Happy Memorial Day, Everyone.
Make sure you thank a soldier or veteran today and give them a hug. I did. My hubby is a Vietnam Veteran. We all gave him hugs today.
In honor of this day, I would like to post an excerpt from "Jenny's Passion," a Civil War romance featuring soldiers of our past, who helped shape our today.
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The dawn was just breaking over the eastern horizon. Men in gray uniforms swarmed around, attempting to fortify their positions and provide themselves with cover, wheel cannon into position, load rifles, and fix bayonets. Scattered shots rang out. Sharpshooters were already at work trying to pick off each other. All around David the Union soldiers were amassing. His company sat silently on their mounts awaiting the order to charge the enemy. As they watched the activity between the trees each, undoubtedly, wondered how many of them would die today.
“Hold your position, men,” David shouted, hearing his words echoed down the line.
Loud booming started. The Union cannons had begun the assault. The noise from the big guns seemed to incite the Rebels into a more frenzied state as he watched them scrambling to engage the enemy—his men. The spine-tingling Rebel yell could be heard above the roar of the cannon.
It was time.
He gave the order to Lieutenant Thomas Miller, who sat on his horse to his left. “Move it out, get into position at the bottom of this hill quickly now.”
“Move out!” came the order passed from one horseman to the next, fanning out on either side.
Down the hill the blue line streamed, flowing between the trees until they melded into a unit at the bottom. The red, white, and blue flag carried by one cavalryman billowed out in the breeze, readily visible by all who looked on and an inspirational sight to all.
David raised his arm, saber in hand as the horse pranced excitedly under him. Napoleon was ready. The big horse seemed to thrive on the noise and excitement of this war. How would the animal adjust to a quiet life on the farm he planned to buy when this war was over? If he survived, he reminded himself. But there was no time to dwell on these thoughts. The war raged in front of them and the men in gray were coming closer.
The bugle’s tones rang out, its sound distorted by the trees, but identifiable nonetheless—Colonel Kellogg had ordered the charge.
David indulged himself with a quick look to his right. Down the long blue line of cavalrymen he saw Captain Jack Montgomery, his saber raised as well. They exchanged an unspoken message. Each man was ready to lead their men into battle. The familiar excitement was starting to build now, and he welcomed it.
“Charge!” he yelled, hearing the command echoed by the other officers. A shout went up from the cavalry. It had begun again. God save them all.
Go to Amazon.com, or any other bookseller to purchase this book.
Diane Wylie
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