Another chapter of Rivers of Blood Chapter Thirty One The first three months of 1865 saw the slow death of the Confederate States. Despite insignificant victory’s, the siege of Petersburg sucked what remained of life from the CSA. On April 1st 1865, Robert E. Lee finally surrendered at the home of Wilmer McLean at a place called Appomattox Court house. General Lee arrived riding Traveller, he sat straight and tall but looking tired, sad and old. Grant waited inside with Sherman and George Custer as the old man made his way inside accompanied by an aide. After a few words US Grant and Lee signed the formal documents and Lee being the absolute southern gentleman stood and excused himself with no further ceremony, returning to his Army of Northern Virginia to bid his army farewell. Celebration broke out among the victor’s while bells tolled in every northern city announcing the end of the tragic war that had cost over 350,000 men their lives, almost 200,000 of these deaths from disease alone. While the north celebrated the roads of the south were filled with the vanquished army of those who had proudly gone forth with dreams of a new republic, only to watch those dreams be destroyed by the industrial might of the north. For many of these men what they returned home too was only a shadow of what they had left behind only a few years earlier. Reconstruction was the next chapter for the south, and the end of the old traditional south and the birth of the new south. A new south that was not entirely accepting of the new conditions being forced upon it. Old animosities would fan the flames of hatred spawning the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. Men of color had their political freedom now but at a cost, the war had seen to that, however now the cost of that freedom would be measured in the lives and fortunes of the newly freed slaves themselves. True freedom would take another hundred years and would be paid for a thousand times over by those who dared to speak out in the south, those who tried to cross the invisible barrier between blacks and whites. As the day’s events unfolded at Appomattox Court House William Dietz was unaware as he and Drusilla went about final plans for their wedding. Williams parents had arrived in Vicksburg the previous day and were being shown about by Drusilla’s father. The city of Vicksburg was already showing signs of spring, the color of blossoms quickly covering up any remaining signs of the previous years fighting. William had left the army and had moved to Vicksburg in March buying an old main street store that he had turned into an office. Already he had established himself in the community as he and Mr. Naylor broke ground for a new cotton gin that would employee twice the number of men the old one had. And with so many people trying to figure out a way to pay the past due taxes owed to the US government many were willing to sell their coming cotton crops at rock bottom prices. The Naylor family stood to make a huge profit off the new gin, while William profited from both the work and boost to his reputation. His future father in law was even hinting at building a textile mill in Vicksburg in the future. With the wedding only days away he now turned his full attention to his bride who was rapidly moving from one detail to the next. The wedding ceremony would be held at the house in Vicksburg since the old plantation home was still being renovated. Drusilla had dreams of her and William eventually moving back to the plantation home where she had grown up, knowing he would prefer to stay in the city. When Drusilla finished her visit with the dress maker and arranged to have her dress dropped off at the house she found William sitting out front watching the folks of Vicksburg go about their business. “Well now that takes care of everything”, she said as she looped her arm thru his. “What would you like to do now”, William asked? Smiling she said, “Let’s go for a buggy ride. My father will not be back until later this afternoon, he was taking your parents out to show them the old place and the saw mill. We will not be expected until dinner and after dinner you and I must not see each other again until the wedding”. “As you wish”, William replied as he helped her into the buggy. As they headed down the main avenue of the city several people waved and shouted good wishes. When they reached the growing industrial part of town by the river William turned the buggy north and drove along the river road. The two shared small talk for an hour until William reached the landing upriver where he had first arrived a year earlier. There he stopped the Buddy in the shade of a giant burr oak and tied the team. “What on earth are we doing here”, Drusilla asked? “This is where I landed in Mississippi when I arrived with my engineers”, he said looking around at the small riverboat busy unloading farm supplies at the landing. “This is where our story begins”. “I thought it began in St. Louis where you argued with me over a cab”, Drusilla said smiling. “I guess that could be the beginning if you were to wish to remember our first meeting with a quarrel. I would prefer to think of our first meeting being in Vicksburg when I saw you again”. “I do not wish to even think of that time”, she replied sharply. The Yankee bastards had just destroyed our city and we were starving”. Composing herself she added, “of course that ended when you and your men finished the new wharfs, so I guess I should be thankful for that at least”. “I’m sorry you had to see the worst of what warfare can do to a city dear. But I will never be sorry for what I did here or the work we did to bring Vicksburg back to life”. Then with a smile he added, “So are you now saying that our meeting here was only a coincidence caused by the war”? “Perhaps that were the case, she said, but a very happy occurrence. After all I knew I would see you again that day in St. Louis, why do you think I told you where I lived. I thought that perhaps when the war ended you might come looking for me”. Helping her down William offered her his arm and said, “I would have come, you are right. Because I never forgot the vision you left on my memory”. Then smiling he added, “And look at us now, in less than twenty four hours you will be my wife”. Then he led her along the gravel path that runs beside the river enjoying the warmth of the spring day. Later that night after dinner the couple said their goodbyes as Drusilla retired to her room not to be seen again until the wedding. William his father and Mr. Naylor retired to the study to talk. It was clear there was something in the air as the three men sat down with their brandy. “Tomorrow is a big day for you my boy”, Albert said as he reached into his coat pocket. “I have something here that I have been holding for you for a while. When your grandfather died and his will was read this envelope was entrusted to my care”. Turning the sealed envelope over he showed William the writing on the outside that simply said, for William on his wedding day. “Needless to say I have wondered many times what the contents of this envelope might be William. I can only guess it is something very good since you were always the apple of your grandfather’s eye. I think we have reached the point to hand it over to you”. Taking the envelope from his father William turned it over several times as if he were unsure of if he wanted to open it. Seeing this apprehension the two older men tossed back their brandy’s and stood excusing themselves, leaving William alone with the final wishes of his beloved grandfather. Carefully he broke the seal and removed the contents, a letter and a small card. He moved to his father-in-laws desk to use the lamp there to better illuminate the letter. Dear William, If you are reading this letter then I have been deprived of the honor of being with you on your wedding day. I had so hoped that I would see the day you married and be able to give you this in person. You were the only grandson I ever had the opportunity to know. You were also the first grandson and that also made you very dear to me. I had a difficult time pulling the strings that I did to get you an appointment to West Point. Not difficult politically, that part was easy. The difficult part was helping you to embark on something that could ultimately kill you. But when you ask for my help I could not resist giving you that which you desired. There will be many desires in life, but this day will be your greatest, just as your mothers mother was the greatest desire of my own life, and her lose was the greatest defeat I ever faced. I thank God that he gave me a second chance with Willow Woman, she never took away that pain but she did ease it a great deal. It is funny how a single person can be such an important part of another’s life. But today as you step off into the unknown with your own bride you are embarking on a journey. A journey that I hope will be filled with many years of happiness. I offer only this in the way of an old man’s wisdom. Cherish every moment good or bad. Share every part of yourself, your thoughts, and your dreams. Never go to bed mad, or allow your wife to go to bed mad. Settle disagreements before resting, because to let it continue will only bring more trouble. Give to her everything she desires as long as you can afford it. I say this because for all that you give to her, she will return it to you in generations of children for both of you to share your love with. Enclosed you will find a card for a banker here in Marquette. Call upon him when you can for he holds my last gift. Not a gift just for you, but for you and your wife to share. May the two of you, together enjoy all of the happiness in the world. Love your Grandfather Jonathan Williams William sat for a long moment staring at the letter as tears filled his eyes before carefully folding it and placing it back in the envelope. Standing he walked to the table where his father-in-law kept his brandy and poured another drink. He felt a sense of guilt having so much competing for his attention the past few years that he had rarely thought of the dear old man who was always there for him. Quietly he said, “thank you grandfather”. The next day after all of the festivities had come to an end and he and Drusilla were alone he handed her the envelope. “This is for us both”, he said as she read the outside of the envelope. “I wish you could have known him. You know he came to America with nothing but a few dollars and a dream to be a trapper. Together with his friend Jacque they built a city where nothing existed but the Chippewa”. Drusilla read the letter very carefully before finally asking, “He speaks of a card from a banker, did you look at that card? I mean did it say how much he had put aside for us”? William frowned and then said, “The amount is of no consequence only that he thought of us”. “Of course, She quickly replied, I was just wondering”.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 19:26:48 +0000
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