Chapter 1

I SURVIVED THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, 1863

我在1863年的葛底斯堡战役中幸存下来

CHAPTER 1 JULY 2, 1863 A BATTLEFIELD IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA It was the battle of Gettysburg, the biggest and bloodiest of the Civil War. Mighty armies from the United States' North and South were fighting to the death. Cannons shook the ground and set the sky on fire. Bullets flew through the air like deadly raindrops. And in the middle of it all stood an eleven-year-old boy named Thomas. Just three weeks before, Thomas had been a slave living on a farm in Virginia. And now he was on this battlefield in Pennsylvania, trying to

1863年7月2日宾夕法尼亚州葛底斯堡的战场葛底斯堡战役是南北战争中规模最大、最血腥的战役。 来自美国北方和南方的强大军队正在决一死战。 大炮震动大地，点燃天空。 子弹像致命的雨滴一样在空中飞舞。 站在人群中间的是一个名叫托马斯的11岁男孩。 就在三周前，托马斯还是弗吉尼亚州一个农场里的奴隶。 现在他在宾夕法尼亚州的战场上，试图

help the Northern soldiers, who were fighting so he could be free. Thomas had come to bring the men more ammunition for their rifles. He had to get away from here. He needed to get back to his little sister, who was waiting where it was safe. But then a huge cannonball came sailing through the air. It crashed into an ammunition wagon. Kaboom! Flames shot up. Tree branches turned into torches. Razor-sharp strips of metal and nails flew through the air, stabbing Thomas in the leg and cutting his forehead. He dove for cover, rolling down a slippery hill. Gun smoke filled the air, choking him, blinding him. He had to get away! He staggered across a field, coughing and gagging. Blood spilled into his eyes from the gash on his forehead and gushed from the cut on his leg.

帮助正在为他争取自由的北方士兵。 托马斯是来给士兵们带来更多的来复枪弹药的。 他必须离开这里。 他需要回到他的小妹妹身边，她正等在安全的地方。 这时，一颗巨大的炮弹从空中呼啸而来。 它撞上了一辆弹药车。 大爆炸!火焰迅速蹿起。树枝变成了火把。 锋利的金属条和钉子在空中飞舞，刺穿了托马斯的腿，划破了他的额头。 他俯冲寻找掩护，从光滑的山上滚下来。 空气中弥漫着枪炮的烟雾，使他窒息，使他失明。 他必须离开!他蹒跚地走过田野，又咳嗽又呕吐。 血从额头上的伤口流进眼睛，又从腿上的伤口涌出。

And through the blood and smoke was a terrifying sight: hundreds of rebel soldiers charging across the meadow, their rifles pointed right at him. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thomas ran, but not fast enough. He turned and saw a rebel soldier running straight for him. The soldier's eyes were red with fury. His face was twisted into a crazed grin. He aimed his rifle at Thomas. No! Thomas couldn't die here! Boom! Thomas's chest seemed to shatter like glass. He jerked back, and fell onto the blood-soaked grass.

透过血和烟，是一幅可怕的景象:数百名叛军士兵冲过草地，他们的步枪正对着他。 繁荣!繁荣!繁荣!托马斯跑着，但跑得不够快。 他转过身来，看见一个叛军士兵径直向他跑来。 士兵气得眼睛通红。 他的脸扭曲成一个疯狂的笑容。 他把步枪对准托马斯。 不!托马斯不能死在这里!繁荣!托马斯的胸膛像玻璃一样碎了。 他猛地往后一跳，倒在血淋淋的草地上。