In the Blink of An Eye, Jerry Baggett [red scrolls of magic txt] 📗

About the author

Jerry Baggett is a long-time Los Angeles businessman, Southern California yachtsman and author. Jerry grew up on Cape Hatteras Island, North Carolina and the Gulf Coast of Alabama where he developed a love for the sea. After graduating from the University of Alabama, he found his way to Los Angeles where he has spent the last forty years, splitting his time between various business interests and his love for cruising and diving the ever-fascinating barrier islands of Southern California with his family. Jerry has been a member of the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club for many years.

In the Blink of An Eye

Jerry Baggett

In the Blink of An Eye

Vanguard Press

VANGUARD KINDLE

© Copyright 2021

Jerry Baggett

The right of Jerry Baggett to be identified as author of

this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All Rights Reserved

No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication

may be made without written permission.

No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced,

copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions

of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended).

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to

this publication may be liable to criminal

prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is

available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-80016-065-1

Vanguard Press is an imprint of

Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Ltd.

www.pegasuspublishers.com

First Published in 2021

Vanguard Press

Sheraton House Castle Park

Cambridge England

Dedication

To love, honor and country.

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.

George Washington

Author’s note

This book is a work of fiction and does not represent an accurate history of any particular family or person, living or dead. The author’s great grandfather was seriously wounded during the battle of Brandy Creek on June 9th, 1863, serving in the 9th Regimental Cavalry, 1st North Carolina Militia. His direct descendants claimed the family fortune had been buried by his father-in-law who died with his man servant as a result of fighting around Charlottesville, Virginia. All other aspects of the story are derived from the author’s imagination. We hope you have enjoyed our story.

Jerry Baggett

Prologue

June 9th, 1863. Brandy Creek, Pennsylvania. Headquarters, 1st North Carolina Militia, 9th Regimental Cavalry

“Captain McGowin reporting for duty, as ordered, sir.” He stood rigid until the major acknowledged his presence.

“You are the son of Colonel John C. McGowin, are you?”

“Yes, sir, proud to serve the regiment, sir.”

“We can forget further formalities, Captain. We’re still involved in the heaviest cavalry engagement of the war. Your father, the colonel, ordered a cavalry charge at first light near Bull Run. He went in with his men.” The major looked the captain over carefully before making eye contact. “He’s down with his horse, severely injured in a wash, down near the water. You may not be in time for a final goodbye, Captain, if you don’t hurry on out. I don’t recommend you go down there. The big fight still rages just across the river from where the colonel went down. If you do go, be alert, the area where he’s down is still under heavy bombardment from Union forces, so, consider your options carefully.”

The major nodded to his left. “Private Mayer, here, will escort you into the battle zone. Good luck, Captain.” He touched two fingers to his forehead. He held them there for long moments and watched the young captain walk away.

Private Mayer held his hand up. “We can’t go no farther, Captain, they’s still sniping from that trench to the right there and them cannon shells are landing between us here, and the colonel. That’s him in that little draw there, near the water. The general thinks he’s dead. Rescue efforts were called off after a cannon ball exploded darn near on top of him.”

“I can’t leave my father out there with the rest of the dead men. There are dead horses bloating up. I want you to shoot any son of a bitch that sticks his head up to take a shot at me. I’m going to run out to see about the colonel. You got that?”

“Yes, sir, but just me shootin’ ain’t goin’ to save your life out there, Captain. Our boys done chased the yanks across the bridge.”

“The colonel may be alive. I plan on grabbing him and dragging him, or his body, into the water. We’ll drift along with the current. If I make it, round up more help and look for me downstream.”

“I’ll do what I can, Captain. I sure hope you make it.”

McGowin crawled within ten feet of the colonel. He felt the first ball tear through his left leg above the knee, a second removed part of his ear. Momentum carried him head first into the crater with the colonel. He placed his body over his father, his cheek against his father’s cheek. He hoped he would feel body heat. I love you, Dad.

His father’s faded grey eyes opened wide, then closed to narrow slits. “You shouldn’t be here, son.” The older man struggled for breath. “Listen to me. It’s important. Before we left home. Joseph, you remember him, my manservant. That’s Joseph over there near the stream, bless him. We gathered all the family gold and silver, along with other valuables and buried them before Sherman could get there. We didn’t tell the womenfolk where we buried the stuff so the Yankees wouldn’t have reason to give them trouble. An old trunk, about two feet… Under, ah…” He exhaled once.

Johnny felt his father gasp and relax in his arms. He’d been