by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER IX.
A PRISONER.
The party round the fire were just about to disperse when the captain ofVincent's troop approached. He took the horn of spirits and water thatVincent held up to him and tossed it off.
"That is a stirrup-cup, Wingfield."
"What! are we for duty, captain?" Vincent asked as he rose to his feet.
"Yes; our troop and Harper's are to muster. Get the men togetherquietly. I think it is a serious business; each of the regimentsfurnishes troops, and I believe Stuart himself takes the command."
"That sounds like work, indeed," Vincent said. "I will get the trooptogether, sir."
"There are to be no trumpet calls, Wingfield; we are to get off asquietly as possible."
Most of the men were already fast asleep, but as soon as they learnedthat there was a prospect of active work all were full of life andanimation. The girths of the saddles were tightened, swords buckled on,and revolvers carefully examined before being placed in the holsters.Many of the men carried repeating rifles, and the magazines were filledbefore these were slung across the riders' shoulders.
In a few minutes the three troops were mounted and in readiness for astart, and almost directly afterward Colonel Jones himself rode up andtook the command. A thrill of satisfaction ran through the men as he didso, for it was certain that he would not himself be going in command ofthe detachment unless the occasion was an important one. For a fewminutes no move was made.
"I suppose the others are going to join us here," Vincent said to theofficer next him.
"I suppose so," he replied. "We lie in the middle of the cavalry brigadewith two regiments each side of us, so it is likely enough this is thegathering place. Yes, I can hear the tramping of horses."
"I felt a spot of rain," Vincent said. "We have been having lightningfor some time, and I fear we are in for a wet ride."
The contingent from the other regiments soon arrived, and just as thelast came up General Stuart himself appeared and took his place at thehead of the party, now some 500 strong. Short as the time had been sinceVincent felt the first drop, the rain was now coming down in torrents.One by one the bright flames of the fires died down, and the darknessbecame so intense that Vincent could scarcely see the officer on hisright hand.
"I hope the man who rode up with the general, and is no doubt to be ourguide, knows the country well. It is no joke finding our way through aforest on such a night as this."
"I believe Stuart's got eyes like a cat," the officer said. "Sometimeson a dark night he has come galloping up to a post where I was incommand, when one could scarcely see one's hand before one. It neverseems to make any difference to him; day or night he rides about at agallop."
"He trusts his horse," Vincent said. "That's the only way in the dark.They can see much better than we can, and if men would but let them gotheir own way instead of trying to guide them, they would seldom runagainst anything. The only thing is to lie well down on the horse'sneck, otherwise one might get swept out of the saddle by a bough. It's aquestion of nerve. I think not many of us would do as Stuart does, andtrust himself entirely to his horse's instinct."
The word was now passed down the line that perfect silence was to beobserved, and that they were to move forward in column, the ranksclosing up as much as possible, so as not to lose touch of each other.With heads bent down, and blankets wrapped around them as cloaks, thecavalry rode off through the pouring rain. The thunder was crashingoverhead, and the flashes of lightning enabled them to keep their placesin close column. They went at a rapid trot, and even those who wereready to charge a body of the enemy, however numerous, without amoment's hesitation, experienced a feeling of nervousness as they rodeon in the darkness through the thick forest on their unknown errand.That they were going northward they knew, and knew also, after a shorttime, that they must be entering the lines of the enemy. They saw nosigns of watch-fires, for these would long since have been quenched bythe downpour. After half an hour's brisk riding all knew, by the sharpsound of the beat of the horses' hoofs, that they had left the softtrack through the forest and were now upon a regular road.
"Thank goodness for that!" Vincent said in a low tone to his nextneighbor. "I don't mind a brush with the enemy, but I own I don't likethe idea that at any moment my brains may be knocked out by the branchof a tree."
"I agree with you," the other replied; "and I fancy every man felt thesame."
There was no doubt as to this. Hitherto no sound had been heard save thejingling of accouterments and the dull heavy sound of the horses' tread;but now there could be heard mingled with these the buzz of voices, andoccasionally a low laugh. They were so accustomed to wet that thesoaking scarcely inconvenienced them. They were out of the forest now,and felt sure of their guide; and as to the enemy, they only longed todiscover them.
For another hour the rapid advance continued, and all felt sure thatthey must now have penetrated through the enemy's lines and be well inhis rear. At last they heard a challenge of sentry. Then Stuart's voiceshouted, "Charge!" and at full gallop they rode into the village atCatlet's Station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where GeneralPope had his headquarters. Another minute and they were in the midst ofthe enemy's camp, where the wildest confusion reigned. The Federalofficers rushed from their tents and made off in the darkness; but thesoldiers, who were lying on the line of railroad, leaped to their feetand opened a heavy fire on their invisible foes. Against this thecavalry, broken up in the camp with its tents, its animals, and itspiles of baggage, could do little, for it was impossible to form them upin the broken and unknown ground.
The quarters of Pope were soon discovered; he himself had escaped,leaving his coat and hat behind. Many of his officers were captured, andin his quarters was found a box of official papers, which wereinvaluable, as among them were copies of his letters asking forre-enforcements, lists giving the strength and position of his troops,and other particulars of the greatest value to the Confederates. No timewas lost, as the firing would set the whole Federal army on the alert,and they might find their retreat cut off. Therefore, placing theprisoners in the center, and taking the box of papers with them, thecavalry were called off from the camp, and without delay started ontheir return ride.
They did not take the road by which they had come, but made a longdetour, and just as daylight was breaking re-entered the Confederatelines, without having encountered a foe from the time of their leavingCatlet's Station. Short as their stay in camp had been, few of the menhad returned empty-handed. The Northern army was supplied with anabundance of excellent food of all descriptions, forming the strongestpossible contrast to the insufficient rations upon which the Confederatetroops existed, and the troopers had helped themselves to whatever theycould lay hands upon in the darkness and confusion.
Some rode in with a ham slung on each side of their saddle, others hadsecured a bottle or two of wine or spirits. Some had been fortunateenough to lay hand on some tins of coffee or a canister of tea, luxurieswhich for months had been unknown to them save when they were capturedfrom the enemy. The only article captured of no possible utility wasGeneral Pope's coat, which was sent to Richmond, where it was hung upfor public inspection; a wag sticking up a paper beside it, "This is thecoat in which General Pope was going to ride in triumph into Richmond.The coat is here, but the general has not yet arrived."
The Confederates had lost but two or three men from the fire of theFederal infantry, and they were in high spirits at the success of theirraid. No sooner had General Lee informed himself of the contents of thepapers and the position of the enemy's forces than he determined tostrike a heavy blow at him; and General Jackson, who had been sharplyengaged with the enemy near Warrenton, was ordered to make a longdetour, to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains through Thoroughfare Gap, tofall upon Pope's rear and cut his communications with Washington, and,if possible, to destroy the vast depot of stores collected at Manassas.
The cavalry, under Stuart, were to accompany him. The march wo
uld be atremendous one, the danger of thus venturing into the heart of theenemy's country immense, but the results of such an expedition would, ifsuccessful, be great; for Lee himself was to advance with his army onPope's flank, and there was therefore a possibility of the utter defeatof that general before he could be joined by the army marching tore-enforce him from Fredericksburg.
It was on Monday, the 25th of August, that Jackson started on his march,ascending the banks of the Rapahannock, and crossed the river at theford, dragging his artillery with difficulty up the narrow and rockyroad beyond. There was not a moment to be lost, for if the news reachedthe enemy the gorge known as Thoroughfare Gap would be occupied, and thewhole object of the movement would be defeated. Onward the force pushed,pressing on through fields and lanes without a single halt, until atnight, hungry and weary but full of spirit, they marched into the littletown of Salem, twenty miles from their starting place. They had neitherwagons nor provisions with them, and had nothing to eat but some ears ofcorn and green apples plucked on the road.
It was midnight when they reached Salem, and the inhabitants turned outin blank amazement at the sight of Confederate troops in that region,and welcomed the weary soldiers with the warmest manifestations. Atdaylight they were again upon the march, with Stuart's cavalry, asbefore, out upon each flank. Thoroughfare Gap was reached, and foundundefended, and after thirty miles' marching the exhausted troopsreached the neighborhood of Manassas. The men were faint from want offood, and many limped along barefooted; but they were full ofenthusiasm.
Just at sunset, Stuart, riding on ahead, captured Bristoe, a station onthe Orange and Alexandria Railroad, four miles from Manassas. As theyreached it a train came along at full speed. It was fired at, but didnot stop, and got safely through to Manassas. Two trains that followedwere captured; but by this time the alarm had spread, and no more trainsarrived. Jackson had gained his point. He had placed himself on the lineof communication of the enemy, but his position was a dangerous oneindeed. Lee, who was following him, was still far away. An army wasmarching from Fredericksburg against him, another would be dispatchedfrom Washington as soon as the news of his presence was known, and Popemight turn and crush him before Lee could arrive to his assistance.
Worn out as the troops were, it was necessary at once to gain possessionof Manassas, and the 21st North Carolina and 21st Georgia volunteeredfor the service, and joined by Stuart with a portion of his cavalry,marched against it. After a brief contest the place was taken, the enemystationed there being all taken prisoners. The amount of arms and storescaptured was prodigious. Eight pieces of artillery, 250 horses, 3locomotives, and tens of thousands of barrels of beef, pork, and flour,with an enormous quantity of public stores and the contents ofinnumerable sutlers' shops.
The sight of this vast abundance to starving men was tantalizing in theextreme. It was impossible to carry any of it away, and all that couldbe done was to have at least one good meal. The troops therefore weremarched in, and each helped himself to as much as he could consume, andthe ragged and barefooted men feasted upon canned salmon and lobsters,champagne, and dainties of every description forwarded for the use ofofficers. Then they set to work to pile the enormous mass of storestogether and to set it on fire. While they were engaged at this abrigade of New Jersey troops, which had come out from Washington to saveManassas, was attacked and utterly routed. Ewell's division had remainedat Bristoe, while those of Hill and Jackson moved to Manassas, and inthe course of the afternoon Ewell saw the whole of Pope's army marchingagainst him.
He held them in check for some hours, and thus gave the troops atManassas time to destroy completely the vast accumulation of stores, andwhen Stuart's cavalry, covering the retreat, fell back at nightfallthrough Manassas, nothing but blackened cinders remained where theFederal depots had been situated. The blow to the Northerners was asheavy as it was unexpected. Pope had no longer either provisions for hismen or forage for his cattle, and there was nothing left for him but toforce his way past Jackson and retire upon Washington.
Map--THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.]
Jackson had now the option of falling back and allowing the enemy topass, or of withstanding the whole Federal army with his own littleforce until Lee came up to the rescue. He chose the latter course, andtook up a strong position. The sound of firing at Thoroughfare Gap wasaudible, and he knew that Longstreet's division of Lee's army was hotlyengaged with a force which, now that it was too late, had been sent tohold the gorge. It was nearly sunset before Pope brought up his men tothe attack. Jackson did not stand on the defensive, but rushed down andattacked the enemy--whose object had been to pass the position and presson--with such vigor that at nine o'clock they fell back.
An hour later a horseman rode up with the news that Longstreet hadpassed the Gap and was pressing on at full speed, and in the morninghis forces were seen approaching, the line they were taking bringingthem up at an angle to Jackson's position. Thus their formation as theyarrived was that of an open V, and it was through the angle of this Vthat Pope had to force his way. Before Longstreet could arrive, however,the enemy hurled themselves upon Jackson, and for hours the Confederatesheld their own against the vast Federal army, Longstreet's force beingtoo far away to lend them a hand. Ammunition failed, and the soldiersfought with piles of stones, but night fell without any impression beingmade upon these veterans. General Lee now came up with General Hood'sdivision, and hurled this against the Federals and drove them back. Inthe evening Longstreet's force took up the position General Lee hadassigned to it, and in the morning all the Confederate army had arrived,and the battle recommenced.
The struggle was long and terrible; but by nightfall every attack hadbeen repulsed, and the Confederates, advancing on all sides, drove theNortherners, a broken and confused crowd, before them, the darknessalone saving them from utter destruction. Had there been but one hourmore of daylight the defeat would have been as complete as was that inthe battle of Bull Run, which had been fought on precisely the sameground. However, under cover of the darkness, the Federals retreated toCentreville, whence they were driven on the following day.
In the tremendous fighting in which Jackson's command had for three longdays been engaged, the cavalry bore a comparatively small part. TheFederal artillery was too powerful to permit the employment of largebodies of cavalry, and although from time to time charges were made whenan opportunity seemed to offer itself, the battle was fought out by theinfantry and artillery. When the end came Jackson's command was for atime _hors de combat_. During the long two-days' march they had at leastgathered corn and apples to sustain life; but during these three-days'fighting they had had no food whatever, and many were so weak that theycould no longer march.
They had done all that was possible for men to do; had for two dayswithstood the attack of an enemy of five times their numbers, and had,on the final day, borne their full share in the great struggle, but nowthe greater part could do no more, thousands of men were unable to dragthemselves a step further, and Lee's army was reduced in strength forthe time by nearly 20,000 men. All these afterward rejoined it; some, assoon as they recovered, limped away to take their places in the ranksagain, others made their way to the depot at Warrenton, where Lee hadordered that all unable to accompany his force should rendezvous untilhe returned and they were able to rejoin their regiments.
Jackson marched away and laid siege to Harper's Ferry, an importantdepot garrisoned by 11,000 men, who were forced to surrender just asMcClellan with a fresh army, 100,000 strong, which was pressing forwardto its succor, arrived within a day's march. As soon as Jackson hadtaken the place he hurried away with his troops to join Lee, who wasfacing the enemy at the Antietam River. Here, upon the following day,another terrible battle was fought; the Confederates, though but 39,000strong, repulsing every attack by the Federals and driving them withterrible slaughter back across the river.
Their own loss, however, had been very heavy, and Lee, knowing that hecould expect no assistance, while the enemy was co
nstantly receivingre-enforcements, waited for a day to collect his wounded, bury his dead,and send his stores and artillery to the rear, and then retired,unpursued, across the Rappahannock. Thus the hard-fought campaign cameto an end.
Vincent Wingfield was not with the army that retired across theRappahannock. A portion of the cavalry had followed the broken Federalsto the very edge of the stream, and just as they reined in their horsesa round shot from one of the Federal batteries carried away his cap,and he fell as if dead from his horse. During the night some of theNortherners crossed the stream to collect and bring back their ownwounded who had fallen near it, and coming across Vincent, and findingthat he still breathed, and was apparently without a wound, they carriedhim back with them across the river as a prisoner.
Vincent had indeed escaped without a wound, having been only stunned bythe passage of the shot that had carried away his cap, and missed him bythe fraction of an inch. He had begun to recover consciousness just ashis captors came up, and the action of carrying him completely restoredhim. That he had fallen into the hands of the Northerners he was wellaware; but he was unable to imagine how this had happened. He rememberedthat the Confederates had been, up to the moment he fell, completelysuccessful, and he could only imagine that in a subsequent attack theFederals had turned the tables upon them.
How he himself had fallen, or what had happened to him, he had no idea.Beyond a strange feeling of numbness in the head he was conscious of noinjury, and he could only imagine that his horse had been shot underhim, and that he must have fallen upon his head. The thought that hisfavorite horse was killed afflicted him almost as much as his owncapture. As soon as his captors perceived that their prisoner'sconsciousness had returned they at once reported that an officer ofStuart's cavalry had been taken, and at daybreak next morning GeneralMcClellan, on rising, was acquainted with the fact, and Vincent wasconducted to his tent.
"You are unwounded, sir," the general said in some surprise.
"I am, general," Vincent replied. "I do not know how it happened, but Ibelieve that my horse must have been shot under me, and that I must havebeen thrown and stunned; however, I remember nothing from the momentwhen I heard the word halt, just as we reached the side of the stream,to that when I found myself being carried here."
"You belong to the cavalry?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was Lee's force all engaged yesterday?"
"I do not know," Vincent said. "I only came up with Jackson's divisionfrom Harper's Ferry the evening before."
"I need not have questioned you," McClellan said. "I know that Lee'swhole army, 100,000 strong, opposed me yesterday."
Vincent was silent. He was glad to see that the Federal general, asusual, enormously overrated the strength of the force opposed to him.
"I hear that the whole of the garrison of Harper's Ferry were releasedon parole not to serve again during the war. If you are ready to give meyour promise to the same effect I will allow you to return to yourfriends; if not you must remain a prisoner until you are regularlyexchanged."
"I must do so, then, general," Vincent said quietly. "I could not remainhome and remain inactive while every man in the South is fighting forthe defense of his country, so I will take my chance of beingexchanged."
"I am sorry you choose that alternative," McClellan said. "I hate to seebrave men imprisoned if only for a day; and braver men than those acrossyonder stream are not to be found. My officers and men are astonished.They seem so thin and worn as to be scarce able to lift a musket, theirclothes are fit only for a scarecrow, they are indeed pitiful objects tolook at; but the way in which they fight is wonderful. I could not havebelieved, had I not seen it, that men could have charged as they didagain and again across ground swept by a tremendous artillery andmusketry fire; it was wonderful! I can tell you, young man, that eventhough you beat us we are proud of you as our countrymen; and I believethat if your General Jackson were to ride through our camp, he would becheered as lustily and heartily by our men as he is by his own."
Some fifty or sixty other prisoners had been taken; they had beencaptured in the hand-to-hand struggle that had taken place on some partsof the field, having got separated from their corps and mixed up withthe enemy, and carried off the field with them as they retired. These,for the most part, accepted the offered parole; but some fifteen, likeVincent, preferred a Northern prison to promising to abstain fromfighting in defense of their country, and in the middle of the day theywere placed together in a tent under a guard at the rear of the camp.
The next morning came the news that Lee had fallen back. There wasexultation among the Federals, not unmingled with a strong sense ofrelief; for the heavy losses inflicted in the previous fighting hadtaken all the ardor of attack out of McClellan's army, and they wereglad indeed that they were not to be called upon to make another attemptto drive the Confederates from their position. Vincent was no lesspleased at the news. He knew how thin were the ranks of the Confederatefighting men, and how greatly they were worn and exhausted by fatigueand want of food, and that, although they had the day before repulsedthe attacks of the masses of well-fed Northerners, such tremendousexertions could not often be repeated, and a defeat, with the river intheir rear, approachable only by one rough and narrow road, would havemeant a total destruction of the army.
The next morning Vincent and his companions were put into the train andsent to Alexandria. They had no reason to complain of their treatmentupon the way. They were well fed, and after their starvation diet forthe last six weeks their rations seemed to them actually luxurious. TheFederal troops in Alexandria, who were for the most part young recruitswho had just arrived from the North and West, looked with astonishmentupon these thin and ragged men, several of whom were barefooted. Was itpossible that such scarecrows as these could in every battle have drivenback the well-fed and cared-for Northern soldiers!
"Are they all like this?" one burly young soldier from a Western Stateasked their guard.
"That's them, sir," the sergeant in charge of the party replied. "Notmuch to look at, are they? But, by gosh, you should see them fight! Youwouldn't think of their looks then."
"If that's soldiering," the young farmer said solemnly, "the sooner I amback home again the better. But it don't seem to me altogether strangeas they should fight so hard, because I should say they must look uponit as a comfort to be killed rather than to live like that."
A shout of laughter from the prisoners showed the young rustic that theobjects of his pity did not consider life to be altogether intolerableeven under such circumstances, and he moved away meditating on thediscomforts of war, and upon the remarks that would be made were he toreturn home in so sorrowful a plight as that of these Confederateprisoners.
"I bargained to fight," he said, "and though I don't expect I shall likeit, I shan't draw back when the time comes; but as to being starved tillyou are nigh a skeleton, and going about barefooted and in such rags asa tramp wouldn't look at, it aint reasonable." And yet, had he known it,among those fifteen prisoners more than half were possessors of wideestates, and had been brought up from their childhood in the midst ofluxuries such as the young farmer never dreamed of.
Among many of the soldiers sympathy took a more active form, and menpressed forward and gave packets of tobacco, cigars, and other littlepresents to them, while two or three pressed rolls of dollar notes intotheir hands, with words of rough kindness.
"There aint no ill feeling in us, Rebs. You have done your work likemen, and no doubt you thinks your cause is right, just as we does; butit's all over now, and maybe our turn will come next to see the insideof one of your prisons down south. So we are just soldiers together, andcan feel for each other."
Discipline in small matters was never strictly enforced in the Americanarmies, and the sergeant in charge offered no opposition to the soldiersmingling with the prisoners as they walked along.
Two days later they were sent by railway to the great prison at Elmira,in the State of New York. When they reache
d the jail the prisoners wereseparated; Vincent, who was the only officer, being assigned quarterswith some twenty others of the same rank. The prisoners crowded roundhim as he entered, eager to hear the last news from the front, for theyhad heard from their guards only news of constant victories won by theNortherners; for every defeat was transformed by the Northern papersinto a brilliant victory, and it was only when the shattered remains ofthe various armies returned to Alexandria to be re-formed that the truthgradually leaked out. Thus Antietam had been claimed as a great Northernvictory, for, although McClellan's troops had in the battle been hurledback, shattered and broken, across the river, two days afterward Lee hadretired.
One of the prisoners, who was also dressed in cavalry uniform, hung backfrom the rest, and going to the window looked out while Vincent waschatting with the others. Presently he turned round, and Vincentrecognized with surprise his old opponent Jackson. After a moment'shesitation he walked across the room to him.
"Jackson," he said, "we have not been friends lately, but I don't seewhy we should keep up our quarrel any longer; we got on all right atschool together; and now we are prisoners together here it would befoolish to continue our quarrel. Perhaps we were both somewhat to blamein that affair. I am quite willing to allow I was, for one, but I thinkwe might well put it aside now."
Jackson hesitated, and then took the hand Vincent held out to him.
"That's right, young fellows," one of the other officers said. "Now thatevery Southern gentleman is fighting and giving his life, if need be,for his country, no one has a right to have private quarrels of his own.Life is short enough as it is, certainly too short to indulge inprivate animosities. A few weeks ago we were fighting side by side, andfacing death together; to-day we are prisoners; a week hence we may beexchanged, and soon take our places in the ranks again. It's the duty ofall Southerners to stand shoulder to shoulder, and there ought to be nosuch thing as ill-feeling among ourselves."
Vincent was not previously aware that Jackson had obtained a commission.He now learned that he had been chosen by his comrades to fill a vacancycaused by the death of an officer in a skirmish just before Pope fellback from the Rappahannock, and that he had been made prisoner a fewdays afterward in a charge against a greatly superior body of Federalcavalry.
The great majority of the officers on both sides were at thecommencement of the war chosen by their comrades, the elections at firsttaking place once a year. This, however, was found to act very badly. Insome cases the best men in the regiment were chosen; but too often themen who had the command of money, and could afford to stand treat andget in supplies of food and spirits, were elected. The evils of thesystem were found so great, indeed, that it was gradually abandoned; butin cases of vacancies occurring in the field, and there being anecessity for at once filling them up, the colonels of the regiments hadpower to make appointments, and if the choice of the men was consideredto be satisfactory, their nominee would be generally chosen.
In the case of Jackson, the colonel had hesitated in confirming thechoice of the men. He did not for a moment suspect him to be wanting incourage; but he regarded him as one who shirked his work, and who wonthe votes of the men rather by a fluent tongue and by the violence ofhis expressions of hatred against the North than by any soldierlyqualities.
Some of the officers had been months in prison, and they were highlyindignant at the delays that had occurred in effecting their exchange.The South, indeed, would have been only too glad to get rid of some oftheir numerous prisoners, who were simply an expense and trouble tothem, and to get their own men back into their ranks. They could illspare the soldiers required to guard so large a number of prisoners, anda supply of food was in itself a serious matter.
Thus it was at Harper's Ferry, and upon a good many other occasions,they released vast numbers of prisoners on their simple paroles not toserve again. The North, however, were in no hurry to make exchange; andmoreover, their hands were so full with their enormous preparations thatthey put aside all matters which had not the claim of urgency.