Twenty Ponies was touched on the shoulder and he came back to the present. A round face with a gray beard and gray hair was staring at him. "Sergeant Hope!" Twenty ponies cried. "So good to see you! I heard you were ill and might not be able to make it this year."
"I knew if I didn't," the sergeant answered, "I wouldn't next year. The doctors and the family are screaming, but I had to stand there and wave that flag to you one more time! Why did we live to be so old, sir? Why did we have to be the last ones? I'm 99! You're 107! How did we get so old?"
Ponies put his hand on the other man's shoulders. "Maybe because we lived good lives," he answered, "and always did our best?' The granddaughters are mad because their cousins didn't come up this year."
"Oh, sorry!" the sergeant answered. "They both got sick! They screamed like anything they wanted to go but they were afraid they'd relapse. They'll be up next year. Did mother scream when she found out Mary was pregnant and she wasn't coming home! The third time she said half breed I slapped her and told her it was never to be said again!"
"How could you have ever left her there?" Ponies asked.
"Because she was the only one we could spare!" the sergeant answered, "And we knew she'd be safe. No one would do anything to her that she didn't want done. I was really glad when I found out it was you. But wasn't fourteen kids a little much? I know we wanted to repopulate the country, but you two didn't have to do it all by yourselves!"
Twenty Ponies laughed. "She was the one that didn't want to stop!" he complained. "That woman and I were together for 53 years! I still miss her so awful. The grandchildren help but when I sit back in my chair I still expect to look over and see her in hers."
"Know what you mean!" the sergeant answered. I miss my Sal, too. But I think she's waiting. Well, it looks like they're just about ready. Let's get this thing over with."
The reenactment began. When it was concluded Twenty Ponies was helped to the top of the embankment, and handed the flag. He waved it and the sergeant answered, and the Union troops withdrew. Then a choir topped the hill, a band started to play, and they began to sing.

1. Oh, come and hear the story of brave Republic men,
200 'gainst 3,000, 200 they would win,
200 Republic soldiers, 'gainst 3,000 Union men.

2. Young Comanche warriors dressed in Republic brown
Young Comanche warriors there they held their ground.
200 'gainst 3,000 200 they would win, 200 Comanche warriors stood their ground to win.

3. The enemy cried "Surrender!" they answered "Go to hell!"
200 Republic soldiers, stood their ground and held,
On that road near Redding they stopped the Union men.
200 Comanche warriors brave Republic men.

4. Those Union boys kept coming in wave on pounding wave,
But young Republic warriors held their ground that day,
On that road near Redding the Union it did end,
Young Republic warriors swore that they would win.

5. The enemy commander a white flag he did raise,
and with his final strength, Saluted them that day,
Then 600 Union soldiers turned and fled away,
On that road near Redding a legend it was made.

6. 27 Republic warriors lived to tell the tale,
Of young Comanche warriors, who stood their ground and held,
They turned that road near Redding into a blazing hell,
Though they were afraid and many of them fell.

7. The Union it was beaten, on that hot July day,
Their reinforcements finished, they couldn't make the way,
On the ridge the next morning the surrender came,
200 Republic soldiers, They had saved the day.

Page 10