A Gathering of Soldiers

"They crossed the Cannouchee River not far out of town, with the tramp of their feet, thumping and resounding on the planks of the wooden bridge as they continued to the south. The heat grew gradually more oppressive and Daniel could feel sweat starting to trickle down inside his woollen uniform and gradually wet his vest. In addition, the collar edge of his tunic began to scratch at his neck under his chin and the cuffs too felt bulky and unfamiliar at his wrists. Around him, bag adjusting was going on almost continuously and boys began to complain about the heat and the weight and their dry throats, which were further irritated by dust, being kicked up by their feet and by the wagon up ahead of them.

For Daniel, it was the first time that he had ever moved in any kind of formed group of men. Sure he had been in crowds before, but this was different. He felt a sense of restriction and confinement, in the middle of a file of four, with boys beside him, and other files in front and behind, giving a sense of being trapped on every side in the moving cavalcade. Some of the recruits clearly took bigger strides than others and these began to tramp on the heels of the men in front, pulling at their shoe or boot to an occasional curse or complaint from those so affected. Most of the boys, including Daniel, himself, had brought water, though the bottle was in his food bag and relatively inaccessible without taking most of the food out. But his throat was dry and growing more and more parched and uncomfortable in the dusty warmth. He was beginning also to hear shouts from behind him and, on turning, caught glimpses of boys being harangued by Sergeant Strong as they dropped out from their place and fell behind the column. As they ascended a low rise, Daniel was one of those who made a point of looking behind and further back he could see several laden, light blue figures, staggering along under their burdens, away to the rear of the column and at least one, who looked like Charlie Vallance, was sitting down by the side of the road, seemingly tending to his feet or shoes.

At last, Jeffers called them to a halt from the front, and, with Strong taking up the shout, the column stumbled to a confused standstill, with men bumping into those in front all the way down the line to more complaints and the occasional profanity. Jeffers had turned to face the flushed and hard-breathing collection of boys. He was nearer and it was his voice that Daniel focussed on."