6 The First Shot

CHAPTER 6 The First Shot There were many moments of waiting. Henry's thoughts drifted to the street at home when everyone was waiting for the springtime circus parade to begin. Suddenly someone cried, "Here they come!" There was rustling and muttering among the men. They pulled boxes of bullets around them and shifted their positions with great care. "Here they come! Here they come!" Gunlocks clicked.

Across the smoke-covered field came a swarm of men in gray uniforms, yelling loudly and shrilly. As he caught sight of them, Henry was suddenly troubled by the thought that his gun might not be loaded. He tried to remember when he had loaded it, but he was too nervous. A hatless general pulled his horse to a stand near the colonel of Henry's troop. He shook his fist in the other's face. "You've got to hold them back!" he shouted angrily. "You've got to hold them back!" In his nervousness, the colonel began to stammer. "A-all r-right, General, by God! We-we'll d-d-do—do our best, General." The general made a passionate gesture and rode away. The man at Henry's elbow was mumbling, as if to himself, "Oh, we're in for it now! We're in for it now!"

The captain of the company was pacing excitedly back and forth behind the men. He kept repeating, "Hold your fire, boys. Don't shoot until I tell you. Wait until they get close up." Henry took one look at the enemy in the field in front of him and stopped wondering if his gun was loaded. Before he was ready— before he had told himself that he was about to fight—he threw his rifle into position. He fired a first wild shot even before the order came, and continued working his weapon. He suddenly lost all concern for himself. He felt as if he was part of something larger. The only thing he knew was that whatever he was now a part of was in trouble. He could no more leave his troop than a little finger could leave a hand. He was always aware of his friends beside him. It was a brotherhood born of the smoke and danger of death.