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A moment later she continued "But, as I said, it was i Nashville was Fort Donelson, which fell on February 16, 1862 As soon as the fort fell, Union troops caan And Nashville becaovernood for soood for others--the ardent secessionists Remeovernment moved to Meovernor Anyone knoho that was? I’ll give you a hint A future president"

"Andrew Johnson!" Matt called out

"Gold star for that boy," Olivia said "Okay, so there was a Union Army of Tennessee and a Confederate Army of Tennessee On December 2, 1864, the Confederate Arainst the Union Army south of the city On December 15, the Union Army arrived and started the Battle of Nashville While the Confederates fought hard, they were badly defeated and had to retreat"

"And that’s where we get our faht beneath his chin so the beaham!" he moaned

"Hey, stop it!" Sean said "Remember--we respect the dead"

"Exactly!" Mariah then took over the story "General Rufus Cunninghahter and she was married to one of the Union lieutenants with the troops occupying Nashville"

"Wow, the girl was kind of a traitor, wasn’t she? Ooh--ested

"No, no! It was very sad," Olivia said "The whole as tragically sad Many of the ood friends or relatives of the soldiers they fought Cunninghahter was named Eliza She married Nathan Randall in 1858, and sheofficer at the time Many of the ether Many of the is, General Rufus Cunningham loved his son-in-law But even if he hadn’t loved him, he would have tried to save him He’d ordered that any ray--was to be givenup the story, "Nathan Randall was injured Seeing hih he was already in retreat with his troops--General Cunninghaht in the crossfire between the advancing Union and the retreating Confederates He died not far froht and he’s buried in the tiny Confederate Cerave"

"And," Joey added, "it’s said that General Rufus Cunningha out for those who are in danger, trying to save lives"

"Yeah, well, he failed with Marcus, huh?" Matt said His words were followed by silence

"I’m sure he would have helped if he could," Olivia said

Brent rose and sat next to Matt The tough guy smiled at the Down syndrome boy and placed an arm around his shoulders

"Hey, there’s a romantic story, too," Olivia quickly offered "The beautiful strea Kno that was formed?"

"Someone’s tears?" Joey asked

"You bet," she replied "There was a beautiful maiden called Little Deer She was in love with a warrior na a terrible tirabbers--and we forced all the eastern Native Americans west, toward Arkansas The two of theation sent to argue out terms He should’ve have been back before Little Deer was forced to leave But the aret this done There was a horribleto reach Little Deer, but he was shot down because an ar Little Deer heard the shot from miles away She cried this stream that runs froht you can hear the two of the, "soo to bed I say we call it a day and we’ll get an early start tolanced over at Olivia She wished she didn’t feel herself tense every tiroup of people, she could tell hiive a daht with him Just one

"The black rock is a natural boulder stuck out here, and it’s black because it’s aged," she explained "Okay,they’re angry about--and throater balloons at it Believe it or not, it actually seems to help"

"And it soothes the old soul," Mason said He stood, yawning "I do have to say it feels great to be out here, huh?"

"Yes, andof soirls’ to the right!"

"Who wants to help rinse off the plates and pots and pans?" Olivia asked "You can grab your toothbrushes and we’ll get water for face washing at the same time"

Joey, Matt and Brent said they’d co to be by himself and refused to leave a crowd

The boys helped her with the dishes When they returned to the ca in Brent, Sean and Joey were in a large tent with Dustin, whose sleeping bag was closest to the entrance--closest to where she was, in the second tent with Mariah and Sandra Aaron, Matt, Nick and Dreere in the third

"You think this was too soon?" Mariah asked worriedly as she lay on her cot "I mean, too soon for one of these trips--after Marcus died?"

Sandra, ready to turn down their lantern, sighed "Mariah, we have to go on as usual You’re just telling stories that you greith It’s fine"

"I guess," Mariah murmured "What do you think? Did they all like the little ceeneral?" Mariah asked