CHAPTER 1

Sharpsburg, Maryland, April 20, 1861

Aaron Haskins raced the mile and a half from Sharpsburg to his homeon Antietam Creek. He rushed into the living room and gasped to hisparents, "We're going to war. It's true. It's true. Lincoln's invading us.Virginia's going out. We'll be next."

Still puffing, he thrust a newspaper at his father. "I saw JohnnyWilliams in Sharpsburg, and he said they're going to form a Marylandregiment." He took another quick breath. "They're calling forvolunteers—men who can come right away."

Sucking in air, he barked, "Joel and I are gonna go! We'll leavewhen the Maryland regiment forms at Harpers Ferry." Joel was Aaron'scousin; the boys shared the exact same birthday and had been almostlike twins—twin cousins—all their lives.

As his father scanned the newspaper, Aaron's grin widened. "It lookslike there will be fighting soon."

His mother gasped.

Abigail looked into her son's face. Her eyes swam with emotion,but Aaron could not decipher all that dwelt in that look. He knewshe feared war, but he didn't comprehend the depth of her pain. Hecould see shock and anguish mounting inside her, expanding with eachshallow breath.

"Are you sure, Aaron? Shouldn't you leave the fighting to oldermen?"

Aaron drew back his shoulders and gave her his most charmingsmile. This was a battle he must not lose. He slid onto the worn couchnext to her and squeezed her cold hand. "Ma, we're almost twenty-one.I know you're worried about the danger, but I'll look out for myself. NoYankee can catch me—you know that. We'll get it over and be homefor harvest."

Aaron looked back to his father, who was examining the articleclosely. Robert lifted his head, and their eyes met. Aaron felt reassuredthat his father understood and was proud of his son. Aaron lookedagain to his mother, who remained silent beside him. He had to makeher understand too.

"Ma, I can't just sit here and let Lincoln take away our freedom anddestroy our way of life."

His brow furrowed with concentration. Perching on the settee'sedge, he left one hand in his mother's, while the other gripped thewooden armrest.

"Pa, you know that Joel and I are doing the right thing, don't you?Somebody has to stand up against evil."

Abigail released his hand and fisted her own deeply into the foldsof her apron.

Aaron's hopes sank as Robert said, "I'm not sure, Son. The harvestmay be early this year. I don't know if we can afford to let you boysgo."

Abigail responded quickly. "Yes, yes, you two have to stay forthe harvest. By then the problem will be settled." She picked up hercrocheting and changed the subject. "Aaron, would you run upstairs andget my blue ball of yarn? I'm about out. How do you like this sweaterI'm making for you?"

"But, Ma, don't you see? What if the war is over before we get intoit? I don't want to miss the action. It'll be the greatest adventure of mylife."

Aaron paused for a moment and then continued. "Ma, you justdon't understand what it's like to be a man. Men stand up for right.My great-grandfather was a hero in the American Revolution. I wantto be a hero too."

Abigail wasn't done. "Aaron, my father fought too. He told mewhat it was like. You think that just because men do the fighting, theyknow more than women. You're wrong. Think what it was like whenmothers lost their sons, and wives lost their husbands. War is hard onwomen too."

"Yes, of course," Aaron said. "But what if we don't fight? What ifLincoln takes away our slaves?"

They all were silent for a moment. Aaron's last words hung heavily inthe air. He felt sweat trickling down the small of his back, and his heartwas beating wildly. He found it hard to breathe in the heavy, humid airof early spring. He saw his father's expression change as though he hadmade up his mind.

"Abigail, our boy might be right. It's a good cause, and we can beproud to have our boy defend it. Let's let him have his moment."

Aaron's face lit up with excitement as his father continued. "Wecan find a way to make do without you boys for a while. We've alwaysbeen proud of you, Son, and when you fight for freedom, we couldn'tbe prouder."

Robert removed his spectacles and then added with certainty, "Iremember what my grandfather said about the war for independencefrom England. He said that freedom isn't free. Right now, Lincolnwants to take away our freedom to own slaves, and somebody has to paythe price; somebody has to do the fighting. I'm proud of our son, justlike I'm proud of my grandpa, who fought for freedom in 1776."

The words were barely out of Robert's mouth when Aaron shotforward to grab his father and pull him into a strong hug.

"Thank you, Pa. Lincoln will find out we mean business, and in acouple of months, the whole thing'll be over and our new nation willbe free. Great-Grandpa was right. Freedom isn't free. If I have to, I'llgive the whole summer to make it happen."

"Grandpa would be proud of you," Robert said, releasing his hold.

Aaron moved to his mother and bent to kiss her pale cheek. "I'mgoing to tell Joel right now." He snatched the newspaper from hisfather's hand and was out the door before his mother's tears soaked thesleeve she held before her eyes.

She listened to his pounding feet as he ran for his cousin's cabinacross the stone bridge on Antietam Creek, and then she lookedpainfully at her husband. Robert sat gently beside her. With a smallsigh, she buried her face against his shoulder, clinging to him in herfear and sorrow. He rocked her gently, as he had done with their babes.With time, she regained some control and moved away from him,retreating into herself. He kissed her forehead and then went out to dohis evening chores.

Abigail walked to the door and closed it softly behind him. Sheglanced down at the doily still clutched in her hand and noticed it hadbegun to unravel.

* * *

Aaron sped across the stone bridge and soon stood at the opendoorway of his twin cousin, who had been married to Amy for a month.The run had been less than two hundred yards, but the excitement hadleft him panting.

Amy greeted her husband's cousin with "What do you havethere?"

"It's something I want to show Joel. Where is he?"

Aaron had barely finished speaking, when Joel came up the backsteps, carrying an armful of firewood. His blond hair was askew, andsweat dampened the plaid cotton shirt that hung loosely on his lankyframe. Everybody said the two looked alike, right down to their paleblue eyes and fair complexions.

"I'm right here," Joel said. "What's going on? Is somethingwrong?"

"No! It's right! Read this. Virginia has left the Union!" Aaron shovedthe crumpled paper into Joel's hands and faced his cousin with a wildlybeating heart.

A frown crossed Joel's face as he scanned the words on the page."But just a few weeks ago, they voted not to secede. I guess Lincoln'scall for volunteer troops spooked 'em enough to reconsider."

Aaron moved about the room with excitement. "That's just what theGazette says—Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand troops to invadethe South and force the seven seceded states back into the Union, butit worked just the opposite. Virginia joined the Rebels and became theeighth state to secede. See, it says the Virginians have already taken overthe US arsenal at Harpers Ferry."

With trembling fingers, Aaron pointed to the paper....