Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume VI, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1860s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the sixth in a series. Volume I is Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II is Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III is Autumn Keeps Her Secret. Volume IV is Mr. Gamble Starts a School. Volume V is Jacob Blows his Horn.
March 14, 1862
My Dearest Daughter,
When I signed up for Mr. Sherman’s Brigade, I knew the biggest sacrifice I would make could be giving up the chance to watch my precious jewel of a princess grow into a young lady.
You are no longer my little “punkin,” but you are becoming the likeness of your mother, who is the love of my life.
When I thought it would be for only three months, I did not consider it so great, but because this war continues and I still am needed, it has been so much more than a year, and with your mother’s reports of the ways you are being so helpful around the house, especially with Grandpappy Jacob, and with the responsibilities you shoulder in town and at school, I know you will be a much different person when I next see you.
When finally I return, you will be a woman, ready for the female seminary perhaps, and no doubt attracting the attention of dozens of suitors, although most will not be at all suited for my beautiful Cassandra.
However, you will always be my little girl, my KittyCass!
Love, Papa
I don’t feel so much different, but Papa does.
Cassie kept that letter, folded tightly in her clasp purse, at all times. It wasn’t the only letter her Papa sent her, but it was her favorite, because it made her feel grown up — and yet the little child she liked to be when Papa and the boys were all at home.
Back then it seemed that when Papa came home from work, he was home, and everyone was within reach of his long arms and strong voice.
Then, suddenly, the house was empty — quieter anyway. Mama was about keeping things in order, Grandpappy just sat in his room in the front of the house, and Jacob was outside playing soldier as much as he could.
That left Cassie to her chores — helping Mama with meals and cleaning, looking after Maggie the horse, practicing the pianoforte, and helping at church or school whenever Mama volunteered her.
She also had taken on a job, at Costin’s grocery store, helping Philip with stocking shelves and cleaning up, while his brother John was in Mr. Lincoln’s Army.
Then Papa returned home, unexpectedly, last fall. He was assigned to recruit more soldiers, but would get to live at home. Cassie thought everything would go back to the way it was. But Papa didn’t seem to be there, even when he was home.
He would nod or grunt an agreement of sorts whenever she spoke to him, but there was not the silly and special conversations that they used to have. He always seemed to be looking off in the distance, as though he were watching a battle or listening to other conversations.
I am growing up, Papa, and even though you are home now, you are missing it anyway.
Cassie wasn’t thinking about Papa now, or Grandpappy or Costin’s Grocery Store or piano practice. She was thinking about Sheldon. As she walked up Third Street to the field across from the Female Seminary, she was hoping Sheldon would be the pitcher.
He was taller than the other boys and so strong, and only a year older than she. His straw blond hair would be all tangled under his hat, but it was just right in Cassie’s eyes.
I need to cheer for everyone, not just Sheldon, so no one is suspicious, she thought, wondering if Sheldon would notice how nicely she had tied the bow on her fantail hat, and how it complimented the color of her hair.
“Hey Cassiopeia, how ya gonna play second base in that getup?”
It was her brother Jacob.
“Run home and change, we’re short a player.”
Find a reason not to play. Where is Sheldon anyway?
One reason they were short a player is that Sheldon was nowhere to be found. Cassie sighed.
I don’t look this good very often. Hate to waste it on these, these children.
She also wanted to ask, “Where’s Sheldon,” but stopped herself. That would be too obvious.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
“I don’t know, I just know we’re losing valuable time talking when we could be playing. Go change,” Jacob said.
Well, I did want to play. It won’t take long.
“I’ll be right back,” Cassie said; turning, she lifted her hooped skirt off the tops of her shoes and started running downhill toward home, careful to keep her feet out of the lining of her dress in front while preventing the backside from dragging on the dirt.
Mama would not be happy seeing me run like this. Maybe I’ll save being a lady for a little while from now.
Cassie being the fastest girl in sixth grade made it home before two strikers were out in that inning, and being less careful than she might have been, tossed dress, hoop, bloomers and laced shoes on the bed for a muslin blouse, a pair of work trousers and low cut boots, her favorite Rounders outfit.
Then she grabbed one of Papa’s Union Army hats, an old one, and dashed up the Street, arriving just in time to take her place at the home base, ready to hit the ball wherever someone wasn’t. Her solid hit to right field put her on first. The next striker hit the ball to third, but she was able to make it safely to second.
Then, Jacob was up and knocked a clean single to left field. With two outs, Cassie was already running when the ball was hit and rounded third without stopping. She slid into the home base, eating a little dirt and losing her hat, but she was safe.
She was more than a little out of breathe, already sweaty, her face covered with dirt and her hair flying everywhere, lying face down over home plate, when she heard a voice arriving at the field.
“Sorry I’m late; hey, nice slide Squirt.”
Cassie looked up from home. It was Sheldon.
