by Unknown
My old comrades crowded round me until Danny shouted, “Come on! You heard the colonel. We can catch up with this lucky bugger later on.” He winked at me. “I knew you weren’t dead! But they wouldn’t believe me.”
I heard a neigh and saw Carlton leading Copper over to me. She nuzzled my head and licked the back of my neck. “Yes I missed you too old girl.”
Carlton gestured to the distant horse lines. “She’s a nice Appaloosa. She will make a good spare for you.”
“She’s a fine and game horse.” I noticed a wistful look in his eye. “You can ride her you know. I am more than happy with Copper.”
His face lit up. “Thanks Ja.. er sergeant.”
When the colonel emerged from his tent he handed a letter to the rider. “When you have found the general then head for Winchester and find our new major, if he has arrived.” Even I could hear the censure in his voice. “Sergeant Major Vaughan, officers and non coms if you please.”
The bugler sounded the call and we formed a square around the colonel and the sergeant major. “I have just informed the general that we intend to capture this wagon train of rifles. I have also detailed the recent actions. I had previously written that First Sergeant Hogan was deceased. I had to cross that out.” There was laughter from all. “I have also recommended some promotions. I am tired of waiting for my second in command and so Captain Boswell you are now promoted to Major. Lieutenant Murphy you will become captain of A Troop and Sergeant Hogan you will become lieutenant. Corporal James and Corporal Mulrooney you are confirmed as sergeants and Corporal Jones you will replace Sergeant Hogan.” He paused to allow that to sink in. “Now Major you are now responsible for the regiment. Captain Murphy if you would like to select a First Sergeant then we can get on with this war.”
There was much back slapping. Danny said, “It’s a toss up between you Dago and you Jed. But you edged it First Sergeant Spinelli for that lovely smack you gave Pickles.”
Jed was the first to congratulate his friend. “You are the better man Dago and besides I don’t like the paperwork.”
It took some minutes to sink in that I was now a second lieutenant. I now had more pay and more responsibility. I didn’t think it would change me but I just didn’t know. The men would now call me sir. Danny grinned, “I’ll let you have my old uniform when we get back to Winchester.”
“What do you mean? I am having one made again. You are talking to a rich man now.”
“And now to our orders. Take Jed and Dago and the first two sections. Find the wagons for us.”
Jed and Dago rode next to me. I explained to them what I had seen. “There were three wagons and they were heavily laden. If we assume they left at first light then we should be able to ambush them just up the road.”
“I thought the captain told us to find them?”
“He did but I thought we could prepare the ambush anyway.” I led them to the road I had taken earlier that morning. I felt I knew the area well enough to spot the slowly moving wagons. “Trooper Stewart, ride up to the top of that hill. You should be able to see the road from there. Give us a yell when you see them.”
Dago cast his eye over the terrain. “That little hill the road rises over looks to be perfect. The wagons will be slow up the small hill and this side will be hidden.”
Jed pointed to the hedges and trees which were lined the road. “We could hide the whole regiment behind those.”
“Dago, ride down the road and then come back to us. Tell us what you can see.” He turned and galloped up the road. “Jed, take half the men over there to the north. “Sergeant James, take the rest to the south. Sergeant Mulrooney, you stay here with me.”
I could not see my men once they had hidden themselves. I only knew where they were because I had watched them secrete themselves. Soon I heard the hoof beats of Dago’s horse as he trotted along the road. I saw his hat and then he appeared. He reined in and looked around. “Where’s the boys?”
I whistled and circled my arm and they emerged from hiding and trotted over to me. “There.”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t see them. I saw you two when I reached the top of the road.”
“Then when the major comes we will tell him that this is the place for the ambush. Did you see any sign of them?”
“No but the road twists and turns less than a mile away. Jimmy should be able to see better from the hill.” The hill was slightly higher than the road but, because it was to the north, it afforded a much better view.
Suddenly he came galloping down. “Lieutenant. Sir. The wagons are a mile and a half down the road. There look to be about fifty cavalry with them.”
“Ride back to the major and tell him that and that we have an ambush position here. Tell him to approach on the northern side of the road.” I turned to the rest of the men. “Right Jed back in your position. Davy and Dago go to the south. When the cavalry leave the wagons you capture them. Cecil you go with them. Carlton, you stay here. ” The newly promoted sergeant looked lost and confused. I smiled and pointed to the Appaloosa, “We are bait. The wagon drivers know I rode off on your horse and I am counting on the fact that their cavalry will want the reward more than they will want to stay with the wagons. Let’s dismount and pretend to be examining the hooves of your horse.”
We heard them before we saw them. The drivers were shouting and encouraging their horses and there was a drumming on the road of the horses and wagons. The first wagon crested the rise and I saw one of the drivers shout something. The cavalry had been to the side of the wagons but they suddenly appeared.
“Let’s go! But not too quickly eh?” We heard the bugle sound charge as we mounted and headed down the road. I glanced over my shoulder. They had left just ten men to guard the wagons. Jed and Dago could deal with them. I smiled as I saw the drawn sabres of the cavalry; our revolvers would make short work of them. I saw the road rise ahead and hoped that the regiment would be close by. The sound of our bugle almost made me jump and the major led the rest of the regiment from the north. There was a ripple of cracks and pops as they fired their pistols. It would not do much damage but it would serve as a warning to the cavalry of what we could do. They were outnumbered five to one and they were no Wildcats. They carried on south and I could see that they were heading for the Rappahannock; the wagons were forgotten. There was a chorus of whoops as the regiment hurtled after them. As we turned and rode back up the road I heard the desultory pop of a couple of guns. I was fairly certain of what I would see. As Carlton and I rode up I could see two blue uniformed bodies lying on the ground and the rest of the escort with their hands in the air. “Well done boys.” I glanced up at the tubby driver whose mouth dropped open. “I held out my hand, “I guess you guys owe me six dollars.” I heard the bugle sound recall. “Secure the wagons First Sergeant.”
Major Boswell and the colonel reined in. “Good work boys. Those Yankees sure can run. Did we suffer any casualties, sergeant?”
“No sir. When we dropped those two the rest couldn’t get their hands in the air quick enough.”
“Right major let’s get back to the Valley. I think we have more than enough information for the general. It is forty miles or more so we’ll have to find a camp. See to it Lieutenant Grimes.”
Harry turned to me with a scowl on his face. “You get to capture wagons and I get to find somewhere to sleep. How come?”
“I’m supposed to be lucky, remember?” He shook his head as I grinned at him. I was happy. I had been a prisoner but I had escaped, I was with my friends again and I had been promoted. Life was good.
The journey back was uneventful. As we passed through Culpeper I saw that the Confederate flag flew now. Who knew who would control it next week? General Stuart met us at Winchester. He was delighted with our success. He slapped the colonel on the back so hard I thought he would break the old man’s back. Sergeant Major Vaughan gave the Major General a glare. He confirmed all the promotions. I was close enough to hear the conversation between t
he three of them.
“Your major has arrived Colonel Cartwright.”
“About time.”
“It is probably a good thing that you appointed James here. The last experience Major Beauregard had, was in the Crimean War and that was fighting Russians.”
“Sir, have we more men then?”
“Yes major. The new man has been in charge of them but my people tell me they have done little but parade up and down on their horses. He has a really fine uniform; more gold braid than Murat!” There was an irony in the general’s last comment as he was known as a peacock who dressed flamboyantly. Perhaps that explained his attitude towards the new man.
“Where do we go next then sir?”
“General Lee’s nephew, General Fitzhugh-Lee is organising a brigade to head back to Stafford County. I would like your scouts to support him. You appear to know the area well already.”
The colonel asked, warily, “Support him sir, or join him?”
Stuart clapped his arm around the colonel’s shoulders. The colonel was one of the few men the same height as the diminutive general and I think his bonhomie made him feel taller. “All you fellas need to do is tell General Fitzhugh Lee where the Yanks are and he’ll do the rest. He’s a real firebrand.”
As we rode to the new camp I reflected that General Stuart’s nephew, Archie, whom Dago and I had rescued from behind the enemy lines, was anything but a firebrand. I hoped that this nephew of a general was a little more like Major Boswell.
I could tell that the colonel was disappointed as we entered the tented village that was our camp. There was little order in the tents and the men were just lounging around outside them. There were men playing cards and dice. No-one appeared to pay any attention to the colonel of the regiment. Sergeant Major Vaughan had always been quietly spoken but I saw a different side to him. He almost vaulted from his horse and stood in front of the men and their tents. “D Troop! Attention!” Half of the men moved the other half looked at him as though he had spoken a foreign language. “On your feet now your horrible bunch of maggots!” When he roared it sounded a bull had made the noise.
They all leapt to their feet. The colonel rode down the line. Although they were standing to attention it was not the straightest line I had ever seen. The colonel shook his head sadly and said, “Carry on Sergeant Major Vaughan!” He rode to the far end of the camp where his manservant was already beginning to erect his tent.
“I have no idea why you thought you could just lounge around and ignore your commanding officer but let me tell you it will not happen again.” He glared down the line. I saw Major Boswell nod to Dago and the other sergeants and they dismounted and formed a line behind Sergeant Major Vaughan. “I want the sergeants of D Troop front and centre! Now!” Three shamefaced men shuffled to the front. “You three will see me when I dismiss this parade and we will see if you are fit to be sergeants in the 1st Virginia Scouts.” He turned to the sergeants standing behind him. “When I dismiss the parade I want you real sergeants to inspect every tent. Any man who does not match your expectations, send them to the horse lines. We will give the real troopers a night off tonight.” He glared at the Troop. All of them looked as though they wanted the earth to swallow them up. “Dismiss!”
The Major, Danny and I stayed close by in case we were needed. Vaughan spoke quietly but still with an undercurrent of anger in his voice. “Now what the hell is going on? This is a shambles. If you have served as sergeants before then you know what is expected.”
The oldest looked at the ground as he said. “I am First Sergeant Hathaway, Sergeant Major and it has been like this since we arrived. I only got here three days ago and the other two a day or two earlier. This is the way the camp was run.”
“Where are the officers?”They all looked up as Major Boswell spoke.
“Where they are every night sir; in the taverns in Winchester.”
The major nodded, “Carry on Sergeant Major. Come along gentlemen we will report to the colonel and then deal with this problem.”
The colonel was sitting in his chair outside of his tent smoking a cigar and sipping a glass of whisky. The ten of us stood there while Major Boswell reported to him. “It seems it may not be the fault of the sergeants sir. The officers arrived before the men and they established this routine. The officers, apparently, spend their evenings in the taverns.”
The colonel stared into space for a moment and I wondered if he had heard the major. When he spoke it was obvious that he had. “That is a gross dereliction of duty. There should be a duty officer here at all times.” He tapped the table as he formulated his thoughts. “Major Boswell, could you take a couple of officers and ask the Major and his officers to return to camp.” He sipped his whisky and said, “Oh and I think that you will do well as the adjutant,” he paused for emphasis, “and second in command.” He smiled. “It should obviate any issue over seniority eh?”
“Yes sir. Thank you sir. Captain Murphy, Lieutenant Hogan, come with me.”
Carlton was still brushing down Copper when I reached the horse lines. “I’ve finished Apples if you want to take her.”
“Apples?”
He grinned, “Yeah Apples the Appaloosa sir, and she likes apples as well as the name.”
I saddled and mounted her and trotted off to find the other officers.
“This could be tricky sir.”
“I know Danny. It’s why I brought you two. You are both big enough and tough enough to intimidate most officers and I also trust you two to watch my back. Just play it by ear when we get there. It might all be quite innocent. Perhaps this is the way that they carry on in England. I don’t know.”
With so many regiments in the area the taverns were heaving. We had neglected to find out which one they frequented but, then again, it was unlikely that the sergeants would have known that. We entered the first one and looked around for someone who looked like an overdressed general or someone that we knew.
A voice from the smoky room arrested our progress. “James Boswell.”
“Ah Sandie.” The Major extended his hand. I recognised General Jackson’s aide from the Battle of Kernstown. “Are you still with Stonewall Jackson then?”
“No, like you, I have moved on to other things. I am one of General Stuart’s aides now.”
“You might be the man to help us then.”
“I owe you a favour so ask away.”
“We have been away for a week or so and we are looking for the officers who were in charge of the camp. There is a Major Beauregard…”
Sandie held his hand up. “Then say no more. They are in the next tavern, the Damson Bush.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “General Stuart is less than happy about them, especially the major. It is not just the fact that they are in Winchester every night; well General Stuart likes a drink as we know. It is just that he runs card and dice games and many of the young officers in his regiments have been losing heavily. It is bad for morale and some of them have run up huge debts. It is now spreading to other regiments.”
“How will I know him?”
“He dresses expensively if not well and he has a broken nose. He says he received it in the Crimea but if you ask me someone smacked him one. But just look for the biggest card game in the room.”
“Thanks Sandie and tell the general that this gambling will be curbed from now on.” When we were outside the major turned to us and said, quietly, “You two stay in the background. I’ll try and have a quiet word. We don’t want a noisy scene here but if it starts to turn ugly…”
“Yes sir!” We grinned and nodded. We knew exactly what he meant.
It was a dimly lit tavern with smoky candles and oil lamps. There was a heavy fug of cigar and pipe smoke filling the air. Major Boswell scanned the room. His target was obvious, even from the rear. There was so much gold braid that it seemed to light up the man’s neck. “Right boys, here I go.”
There was an empty seat opposite our new major and I contemplated sitting in the
game so as to watch the major but then realised I needed to be on my feet. We kept a couple of paces back but we could hear everything. Major Boswell waited patiently while the hand was played. The captain to his right threw his hand down. “Damn! You are deuced lucky Beauregard. That’s five hands in a row you’ve won. How do you do it?”
“Skill dear boy. Skill.” There was something about the voice which made the hackles on my neck rise. Perhaps it was just so English and I hadn’t heard an English voice since we had fled our farm.
Major Boswell leaned in. “Major Beauregard. I am the adjutant of the 1st Virginia Scouts. Colonel Cartwright sent me to speak with you.”
Major Beauregard turned to speak with Major Boswell and my heart almost stopped. It was Arthur St John Beauregard the man who had murdered my father and mother! I felt my fists tightening into balls. The voice had been a warning but I saw the face again as I had when we had peered from the hut as the murder took place before us. “Can’t it wait? I am playing cards.”
Major Boswell gritted his teeth and gave a small cough, “Actually Major, it isn’t just you we need the other officers too, are they here?”
Major Beauregard waved an airy hand around the table. “My brother officers are here.”
Major Boswell’s voice changed. “Then I want the officers of the 1st Virginia Scouts to return to camp immediately. And that is an order!”
Major Beauregard laughed, “Of course that doesn’t apply to me. Bye, Bye chaps. It looks like you are in trouble.” He almost giggled, “More hands for me to win I suppose.”
“Actually Major Beauregard it does apply to you. The colonel ordered you back to camp.”
His face darkened and he stood, a little unsteadily. “How dare you! No one orders me around.”
“In that you are wrong.” He glared at the four officers who were collecting their money. “And you four had better get outside before I throw you out.”