Yankee Belles in Dixie by Gilbert L. Morris

horses.”
    â€œI don’t care. We’ll swim out if we have to. Come on now.”
    Tom led the way to where the general was issuing orders. He waited until he was free and then said, “General?”
    Forrest turned his dark eyes on him. “Yes? What is it?”
    â€œMy brother and I, we don’t relish going to a Yankee prison camp. Take us with you.”
    â€œI don’t have any horses to spare.”
    â€œWe’ll swim—anything. I’d rather die than go to one of those prison camps.”
    â€œMe too, General,” Jeff piped up. “Our pa’s in a prison camp himself. All three of us can’t go there.”
    Forrest hesitated only a moment. “All right, I’ll see what I can do.” He looked around. “Lieutenant Simon, put these two fellows behind a couple of our troopers. They can ride double.”
    â€œYes, sir!” the lieutenant snapped. Then, as the general turned away, he said, “Come on, fellows! We’ve got to get out of here. I’ll find you somebody to ride with.”
    An hour later General Forrest’s troop rode out. Jeff and Tom rode behind two of the cavalrymen. The icy river came up as high as the horses’ bellies, and they held their feet up. The water was cold enough to numb the toes.
    The lean cavalryman Jeff was holding onto turned and grinned. “A little bit cold, ain’t it?”
    â€œI don’t care,” Jeff said instantly. “I’ll do anything to get out of that place.”
    â€œWell, you ought to join the cavalry. It’s the only way to fight a war.”
    Jeff never forgot that ride through the rising, freezing river. A few of the men didn’t make it across, but most of them did.
    When he and Tom had gotten safely away, Tom thanked the general. “Sir, I guess we better get on back to Richmond. Our outfit’s there.”
    General Forrest nodded. “From what I hear, McClellan’s bringing a pretty big bunch out of Washington, headed for Richmond. If I didn’t have to stay here and help clean up this mess, I’d go with you.”
    â€œWe’ll never forget what you’ve done for us, General Forrest,” Tom said. “Thanks a lot!”
    Forrest was a stern man, but he grinned. “Remember this—if you get there first with the most, you’ll always whup ’em.”
    He turned and galloped away, and Tom said, “Now, there’s one real soldier!”
    â€œHe sure is.” Jeff nodded with admiration. “I wish we had a hundred just like him!”

9
God Will
Take Care of Us
    S pring was around the corner in Kentucky as Leah walked down the muddy road. The mid-April wind was mild today. Seeing her father over at the barn, she walked toward him.
    He was repairing a piece of harness and looked up as she came toward him. “Warm today isn’t it? I think spring’s here for sure, Pet.” He continued to punch holes in the harness as he spoke. “Be time for spring planting pretty soon. Always like to see this time of year come. Seems like God makes everything new.”
    Leah sat down on a box. Watching him work, she nodded. “I always look for the first crocus when they break through the earth,” she said. “I know for sure it’s spring then.”
    â€œFunny how you can tell weather by things like that. Like winter. You know winter’s not over until the pecans drop.” He grinned at her. “Pecan trees are a lot smarter than we are sometimes—about weather anyway.”
    They sat chatting, and then Leah asked, “Do you think we’ll be going back to Washington soon, Pa?”
    Daniel Carter hesitated, holding the strip of leather in one hand and the awl in the other. Finally he said, “I reckon so. From what I hear about it,President Lincoln has told General McClellan that he’s gonna have to fish or cut bait.”
    â€œThe troops all love General McClellan,