Tag Archives: slavery

John Brown’s Body

John Brown’s Body A lot can happen in a week. At 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, the guns of the Confederate States of America opened a bombardment on Fort Sumter. The fort had been designed to defend Charleston Harbor from attacks by sea. It’s defenses were pointed the wrong way, and it was stillContinue reading “John Brown’s Body”

Part II: War

Chapter 12: Better Angels             Crack!             Reuben slung the bat behind him and dashed for first base. He looked up to see the direction of the ball as he ran. It was fair, but flying high. As it started on its downward trajectory, the man on third base ran towards it. His bare handsContinue reading “Part II: War”

Chapter 9: 1857

“This court is now in session. Would the defendants please rise?” The three men looked around as if seeking allies in the crowd. Two of them slowly began to stand. “Git yer sorry ass up!” demanded the farmer serving as both guard and bailiff. He nudged the reluctant man with the butt of his SharpsContinue reading “Chapter 9: 1857”

Chapter 6: Retribution

            Kapow! Kapow! Kapow!             Reuben had just settled down for a good night’s sleep when he heard the three shots. There was trouble, but where?             The gunfire obviously came from one of his Sugar Creek neighbors. Reuben scanned the night as he exited his canvas shelter. A red glow came from Mace Johnson’sContinue reading “Chapter 6: Retribution”

Damn Yankee

   “Git offa mah property you damn Yankee som beech!” commanded the little man with the tobacco-stained teeth. “And stay away from mah Niggah, you heah?”             Reuben’s first encounter with the residents of Linn County had rapidly gone south. He could tell the little man meant business because his hand had moved to theContinue reading “Damn Yankee”

Resolution

            A fictionalized account of Reuben DeLay’s time in Confederate prisons             Reuben gently pushed the blanket he shared with Dawes over the form of his softly snoring bedmate. The air was cold and his joints ached from sleeping on the hard ground. He needed to stretch and get his blood circulating. He crawled outContinue reading “Resolution”