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Sons Of Erin	By : Neverseenblue Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > U2 Views: 1710 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of U2. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Larry made his way back to where his men were camped. The frost on the grass crunched underfoot and he drew his great coat closer to his body to ward off the bitter December cold. Shrill brassy notes rung out across the clear sky as the bugler called the morning tattoo. His men were beginning to stir as he reached the line of small white tents. His solders emerged from the tents stretching and complaining of the cold as they stamped their feet in their boots and started up the morning cook fire. The men gathered around warming their stiff fingers by the small fire and eagerly awaiting coffee and biscuits.

The night before General Burnside had ordered no fires to be lit to better hide their numbers; an order that was widely unpopular since the confederate army knew they were there and had already dug in on the heights overlooking the town. Some oers ers had thought it would be wiser to light the fires and send an indemating warning to the rebels since the union army out numbed them by 3 to 1. But Larry knew the confederates had the better position up on the heights, and they would have a hell of a time trying to force them out from behind their earthworks and from behind that damn stonewall.

“Where’s the captain, sir?”

Larry turned to the Sergeant, a tough old Irishman from New York. He gestured toward the river, “He’s still up there surveying the rebel’s entrenchments.”

“They’re gonna send us up that hill?” it was more of a statement than a question

“It’s beginning to look that way,” Larry replied

“Well it sure is a cold day for fighting,” the Sergeant said as he blew on his hand and tucked them back under arms to keep them warm. There was an ominous tone to his thick Irish brogue that was not lost on Larry.

“Go get some coffee before it’s gone,” Larry said as a dismissal, the sergeant nodded and made his way to where the pleasant aroma of coffee had begun to fill the air.

Larry headed off in the opposite direction, continuing on toward the town of Fredericksburg. The union had captured the city the day before, but it was a small comfort when one considered that the rebel forces were still massed on the hills just outside the town.

************

Amelia drew her shawl tighter around her shoulders, though it did little to block the chill wind. She clutched her small leather bag of supplies closer to her body and set out to where the union army had set up a field hospital in the town’s chapel. She was surprised to find herself heading there with the intention of offering her services as a nurse to the wounded union men. She was thankful that General Lee had called for the town to be evacuated the day before; she shuddered to think what her neighbors would say if they knew she was out to give aid to the Yankees.
They may be Yankees, she thought, but they were still men. Men she had danced and flirted with at balls and parties up north on visits to friends and relatives. Men that now in good consciousness she could not see suffer.

Her father, a doctor, had went with General Lee to help the Confederate’s army surgeons patch up their boys in gray, but she had stayed behind in the town—refusing to leave her home unoccupied and at risk of looting. Their meager supply of quinine and morphine was all they had left until they could get a shipment through the blockade, so all the day before she had huddled in her basement while the armies raged about her—the sound of exploding cannon shells striking terror in her heart and soul. And now here she was hurrying along with a bag of those very precious supplies to nurse the enemy. She should be hanged she thought, and if some of her neighbors found out they just may well do that very thing.

With her head down and her thought pre-occupied did not see the man coming around the corner. Larry’s thoughts were elsewhere as well and neither one saw the other until it was too late and Amelia collided into Larry’s board chest. His hands caught the woman’s arms to steady her lest she stumble and fall; startled Amelia glanced up and found herself looking into the most intenselue lue eyes she had ever seen. They peered out from a handsome face that had just a touch of boyish air, though his azure eyes told her he was battle-weary. Lips that would normally be full and soft were set in a grim line. No Yankee officer should be allowed to be that beautiful she thought as those wide blue eyes looked at her with concern.

“Are you ok, madam?” he asked, and Amelia noticed the slight trace of an accent she couldn’t place.

Amelia drew herself up to her full height, though the top of her head barely came up to the man’s chin. “Yes,” she replied flatly “I’m fine.” it was one thing to nurse injured men, even if they were not on her side; but it was a something else to fraternize with the enemy while standing on the street in broad daylight.

Larry allowed his hands to drop from her arms; and for a second Amelia missed the warmth that flowed from them and up her arms. He looked down into her heart shaped face framed with chestnut curls. Her chin was titled in an angle of defiance and her warm brown eyes flashed at him as if warning him not to try and stop her. For a brief moment his lips soften, amused at her cheek in the face of an enemy.

He cleared his throat “yes, well, if you are ok then…”

“Quite so, sir.”

Larry wondered if she was a resident of the town, and if so why hadn’t she evacuated the day before. He asked, “do you live here?’

A wary light flashed behind her brown eyes, and she wondered how she should answer; he may have the pleasant air of a gentleman but he was still an officer in the army that was now occupying her town. Did he suspect that she was a rebel spy? She couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse for why she was here other than the truth, so looking him in the eye she slowly nodded.

“Then you maybe able to help me out here,” Larry said, “I’m looking for the church were the wounded men have been taken.”

Was that all he wanted, she wondered, direction to the chapel? Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

She gave a small sigh of relief, “I’m on my way there now,” she said, “you can walk with me if you want.”

“Thank you; it is kind of you to offer to show me the way.” Larry was surprised to find her so helpful; he was sure he would not be so genteel if he found himself in the same situation.

“May I ask why you are on your way to the hospital?” he asked falling into step next to her.

“I’m a nurse,” she replied, “I thought I could be of help to the surgeon.”

Well that was certainly surprising Larry thought, a southern belle offering to give aid to the enemy. His surprise must have showed on his face for she continued, “I took an oath to do no harm and to ease the suffering of my fellow man. I will not let blind loyalties stand in the way of fulfilling my duty.”

Larry nodded, solemnly, noticing the determation on her heart-shaped face; if there was one thing he could understand it was a doing one’s duty. He too had taken an oath, and oath to serve his adopted country and he was here—doing exactly that. Even if it meant taking up arms against those he had once called friend. He was beginning to feel that duty had a hollow ring to it. Duty was no comfort when he watched his men slaughter in battle; nor could duty offer any comfort to those wives and mothers left behind never to see their loved ones again. Yes, he understood duty.

They walked on in silence for a while. Amelia glanced up to see his face looking grave, and wondered if he had a loved one at the hospital. “Why are you going to the hospital sir,” she asked.

“A friend of mine was wounded yesterday,” he answered, “I wanted to check on him and see how serious the injury is.”

They had reached the steps leading up the chapel where the wounded men were being treated. She stopped and laid a hand on his arm. Looking up at him she was struck again at you young he looked, but he had been made a man through toil and war, she thought. “I’m sorry about your friend” she said softly and then with drawling her hand went quickly up the steps.

Larry paused for a moment, watching her slight form hurry up the steps. He was touched by the look of sympathy in her eyes. He followed her up the steps to where she was halted by a corporal guarding the door.

“What business do you have here, ma’m?” he asked, the surliness in his voice causing sparks of anger to rise in her eyes once again. How dare he refuse to allow her admittance into a house of God? Why she had been coming here all her life. She was about to give the man a good set down when the young man behind her spoke first.

“It’s ok, corporal, she’s with me. She is a nurse and has graciously offered to help.” His eyes where twinkling at the fiery expression on her face, but she wisely held her tongue. “Now, why don’t you go find the doctor?” Larry ordered. The corporal saluted smartly, “Yes sir,” and hurried off.

They followed the corporal’s retrng bng back into the vestibule; the sounds and smells of the hospital reaching them even there. Amelia turned to him, a slight flush on her cheeks, “Thank you sir, it was quite kind of you. I was not expecting to find a guard at a house of worship.”

Larry nodded, “It was nothing, I’m sure it must be hard on you to have your town occupied by strangers.”

Amelia looked as though she was about to reply but was unable to do so by the arrival of the doctor. He was a short, burly sort of man, with a massive set of sideburns on his jowl like cheeks. He wore an already bloody apron and a harried expression on his face.

“What do we have here?” he snapped at Larry, barely glancing at the young woman.

“I’ve brought you a nurse sir, Miss…?”

“Miss Hurst, sir, Amelia Hurst,” she supplied.

The doctor looked her over a bit more thoroughly “What sort of experience do you have?” he asked.

“My father is a doctor; he often took me with him on house calls. I grew up tending the sick and wounded, sir, I’m sure I will be of use to you,” she said. The doctor nodded at this, she may be a bit on the small side, he thought, but was not about to turn down a willing pair of hands. Esp. if her claims of being a nurse tru true.

“Come on then, I’m sure I can find a place for you,” he said, a little less grouchy.

Amelia turned to Larry before following the doctor, “What is the name of your friend, sir?” she asked.

“Robert Collins,” Larry said, “He is a Lt. with the engineering corps.”

“I’ll look after him, and see that he gets the best of care,” she promised as a way of thanks and turned to follow after the doctor. A few minutes latter she was dismayed to realize that she had not thought to ask the man who had walked with her for his own name. She was shocked to find herself hoping to see him again.

A few moments latter Larry found Collins. He was sitting up on a cot, naked from the waist up his shoulder bandaged and wrapped up in an army blanket.

“Well look what the cat dragged in,” Collins teased, but pleased to see his old friend from West Point.

Larry settled into the empty chair next to the cot, “Heard you got shot up while putting those pontoons bridges across the river yesterday.”

“Well you know, Lars, I had to get a wound to show off to the ladies back home,” he joked, trying to make light of it. Larry had changed so much from their days at West Point. The laughing young man he knew was gone now. And in his place was this grim, quite stranger that Collins felt he hardly knew anymore. He didn’t like that haunted look he saw in his friend’s eyes.

“Is it bad?” Larry asked.

“Nah, went clean through the shoulder, I’ll be up and about in a few days,” he said, “but in the mean time I will be enjoying the fine company of these kind southern belles.” He gestured to where Amelia was across the room, tending to a row men.

Larry looked up in surprise; they had put her to work that quickly! The look on his face did not go unnoticed by his friend. “You know her already?” Collins asked.

“No, we just met briefly out side a few minutes ago.” He replied.

“Well I dare say you seem sweet on her already,” Collins said with a wink, “you always did have a way with the ladies; and here you are snatching the prettiest one out of my reach already.”

Collins was worried when he didn’t rise to the bait. It was so unlike Larry to be so silent. Larry stood up, “I have to be getting to head quarters, I wanted to check on you before I go,” he said.

The reminder of the upcoming battled sobered Collins, “Look you take care of yourself up there today; and God be with you.”
Larry nodded and turned away. He was sure God was not taking sides in this war.
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Sons Of Erin