Life After the Civil War

©2019 Laszlo Endrody All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 978-1-54397-466-9 ebook 978-1-54397-467-6

Table of Contents

Sergeant Duke Nolan

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

James Walker

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth Weight

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Sergeant Mustang Smith

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About the Author

SERGEANT DUKE NOLAN

Laszlo Endrody

Chapter One

My brother Earl and I joined the army in 1862 in Toledo, Ohio. We stayed together in the same unit until the Battle of Kennesaw. Earl got wounded and they took him back to a field hospital. What saved him was his new Henry. The bullet hit the stock of his rifle. The stock broke and slammed into his chest. He broke a rib. I stayed with him until the ambulance came. The doc told me that it looked worse than it really was.

After he left, we were relieved and went back to Bivac. I carried my brother’s broken Henry back with me. As a corporal, I had very little privacy. I shared a small tent with my brother. Earl was a sergeant. I gathered up all his gear in a big canvas bag and I put the broken Henry without the stock in the middle. I had wanted a Henry for a long time, but this one was now broken.

While in Bivac, I was promoted to sergeant and took over my brother’s platoon. We lost 80 men at Kennesaw and waited for replacements that never came. Unit after unit passed by us. We fought at Dalton, Resaca, and Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman’s Atlanta campaign went on without us. We got orders to go back to Dalton and occupy the surrounding area, and that is where we stayed for a full year.

I kept my brother’s bag with me and consolidated everything that I could. I finally heard from him after 2 months; he wound had gotten infected. He went back to Chattanooga where he healed up and the army discharged him and he went home.

During the last year, I was usually on patrol duty. We combed the country in our area. There were a lot of confederate deserters and we had plenty of problems with them. One of main problems was them shooting us while concealed. They killed several troopers, stole innumerable horses and firearms, and then disappeared. When we caught some with U.S. horses or union firearms, they usually ended up at the wrong end of a firing squad.

I visited a lot of outlying farms and got to know the people of the area well. I went by a farm that a young woman owned several times with my patrol. She had two girls, ages 10 and 12. She would always come out on her porch and I would go up and ask her if she had seen any strange riders around. Her stock answer was, Just you all. I knew that she had a mule back in her corral but I didn’t want to take it from her. She wasn’t fighting anybody, just working in her garden with her girls. I was only 18 and I figured she was about 28-30, but she sure looked sexy.

About the fifth time I rode by her farm, I asked her what she was planting.

I’d like to plant some beans, but I don’t have any, she said.

If I come this way again, I can bring you some, I told her.

My partner, Old Man Sweden, hopped off his horse and pulled a bag out of his saddlebag and handed it to me. I looked inside the bag and there were some pinto beans.

It looks like I don’t have to come back, we have some pinto beans right here, I said and handed it over.

She smiled and thanked us, You Yankees aren’t so bad.

We don’t think so, I said.

We watered our horses and rode out of there. Two weeks later, I talked to the cook to see what kind of beans he had. He told me that he had some red beans and some Navy beans. I asked him if he’d give me some of each one. He gave me a 5 pound bag of each. I put them in my saddlebag and went on my patrol to the gardening woman’s area. I had a patrol of eight men. We were still in the trees when I saw a bunch of men in confederate rags at the farmhouse. I stopped my men and got my glasses out. I saw one of them drag the woman into her house. The deserters had horses, so I told my men that we would surround the place and then come in from eight directions. If the men didn’t surrender, we wouldn’t take any chances and shoot the deserters down. We were ready to fight.

When we got into position, I saw a pack mule and a riding horse tied up. The mule had a packsaddle. I left the mule and took the horse on a line. I waited 5 more minutes and then rode out. As soon as I saw all my men coming, I kicked my horse ahead. I pulled my pistol and we rode in at them. I started shooting and then all my men started shooting.

The deserters shot back twice but they fell. When I got to the house there was one inside the house who had a gun pointed at me. The woman pushed him from behind and then I shot him into the ground. He never got a chance to shoot again. I saw the woman had no clothes on so I told my men to hold all the horses. We had five men and five horses. I went inside; the woman was trying to pick up her dress but it was all in rags. I asked her who was in the other room.

My girls, she said.

I put away my pistol and I looked at her. She was beautiful.

They ruined my dress, she cried. Are you going to rape me too?

No, I said. But if you want, I can come back.

You’ve seen enough of me. How about you get me something to wear from those men, she said.

I will see what I can do, I told her.

I went out and told Corporal Wilson to get some clothing off the dead men and, if the items were in one piece, to give them to me. I told another man to start digging somewhere away from here. I had an extra pair of clean pants in my saddlebag and I gave them to the woman.

I came to bring you more beans, I said. And the pants are clean.

She put them on. I picked up a jacket that the corporal had placed on the porch and handed it to her as well. She put it on and went in to see her girls.

Corporal Wilson came in and asked, What are we going to do with their money?

What money? I asked.

They have 180 dollars in gold and a bunch of confederate paper, he said.

Well, we either turn it in or split it up, I said.

We’ll split up the gold and turn in the confederate paper, he said.

Everyone took 20 dollars, which left an extra 20. We decided to give it to the woman. I took it in and gave it to her.

It’s for your dress, be sure to hide it, I cautioned her.

My men dragged the bodies away. I asked if anybody had coffee with them. Wilson had a 2 pound bag. I told them that I would make the coffee. I took the coffee inside and asked the woman if she would make some for us. She started to heat some water. Wilson pulled out some shirts from the saddlebags. One looked clean so I took it in. I told her that it was clean, so she took off the jacket and put on the shirt.

What’s your name? she asked me.

My name is Duke, I said.

Come back sometime and you can stay the night, she said.

I will, I stated. What’s your name?

Maggy Hall.

I’m going to gather up whatever food those bandits had and you can have it, I told her.

They had cornmeal, beans, and some jerky. So I took it all in to her. She was happy to get it.

Come to the door, I said.

She did and I pointed out to a tall pine in the direction that we had come from. I motioned her back in and then I told her that I had left a mule back there that had a packsaddle on it.

As soon as we leave, you go get that mule and put it in with yours. Maybe there is some more food in that pack, I told her.

Oh, Duke, she said. Thank you! I’ll have a team again when this war is over.

We finished up outside and we all had some coffee. Maggy let her girls out. We finished up the coffee and Maggy had some too. Wilson piled all the blankets on a horse. I got the bundle and dumped them on the porch. I told him that we were not interested in blankets.

All we want are weapons and horses, I said. We rode back to our unit. I made my report when we got back to the captain. He told me that I had done well.

A week later, I asked for a couple of days off and I gathered up some food. I asked the cook for some bacon and he gave me half a slab. He told me that he was short but he could give me a jar of lard.

That’s fine, I told him. He also gave me 10 pounds of flour and I took that everything out to Maggy and her girls. She was one happy girl. She had some hay left up in her barn loft and we spent the night up there.

I had a terrific night making love to her until we both went to sleep exhausted. I was up at five and went out to shoot a deer. I skinned it out and took in the liver for breakfast. I cut up the deer for her. We ate well that day. I made friends with her daughters too. The older one was named Sara and the younger one was Sally. They were nice girls. I went to see her mules and they were nice animals. Maggy had been cutting hay for them and she had a good stack next to her corral. She was a devil; she undressed and we made love on the hay.

The girls came looking for us so we went back to the house. She fixed some deer steaks with rice that she had gotten from the mule pack. We went up into the hayloft again that night. That woman was trying to wear me out.

That next morning I asked, Do you want another deer?

Yes, so I can make some jerky, she said.

I can get you one, but you will have to cut it up because I have to head back after breakfast.

I’ll be fine, she said.

I shot another deer for her and she made me some coffee and fried up a slice of deer liver. I kissed her goodbye and went back to work. I visited her five times within the next two months and took her food each time.

I got several letters from my brother. He wanted to farm but couldn’t because when our dad died, our mother had sold her horses to the army. She got 100 dollars for one and 120 for the gelding. All they could do was make a big garden. Earl cut a bunch of hay and made stacks out in the field. I didn’t know how to help him but the war was coming to an end so maybe there would be some horses available later.

A weekend came again and I went out to Maggy’s home. I had my saddlebags full of foodstuffs. I got the cook two nice pistols so he gave me whatever I wanted. I was almost to her place when I saw the smoke. I got my extra pistol out from my bedroll and put it in my belt. I had two Colt Navy pistols and they were both my own. I was ready for trouble. I rode on with caution. I was regretting that I hadn’t brought my field glasses.

I was almost to the edge of the woods when I came face to face with two men. Both were renegades. My pistol came out of my belt and I shot them down before they got their guns in action. I caught their horses and noticed that both were U.S. branded. Both men carried a sack of foodstuff. I figured that they had ransacked Maggy’s place. I loaded them onboard their horses and went to Maggy’s. The house was burning. I hollered for Maggy but there was no answer. I went to the door and I saw Maggy lying in her kitchen; she was dead. They had raped her and cut her throat. I could do nothing for her.

I started looking for the girls. I called their names but they didn’t reply. I looked in the barn. I went up in the loft but they weren’t there. I remembered a conversation once where Maggy told me she hid a bunch of jerky out with the mules. I went out to the mules to see if the girls were out waiting there. The mules were there and I called out the girls’ names but they didn’t reply.

It’s me, Duke! I said. Little Sally started crawling out of the haystack.

We’re here! she said.

Sara came out as well. I got off my horse and went over to them. Sally asked where their mother was.

I put my arms around them and told them the truth, that their mother wouldn’t be coming to find them.

They killed her before I could get to her, I said. They started to cry.

Sara declared, We can manage on our own.

Do you have any relatives nearby? I asked.

No, we don’t have anyone, she said.

Where will you stay? I asked.

Right here, Sara said. We won’t be taken anywhere.

I didn’t know what to say. I left them alone and went to dump the bandits. Both of their horses were U.S. branded horses, so I planned on taking them back to the unit. After I saddled the horses, I turned them in with the mules. I got all of the foodstuff and gave it to the girls. It was quite a bit of food. The renegades had almost cleaned out the house of food. I recognized several things that I had brought to their home. I went through their pockets and found 32 dollars. I gave the money to Sara and she thanked me. Sara started to make a fire and she said that she would make us something to eat. I gave her some matches and let her go on with it. I sure didn’t know what to do with them. I gave her my coffee pot, skillet, my two plates, and a fork that I carried.

I rode over to the barn and got a shovel so I could bury the bandits. After I finished with that little chore, I went back to the girls. Sara gave me some rice she had cooked. I told her that it was very good.

Could I camp out here with you? I asked.

Sure you can, Sara said.

I emptied out the thieves’ saddlebags. They had a skillet, a coffee pot, and plenty of ammunition for their Sharps carbines. One had Navy pistols the other had a Remington. I decided to hang onto the Navy pistols and I turn in the Remington. One of them had a good western saddle. I decided to keep it, as well as both of the saddlebags. I gave the girls their bedrolls. The blankets weren’t clean but that was all the kids could have. I rolled out all five blankets then I covered them with one of my own. Then I used my other two blankets to cover up. I could see that little Sally was scared, so I asked her to lie down next to me. She came over and Sara came too. Sally cried a while but then fell asleep. Sara cried later. I reached over and stroked her hair.

The next morning, I went down to the barn and the girls went with me to get a bunch of eggs. The house was completely burned. Only the chimney stood. While I was looking around in the barn, I saw an old saddle that I could take. I also saw some boards. I figured that I could build the girls a shed. When I got back to the mules, I saddled one with the western saddle and went after some boards. I found some rope in the barn and I dragged them up there. I found some horseshoe nails and a hammer and I started to build.

There were four trees just far enough apart for the boards to reach so I nailed up three walls. Then I laid the roof on with a fair angle so the water would run down if it rained. I found a piece of canvas and I stretched it on top. The two girls were so happy. We moved in with the food things. The next day, I made a small table two boards wide. The girls loved it. Sara did the cooking and she was doing a good job. We went down and got some things from the garden. I shot a deer and cut it up for them. I told them not to eat any more of the meat after three days. Sara told me that she knew about meat. I told them that I would try to come back as soon as I could.

I got the two horses and saddled one with the army saddle. I said goodbye to the girls and rode to the barn. I saddled the other horse with the old saddle and left my blankets with the girls.

When I got back to the unit, the captain and first sergeant watched me ride in. I told them what had happened.

What did you do with the bandits? the sergeant asked.

I buried them, I said.

I made my report to the captain and told him that I saw the house burning. I told him, I rode in and had to shoot it out with two rebels. They killed the woman that lived there. They only had Sharps and Remingtons and I turned them in. The captain countered back with a Well done.

Later, I asked the first sergeant if I could take a leave locally for about two weeks. He went to talk to the captain. The captain came out and told me to stay in touch while I was out.

We might be going home soon, all of us, he said. I got my two week leave and told Corporal Wilson to come and get me if something developed. I told him where I would be.

When I went back to the girls, I took my canvas bag, my canteen, and all of the things that I had accumulated. I took everything with me. When I got out there, the girls were glad to see me. They told me that there had been some men snooping around. I put all of my things in a corner. We usually went down once a day to get the eggs and things from the garden. Every other morning, I went hunting. Other than that, we just lazed around. I started whittling a new stock for my Henry. I wanted to finish it so I could put it together.

I was with the girls for four days when I mentioned to them that winter was coming.

We’ll manage, Sara said.

Can we go with you? Sally asked.

From what I know, soon I will be going home to Ohio and you can go with me when I go. All right? I said. We could become partners of sorts. I like you two a lot and it just wouldn’t be right for me to leave you here alone.

Can I bring the mules? Sara asked.

Of course you can, I said. You can ride them to Ohio.

May we leave if we don’t like being partners with you? Sara asked.

Of course you can, I said.

What’s going to happen to our farm? Sara asked.

How many acres do you own? I asked.

Eighty, she said.

We can pay the taxes from Ohio by mail and later you or Sally can come back and farm the place or else you can sell it, I told her.

We continued to talk back and forth and eventually they decided that they would go with me. When the two weeks were up, I went back to my unit and things were definitely happening. Some of the men requested to be discharged and so did I. It was May of 1865 and the war was practically over.

Lee and Johnston surrendered in April. We heard that Taylor surrendered north of Mobile. We still went on patrol, but very seldom did we go with more than four men. I always tried to stop by to see the girls on my patrol. I would often take them food and I would try to hunt for them on the way.

When we rode into the farm, I would leave the men at the barn and I would go to the girls. I left the Henry that I made a new stock for with Sara and she could shoot it if necessary. Whenever I got a deer for them, Sara would make some jerky for us. She had a bunch saved up and I made sure I took some bacon out to them as often as I could. We had enough supplies now to fill our packsaddle. I figured that we would put the pack on one mule and one of the girls could ride behind the pack and the other behind me.

We heard that Kirby Smith surrendered in Texas. The war was now officially over. Their President Davis had already been captured. All the men that asked for discharge were called in and were questioned by the captain. I told him that I wanted a discharge because I wanted to get married locally. He approved my discharge and in a week’s time, I was paid of. I packed up my clothes and blankets and put my new boots on. Then I packed up all of my extra ammunition and my navy pistols. I said goodbye to all my friends.

I got Corporal Wilson to give me a ride out to the farm. When I got there, I got off my horse at the barn and said goodbye to the corporal. I put my sack over my shoulder, along with my saddlebag and blanket roll and I walked over to the girls’ camp. I told the girls that I was out of the army and that I was a civilian again.

That evening, I laid my map out and we talked about the way we could travel. The girls were very excited. We stayed around for three more days. During that time, I saddled up both mules and tried them out. I looked over everything that the girls owned. They had a wagon and a harness, but everything needed work.

Do you know of anyone who would like to work the place while you are gone? I asked Sara.

Our neighbor might, Mr. Stacy. He needs more land, Sara said.

We should go over and see him, I suggested.

You better do the talking, she said.

We went over to the Stacy farm and asked him if he wanted to farm the Hall’s land for a while and in turn he would keep an eye on the barn and the equipment. Sara had a good plow and harrow. We told him that Mrs. Hall had been killed. I told him that I was a cousin and was going to take the girls north with me.

If you farm the place, I will hold you responsible for the equipment, I told him.

Who will pay the taxes? he asked.

The girls will, I said.

I gave him my address in Ohio where he could get ahold of the girls and me if he needed to.

After we finished with Mr. Stacy, we went back to the farm. We then started to pack our packsaddle. When we were all finished, it started to rain. Pretty soon, our shed was starting to drip. So I loaded up everything and took it over to the barn. We started packing up again when it was dry.

That night, we slept in the loft and the mules stayed down below. In the morning there was beautiful sunrise. We saddled up and headed north. I was riding the mule that the girl’s called Tony and Sally rode with me. Sara rode the mule named Sassy. She sat behind the packsaddle. I put four blankets under the packsaddle, which extended it back out a ways, and she sat on that.

Chapter Two

We headed north. We planned on going to the Chattanooga Knoxville railroad tracks, following the tracks all the way to Knoxville. I knew that part of the country real well, so we moved right along. It was nice and warm which made for a pleasant ride. Tony had a good gait and it was easy to get along with him.

When we stopped for lunch, we fixed some bacon with eight eggs that Sara had gathered that morning. We got to the railroad tracks late in the evening. We moved off into some trees and Sally went to gather some wood while Sara made pan bread. I led the mules with a rope to graze. A while later, I tied them up close to us. Sara rolled out our bed and I laid down. Sally snuggled next to me and Sara called her a rat. Sally just laughed.

What’s going on? I asked the girls.

Sara wanted to lay next to you, Sally said.

I told Sally to move over so Sara would have room on the other side. Sara came over and snuggled up too. I told the girls that if they heard anything during the night to wake me up.

I stayed awake for quite a while just listening to the night. At 4:00 a.m. we heard a train and we all woke up. I got up and started the fire so my coffee could warm up. Sara got up too. It was twilight and the stars were still out. Sara started to make breakfast. We talked about the stars and pretty soon, they started to fade, only Mars was still bright.

I walked the mules around some to graze them a little and then I saddled up Tony. We ate some bacon with bread and then I put the pack on Sassy and we got started.

I had my extra pistol in my belt. Sara asked where the other two pistols were because she wanted one up on the pack. I figured that it was a good idea and I went into the saddlebag and pulled one out. I put some caps on the nipples and handed it to her. She put it under the blanket roll.

Later, we saw an Indian who was out hunting. I raised my arm to him and he nodded to us. At noon, Sara wanted to make some cornbread so I pulled away from the tracks and stopped on some high ground. I picketed the mules and got the blankets. I rolled the blankets Sally and I laid down for a nap. I told Sara to look around once in a while.

Call me if you hear anything, I said. She called me when the cornbread was ready. I had a piece and told Sara to take a nap. She laid down and fell asleep. The mules were grazing away. When Sally woke up, I motioned her to be quiet. She had some cornbread. I saddled Tony while he was still eating. I packed away the cornbread and put the pack on Sassy. Sara then opened her eyes so I told her we were ready to go.

We saw some soldiers dressed in gray down by the tracks. We stayed away from the tracks but kept them in sight. We kept traveling that afternoon until late evening. We found a good spot next to some water so we stopped and made camp. The girls had a piece of cornbread and went to sleep. I made a small fire and put on some coffee. While the water was warming, I walked the mules around. When the water was boiling, I brought them in close and tied them up. I had a cup of coffee and leaned against the tree so I could listen to the night.

I pulled the coffee off the fire and let the fire go out. I lay down next to Sara. She rolled over and put her head on my arm. She snuggled up close. I realized then how nice it felt to have her close like that. I also realized that she was maturing and it wouldn’t be long before she was a beautiful young woman. She certainly already had a nice figure. She was 12 and some girls were married at 13.

I dozed off. In the morning, I was up first. I saw a deer and got my Henry. I went away from the camp a little and shot him. The girls woke up and Sally got some sticks to start a fire. I let the deer bleed then dragged him in closer and started to skin him out. Sara brought me over a cup of coffee. After I skinned and cleaned out the deer, I cut the two legs off and then the loins. We had a good fire, so I asked the girls if we should make a pot of stew. They both answered yes. Sara peeled the potatoes and I cut up some meat from the shoulders and put it on to cook. I wrapped up the legs and loins a clean rag, ready to travel. Sara put some salt in the pot and then put the potatoes in. The stew boiled well.

I went to the water and washed up. When I went back to the girls, Sally was trying to comb out her hair. I sat down next to her and I helped her. After a couple of snags, her hair was nice and smooth. She really liked it. As soon as I finished with her, Sara said, My turn, so I had to do Sara’s hair as well. I took my time. She seemed to enjoy me doing it. When I finished, she gave me a kiss on my cheek.

The stew is ready, Sally said. We each had a bowl and seconds as well. I told the girls that this would be breakfast and lunch too. Sara pointed out that there was another Indian approaching. I looked where she was pointing and sure enough, there was an Indian holding a long Kentucky rifle. He was obviously hunting. Then I saw an Indian boy about 100 feet behind him. A shot rang out and the Indian in front folded.

Bring in Tony and Sassy, I told Sally. She ran to the mules and I saw the Indian boy running to his father. Then I saw a man come out from behind some bushes and he was taking aim on the boy. He was out of range for me, so I reached for the pack where I had my Sharps. I leveled down on the man, aimed over his head, and squeezed it off while he was trying to get a shot at the boy. That man folded, at the same time pulled the trigger on his own gun shooting up into the air. I saw some other movement by him, so I told the girls that we were leaving. I threw the saddle on Tony and the pack on Sassy, and Sara grabbed all the things that went into the pack. Sally got our blankets. Sara was already up behind the pack on Sassy and Sally handed the blanket roll up to her and she tied it in place.

As I was getting in the saddle, I saw the Indian boy helping the Indian man up. I reached down to help Sally up then I rode over to the Indians. I kept my eyes on