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Sam admired the watch briefly, then slid it into his pants pocket, patted Traveller’s muzzle, and led him out of the woods.
We moved slowly, keeping to the edge of the trees but using the moonlight as our guide. Gertie carried Sam’s small lantern and we followed the trails carved into the terrain by the cows that once graced the farmland of Gettysburg.
Chapter 19
Marco remained quiet during our journey across the Confederate-controlled land of Gettysburg. My Spidey sense told me he was gaining control of his faculties. As Sam walked in front, leading the horse, I capitalized on the opportunity to develop a game plan with Gertie.
“Do you recall what the history books say the general is doing for dinner this evening?”
“He’s monitoring the battle of Culp’s Hill,” Gertie rolled it over in her mind. “I believe he was suffering from a bout of the shats and he stayed close to his headquarters tonight. Longstreet was a bit pissed at him because he wanted to lead a defensive battle and General Lee refused.”
“Where is Longstreet?” I asked.
“Longstreet stayed at his camp. A few other generals met with Lee and members of his staff, that’s recorded anyway. Information got lost, burned, and stolen. I’m not entirely sure who was where, but one thing’s for sure, at three a.m. General Longstreet receives an order to move Pickett’s division forward.”
“Pickett’s charge. It’s tomorrow afternoon, right?”
“Yes,” Gertie said. She twisted her hands together. “I don’t know if I can issue the order for Pickett’s charge. So many lives were lost.”
“When the time comes, I know you’ll do your best to save history.”
“Is that what we’re doing?”
“It’s what we do.”
We walked in silence for a while. Cannons hissed in the distance; the earth moaned under our feet.
“After we secure you and Marco, I’m taking Sam to find Caiyan and the seer.”
“Shouldn’t Sam stay and keep the curious away from the general?” Gertie nodded her head toward Marco.
“He’s familiar with the area; I’ll need him to help me stay away from the line of fire.”
“Marco’s taller, more muscular, and younger than General Lee, you know.”
“Hopefully, he’ll be lying in a bed, and with the beard, dim lighting, and the blanket over his face, they won’t realize the general’s about thirty years younger.”
“Let’s hope so, for all our sakes.”
“If they discover you, have Marco summon me, then find an escape.”
“You’re not wearing your key,” Gertie tapped my bare neck.”
“I hid it so Caiyan can’t make me. If I don’t come back, I’ll meet you at the Black Horse Tavern before midnight tomorrow. And for God’s sake, don’t let Marco use his key and take the first flight out of here.”
“He talks a good game, but he would never leave us stranded here.”
Sam slowed the horse as we arrived at a camp south of the Chambersburg Pike.
“Isn’t General Lee’s headquarters at the house owned by the Thompson widow?” I asked Sam upon entering the base camp.
“His personal tent is there,” he indicated a wall tent in the center of the camp under a cluster of strapping oaks. “The general has his runners at the house. Not so good for a commander to have his whereabouts known to all. He takes his meals at the widow’s house.”
The area around the tent allocated for General Lee’s headquarters was heavily guarded. An officer’s tent, taller than those issued to a lower rank, it had four walls and a canopy across the front. In the light from lanterns hung in the trees, the tent cast a dark shadow.
“Tie up the horse over there, in that dark area to the left of the tent, and move him inside quickly,” I told Sam.
Soldiers saluted as we passed. Marco, keeping his head down, returned them. As we neared the tent, Gertie’s back stiffened. On the opposite side, a group of generals clustered around a wooden door they used as a makeshift table. They were playing cards, and one nudged the other as Sam brought the horse to a halt.
