Унесенные ветром

Chapter 1

           So,tosavethefeelingsofallandtobringtheTroopuptofullstrength,Scarlett’sfather,JohnWilkes,BuckMunroe,JimTarleton,HughCalvert,infacteverylargeplanterintheCountywiththeoneexceptionofAngusMacIntosh,hadcontributedmoneytocompletelyoutfittheTroop,horseandman. Theupshotofthematterwasthateveryplanteragreedtopayforequippinghisownsonsandacertainnumberoftheothers,butthemannerofhandlingthearrangementswassuchthatthelesswealthymembersoftheoutfitcouldaccepthorsesanduniformswithoutoffensetotheirhonor. 

           TheTroopmettwiceaweekinJonesborotodrillandtoprayforthewartobegin. Arrangementshadnotyetbeencompletedforobtainingthefullquotaofhorses,butthosewhohadhorsesperformedwhattheyimaginedtobecavalrymaneuversinthefieldbehindthecourthouse,kickedupagreatdealofdust,yelledthemselveshoarseandwavedtheRevolutionary-warswordsthathadbeentakendownfromparlorwalls. Thosewho,asyet,hadnohorsessatonthecurbinfrontofBullard’sstoreandwatchedtheirmountedcomrades,chewedtobaccoandtoldyarns. Orelseengagedinshootingmatches. Therewasnoneedtoteachanyofthementoshoot. MostSouthernerswerebornwithgunsintheirhands,andlivesspentinhuntinghadmademarksmenofthemall. 

           Fromplanters’homesandswampcabins,avariedarrayoffirearmscametoeachmuster. TherewerelongsquirrelgunsthathadbeennewwhenfirsttheAlleghenieswerecrossed,oldmuzzle-loadersthathadclaimedmanyanIndianwhenGeorgiawasnew,horsepistolsthathadseenservicein1812,intheSeminolewarsandinMexico,silver-mountedduelingpistols,pocketderringers,double-barreledhuntingpiecesandhandsomenewriflesofEnglishmakewithshiningstocksoffinewood. 

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