Out came an enormous platter, piled high withfried chicken, a bowl of gravy, two huge bowls—one of potatoes, theother vegetables—biscuits and jam, pitchers of milk and coffee. Ona counter next to the table, Mrs. Weikert placed an apple pie and achocolate cake. “Let us hope we aren’t interrupted while we eat.”She spoke to the room at large.
Mr. Weikert and Dan came inside. “They’retaking down my fences and using them for firewood,” Mr. Weikertshouted as he entered. “That…officer.” He slammed the door shut, asthough to make “that officer” disappear. His eyes fell on Tillieand the girls, and with effort, he calmed some. “He dares to tellme it’s my patriotic duty to supply what the army needs whilethey’re here.” Mr. Weikert threw water on his face and washed hishands. He grabbed a towel and mopped his face, before slapping thetowel next to the washbasin. “Patriotic duty,” he spat, glaring athis wife. “They’re destroying my farm, Sarah!”
Tillie lowered her face, clamping her lipsbetween her teeth. Father would never display such anger in frontof the family. Wishing she could go home and trying to beinconspicuous, she found a place to sit at the bench between Sadieand Mollie.
“Come and eat, Jacob.” Mrs. Weikert took herplace at one end of the table. She followed her husband with hereyes as he stormed over to the head, yanked his chair out, andsat.
Tillie focused on her plate while Mr. Weikerttook his seat. She dared to steal a peek at him. A muscle in hischeek jumped, and a vein stood out on his temple. Her eyesrefocused on her plate.
Mrs. Weikert picked up the bowl of mashedpotatoes, scooped out a large spoonful, and passed them to Dan,signaling the entire family. They reached, grabbed, and filledtheir plates without waiting for anyone to pass anything. If anitem passed by and they wanted some, they snatched it.
“Dig in, Tillie.” Mr. Weikert set the bowl ofgreen beans down. “Lest you find yourself with nothing to eat.”
Tillie grabbed the bowl of green beans andspooned some on her plate. Taking her cue from the others, shesnatched what she wanted from the bowls as they flew past. Then shefolded her hands in her lap and waited for the blessing.
Mr. Weikert picked up his fork, leaned overhis plate, and shoveled food into his mouth.
Tillie gaped. She’d never seen a man eat somuch, so fast. A nudge jostled her left arm.
“Sorry.” Five-year-old Sadie struggled topour herself a glass of milk.
Tillie lifted the pitcher from her and poureda glass for Sadie and herself. She put the pitcher down and cutinto the fried chicken. She closed her eyes and sighed. The outsidecrackled when she bit in, and gravy threatened to run down herchin. All propriety left her, and she too shoveled food into hermouth, devoted to filling the cavernous hole in her stomach.
After supper, the women cleaned up. Here,Tillie helped with confidence. She cleared the table and swept thefloor. Mrs. Schriver took the leftovers and put them back into thecupboard.
The food cupboard, Mother called hers apantry, stood against the north wall. Five shelves high, it heldeverything from jams and milk to cream, eggs, and butter. Fatherkept meat on his lowest shelves, and they didn’t lock their pantry.Cool air entered from an intake pipe at the bottom. As thetemperature warmed, the air rose and exited through an outlet pipeat the top, keeping the ambient air in the cupboard at least tendegrees cooler than the rest of the house, and allowing food tostay fresher longer than if left in the open.
Mrs. Schriver closed the doors, and Mrs.Weikert removed a key from her pocket and locked it. They returnedto preparing biscuits for the soldiers.
Dan and Mr. Weikert clomped outside, leavingthe cellar door open. The cool evening breeze drifted in, bringingsounds of a gathering army.
With a belly full of food, Tillie feltlethargy set in, but she had work still to do. She went to the doorand peered out, to get a breath of air. The kitchen heat pushed ather back, but the breeze outside cooled her face and refreshedher.
A few feet in front of her Taneytown Roadbustled. Wagon after wagon rumbled by, accompanied by teamsters’whistles and shouts, and horses’ neighing and whinnying.
Beyond her vision in the front yard and onthe other side of the barn, came the muted roar of hundreds ofmen.
Beckie joined her.
The two men returned. “Ma’am, may we comeback in and make more broth? We promise to stay outta the way asbest we can.”
Mrs. Weikert continued kneading dough. “I’mfinished with the cook stove for now.”
“Mama, we’re going outside.” Beckie grabbedher shawl and flipped it over her shoulders.
“Close the door on your way out.”
The girls shut the door and walked across theyard.
Beckie scanned the barnyard from one side tothe other. “Why, there must be close to two hundred men sittingaround.”
Tillie followed Beckie’s stare. Her eyesdrawn to Big and Little Roundtops looming black in the fadingsilver of evening as the purple sky of darkness drew its cloakaround them. Hundreds of campfires gleamed yellow orange in thecoming darkness. Tillie redirected her attention to the loungingmen. “At least that many.” She took in the army at rest. “Look atthe way they’ve arranged themselves.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, those men,” she gestured toward agroup of healthy men, “don’t seem hurt at all, or at least notbad.” She pointed to several campfires, well away from the barn,where whole and able men lounged in the grass, propped up on elbowsor sitting upon logs, talking around the campfires. “But closer tothe barn door.” She indicated the men. “Those men are badly hurt.I’d wager the worst ones are inside.”
“Do you want to go see?” Beckie soundedalmost gleeful at the prospect of human suffering. Before Tilliecould refuse, Beckie grabbed her arm and pulled her toward thebarn.
They passed a group of lounging soldiers,discussing the outcome of the day’s battle. One man threw a log onthe
