by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VII
IN WHICH THE ENEMY'S SUPPLIES ARE CONFISCATED
"Deck, what is that glittering over there?" cried Artie, as they werecrossing the creek bridge. "I declare, it's one of mother's spoons!"
"You're right, Artie," answered the major, leaping to the ground. "Andhere is another. That rascal I wounded must have thrown them away afterI left him on the bridge bench."
Artie dismounted also, and the pair began a rigorous search for thebalance of the missing silverware. Four additional spoons were broughtto light, all having lain within a distance of two yards of each other.
"That's all," said Artie, after looking around for quarter of an hourwithout finding any more. "More than likely several of the guerillasdivided the tableware between them."
Mrs. Lyon was much pleased over the recovery of even a part of thestolen property, and a hunt was immediately instituted at the variousspots where the prisoners had been shot down or captured. Before night adozen and a half spoons were in, also the gold butter dish. The otherspoons were never found, although long after it was learned that thethief had thrown them into the creek.
Immediately after learning what was to be ascertained concerningTotterly, Levi had gone off with General and Clinker to run the mendown, were such a thing possible. The overseer was gone two days and anight, and came back looking worn and haggard.
"I couldn't catch him, try my best," he said. "He has escaped intoTennessee, and I doubt very much if any of us ever lay eyes on himagain."
From one of the prisoners they had received a very good description ofthe guerilla, who was said to be tall, with a marked stoop to his leftshoulder, and with a long nose which did not point directly ahead, butsomewhat to the right. He was said to be a well-educated man, inclinedto drink, and was put down as using "school English."
"We shall never see or hear of him again," sighed Mrs. Lyon. "The moneyand that precious paper are gone forever."
"I don't see why he took the paper," said Artie. "I don't believe it isof any value excepting to father."
"We ought to write to father at once," said Hope, who, though youngerthan any present, took a deep interest in what had occurred. "If thepaper concerned the slaves, what will he do if it is not found?"
"That's the conundrum, Hope," answered her big brother. "I'll writeto-night, and father will get the letter inside of forty-eight hours, Ithink."
The major and the captain had expected to have a right royal time athome while on their furlough; but the attack on Riverlawn had upset allof their calculations. Nevertheless, they were warmly welcomed by thoseat the plantation, and Kate Belthorpe made Deck especially happy bycoming over with her sister to spend a whole day at the mansion.
The furlough of the major and the captain was for ten days, and beforethe time was up a letter came from Colonel Lyon, stating that he hadreceived the news of the attack on Riverlawn even before Deck'scommunication was handed to him. The loss of the private documentintrusted to him by his dead brother worried him greatly, but hepresumed everything possible was being done to recover it, so he wouldnot risk leaving his command to take a hand personally.
"General Rosecrans is almost certain the enemy is up to some movement,"he added. "I was talking to Colonel Minty only yesterday, and he thinkswe shall have work cut out for us inside of a week. Unless you canaccomplish something at home, you and Artie had better return to yourpositions at the front."
The note had evidently been written in a hurry, for no mention was madeof the lost money, the colonel evidently valuing that at less than thestolen paper. The communication produced a profound impression on Deckand Artie, and after talking it over, both decided to leave for theirregiment on the following morning. Levi urged them to do this, andpromised to guard more carefully than ever against any possible futureattack at Riverlawn.
Early in the year 1863 several changes were made in the Army of theCumberland, and one of these was to transfer Fort Henry and FortDonelson from Grant to Rosecrans, giving the latter the entire controlof the Cumberland River. In the meantime, and during the several monthsto follow, the cavalry of the Union forces was recruited as much aspossible, and many companies of infantry were placed on horseback, forRosecrans had discovered that little or nothing could be done againstthe enemy's raiders by foot soldiers, no matter how daring orlong-winded on the double-quick the latter might be.
Toward the end of January, General Bragg, somewhat recovered from theshock of the conflict at Murfreesboro, thought it about time to makeanother demonstration against the army of the North, and he accordinglydirected General Wheeler to make an attack against Fort Donelson, sogallantly taken by the forces under Grant nearly a year previous.Wheeler directed Forrest to move his brigade with a battery of fourguns along the river road to the neighborhood of Dover, while he withWharton's command took a road to the left.
Several trusted scouts reported this movement to Rosecrans withoutdelay, and the general immediately ordered Davis to take his divisionand two brigades of cavalry under Colonel Minty down the Versailles roadand endeavor to take Wheeler in the rear, while Steedman was directed towatch the Confederate general's movements by way of Triune.
As the work of the Riverlawn Cavalry was well known, Colonel Lyon waspressed into the services of the cavalry moving toward Fort Donelsonwithout, however, Captain Batterson's battery being attached, asheretofore. The brigades of cavalry were directed to move by way of theUnionville and Rover roads, the infantry going direct to Eaglesville.
The major and the captain arrived in camp just as the men were strikingtheir tents. They were warmly received by Major Belthorpe, who wanted toknow the news from home, and by Captain Gadbury, who was likewiseanxious to hear from Lyndhall and especially from Margie. Both youngmen, however, lost no time in reporting to their father.
"It's a bad business, Dexter," said the colonel, when the loss of thesecret letter was alluded to. "I must say I am treed, as the bear saidto Davy Crockett."
"Don't you think the letter referred to the slaves, father?" said themajor. "I always thought it did."
"I did think so, because I was particularly cautioned by Brother Duncannot to dispose of any of the slaves under any circumstances. Theyoriginally numbered fifty-one, but three have died, leaving forty-eight,as perhaps you know."
"Perhaps they were to be given their freedom," said Artie. "If that isso, President Lincoln's proclamation has forestalled Uncle Duncan'sdesign."
At this the colonel smiled. "Almost true, Artie, but not quite," he saidslowly. "If we lived in a rebellious State the proclamation would act asyou say, but Kentucky, being still in the Union, is not affected by thatproclamation, strange as the statement may seem."
"Creation! but I reckon you're right, father!" almost shouted MajorDeck. "I never looked at it in that light before. We can hold slaveseven if the folks living below the Mason and Dixon's line can't."
Colonel Lyon turned his eyes fully on the young commander, and studiedthat resolute face for several seconds in silence. From his parent'smanner Deck knew something important was coming.
"My son, would you care to hold our colored people as slaves if all theother colored people in these United States were set at liberty? I saythese United States, for I pray God that this conflict will speedilycome to an end and that we shall remain an undivided Union."
"No; I say let them be free! Let us hire them to work for us," answeredthe major, promptly.
"Yes; give them their liberty," echoed Artie. "I never believed inslavery when we lived in New Hampshire, and I haven't got used to ityet. It isn't a Christian-like institution."
"My boys, I am glad you speak my thoughts," said Colonel Lyon, andgrasped each by the hand. "Yes, the slaves shall be free; I settledthat in my mind as soon as I read our President's proclamation. I havealready begun a letter of instructions to Levi Bedford on the subject."
At this juncture Colonel Lyon was called away to confer with the officerin command of the division to which the Riverlawns had been assigne
d,and Deck and Artie hurried to their respective headquarters, the one toassume command of his company and the other his battalion.
"Major, you are looking as fine as fine can be!" exclaimed Captain LifeKnox, of the seventh company, as he came up, saluted Deck, and then gavea hearty shake to the proffered hand. "Your furlough has evidentlyagreed with you."
"It would have agreed with me if it hadn't been for the trouble we hadat Riverlawn."
"I heard something of that, but I'd like to listen to the particulars,"continued Life.
They were readily given. When the tall Kentuckian heard Totterly's namementioned his face grew dark.
"I know the skunk!" he cried. "He hails from the western part of theState and once cheated me in a hoss trade. So he is the man? Very well,we'll keep our eyes open for him."
Major Truman was also at hand, an eager listener to what was said. Theformer squire of Barcreek shook his head dubiously. "I was hoping ourneighborhood would miss being raided after that last trouble," he said."But, being on the border of this conflict, I dare say we shall sufferin this fashion as long as the war lasts."
In less than two hours after this the Riverlawn Cavalry was on themarch, Deck at the head of the first battalion, with Artie as commanderof his fourth company, and Colonel Lyon in charge of the whole. MajorBatterson of the battery was sorry to be left behind, but wished "theboys" the best of luck.
"Don't let the enemy take Fort Donelson," he said. "Grant had too muchof a job taking it from Buckner."
The cavalry forces under Minty had been divided, one taking the roadthrough Unionville and the other that through Rover. The weather wascold and threatened a storm, yet the Riverlawns made good progress overthe semi-frozen and rough highway.
The most worried man in the column was Quartermaster Hickman. Forseveral weeks the troops had been living on half rations, for thegovernment could get no supplies through, owing to the wrecking of therailroad. The country for miles around had been so thoroughly foragedthat absolutely nothing was left that was worth picking up.
"It's easy enough to talk about providing something," grumbled thequartermaster, while riding at ease beside Deck. "I'd turn the shirt onmy back into a peck of potatoes if I could, but the thing can't bedone--and there you are. I've lived on nothing but hardtack and a coupleof potatoes for two days,--and your father has done the same,--and yetsome of the boys kick."
"It's hard lines, truly," answered Deck, soberly. "But we shall have tomake the best of it, and that is all there is to it. When we halt fordinner, I'll make my battalion a little speech on the subject."
"I wish you would, for the third company is the hardest kicker of thelot," grumbled Hickman, and rode off, trying to solve in his mind howhe was going to make six boxes of hardtack, two barrels of potatoes, andone box of beans last nearly a thousand men two days or more. "I'll justhave to swell out them beans, that's all," he said. "And all hands willhave to play Yankees and eat 'em," he added, remembering that some ofthe Kentuckians had turned up their noses at this particularly NewEngland dish.
When the halt came Major Deck made his promised speech. "Ourquartermaster is doing his best," he said, "and officers are faring nobetter than the men. If we are badly off, the enemy is worse, so let usleave the growling to them. I feel certain our government will notforget us, and that supplies will soon be coming through in abundance."
For a moment there was a silence. "We didn't mean anything, Major," camefrom a private of the second company. "The quartermaster is all right.Three cheers for him!" The cheers were given with a will; and thenHickman felt much better.
Life Knox and several others had gone off on a scout for "extras." Theyhad brought down two rabbits when they ran across a house set in agrove of untrimmed trees. The front door was open on a crack, and at thecrack an elderly man was stationed with a shot-gun.
"Keep off! keep off!" cried the man as he stepped onto the porch. "Idon't want any soldiers around here."
"So it would seem," answered the tall Kentuckian, dryly. "Who are you?"
"Eh?" queried the man, who was a bit deaf.
"Stand still and tell us who you are."
"That's my business. You clear out!"
"Rather guess it's our business just now," laughed another of thecavalrymen.
"A man's house is his castle, and I want you to leave me," stormed theman with the shot-gun. "You are nothing but Yankees!"
"That is true," returned Life. "What have you in your house?"
"Eh?"
"Most awfully deaf, he is," grunted another of the party. "Have you gotmany provisions on hand?" he added, in a louder key.
"Eh?" and the man with the shot-gun leaned forward. "Did you sayprovisions?"
"Yes; have you any?" joined in Life.
"Enough for myself. Ain't got none for you--I can tell you that!"
"Reckon you have got something for us," grinned the tall Kentuckian.
Another of the party, Sandy Lyon, had, in the meantime, slipped behindthe house. He now appeared at the edge of the porch and suddenly leapedupon the elderly man.
Utterly off his guard, for he had not heard Sandy approaching, the deafman proved an easy victim, and in a twinkle his gun was taken from him.
"That was a good move, Sandy," said Life. "Now sit down and behaveyourself, sir," he added, to the man, whose name was Gessel, and forcedthe deaf one to a seat on the porch.
Having overcome the only inhabitant of the house, the cavalrymen made aninspection of the premises and found over a score of boxes and barrels,filled with provisions intended for a Confederate force encamped in thevicinity of Rover.
Orders were at once sent to the quartermaster to take possession of theprize, and Colonel Lyon was notified of the Confederate detachmentmentioned.
Realizing that the matter would brook of no delay, a consultation withthe general of the command was held, and this resulted in Deck beingsent off with his battalion to locate the Confederates, if possible, andengage them.