by Unknown
I leapt to the top. The dismounted cavalry were racing across the open ground. Most of the top half of the barricade was wrecked; we had lost some of our cover. To my dismay I saw blood soaked grey uniforms marking the place where my men had died. It was frustrating to think that my future happiness lay across the river and I would die here following my orders. The last of the Wildcats would perish in Union Maryland.
“Open fire!”
There were fewer of us but we fought like twice our number. They had launched a full attack with a regiment and our barrier was gone. We would die like the men at the Alamo. I picked up my second carbine and fired at the advancing men. They were falling like wheat to a scythe but the gaps were filled by other troopers eager to get at us. They were less than one hundred yards away when I drew my Colt and my sword.
“Come on you Yankee bastards! Jack Hogan and the Wildcats stand here yet!” I gave the rebel yell and heard my men echo it. Balls flew around my head but I cared not and I fired until my Colt was empty. I was just drawing my second when I heard the bugle sound the charge. It took me a second or two to realise it came from my left and it was the Confederate call.
The first the Yankee troopers knew of the disaster about to strike them was when Brigadier General Imboden’s men crashed into them. They stood no chance. They were in the open and facing the wrong way. We continued to fire as fast as we could until our guns were empty.
A captain rode up to the barricade. “Sorry we were late boys but thank you for holding out as long as you did.” He peered along the line as my men stood. “My God! You were facing a regiment with twelve men?”
I looked at the handful of survivors and said, proudly, “There were more captain.” I saluted with my sword and he returned the gesture.
As he rode off I looked for the survivors. I saw Sergeant Ritchie who gave me a wave and I saw a handful of men gathered around Sergeant Major Mulrooney. I ran to him. “He caught one in the leg sir.”
I took off my bandana and tied it around the top of his leg to stop the bleeding. He gave me a pale, wan look. “Looks like my luck ran out.”
“Don’t talk daft man. It is your leg and not your hands. You still have your luck.”
I heard hooves behind me and a doctor appeared, “Have you any wounded here captain?” He smiled. “I thought I would see to our boys before those damned Yankees.”
“This one is the most serious sir. Do what you can please. He is a good man.”
Cecil smiled, “Thank you captain.” Then he passed out.
“Sergeant Ritchie, get the unwounded men and the weapons across the pontoon. We will follow as soon as we can.”
“Sir.” He paused. “That was a glorious moment sir. I shall never forget you standing on top of the barricade waving your sword. It made me proud to be a Wildcat.”
I shook my head, “Just don’t tell Mistress Malone. It was a daft thing to do.”
“No it wasn’t sir. Me and the lads were all scared but seeing you defying them all it put steel in our backbones.”
I waved him away. What had I done? I looked at the bodies of the men who had fallen. We had done our duty but at what cost? I heard the recall sounded and walked across the wagon. Two of its wheels had been shattered and we would need to manhandle it.
The Brigadier General and his staff galloped up to me. They all saluted. General Imboden dismounted, “Well done Captain Hogan.” He pumped my hand as though he was trying to draw water from a well. “This will go down in the annals; a handful of men holding off a brigade of cavalry and cannon. Well done sir.”
“Sir, thank you. Have I your permission to rejoin my men across the river? We sent our wounded there to safety.”
“Of course.” He pointed behind him. “We have the wagons with the wounded and we will start them across too.”
I reached the doctor who had just finished with the Sergeant Major. “How is he doctor?”
“The ball took a chunk of muscle from his leg but it missed the bones. He will limp but he will live.” He pointed to the others. “The rest are less serious.”
“Can I take them across the river then sir? We are anxious to join our comrades. There aren’t many of us left.”
“Of course. Orderly. ” Two medical orderlies ran up with a stretcher. “Take this wounded man across the river with the captain.” He saluted. “After the war I will dine out on this story.”
My wounded men formed up in twos behind me and we followed the orderlies as they began their precarious walk across the wobbly pontoon bridge. I noticed that some of the stray balls had damaged one end. It was a lucky thing that General Imboden had arrived when he had or the wounded would have been trapped in Union territory.
All of us were glad when we were safely across. Mary and Dago ran to meet us. Mary threw her arms around me and my men all gave a huge cheer, as though we had won the war.
“I was so frightened and when the men came back and told me what you faced, I feared I would never see you again.”
“I was in no danger.”
Dago laughed, “Not even when you stood on top of the barricade defying the Yankee cavalry?”
I glared at Sergeant Ritchie who shrugged, “What you gonna do sir? Take away my stripes?” He and the rest of the men all laughed. Mary linked me and we headed towards the large house which stood a little way back from the road.
“We found this empty house and we have been using it.” She looked up at me. “Your men are very civilised you know; not like those deserters. They took their boots off and went outside to spit and smoke. They are a credit to you.”
“No my love, they are a credit to themselves. The south will never see their like again. These thirty or so men are all that remain from a regiment of three hundred. They owe the south nothing more.”
Dago had given Mary and me a room of our own. I took my boots off and sat on the bed. Before I knew what was happening I was asleep. I was awoken by the sound of cannon. In my semi-conscious state I wondered if I was back in the battle but then I saw the curtains and felt the soft bed. I jumped to my feet and ran downstairs. The others were all gathered on the stoop.
Dago pointed to the river. “Look Jack, the Yankees have damaged the pontoon bridge. Lee is trapped on the other side.”
I watched as half of the bridge floated east. “Did the wounded get across?”
“Yes, thank God.” Dago pointed to the tents behind the house. “David is over there with the wounded.”
I was wide awake and the three of us watched dawn break and saw the grey masses that were precariously perched on the north bank of the Potomac. I wondered if this would be the end of the war. If General Meade or Hooker, whoever was commanding the northern forces, came south now and attacked then it would be all over. General Lee had nowhere to run.
David Dinsdale walked over to us in the mid morning, he looked tired. “How is it going David?”
“We lost another couple of men last night.”
“Irish?”
He laughed, “No he is a tough old bird. He keeps trying to get up and says you will need him.”
“I think our days of fighting are over now.”
David nodded and then said, “I nearly forgot. General Hill sent this by messenger. I only received it just before we crossed the river. You were asleep.”
I tore open the letter. Was this a sentence of death and further fighting or was it our freedom. Dago and David looked at me anxiously while Mary had a puzzled expression on her face. I almost cheered when I read the letter.
“The 1st Virginia Scouts is disbanded. We can all go home.”
Dago slapped me on the back. “I’ll go inside and tell the boys.”
The cheer from the house told everyone that we could now forget the war and find a new life.
Chapter 18
The Road Home
I told the men they could go home but they all insisted on waiting with me while the pontoon bridge was repaired and the rest of the army crossed the Potomac. I gav
e each man a letter showing that they had been discharged from the army. I wanted none of them shot as deserters. That would the final irony. Sergeant James offered to lead them. He was a good man.
“Sir, do you want the Appaloosa?” I had captured the horse from the Yankees but I preferred Copper.
“No Carlton, call her my parting gift to you.”
He shook my hand firmly. “Sit it has been a privilege to serve with you. If you are ever in Winchester then look me up. I intend to own a stud farm and breed horses.”
“That is wonderful news and the same to you if you ever make Charleston.”
When the first of the wounded crossed then they began to depart. Most came from Virginia and they had the short journey to the Shenandoah Valley ahead of them. The rest of us faced the much longer journey to Charleston. It was over five hundred miles due south but we faced it in good heart.
Dago and I said goodbye to David who was staying with the army. We were the last three officers from the regiment and I would miss the quiet man who had saved so many lives. Sergeant Ritchie and Cecil came with us to Charleston. Ritchie to find his family and Cecil had promised himself that he would see me home and safe. I think Dago came with us because he enjoyed our company.
Cecil drove the wagon. It was easier for him than riding. His leg was healing but it was an ugly wound. He was philosophical about it. “Like you said sir, I still have my hands and I don’t need to walk to fix things.”
We had our string of horses behind us. It was like a walking bank. There was a desperate shortage of horses in the south and, if we needed money, then we could just sell them. The first three hundred miles helped Mary and Me to get to know each other. I rode next to the wagon and we chatted. Cecil would have a wry grin on his face when I told her some of our adventures. The war seemed to be forgotten. We were not passing soldiers and we heard no fighting. We avoided Richmond and stuck to the back roads.
The first major town we passed through was Raleigh. There were munitions factories and more evidence of a military presence. We paused only to buy supplies but we were challenged by the town marshal. He was a portly looking man who looked remarkably well fed considering the blockade of the coast. He had the smug look of someone who had a little power and abused it.
“I see you boys are wearing the Confederate grey. How come you aren’t at the front? You ain’t deserters are you?” His face told us he thought that we were.
I smiled at him. That was the best way to deal with officious officials. “No marshal. Our regiment was disbanded after Gettysburg and we were discharged.”
“Seems to me you look young enough and fit enough to still be fighting.”
Cecil snorted. “A little fighting might be good for you marshal. Get rid of that gut of yours.”
“Cecil!”
“Sorry sir.”
The marshal’s faced was red and angry. “You got any papers?”
“I could say that as a captain in the 1st Virginia Scouts my word should be enough.”
“Well it ain’t. Papers or else.”
“Or else what?”
His hand slid down to his waist band and his gun. Dago had his Colt out even faster and it was pointed at the marshal who went from red to white in an instant. “You boys don’t want to start any trouble.”
I stepped from Copper and strode over to him. “No we don’t and we don’t need any from someone who has never fought for the Confederacy and lived by the grace of the blood of others.” I reached into my jacket and he flinched. I pulled out the letter from General Hill. I thrust it under his nose. “Here are our papers. Now you read them… if you can.”
He unfolded the letter and read it. He still had hold of it. I held out my hand. His fingers tightened on the paper. “How do I know this is genuine?”
Dago snorted, “Captain let me kill him. This is wasting our time.”
I grabbed the letter back. “He’s not worth it.” I reached into his waistband and took out his pistol. I emptied the gun and gave it back to him. “Now marshal, we are going to leave your town. Believe me we are never coming back but if I ever see you again you had better reach for that hog leg or I will shoot you myself. It makes me sick to think of the brave men who have died to keep you and the other people of the Carolinas safe. You sicken me.”
As I climbed back on my horse he said, “Go on! Get out of my town!”
A small crowd had gathered. “If you folks elected this man then you made a big mistake. He has abused brave soldiers who have just come from the slaughter of Gettysburg.”
We all turned to look at Mary. Her words, coming from her tiny body seemed to make the crowd shrink back far more effectively than my threats. We left the town and the marshal. None of us ever returned to that town. There may have been good people there but they had a poor choice for a marshal.
We camped some fifteen miles south of Raleigh and discussed what had occurred. Dago was the most depressed, “How come good men like Jed die and scum like that live? There is no justice in the world.”
Ritchie added another log to the fire. “I guess it’s always been that way. The bravest and the best volunteer and go off to fight for their country. The cowards and the selfish ones stay at home.”
“It isn’t right though.”
“No Cecil, it isn’t but you can’t change human nature can you?”
Our good humour from the early part of the journey disappeared as we headed south towards Charleston. What would we find there? In my mind I had a picture of finding Aaron and my home intact; setting up house with my new wife and finding Caitlin. I now knew that life didn’t always work out the way you wanted it to.
We decided to skirt all the towns from now on. Ritchie or Dago would ride into towns and buy whatever we needed. I was regretting retaining my uniform but we had all wanted to wait until we reached our destination before we became civilians. Part of me also thought that we were honouring the dead by wearing our uniforms.
We found it easy to camp and just have our own company. It was as though we were all getting to know each other as people and not as soldiers. We were outside Lafayetville, camped by a small creek. Cecil and Mary were preparing food and Dago and I were trying to catch some fish.
“You know there is just Ritchie and me who have homes in Charleston and yet for the first year and half of the war we recruited all our men from there. It gives you pause for thought. All those young men born in Charleston and they will never return.”
Dago nodded. He had been in Charleston but he had not been born there. “I know. I guess I don’t have any home to go to.”
“If the colonel hadn’t persuaded me to buy a house there then I wouldn’t either. You know his house doesn’t belong to anyone now.”
“Hey you are right. What do we do about that?”
“I guess we start with Mr Abercrombie, he was the colonel’s lawyer. He will know what to do. He handled my investments for me and he seems like an honest man. We will ask his advice.”
Ritchie rode into the camp. His face was filled with frowns and it was not like the cheerful Ritchie who had left a couple of hours earlier. “What’s the matter Ritchie?”
“It’s probably nothing but when I bought the supplies there was a bunch of no accounts hanging around and they looked mighty suspicious to me. They started to follow me.” Dago stood to get his gun. “Don’t worry sir, I lost ‘em but I figure they may be looking for us.” He pointed at the horse which was laden with supplies. “They seemed interested in our gold and the supplies.”
“I think we will all take a turn at watching tonight.” Mary was still at the fire and had heard nothing. “Best say nothing to Mary eh? We don’t want her worrying over nothing.”
The next day dawned and our fears had been without foundation. As we continued our journey south, keeping well to the west of Lafayetville, Mary said, “So why were you boys keeping watch last night?”
I thought about lying but I could not think quick enough and her eyes laughed a
smile at me, “Don’t try lying Jack. Let’s not go down that route. Tell me to mind my own business but don’t lie to me. Never lie to me.”
“Sorry. Ritchie thought some ne’er do wells might have tried to steal from us last night. We just took precautions.”
“Good. Next time tell me. I can fire a gun. Maybe not as good as you fellows but well enough.”
I nodded to Cecil, “Pass one to her then Cecil.”
He reached under his seat and brought out a Navy Colt. It was not as big as an Army Colt but it was still an effective weapon. “There you are. You might as well practise loading and cleaning it.” I pointed to Cecil. “You have the best armourer in the Confederacy riding next to you.” Cecil blushed but I could tell that he was pleased with the compliment.
In the early afternoon I rode ahead to find our next campsite. Bearing in mind Ritchie’s words I was more alert than at any time since Williamsport.
This was flat farmland with small streams criss-crossing it. It made easy travelling but it would also be an easy place to be ambushed. I found a small knoll. It was barely higher than the land around it but it would give us a better view of anyone approaching us. Satisfied I turned Copper around and headed back.
Once again it was Copper who saved me. The pricked ears and the whinny warned me of horses that were alien. I slipped my Colt from its holster. Now that I was no longer an officer I had removed the flap and was wearing it lower on my hip. I found it easier to take out quickly. I stopped Copper and listened. I could hear raised voices. I slid from Copper’s back. There was a wall running down the road. I ran along the field side keeping as low as I could. The voices became clearer and I heard Cecil shouting.
“You boys better move on. We don’t want any trouble.”
“You ain’t gonna get no trouble. All we want is your gold your horses and your pretty little woman here.”
I heard Dago shout angrily, “You’ll get neither you thieving bastards.”
I heard a crash and a cry from Dago. I had to hurry. I saw the top of the wagon. Before it were three men holding shotguns. On the far side of the wagon there were two more with pistols. These were the men Ritchie had mentioned. I could see neither Dago nor Ritchie. This was no time for thinking; this was the time for bold action. I put my spare Colt in my holster. I took a deep breath and stood up. I could not bring myself to shoot a man in the back even if he was trying to rob me and hurt my woman.