Abner & Me by Dan Gutman Read Free Book Online

the Civil War were called Rebels.
    The tall kid told us his name was Joshua, and that they were all part of the 151st Pennsylvania. The short guy with the drum said his name was Little John, and the blond kid’s name was Rufus. We shook hands all around, except for that Willie guy who had said he wanted to shoot us.
    â€œStand around squawkin’ all you want,” Willie said. “But I’m here to shoot Rebs.”
    Willie positioned himself at the edge of the ditch and put his gun to his shoulder. But before he could pull the trigger, a bullet slammed into him. He spun around and fell backward against the back wall of the ditch.
    â€œThey got Willie!” Joshua shouted.
    The other three gathered around Willie trying to help him, but he was screaming out from the pain, yelling, “Don’t touch me! Don’t take me to the doctor!Just let me die here!” He was holding his shoulder, and I could see blood on his hands.
    Mom rushed over and knelt down next to Willie, taking his head in her hands. He was looking dazed and confused, like he might black out.
    â€œCan you tell me your name?” she asked him. “Do you know where you are?”
    â€œWillie Biddle,” he said, gritting his teeth. “I’m in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Just let me die!”
    Mom and I looked at each other. We were at the Battle of Gettysburg! I didn’t know much about it, but I knew it was probably the most famous battle of the Civil War.
    â€œYou’re going to be okay,” she assured Willie. “I’m a nurse. I can help you. You’re not going to die.”
    â€œNo doctor!” Willie screamed. “Promise me you won’t get the doctors.”
    â€œShhhh,” Mom said. “Let me have a look at this.”
    Mom ripped off Willie’s sleeve, and it was a bloody mess. Joshua, Little John, and Rufus turned away. So did I. Open wounds have never been my favorite thing to look at.
    â€œI’m glad I brought along a first aid kit,” Mom told Willie. “I’ll have you patched up in no time.”
    â€œMa’am,” Willie grunted, “I’m sorry I said we should shoot you and your boy.”
    â€œDon’t mention it,” Mom said.
    While Mom tended to Willie’s wounds, Joshua picked up his rifle. Little John and Rufus picked up theirs too. I could still hear gunshots and explosions,but they were mostly in the distance.
    â€œMust’ve been a stray bullet that got Willie,” Joshua said. “But the Rebs could be makin’ another charge any minute. We better be ready for ’em.”
    â€œWhat about him ?” Little John asked. “We need every man we got.”
    They all looked at me.
    â€œCan you shoot?” Joshua asked me. “Do you know how to handle a rifle?”
    â€œYeah, but I, uh…don’t have a gun,” I said. “I don’t even have a uniform.”
    â€œWe’ll fix you up,” Joshua said. He led me over to the other end of the ditch, where, I noticed for the first time, there was another soldier. He was lying against the side of the wall, his eyes closed.
    â€œThis is Alexander,” Joshua said, pulling a pipe out of his pocket and sticking it in his mouth. “Don’t think him rude if he don’t shake your hand. He can’t on account of he’s dead. We’ll bury him later. But I reckon he won’t be needing his rifle no more. He won’t mind if you take it.”
    I had never seen a dead body before. Alexander was just lying there. It looked like he was asleep. His body wasn’t riddled with bullets or anything. He looked so peaceful, like he was about to wake up any second, stretch out his arms, and ask the others what went on while he was napping.
    Joshua filled his pipe with some tobacco he scooped out of a pouch, and then he lit it.
    â€œSmoking is bad for you,” I advised him.

    Alexander looked like he was asleep.
    Joshua took a