Discussion

“Tell us, how are the city militia boys keepin’ up?” Cordia’s father asked, a large piece of pot roast poised on his fork as he asked Carey Adams questions about the war over dinner.
Carey chewed a bit before answering. “Very well, sir,” he replied. “We are in fine shape to hold off even the most deliberate of guerrilla raiders. Why, I assure you, even Quantrill himself would not be able to step foot within our city limits without our forces crushing him and his men. Not even the army of Gen. Grant would stand a chance against our fine Lamar fighting troops,” he continued, his chest puffing with pride.
Cordia couldn’t help but snicker. “Do you mean the same Gen. Grant who has Braxton Bragg and his forces high-tailing it to Chattanooga? That must be quite some force of farmers and merchants you’ve put together there.” She had begun an intricate process of moving small portions of her food from one part of the plate to another, which only allowed her to glance briefly in his direction.
“Cordia!” her mother exclaimed, her face turning a slight shade of red. “Don’t be rude to our guest!”
“Now, now, that’s quite all right,” Carey assured her. “I understand Miss Cordia is skeptical. She is certainly entitled to her opinion. One of the traits that I have always admired about you, Cordia, is your inquisitive mind, even when it is tinged with cynicism. We would do well to have more like-minded women. Perhaps us gentlemen would be less impulsive and more compassionate.”
“Here, here!” her father said, raising his glass and gesturing for Carey to toast, which he did. Even though Isaac had always been pro-Union, he still admired Carey’s service for the cause he believed in. And, now that Carey was in charge of the city guard, he would be defending the citizens of Lamar against anyone who may attempt to harm them, regardless of Union or Southern sentiment. Carey came from an upstanding family. He was well spoken and polite. For Isaac, accepting Carey back as a member of their community was just the first step in moving past the divisions the war had created. As more and more young men returned from battle, it did not matter which side they had fought for. They were still members of their social circle, and the town could not survive if people continued to take sides. That was Isaac Pike’s view, at any rate, and he was doing all he could to spread that idea throughout the town he was so influential over.
Cordia looked away in disbelief. Did her own father actually believe that Carey Adams felt that women should have any influence over politics or any other social issues? Though she was compelled to voice her opinion regarding his true sentiments, she bit her tongue. She could see no reason to begin a debate about women’s rights at this point in the evening at her parents’ dinner table. Hopefully, this meal would be over very soon, and it would never be repeated. She had not been able to stomach one bite of her food, and the longer this event dragged out, the less likely she was to be able to convince her mother that she was actually eating.
“Speaking of Gen. Grant,” her father said, between bites, “Do you think that he is on his way to Vicksburg? Do you think he’ll be able to take it?”
Carey seemed to consider the question for a moment. Having fought for the Confederate Army for over a year, it would be difficult for him to say that he thought Grant would be able to take the southern Mississippi town. “Well, Mr. Pike, sir,” he began, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “I would say that will be quite a feat for Grant, considering that Pemberton is most likely to receive support from Gen. Johnston. Though Pemberton is greatly outnumbered without current support from other Confederate forces, it is highly unlikely that the Southern Army would abandon Vicksburg. It is one of the most important defensive strongholds on the Mississippi, and if it should fall into Union hands, well, then, control of the Mississippi River would also be sacrificed.”
Clearing her throat, Cordia asked, “Don’t you think that the victories at Port Gibson and Raymond might just give U.S. Grant the momentum he needs to swing right on down and march Pemberton and his men out of Vicksburg and directly out of Mississippi? I hear those victories were pretty sizable.”
“I guess I didn’t realize you were following the war effort so closely, Miss Cordia,” Carey replied, finishing up what was left of his dinner. “Tell me, what do you think about Gen. Grant’s chances of taking the capital at Jackson then?”
“I am following very closely, Lt. Adams. You know, some of our Lamar boys are fighting for Grant, and I, like many of their wives and families, have a sincere interest in hearing of their victories.” She couldn’t help but be a bit sharp with her answer. She had taken his comment to imply that he felt she was uneducated, something she did not take to lightly. Continuing, she added, “I feel that Gen. Sherman and Gen. McPherson should have the upper-hand, particularly if the same number of troops are still protecting the capital in a few days when they arrive as are guarding it now. The Southern soldiers will be outnumbered and facing better-armed men. I think they will crumble and fall apart, retreating to the higher ground of Vicksburg. ‘Course, it will only be a matter of time before Grant marches in there, too.”
“Cordia, darling,” her father said, looking at her as if he were seeing her with new eyes, “Wherever are you getting all of this insightful information?”
“Well, Daddy, the men send letters. I read the newspapers. Telegraphs come in from friends and family in Mississippi. It isn’t difficult to stay well informed when one has a mind to.” Looking down at her nearly full plate, she realized she could no longer stand to sit and stare at the food anymore without the possibility of becoming sick. “May I be excused?” she asked, praying her father would consent.
But it wasn’t her father who replied. “Actually, Cordia, I was hoping you would join me on a stroll in this nice May weather we are having,” Carey said, an actual smile, grazing his handsome face. For once, he looked almost kind, something Cordia had never noticed before. Still, the queasiness in her stomach became even worse with the thought of joining him for anything, and she began to formulate a declination.
However, she wasn’t given the opportunity to do so. “Oh, how lovely!” her mother gushed. “I’ll go grab your shawl!” She stood up from the table more quickly than Cordia had ever remembered seeing her move, meeting Frieda on the way out, and gently squeezing her arm as if they shared some secret that Cordia was not privy to.”
Cordia closed her eyes in concentration, trying to come up with any polite excuse she could think of. As her mother wrapped her shawl around her shoulders, nothing came to mind. She heard Carey push his chair back from the table, and she realized she was trapped. Her eyelids fluttered open to see him offering her his hand, and she reluctantly pushed her chair back and stood. Her mother grabbed her shoulders and squeezed.
Refusing to take his hand, Cordia turned and made her way to the door. Carey followed, smiling at her parents and giving her mother a cordial nod. He made it to the door before Cordia, and politely opened it for her, allowing her to pass through first. The air was still a bit chilly for an early May evening. The sun had set, but a full moon and several stars were enough to light the path in front of the Pike house. It had been a very long time since Cordia had been invited on a stroll with a gentleman suitor, and the thought of walking down the lane with Carey, the same way that she had done so with Jaris, brought back melancholy memories, so she remained in a somber silence for a few moments before he finally spoke.