Drake looked over.
“I was at New Market Heights,” Cole volunteered. “The bone in my leg was shattered in the shelling.”
It was not the answer Drake had been expecting. He got the buggy moving and turned it towards the Quarter. “You men fought bravely that day,” he told Cole.
“The generals weren’t sure we’d fight, but we did and well.”
“Fourteen Medals of Honor were awarded, if I remember correctly.”
“Yes. Well-earned, but when the majors tried to reward the honorees with raises in rank, the War Department refused.”
Drake knew about the insulting episode.
“Did you fight?” Cole asked.
“I did. First Native Guard, then First Corps d’Afrique. In ’64, the Army moved us into the USCT 73rd,but by that time, maybe only 100 of the original thousand who’d volunteered were still in the ranks.”
From behind him, Valinda leaned forward to ask, “Why so few?”
“They stripped our superior officers of their rank and replaced them with Whites who hated us. Throw in bad food, terrible conditions, and many men simply left their posts and returned home.”
Cole added sagely, “But without the men of the race, the Union wouldn’t have succeeded.”
Drake agreed, and decided yes, he liked Cole Bennett, very much.
Their journey to the Quarter was slow. Last night’s rain left the roads a muddy mess, and twice Drake had to get out and push the buggy’s wheels out of the mire. As they entered the streets of the Quarter, Cole stared around at the thick traffic and the wealth of humanity on the walks. “I’m amazed at how busy it is here. I thought New York was crowded.”
“Yes. Even after the sun goes down.”
They came up on a man riding a cow, and the look on Cole’s face made Valinda laugh. Cole asked, “People ride cows here?”
Drake smiled. “They ride whatever they can.”
“Cows have been known to roam the streets back home, but no one rides them.”
They eventually made it to the Christophe.
Cole slowly descended to the walk and as Valinda got out and joined him, Drake said, “I can bring Valinda in tomorrow if you want to visit with her again.”
“I’d like that.”
Valinda flashed him a smile, letting him know how pleasing she found his offer. “How about lunch?” she asked her friend.
The two decided on a time, and Drake said to Cole, “My mother is going to want to celebrate you and Leonard being in town, so plan on staying for at least the next two days. She’ll be very disappointed if she doesn’t get to meet you.”
Valinda said, “The LeVeqs seem to celebrate everything under the sun.”
Cole replied, “Val and I talked about my staying here for a few more days and I haven’t been feted for anything lately, so I look forward to whatever your family has in store.”
Valinda said, “Go on in and rest up.” She hugged him and placed a parting kiss on his cheek. “I’ll see you and Lenny tomorrow.”
After they watched him make a slow walk to the door and disappear inside, Val rejoined Drake on the buggy seat. “I like your friend,” he told her.
“I knew you would.”
Drake turned the buggy towards home.
As they left the congestion on Canal Street, Valinda said, “Cole and Lenny are going to take over a newspaper in California.”