Leigh Ann's Civil War (18 page)

Why he insisted I be present at the table I did not know. If I had my druthers I'd eat in the kitchen, but I dared not mention it.

My family was broken. Oh, if only Louis and Camille were home!

At four thirty that afternoon, when Carol was napping and Teddy was in his study, there came a knock on the front door. I was just coming down the stairs, so I opened it.

There stood a soldier, a Yankee, tall and regal and superior as St. Michael after driving the devil out of heaven.

"I am Captain Robert Kennedy, General Garrard's assistant adjutant general," he said. "Is this the Conners' residence?"

"Yessir."

"Is your brother Theodore Conners here?"

"What the hell?" Teddy came out of his study, storming up behind me. "What are you doing opening the door like that, Leigh Ann? Didn't I tell you not to? Didn't I?"

He pulled me aside, roughly. "Go on, get out of here."

Embarrassed, I ran down the hall, but not before hearing the Yankee captain saying, "Conners? We've done an inspection of the mill. It's revealed that the factory was, indeed, supplying cloth to the Confederate government. General Garrard has issued orders for the immediate destruction of the Roswell Mill."

***

They did it that very afternoon.

Teddy went, but only to ensure that the workers were all safely evacuated, women and children. Once he was satisfied about that, he rode back home and stood, wordlessly, on the verandah, Cicero next to him. From there the terrible flames and smoke could be seen belching into the sky. Every once in a while an explosion was heard, and I saw Teddy's shoulders shudder, as if he were on the battlefield. And Cicero would howl.

Sitting in a chair nearby, Pa shouted. "Arson, Teddy, arson! Like back when! Arrest the rotten bugger! Send him to Marietta to jail!"

"All right, Pa," Teddy said soothingly, "all right. It's being taken care of. The mill will be fine." Silent tears were coming down his face.

Carol stood next to her husband. Viola and I stood a ways back. Cannice and Careen were with us. Cannice was weeping.

***

The next afternoon, four riders were coming up the front drive at a slow trot. Cicero barked on the verandah. Teddy folded his arms across his chest. He knew what was coming.

That morning, Teddy and Primus had buried a considerable lot of his rifles and revolvers out back under the pine trees on the other side of the stream.

The riders drew up in front of the verandah, raising dust. Cicero's bark became more indignant. Teddy shushed him.

The officer got down from his sleek Yankee horse. His movements were slow but sure. He handed the reins over to another man in blue without even turning to see if the other man was there. He expected him to be there.

He looked around for a moment, taking everything in.

He was a tall man, and wiry, and his shoulders were more than sufficient in their spread. His uniform was somewhat dusty, but fit him like a second skin.

Like my brothers, he wore no beard. I always felt that men who wore beards were hiding something—past scars, ugly expressions, grim mouths, something.

He was freshly shaved.

He nodded at Teddy and came up to the verandah and put one dusty boot on the first step. "I am Major J. C. McCoy, Sherman's aide-de-camp. My escort is a detachment from the 7th Pennsylvania," he said. His voice was clear and decisive. "Mr. Theodore Conners?"

"You've found him," Teddy said.

Major McCoy nodded again, this time thoughtfully, saw Carol and Viola and me, and with his gloved hand touched the edge of his broad-brimmed hat and raised it just a bit.

"Ladies," he said, and bowed his head.

Each of us in our own way acknowledged his greeting. I gave a small curtsy.

He looked back at Teddy. "I am here to tell you, as owner of the mill, that it's beyond the point of rescue. The walls are very stout and will likely remain standing. No workers were harmed in the fire. We'll extinguish the last of the flames. The cloth that was made yesterday morning was saved and will be used for our hospitals."

Teddy nodded his head.

"General Garrard has given orders that we're to occupy the town and use unoccupied houses as headquarters. All people, male and female, connected with the mill are to be arrested as traitors.

"Now we are to enter this residence and collect all firearms. We understand, Mr. Conners, that you are well esteemed in town. Your actions will be an example to others. It will be better for all concerned if you cooperate."

Major McCoy then removed his yellow leather gloves and tucked them in the sash of his uniform, mounted the steps of the verandah, and offered his hand to my brother.

Teddy, ever the Southern gentleman, took it for a brief handshake.

"I hear you and your brother were heroes at First Manassas," he said.

"There were a lot of heroes there," Teddy told him.

McCoy absorbed that and looked at the rest of us. "Who are these people?"

"My family."

McCoy gestured to one of his aides, who quickly came forward with a notebook.

"If you don't mind, I'd like the names, please," he said.

"My wife, Carol," Teddy told him. "My father, over here, Hunter Conners, who built the mill. My sister Viola Cummack."

"Where is her husband?"

"He was killed, defending Richmond."

McCoy nodded again and his aide scribbled. Then the major's eyes went over me and he gave a sort of small smile. "And who is this?"

"My sister Leigh Ann. She's only fourteen."

At the sound of my name, McCoy quickened. "She the one who put the French flag on the roof of the mill?"

Teddy sighed.

"Your mother told us all about your family, Mr. Con-ners," McCoy advised him.

"Yes," Teddy said. "It was a childish prank."

"I have a little sister," McCoy said. "I know about pranks. But prank or not, that French flag was part of a conspiracy to make us think the mill was in neutral hands. Don't be surprised if she's put under arrest. Garrard is, even as we speak, writing up an order to put all the mill workers under arrest for treason and marching them to Marietta, where they'll be sent by rail to the north."

A bolt of fear went through me. Arrest? Could Garrard do that?

I saw Teddy's shoulders go rigid, saw his face set so that he gave away no expression. "I'm Leigh Ann's guardian," he told McCoy. "I'm legally responsible for her. I take the blame for her actions."

Again McCoy gave a small smile. "Very commendable, but I'm sure Garrard won't see it that way. He's sending mill workers younger than she to Marietta."

"I'd like a meeting with him on the matter."

"I'll request it," McCoy promised. "Now, where is your brother, Louis, the mayor?"

"He's gone out of town, escorting families who wanted to leave."

"How many slaves do you have?" McCoy went on with his questioning and Teddy answered. Slaves, horses, cattle, acres planted in corn, wheat, and so forth.

When they were finished, McCoy said, "Now, I'm sorry, but we have to search the house for firearms. I'll take just one man with me, Mr. Conners, and I promise nothing will be disturbed. You may accompany us to make sure."

So Teddy took them through the house and they collected firearms.

When they came back out with the few guns Teddy had left for them lest they get suspicious, McCoy told him, "I'm leaving a detachment of men. I've been given orders that this place is to be left under guard. My men will bivouac in the front yard. I expect them to be fed and treated decently. They have orders not to enter the house or disrupt the family in any way. Do we understand each other?"

"Understood," Teddy said.

They shook hands again. "Nice plantation you have here," McCoy said with a hint of envy in his voice. "Look, Mr. Conners, you're a decent fellow. If I were in your shoes I'd want to take off and rejoin the army. I heard about how and why you got cashiered out. But any ideas you got about that, I'd advise against it, or you'll bring devastation down on your family."

Before he left the verandah he put his hand to the brim of his hat again and said, "Ladies."

And he smiled at me.

Then he shook hands with Teddy, mounted his beautiful horse, and looked back. It appeared as if he wanted to say more, but he had said all he could. He saluted and rode away, leaving his four men, who promptly set up their two tents. I stood watching until I felt Teddy's firm hand on my shoulder, ushering me into the house.

***

"How can you get in touch with the vegetable lady?" Teddy asked Viola.

He sat behind his desk in his study, his elbows propped up on it, his head in his hands. Carol and I and Viola had been summoned before him. McCoy had just left.

The door of the study was closed and locked.

"I have to put a quilt over the fence in front," Viola told him.

"And she'll come? Just like that?"

"She has people in the area who will see it and let her know," Viola explained.

"Then do it," Teddy told her, "right now. And don't talk to those men out there. And come right back in. We have things to discuss."

Viola ran. Teddy reached for a newspaper. "You see the trouble you've gotten yourself into?" he scolded. "Now go sit in that chair."

I went. Carol sat down, too. He gave her part of the newspaper and both read until Viola came back. Then we all stood before him again.

"It's this way," he told us. "Soon's I can get a message to the vegetable lady, it'll be to inform Grandmother in Philadelphia to send someone down to Marietta to pick up Leigh Ann and get her out of there. I'm adding a message to the bearer of the note to telegraph it to Grandmother once out of Yankee lines. There will be time, before Garrard gets situated, gathers up all the mill women and children, and marches them off. The trip to Marietta, by foot, ought to take a few days. How does that sound?"

"Terrible for Leigh Ann," Viola said. "Poor thing, walking all those miles."

"Fit punishment," Teddy said.

"Teddy," and Viola pulled herself up straight, "I have to tell you. I think you've been a terrible brother to her lately. I just have to tell you that, is all."

He glared at her. "All right. You've told me."

Silence, then Viola spoke again. "You're breaking her spirit."

It was the same thing Louis had warned of in his note.

"And she worships you, Teddy," Viola appealed. "If you don't know that by now..." Her voice faded off helplessly.

Did she have to say
that?
Oh, I wished she would stop.
Please stop!

Teddy's jaw clenched. "Thank you, Viola, for that information." Then he tried to go on, but Viola interrupted again.

"And if Leigh Ann goes on this trip, I'm going with her."

Teddy scowled. "You are not."

"I am. Leigh Ann and I had a talk. We realize you are disgusted with both of us. We know we've given you some bad times lately and we don't blame you. So we've promised to take care of each other. And this is my way of fulfilling my promise. I'm not letting her go on that trip alone."

He leaned back in his chair and looked from one of us to the other. Then just at me. "Is all this true?

All
what?
What was I pleading to? Worshiping him? I would not answer. I would not give him the satisfaction.

"I'd like an answer, please."

"Yes," I murmured.

He nodded his head slowly. "You'll lose the baby if you go," he told Viola.

"No, I won't. I'm strong. Leigh Ann will take care of me."

He looked at me again. And again I looked at the floor.

"How are you going to convince Garrard to let you go, Viola?"

"I'll tell him my husband died for the Confederacy."

Teddy compressed his lips and said nothing. "So then I tell Grandmother to look for two girls in Marietta," he said.

My heart was breaking. My yes had made no nevermind to him.

"Aren't you even—" Viola was fearless with him. "Aren't you even going to
fight
for Leigh Ann? You're just going to let them take her away? What kind of guardian are you?"

"The kind," Teddy answered, "that provides for the future. Of course I'm going to fight for her. Didn't you hear me say I wanted a meeting with Garrard? What do you think that was for? But if I lose I have to set things in motion now so that plans are in place for someone to be there to meet you all in Marietta!"

He was getting angry now. He was not accustomed to explaining himself.

"I'm sorry," Viola said.

He nodded. "Now wait while I scribble this note. Then you both keep a lookout for some variation of the vegetable lady. But be discreet. Don't loiter outside. Stay away from those Yankees. And, Leigh Ann, I swear if you disobey me in this I'll—" He broke off and eyed me menacingly. "Well, just don't," he finished.

He signed the note with a flair, folded it, put it in an envelope, and gave it to Viola. This meeting had fixed nothing between us. I went out with my sister.

We had to feed the four Yankee soldiers who were bivouacked on our front lawn. Cannice did it. She would not allow Careen to have anything to do with the chore.

"They gots eyes for the women, Massa Teddy," she said. "An' somethin' tells me they don't care whether that women be white or black. I seen them eyein' my Careen already. You keep your wife an' sisters outta their way."

Careen was beautiful. And, taking the lead role in the house that her mother used to have, she wore pleasing clothes, the fabric of which she had once, before such fabric became scarce, woven herself.

It was when Cannice was bringing the Yankees their supper that first night that a black woman came to the front gate bearing vegetables.

"I don't know whether the mistress of the house is in need," Cannice told the woman, "but it be so hot, you best go to the back door for a cool drink, anyway."

And so, right under the nose of the Yankees, the note was delivered.

Cannice took the quilt off the fence.

Late that night, General Garrard took up residence in town, at Barrington Hall. First thing in the morning his order to arrest and deport factory workers went out.