CHAPTER II.
THROUGH THE LINES.
At the time Calhoun started for Kentucky, General Halleck wasconcentrating his immense army at Pittsburg Landing, preparatory to anattack on Corinth. Federal gunboats patrolled the Tennessee River as farup as Eastport. General Mitchell held the Memphis and Charleston Railroadbetween Decatur and Stevenson, but between Corinth and Decatur there wasno large body of Federals, and the country was open to excursions ofConfederate cavalry. In Middle Tennessee every important place was held bydetachments of Federal troops. To attempt to ride through the lines was anexceedingly dangerous undertaking, but that is what Calhoun had to do toreach Kentucky. He expected to meet with little danger until he attemptedto cross the lines of General Mitchell, which extended along the railroadsthat ran from Nashville southward. The country through which he had topass was intensely Southern, and the Yankee cavalry did not venture farfrom the railroads.
When Calhoun left Corinth, he rode straight eastward, until he reachedTuscumbia, Alabama. Here he found little trouble in finding means to crossthe Tennessee River. Once across the river he took a northeast course,which would take him through Rogersville. Now and then he met small squadsof Confederate cavalry. They were scouting through the country, and didnot seem to be under very strict military discipline, doing much as theypleased.
Now and then he came across a party of recruits making their way to theConfederate army at Corinth. They were mostly country boys, rough,uncouth, and with little or no education. They knew or cared little of thecauses which had led up to the war; but they knew that the Southland hadbeen invaded, that their homes were in danger, and they made soldierswhose bravery and devotion excited the admiration of the world.
In order to find out what General Mitchell was doing, and as nearly as hecould, to ascertain the number of his forces, Calhoun resolved to ride asnear the line of the Nashville and Decatur railroad as was prudent. As heapproached Rogersville, he learned that the place had just been raided bya regiment of Yankee cavalry, and the country was in a panic.
Approaching the place cautiously, he was pleased to ascertain that thecavalry, after committing numerous depredations, had retreated to Athens.He now learned for the first time of the atrocities which had beencommitted on the defenceless inhabitants of Athens, and his blood boiledas he listened to the recital. No wonder the citizens of Rogersville werein a panic, fearing that their fate might be the same.
"The whelps and robbers!" he exclaimed; "how I should like to get at them!But their time will come. Never will the South lay down her arms untilevery Northern soldier is driven in or across the Ohio."
In Rogersville Calhoun met with a Doctor Jenkins, who was especially wellinformed as to the strength and positions of the Federal army, and as tothe feelings of the citizens.
"At first," said he, "the result of the battle of Shiloh greatlydiscouraged us, and the slaughter was horrifying. But we are getting overthat now, and every true son of the South is more determined than ever tofight the war to the bitter end, even if we see our homes in flames andthe country laid waste. How is it that Kentucky does not join hands withher sister states?"
"She will, she must," cried Calhoun. "Already thousands of her sons areflocking to the Southern standard. It needs but a victory--a Confederatearmy to enter her territory, and the people will rise _en masse_. Thereare not enough traitors or Yankees in the state to keep them down."
"Do you think Beauregard can hold Corinth?" asked the Doctor.
"He can if any one can. He is a great general," answered Calhoun. "ButMorgan thinks the loss of Corinth would not be fatal if the army weresaved. 'Under no consideration,' says Morgan, 'should Beauregard allowhimself to be cooped up in Corinth.' "
"I reckon he is right," sighed the Doctor; "but may the time never comewhen he will have to give it up."
"Amen to that!" answered Calhoun.
From Rogersville Calhoun made his way north. He ascertained that therailroad which Mitchell was engaged in repairing was not strongly guarded,and he believed that with five hundred men Morgan could break it almostanywhere between Athens and Columbia.
Near Mount Pleasant he met a Confederate officer with a party of recruitswhich he was taking south. He sent back by him a statement to Morgan ofall he had learned, and added: "Taking everything into consideration, Ibelieve that Pulaski will be the best place for you to strike. I have nofears but that you can capture it, even with your small force."
Calhoun met with his first serious adventure shortly after he had crossedthe railroad, which he did a few miles south of Columbia. Thinking to makebetter time, he took the main road leading to Shelbyville. He wasdiscovered by a squad of Federal cavalry, which immediately gave chase.But he was mounted on a splendid horse, one that he had brought with himfrom Kentucky. He easily distanced all his pursuers with the exception ofthree or four, and he was gradually drawing away from all of them, excepta lieutenant in command of the squad, who seemed to be as well mounted ashimself.
HE EASILY DISTANCED ALL HIS PURSUERS.]
"Only one," muttered Calhoun, looking back, as a pistol-ball whistled byhis head; "I can settle him," and he reached for a revolver in hisholster. As he did so, his horse stepped into a hole and plunged heavilyforward, throwing Calhoun over his head. For a moment he lay bruised andstunned, and then staggered to his feet, only to find the Federal officerupon him.
"Surrender, you Rebel!" cried the officer, but quick as a flash, Calhounsnatched a small revolver which he carried in his belt, and fired.
Instead of hitting the officer, the ball struck the horse fairly in thehead, and the animal fell dead. Leaving the officer struggling toextricate himself from his fallen horse, Calhoun scrambled over a fence,and scurried across a small field, beyond which was a wood. A scatteringvolley was fired by the foremost of the pursuers, but it did no harm, andCalhoun was soon across the field. Mounting the fence on the other side,he stood on the top rail, and turning around, he uttered a shout ofdefiance, then jumping down, disappeared in the wood.
The foremost of the Federals, a tall, lanky sergeant named Latham,galloped to the side of his commander, who was still struggling toextricate himself from his fallen horse. Springing from his saddle, hehelped him to his feet, and anxiously inquired, "Are you hurt,Lieutenant?"
"The Rebel, the Rebel, where is he? Did you get him?" asked theLieutenant.
"Get him!" drawled the Sergeant, "I think not. He got across that field asif Old Nick was after him. But once across he had the cheek to stand onthe fence and crow like a young rooster. I took a crack at him, butmissed."
"Why didn't you pursue him?" demanded the officer, fiercely.
"What! in those woods? Might as well look for a needle in a haymow. Butare you hurt, Lieutenant?"
"My leg is sprained," he groaned; "but the worst of it is, Jupiter isdead. Curse that Rebel! how I wish I had him! I would make him pay dearlyfor that horse."
"Here is the Rebel's horse. I caught him!" exclaimed one of the men,leading up Calhoun's horse, which he had captured. "He looks like a mightyfine horse, only he seems a little lame from his fall."
"That is a fine horse," said Latham, looking him over, "but he has beenrode mighty hard. Wonder who that feller can be. I see no signs of anyother Reb. He must have been alone. Say, he was a Jim-dandy whoever hewas. I thought you had him sure, Lieutenant."
"So did I," answered the Lieutenant, with an oath. "When his horse threwhim I had no idea he would try to get away, and ordered him to surrender.But quick as a flash he jerked a revolver from his belt, and fired."
"Better be thankful he hit the horse instead of you," said the Sergeant.
For answer the Lieutenant limped to a stone, and sitting down, said:"Examine that roll behind the saddle of the horse. Perhaps we can find outwho the fellow was."
Sergeant Latham took the roll, which was securely strapped behindCalhoun's saddle, and began to unroll it as carefully as if he suspectedit might b
e loaded.
"A fine rubber and a good woollen blanket," remarked the Sergeant. "Looksmighty like those goods once belonged to our good Uncle Samuel. Bet yourlife, they are a part of the plunder from Shiloh. Ah! here is a bundle ofletters."
"Give them to me," said the Lieutenant.
The Sergeant handed them over, and the officer hastily glanced over them,reading the superscriptions.
"Why," he exclaimed, in surprise, "these letters are all addressed topersons in Kentucky. What could that fellow be doing with letters going toKentucky? We will see." He tore open one of the letters.
He had read but a few lines when he exclaimed, with a strong expletive,"Boys, I would give a month's pay if we had captured that fellow!"
"Who was he? Who was he?" cried several soldiers in unison.
"He was--let me see--" and the Lieutenant tore open several more of theletters, and rapidly scanned them--"yes, these letters make it plain. Hewas a Lieutenant Calhoun Pennington, and he was from the Rebel army atCorinth. I take it he was on his way back to Kentucky to recruit for thecommand of a Captain John H. Morgan. Morgan--Morgan, I have heard of thatfellow before. He played the deuce with us in Kentucky last winter: burnedthe railroad bridge over Bacon Creek, captured trains, tore up therailroad, and played smash generally. These letters all seem to be privateones written by the soldiers in Morgan's command to their relatives andfriends back in Kentucky. But he may have carried important dispatches onhis person. We let a rare prize slip through our fingers."
"Can't be helped now," dryly remarked Sergeant Latham. "If you hadcaptured him it might have put one bar, if not two, on yourshoulder-strap."
The Lieutenant scowled, but did not reply. All the letters were read andpassed around. Three or four of them occasioned much merriment, for theywere written by love-lorn swains whom the cruel hand of war had torn fromtheir sweethearts.
"Golly! it's a wonder them letters hadn't melted from the sweetness theycontained," remarked Sergeant Latham.
"Or took fire from their warmth," put in a boyish looking soldier.
"Not half as warm as the letter I caught you writing to Polly Jones theother day," laughed a comrade. "Boys, I looked over his shoulder and readsome of it. I tell you it was hot stuff. 'My dearest Polly!' it commenced,'I----' "
But he never finished the sentence, for the young soldier sprang andstruck him a blow which rolled him in the dust.
"A fight! a fight!" shouted the men, and crowded around to see the fun.
"Stop that!" roared the Lieutenant, "or I will have you both bucked andgagged when we get to camp. Sergeant Latham, see that both of those menare put on extra duty to-night."
When things had quieted down, others of the letters were read; but some ofthem occasioned no merriment. Instead, one could see a rough blouse sleevedrawn across the eyes, and a gulping down as if something choked thewearer. These were letters written to the wives and mothers who werewatching and waiting for their loved ones to return. These lettersreminded them of their own wives and mothers in the Northland, waiting andpraying for them.
Suddenly the Lieutenant spoke up: "Boys, we have been wasting time overthose letters. That fellow was making his way back to Kentucky. He has nohorse. What more natural than that he would try and obtain one at thefirst opportunity? That old Rebel Osborne lives not more than a mileahead. You remember we visited him last week, and threatened to arrest himif the railroad was tampered with any more. It was thought he shelteredthese wandering bands of Confederates who make it dangerous to stepoutside the camp. If we push on, we may catch our bird at Osborne's."
"If not, it will at least give you a chance to see the pretty daughter,"remarked the Sergeant.
"Shut up, or I will have you reduced to the ranks," growled theLieutenant.
The subject was rather a painful one to the Lieutenant, for during hisvisit to the Osbornes the week before, when he tried to make himselfagreeable to the daughter, the lady told him in very plain words what shethought of Yankees.
"It's nearly noon, too," continued the Lieutenant, after the interruption,"and that spring near the house is a splendid place to rest our horses andeat our dinners; so fall in." The Lieutenant slowly mounted Calhoun'shorse, for his fall had made him sore, and in none the best of humor, hegave the command, "Forward!"
The plantation of Mr. Osborne was soon reached. It was a beautiful place.The country had not yet been devastated by the cruel hand of war, and thelandscape, rich with the growing crops, lay glowing under the bright Aprilsky. The mansion house stood back from the road in a grove of noble nativetrees, and the whole surroundings betokened a home of wealth andrefinement.
From underneath a rock near the house gushed forth a spring, whose waters,clear as crystal, ran away in a rippling stream. It was near this springthat Lieutenant Haines, for that was the officer's name, halted histroops.
"Better throw a guard around the house," he said to Sergeant Latham, "forif that Rebel has found his way here, he may make a sneak out the backway. After you get the guard posted, we will search the house."
As the Sergeant was executing his orders, Mr. Osborne came out of thehouse, and approaching the troop, to Lieutenant Haines's surprise, gavehim a cordial greeting.
"I cannot say I am rejoiced to see you again," he exclaimed, with a smile,"except you come in peace. I trust that the telegraph wire has not beencut, or the railroad torn up again."
"Nothing of the kind has happened," answered the Lieutenant.
"Then I reckon I am in no danger of arrest, and I trust you will takedinner with us. It is nearly ready."
The invitation nearly took away the Lieutenant's breath, but he acceptedit gladly. As they were going toward the house, Mr. Osborne remarked,carelessly, "I see you have thrown a guard around the house. Are youafraid of an attack? I know of no body of Confederates in the vicinity."
"The truth is," replied Haines, "we ran into a lone Confederate about amile from here. We captured his horse, but he succeeded in escaping to thewoods, after killing my horse. I did not know but he might have foundrefuge here; and, excuse me, Mr. Osborne, but I may be under the necessityof searching your house."
"Do as you please," replied Mr. Osborne, coldly; "I have seen no suchConfederate; but if I had, I should have concealed him if I could. But donot let this circumstance spoil our good nature, or our dinner."
Just then they met Sergeant Latham returning from posting the guard."Sergeant, you may withdraw the guard," said the Lieutenant; "Mr. Osborneinforms me he has not seen our runaway Confederate."
The Sergeant turned back to carry out the order, muttering, "Confederate!Confederate! The Lieutenant is getting mighty nice; he generally says'Rebel.' "
If Lieutenant Haines was surprised at the cordial greeting he had receivedfrom Mr. Osborne, he was more than surprised at the reception he met fromMrs. Osborne, and especially the daughter, Miss Clara.
Miss Osborne was a most beautiful girl, about twenty years of age. Nowonder Lieutenant Haines felt his heart beat faster when he looked uponher. When he met her the week before, she treated him with the utmostdisdain; now she greeted him with a smile, and said, "I trust you have notcome to carry papa away in captivity. If not, you are welcome."
"Nothing of the sort this time, I am happy to say," exclaimed theLieutenant, with a bow, "and I hope I shall never be called upon toperform that disagreeable duty."
"Thank you," she answered, with a smile. "Now, you must stay and takedinner with us while your men rest."
"The Lieutenant tells me he met with quite a little adventure, about amile below here," said Mr. Osborne.
Miss Osborne looked up inquiringly. Before more could be said Mrs. Osborneannounced that dinner was ready, and the Lieutenant sat down to a mostsumptuous repast.
"What was Lieutenant Haines's adventure you spoke of?" at length askedMiss Osborne of her father.
"Better let the Lieutenant tell the story, for I know nothing of it,"answered Mr. Osborne; "but he spoke of searching the house for a supposedconcealed
Confederate."
As Mr. Osborne said this, Miss Osborne gave a little gasp and turned pale,but quickly recovering herself, she turned a pair of inquiring eyes on theLieutenant--eyes that emitted flames of angry light and seemed to look himthrough and through.
Lieutenant Haines turned very red. "Forgive me if I thought of such athing," he replied, humbly. "Your father has assured me he has neitherseen nor concealed any Confederate officer, and his word is good with me.Make yourself easy. I shall not insult you by searching the house."
A look as of relief came over the face of Miss Osborne as she answered: "Ithank you very much. I shall never say again there are no gentlemen amongthe Yankees. But tell us of your adventure. I thought I heard firing aboutan hour ago. Was there any one hurt?"
"Only my poor horse; he was killed," answered Haines.
"Ah! in the days of knighthood to be unhorsed was to be defeated,"exclaimed Miss Osborne, gayly. "You must admit yourself vanquished!"
Haines laughingly replied: "I am sorry to disappoint you; but as Icaptured my enemy's horse and he fled on foot, I cannot admit defeat."
"Then your enemy was a solitary knight?" queried Miss Osborne.
"Yes, but to all appearances a most gallant one."
"Strange," she mused, "who he could be, and what he could be doing in thissection. The place for true knights, at this time, is at Corinth."
"From letters captured with his horse, I take it he was from Corinth,"said Haines. "From those letters we learned that his name was CalhounPennington, that he was a lieutenant in the command of Captain John H.Morgan, a gentleman who has given us considerable trouble, and may give usmore, and that he was on his way back to Kentucky to recruit for Morgan'scommand."
"You say you captured letters?" queried the girl.
"Yes, a whole package of them. They were from members of Morgan's commandto their friends back in Kentucky. The boys are having rare fun readingthem."
"I suppose it is according to military usages to read all communicationscaptured from the enemy," remarked Miss Osborne with a slight tinge ofsarcasm in her tone, "but it seems sacrilege that these private lettersshould fall into profane hands."
"Some of them were rich," laughed Haines; "they were written by lovingswains to their girls. There were others written to wives and mothers,which almost brought tears to our eyes, they were so full of yearnings forhome."
"Lieutenant, there was nothing in those letters of value to you from amilitary standpoint, was there?" suddenly asked Miss Osborne.
"Nothing."
"Then I have a great boon to ask. Will you not give them to me?"
"Why, Miss Osborne, what can you do with them?" asked Haines, in surprise.
"I can at least keep them sacred. Perhaps I can find means of getting themto those for whom they are intended. Think of those wives and motherswatching, waiting for letters which will never come. Oh! give them to me,Lieutenant Haines, and you will sleep the sweeter to-night."
"Your request is a strange one," said the Lieutenant; "yet I can see noharm in granting it. You can have the letters, but the boys may havedestroyed some of them by this time."
"Thank you! Oh, thank you! You will never regret your kindness. I shallremember it."
"I only ask you to think better of Yankees, Miss Osborne; we are not allmonsters."
Dinner was now over, and Sergeant Latham came to report that the hour forthe halt was up, and to ask what were the Lieutenant's orders.
"Have the troop ready, and we will return to camp. I see nothing more wecan accomplish here," answered the Lieutenant.
The Sergeant saluted and turned to go, when the officer stopped him with,"Say, Sergeant, you can gather up all those letters we captured and sendthem up here with my horse."
"Very well," said the Sergeant, but he muttered to himself, as hereturned, "Now, I would like to know what the Lieutenant wants of thoseletters. I bet he has let that girl pull the wool over his eyes."
In a few moments a soldier appeared leading the Lieutenant's horse.
The family had accompanied Lieutenant Haines to the porch. Stepping downto where his horse was, he said to the soldier, "You may return and tellSergeant Latham to move the troop. I will catch up with you in a fewmoments. Did you bring the letters?"
"Yes, sir," answered the soldier, saluting, and handing the package to hiscommander.
"Very well, you may go now."
Lieutenant Haines stood and watched the soldiers while his order was beingobeyed, for he did not wish to have any of his men see him give thepackage to Miss Osborne.
After his troop had moved off, Haines placed the bridle of his horse inthe hands of a waiting colored boy, and returning to the porch where Mr.Osborne and the ladies still stood, said: "That is the horse I capturedfrom my foe. He is a beauty, isn't he? Jupiter was a splendid horse, but Ido not think I lost anything by the exchange. Here are the letters, MissOsborne; you see I have kept my promise," and he reached out the packageto her.
But before she could take them they were snatched from Haines's hand, anda stern voice said, "I will take the letters, please."
Had a bombshell exploded at Lieutenant Haines's feet he would not havebeen more surprised, and his surprise changed to consternation when hefound himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver. Lieutenant Haines wasno coward, but he was unarmed save his sword, and there was no mistakingthe look in Calhoun's eye. It meant death if he attempted to draw hissword.
As for Mr. Osborne, he seemed as much surprised as Lieutenant Haines. MissOsborne gave a little shriek, and then cried. "Oh, how could you betrayus!" and stood with clasped hands, and with face as pale as death.
Mr. Osborne was the first to recover from his surprise. "I know not whoyou are," he said, "but Lieutenant Haines is my guest, and I will have noviolence. Lower that weapon!"
Without doing so, Calhoun answered, "If I have done anything contrary tothe wishes of those who have so kindly befriended me, I am sorry; but Icould not withstand the temptation to claim my own. As it is, I will bidyou good day."
Thus saying, he dashed past them, and snatching the bridle of his horsefrom the negro boy, he vaulted into the saddle and was away at full speed.
For a moment not a word was spoken, and then Lieutenant Haines turned onMr. Osborne and said, bitterly, "I congratulate you on the success of yourplot. I will not be fool enough again to take the word of a Southerngentleman."
Mr. Osborne flushed deeply, but before he could reply, his daughter sprangin front of him, and faced Lieutenant Haines with flashing eye.
"I will not have my father accused of deception and falsehood," she cried."He knew nothing of that Confederate being concealed in the house. I aloneam to blame, and I told you nothing. I strove to entertain you and keepyou from searching the house, and I accomplished my purpose."
"And you got those letters from me to give to him?"
"Yes."
Lieutenant Haines groaned. "It may be some satisfaction to you," he said,"to know that this may mean my undoing, disgrace, a dishonorable dismissalfrom the service."
"I shall take no pleasure in your dishonor," she exclaimed, the colorslowly mounting to her cheeks. "I did not intend that LieutenantPennington should show himself. It was his rashness that has brought allthis trouble."
"How can I return to camp without arms, without a horse? It would havebeen a kindness to me if your friend Lieutenant Pennington had put abullet through my brain."
Mr. Osborne now spoke. "Lieutenant Haines," he said, "my daughter speaksthe truth when she says I knew nothing of the Confederate officer being inmy house. Had I known it, I should have tried to conceal him, to protecthim; but I should not have invited you to be my guest. As my guest, youare entitled to my protection, and I shall make what reparation is in mypower." Then turning to the colored boy who had stood by with mouth andeyes wide open, he said, "Tom, go and saddle and bridle Starlight, andbring him around for this gentleman."
"Surely you do not intend to give me a horse, Mr. Osborne,
" said Haines.
"As my guest, I can do no less," replied Mr. Osborne. "If LieutenantPennington had not taken his, I should have let him have one to continueon his way to Kentucky. So you see, after all, I am out nothing."
Just then they were aroused by the sound of horses' feet, and looking upthey saw Sergeant Latham accompanied by two soldiers coming on a gallop.Riding up, the Sergeant saluted, and casting his sharp eyes around, said,"Lieutenant, excuse me, but you were so long in joining us that I fearedsomething--an accident--had befallen you, so I came back to see. Where inthe world is your horse, Lieutenant?"
"Coming," answered his superior, briskly, for he had no notion ofexplaining just then what had happened.
When the colored boy came leading an entirely strange horse with citizensaddle and bridle on, the Sergeant exchanged meaning glances with hiscompanions, but said nothing.
Mounting, Lieutenant Haines bade the family good day, and rode moodilyaway. No sooner were they out of hearing than the Sergeant, forgettingmilitary discipline, exclaimed, "What in blazes is up, Lieutenant? Isuspected something was wrong all the time."
"That is what made you come back, is it?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Yes; I did not march the command far before I halted and waited for you.Pretty soon we heard the sound of a galloping horse, and thought you werecoming. But when you didn't appear, I became alarmed and concluded to rideback and see what was the matter."
"Thank you, Sergeant, for your watchfulness. I shall remember it."
Then as they rode along, the Lieutenant told Latham his story.
"And that pesky Reb was concealed in the house all the time, was he?"asked Latham.
"Yes; the girl worked it fine."
The Sergeant laughed long and loud. "And she coaxed the letters from youtoo. Oh, my! Oh, my!" And he nearly bent double.
"Shut up, you fool you!" growled Haines. "Say, you must help me out ofthis scrape."
"Trust me, Lieutenant; I will tell how brave you were, and how you run theRebel down, and how you would have captured him if he hadn't shot yourhorse. But look out after this how you let Southern girls fool you."
The Lieutenant sighed. "She is the most beautiful creature I ever saw," hemurmured. "Gods! I shall never forget how she looked when she sprang inbetween me and that Pennington when he had his revolver levelled at myhead."
"Forget her," was the sage advice of the Sergeant; but the Lieutenant didnot take it.
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