Carolina Boone (standard:adventure, 12661 words)
Author: Tracy Turner	Added: Sep 03 2005	Views/Reads: 3307/2252	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The adventures of Boone Hatfield, a railroad engineer at the start of the Civil War. Boone becomes a Confederate Captain and later attracts the attention of General Robert E. Lee, who enlists Hatfields help on several dangerous missions.

A wind was rising. Such a wind as had never before blown over America. A
wind that was to sear the country with flames of destruction, topple 
outworn institutions, whirl away prejudices and false beliefs. From it 
was to be born a new and greater nation, a land united. The first 
thunder of this terrible wind was blowing across the Charleston yards 
of South Carolina Railroad in April 1861. Two young engineers paused in 
their work to listen to a distant rumble of guns at Fort Sumter. “It's 
the beginnin' of hell!” Tom Raleigh predicted grimly. “Oh, I dunno,” 
replied his friend, Boone Hatfield. “I don't figure it will amount to 
much. There'll be a lot of sputtering up Nawth, no doubt, but once they 
see that Dixie means business, they'll recognize our independence.” Tom 
shook his head gravely. He was a native of New York and knew the 
sentiment up there. “Boone, you're mistaken. President Lincoln will 
never stand for the Union being divided. The whole principle of it is 
wrong. This rebellion will be crushed, but I'm afraid it's going to 
take a long time to do it.” Boone smiled good-naturedly as he swung his 
lithe body into the cab of the “Ariel.” “All be settled friendly like 
in a month or two, Brother Tom,” he said. “You and me'll be workin' 
right here same as usual, only it'll be under the Stars and Bars of the 
new Confederate States of America.” Boone believed his statement to be 
true, but before a month had passed he was garbed in Confederate gray 
and bearing a long rifle over his shoulder; while his pal, Tom Raleigh, 
was marching with the blue-clad upholders of the Union. 

On a crisp autumn evening, two Confederate officers sat talking in a
tent. One was a broad-browed, white-bearded leader with calm, 
thoughtful eyes. “I feel,” said the chief, “That this mission requires 
an experienced railroad man.” “I quite agree with you, General,” 
responded the younger officer, “and I have just the man required.” “Who 
is he?” “A young captain of a South Carolina regiment, named Boone 
Hatfield.” “Hatfield---Hatfield...that name has a familiar ring. Wasn't 
a lieutenant of that name cited for exceptional valor at Winchester?” 
“The same, sir.” “Indeed! Well, if his railroad qualifications equal 
his courage, he is the one we want. Send for him, Colonel Mason!” A few 
minutes later Boone Hatfield was surprised to receive an order to 
report to Colonel Mason. He knew that Mason was on the staff of the 
commanding general and was a person of great influence. But when he saw 
the colonel's companion he gasped, snapped to rigid attention, and 
stood at salute. “At ease, Captain, and please be seated,” said the 
kindly faced man with the three stars on his collar. Boone took a 
chair, nervously looking around. It was no light thing for a captain of 
cavalry to sit informally at the same table with General Robert E. Lee. 
Lee went straight to the point with a characteristic lack of preamble. 
“Captain, Colonel Mason tells me you are an experienced railroad man. 
Which means, I suppose, that you are capable of driving an engine?” 
“Yes sir,” replied Boone. “I am a locomotive engineer. I pulled both 
freight and passenger for several years on the South Carolina 
Railroad.” “Excellent!” We are fortunate in having you here at this 
time.” Boone bowed, wondering what was coming next. He didn't have long 
to wait. “You may know, “ continued Lee, “that the Federal forces have 
concentrated a great quantity of munitions and supplies at Harpsburg on 
the B&C Railroad. These depots are built around the railroad yards to 
facilitate shipment. The munitions there are of the utmost importance. 
We believe that the success or failure of an enemy movement planned for 
the near future hinges on the accessibility and prompt movement of 
these supplies.” The General paused and seemed to weigh his words. “Our 
staff has evolved a plan,” he resumed at length, “the success of which 
will depend upon the courage, intelligence and railroad ability of the 
man entrusted with the command of a certain dangerous mission. Colonel 
Mason thinks you are the man for this work.” Boone started to reply, 
but Lee held up his hand. “Because of the risks involved, the service 
is strictly voluntary. You are at liberty to decline if you so desire.” 
Then Boone spoke. “I have already accepted the mission and am awaiting 
the necessary details.” Turning to his staff officer, the general 
smiled.  “You choose well, Colonel Mason.”  His gaze shifted to Boone.  
“Now listen closely, Captain Hatfield...” 

The night was pitch black, with a promise of rain.  It was silent also,
save for an intermittent grumble that sounded somewhere amid the hills 
to the right...the grumble of cannon, miles distant, as the 
fortifications of two great armies bombarded each other during the 
hours of darkness. To the little group of men crouched beside the 
railroad tracks, the sound seemed hollow and unreal, not in the least a 
part of the shadowy wall, which hemmed them in.  They strained their 
ears for another sound, a sound for which they had waited for hours.  


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