Chapters 4-7 Summary

Part II: Night Watches

"Some times I do not think I shall live to be very old - but should it be God's will for me and any come to me and ask how it was on the Old War times, I will say - that there was really no victory, and no defeat. There were only brave men" (Bushrod Carter's Commonplace Book, Florence Alabama, November 16, 1864; Chap. 4, p. 74).

Chapter 4:

In the McGavock house, soldiers wait to be tended to by surgeons. Some are sewn up while others have limbs sawed off. Many die while others suffer. Meanwhile the McGavocks try to tend to them all. This includes Anna, a 24 year old unmarried woman.

Anna had been sent to live with her cousins the McGavocks from her home in Lincoln County. Anna knew her father would not come as promised. Anna does...