by J. T. Edson
How the girl came to be in enemy territory a few miles east of Washington was the result of her latest assignment for the Confederate States Secret Service.
On the night before the contingent from the Richmond section of the Confederate States Secret Service returned to their base, Colonel Charles Jeremiah Mason had entertained them, Roxanne Fortescue-Smethurst, and Captain Anatol de-Farge at dinner. He had thanked everybody concerned for the excellent results obtained because of their efforts. With that done, he had stated—albeit, the Southron girl suspected, more tongue-in-cheek than would have been the case when they first met— that he still did not think such duties should be handled by ladies, making it clear that he included the redhead in the category, even though on this occasion they had proved to be of the greatest assistance. He had even gone so far as to state that the successful outcome could not have been achieved without them.
With the formalities over, Ole Dixie had proved to be an excellent host and far from as hidebound as he had first given Belle the impression of being. In fact, she had thoroughly enjoyed herself and been amused by the way he had clearly relished the amusing anecdotes that Alfred Higgins provided. While she and Roxanne had been freshening up in the room provided for that purpose, they had derived amusement from agreeing that it was a pity they could not put on the kind of entertainment they had provided for the clientele of de-Farge’s gambling house. On a more serious level, before they parted company at the end of the evening, the girl had been told by the gambler that he had arranged with their host that he and the redhead would give their services as agents as and when required. This was to prove most useful when the forces of the Union gained control of the Mississippi River beyond where it flowed through Baton Bayou Parish.
There had been one outcome of the affair that was to prove beneficial for Belle in the future, although she did not learn of Mason’s involvement until long after. Using his connections with General Robert E. Lee and other prominent Southrons, he had caused her to be given the rank and pay of a captain in the Confederate States Army as a means of helping her obtain cooperation from officers in the line of her duties. There had been no objections to the arrangement from Rose Green-how, who had attained the status of full colonel for the same reason and had already made a proposal that her niece should be granted the rank given to all the male members of their organization.
Unaware of the way in which her career was to be given the assistance of an official military rank, also an addition to her earnings that was most acceptable, Belle had not been allowed to rest on her laurels when she rejoined her aunt. Nor could she complain that she was not put to a useful purpose in giving service to the Southern cause. During the next six months, she had carried out three missions to deliver and collect information from agents that took her into Union-held territory. All had entailed traveling in disguise and, on two, her skill at riding astride had brought her to safety in spite of her being hotly pursued by Yankee cavalrymen. When she was not required for such work, she had occupied her time by carrying out training in subjects that would be of use in future assignments.
In between her missions, the girl was constantly improving her fighting skills without using weapons. Nor was her ability to handle a sword—especially the new epee de combat when it arrived, so as to ensure that she became fully conversant with its weight, balance, and special peculiarities—and other weapons, even those of unconventional and, until put into effect, unsuspected devices employed to defeat Martin Jacques and David Hunt neglected. In fact, she soon could use each with even more efficiency and was satisfied she could do so even to the extent of killing should the need arise. More of her time had been spent being instructed in techniques of lock-picking and housebreaking by Higgins. She also developed her use of disguises to an even higher degree than she had when employing her flair for such things while trying to find members of the Secret Service.
There had been one disappointment for Belle as the weeks went by. Rose had had a request passed for all Southern agents to keep watch for and seek news of the whereabouts of George Tollinger and Alfred Barmain. While there had been occasional reports to confirm that they were now serving with a “liberal” section of the Union’s Secret Service, which generally operated in opposition to those members led by the much more efficient Allan Pinkerton, neither had ever been anywhere near the places where Belle had carried out her assignments. However, this had in no way lessened her determination to be avenged upon them for the murder of her parents and destruction of Baton Royale Manor.
The arrival of the message that brought the girl to her present position had been considered of such vital urgency that taking action could not be delayed. Knowing Doctor Fritz Conried would not have taken the chances involved in sending the news and request for assistance by carrier pigeon unless regarding the state of affairs he of necessity could only briefly describe as being of the utmost gravity, Rose was informed by her superiors in Richmond that action must be taken as soon as possible to discover how great a threat to the Confederate cause was being posed and, if necessary, nullify it. The problem with which she was faced had been that only Belle of all her agents was immediately available.
Despite having faith in the proven ability of her niece, Rose had had qualms over sending her upon the assignment. Its nature was far different from anything she had done previously. However, against that, she had already made an of necessity brief contact with Conried on her second mission when collecting information he had gathered and knew the terrain through which she would have to pass. With this and the other factors in mind, putting aside thoughts of the dangers that would be involved, the beautiful Southron woman had conferred with Belle and decided how the duty could be performed. They had agreed from the start that it could not be carried out without assistance, which had raised the point of what form this would take. None of her fellow operatives could be recalled from their respective tasks in time to be of use. Unfortunately, neither she—because time had not permitted them to discuss such matters even if either had been inclined to do so instead of adhering to the wise policy of what a later generation would term the need to know—nor Rose was aware of how big an organization Conried controlled except that they assumed its members would not be numerous and were unlikely to possess the kind of skills that might be needed.
As the result of the deliberations, it had been decided that Belle would be given the escort of the two members of General Hood’s Texas Brigade who were available and possessed the requisite qualities. Chief among these had been a willingness to accept the risks of being captured wearing uniforms and posing as Union soldiers, thereby rendering them almost certain to be shot as spies if they should be captured. Taking advantage of her skill in equestrian matters, which her escort also possessed to an equally high standard, they were to travel on horseback and ride relay on two mounts apiece as a means of covering the distance in the quickest possible time. Excellent in quality though their mounts were, the speed at which they could travel would be limited somewhat by having along a pack animal carrying all they required. While it was their intention to do everything possible to avoid coming into contact with anybody even before reaching Union territory, to avoid arousing interest that might be heard of and reported by Yankee spies, they had been given the means of offering an explanation for their presence should they fail to do so.
If granted the opportunity, which the abilities as a scout possessed by one of her escort made it likely could occur, the girl was to assume the clothing suitable for her pose and carry documents to suggest that she was a maid delivering the property of the wife of a Union general. For the remainder of the time after leaving Confederate terrain, she would travel in the same kind of close-to-regulation uniform as her companions, which had been copied from the kind issued—to some of the numerous regiments of volunteers formed with patriotic fervor or for political motives in the North. Because these allowed considerable variation in the kind of weapons provided, this allowed her to carry the epee de
combat, which had been made to her specifications by a master cutler in Richmond on the slings at the left side of her officially designed waist belt, and a Colt Model of 1853 Navy revolver butt-forward in the regulation-patterned holster on the right.
To support the identities they intended to give themselves if unable to avoid meeting with Union troops, the trio had been provided with the necessary documents to establish the supposed veracity of the claim. As they all had accents indicative of origins being other than Northern, these alleged that they were Southerners who espoused the Union’s cause out of an opposition to slavery. Producing these special items had created no problems for Belle’s section of the Secret Service. Enough officers of all ranks had transferred allegiance to the Army of the Confederate States when it became obvious that war could not be avoided—Stone Hart having been one—for the South to follow the general organization of their Northern adversaries. Therefore, it had been known roughly what form the genuine items were likely to take. Furthermore, especially with the pose being that of men serving in a recently formed volunteer regiment—few of which were led by officers having been more than a minimal length in such positions of command—any discrepancies in the paperwork could be explained away as being due to inexperience with the way things were done in the Union Army. Having looked the documents over, Waggles had said dryly that they were more likely to be accepted by members of regular outfits if they did not quite conform to regulations, as such was only to be expected of hurriedly recruited and less-than-thoroughly-trained crowds of “weekend soldiers” led by “ninety-day wonders.”
Because of the care that was taken in selecting the route they traveled, Belle and her escort had made good time and remained unseen until they were on the last few miles from their destination. From the beginning, she had taken a liking to the two Texans. In return, they had very quickly gained respect for her having sufficient ability as a horsewoman to ensure that she did not slow them down. Although she had not been able to show how well she could shoot, as doing so might be heard and investigated, their admiration had grown after having seen a demonstration of her skill at wielding the epee de combat on the first night after they had made camp. Stone had said that he and his sergeant had been told of her abilities and achievements when asked to volunteer for the escort duty, but admitted they had felt some misgivings over a young woman being in command of such a potentially dangerous assignment. However, both of them had stated they now believed there was no need for concern on that account.
On hearing from Waggles that there were the three Yankee cavalrymen approaching and were so near, Belle and Stone had decided against taking cover. It was felt advisable that she should rely upon her disguise and let herself be seen at such close quarters, but if the subterfuge was detected, it might not be possible to silence all three without shooting, and there was no way of knowing how many other members of the Union Army or even civilians who were almost certain to have Northern sympathies were within hearing distance to be attracted by it. Therefore, she had proposed another means of coping with the situation. Agreeing that it stood a good chance of working and having the means to do so, the preparations had been carried out swiftly. Then the Texans had ridden into view and, at least until the conversation was commenced, there was nothing to indicate that they were suspected of being other than they appeared.
That desirable state of affairs was brought to an end.
“Hey!” the shorter of the enlisted men yelled, making a grab at the closed flap of his holster. “You sound like Johnny Rebs!”
“Hold hard there, soldier!” Stone thundered, without offering to duplicate the action of the Yankee soldier where arming himself was concerned. “God damn it, I’m getting sick of being told that. We hail from North Texas, so why the hell wouldn’t we sound like Johnny Rebs?”
“Show him them fancy papers we’ve been give’, Sto— Sergei,” Waggles suggested with a similar appearance of wrath. “Happen he can’t read, I reckon the corp’ there does ’n’ can tell him what they say.”
“What papers’re those?” the corporal asked, showing suspicion without making a move toward the holster on his weapon belt.
“Here,” Stone growled, drawing the appropriate document from the inside jacket of his tunic and holding it forward while wondering how its contents would be received.
Accepting the sheet of paper and opening it out, silently mouthing some of the longer words, the corporal began to read what was printed on it. It stated that Jethro Hart of Clarksville, Red River County, North Texas, had sworn allegiance to the Union and enrolled in the Third New Mexico Hussars. Although he had never heard of such a regiment, he saw nothing in the other’s appearance to make him doubt its existence.
Being a long-serving member of the regular Army, the corporal had little other than contempt for volunteer outfits, and the one named looked as if it was just about the same as all the rest. However, he was aware that most of their noncoms were very rank conscious, and he was too wise to express or even let his true feelings become obvious. The three-bar looked as though he could be a mean son of a bitch if riled, and the enlisted man would probably prove no easy mark should there be trouble. What was more, seeing as the corporal and his companions were headed to Washington for a furlough, the last thing he wanted was for anything to delay their getting there. With that in mind, he folded the paper.
“That’s what she says, Serge,” the noncom declared, handing back the document. “No offense tooken, I hope.”
“Nary an offense,” Stone asserted, and having replaced the paper, reached back to take a bottle filled with brown liquid from the pouch of his McClellan saddle. As was the case with much of their equipment, the South had obtained enough of these now-becoming-standard-issue U.S. Army rigs for there being nothing untoward in he and his companion using one apiece. Drawing the cork, he held it forward. “Here, to show it, you boys all take yourselves a good pull of this sippin’ whiskey. It’s good stuff, snuck from Major Backstead. He pays for it with money saved from buying those goddamned plugs we gets for hosses.”
Watching what happened, Waggles reached in what appeared to be a casual gesture until able to thumb open the flap of his holster. If the offer was not accepted, another means would have to be found to deal with the contingency. It was very soon apparent that the need would not arise. Taking the bottle, the corporal did as was requested. After having taken a long and appreciative pull at the contents, he passed it to the taller enlisted man. Showing no greater reluctance, the recipient drank just as deeply. Then, as if wanting to make up for the suspicions he had aroused about the Texans, the last of the trio duplicated the actions of his companions.
Also keeping the men under observation, Belle soon decided that de-Farge had not been exaggerating when speaking of how quickly the powerful opiate took effect. Before the last of the three had handed the bottle back to Stone, the corporal swayed and slid limply sideways from his horse. The taller of the enlisted men following him down a moment later and the shorter joined them on the ground. Once there, they lay breathing heavily without any other movement than the steady rise and fall of their chests. Grinning broadly, Waggles prevented their horses from moving away on being so suddenly deprived of riders.
“I never yet saw a Yankee who could take his liquor,” Stone declared in his normal voice as his sergeant completed the task and he waved for the girl to come out of her place of concealment. When she arrived, he went on, “That stuff sure worked like you said it would. Not that I even for a moment thought it wouldn’t.”
“Or me,” Belle stated cheerfully. “I hoped there would be a chance for me to try it out on somebody, though. I didn’t have the heart to do it on any of my friends.”
“Well, I’d say you’ve for sure got ‘round to doing it, and that stuff certainly works fast,” the captain drawled. “How long will they be under?”
“A couple of hours at least, Anatol de-Farge claimed, with the amount I used,” the girl replied. “And he’s been
right for the rest of what he told me. They didn’t show any sign of having been able to taste it, and the last one went down before he could even realize, much less take warning from, what was happening to the other two.”
“Then we’ll get them and their horses in a clearing back there to sleep it out like we planned,” Stone said. “I’m willing to bet that when they wake up and find their horses hobbled there and all their money still on them, they’ll head for Washington and their furlough instead of coming to Glissade to look for us.”
Chapter Two – I’m Absolutely, Positively Certain— I Think!
“Well, it seems that you called the play right, Stone,” Belle Boyd remarked with satisfaction. “Those three will have recovered long before this and Waggles hasn’t seen them coming back to the regiment to tell what happened to them.”
With the unconscious Yankee soldiers disposed of as was planned, the trio had continued their interrupted journey. They had covered the remaining distance until arriving at their present location without seeing any further signs of human beings. Once among an area of woodland about half a mile away from the small town of Glissade that the girl remembered from her previous visit, they had halted to await sundown. The last time she had gone to see Doctor Fritz Conried, she had ridden up through the darkness dressed in masculine civilian attire. However, although there had been no problems caused by her doing so, he had said he would prefer for any further visits she paid to be made in a less noticeable fashion. Accepting that he knew what was best for his own and her safety, she had kept the suggestion in mind when making preparations for calling again.
The girl had just rejoined Captain Stone Hart and Sergeant Waggles Harrison where they were waiting with the horses in a clearing. While she was absent, she had donned the items of feminine attire chosen for making contact with, which had brought in one of the panniers carried by the packhorse. With her recollection of the precaution requested during the previous visit and the need to limit the weight carried by the animal, she had accepted the need to restrict the clothing to what she felt would be best suited for her purposes. Over a different kind of masculine garments, which served to show off her slenderly curvaceous, all-too-obviously female bodily contours far more than those worn during the journey through Union territory, she had on a black blouse and matching skirt that gave the appearance of being a single dress of the kind generally supplied as working attire for one kind of domestic servant. To add to the suggestion of such employment, her black hair—which she kept cut short to allow the wearing of one of the wigs she used even when in the safety of Richmond society to prevent its condition arousing speculation—was concealed beneath a white cotton mobcap that was in keeping with the rest of her outer costume.