Griffith Sees the Elephant

The Civil War Without the Glory

Two young people, accidentally in love, navigate the world of moral ambiguity that is the American Civil War.

1861: Griffith Williams, 17, a Welsh immigrant to Virginia and reluctant rebel soldier, has persuaded his sweetheart, Clara Chiles, a brilliant Virginian and feminist, not to support slavery. In a violent argument with her father, owner of 120 slaves, Clara backs abolition. With her life in danger from her outraged father, she flees with her enslaved maid.

"Lucy?"

"Yes, honey?"

"Would you have gone off without me?"

"If I'd had to."

"You know what that was about?"

"He hit y'all, didn't he?"

"Once."

"We heard two."

"I hit him: hard."

Then, Griffith's regiment is in battle and he "sees the elehant."

He saw a Federal aim, at him! That son of a bitch is trying to kill me!

Everything else fell into the background. It was a duel, Griffith and this nameless antagonist. He fired, but his aim was bad. At ten yards what he had thought was harmless buckshot destroyed the Federal's face. Christ, he's still alive! Somebody shoot him! The Federal writhed and screamed until some bullet ended his agony. Griffith was shaking, when there was a hand on his shoulder: Charlie's.

"Now y'all know what buckshot does."