“The siege was raised in early December.”
Red asked, “Where were you bound when we caught sight of you?”
The captain laughed. “We were going out to find a tree.”
“A tree?”
The sergeant grinned. “Tomorrow is Christmas.”
Red said, “Well, fancy that. Did you say there were children at the farm?”
“Three girls and two boys. Attractive little devils.” The captain looked down at the feet of the men who stood in the snow. “You must be perishing from cold. Sergeant Scully and I will take you back and set you by the fire. Corporal Simms can find us a tree.”
The corporal touched his cap. When he smiled he was even more like Greene. “You can trust me, sir. The other boys would have my hide if I came back with a scraggly tree.”
Post Script:
Captain Chamberlain, on whose story this book is based, was not as fortunate as Lieutenants Bradford and Kelly. He was recaptured and returned in chains to Richland Jail, where he was imprisoned until late in 1864.