coming up when I spotted three rebels coming out of the brush. Lucky for me I saw them before they saw me; that’s what saved me. They were mounted, so that made them easier to spot. They did not see Private Short at all; he was behind a tree about 40 feet from me. As soon as they saw me, I pulled my pistol and shot the rebel captain in the head. Private Short shot from behind the tree and hit the corporal next to the captain. The soldier only had his carbine and by the time he got that in action, I had two bullets in him. Private Short, after reloading his rifle, helped me round up the horses.

Corporal Stoner, Corporal of the Guard, came in with six men and I sent them to see if any more foolish rebels were in the brush. As soon as he reported back, I had his men drape the dead over their horses and we took them to headquarters. All three had fine looking horses; they looked like Morgans. Captain Smith was at headquarters waiting for my report.

Once we got there, we went through everything on the dead men in front of Captain Smith, even their blanket rolls and saddlebags. We dismissed Sergeant Belzer and his men that formed up when the shots were fired. I then detailed six men to go and bury the dead. We were fortunate in finding the names of all three; I was going to include their names in my report. Captain Smith asked me not to mention the three horses. He had done this before with two other horses. I didn’t like it because he was involving me in stealing these horses. On the other hand, I had to get along with him, so I left them out of my morning report. Captain Smith was new in our unit. Our old captain, Captain Blair, and a lieutenant got shot while taking Mobile. Smith was the only officer in the company and Sergeant Belzer and I were the only sergeants in the unit.

Captain Smith rode the horses out of there one at a time going to Mobile. Then he came back on a buggy driven by a Negro each time. I guess he was holding the horses somewhere or selling them. The war was coming to an end, so who knew what he had in mind.

We had been left behind guarding the area around Mobile and had already been at the bivouac for three weeks.

I talked to the battalion sergeant major and he told me that we would not go back on the line again and that we would probably sit out the rest of the war right where we were. He told me we had a lot of casualties when we took Mobile; it was probably the reason they left us here, but I didn’t mind so much. I had had enough fighting behind me to last me quite a while. I joined back in 1861 right after the war started.

Periodically, I would take a couple of men with me and ride around our area to keep it clear of rebels. It was on one of these rides that we came up on a little farm in a clearing in the woods. It was about 10 miles from where our headquarters was located. I had my boys stay in the trees covering me as I rode up to the house to check it out. A woman and two little girls were outside hanging laundry. I got off my nag and asked the woman if any Confederate troops were anywhere nearby. She told me I was the first soldier she had seen in three months; she was very scared. I assured her that I wasn’t going to hurt her or her children. I also told her that I had a job to do and I needed to search her house and surrounding property just to make sure no one was hiding out.

I checked her barn first and the only thing I found was three pigs in a pen. I heard a mule over in some trees and I asked her whose mule it was. She started crying and told me she had a corral back there and the mule was hers. She thought for sure I was going to take it. I did have orders from Captain Smith to pick up any mules or horses I came across on my rounds, but I figured he just wanted them to pad his pockets so I left the mule where it was. I then told the woman goodbye and left the way I came. I met back up with my men and we rode back to our unit.

I kept thinking about the woman. The next break I had, I was planning on riding out to her place and asking her if she would do some sewing for me. I also wanted to check in on her and her girls to make sure they were safe.

A couple of days later, I told Captain Smith that I wanted to go into town for the weekend. Sergeant Belzer would be here. The captain didn’t want me to, but he told me to go ahead and go anyway. I got a half a slab of bacon from the cook and a bag of beans that I was going to give to the woman, as well as a pile of my things that needed mending.

On the way out to the woman’s farm, I shot a nice four pointer and cleaned it out. I put it over the back of the saddle and I rode it over to her place. When I got there, I rode around the place once before I rode up to her house. I saw her corral and her mule. I saw no trace of travel anywhere.

When I rode up to the house she was outside and she looked scared. She thought that I had come back to rape her. I showed her the deer I was packing and asked her if she could use the meat.

I could use it all right, but what would I have to do for it? she asked.

Well I said You could fry me up a couple slices of the liver while I skin it out for you.

Is there any fat on the deer to fry the liver with?

There is just a little so you’d better use some bacon.

I don’t have any bacon, she replied.

I reached into my saddlebag and pulled out the half-slab and handed it to her and then asked her if she had a cutting board. She brought it out with a knife and a cleaver. I sliced up the liver for her. I then asked her if she had a coffee pot and she told me that she did. I always carried a little coffee in my bag and I got it and handed it to her. After I finished skinning out the deer, I cut it up with the cleaver and saved the two shoulders and the legs and gave the rest to the woman. She was fixing the liver inside and called me in. She set an extra place at the table for me. She fixed two little pieces for her girls and they sat down too. Just to make conversation, I asked the girls their names. One was Sara and the other was Vera.

What is your mommy’s name? I asked.

Little Sara who was about 8 years old answered, Her name is Sara too.

What is your last name? I asked.

Their mother answered for them and said Parker.

I asked her if she was going to eat anything and she said that she would eat later.

Little Sara said We only have three plates.

Then it started to rain. I finished my liver and went outside and put my horse in the barn. They had a little hay and I threw him some. I went back inside and Sara was eating a slice of liver and drinking some coffee.

I wonder how long this rain will keep up? I asked.

I don’t know, she answered. She looked scared.

I asked her if she had a tub that I could make a little brine for the meat in; she did. I then started to cut up the meat from the legs into long strips for smoking. I asked her if her smokehouse worked; she told me it did. I told her the meat would be ready to smoke the next day after it soaked in the brine all night.

The two girls went out on the porch to watch the rain. I just worked away. I asked Sara if she had any curing salt; she didn’t.

That’s fine; it won’t make any difference. Just don’t keep the brine too long. You can use it up with some beans.

I don’t have any beans either, she replied.

I’ve got some you can have.

If I had some beans I could plant some in the garden, she stated.

Little Vera came in and said, Mama, that man that beat you is coming and he has another man with him. I figured that’s why Sara was so scared.

Call your girls in and tell them to go to the other room. I instructed Sara.

I watched the two men as they rode toward the house. They had on remnants of gray uniforms; they were also a couple of loudmouths. They were dirty-looking bearded fellows; a couple of deserters by their looks. They had a pack mule with them. One of them told the other that he wanted to have Sara first. The other man answered, Makes no difference to me.

I told Mrs. Parker to go to the other room and said, This is army business.

It was raining hard when they came up to the porch. The one that was to have her first turned and hollered, Come out here woman!

They both got off their horses and tied them to a couple of posts. As soon as they finished, I stepped out and they went for their guns. It was a stupid move on their part; a blind man could see that my gun had been pulled from the get go. I got both men dead-center. I picked up their guns and then took their horses and the pack mule over to the barn. I unsaddled all three of their animals, as well as my horse too. I carried both of their saddlebags in with me. The two dead were laying half out in the rain, so I pulled them in and started to go through their pockets. Between the two of them they had thirty-two dollars. They probably killed a Yankee officer or two to have cash like that. I put a double-eagle in my pocket and twelve dollars on the table for Sara.

I then called for Mrs. Parker. She slowly came out, trembling. I asked her to take a look at the mens’ clothing to see if she wanted any of it.

You can always wash it out, I stated.

No, I don’t want anything from them, she insisted.

I brought in all their guns. One of them had a Navy .36 colt; I kept that. The other three pistols were Confederate .36’s. I didn’t them and told Sara to put them away somewhere.

She was excited to get the guns and said, I will take them out to the barn.

I then asked her if she knew how to shoot.

Of course I do. I used to hunt with my father all the time. I’m a pretty good shot too, she replied.

Both mens had Confederate .56 calibers rifles and I didn’t want them either. Sara was more than happy to take them.

Where is your husband? I asked.

He’s dead from the war, she replied.

I then started to unpack the two loaded saddlebags. There was a bundle of jerky in one pack, as well as a gold watch hidden inside a sock. I took the watch and put it over with the money on the table. There was also some .36 ammunition and I put it with the pistols. We also ended up getting a shirt, some coffee, tobacco, some salt, a bag of beans, and a small coffee pot.

I then went outside and brought in the packsaddle from the mule. It was loaded with food items, a skillet, and a big coffee pot. Sara finally put her differences aside and agreed to take the food items. I told her to put everything away. After the pack was empty, I took it out to the barn and put the big coffee pot and the skillet back inside the pack. I took my beans inside and put them on the table.

The rain finally stopped and I asked Sara where her shovel was. She went out the back door and handed me a good shovel. I asked her where I could dig a grave for the two men.

Anywhere past those two trees on the other side of the barn, she stated.

How about you fixing us some chops while I do the digging?

"I can make something