Disguised

It was very early in the morning so the sun was not up yet. In the darkness she silently left her house. Marie dashed off as fast as she could. She kicked up dirt as she ran down the dir pathway. She was close. The sound of gunshots already met her ears. They had moved closer since the previous night. Marie looked at the dense woods in front of her. The trees stood tall and the leaves rustled in the wind. An owl hooted as it flew through the night sky. Marie pulled her brown cloak tightly around her shivering body. She listed for another moment to the gunshots then took her first step into the woods.
The sound of bullets grew louder as she crept through the trees. Screams echoed through the forest. Marie sprinted through the woods. She hid behind trees as she went. In front of her she heard footsteps. Quickly she dropped to her knees behind a tree. From her hiding spot she saw three Union soldiers walk by. Once they were safely out of sight Marie stood up. She brushed the leaves from her plain white cotton gown. She took a quick look around to see if any other soldiers were lurking nearby. When the coast was clear Marie continued to travel through the woods. Now she was close enough. Marie crouched down in a bush and peered through the leaves. The Union and Confederate troops fired their guns and ran across the battlefield. More shouts echoed through the forest. Bullets zoomed through the sky. Men fell to the ground and marched around. Marie whipped her head from side to side so she could catch all of the action. More screams and gunshots echoed through her ears. Her heart was beating quickly. She watched, entranced by the action.
Marie knew she should not be there, but she could not help herself. To watch the Civil War was thrilling. She wished she could be out there herself. It had always been her dream. She wanted to serve her country by fighting for it.
Marie’s father was a general. That made her want it even more. When she was little she could sit with her father around the fireplace. He would tell her storied of battles he had been in. She loved her fathers stories more than anything. And when he was away at war she would image all the things her father could be doing. And she would anxiously await his return and new stories.
Now the Civil War had begun. Marie’s father was off fighting. Marie scanned the battlefield to see if she could catch a glimpse of her father. She searched through the crowd of people, but she could not find him.
Marie sat back in the leaves. She imaged what it would be like if she could join the army. If she would walk across the battlefield and serve her country. Marie was sure she would have the thrill of her life. She sat up in the leaves and looked around for her father again.
And then she saw him. He was standing proudly surrounded by a group of soldiers. He pointed his finger and then ran forward. He looked strong and fearless as he fired his gun. Marie admired her father. He was heroic.
Just then Marie heard a gunshot near to her and then saw a body fall to the ground. She gasped and jumped back. Then she leaned forward. The man was lying on his back. There was a wound on his uniform, but his eyes were open and he was breathing.
Marie looked closer at the man. There was something strange about him. His face looked rather odd. The man sat up with a groan. As he rose his hat fell off to reveal long curly blond locks of hair. Marie gasped and jumped back again.