CHAPTER XII.
A SPY! A SPY!
For nearly six months after the battle of Stone River, the Federal armymade no general advance. General Rosecrans made his headquarters atMurfreesboro, while Bragg's was at Tullahoma. But these months were notmonths of idleness. Almost daily skirmishes took place between the lines,and there were a number of contests which arose to the dignity of battles.
Morgan's cavalry protected the right of Bragg's army. His headquarterswere nominally at MacMinnville, but it could truly be said they were inthe saddle. Morgan did not stay long in any one place. A number ofexpeditions were made against him, sometimes with a whole division, but hemanaged to elude them with slight loss.
Only twice during all this time did severe reverse overtake him--once atMilton, when he failed in his efforts to capture a brigade of infantry,and again at Snow Hill, when he was charged by a whole division of cavalryunder the leadership of General David Stanley.
His captures of scouting and forage parties were numerous during thesemonths, and he added a long list of prisoners to those he had alreadycaptured. But so strongly was every place held, and so numerous had becomethe Federal cavalry, it was impossible to make any large capture. Theenemy had learned by bitter experience, that eternal vigilance was theironly safety in guarding against Morgan, and the troops which held the leftof Rosecrans's army were always in fear. No Federal soldier was safe halfa mile outside the lines. Bitterly did many sleepy soldiers curse him, forat three o'clock every morning they were forced to get up and stand atarms until broad daylight. The Federal officers wanted no more surprises.But in spite of all their vigilance, Morgan would swoop down and carry offprisoners from under their very noses.
These months were busy ones for Calhoun; he and his scouts were always onthe go. At the battle of Milton he greatly distinguished himself, and wasthe subject of a complimentary order. But during the battle he received aslight flesh wound in the arm and the ball came from the rear. Again wasConway behind him. The thought that he might be slain in this treacherousmanner was distracting, but what could he do? He durst not complain; sucha monstrous charge against a brother officer would have to besubstantiated by the best of proof. He could only avoid Conway as much aspossible during battle, and hope for the best. After the battle at Milton,by reason of losses in the regiment, Conway was promoted, being appointedmajor. It was fortunate for Calhoun that he was chief of scouts, and onMorgan's staff, or Conway would have made his life a burden, for he was amember of the regiment of which Conway was major.
One day Calhoun, being sent on special duty over to the left of Bragg'sarmy, found himself in Columbia. He now remembered what Captain Haines hadtold him of the misfortunes which had befallen the Osbornes, and hedetermined to visit them. As he approached the place a sigh escaped him,for the plantation no longer was blooming like a rose, and the splendidmansion house was a charred mass of ruins.
He found the family living in a small house which once had been occupiedby the overseer. Their story was soon told. After Lieutenant Haines hadbeen exchanged, he came back and was stationed at Columbia. He visitedthem frequently, was very attentive to Miss Osborne, and at last asked herto become his wife. He was very politely but firmly refused. He now begana series of petty persecutions, and was forbidden the house as a guest.Then he began to threaten. He reported to the commander that Osborne'shouse was the headquarters of a gang of guerrillas which gave the Federalauthorities in Columbia and Pulaski a great deal of trouble.
About this time the murder of General Robert McCook by guerrillas greatlyangered the Federals. A few days after he was killed a couple of foragersfrom Columbia were found dead. Lieutenant Haines lost no time in reportingthat the gang of guerrillas sheltered by Osborne had murdered the men. Aparty was sent out, who burned the house, took away everything of value inthe shape of stock, and arrested Mr. Osborne, who was afterwards sentNorth as a prisoner.
Calhoun listened to the recital with flashing eyes. "The villain!" heexclaimed; "if I had only known this he would not have escaped so easilywhen we captured him at Gallatin."
"That is not all," continued Mrs. Osborne, in a broken voice. "After allthis had happened, the scoundrel had the effrontery to renew his suit, andsay if Emma would marry him he would see that Mr. Osborne was released;that he had powerful political friends who could accomplish this. Wespurned his proposition as it deserved. I knew my husband would rather rotin prison than consent to such a monstrous thing."
"Oh! had I known! had I known!" exclaimed Calhoun, pacing up and down theroom in his excitement; "but we may meet again."
Little did Calhoun think that before many days they would meet again, andthat that meeting would nearly mean for him the ignominious death of aspy. A few days after his return from Columbia, he asked the permission ofMorgan to visit Nashville. "I would like to see," said he, "what ourfriends, the enemy, are doing in that city."
Morgan shook his head. "I don't want to see you hanged," he replied.
But Calhoun argued so zealously, that at last Morgan's scruples wereovercome, and he gave his consent, but added, "If you should be capturedand executed, I would never forgive myself."
Calhoun looked upon it as a mere holiday affair; he had passed through toomany dangers to be terrified. Taking half a dozen of his trusty scoutswith him, he had no trouble in reaching the Cumberland River a few milesabove Nashville. The few scouting parties of the enemy they met wereeasily avoided. He ordered his scouts to remain secreted in a thick woodnear by a friendly house, from which they could obtain food for themselvesand provender for their horses.
"If I am not back in three days," said he, "return to Morgan, and tell himI have been captured."
His men pleaded with him to let at least one of them accompany him, butthis he refused, saying it would but add to his danger.
From the gentleman who resided in the nearby house he secured a skiffwhich had been kept secreted from the lynx-eyed Federals. In this Calhounproposed to float down to Nashville.
Night came dark and cloudy. It was just such a night as Calhoun wished.Clad in a suit of citizen's clothes, and with muffled oars, he bade hiscomrades a cheerful good night, and pushed out into the river, and in amoment the darkness had swallowed him up. He floated down as noiselesslyas a drifting stick.
In an hour's time the lights of Nashville came in view; the dangers of histrip had just commenced. He knew that the banks of the river would notonly be strongly patrolled, but the lights from the shore and from thesteamers moored at the wharfs shone across the stream in places, making itimpossible for an object the size of his boat to pass without beingnoticed.
But Calhoun was prepared for just such an emergency. He was a capitalswimmer, and had no fears of the water. He had weighted his skiff withstones, bored a hole in the bottom, and filled it with a plug which couldeasily be removed. When he had drifted as far as he dared, he removed theplug. The skiff gradually filled and at last sank. If any person hadlooked after it disappeared, all he would have seen would have been thesmall branch of a tree, covered with leaves, floating down with thecurrent.
When Calhoun was well down abreast of the city, and coming to a placewhere shadows covered the river, he turned toward the bank. Fortunately helanded near a dark alley which led down to the water. Listening intently,he heard nothing, and making his way up the alley, he soon came to astreet. A violent storm came on, which was of advantage to him, for if hemet any one, it would account for his dripping clothes. It also had theeffect of driving the patrol guards into shelter.
Calhoun was no stranger in the city. He had visited it frequently when aboy, for he had an uncle residing there, now a colonel in the Confederatearmy. But his family still resided in the old home, and he knew that therehe would find a haven of safety. Carefully making his way, and dodging thefew guards that he met, he soon reached the house. The yard was inclosedwith a high iron fence, the pickets provided with sharp points. ButCalhoun had been in the a
rmy too long to be baffled by any such obstacle.He mounted the fence with but little trouble and dropped down into theyard.
Making his way to the rear of the house, he found refuge in a small shed.The night had turned cool and he shivered with the cold. But he durst notarouse the household, for the alarm might be heard outside. The hourspassed wearily by, but at last morning came. He looked eagerly for some ofthe family to appear, but only the colored servants passed in and out. Toescape being seen he had hidden behind a large box in the shed.
He heard the call for breakfast, and concluded he had never been so hungrybefore in his life. After a while his patience was rewarded. A young ladycame out of the house, and entering the shed, began looking around, as ifsearching for something. It was his cousin Kate.
"Kate!" he whispered.
The girl started and looked wildly around.
"Kate!"
She uttered a little scream and turned as if to flee.
"Kate, don't be afraid. It is I, your cousin Calhoun Pennington."
"Where? Where?" she half-whispered, looking eagerly around and poised asif still for flight.
"Here behind the box. Come close. There, don't ask a question. Get theservants out of the way and smuggle me into the house unseen. I am wet,cold, and hungry."
Kate flew to do his bidding. In a few moments she came out and beckoned tohim, and right gladly he followed her into the house. One risen from thedead would hardly have created more surprise than did his appearance. Hisaunt and Kate persisted in embracing him, wet and dirty as he was.
To their eager questions, he said: "Dry clothes first, Auntie, andbreakfast. I am famished. I will then talk with you to your heart'scontent."
Mrs. Shackelford had had a son about the size of Calhoun killed in thearmy, and our hero was soon arrayed in a nice dry suit, and seated beforea substantial breakfast, upon which he made a furious assault. When hishunger was fully appeased, he informed his aunt and Kate he was ready totalk. And how they did talk! They had a thousand questions to ask, and hehad full as many.
To his surprise and joy he learned that his cousin, Fred Shackelford, hadnot been killed by his fall over the cliff, as Major Hockoday reported.Instead he was alive and well, was with the army at Murfreesboro, andfrequently visited them.
"He has been a good friend to us," said Mrs. Shackelford, "but at one timehe was nearly the death of Kate."
"Why, how was that?" asked Calhoun.
Then for the first time he heard of Forrest's plot to capture Nashville,and of Kate's part in it, of her condemnation, and imprisonment as a spy,and how Fred had secured her pardon.(2)
Calhoun listened to the story in wonder. When it was finished, heexclaimed: "Why, Kate, you are a heroine! I am proud of you."
"I am not proud of myself," answered Kate. "I blush every time I think ofhow--how I lied and deceived."
"Oh! that is a part of war," laughed Calhoun. "If Morgan didn't lie aboutthe number of men he had, the Yanks would gobble him up in no time. Wedon't call such things lying; it's a righteous deceiving of the enemy."
"But I am ready to sink into the earth with shame every time I think ofAinsworth," sighed Kate.
"That's rich," laughed Calhoun; "crying because you broke the heart of aYankee! Kate, I have a mind to send you into the enemy's lines. If Cupid'sdarts were only fatal, your bright eyes would create more havoc than abattle."
"No use sending her away," broke in Mrs. Shackelford; "there are moreFederal officers buzzing around her now than I wish there were."
"Mighty useful to worm secrets from," exclaimed Kate; "but I make nopromises to any of them."
"That's right, Kate, get all the secrets from them you can," said Calhoun;"that is what I am in Nashville for. Can any one get around the citywithout much danger?"
"Oh, yes, in the daytime; but there is always more or less danger tostrangers. Business is going on as usual. The city is lively, livelierthan before the war; but it is soldiers--soldiers everywhere."
"And you have to have no passes?" asked Calhoun.
"It is best to have one. Most of us have standing permits to come and goin the city as we please."
"Can you get me a permit?" asked Calhoun, eagerly.
"There is Jim Grantham," replied Kate, thoughtfully; "his description willsuit Calhoun close enough. I can get Jim to loan you his."
Calhoun was now told that the Southern people in Nashville were thoroughlyorganized into a secret society. They had their signs and pass-words, sothat they could know each other. So far no one had proved a traitor. TheFederal authorities suspected that such an organization existed, but theirshrewdest detectives never succeeded in finding out anything about it.
Kate, who had gone for the permit of James Grantham, soon returned withit. The description fitted Calhoun almost as well as if made out forhimself. He could now walk the streets of Nashville with little fear ofarrest.
He was given a list of those who could most probably give him theinformation he desired. He marvelled to see how quickly a little signwhich he gave was answered, and was amazed at the work this secretorganization was doing. Not a regiment entered or left Nashville but theyknew its exact strength, and to what point it was ordered.
In two days Calhoun had gathered information which would be of vast valueto the Confederate cause, and it was now time for him to see by what meanshe could leave the city. He was on his way to see three gentlemen who saidthey could get him outside of the city without trouble or danger, when anincident happened which came near sending him to the gallows. He waswalking unconcernedly along the street, when he suddenly came face to facewith Haines, now a captain. Although Calhoun was dressed in citizen'sclothes, the captain knew him at a glance.
"A spy! A spy!" he yelled at the top of his voice, and made a grab atCalhoun. Calhoun struck him a tremendous blow which sent him rolling inthe gutter, and fled at the top of his speed.
But a score of voices took up the cry, and a howling mob, mostly ofsoldiers, were at his heels. He hoped to reach the river, where among theimmense piles of stores heaped along the levee, or among the shipping, hemight secrete himself, but a patrol guard suddenly appeared a block away,and his retreat was cut off. He gave himself up for lost, and reached fora small pistol which he carried, with the intention of putting a bulletthrough his own heart; "for," thought he, "they shall never have thepleasure of hanging me before a gaping crowd."
Just then he saw two young ladies standing in the open door of a house.What told him safety lay there he never knew, but hope sprang up withinhis breast. Dashing up the steps, he thrust the ladies back into thehouse, slammed the door to, and locked it. So rude was his entrance, oneof the ladies fell to the floor.
"Save me! Save me!" he cried, "I am a Confederate spy," and he gave thesign of the secret order.
The young lady who had not fallen was terribly frightened, but she graspedthe situation in a moment.
"Upstairs," she gasped, pointing the way; "tell mother, the secret place."
Calhoun lost no time in obeying her. The girl flew to the back door andopened it, then back just as her sister was rising, her face covered withblood, for she had hit her nose in falling.
"Quick, Annette, in the parlor," said her sister; "assent to everything Isay."
Annette staggered into the parlor hardly knowing what she did, for she wasdazed and terribly frightened. The sister, whose name was Inez, was now atthe door, which was giving way before the blows of Calhoun's pursuers. Allthis happened in less than a minute.
"Stop!" she cried, "I will unlock the door," and she did so, and when thesoldiers rushed in, crying, "Where is he? Where is the spy?" she stoodwringing her hands and sobbing, "My sister! Oh, my sister! he has murderedher."
The words brought the soldiers to a halt. "Who murdered your sister?"asked a sergeant who seemed to be the leader.
"The man! the man who ran in here!"
"Where is he? He is the fellow we want."
"He rushed out of the back door. Oh! my sister, my siste
r!"
"After him, boys; don't let him get away!" yelled the sergeant, and theyrushed through the house in hot pursuit.
The house was rapidly filling, when a captain appeared, and learning ofthe sobbing Inez what the trouble was, said: "Murdered your sister!Horrible! where is she?"
"Here," said Inez, leading the way into the parlor. Annette was recliningon a sofa, her face bloody; she was apparently in a fainting condition.
The captain acted quickly. He ordered the house to be cleared, sent asubordinate for a surgeon, and another to have the whole block surrounded.In the mean time the mother of the girls had appeared, and was adding hersobs to those of her eldest daughter. When the surgeon came and had washedthe blood from Annette's face, her only injury was found to be a bruisednose.
Both the captain and the surgeon looked inquiringly. "How is this?" theyasked, "you said your sister was murdered."
"I--I thought she was," stammered Inez. "I saw the blood and thought theman had stabbed her."
"Tell us just what happened," said the captain.
Annette, who had by this time so far recovered from her fright as tocomprehend what was going on, saw Inez give her the signal of danger. Itput her on her guard.
"Why, it was this way," said Inez, in answer to the captain, "sister and Iwere going out, but just as we opened the door, there was a tumult on thestreet. We stopped to see what the trouble was, when a man dashed up thesteps. We tried to oppose him, but he struck sister a cruel blow, knockingher down, flung me backward, and slamming the door to, locked it; thenrunning through the house, disappeared through the back door. Seeingsister's face covered with blood, I picked her up and carried her into theparlor. By this time the soldiers were breaking down the door, and I wentand unlocked it."
Annette only knew that she tried to oppose the entrance of a strange man,who knocked her down. She must have been rendered unconscious, for sheremembered nothing more, until she found herself lying on the sofa in theparlor. The mother, Mrs. Lovell, was upstairs, and knew nothing of whathad happened until alarmed by the screams of her daughters and the noisyentrance of the soldiers. These stories so accorded with the known factsthat the captain did not for a moment doubt them. But when the sergeantreturned and reported that no trace of the fugitive could be discovered,he was puzzled.
Orders were given to search every house in the block. This was done, butthe search was fruitless. When this fact was reported, the captain bit hislip in vexation. Then turning to Inez, he said: "Pardon me, Miss Lovell,while I do not doubt your story in the least, are you sure the fellow ranout of the house? Was not his opening the back door just a ruse? He openedthe door and then dodged into some room, thinking this house the safestplace for him. Every house in the block has been searched except this one,and we can find no trace of him. While I regret it, I shall be compelledto have this house searched."
"I am sure he ran out," answered Inez, "but I confess I was very badlyfrightened. If you think he is in the house, search it. I ask as a favorthat you search it, for if he is concealed in the house as you think, hemay murder us all."
A thorough search was made, but there was found no trace of Calhoun. Theofficers and soldiers retired greatly puzzled. A strong guard wasmaintained around the block for three days; then all hopes of catchingCalhoun were given up, and the guard was withdrawn.
The Federal authorities had become aware who the fugitive was throughCaptain Haines. "I cannot be mistaken," he said; "I have met him too manytimes. He is one of the most daring of all of Morgan's cutthroats"; andthen he gave an account of his first meeting with Calhoun.
But where was Calhoun all this time? When he rushed upstairs at thecommand of Inez, he was met at the top by Mrs. Lovell, who started inaffright at the sight of him.
"Your daughter said, 'The secret place!' " he exclaimed, as he gave herthe sign of danger. "My pursuers are already at the door."
The lady quickly recovered herself. "Come!" she said, and led Calhoun intoa room. Here she began working in a corner. Her hands trembled as she didso, for the soldiers were thundering at the door downstairs, and she couldhear it giving way. To Calhoun's intense surprise, a section of theapparently solid wall gave way, leaving an opening large enough for aperson to enter by crawling on his hands and knees.
"Quick, go in!" said the lady.
Calhoun needed no second bidding, but crawled in, and the wall slowly cameback to place. Calhoun found himself in a narrow place, between the wallof the room and the side of the house. The house had been built with amansard roof on the sides, thus leaving a space. This space was aboutthree feet wide at the bottom, coming to a point at the top. Close underthe eaves, where it would not be noticed, an aperture had been left forthe admission of air, and through it a ray of light came.
Narrow and contracted as his quarters were, to Calhoun they were morewelcome than a palace. It was plain that the place had been occupiedbefore, for on the floor there were soft blankets, and in feeling aroundCalhoun discovered a jug of water and some provisions. It was evident thatno one who was put in there hurriedly was to be allowed to suffer fromthirst or hunger.
Calhoun could hear every word which was said when the soldiers searchedthe room. His heart stood still when he heard them sounding the walls, butthey gave forth no uncertain sound, and the soldiers departed, much to hisrelief.
It was not until the next day that Calhoun was allowed to leave hishiding-place, and then he was told he must not leave the room. He had tobe ready to seek his refuge at a moment's notice, if found necessary. Forthree days he was virtually a prisoner, then the guards around the blockwere withdrawn.
Word was taken to his aunt and Kate where he was. They had been in anagony of fear over his non-return. But they durst not visit him.
To Mrs. Lovell and her daughters Calhoun felt he could never repay whatthey had done for him. He felt like a brute, when Annette was introducedto him, her pretty features disfigured by a swollen nose, and when he wasmaking his most abject apologies, she interrupted him with a gay laugh.
"I am proud of that nose!" she exclaimed; "as proud as a gallant soldierof his wounds, for does it not show that I have shed my blood for ourbeloved South?"
We are of the opinion that during his enforced imprisonment, Calhoun wouldhave lost his heart to Annette if he had not learned she was engaged to agallant officer in Bragg's army.
What troubled Calhoun the most was the thought that his scouts wouldreturn to Morgan with the news that he was captured, but there was no helpfor it.
After the guards had been withdrawn, he at once began to make plans forhis escape from the city. The original plan had to be given up, for thevigilance of the Federals had been redoubled, and it was impossible forany one to leave the city without his identity being fully established.
At last Inez clapped her hands. "I have it," she cried. "Get him out toDr. Caldwell. The doctor lives clear on the outskirts of the city, and onthe bank of the river. Lieutenant Pennington can take to the river goingas he did coming."
"But he can't float up stream," said Annette, "and as for a boat, thatwill be impossible."
"He can swim," said Inez, "swim across the river. He will be above thepickets around Edgefield."
"But how can he get to Dr. Caldwell? It is not safe for him to appear onthe street. Not a guard but has a description of him," said the carefulAnnette.
"Dr. Caldwell is attending Mrs. Robinson (the Robinsons lived next door);it will be easy for the doctor to take him in his buggy; no guard willthink of disturbing the doctor, he is too well known."
Calhoun eagerly caught at the idea. When Dr. Caldwell visited Mrs.Robinson during the day, he was seen, and consented to the scheme. "Mufflehim up," he said, "he will be taken for one of my patients." BeforeCalhoun left he wrote a letter, and directed it to Captain Haines -- Regt.This Inez promised to mail when Calhoun was well out of the city.
Dr. Caldwell had no trouble in taking Calhoun to his home. Here he stayeduntil dark, then bidding the hospitable physician go
od-bye, he plungedinto the river and was soon across, and began to make his way slowly upthe northern bank. But the night was dark, and after many falls andbruises, he concluded to wait for daylight. Having made himself a bed ofleaves beside a log, he was soon sleeping as peacefully as if no dangerswere lurking near.
As for Captain Haines, he was bitterly disappointed when Calhoun was notcaught. But his leave of absence was out, and he had to return to hisregiment near Murfreesboro. A day or two after his return the followingletter came with his mail:
Raiding with Morgan Page 23