NineOutside one of the many tents, Simms managed to reunite with the two soldiers who first greeted him on his arrival into the camp. They appeared amused when he told them he was now working for the Federal Army.
“And you were drafted?” asked the smaller of the two.
“You could say that.” He put out his hand. “My name is Simms, I'm a law officer out of Chicago, Illinois.”
“Harvey Winterton,” said the smaller, “out of Missouri. This here is Felix Ableman, also out of Missouri.” The big, gruff soldier squeezed out a smile from between his heavy jowls. “What's a law officer gonna do for us?”
Simms shrugged and glanced around the throng of serried tents, men of all shapes and sizes, cleaning weapons, singing songs, repairing uniforms. Most seemed cheerful enough, nothing like how it was ba
