“You ever heard those stories, about how some families, especially in this area, split apart during the war, took different sides?”

Oh, Sammy, please go to sleep, Dean thought. Trust him to concentrate on the intellectual aspects of getting your ** fired on by Civil War reenactors egged on by a ghost. “What do you mean, Sam?”

“You know, a father or a brother signs up for the Confederates, and the son or another brother goes over to the North?” He must have looked over again, because Dean could hear his voice get a little clearer, but Dean had already closed his eyes. “You know, happened a lot. Two brothers facing each other across a battlefield.”

“Yeah,” Dean breathed, thisclose to being asleep.

“It’d be weird, don’t you think? Can you imagine such a thing?” And Sam probably went on, probably at length, but Dean had already fallen deeply asleep and was finally, blissfully, impervious to his younger brother’s curious musings about fratricide.


*

You know -- I know this was written in 06, but its kind of scary how you've brought up the current issues...

*goes back to adoring the writing*

I love this so much! I really like your writing style/your characterisations particularly Sam and Buttercup (whose first chapter confused the hell out of me until i got into it :) )

Adding you to alerts just in case you wander back to fic land :)

I'm new to SPN fanfic and the fandom as a whole but it's nice to stumble upon a well written casefic (which are my favorite) that's not full to the brim with wincest. It doesn't hurt that so far your story's taking place not too far from my hometown. I was born, raised, and will probably die in Virginia...lol. I think you've masterfully nailed both Dean and Sam's character and I'm very intrigued to see where this whole thing goes.

Very well-written story -- I just loved that dog, and Dean being possessed by Buttercup's spirit was just awesome! A very cool story! I just love the stories you write for SUPERNATURAL - Hope to see more to come!

I have to say "The day started better this time, possibly because it didn’t involve being shelled by Confederate artillery." had me cracking up for longer than it probably should have. But I mean...who hasn't had a day that felt like they were being shelled by the Confederate artillery?

Anyway, just wanted to say I love this story. Thanks for writing it!

Here I am back again after reading another of your marvelous tales. What can I say that I haven't already said in my previous reviews of your amazing work? I loved the sweltering heat in this; the oppressive humidity, sweating, "mosquitos as big as dragonflies" - a pleasant change from my 18 degrees and snow (of course, check back with me in the summer when I'll love a cold ND winter tale). Seriously, wonderful imagery with the battlefields. Loved the way you set up the Civil War background amidst a hunt - and what a hunt it was.

Dean possessed - by a dog no less - counting, yelling, trying to keep control so that he could not empower the ghost - yikes! The tension in that chapter was unbearable. Sam fearing for his brother's life - two brothers set against each other on a Civil War battlefield - magnificent! Of course, the wonderful banter and humor were fabulous as well. Love your phraseology, descriptions and crisp style.

Thanks for sharing this amazing story with us. I feel like I want to go find that battlefield and ponder it, take it in, imagine what it was like over 140 years ago. Until next time...

Another blown away new reader. I've inhaled Snuggle **, Peacock Farm, Punx Sucks, Laid, Bite the Hand, and Old Rebel Yeller in one day. I cannot imagine how much fun I'll have until I reach the top and run out. Then I'll be sad but rush off to your website and LJ and hope there'll be more.

This hit a lot of chords - I live in what I describe as the heart of the north of the south - Richmond, VA - so I can publicly say here to any other reviewers that your descriptions of the areas in Virginia, insane civil war reenactors, the lunatic aren't we all so southern when we are mostly northern (not a single authentic 'southern' accent naturally found in this here state), are so on target and so often humiliating to someone who grew up in suburban Washington. The weather and the drenching humidity during the summer when you realize you moving north is such a damn fine idea - all true.

Your attention to detail, your research, the reality of your characterization, Sam's point of view - set out like a piece of chedder in the trap - and good god, the funniest author notes I've ever read. I almost spit coffee out of nose when I read the faux German. But what you throw into your stories so naturally, the humor, the gentleness, your dialog, humanity, 'living with a Monkey', pacing, OCs: this looks effortless. Thank you!

Phoebe

Kay, this was the first fic of yours that I read and it just about blew me away - like a vintage civil-war era pistol with serious kick - i was gobsmacked.

The questions floating in my stunned brain, even as I furiously downloaded more of your fics, where a jumble of 'huh? how? wha?' all involving your prowess in wordsmithing, research devotion and pure talent.

Dean possessed by a dog?
Lucky bullets?
Civil-war enthusiasts?

I can quite happily that this was my first taste and man alive, I was coming back for more!

This wins my vote for "should be made into a novel"! The background is so complete and I love your reenactment details. The whole story was so realistic. Wonderful job! The bit that touched me the most was "A flicker of contact, and Dean’s eye caught Sam’s, only for a second, but it was enough: no gray while Sam had blue on his back, not on this side of hell."

man your depiction skills scary good.

i would focus more heavily on the more excitable points, like the way you managed to keep action scenes interesting, fast-paced, and completely believable, but im a little caught up in the food descriptions. honestly. i was almost gagging at the way Sam thought Dean's breakfast looked and litterally cringing when he ate peanut butter by itself(that could be the fact that i was force-fed peanut butter for years until contracting a deadly allergy to the foul, sticky substance). im not sure ive read a fic that had me that engrossed(and grossed, haha) in the details. the added dimension of the dog's mind was a great touch and had a nice affect. kept it even more interesting.

and of course, what appealed to me the most, the civil war tid bits and focus. im a bit of history buff and a tiny bit too passionate about the civil war and the many incaculable and irreversibly ignorant misconceptions. i really liked beau and his crew and the mentioning of more battlefields towards the end. ive visited half of them, and just missed checking out Chancellorsville a few years back. darn.

you certainly have a knack for getting into the boys' heads and i really admire how well you kept them in character throughout. great, great job!

Okay, so I've been meaning to read this for a VERY long time and just now getting to it. Dunno, just in the mood for something summery and Civil Warish tonight. So, pardon me for being so late on a story you wrote oh, so long ago.

First, I want to say that I love your vocabulary and use of the written language. You have such a wonderful mastery of it...makes me feel like a freshman in a room full of seniors...uh, that'd be HS freshman vs. college seniors. ;) All of my favorite authors, and yes, you are one of them, have different attributes that make them my favorite.

With you, its your unbound imagination, cleverness at plot and use of the written word with just the right dash of humor thrown in for good measure. You and that kimonkey7 just make an art of phrase turning. To read your stuff is such a guilty pleasure...the way you write sits so well with my internal ear. Plus, you have such a subtle but effective way of weaving in the angst factor.

This story just had it all. Humor, angst, hurtDean, good plot, educational on all levels not made up, creativity...should I keep going on? All these words are to say that, as per usual, I loved it. I'm definitely going to move on to Cirque de Celine...another one I've been saving up for a rainy day. But not tonight ;)

Again, it's a joy to read your work...so very entertaining on so many levels. Thank you.

Nicole

P.S. And, thank you betas for me 'cause I know the worth of finding good ones!

Of course I'm gonna leave you a better review when I get done reading it, but had to say before I forgot, them mosquitoes bigger than dragonflies...that there's some mighty scary stuff fer sure!

No, seriously.

You are just insanely brilliant and I'd love to say something coherent about how fantastic this story is, but I stayed up until 2:19 to read it, so the verbal equipment not working so well... thank you for this story. :]

This was FANTASTIC!! I had to go back and read your profile to make sure I read correct that you are Canadian. You seem to know more about the Wilderness campaign then most American's. I think that what makes your stories so great. You really do yur research. Unless you are just a American Civil War fanatic ;-)

I absololutely adored that addendum. Wonderful story. I enjoyed that so much. I still feel sorry for Buttercup even if her possession did allow her to catch one of those squirrels. Great stuff.