CHAPTER XI.
SCOUTING.
"Sergeant Parker is hereby ordered to report immediately at GeneralGrant's Headquarters," was the order which Paul received the nextmorning. He wondered what General Grant could want of him. He enteredthe General's tent, and saw a short, thick-set, middle-aged man withsandy whiskers, sitting at a table, reading letters and smoking a cigar.He was dressed in a plain blue blouse, and as he had no straps on hisshoulders, Paul thought he was the General's orderly.
"Is General Grant about?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," said the man, looking up pleasantly.
"I should like to see him," said Paul.
"I am General Grant."
Paul was astonished to find a general so affable and pleasant, for hehad seen some lieutenants and captains strut like turkey-cocks, becausethey wore straps on their shoulders. Paul saluted the General, and said,"I am ordered to report to you, sir."
"O yes; you are Sergeant Parker, who made a reconnoissance last night;sit down, Sergeant, till I finish my letters." It was spoken sopleasantly and kindly, that Paul said to himself, "He is a gentleman."
When the General had finished his letters he lighted another cigar, andquestioned Paul about his adventures; how far it was to the Rebel camp,and how the camp was situated.
"I will give you a sketch of the place," said Paul; and, sitting up tothe table, he drew a map, putting down the creeks, the roads, the woods,the distances from point to point, the place where he came upon thepickets, the position of the tents, and all the objects he saw. TheGeneral sat in silence, smoking, and looking at Paul with a keen eye. Itwas drawn neatly and quickly, and with an accuracy which surprised theGeneral. Paul had kept count of his steps from one object to another. Bylooking up to the stars he had kept the points of the compass, and knewwhether he travelled south, or southeast, or southwest, and so he wasable to draw an excellent map.
"Where did you study topographical engineering?" the General asked.
"By the kitchen fire," Paul replied.
"A good college to graduate from, especially if a fellow has grit," saidthe General, smiling. "Are you willing to undertake a hazardousenterprise?" he asked.
"I am willing to undertake anything for my country," Paul replied.
The General then told him that he wished to obtain information aboutFort Henry on the Tennessee River, and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland.He showed him the positions on a map, and said it was an undertaking ofgreat importance, and which might cost him his life. "I will give you atrustworthy companion," said he.
"I would rather attempt it alone, if you please. Two is one too many; itdoubles our risk. If discovered by the Rebels, I couldn't help mycomrade, neither could he help me. If we keep together, we shall havethe same information. I think I shall succeed better alone," said Paul.
"You are right," said the General, who told him that he might preparefor the trip, and that he would be sent up the Tennessee River on agunboat, and put on shore a few miles from Fort Henry, and that he mustreturn in ten days. "I hear a good report of you, and have confidence inyou. I desire accurate information; for if it is not accurate, it maylead to very disastrous results," said the General.
Two nights later, Paul stood alone on the bank of the Tennessee. Thegunboat which had brought him was going back. He could hear the plashingof her wheels growing fainter each moment. He was in the enemy'scountry, on an undertaking which might cost him his life. If discovered,he would be hung. For an instant his heart failed him, and he felt thathe must turn back; then he remembered that he had enlisted in theservice of his country, to do his duty, whatever it might be. His dutywas before him. He was upon the ground. Would not God take care of him?Was not the path of duty, although it might lead to death, the only pathof safety? There are times when duty is worth more than life. "Whateveris right before the Eternal God, that I will do," said Paul to himself.His fear was gone. He resolved to be bold, yet cautious, and to keep histhoughts perfectly collected under all circumstances. He had succeededin one reconnoissance, which made him hopeful; but he reflected thatsuccess often makes men careless, so he resolved to be always on hisguard. He had changed his uniform for a pair of old butternut-coloredpantaloons, a ragged coat, and a slouched hat which had a hole in thecrown. He hardly recognized himself he was so altered in appearance. Hewondered if Azalia or Daphne would know him. He had no weapon orequipments. There was nothing about him which indicated that he was asoldier of the Union army ready to lay down his life for the old flag.
He walked cautiously along the winding path, noticing all the objects;looking up to the north star at every turn of the road, keeping tally ofhis steps that he might know the distance travelled. He walkedstealthily, expecting every moment to hear the challenge of the Rebelpickets. He was startled by the cry, "Who! Who! Who!" He came to asudden halt, and then laughed to think that he had been challenged by anowl.
In the morning he came upon a party of men cutting wood, and found thatthey were Rebel soldiers outside of the picket line. Paul took an axeand went to work, and so became one of them. When they went into camphe accompanied them, carrying the axe on his shoulder, thus passing thepicket as a wood-chopper. He found three or four thousand soldiers atFort Henry, hard at work, throwing up breastworks, digging ditches,hewing timber, mounting guns. He worked with them, but kept his eyes andears open, noticing the position of the fort on the bank of the river,and how many guns there were. He found out what troops were there, wherethey came from, and who commanded them. He learned that a wagon-trainwas going to Fort Donelson after ammunition. He joined it and passed thepicket as one of the train guards. As the wagons were empty, he had achance to ride, and thus saved a weary walk of twelve miles.
The little town of Dover, which is near Fort Donelson, he found alivewith troops; regiments were arriving from Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas,and Tennessee. General Pillow was there in command. He was once anofficer in the army of the United States and fought in Mexico. GeneralFloyd was there with a brigade of Virginians. He was Secretary of Warwhen Buchanan was President, and did what he could to destroy the Union.He was a thief as well as a Rebel. He was a large, coarse man. Pauldespised him, and could hardly restrain himself from knocking thevillain from his horse when he saw him ride by wearing the uniform of atraitor. There was not much discipline in the Rebel army, and Paul foundlittle difficulty in going through all the camps, ascertaining whatregiments were there. It nettled him to hear the boasts of the soldiersthat one Southerner could whip five Yankees, but he said nothing forfear of betraying himself. He obtained food at a sutler's tent. He wasvery tired and sleepy when the second night came, but he found a placeto sleep at a house in the village.
"What regiment do you belong to?" asked a girl with a sallow countenanceand grimy hands.
"I am a scout," said Paul.
"Be you a scout? Wal, I hope you will run across Old Abe Linkum. If youdo, jest take his _skelp_ for me." (She meant his scalp.)
"Wal, if I _cotch_ him, I reckon I'll _skelp_ him," said Paul,flourishing his knife, as if he was ready for such bloody work.
"The Yanks are a set of vagabonds; they are the meanest critters onairth," said the woman. "They'll hang you if they cotch you."
"I reckon I won't let 'em cotch me," said Paul.
"Where be you gwine next?"
"Down to Cairo, I reckon; though I go wherever the General sends me."
"May be you would do a little chore for me,--get me some pins, needles,and thread?"
"It is mighty skittish business, but I'll see what I can do," said Paul.
Having obtained his information, his next business was to get away. Hewaited till the lights were put out in the camps at night, then, walkingdown to the river he found a small boat, jumped in and pushed out intothe stream. He could see the sentinels on the parapet of the fort as hefloated past, but they did not discover him. Paul congratulated himselfthat he was beyond the picket line when he heard a hail from both shoresat the same time. "Boat ahoy!" He made no reply. "Boa
t ahoy! come ashoreor I'll fire," said both sentinels. He saw that he could not escape byrowing. They would fire if he attempted to go ahead or turn back. If hewent ashore, he would be taken to the guard-house, questioned, probablyput into prison, perhaps tried as a spy. He resolved that he wouldn'tgo ashore. There was no time for deliberation. It was mid-winter; theair was keen, and there was floating ice in the river. If he remained inthe boat he might be shot, so he lowered himself noiselessly into thewater. How cold it was! He felt the chill strike through him, settinghis teeth to chattering, and his limbs quivering. There was anotherhail, and then a flash on both shores. The balls went through the boat.He heard the stroke of oars, and saw a boat pushing out from the shore.He darted ahead, swimming noiselessly down stream, gradually nearing theshore, for his strength was failing. He heard the men in the boat say,"We are fooled, it is only an empty dug-out."
How hard it was to climb the bank! He could not stand, he was sochilled. Once he rose to his feet, but tumbled like a log to the ground.He wanted to go to sleep, but he knew it would be his last sleep if heyielded. He drained the water from his boots, rubbed his legs, thrashedhis hands, and then went reeling and blundering in the darkness overfallen trees. What a wearisome, cheerless night it was! How he longedfor a fire,--a cup of warm coffee,--a comfortable bed! He thought of hisown bed in the little old house at New Hope, and wished that he mightlie there once more, and snuggle down beneath the warm comforters. Hisclothes were frozen, and notwithstanding he beat his hands till theblood dripped from his fingers, he could get up no warmth. "Halt! Whocomes there?" was the sharp challenge which startled him from hisdreaming. He was close upon a picket. He turned in an instant, and beganto run. He heard footsteps following. The thought that he was pursuedroused all his energies. The footsteps came nearer. Putting forth allhis strength, holding his breath, Paul went on, stumbling, rising again,leaping, hearing the footsteps of his pursuer coming nearer; suddenly hecame to a deep, narrow creek. He did not hesitate an instant, butplunged in, swam to the other bank, gained the solid ground, and droppedbehind a tree just as his pursuer reached the creek. The Rebel stoppedand listened, but Paul remained perfectly still, hardly daring tobreathe, till he heard the fellow go back muttering to himself andcursing the creek. The running had warmed Paul, but he was exhausted anddrenched once more. Daybreak came, and he did not dare to travel; so,finding some stacks of corn in a field, he tore one of them open, madea bed inside, drew the bundles over him, shivered awhile, and thendropped asleep.
He awoke suddenly to find his house tumbling to pieces,--torn down byRebel soldiers.
"Hello! What's here? Who be ye? What are ye up to?" said a sergeant,startled to find a man under the bundles. "Deserter, eh? or a spy, Ireckon," said the fellow, holding a pistol to Paul's head.
"Better put up your shooting-irons," said Paul coolly.
"Give an account of yourself, how ye came here, _whar_ ye have been, and_whar_ ye gwine."
Paul noticed that he said _whar_ for where, and replied, "I am a scout,and have been down by the river _whar_ the Yankee gunboats is."
"I don't believe it; you look like a scarecrow, but I reckon you are aYankee spy," said the Sergeant. He searched Paul, but found nothing. Hewas commanding a cavalry foraging-party, and was a brutal, ignorantfellow, and had been drinking whiskey, and wanted to show that he hadpower. "Boys, bring a halter; I reckon I'll make this fellow confessthat he is a Yankee."
A soldier brought a rope; one end was thrown over the limb of a tree,and the other made into a slip-noose, and put round his neck; but he didnot flinch. To confess that he was a spy was sure death. He was calm.For a moment his thoughts went back to his home. He thought of hismother and Azalia; but there was little time for such reflection. He didnot feel that his work was done. "Wal, Sergeant, what be you gwine todo?" he asked.
"Hang you as a spy," said the Sergeant.
"What sort of a report will you make to the General? What do ye think hewill do to you when he finds that you have hung one of his scouts?" Paulasked.
"See here, Sergeant, I reckon your are a leetle too fast in thismatter," said one of the soldiers.
Paul saw that the time had come for a bold course on his part. He hadalready ascertained what regiment of cavalry they belonged to. He hadseen their Colonel at Dover. "What do you suppose Colonel Forrest willsay, when he hears of this proceeding of yours?" he asked.
The Sergeant started at the mention of the name of his commander, andbegan to see the proceeding in a new light. Paul threw the noose fromhis neck and said, in a tone of authority: "I will report you, sir. Iwill have you arrested. I'll teach you to do your duty better than this.I am an officer. I know General Pillow, General Floyd, General Buckner,and Colonel Forrest. I am out on important business. You found measleep, and instead of taking me to your superior officer, as you oughtto have done, you proceed to hang me. You are drunk, sir, and I'll haveyou punished."
The Sergeant was very much frightened. He saw how noble a countenancePaul had, and felt his tone of authority. "I didn't mean any harm, sir;I wanted to do my duty," said the Sergeant, taking off his hat, andholding down his head.
"Because you are a sergeant, you wanted to show your authority," saidPaul. "Now go about your business, all of you, and when I get to GeneralPillow's head-quarters I will see to your case."
The soldiers who had gathered round started off at once to their work,while Paul walked towards Fort Donelson. He had gone but a few steps,when the Sergeant followed him, and, taking off his hat, said, "Please,Colonel, don't be too hard on me, I won't do so again."
"It will be my duty to report you; but if you will promise to be morecareful in the future I will tell the General when I make my report notto be too hard," said Paul.
"I'll be more _keerful_ next time, and won't get drunk again, Colonel,never."
"Very well," said Paul, walking on till he reached a piece of woods;then, turning from the path, he made his way towards the river again,wondering at his escape. He had a long walk through the woods, but whenhe reached the gunboats lying in the stream, how his heart leaped forjoy!
He kept all he had seen so well in memory, that when he reached Cairo hewas able to draw an accurate plan of the forts and country around them.
General Grant listened to his story with great interest, and when Paulhad finished said, "You have performed your work acceptably; youunderstand topography; I wish to keep you at my head-quarters, andtherefore appoint you a Lieutenant of Engineers."
It was so unexpected a promotion, and such an expression of confidence,that Paul was very much confused, and could only say, while blushingvery red, "I thank you, sir."
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