A Celebration

On April 13, 1861, Jaris Adams turned 21 years old, just a few days after Fort Sumter fell to the Confederacy. Of course, word of what had happened so far east traveled slowly and it was unclear to the residents of Lamar just exactly what had happened. Still, the townsfolk knew there would be implications that would affect all of them.

It was a cool spring Saturday afternoon, and his parents had invited over many neighbors for a birthday celebration out in the yard beside their house. A fine hog was roasting, his mother bustling around readying all of the other fixin’s. His brothers were setting up tables and chairs and carrying on like young men do.

As of December of 1860, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union, South Carolina being the first to do so. Texas was the latest, seceding in February. Since then, there had been lots of speculation as to whether or not the so-called Border States would follow in the Deep South’s footsteps. Missouri and Kansas were both torn between the two sides of the issue. Many in both states wanted to stay with the Union, while others wanted to join up with the Confederate States of America, as the new Southern government was calling themselves. And Barton County was divided about half for one, half for the other. Most people were still avoiding talking about the issues. It was amazing, Jaris thought, as he strolled about the yard—he had offered to help but his family wouldn’t let him lift a finger on this special day—how people around here were still refusing to talk about these issues, as if pretending there was nothing to talk about was going to keep them safe. Even though the residents of Barton County, Vernon County to the north, and Jasper County to the south, bordered along some of the bloodiest counties of “Bleeding Kansas,” many people still seemed to think that the bands of marauders and raiders would simply stop when they got to the border. Jaris thought it was just a matter of time before they began to pour over the rim and saturate this state like an overturned cup of poison.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw his father helping his mother with the tablecloth. His father had worked hard his entire life, provided a good home for his family, and made some money doing it. But, even though Missouri’s State Guard was active in the area, and some of the young men of the town had even ridden off to join their appointed sides, Arthur did not even want to hear Jaris speak of joining up. Jaris had thought long and hard about which side of the issue he truly supported. It was difficult with so many friends and schoolmates choosing different sides. Finally, both Jaris and, even more strongly, his older cousin, Carey, had decided that they would join the Missouri State Guard, and support Governor Claiborne Jackson in his effort to dismantle Missouri from the Union.

Though Jaris did not necessarily believe in slavery, he did believe that every state had a right to be independent, to make its own choices, independent of the Federal government. Lincoln had been very adamant in stating that he would not let any of the Southern states go without a fight, and that just didn’t seem right to him. So, unbeknownst to his parents, he and Carey had enlisted the day before. And though he had discussed enlisting with his fiancée, Cordia, he had yet to tell her he had done so. He would announce it to her along with the rest of his family over his birthday dinner. He knew his parents would be sad to see him go, but he truly believed they would be proud of him for supporting his cause. As for Cordia, well, he wasn’t exactly sure how she would react. Just as he was thinking of her, he saw a wagon coming up the road. He could see her dark brown hair blowing in the wind, and knew it was the Pike family, first to arrive. He couldn’t help but think of how her mother must have carried on at the idea of her coming to a social event with that hair down. He laughed and walked toward the hitching post where he knew the vehicle would be headed.

“Miss Cordia, Mr. and Mrs. Pike,” he said as the horses came to a stop just in front of him.

“Hello, dear Jaris!” Mrs. Pike called. She looked, as always, the picture of respectability, in a fine gown, her hair tied up nice and properly beneath her bonnet. Cordia was also dressed very fashionably, but her hair was blowing around in the April wind such that she almost looked like an Indian Princess. “Happy birthday!” Mrs. Pike called, as she stood to dismount. Mr. Pike called his greeting and congratulations as well, and it took both gentlemen to help the very plump Mrs. Jane Pike down from her seat. As she was climbing down, Margaret crossed the yard to greet them, and the parents went off to chat.

When Jaris turned back to the carriage, Cordia had already jumped out and was standing beside him. “I’m sorry,” Jaris said, studying Cordia’s stunning, fair face. “I would have been happy to help you down.”

She smiled, her hazel eyes gleaming in the bright sunlight. “Quite all right,” she said. “I can manage.”

“I reckon you can,” he agreed, taking her by the hand and leading her across the yard, toward the rest of the family. “I can’t help but notice your hair is down today, my dear.”

She sighed. He knew that her hair was always a touchy subject with her mother. “Yes, she insisted that I put it up, pleaded with me, even used the wind as an argument. I just hate putting it up, though.” Even as she was speaking, the wind was whipping through it, leaving it tangled and a bit messy. “I did bring a bonnet,” she added, reluctantly. “Just in case it starts to drive me batty.” The bonnet strings were wrapped around her arm, along with her fan and a small purse. Jaris couldn’t believe how much baggage these fashionable ladies had to carry around with them, but he knew better than to comment.