The man looked puzzled, and uncertain as to how to answer her.
“Don't know him, ma'am. What regiment is he in?”
“I can't tell you, sir. He is my man, and he 'lowed he wouldn't go against the old flag, for any one. The neighbors said he was a traitor to the cause, and wouldn't give him any work. So he went off in the night, and told me he'd make his way into the Union army, and as soon as he could he'd send me word whar he was. He 'lowed I could take care of the babies somehow, but I've found it mighty hard work to get bread for 'em often. They're good children, though, no better nowhar, and they don't complain, not even when they're hungry. I heard you'uns were in the neighborhood, and I thought as perhaps you'd know whar my Peter is.”
“Boys!” the soldier cried to a group who were listening at a little distance. “Do any of you know Pete Hall?”
“Peter Hall,” the woman corrected, with great dignity.
“Excuse me, ma'am; Peter Hall, I meant to say.”
“Why, certain, I know him,” a man answered. “He's in the Second Maryland, and they're over there, on the brow of that hill. Go right over, ma'am. You'll find him, I hope,” he added in a lower tone. “Don't be afraid. No one will harm you.”
“Me and the children have walked twelve miles since yesterday noon, and we want to see Peter bad. He'd have come out and met us, I know he would, if he'd have thought we were so near,” she added, with refreshing simplicity. The idea of Peter's leaving his company, even for so important a matter as meeting her, caused a general laugh, which she did not seem to observe, but continued—“You see, we have moved since Peter went away, and he doesn't know where we live now.”
“God bless the woman and her Peter,” was the honest invocation sent after her, as she hurried away in the direction pointed out, and they were rewarded a few moments later, by seeing a soldier spring up from the grass where he had been lounging, and hasten forward to receive the greeting of his wife, who sobbed for joy upon his breast, while the little ones could only jump and shout in the fullness of their pleasure at seeing “Pa.”
Many a man stood there, and silently wished some of their loved ones could meet and greet them also.