The war had ended ...

Walking down the road, he straddled his steps, while pacing up and down. The road before him was a long one, dusty with debris and dust that gathered in piles along the way. He was a long way from home. His home was in New Orleans, Louisiana. He had seen much devastation during the Civil War. Now the war was over and he was headed home. He had missed his wife and young son for well over a year now. How he longed to hug his lovely Sarah and hold his son. He had no idea what he would find when he reached home. His family could be gone and his home destroyed by General Grant's army.

Benjamin was originally born in Northern Virginia on October 19, 1842. Born in an old log cabin, there were no conveniences of hospital maternity wards. Most people were born at home, unless extremely wealthy. Benjamin was born at 6 p.m. His father was at his wife's side. A mid-wife assisted the delivery as the family doctor was out on another call at the time. Benjamin came into the world a squealer, according to his father, and eyes wide opened. He wanted his presence known to all. He was a healthy bouncing boy with very healthy lungs.

His family was split on sides fought during the war. There was already a bitter dispute and conflict on family tides. His two older brothers and youngest uncle lived in West Virginia. His brothers fought in the Union. He joined his other two brothers and fought in the Confederacy. Benjamin was the sixth child of ten born in his family. He had three sisters and five brothers living-William was the oldest, Amelia, Samuel, Carl, Evelyn, Benjamin, Thomas, Betty and Lucas, whom they called Luke. His youngest brother, Luther, died at six months of age.

His mother, Hannah, died in childbirth when Luther was born on January 6, 1851. She had miscarried several babies in-between the oldest and Luther. Benjamin's father, Jacob, had a hard time caring for a young baby. He relied on Amelia, who was 14 years old at the time, to care for Luther. In the summer of 1851, Luther fell ill. William, nearly 16, rode on horseback to town to fetch the town doctor, Dr. Frederick Smith. It was quicker than the horse carriage. The doctor came by horse buggy. In those days, there was no emergency or urgent care services provided.

The doctor looked at the young baby in his cradle. He took his temperature. He was burning up with fever and constantly crying. Amelia was getting wet rags to place on his forehead. She gently rubbed his forehead in hopes of cooling him down. After a few minutes, the doctor looked up at Jacob. They walked outside as Amelia stayed with Luther.

"Is it bad, doctor?" Jacob asked.

"It doesn't look good. He's soaking wet from fever," Dr. Smith answered.

"Is it that high?" Jacob asked.

"Pretty high. It registered at 103.6 just now," the doctor answered.

"What is it?" Jacob asked.

"Colic. It is common among children his age. I have seen children be perfectly fine one day and be mighty sick in fever the next day. I have a bottle of medicine. Give him one dropper full every 4 to 6 hours until you see him improve. Keep the cold wet rags on him, especially on his forehead, to reduce his fever as well," the doctor said.

"Then what?" Jacob asked, scratching his head.

"We will see how he does. He should be better in a few days. If not, than send the boy again to fetch me," Dr. Smith said.

"Okay, doc. Thank you," Jacob said.

Amelia and her father spent nights placing cold rags on little Luther to lower his fever. Luther seemed to be progressing within a short time. By the end of the week, he was sitting up and giggling with his siblings. He would clap his hands together as his brothers and sisters would sing happy songs to him. After nearly two weeks, he seemed to be much better. Then one night Amelia went to his cradle to check on him. He was feverish and shivering all through his body. Luther had trouble breathing and his face was a bluish tint. William went to town to fetch the doctor again to the cabin. Luther was unresponsive and seemed like he was in a deep sleep. The doctor stayed with him overnight. By 6 a.m., the doctor pronounced him dead.

As he brought the small bundle covered by a thin blanket, Amelia stood there speechless. Her father stood there with tears in his eyes. All the siblings looked at each other, not saying a word. If his mother had been alive, Luther would still be here, Benjamin thought to himself. She knew how to care for sick babies. She had nine healthy children to prove it.

The following morning, the family buried little Luther next to his mother, Hannah's gravesite. The tiny casket was covered with dirt and the family was silent as the preacher spoke. There was a big turn out for Luther's funeral. Several families with children at varied ages attended. Given the size of the town, it was a good portion of the town's population that stood by the small gravesite that day.

Jacob was motionless as he watched his tiny son's body being lowered in the ground. He was not a churchgoer, but appreciated that many church members were there. After some words spoken by the preacher, it was over. Benjamin stood there beside his siblings, tears screaming down his cheeks. He remembered his baby brother's giggles and goo-goos as he smiled. Benjamin would hold him in his lap and play patty-cake with him. Luther loved it and would giggle out loud. Now, Luther was gone. Only the memory of his sweet smiles and his happy laughs remained. He was a happy baby for all it was worth. Benjamin knew his father did the best he could in being a single father now, in raising ten (now nine) children alone and bringing food to the table.

Children grew up fast then. Everyone had a role in the family, except the two youngest children. The two older children were taken out of school to work on the farm, while Samuel, Carl, Evelyn, Benjamin and Thomas attended school during the day. When one family member was too ill to work, another would intervene in his/her place. William helped his father with the farmland, bailing hay and planting crops, while Amelia helped with the housework and cooking. Amelia also helped take care of the younger siblings. Such a big responsibility put on a young girl still. Evelyn (age 10) helped her with cleaning and sweeping. Samuel (12) did some chores around the farm. He could milk the cows in the barn and feed the animals, horses and pigs. He also swept the stables in the barn. Carl (11) did odd chores, bringing water from the well and buckets of milk to the house. Carl and Benjamin (9) ran errands to the grocery store, getting supplies as needed. Thomas (7) gathered the eggs from the chickens in their coups. Betty (5) and Luke (3) were still too little to work.

Benjamin looked down the path of dirt as he shifted from side to side. He was battling with a war injury in his knee. It was hard to walk as he looked down on the ground. He didn't know how long it would be when he couldn't go anymore. He didn't think his leg could take much more. He had to stop and rest somewhere, but where? There was nothing but a dismal open field that seemed to continue for miles. There was no one in sight and no place to stop and rest awhile. He had been on the road for at least a month, heading homeward to his native land.

It seemed like an eternity, when Benjamin spotted a big oak tree nearby. It was untouched by gunfire and the brutalities of war. Benjamin sat down in a...