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Chapter 41

           DidthegentlementhinktheYankeeswouldevergetthroughwithreconstructingGeorgia?ThereassuringgentlementhoughtReconstructionwouldbeoverinnotimethatis,justassoonastheDemocratscouldvoteagain.Theladieswereconsiderateenoughnottoaskwhenthiswouldbe.Andhavingfinishedwithpolitics,thetalkaboutthewarbegan.

           WhenevertwoformerConfederatesmetanywhere,therewasneverbutonetopicofconversation,andwhereadozenormoregatheredtogether,itwasaforegoneconclusionthatthewarwouldbespiritedlyrefought.Andalwaystheword"if"hadthemostprominentpartinthetalk.

           "IfEnglandhadrecognizedus—""IfJeffDavishadcommandeeredallthecottonandgottenittoEnglandbeforetheblockadetightened—""IfLongstreethadobeyedordersatGettysburg—""IfJebStuarthadn’tbeenawayonthatraidwhenMarseBobneededhim—""Ifwehadn’tlostStonewallJackson—""IfVicksburghadn’tfallen—""Ifwecouldhaveheldonanotheryear—"Andalways:"Iftheyhadn’treplacedJohnstonwithHood—"or"Ifthey’dputHoodincommandatDaltoninsteadofJohnston—"

           If!If!Thesoftdrawlingvoicesquickenedwithanoldexcitementastheytalkedinthequietdarknessinfantryman,cavalryman,cannoneer,evokingmemoriesofthedayswhenlifewaseverathightide,recallingthefierceheatoftheirmidsummerinthisforlornsunsetoftheirwinter.

           "Theydon’ttalkofanythingelse,"thoughtScarlett."Nothingbutthewar.Alwaysthewar.

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