The Choice Was Gray

The Choice Was Gray follows the experiences of Will Cross, a young man from the mountains of western Virginia (later West Virginia), who joins a company of Confederate soldiers named the Upshur Grays in spring 1861 and serves during the four years of the American Civil War. The Grays are present at the first land skirmish of the war at Philippi in June 1861 and serve through the conflict to General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. As members of the 25th Virginia Infantry Regiment, they see action in most of the major battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, starting with Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign in 1862. During the four years, Will matures from an inexperienced, relatively unsophisticated youth just barely turned 18 to a battle-hardened survivor of severe physical and emotional trials. Formed in the spring of 1861, the Grays begin their long “journey” in early June at the skirmish at Philippi, only 20 miles from home. It would be a long while before they return to Upshur County. In the meantime, Upshur (which contained more Union than Confederate sympathizers) comes under Union control and contact with family is sparse, even through letters. In early July, the Grays see their first major action in a defeat at Rich Mountain, more than 35 miles from home. From there, they flee to Staunton and beyond, finally settling into winter quarters on Allegheny Mountain far from Upshur County. During the first year of the war, Will learns what it is like to be a soldier—and especially a Confederate with accompanying shortages of food, uniforms and equipment. He has a taste of the horrors and dread of battle, the boredom of camp life, and pangs of hunger—all of which grow worse over the next years. And he misses the company of his family, and of girl friend Betsy, sister of his best friend and comrade in the Grays, Charles Hodges. Throughout his trials, however, he is sustained by the strong Christian faith instilled in him in his formative years. In May 1862 the Grays come under command of the famous General Stonewall Jackson. Soon they go into battle at McDowell, some 100 miles from home, directly facing other Upshur County residents fighting in the Union army. As members of Jackson’s “foot cavalry,” the Grays see fierce fighting in the other battles of Jackson’s Valley Campaign, including Cross Keys and Port Republic. From there the Valley Army goes eastward to help raise the siege of Richmond by McClellan’s huge Federal army. Participating in the series of battles known as the Seven Days, Will is severely wounded at Gaines’ Mill and is taken to a private home in Richmond to recover. There he falls in love with the oldest daughter of the family, Tommie Brantlett, a beautiful Richmond belle. The social gap between an upper class city girl and a boy from the mountains appears too high to surmount., but during a six-week recovery period, Will makes progress in his “friendship” with Tommie. Toward the end of his recuperation, he meets Melissa Redding, lovely sister of a comrade in his brigade. Immediately smitten, Will is too shy to make his feelings known in the short time before returning to duty. Upon return to active duty in August 1862, Will rejoins his comrades in time to take part in such battles as Second Manassas and Antietam, bloodiest single day’s battle of the war. In the latter, he loses close comrades in the Grays. The year ends with the Grays participating in the battle of Fredericksburg in December. In the meantime, Will has struck up a correspondence with both Tommie and Melissa. In spring 1863 the Grays are part of a raiding party that goes to Upshur County, allowing Will a few precious days to visit family and friends. It is a bittersweet reunion, with news that his old girl friend now plans to wed another. Soon the Grays are back on the road to eastern Virginia. The Grays return to the Army of Northern Virginia in time to participate in the invasion of Pennsylvania ending in the three-day battle of Gettysburg. There Will suffers the grievous loss of his best friend, Charles, a loss temporarily turning his strong belief in God to anger and disillusionment. His spirits are not fully restored until a 60-day furlough in Richmond at the beginning of 1864 allows him to form close ties with both Tommie and Melissa. By the end of his leave, Tommie has given indications that she now considers him more than just a friend. But by this time he has fallen in love with Melissa, even composing a song about her. Correspondence with both women brightens his spirits when Will returns to the army. In May, 1864, however, Will’s brigade is nearly wiped out in The Wilderness battles, with only a few members of the 25th Virginia surviving. Thrown together with survivors of many other regiments, Will and his comrades take part in the battle of Cold Harbor before being detached to join a new “Valley Army” under General Jubal Early. In July 1864, Will is with Early’s army as it reaches the very outskirts of Washington, D.C. After later battles in the Valley, Will’s unit rejoins Lee’s army undergoing siege in the Richmond-Petersburg area, a move that once more puts Will in close proximity to Tommie and Melissa. Becoming a brigade messenger opens more opportunities for Will to visit Richmond, including a memorable Christmas Day spent with the Redding family. By the beginning of 1865 Will has fallen deeply in love with Melissa, but then Tommie makes it clear that she now has plans for a future together with him. Will is struggling with what commitment to make when the Army of Northern Virginia is forced to evacuate the Richmond-Petersburg lines and flee. Eventually the army ends up at Appomattox, where Will takes part in the Confederate surrender. The story closes with Will and his closest companion from the Grays making their way back to see what has become of Melissa and Tommie after the fire that swept Richmond on the night of the evacuation. Will indicates that he finally has made up his mind as to which young woman to pursue as he and his companion look across the James River at the ruins of Richmond.