by Unknown
“Yes sir.”
I used my bandana to grasp the handle and pour us the steaming black coffee. Too hot to drink it was warming to hold. As I expected the aroma of coffee woke the men. It was gentler than reveille and I had found it an effective way of doing things. By five thirty we were packed away and ready to go.
“Now there are a hundred cavalry around here so we will head through the woods and make our way down to Dumfries. We will have a look at the port and see what is worth having and then get to Stafford by this afternoon. We need to be careful. We have told them we are here. Let’s avoid an extended stay. I for one don’t like Yankee hospitality.”
We crossed the creek and found a place from which to observe the port. It was no Charleston but it looked to be busy enough. There were ships waiting to enter and I took a guess that they were supplying Hooker’s army. There were wagons leaving the port and heading inland. I realised that the regiment could do some serious damage to the trade if there were no cavalry nearby. From our observations I could not see any troops but I needed to be sure. I took my deer hide jacket and threw it to Davy.
“Get rid of your kepi and have a look see. Don’t take chances. I just need to know it there is a cavalry presence. We’ll wait here and cover you in case of trouble.”
“Yes sir!” Davy was up for anything and he quickly through on my jacket which made him look more like a civilian than a Confederate horseman.
As he disappeared from sight I turned to the others. “Ready your pistols in case any one is pursuing him when he returns.”
It was almost an anti climax when he returned safely. “No soldiers sir but it is very busy. I managed to get down to the quayside and I was nearly knocked over by the wagons.”
“Well done. Now let’s head to Stafford and then home.”
We followed the coast and passed Aquia. There were fewer ships there and none looked big enough to worry about. Then we found Hartwood Church. This was a small settlement of, perhaps, a dozen houses. I would have ignored it were it not for the presence of a large number of cavalry. We saw their tents and their horse lines. This time I left the men with Cecil and Carlton while Davy and I sneaked down to take a look.
There was plenty of cover for us. There were barns and hedgerows as well as small copses and outhouses. We managed to get within a hundred yards of the camp. We lay beneath a picket fence to get a full view of the camp. It looked to be big enough for at least two regiments. I wondered what was so important to keep two regiments here. We moved further south, keeping out of sight and then we found the reason. There was a freshly cleared piece of land with fences around it and in the middle were wagons. We counted twenty at least. There were armed foot soldiers all around and two secure gates. I led Davy away. When we were out of sight I said, “Well I guess our attack on the powder train had an effect eh?”
“Yes sir but that is a good target. How many men do you estimate?”
“Two regiments? Could be over eight hundred men perhaps more.”
When we reached the patrol I decided that we had enough information to take back to the colonel. “I want to avoid those cavalrymen so we will head north west and travel over the mill road. It should be less busy.”
It was now the middle of the afternoon and the men and horses were tired. We had one more obstacle to cross the Stafford Road. Perhaps it was the tiredness which made us a little lax but just after we had crossed the road there was the crack of a couple of carbines and Trooper Hart fell dead from his horse. “Troop A turn and draw.” I had no idea what we would see but I knew we had a better chance of surviving if we faced our enemy. A line of forty horsemen were galloping in a loose line. They must have fired their first rounds from a stationery position for the shots were now whizzing over our heads. They were fifty yards away. “Fire and keep firing until you are empty!” I had two guns firing and the wall of lead had an effect. As the first riders fell, those on the outside moved away from the smoke filled death trap. “Now let’s get the hell out of here. Carlton, lead them off!” I still had my second Colt and I kept firing blindly to the left and right. When I heard the empty chamber I prepared to wheel around. Suddenly, out of the smoke I saw a sabre appear and it was aimed at my head. I had just enough time to jerk my head out of the way and grab the hand holding the sabre. With my right hand I punched at the head of the trooper and clubbed him with my Colt. He fell to the ground Copper had continued her wheel and I grabbed the reins of the man’s horse. “Get us out of here!” Her hooves dug into the ground and she leapt like a hare. I left go of the reins of the other horse. I would need both hands soon. We were being pursued; I could hear it. I glanced over my shoulder to confirm it and saw the Union horsemen appearing through the smoke. Ahead of me I saw some of my troopers turning around. “Don’t turn round! Ride!”
I knew that Carlton would take the men the best way to save our tired horses and I had to hope that we had better horses than the enemy. I knew we were better horsemen but this might come down to horseflesh. We hit the small road which rose into the hills. The men in front of me began to slow up and I was about to shout at them when I saw Carlton pointing. The men began galloping and as I reached the top of the small rise I saw that he was taking them over a wall. He was heading due south now, away from the mill road and towards the Warrenton Road. It was a clever move. I just prayed that his belief in the men’s skill was not misplaced. I almost cheered as they all soared over it. They made it look easy and I knew it was not. Copper made light work of it and her powerful stride soon made us catch up the stragglers. I looked behind us and saw that only three of the horsemen had attempted the same jump and only two had made it. Even if they did jump the obstacle we would have a comfortably long head start.
“You can slow up now Sergeant. They are giving up.”
I heard the pop of their carbines as they attempted to hit one or two of us but the range was too great. We had escaped, it was by the skin of our teeth but we had made it. It was then I noticed the riderless horse and I remembered that we had lost a man; my first as an officer. It took all the joy out of the escape. We gathered the loose horse and led it with us; a poignant reminder of our own mortality.
We were the last patrol to reach Kelly’s Ford. Sergeant Major Vaughan was watching anxiously from the side of the river. I saw the relief on his face as we waded through the water. “You had me worried sir. I didn’t want the regiment to lose its lucky charm.”
I pointed to the empty saddle. “Not that lucky Sergeant Major. I lost a man.”
He patted Copper as we halted next to him. “And you will lose more before this war is over but the fact that you are upset shows that you are that rare breed, a good officer who has his men in his heart.” He jerked a thumb behind him to the colonel whose chair was facing the ford. “Just like himself. He was the same and I can see him in you.” He grinned. “I told the boys to leave you some food. So eat first and then report. I’ll see the colonel and tell him you will be along shortly.”
The colonel took my report and smiled. “We were all waiting for you to return lieutenant and do you know why?” I shook my head. “We knew that, somehow, you would find the best targets. I shall ride to General Fitzhugh Lee in the morning but I think he will choose this Hartwood Church for us to visit. Well done.”
As I walked back to my tent, feeling the effects of almost two solid days in the saddle, I almost bumped into Andrew Neil, or Trooper Neil. He saw my rank and mumbled a, “Sorry sir.” Then he looked closely at me and asked, “Do I know you… sir?”
“Yes Trooper, I was the officer who stopped you from striking Major Boswell.”
He stepped back as though I had punched him again. “Yes sir, I remember now but I thought I knew you from home.”
“No Trooper, just the other night.”
I watched him hurry back to his lord and master and wondered what he would tell him. I had too many other things to worry about. Once again it was my judgement which would be used and I was finding the pres
sure too much. Supposed they moved the wagons? They could increase the guards. If I was the Union commander I would have patrols on the back roads. I knew that I would be closely questioned by the general when he came. The whole raid would be based on what I told him.
When I reached my tent I looked at my uniform, it looked dirty. I had not had the chance to visit Mistress Sandy and pick up my second one. I put on my old sergeant’s uniform and went down to the river to wash the worst of the stains from the jacket at least. As I passed the Sergeant Major he stood to walk with me. “Times were lieutenant when you would have had a servant to do that for you.”
“I don’t hold with servants but I surely wish I had someone to do this for me. My second uniform is being made.”
“Ah! Well there are camp women and the wives of some of the troopers. They appreciate the money you know sir.”
I nodded. “I will see them next time but I need this for tomorrow. General Fitzhugh Lee.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so he won’t care what you look like sir, so long as your report is good enough.”
“Oh the information is good enough. I found more targets than enough.”
“Sergeant Mulrooney told me that you burned a bridge sir?”
“Yes Sergeant Major. It was too easy a target to miss.”
“You neglected to tell the colonel about that.” My face fell and he smiled, “Don’t worry lieutenant I told him. The colonel and I have been together long enough to allow such informality. Well sir, I’ll leave you to your washing.”
As I walked back to my tent I realised that I now had a position to uphold. I would need to spend some of my pay getting jobs done that, hitherto, I had done myself. Worryingly as I passed Major Beauregard’s tent I was aware of the two of them staring at me. Had they remembered me?
The next day the general arrived and I was summoned to the colonel’s tent. They were both seated and I stood awaiting their questions. It was General Fitzhugh Lee who asked the questions. He cut quite a dashing figure in his fine uniform and I was glad that I had made the effort to clean mine. “The colonel tells me you have found some targets for me?”
“Yes sir. The port of Dumfries is unguarded and there are many ships there and Aquia harbour, although it has fewer ships is also unguarded.” I waited for further comment but none was forthcoming and so I continued. “At Hartwood Church there is a large wagon park but it is guarded by at least two regiments of cavalry. There is also another cavalry force close to Stafford.”
“Now that is more like it. I will leave the ships for our navy. Besides horses can’t walk on water can they lieutenant?”
“No sir.”
“I think that Hartwood Church will do very well. I also hear that you destroyed the bridge at Woodbridge?”
“Yes sir. It was unguarded and too good a target to miss.”
“Well done. General Stuart said you were a man to get a job done and I can see that he is right. Well colonel we will leave tomorrow at first light. I think that if we…” they were suddenly aware that I was still standing there. “Oh dismiss lieutenant and well done.”
As I left Harry and Danny descended upon me. “Well? What is it to be?”
I had told Harry of my findings the night before. “Hartwood Church is where the general would like to go. He fancies our chances against Union cavalry.”
Danny shook his head. “We have a glory hunter then. Union horsemen again! One of these days our luck will run out.”
I glanced in the direction of the Beauregard tent. I had the feeling that their eyes were upon me the whole time. Danny saw my look and said, “Is there a problem Jack?”
Harry said, when I hesitated, “If you need me to leave?”
“No Harry, we have no secrets. Major Beauregard and Trooper Neil were the ones who murdered my parents in Ireland.”
“They were the ones? What do you intend to do about it?”
“I promised Danny that I would do nothing until after the war but I think that Neil recognised me and the two of them have been watching me closely ever since.”
Danny shook his head and smiled. “I wouldn’t worry, Jack. He can’t do much about it. I seem to remember my cousins had a run in with him but they put the frighteners on him. He strikes me as all piss and wind. They both do.”
“Yes sir but he is also a murderer and that has me worried.”
Harry nodded, “Jack’s right sir. We’ll have to keep an eye on those two.”
“I think the rest of the regiment is keeping an eye on those two.”
The colonel held a briefing in the afternoon. “We will be leaving forty men here with the Sergeant Major and Second Lieutenant Magee. They will send out small patrols around the camp. We would like to find it here when we return.” I think I saw a look of relief pass over his face. I could see why he associated with the major. “The rest of us will head for Stafford. Lieutenant Hogan discovered a wagon park and a couple of regiments of cavalry. The general would like to bloody the noses of the Union cavalry. Our job will be to provide a screen of riders to prevent them being surprised. Any questions?”
Major Beauregard’s voice seemed to jar on my ears as he drawled, “So I take it we will have no chance of glory again? We will be bystanders while General Fitzhugh Lee gathers all the glory?”
“Major we will do what we do best. We will scout but in the end we all serve the Confederacy. Anything else?” It was appointed question aimed at the Englishman and anyone else would have recognised the tone but the major ploughed on. “Lieutenant Hogan, would I be right in thinking you come from a farm close to Cork and your family were potato farmers?” My face must have betrayed me. He gave a nasty grin, “I am amazed that a peasant from the bogs of Ireland could be promoted to lieutenant!”
I had been recognised. There seemed little point in denying it and I went on the offensive. It had worked for me as a Wildcat. “Yes sir, of course you know that because you and Trooper Neil murdered my parents and tried to burn my sister and I alive!”
There was a shocked gasp from all but Danny and Harry. The major’s voice became icy. “That sir is a lie. Were you not a junior officer I would challenge you.”
Danny piped up, “I think not major. I am a Murphy from the same area and my cousins told me of an arrogant, bullying English landlord. Would that be you by any chance?”
The murderer just glowered at Danny. I could see Danny flexing his hands ready to strike the major. Major Boswell’s voice cut through the icy silence. “That restriction does not apply to me sir and I will happily give you satisfaction if for other reason than the slur you cast upon one of the bravest and most truthful men I have ever known. What will it be? Pistols or swords?”
I saw the Englishman pale and knew then that he was a craven coward. “There is no quarrel between us sir and I will not fight you.”
Suddenly the colonel shouted, I had never heard him shout before, “Silence! There will be no duelling in my regiment and that is an order. Is that clear Major Boswell?”
“Sir.”
“Major Beauregard?”
The major looked relieved, “Of course sir. The regiment comes first.”
“Then you are dismissed. Lieutenant Hogan, stay behind for a moment.” When we were alone he asked. “Did he murder your parents?” I told him the details of the incident and he asked. “What do you intend to do about it?”
“As I told Captain Murphy. I will kill them both, but I will wait until the war is over.”
“Do I have your word on that?”
I stiffened. “Of course sir. I may be from an Irish potato farm but I hope that I am a man of my word.”
He smiled. “I have no doubt that you are a man of your word and I believe you. I also believe that the major and his man are both dead men walking for I would not like you on my trail. Dismiss and thank you for your honesty.”
Chapter 12
I slept with my new Bowie knife beneath my bedroll that night. My two enemies had shown themselves to
lack any kind of honour and I would not put it past them to attempt to kill me while I slept. When I awoke I found that Danny had placed a sentry outside my tent. Trooper Cole grinned at me, “Morning sir. Sleep well?”
“I certainly did and now you can get your breakfast.”
“Thank you sir!”
It was still dark as we left our camp. The general had said we would leave at first light and that mean that the scouts had to be out before first light. Harry took the point while Danny and I took the left flank. When we neared our road, my job was to direct the other regiments the right way. Troops B and C were to guard the road to Fredericksburg and Kelly’s Ford. They would stop any reinforcements coming from that direction. The colonel had placed himself there as being the most strategic point in our defences. They would ambush any forces that followed us. The two majors would be left with the task of keeping the cavalry from being reinforced from the north. Major Boswell took my section as I waited with Trooper Tyree at the road junction. The colonel saluted as he took his two troops along the road to set up an ambush position. When Major Beauregard passed by me it was as though I was invisible. The other officers and sergeants all returned my salute. We waited for fifteen minutes before General Fitzhugh Lee arrived with his brigade of cavalry.
“Thank you Lieutenant Hogan, we can take it from here. This brings us out at Hartwood Church then?”
“Yes sir but I will leave a scout at any of the turnings which may cause confusion. You cross the main road and the wagon park and cavalry camp are there before you.” I hesitated, “Don’t forget general we found more cavalry to the north.”
“Yes son, I remember but with two troops of scouts there I am not worried about that.”
As I rode to rejoin my troop I thought that I would be happier if it was B or C Troop who were supporting us and not Major St John Beauregard’s untried D Troop. Instead of working our way through D Troop which straggled untidily down the road, Tyree and I jumped the walls to ride across country. Some of D Troop saw us and whooped their appreciation. I heard orders barked and knew who had silenced them.