Tell me if you like this....

"Dad!" screamed the young girl, who was standing in the middle of the chaos which was going on around her.

Her red dress was torn at the knees and stained with mud. The fighting raged around her, the Yankees firing their muskets at the confederates, and the brave men in the gray coats, fighting with their muskets and knives.

Blood pooled in the streets where I stood fighting a Yank. I was using my musket like a club, swinging at the young solider, who had to be a few years younger than me. I had already landed a few blows to his chest and arms.

He was already suffering from a wound in his side, which was gushing blood, turning the blue uniform a deep shade of purple.

The man hit me in the face, which sent me to the ground.

I looked up from the cobbled ground, seeing the man stand over me with a knife.

"No!" I yelled, throwing my hands up to try to deflect the blow.

the man raised the knife, then stiffened as a musket ball ripped through his chest. He let out a small moan, then toppled to the ground next to me.

"Dad!" shrieked the girl as a Yankee ran towards her. I saw her eyes widen as she saw the man get shot, the bullet ripping through his arm and into his chest, driving into his heart.

I saw the girl rush over to the man, kneeling down next to his head, brushing hair out of the dying mans face.

I saw her lips move, but could hear nothing over the roar of the battle.

I was one of the men from my unit, Gregwell, get a ball through the leg.

I picked myself off the ground and ran towards the little girl, dodging muscat balls left an right.

A man ran at me, and I slashed him in the face with my knife.

I reached the girl and swept her into my arms, crouching low and running as fast as I could.

She was weeping, tears sliding down her dirt stained face.

" Its okay," I said, jumping over a dead body.

I ducked behind an overturned cart, and set her down.

"Stay here!" I said firmly.

The girl whimpered, but nodded her head.

I ran back out into the battle, where bodies littered the street and blood made the ground slippery.

I snatched up another musket, having left mine where I lay, and a fallen generals sword.

I then ran back to the cart, and picked the girl up and ran.

We hid out in a long since burned down building. The young girl, Sarah, was wearing my thick cotton jacket, but was still shivering.

My musket was loaded and ready to fire, and the sword was at my side. The sun had gone down, but I did not make a fire, for fear that the Yanks would see it.

In my scouting, I had found some stale bread, which I had split between Sarah and myself.

Time passed slowly, and the night only got darker.

Sarah finally fell asleep, and I, following her lead, stretched out on the charred floor beside her, and closed my eyes.

I woke to a gentle shake.

Rolling over, I saw Sarah, her golden hair hiding most of her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her startling green eyes wide.

Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I nodded, pulling myself up into a sitting position, "Why shouldn't I?"

"You were talking in your sleep," she said, brushing hair out of her face, "Who's Jeffrey?" she asked.

It was true, I had dreams about my family, and my late younger brother, who had died at the age of ten.

He still visited me in my dreams, telling me that he loved me and that my family was doing well.

"He's my brother," I said, standing.

"Where is he?" Sarah asked, standing up and brushing herself off.

"He's dead,"

Sarah looked up, "How did he die?" she asked softly.

I looked up at the sky, seeing the birds up above flapping their wings effortlessly.

"If you don't want to tell me-" Sarah started, but I cut her off.

"A Yankee killed him," I said, grinding my teeth, "We were at the market when the Yanks invaded."

"Men tried to fight back, but they were shot down, and in the confusion, a Yank shot Jeffrey."

"I enlisted the next day"

Sarah bowed her head, "I'm sorry," she said.

"It wasn't you fault," I said, brushing away the tears and the memories that were flooding my head. "Lets get out of here"

You can read more short stories at my Wordpress, Cinco7.wordpress.com