Diving Deep Into Atlanta

When the first rays of sun fall on the dews it just creates an enigmatic yet scintillating picturesque. But today it didn't make me feel exhilarated. Why? Because from today a new semester is starting and the new semester means assignments, research and more exams.

This is my last semester so if I have to graduate, I have to be really vigilant about it. With zero motivation and cent percent fear I woke up and got ready for college. I went to mess for my breakfast, just the moment I sat on my table a shrill cry resonated & I know who's it from, my best pal Poppy," Hey Nicole, why didn't you attend the morning class. Professor Stephen……"

Oh in all this chaos I forgot to introduce myself, hello, I am Nicole Grivins, student of M.A History in North Carolina State University. This subject of History has always attracted me & fascinated me by just imagining all those glorious historical events that happened in the past, that's why I decided to be a part of it. I think excavating these buried truths which got lost in the wheel of time, they are just waiting for someone to unravel them.

Poppy and I are friends with each other because we share the same notion. Otherwise, who wants to be friends with an introverted nerd like me.

"Hey Nicole, are you listening to me?"

"Yes, I am Poppy. You were talking about some special research that will add extra credits to our marksheet."

She surprisingly asked, "Do you have two brains? I just saw you getting dazed."

"Poppy, we do have two hemispheres."

"Okay, Nicole the great I got it, but do you know Professor Stephen said that to get the special grading we have to write on some untouched events which are not discussed in the history on mass basis, best five reports will get special grading."

"Along with the semester research and report?"

"Yes, my dear Nicole, that's why I am not even looking at it."

"So, why do you have so much information about stuff that you are not even interested in!"

"Of course, for you and yes I attend classes unlike you."

"For me, Poppy, I am already behind the average GPA required for graduation."

"I know my friend, your angel in disguise is here. Professor said that the best out of five will be awarded 2 GPA points. See problem solved."

I raised my brow and asked, "And you think I will be the best out of five?"

"You remember last semester that Visiting Professor from Virginia."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Remember between the lecture you asked me a question," 

I shook my head in denial.

"Oh GOD, this girl, okay that professor was teaching about a specific critical event of AMERICAN CIVIL WAR."

"Yes, yes the FALL OF ATLANTA."

She continued," When he was explaining the events that occurred when General Sherman was attacked by General Johnston's army and General Nathan's cavalry forces, you asked me a question!"

"Why attack on Atlanta was decided after 3 years of civil war even though they knew that Atlanta was a critical point which can be used to suppress the confederacy of South America at that time and why just months before the Fall of Atlanta and the critical strategy of conjoined attack of General Grant and General Sherman's attack on Virginia and Atlanta, he was appointed as lieutenant general, a rank revived at the special request of President Lincoln and assumed command of all United States Armies in the field the following day?"

"Exactly Nicole, go find it."

I innocently asked, "Find what?"

She almost screamed and said," The answer to your questions, Nicole."

"What, how, this all happened almost 16 decades ago."

She slapped her forehead and continued, "Are you really dumb or today is dumb day for you. That Virginian Professor said that if anyone wants to know more about the American civil war, they can contact him. So, let's give the leave application to the principal and go to Virginia and believe me even American civil war was the most discussed topic I bet very few people have thought about your question."

"But Poppy, the question I have can be easily answered."

"HOW?"

"See it may be because General Grant gave the idea of both Atlanta attack and conjoined attack."

She paused for a while, then suddenly she continued while tapping on her phone," Maybe but what's the problem with researching it? Whatever we find, that's what will be our answer. I have already applied for both Research & Leave of yours."

" What about you, Poppy, you're not coming with me."

"Of course, I am."

"But you said you're not participating in it."

She raised a single brow and nonchalantly said," Because in two weeks I am going to have an ankle sprain."

We looked at each other and started laughing while walking towards class.

Two weeks later

Today is the day we are about to venture on something that is very known and can be easily reckoned with, yet I feel like we're going to unravel something enigmatic on this trip. We took the train from Charlotte Amtrak Station and after multiple changes of train and bus we finally reached Park 20th.

Surprisingly Professor Darren, the professor at University of Virginia has sent us a car to reach our accommodation because he is currently out of state and is going to return tomorrow. As the car was moving wind was blowing on my face, sun rays falling on it, streets, buildings, and people were passing along. It seemed like they all were moving along the wind. Suddenly, I thought that once in the far past these fields were the part of a famous yet disastrous civil war.

Next day, we went to the professor's home to meet him as per his instructions. We knocked on the door and suddenly Poppy said," Hey, Nicole look here," I moved towards her and looked where she pointed, it was strange because the Professor's last name was Darren but the nameplate on the door shows WELCOME TO DEFFREWS. 

After some time, a butler-like person opened the door and welcomed us in. First thing that caught my eye was the interior of the house, it was so outmoded yet grandiose, royal and eye-catching.

The Butler took us to the study room where along with the Professor Darren, there was this septuagenarian present who's built, posture and attitude was showing that he was in the army or any security organizations at least. We both wished them good morning and then we were signaled to sit on a couch in front of them.

That septuagenarian person said," Hello you must be thinking who I am," we both nodded, and he continued," I am Mark Deffrew, previously Lieutenant General of Army and Professor Darren's cousin brother. I know that you young ladies must be thinking what I am doing here" and again we nodded.

He continued, "Darren told me about your research topic, it's about General Grant's contribution in American civil war specifically the 1864s Fall of Atlanta!" he paused and looked straight in our eyes but for anonymous reason it didn't made me scared but strangely curious, following the cue, I said," Yes sir this is the final research topic of my masters; even though the whole picture is quite clear for whole world but I think there's more to that expedition."

After hearing this Mr. Deffrew got up from the seat and opened some safe like structure and then took out a diary, that diary seems old may be similar to the general's age. He looked at it in a very loving and proud manner which was so strange because a few minutes before he was so strict and was talking in an interrogative manner. He moved forward and put that on the table & sat down.

"Nicole Givins & Poppy Andrews, right?" 

We nodded, he continued," Today I want to tell you about my great grandfather's contribution in the civil war," before he could continue, Poppy asked," Why, you just met us?" I stomped her foot and signaled her to shut up, but Mr. Deffrew chuckled and said, "I have been in the army for about twice your age. I think I have a slight ability to see through people."

"Sorry Sir, Poppy has this weird habit of asking questions at the wrong time. Sir please continue." I glared at Poppy hinting that I will personally go and bury you if you interrupt again. 

He pointed at the diary and said,"

My great grandfather, Albert Deffrew, was a major in General Grant's army and was also a part of the Fall of Atlanta expedition. He actively took part against General Nathan's cavalry forces and played a major role there." 

He paused, took a long breath and again continued, "I was always finding someone who was worthy of telling this information. I remember on the deathbed my father told me that it was the last wish of grandfather to continue the remembrance of an unsaid hero who will never be mentioned in the book of History, but his contribution helped the Unions to overthrow the confederacy."

I was feeling so many emotions together; fear, nervousness, conflicted, excited, giddy and most importantly satisfaction because even though this started as research but now it has become something fateful.

"Grandpa Albert was actually worked as SPY for Unions, in later 1862 he was instructed to infiltrate Atlanta to keep an eye on General Johnston's military advisor because even though southern states had less population and less army than the northern ones but they still continued to sustain in the civil war for almost 3 years, that's why at that time for Unions one of the prime concern was generals and military advisor of confederates."

Poppy asked, "But how did Grandpa Albert manage to blend in because as far as I had read, confederates were very vigilant and cautious about who was working for them."

"Who said he worked as an official!" Poppy and we looked at each other shockingly, Mr.Deffrew continued,"

That was whole plan, at that time southern region of America was in complete favor of slavery continuation so for a black to enter that place as a slave was piece of cake. Grandpa was brought to North Carolina, and he intentionally made himself bought by the household of military advisor of General Johnston and then he was brought to work in rail lines of Atlanta. I think from there only the real fall of Atlanta began but days were passing by but nothing important was coming along and here in the war, casualties were increasing."

After a while, he again started, "One night when there was a wine party in the mansion, he snuck in to hear some confidential information from those drunken Generals but all he got to see was some sordid inconspicuous pining act. The hope for winning this whole war by Unions was turning gray day by day."

I asked hurriedly," What happened after that? "Now this whole sequence was making me numbed by the suspense, thrill and excitement I am feeling. He chuckled and drank water; At that time, I felt like an idiot, in my thrill I forgot that I was talking to a septuagenarian. I got embarrassed, seeing that Professor Darren said, "No need to get embarrassed, it's just a human instinct that we are unable to control our curiosity."

Mr.Deffrew smiled and continued,

"Few weeks passed by, one day when grandpa was resting after work in his tent, he heard a voice outside calling his name. He came out and saw a old, feeble, rickety, decrepit black man who may be in his later eighties at that time. Grandpa asked him why he was calling out for him at this time of night. He told grandpa to follow him to a place as he is very old, so he is unable to go. Grandpa pitied and agreed to carry that old man on his shoulder but to his surprise it was a very long walk and when they finally stopped, they had reached the border of Atlanta through the rail communication line. 

That old man asked him to put him down and pointed towards a horse carriage and told Grandpa Albert to board it. This whole scenario was making grandpa very confused, he finally asked him what the meaning of all this is.

He said Atlanta plays a major role in war, it can be considered as the prime junction of southern railroads, communication and supplies. If it is captured or shielded, the confederacy here can be overthrown then Unions will have an upper hand. 

It would cut the connection between the northern and southern confederates and would cripple the southern region to its deep core. 

It will prove beneficial if Atlanta is shielded instead of being captured because Atlanta doesn't have enough ration, food, medicines and this will break morale of Armies resulting in being surrendered early and lesser casualties.

If we say Grandpa was bomb shelled by that man, then we are definitely not wrong. He didn't expect him not only to know his real identity as well as who he worked for and what was his purpose of coming here.

Old man said I had given my whole life savings by boarding that carriage. You make sure to give this information to your commanding General.

Grandpa Albert wanted to ask so many questions, but he could only say why he is taking such risks to make him safely cross the border because now Grandpa knew that his cover had already been blown in confederacy & now definitely, they're looking for him.

That old just patted grandpa's head and said when you wear a tag and stand in middle of the street wearing only a small cloth to hide genitals barely, see your mother and sisters sold in brothels as sex slaves, your Kiths and kins mercilessly beaten every day, make them do all the sordid inconspicuous pining acts, give them food which was even rejected by dogs, seeing your self-esteem crumbled into bits every day; then the only goal of your life become to stop this so that the future saplings doesn't get contaminated and disarrayed. The only wish I have is that in the future at least everyone is treated like a human and humanity starts existing again in the souls of everyone.

Grandpa Albert was sickened by how much emotionally, physically and mentally harassment this person has encountered which made him lose his value of life, people and humanity. 

After that Grandpa Albert boarded the carriage and reported to General Grant at Pittsburgh. He relayed exact same information to General and after that it was further sent to President Lincoln which caused the special revival of rank occurred to General Grant & both the conjoined attack and attack of Atlanta occurred after his revival because now, they have internal core picture of Atlanta and now also, they have confirmation that northern and southern confederates were majorly communicating through Atlanta. 

He took a long breath after this continuous narration; Professor Darren gave him water again and I looked at Poppy. She was dazed and tears brimmed in the corner of her eyes. I just held her hand and contemplated on the fact that they are really worthy to be called humans or not.

The thick silence in the room was cut by Mr.Deffrew himself, he said," I knew all of this from my great grandpa's diary, he wrote his whole journey from being a spy to a major in the U.S army. He knew that in history there will be no mention of that old man whose sacrifice was priceless for him and the whole country.

So, what do you think of this, Nicole….Poppy, what do you think of doing research on Major Deffrew instead of Lieutenant General Grant, huh, Darren what ya think?"

Professor Darren looked at us and we both nodded vigorously, seeing that Mr.Deffrew smiled and said," Maybe this time he won't be an unsaid hero; Nicole and Poppy take this diary and do your research and make both Great Grandpa Albert and the old man known."

"Yes, we will General Deffrew." We both bowed and Professor Darren took us to the train station because we both know now that this septuagenarian general requires some time to himself.

All along the journey I had this thought that if that old man wasn't there to save Senior Deffrew on that day; don't know how many more casualties, how much futile compromises had to be done, how long those innocent lives would have gotten exploited, how long they will not be considered as a human.

Day of Graduation 

Today I am finally graduating with the highest credit points due to my breakthrough research on Major Deffrew and that mysterious old man. I saw Lieutenant General Deffrew and Professor Darren in the audience clapping for me and Poppy for getting special mention from the southern region for unraveling the priceless contribution of Major Deffrew and the mysterious patriot.

After this I had appreciated one fact that you don't have to be a paragon of virtue, bravery and courage all your life, it's just that one moment which makes you an exemplar for the world; just keep fighting until you get the opportunity of becoming that fateful exemplar.