Oh yes, we had uniforms now-almost enough for one for each of us, of the cheapest materials possible and in the standard army sizes, either too large or too small. Mine was too tight. They had been stockpiled across the Canadian border and we got our own people into uniform as quickly as possible. A handkerchief tied around the arm is not enough.
Besides our own simple powder-blue dungarees there were several other uniforms around, volunteer brigades from outside the country and some native American outfits. The Mormon Battalions had their own togs and they were all growing beards as well-they went into action singing the long forbidden ‘Come, Come, Ye Saints!’ Utah was one state we didn’t have to worry about, now that the Saints had their beloved temple back. The Catholic Legion had its distinctive uniform, which was just as well since hardly any of them spoke English. The Onward Christian Soldiers dressed differently from us because they were a rival underground and rather resented our coup d’etat-we should have waited. Joshua’s Army from the pariah reservations in the northwest (plus volunteers from all over the world) had a get-up that can only be described as outlandish.
Huxley was in tactical command of them all. But it wasn’t an army; it was a rabble.
The only thing that was hopeful about it was that the Prophet’s army had not been large, less than two hundred thousand, more of an internal police than an army, and of that number only a few had managed to make their way back to New Jerusalem to augment the Palace garrison. Besides that, since the United States had not had an external war for more than a century, the Prophet could not recruit veteran soldiers from the remaining devout.
Neither could we. Most of our effectives were fit only to guard communication stations and other key installations around the country and we were hard put to find enough of them to do that. Mounting an assault on New Jerusalem called for scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Which we did, while smothering under a load of paperwork that made the days in the old G.H.Q. seem quiet and untroubled. I had thirty clerks under me now and I don’t know what half of them did. I spend a lot of my time just keeping Very Important Citizens who Wanted to Help from getting in to see Huxley.
I recall one incident which, while not important, was not exactly routine and was important to me. My chief secretary came in with a very odd look on her face. ‘Colonel,’ she said, ‘your twin brother is out there.’
‘Eh? I have no brothers.’
‘A Sergeant Reeves,’ she amplified.
He came in, we shook hands, and exchanged inanities. I really was glad to see him and told him about all the orders I had sold and then lost for him. I apologized, pled exigency of war and added, ‘I landed one new account in K.C.-Emery, Bird, Thayer. You might pick it up some day.’
‘I will. Thanks.’
‘I didn’t know you were a soldier.’
‘I’m not, really. But I’ve been practicing at it ever since my travel permit, uh-got itself lost.’
‘I’m sorry about that.’
‘Don’t be. I’ve learned to handle a blaster and I’m pretty good with a grenade now. I’ve been okayed for Operation Strikeout.’
‘Eh? That code word is supposed to be confo.’
‘It is? Better tell the boys; they don’t seem to realize it. Anyhow, I’m in. Are you? Or shouldn’t I ask that?’
I changed the subject. ‘How do you like soldering? Planning to make a career of it?’
‘Oh, it’s all right-but not that all right. But what I came in to ask you, Colonel, are you?’
‘Are you staying in the army afterwards? I suppose you can make a good thing out of it, with your background-whereas they wouldn’t let me shine brightwork, once the fun is over. But if by any chance you aren’t, what do you think of the textile business?’
I was startled but I answered, ‘Well, to tell the truth I rather enjoyed it-the selling end, at least.’
‘Good. I’m out of a job where I was, of course-and I’ve been seriously considering going in on my own, a jobbing business and manufacturers’ representative. I’ll need a partner. Eh?’