by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XIII
AN ADVANCE ALL ALONG THE LINE
General Bragg, the Confederate commander, had established hisheadquarters at Tullahoma, but his troops lay some twenty or thirtymiles to the north of that town, in a grand semicircle extending fromWartrace on the east, through Shelbyville to Columbia on the west. Thetroops numbered about forty thousand, of all sorts, according to thecommander's own report, and a larger portion of them were shelteredbehind hastily constructed intrenchments.
Although Bragg occupied this advanced position, General Rosecrans wascertain that should the Confederate be unable to hold Shelbyville andthe surrounding territory, he would retreat to his strongerintrenchments at Tullahoma. This town, situated on the rocky bank ofDuck River and surrounded by mountainous passes, was an idealstronghold. Once the Southern forces should retreat to it, to followthem would be extremely hazardous, for the Confederates could easilycommand the river and every defile, and pour in a hot fire withoutpermitting the Union troops to get a shot in return.
Under these circumstances, General Rosecrans determined, if possible, tocut off the Confederate's chances of retreating to Tullahoma, or, atleast, of retreating by the direct way. To do this, he determined toturn the enemy's right, and then make a dash for the railroad bridge atElk River. Once he had turned the enemy's right and gained the bridge,Bragg, if he retreated, would have to go to Tullahoma by side roads,where both armies would have an equal chance in fighting, so far as thelay of the land was concerned.
In all military operations, one of the main elements of success lies inthe fact of keeping the other fellow guessing what you are going to dountil you do it; and, in order to blind General Bragg as to his realintention, General Rosecrans started in by making an attack on theConfederate centre, as though he intended to push through at that pointif he could. While this was going on he hurried his main divisionsaround to the enemy's right.
The army numbered many thousands of infantry, cavalry, and artillery;the battle-ground extended over many miles of territory; and to getevery regiment in its proper place was no light task. Messages flewhither and thither, carried by telegraph and by horseback messengers,and many a detail was completed only to be totally altered at the lastmoment. And while this was going on, a close watch had to be kept on theenemy, for fear he would make some movement never dreamed of by ourtroops.
After months of preparation and numerous small conflicts, the army beganto move on the 23d of June, 1863. It was divided into three corps, theright under McCook, the centre under Thomas, and the left underCrittenden. The weather was by no means favorable; and soon it wasraining in torrents, rendering the roads a mass of liquid mud, andswelling even the smaller streams to such an extent that they couldscarcely be forded. In a campaign lasting nine days, General Rosecransdeclares that their advance was delayed ninety hours by the elements.
After their work along the railroad in the vicinity of McMinnville, theRiverlawns were ordered to Triune, where they went into camp justoutside of the town, on the bank of a little creek backed up by a hempfield. Their hospital tent was located in the midst of this field, andhere, on a cot, lay Deck, suffering in a manner that was new to thedoctors caring for him. At times the major was out of his mind, then hewould be rational, but so weak he could scarcely talk.
"It's awful--simply awful," said Artie, to his Cousin Sandy one day."It's the worst case I ever heard of."
"It is too bad," replied the second lieutenant, of Captain Gadbury'scommand. "I wish I could do something for him, I really do."
There was a great change in Sandy Lyon. He was no longer the wild fellowhe had been. Army discipline had made a man of him, and he was afirst-class soldier in every sense of the word. Only one thing heregretted, that being that he had not become attached to the EngineeringCorps. He declared that as soon as the war was over he was going tostudy hard and become an architect and builder.
The change in Titus Lyon was also great. He had kept the pledge, andhis brother Noah could not have had a more useful adjutant. The brotherswere real brothers once more, much to the satisfaction of Titus's wifeand daughters, as well as the other members of the Lyon family at large.
At last Colonel Lyon began to think of sending Deck home, although hehated the thought of having the youth where he could not see himconstantly. Moreover, Mrs. Lyon had not been informed of how much Deckwas suffering, and the truth might give her a shock.
It was three weeks previous to the movement of the army upon theConfederate forces that the major began to mend. At first the change wasgradual, but inside of ten days he was up on his feet. His appetite nowcame back, and he began to walk around, declaring that he would soon beas well as ever.
"Deck, you must take no more such risks--I positively forbid it," saidColonel Lyon, when calling on his son one evening.
"All right, father, I'll try to be more careful," answered Deck, with afaint smile. "To tell the truth, I didn't realize what a risk it wasuntil it was too late to turn back. On that account, I don't think I amhalf the hero the boys are making me out to be."
"I have a letter for you," continued the colonel, producing thecommunication. "It will certainly interest you, for it is from theConfederate soldier you rescued from the mill."
"Is that so? How is he doing?"
"He is doing too much--he got so well that he ran away yesterday."
"Ran away!"
"Exactly; and left that letter behind. Read it," and Deck did so. Thecommunication ran as follows:--
"MAJOR DEXTER LYON:--
"_My Dear Sir:_ I am on the point of trying to make my escape from the sick camp in which I have been placed by your Union hospital surgeons. It is a rather shabby way to act after such kindness, but I have no hankering after a life in a Northern prison pen.
"Before I leave, and knowing well I shall run the risk of being shot down, I wish to thank you for your goodness in rescuing me from the burning cotton mill. You did more for me than I think I should have done for any Northern man--you risked your life to save mine. Major Lyon, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and if it ever comes in my power to do you a good turn I shall do it--no matter what it may cost me. I thank you again.
"Yours respectfully,
"THOMAS DERWIDDIE,
"_Tennessee Volunteers._"
"Did they follow Thomas Derwiddie up?" asked Deck, as he folded theletter. It was written on a scrap of very old and dirty newspaper, inpencil.
"They tried to; but they could not catch him. I reckon by this time heis well within the Southern lines."
"He is certainly very thankful," mused the major. "Come what may, itwould seem that I have one friend in the South--although it is likely Ishall never see or hear of him again."
"That is true, Deck; yet it must make you feel glad to know the fellowappreciates your kindness."
"It does, father; I shall prize the letter very highly," and Deck placedit in an inner pocket. When next he wrote to Kate Belthorpe he enclosedthe communication with his own, and Kate thought almost as much of oneletter as of the other.
The first cavalry division, under General Mitchell, was located nearTriune, and this division now moved forward, on the Eagleville andShelbyville turnpike, in the direction of the enemy's centre and left.Less than half an hour after came the order for the Riverlawns to movein a similar manner.
"Hurrah! we'll soon be in it again!" cried Captain Artie, rushing intohis company street with the news. "Get to moving, boys; for there is notime to lose. We are going to smash the rebs this trip."
"Well, I hope so," said Black, his first lieutenant. "How about yourbrother, the major?"
"Deck is going along. My father doesn't like to hear of it; but themajor says he is feeling all right again. I reckon he will take it a biteasy, though."
There was little time to say more, for the call to move made plenty ofwork for everybody. Every man was supplied with twelve days'
rations ofbread, coffee, sugar, and salt, and six days' rations of pork and bacon,while other meat was carried "on the hoof," as it was expressed, thatis, alive, the animals being driven along in droves, or tied to therear of the supply wagons.
"I'm glad we're going to move, but I'd just as lief have clear weatherfor it," observed Life Knox, as he came up, shaking the water from hismilitary cape. "Captain Lyon, do you feel like taking a dash of some tenor twelve miles on horseback with me?"
"A dash--where to?" queried Artie, stopping in his operations ofstrapping his belongings together.
"The general wants to learn in what condition the side road to thesoutheast is in, and he has detailed me to make an investigation. I cantake any one along whom I please, and I thought of you and Deck; butDeck is not fit to go, even though I have seen him around on hisfaithful old Ceph."
"The side roads are probably drowned out," laughed Artie. "But I'll go,with pleasure--scouting always did just hit me right," and without delayhe turned over his command to Lieutenant Black.
Inside of a quarter of an hour, the two captains were off, each mountedon his favorite horse, each fully armed, and each carrying his rationswith him. The rain came down steadily, and the horses sent the waterflying in all directions as they pushed their way along over a turnpikecovered with pools.
"Does the general think of sending troops by that side road?" askedArtie, presently, as a turn hid them from their late companions, who hadwondered where they were going.
"Nothing was said about that, and I didn't ask any questions," returnedLife. "My private opinion is, he wants to make sure the road can be usedin case the rebels try to break through our corps."
"They wouldn't dare to do that."
"They might dare anything, Artie. Bragg has some fine soldiers underhim--not the least doubt of that. The more I see of this campaign, themore I am convinced that the war will not end until there has been animmense amount of blood shed. We began in a haphazard sort of way, butwe are speedily getting down to business."
"I agree with you there, Life. Of course Bragg will drive us back toKentucky, if he can; in fact, he'll drive us through Indiana into theLakes, if we let him. But we are not going to let him," concluded theyouthful captain of the fourth company.
They had been moving along a level road, but now a second turn took themup a gentle slope, from the top of which a bird's-eye view of a smallstretch of country could be obtained. Behind them, to the right and theleft, many companies of soldiers, afoot and on horseback, could be seenadvancing southward.
"There is the road we are to investigate," said Life, pointing with hislong forefinger. "By the lay of the land, I should say it doesn't amountto anything. The infantry and cavalry may get through, but never theartillery."
"Well, all we can do is to make an examination and report," answeredArtie. "But see here, why isn't a detail of the Engineering Corps doingthis work?"
"Every man is engaged elsewhere. Besides, we are to look for rebelswhile we are at it. The general is inclined to believe there are spiesin this vicinity. If we run across any such cattle, we are to lasso themand bring them in."
After this, the two relapsed into silence, for the rain was driving intotheir faces, and it was difficult to talk while muffled up in theirstorm capes. They descended the slope on the other side, then turnedinto a small woods, where the tall trees afforded some shelter.
Two miles had been covered, and the horses were making good time on arocky road-bed, when, looking ahead, they saw a split in the highway.One branch ran to the southward, the second, a few points to theeastward.
"Which is which?" asked Artie, as he drew rein.
"That's the riddle. One road looks as if it was travelled about as muchas the second."
"And neither very much, Life."
"I think we had better try the one to the right."
"And I was going to suggest the one on the left."
"Well, they can't both be right."
"No, only one is right--the other is left," laughed the young captain.
"And you'll be left to take the left," said the tall Kentuckian. "But,seriously, which had we better follow?"
"I don't know--unless we toss up for it."
"There may be sign-boards about. Let us look."
They made a careful survey of all the trees and posts in the vicinity,but nothing like a guide-post came to light. If there had been signs,the enemy had removed them long before.
"I have a suggestion to make," said Artie, as the pair came together inthe road again. "Let us each take to a road and ride, say, quarter of amile. Then we can return and compare notes."
"That would certainly be better than halting in the rain, Artie. It'ssettled, and I'm off," and using his spurs, Life Knox dashed away downthe road to the right. A few seconds later, Artie took the road to theleft, little dreaming of the adventure that was in store for him.