Chapter 54

I was hoeing weeds in the first field when a line of riders caught my attention. I watched a patrol of Blue Coats, probably a squad in size, approach. James was not at the head of the column. Lt. Simmons led the detail. He dismounted his men on the south side of the crick and put them at ease before clopping across the bridge on horseback.

“Good morning, Mr. Otter.”

I hid a smile. This one had some brains. He’d already figured out I wasn’t just a hired hand, although it was unlikely he understood my actual relationship with his commandant. “Morning, Lt. Simmons.”

“The major asked me to stop by to give you the latest news. “On the ninth of this month, General Lee surrendered to General Grant at a place called Appomattox Court House in Virginia.”

“So the war is over.”

“There’ll likely be more fighting. It’ll take time for word to filter down to all the commanders, but I believe this effectively brings the war to an end.”

“Now what?”