CHAPTER IX.
Up the Washita.
All noise of pursuit, if any had been made, had died away, and not asound disturbed the stillness of the woods. But Frank had learned, byexperience, that silence was not indicative of safety, for it might, atany moment, be broken by the report of muskets, or a sudden demand forsurrender from enemies who had followed them so silently that theirapproach had not been discovered. He bent suspicious glances upon thewoods on all sides of him, and was ready to plunge into the water againupon hearing the least sounds of pursuit.
What had become of the wounded pilot, the lieutenant, and the rest ofthe cutter's crew? All who had succeeded in reaching the shore, were,beyond a doubt, prisoners.
Frank shuddered when he thought of the hard fare and harder treatmentthat awaited the poor fellows, recalling to mind incidents of his owncapture and escape, which made him doubly anxious to reach theMississippi as soon as possible, where he would be safe among friends.
After resting nearly an hour, for their long swim had wearied them, theycontinued their flight down the river, being careful to keep close tothe bank, so that in case of emergency they could again take to thewater. The shore was covered with logs and bushes, and their progresswas slow and laborious. But daylight came at length, and shortlyafterward they discovered a transport coming up the river. When shearrived opposite to them, Frank hailed her, and the boat landed and tookthem on board. Frank gave the information that there was a batteryabove, and the captain, not liking the idea of trusting his unarmedvessel within range of its guns, ordered the pilot to round-to and startdown the river again. The order was obeyed at once, and Frank and thecoxswain, who now began to breathe more freely, went below and stoodbefore the fire-doors to dry their clothing. About noon they arrived atthe Mississippi River, the transport landing alongside the vessel of thecommanding naval officer, to whom Frank delivered his dispatches intriumph, at the same time apologizing for his appearance, for he waswithout coat, hat, or side-arms.
Among these dispatches of the admiral were orders for two tin-clads toreport at Alexandria. These vessels were to be used to keep the banksclear of rebels, to carry dispatches, and to convoy unarmed steamers upand down the river. The necessary orders were promptly issued, and in ashort time the tin-clads came alongside; their commanders received theirinstructions, after which the vessels steamed up Red River, one of themhaving Frank and the coxswain on board. The former had in his possessionseveral official documents addressed to the admiral. If he could haveseen the inside of one of them, he would have found (greatly to hissurprise) that it contained a complete history of the run fromAlexandria, that it spoke in the highest terms of his skill and bravery,and ended with a recommendation for a master's appointment. This letterhad been written by the captain to whom Frank had delivered hisdispatches, he having learned the full particulars from the coxswain,whom he had summoned into his presence while Frank was in the wardroomeating his dinner. The sailor described all that had happened in glowinglanguage, dwelling with a good deal of emphasis upon the "pluck"displayed by his young officer, and the ignorance and cowardice of thelieutenant, and ended with saying, "He didn't think of nothing, sir, butthem dispatches; and it an't every man that could have saved 'em, sir."The captain fully agreed with the coxswain, and when the latter wasdismissed, he gave his pants a vigorous hitch, and said to himself, "IfMr. Nelson don't get another stripe around his arm now, may I bekeelhauled." And one, to have seen him, would have thought that he wasas much pleased at the prospect as though he was about to receive theappointment himself. Frank, of course, knew nothing of this, and littleimagining that he was carrying a recommendation for his promotion, heput the letters carefully away in his pocket, thinking, no doubt, theywere all-important official documents.
A short time before dark they arrived at the junction of the Black andWashita Rivers, where Frank found the Michigan anchored, in company withfour or five other gun-boats. He reported his safe return to hiscaptain, and then went into the wardroom and sat down to report to theadmiral by letter, according to his instructions. After all he hadpassed through, one would suppose that his report would have been a longone; but he wisely thought that all the admiral cared to know was thathis dispatches had been safely delivered. He therefore wrote, in thebriefest manner--
"I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your orders of the20th inst., I took passage on board the United States army transport"Key-West," for the mouth of Red River, with dispatches, which weredelivered into the hands of the commanding naval officer there. I haveto-day returned on board my vessel."
This was all. No glowing description of the gallant manner in which hehad taken the transport by the battery, no mention of the ever-watchfuleye he had kept upon his dispatches, or of his long swim from theburning wreck, but a few simple lines, that told the admiral all hewished to know; namely, that his letters had reached their destination.This report Frank placed before the captain, who wrote upon it "approvedand respectfully forwarded," (for all letters from subordinate officersto the admiral had to pass through the captain's hands,) and the letterwas put into the general mail. Frank then, in obedience to the captain'sorder, proceeded to give that gentleman a minute account of the mannerin which he had executed his orders, together with the names of the menbelonging to the cutter's crew who were missing, and wound up with therequest that "something might be done for the coxswain," for he was abrave man, and a good sailor. As the Michigan had but one boatswain'smate, (she was entitled to two,) the captain determined to promote theman, who was at once summoned into the cabin and presented with theboatswain's whistle. He retired, proud of his promotion, and firm in hisbelief that "the captain and Mr. Nelson were the best men afloat."
Frank, so weary that he could scarcely walk, was glad to get to bed; butthe captain sat for a long time at his desk, writing a letter to theadmiral, which contained the statement that, in his opinion, "ActingEnsign Frank Nelson, by the gallant manner in which he had executed theimportant business intrusted to him, had nobly earned his promotion,and, by the skill and judgment he had exhibited in handling thetransport, had shown that he was fully capable of taking charge of a_vessel of his own_, and that his past history, taken in connectionwith his recent exploit, was sufficient guarantee that the honor of theflag would never suffer in his hands."
Frank, all unconscious of the admiration his gallant behavior hadexcited in the mind of the captain, slept soundly until daylight, whenhe was called up to get the vessel under way. The expedition wascomposed of five gun-boats, and its destination was Monroe, a small townabout two hundred miles up Washita River. Its object was to capturecotton, and to destroy any fortifications that might be found along thebanks. The remainder of the fleet, which was at Alexandria when Frankleft, had gone up Red River, toward Shreveport. Had he been allowed hischoice in the matter, Frank would have preferred to accompany the latterexpedition, as he then would have been able, after Shreveport had beencaptured, to visit the prison in which he had been confined, and fromwhich he had escaped in so remarkable a manner. He thought over all thescenes through which he had passed--his capture, the march toShreveport, his flight from the prison, the bayonet-fight in the woods,the chase by blood-hounds--and they seemed to him like a dream.
George Le Dell, who was the officer of the deck, stood close besideFrank, gazing about as if every object that met his eye was a familiarone. Every turn of the paddle-wheels was bringing him nearer to the homeof his childhood, from which he was now excluded by the stern mandate ofhis rebel father. Ever since he had been attached to the Michigan, heand Frank had been bosom friends. The dangers through which they hadpassed while fugitives from a rebel prison--their hair-breadth escapesfrom recapture--could never be forgotten. No one on board besides Frankknew any thing of George's past history. In accordance with the latter'sdesire, the secret was closely kept, and no one imagined that the pale,quiet young officer was any relation to the rebel general whose house ithad been ordered should be burned. Ever since the receipt o
f that order,every one remarked that George Le Dell had been unusually thoughtful,but no one knew the cause.
"Mr. Nelson," said he, at length, "I wish I could have gone up RedRiver. I want to see home once more, but I don't want to stand by andsee the old house burned over the heads of my mother and sisters. Idon't deny that the order is a just one, but I don't want to see itexecuted. I begin to believe that I am a good prophet," he continued,after a moment's pause. "I told father, in the last letter I ever wroteto him, that this war would bring him nothing but suffering anddisgrace, and I think he will find that I told the truth."
As George ceased speaking, he turned and walked to another part of thedeck, to meet the captain, who at that moment came out of his cabin.
Among all the ship's company, there was but one that could sympathizewith George, and that one was Frank. The young officer cherished anhonest enmity toward the traitors whose bloody hands were stretched outto pull down the Old Flag under which his ancestors had fought and died,but when Frank looked upon the pale face of his messmate, and listenedto his oft-repeated sentiments of loyalty, and heard him, in his quietway, expressing his firm belief in the final triumph of the Governmentand the total overthrow of the rebellion, and when he witnessed hisquiet submission to his cruel fate, knowing that he was cut off from allfurther intercourse with his relatives, he could not help pitying bothhim and his rebel parents. But he knew, from those letters he had read,and which George still preserved, and from what he had witnessed on thatmemorable night when he and his companions had stopped at the plantationand asked for food, that the general and his family had taken part withthe rebellion, not to secure any rights which they imagined had beendenied them, but to assist in "establishing a confederacy of their own,whose corner-stone should be slavery," and to destroy "every vestige ofthe old Union." Like George, he knew that the order to burn the housewas a just one; but he would have been much better pleased had someother boat been selected to execute it. He did not pity the rebels somuch, but he did not want to witness the sorrow his messmate wouldexperience when he saw the home of his boyhood enveloped in flames.
The next day, as the two friends stood together on deck, George suddenlysaid--
"We're almost there. I know these woods well. I've caught many a stringof fish off that log that lies in the water just ahead."
About half a mile further on, the Michigan came round a sharp bend inthe river, and they saw the plantation before them. Every thing lookedjust as it did on that long-to-be-remembered night when George hadsuddenly presented himself before his relatives, who thought him safe inthe prison at Tyler. There were the broad stone steps that led up to theportico on which the major had stood while making known his wants, andjust in front of them were the posts to which the general and his sonshad fastened their horses before entering the house.
The fleet did not stop, as they had expected, but kept on up the river,and in a few moments more the plantation was out of sight. No doubt theburning of the house was to be put off until their return.
The expedition reached Monroe without mishap, and without seeing asingle armed rebel, only stopping now and then to pick up cotton, whichwas scattered all along the bank. The vessels remained at anchor infront of the town for two days, and after burning the public buildings,and picking up some escaped Union prisoners, started down the riveragain. The Michigan led the way, and on the afternoon of the second daycame to anchor in front of General Le Dell's plantation.
"Mr. Nelson," said the captain, as he stepped down out of thepilot-house, "order two companies of small-armed men to be called away,and you and Mr. Le Dell get ready to go on shore with me. By the way,"he added, turning to George, "I have orders to burn out this rebelnamesake of yours."
"So I have heard, sir," replied George, while not a muscle of his facequivered to show the surprise and sorrow he felt at being obliged toaccompany the expedition ashore. He had hoped that some other officerwould be chosen to accompany the captain, but he could not ask to beexcused from duty without exciting suspicions. The reason why he did notwish to go could be easily guessed, and if the truth became known, itwould be followed by what he particularly desired to avoid--the sympathyof all his messmates. He would accompany the expedition, but he wouldneither enter the house or go into the presence of his mother andsisters, and he might return without being recognized. By the time hehad buckled on his sword and returned to the deck the men were ready,when, in obedience to Frank's order, he marched them on board the tug,which lay at the stern of the Michigan. When they reached the shore,Frank instructed George to post sentries all around the house, both toguard against surprise, and also to prevent the escape of any rebelsoldiers who might chance to be in the building, after which heaccompanied the captain to the door, where they were met by Mrs. Le Delland her daughters, who coldly received their salutations, and waited forthem to make known the object of their visit.
"Madam," said the captain, addressing himself to Mrs. Le Dell, "I amordered to burn your house."
"I have been expecting it for a long time," was the reply.
"I will give you a reasonable time," continued the captain, "to removeyour valuables."
The lady then requested that an hour might be allowed her to send for aneighbor, who lived several miles distant, to come with his team toremove the furniture to a place of safety, as all the wagons about theplantation had been given up to the rebel army. This was granted, and anote, which was first presented for the inspection of the captain, wasat once dispatched to summon the neighbor.
In the meantime, Frank and George were strolling about the plantation,the latter feasting his eyes on every familiar object, and recalling tomind incidents of the "good old times," as he expressed it. Frank alsorecognized two objects; one was the barn where he and hisfellow-fugitives had halted to hold a consultation before going up tothe house; and the other was the fence behind which the captain had lefttheir prisoner, bound hand and foot. While thus engaged, a little boy,who had approached them without being discovered, suddenly called out,
"George!"
The latter turned, as the familiar voice reached his ear, and held outhis hands to his brother, who sprang toward him, threw his arms aroundhis neck, and burst into tears. There was one among George's relativeswho still remembered and loved him.
"George," sobbed the little fellow, "are you a Yankee 'bolitionist?"
Tears choked George's utterance, and the boy, suddenly breaking from hisarms, ran toward the house, and scrambling up the steps, burst into theroom where the captain and ladies were seated, and astonished them allwith:
"Mother, mother! George is here! He's come back!"
Both mother and daughter appeared to be considerably agitated uponreceiving this news, and the captain noticing it, the suspicion flashedacross his mind that it was one of their rebel friends. He glanced outat the door, and saw his two officers standing quietly together, thesentinels walking their beats, and felt satisfied that the rebel,whoever he was, might consider himself a prisoner.
"Who do you mean, my little man?" he asked, putting his hand on theboy's head. "What is his other name?"
"George Le Dell," replied the boy, promptly. "He's my brother. He's outthere," and he pointed toward the place where George and Frank werestanding.
"Is that your brother?" asked the captain in surprise, as he turnedtoward Mrs. Le Dell for an explanation.
"I have a son in the Federal navy," replied the lady.
"Then, madam," said the captain, "if that young man out there is yourson, allow me to say that you have every reason to be proud of him."
At this moment the neighbor for whom they had sent arrived, and he andthe captain held a long conversation; after which, to his surprise,Frank was ordered to collect the men and march them on board the tug.The Michigan remained at her anchorage until the flag-ship of theexpedition came down, when the two captains had a short consultation,and both vessels got under way and steamed down the river. The reasongiven why the order to burn the house was not ex
ecuted was this: Unlikethe majority of rebel commanders, General Le Dell had always treatedUnion prisoners who had fallen into his hands with the greatesthumanity. Although he seemed to be particularly spiteful toward George,whom he called a "young traitor," he always endeavored to make thecondition of other prisoners as tolerable as possible. The truth of thiswas attested by the soldiers they had picked up at Monroe, all of whomwere officers, and they had done much toward saving the property. Thecaptain of the Michigan had delayed to fulfill his orders until thearrival of his superior, in order to communicate some news he hadreceived from the man who had been sent to remove the furniture, andwhen the flag-ship arrived, the order had been countermanded.
"Perhaps every thing will come out right after the war," said George, asthe two friends stood watching the plantation as long as it remained ineight. "If it does, we'll have the old house to live in."
On the way down the river, large quantities of cotton were captured,which made both officers and men look forward to a good share ofprize-money, and one afternoon--about a week after leaving Monroe--theyreached Black River in safety.
Frank on the Lower Mississippi Page 10