{"id":4809,"date":"2009-04-29T12:18:41","date_gmt":"2009-04-29T16:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4809"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:28","slug":"no-such-thing-as-a-civil-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4809","title":{"rendered":"No Such Thing As a Civil War (by Storm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>I have been mulling this story over for some time and now seems like the right time to post it.\u00a0 What if two brothers left the Ponderosa to fight in the burgeoning war between the States?<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 2200<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 No Such Thing As A Civil War<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe again looked to his father. \u201cI have to do this pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben expression didn\u2019t change. He couldn\u2019t risk letting it. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe it was the calm way his father was approaching this that annoyed Joe all the more. It reminded him of Adam. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you give him as hard a time?! Is it because he\u2019s fighting for your side?!\u201d<\/p>\n

That made Ben lose all control and composure. How could Joe think he wouldn\u2019t have given Adam as hard a time. \u201cNO! and I gave him just as hard a time. Do you honestly believe I want either of you in this war!?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa he\u2019s fighting for what he believes in and I\u2019m only asking that you allow me to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Joseph you don\u2019t believe in slavery. If you did you wouldn\u2019t have voted to join the union.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe in slavery pa but I do believe in the south\u2019s right to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe this isn\u2019t about Morvath is it?\u201d Ben wished it were because he believed that Joe would lose his conviction about fighting in this war more quickly if it were about a girl once he saw another pretty face look his way, but if this were about a true principle then Ben knew his son would see it through to the end. Ben hated to think his son would take on so severe an undertaking for so shallow a reason as a girl but he needed to if it meant talking him out of it might succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa. Despite what big brother may think I can see beyond a pretty face.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Ben stood and watched his youngest son ride off to the south where only yesterday he\u2019d stood and watched his eldest ride to the north. Ben fell to his knees and prayed for both his sons to return to him safely as he was sure so many other mothers and fathers had done from the beginning of this war. His prayer said and hopefully heard he got to his feet and went and joined his middle son inside.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Through the years Ben got letters from each of his sons. Letters that so closely mirrored each other. They were letters that spoke of a longing for peace and of love. They always ended with a request to know how the other was but also a request to not let the other know they were asking. Ben did his best to hold everything together and if it weren\u2019t for Hoss he would have never succeeded.<\/p>\n

Despite his belief that the war would never end it did.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Adam couldn\u2019t believe his eyes. After all these years it had finally happened. He didn\u2019t know if he were happy for it or not. There was Joe, his little brother Joe, on the opposite side of the field. He was alive and well and Adam would make sure he stayed that way even if it meant surrender.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Joe found himself having to hold himself back. That was Adam, there was no doubt of it. How often had he searched the faces of those men opposite him hoping to see his brother\u2019s face and yet always thankful he hadn\u2019t. Now he could see him and he was certain Adam had seen him but did he recognize him? Joe knew he\u2019d done a lot of growing up these past years and surely some of what he\u2019d seen and been through had taken up residence in his face. Had it changed him too much? Would his brother know him or would he shoot him down as a stranger, just another rebel that deserved killing? Joe knew in his heart there was a time his brother would have never believed another man deserved to be killed for fighting for what he believed in but this war had changed many men. Had it changed his brother? Joe knew only one thing for certain, it hadn\u2019t changed him and he would never let any harm come to his brother even if it meant surrender.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Both sides waited for the order to fight but none came and if not for the misfire of one of the soldiers the fighting would have never started. Adam saw the battle begin and he ran through the men to find his brother as Joe did the same. They met in the middle of the battlefield. To the men fighting around them who took notice it appeared as if the two men, as they rolled around on the ground, were in a battle of fists. In actuality they were each trying to cover the other with their body in order to use it to shield their brother from harm.<\/p>\n

As the battle raged on two messengers made their way onto the field of battle. One rode in from the south the other from the north and the men seemed to sense that the messages they were delivering were important because each man they rode past put aside his weapon in anticipation. The messengers seeked out the commanding officer and when they found them they were not surprised to find them to remain, what they believed, fighting. Each was well known for their tenaciousness and it appeared there would only be one way to get their attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cCAPT CARTWRIGHT!\u201d<\/p>\n

The two brothers stopped and looked at the men who had called in unison. One said it\u2019s over sir and the other voiced the same announcement. Adam and Joe then seemed to become aware of the silence for the first time. They had been so intent on keeping the other safe they hadn\u2019t noticed it before.<\/p>\n

Joe seemed to really see his brother for the first time and he saw that he too looked somehow different. \u201cIs it really over Adam?\u201d If he heard his oldest brother say it then it would really be true. Strange how that never seemed to change.<\/p>\n

Adam could see the worn look in his brother\u2019s eyes and was sure it was reflected in his own but he managed a smile for his baby brother. \u201cI sure hope so Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each took the official papers the messengers were holding out to them and read.<\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t resist saying what he was thinking. \u201cSo you only made it to captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

True to form and without missing a beat Adam replied as Joe was hoping he would. \u201cI\u2019m surprised you made it that high.\u201d<\/p>\n

To the confusion of the men still standing around them brother took brother into a warm and welcome embrace each hoping the country would do the same.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

They had set a meeting place and once all the discharge papers were in order they met and rode home together. Along the way there were may chances to talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I hope we never have to go through anything like that again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one thing we agree on Joe and I\u2019m sure pa and Hoss are hoping the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you disappointed in me Adam?\u201d Why was his brother\u2019s approval still so important?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat for? You fought for what you believed in. I\u2019m proud of you Joe. It had to be harder for you going against pa like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth is Adam it was harder going against you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew pa would always be there. I knew it didn\u2019t matter he would always love me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you thought I wouldn\u2019t? Joe you\u2019re my brother and no matter what I\u2019ll never stop loving you or being there for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so afraid Adam. So afraid I\u2019d see you among the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more then I was of seeing you Joe. I use to look for you before every battle not too sure of what I\u2019d do if I saw you. I knew I could never fight you, I could never take the chance that you\u2019d be hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess we would have done exactly what we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about surrendering?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah and if that idiot hadn\u2019t shot I probably would have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled. \u201cNow that\u2019s a story I would have loved to have been able to tell. You surrendering to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I see it Joe I\u2019ve spent my whole life surrendering to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took comfort in hearing his brother\u2019s laugh and Joe took just as much comfort in hearing Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

They arrived in Virginia City and the town watched as North and South walked down the street side by side. Hoss saw it too from inside the general store and couldn\u2019t believe it, but for a different reason then most. Most saw two men who had fought against each other and couldn\u2019t understand how they could be so near to each other without some small war breaking out. Hoss didn\u2019t see uniforms he saw his two brothers finally coming home. He turned away from the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cPA! PA!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t fathom why his son was shouting. He stood only four or five feet away. \u201cWhat is it Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re home pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben thought his legs might give out but they didn\u2019t. He joined his son at the window and felt as if he must be dreaming. He made his way outside and Hoss followed his father out. Everyone in town stood and watched as a father met his sons and as Ben took his boys into his arms a cheer went up that shook the windows in every building in town.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

That night, even though it was very late, Ben went to look in on his boys. It was something he hadn\u2019t been able to do for some years and he had to make sure they were really all there once again, that he hadn\u2019t just dreamed this whole day. He started with Hoss who it seemed to Ben was resting easier then he had in some time. Then he went to Adam\u2019s room. He drew close to the bed. My God, he thought, his little boy was going gray.<\/p>\n

Adam had heard his father come into the room, truth be told he had lain in his bed waiting for him to. \u201cPa I wouldn\u2019t have let any harm come to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that Adam. I do believe that\u2019s why you refused the commission. You believed you\u2019d see him and could protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess but don\u2019t tell him that. He thinks I only made Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t son. Besides if he hears the only reason you did refuse is because you wanted to protect him it could start another war.\u201d Funny how that now his son\u2019s were home safely Ben could make light of something he had found far from funny before.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to be home pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that you two are back it is home again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night pa; see you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben quietly closed Adam\u2019s door and moved on to Joe\u2019s room. He again tip toed to the bed. He smiled as he watched his boy sleep and was surprised to see a subtle change in his baby\u2019s face. It was somehow more grown up. Ben knew after what Joe had been through that shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise but it did all the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I would have never hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that Joe. I guess that\u2019s why you turned down that commission. You figured you\u2019d find him on the battlefield.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t tell him. He\u2019s surprised I made Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep your secret Joe. Besides if I tell him you thought he needed your protection it could start a fight I\u2019m not ready to deal with just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to be home pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith you and your brother finally back it is home again.\u201d<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Ben finally settled in his own bed knowing he wouldn\u2019t be the one to betray the secrets he had promised to keep. He wasn\u2019t foolish enough to believe there would always be peace between his youngest and oldest, but then he supposed he wouldn\u2019t want there to be. The disagreements and arguments that occurred between Adam and Joe were what made them who they were. Ben only prayed it would never go this far again. Maybe there was a way to insure that. He could absentmindedly leave Adam\u2019s letters lying around when only Joe would find them and be just as forgetful with Joe\u2019s letters when only Adam would find them. He knew that they would never mention them and them reading wasn\u2019t him telling. At least then they would know the truth if they didn\u2019t already suspect it. They were brothers and nothing would ever change or kill the love they felt for each other not even the stubbornness they both shared, or perhaps inherited was more accurate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0I have been mulling this story over for some time and now seems like the right time to post it.\u00a0 What if two brothers left the Ponderosa to fight in the burgeoning war between the States? \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 2200<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":4495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[14,16],"class_list":["post-4809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1254,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pdvd_014.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40879,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=40879","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":0},"title":"The Wrong Child – by Lisa Orcutt","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"February 27, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A grieving father takes the death of his son out on Little Joe. Rating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 \u00a0 Word Count:\u00a0 10,000","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14988,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14988","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":1},"title":"Five Rounds to a Quick Recovery (by Starlite)","author":"starlite","date":"September 14, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Adam is injured in a freak accident, will his family survive his recuperation? Rated:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (7,080 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"Elizabeth, my love","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Fragments.jpg?fit=577%2C467&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Fragments.jpg?fit=577%2C467&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Fragments.jpg?fit=577%2C467&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5288,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5288","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":2},"title":"Alternate Ending for ‘Quality of Mercy’ (by csb)","author":"csb","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0This is an alternate ending for Quality Of Mercy. I wanted to pursue Adam and Joes' argument further and resolve their differences. Rated:\u00a0K (3,690 words)","rel":"","context":"In "What Happened Instead"","block_context":{"text":"What Happened Instead","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-8.jpg?fit=747%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-8.jpg?fit=747%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-8.jpg?fit=747%2C569&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Quality-of-Mercy-8.jpg?fit=747%2C569&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16275,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=16275","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":3},"title":"For the Love of Little Joe (by Christy)","author":"Christy","date":"January 9, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0\u00a0When Little Joe is presumed dead and then shows up in Virginia City three years later, how will his past affect his future and how will lives be changed in finally bringing him home for good? Rated PG\u00a0 (27,180 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2066,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2066","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":4},"title":"My Brother, My Enemy (by JoanS)","author":"JoanS","date":"September 6, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0The Civil War causes a rift in the Cartwright family Rated:\u00a0T (29,535 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/civilwar.jpg?fit=384%2C348&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13844,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13844","url_meta":{"origin":4809,"position":5},"title":"Revenge of the Stranger (by HelenB)","author":"HelenB","date":"February 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0A\u00a0 WHN for the episode, The Stranger Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0\u00a0 (9,775 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Didnt-pay-to-be-Ben.jpg?fit=467%2C341&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4809\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}