Chapter 30

           Inthatwarmsummerafterpeacecame,Tarasuddenlylostitsisolation.Andformonthsthereafterastreamofscarecrows,bearded,ragged,footsoreandalwayshungry,toileduptheredhilltoTaraandcametorestontheshadyfrontsteps,wantingfoodandanight’slodging.TheywereConfederatesoldierswalkinghome.TherailroadhadcarriedtheremainsofJohnston’sarmyfromNorthCarolinatoAtlantaanddumpedthemthere,andfromAtlantatheybegantheirpilgrimagesafoot.WhenthewaveofJohnston’smenhadpassed,thewearyveteransfromtheArmyofVirginiaarrivedandthenmenfromtheWesterntroops,beatingtheirwaysouthtowardhomeswhichmightnotexistandfamilieswhichmightbescatteredordead.Mostofthemwerewalking,afewfortunateonesrodebonyhorsesandmuleswhichthetermsofthesurrenderhadpermittedthemtokeep,gauntanimalswhichevenanuntrainedeyecouldtellwouldneverreachfar-awayFloridaandsouthGeorgia.

           Goinghome!Goinghome!Thatwastheonlythoughtinthesoldiers’minds.Someweresadandsilent,othersgayandcontemptuousofhardships,butthethoughtthatitwasalloverandtheyweregoinghomewastheonethingthatsustainedthem.Fewofthemwerebitter.Theyleftbitternesstotheirwomenandtheiroldpeople.Theyhadfoughtagoodfight,hadbeenlickedandwerewillingtosettledownpeaceablytoplowingbeneaththeflagtheyhadfought.

           Goinghome!Goinghome!Theycouldtalkofnothingelse,neitherbattlesnorwounds,norimprisonmentnorthefuture.

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