by Unknown
“I will walk down the street. Give me one minute and you follow. You talk to him and I will do the rest. Make sure he faces you and comes away from the wall.”
I trudged up the road. I could see there were lights within and knew that it was occupied. As I passed the sentry I said, conversationally, “What a miserable day.”
“Yeah. And I have another three hours of getting wet!”
“There’s no justice. You’ll get your reward in heaven. See you later.”
“See you.”
I slipped the cosh out and after five paces I turned. I saw Ritchie approaching the sentry. I checked that the street was empty. The dusk and the rain meant that it was hard to see more than five feet in front of you anyway. The sentry came away from the wall and I strode up my steps hidden by the driving rain and I swung the cosh. It smacked into the back of his head and he fell forwards. Ritchie was quick thinking and he grabbed the sentry and his rifle stopping them both from falling to the ground.
“Can you hold him?” Ritchie nodded. “ Sling him over your shoulder perhaps?”
“I think so.”
I propped the gun against the wall as Ritchie hoisted the unconscious sentry over his shoulder. I eased the door open. As I recalled there was a hall and the office leading to Major Doyle’s inner sanctum was at the end. There was no one there and I gestured for Ritchie to enter. We placed the soldier gently on the floor. I could hear voices from the room at the end. I took my revolver out and Ritchie copied me. I could hear the sergeant but the other was not the major. The door was slightly ajar. I held up three fingers and counted down. On three I shoved the door open and leapt into the room. The sergeant was talking with a corporal and both were seated. My Colt was pointed at Sergeant McNeil’s head and Ritchie had the corporal covered. I took out my second Colt and held it to the corporal’s head. “Check the back office.”
As he did so I smiled at the sergeant who opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Eventually he got the words out. “How the hell did you get by the sentry and how the hell did you escape last time?”
“Let’s just call it magic eh sarge?”
Ritchie came back. “All clear sir.”
The sergeant looked at me, “Sir? You got promoted?”
“Yeah. You want to try this fighting for a change instead of sitting on your ass in an office all day. Ritchie find something to tie them up with.”
He began going through the drawers and found three sets of manacles and a key. I looked at the sergeant who shrugged. “We got them after you disappeared. We figured the next prisoner would not find it so easy to escape.”
“And you won’t. Ritchie, manacle them with their hands behind each other and then manacle the two of them together. Take the keys with us.” As soon as he did that I put my guns away. I searched the sergeant first and found my two knives. “Well, I am glad to have these knives back sergeant. Thank you kindly. I hope you have kept them sharp.” I found his wallet and there was over five hundred dollars in it. “Now I don’t think you earned this legally sergeant so we just take it. Here Ritchie, put this towards your guitar fund.”
He grinned, “Thanks sir.”
“Now gag them.”
“I began checking the drawers as the two men were gagged. I found official papers and a bunch of keys. I had no time to read them and so I just grabbed them. I went into the major’s office and found a locked drawer. I tried each key until the drawer popped open and I found a leather satchel. I took it out and inside were more papers including some which were sealed. I put the other papers inside the satchel and then checked the other drawers. I found the Major’s colt, holster and ammunition. I took them and went back into the other room. “Here you are Ritchie, have a decent gun and holster.” He caught them and put them on. “You all done here?”
“Yes sir.”
“Just check the drawers again and see if you can find anything else and I will tell these two a bed time story.” Ritchie gave me a look which suggested I had lost my mind but did as he was told. I walked behind the corporal and hit him with the cosh.
The sergeant could see what was coming and he said, “Before you hit me just answer me one thing. Are you the one they call Lucky Jack? Are you the one who was with the Wildcats?”
“Yes but how did you hear my name?”
He gave me a curious smile. “Oh you are quite famous you know and there are some Irish lads who have put a bounty on your head and the other Wildcats. Boswell is that one of them and a Murphy. It seems those two boys you killed and hanged were their kin and they have a thousand dollars each for the three of you, dead or alive. Why our local marshal is itching to get his hands on it.”
“Well sergeant, I wish them luck. They will need it.” I sapped him on the back of the head and he fell unconscious.
Ritchie emerged with a sack filled with items he had found. He reached in and took out a large bag of coffee beans, “Look at this! We hit gold dust!”
“Right Ritchie bring your treasures with you and we will examine what we have tomorrow back at the camp. Take the sergeant’s slouch hat it will help us to blend in.” I slung the satchel over my shoulder and we stepped out into the wet night.
We headed back the way we had come. I contemplated taking horses but it was too big a chance to risk. The three men we had hit would be out for at least an hour. We had plenty of time to make it back to Wilkie on foot. The streets were even more deserted now than they had been before. I saw the alley ahead and was anticipating slipping down it when I saw the armed man walking down the side of the building towards us. He had his head down and I saw the glint of a badge. It was the marshal. I murmured to Ritchie. “Just keep walking and keep you head down.”
He was ahead of me and I stepped behind him to allow the marshal to walk by on the inside. There was a patch of mud left from someone stepping from the street and Ritchie slipped in it. He lurched towards the marshal who put his hand up to push Ritchie away and I saw his face. It was Billy Pickles, the deserter. He recognised Ritchie and was looking around to me when I hit him across the face with my Colt. He went down like a sack of potatoes. “Get him over your shoulder and down the alley, quickly.”
I turned and checked that there was no-one else on the street. It was still deserted and I slipped down after him. “Wait here and watch him. If he tries anything then use your knife.”
I walked back to the stables. I peered inside. The guard was still asleep. I took out the cosh and slipped behind him. I hit him hard, for he was a big man. There were only two riding horses in the stables and neither was in good condition but they would have to do. I saddled them both, grabbed a length of rope, and then led them out. I closed the doors behind me so that no-one would see the unconscious guard. Billy Pickles was still unconscious. I gestured to Ritchie. “Here get on this horse.” When he was mounted I manhandled the deserter across the back of the horse and then I mounted my own horse and we headed along the muddy trail to the woods.
As we entered the woods I heard the click as the Colt was cocked. “It’s us, Wilkie.”
“I did wonder when I saw the three horses. Who is the man?”
I threw him to the ground as Ritchie dismounted. “This is the marshal of Fredericksburg. This is Billy Pickles!”
Wilkie gave the unconscious form a kick in the ribs. “Treacherous bastard!”
“Here is a length of rope. Tie him to the horse and let’s get to the camp.”Ritchie took off the hat and the cape. “I would keep those if I were you Ritchie you never know when they will come in handy. They call me Lucky Jack but I prefer Be Ready for Anything Jack.”
We headed back to the graveyard and rode down the road. I took the chance that there would be few riders out in the rain at this time of the night. We made it back to the camp just after midnight. Wilbur was alone in the camp. He audibly sighed when we rode in. “I sure am glad it is you guys. It was a little spooky on my own.” He noticed the bundle over the saddle and the spare horse. “What you boys been u
p to then?”
I dismounted and unceremoniously threw the body of Billy Pickles to the floor. “We found us a deserter and we are going to take him back to the colonel so that we can shoot him legal! Ritchie take the rope we found and tie him to that tree. Ties his hands behind him first and then tie his feet together.”
Wilbur said, “What if he needs to take a leak?”
“He can piss in his pants if he wants but we don’t take off the rope. We take it in turns to watch him tonight. Wilbur, take the first watch; you do two hours, Wilkie the second, Ritchie the third and then wake me. If he gives any trouble when he wakes up, then use my cosh. If he tries to shout, then gag him.” I grabbed some of the food and hungrily devoured it. This had been a long day but a successful one. I would leave reading the reports I had stolen from the major’s office until the following morning when the light would be better for reading.
Ritchie woke me and nodded at Pickles. His eyes were open and he was glaring at me. “He’s awake and not happy. I told him that I would gag him if he tried to shout. He said he needs a piss.”
“You go to sleep now. Well done for today Ritchie. I want to thank you for your help. You will get some stripes soon.”
As he wandered over to his bedroll Pickles spat out. “Aye across your back.”
I walked over to him and kicked him hard between the legs. “You shut up, you are a deserter. You were flogged because you were a bad soldier.”
“You bastard! You cut me loose and we’ll settle this man to man.”
“Why who is going to represent you? You aren’t a man, you are an animal with neither honour nor courage. I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back but you are going back to hang or be shot. Now shut up or I won’t gag you.” I tapped the cosh into my open palm. “I will sap you!” That shut him up and I set too to make some coffee. I had over an hour before I needed to wake the boys. I ground the newly acquired coffee beans and I was generous. We would have a decent coffee this morning to help us to celebrate. I stirred the fire into life and took out some dried bacon. I poured the water Wilbur had collected into the pot and poured in the coffee on the top. It made the coffee taste better and less burnt. All the while I could feel the malevolent stare of Billy Pickles. It did not bother me but I was curious about the reward. I did not want to disturb the lad’s sleep and I left those questions until the morning. When the water boiled I took the pot off. The coffee would brew and I could warm it up if I needed to. I put the pan on the coals and when it was good and hot threw in the bacon. It sizzled and spat. Immediately that irresistible aroma of bacon hit the chilly early morning air and mixed with the coffee. It was better than an expensive alarm clock.
“Morning sir! My but that bacon smells really good.”
“Morning Wilkie.” Wilbur and Ritchie opened their eyes and sniffed the air from the warmth of their bedrolls. “Give the prisoner a mug of water corporal.”
Pickles moaned, “What, no coffee?”
“The coffee is for real soldiers not scum like you.”
After we had eaten I went to the saddlebags to get the papers. Pickles said, “What about a leak?”
I was about to say no when Wilkie said. “There are three of us sir. His feet are tied and we can keep a gun on him.”
“Ritchie, take my cosh and don’t be gentle. If he so much as breathes wrong then hit him.” Even as I was reading I was watching them out of the corner of my eye. Billy Pickles was a slippery customer and they were young gullible lads. My Colt rested next to me cocked and ready to fire. I noticed that Wilkie retied his hands behind him. The prisoner complained until the corporal doubled him with a punch to the solar plexus. He complained no more. By the time he had finished and they had restrained him again I had roughly read the documents.
“It seems like this General Stoneman has three thousand horsemen and six cannons. It seems to me they intend to do something about the general and not just sit in camps.”
“It could be that they aren’t all here yet sir.”
“True Ritchie and we will wait until Irish and the others return here. If they confirm this information then we will head back to Kelly’s Ford and tell the general. They are all due back here today anyway.” A thought struck me. “Just search our prisoner here. We didn’t have time last night.”
I could see from his face that he didn’t like that but he was trussed like a Thanksgiving turkey and could do little about it. He had a large bankroll as well as coins and a watch. In his jacket pocket he had a folded handbill.
Wanted Dead or Alive
Boswell’s Wildcats murdered two brave young soldiers fighting for the Union. The Irish Brigade offers a reward of $1000 for any of the members of this gang of bandits. There will be a bonus of $1000 for the capture of their leader Captain Boswell. their Lieutenant Daniel Murphy or the murderer known as Lucky Jack Hogan.
Sergeant Mick O’Callaghan
Irish Brigade
As we read it Billy Pickles started to laugh. “So you see Jackie Boy, no matter what happens to me, your days are numbered.”
I wandered over and looked him directly in the eye. “This doesn’t change anything. We never killed an innocent man and even if the whole Irish Brigade comes to take us, we will beat them, and you know why? Because we are the best soldier in the whole of the East Coast. I fear no man. But the bottom line is that you won’t live to see me beat this Irish Brigade because you will be dead and the only sad thing is it won’t be me that kills you.”
H thought about spitting at me but my hand was on my knife and the look in my eyes left him in o doubt about the outcome of such a foolish action.
The first of the patrols arrived by noon. I was thankful that there were no casualties. They were all surprised to see Billy Pickles as large as life and twice as ugly. We left Wilbur watching him and I took them all to one side to discuss what they had discovered.
Cecil took out his paper and used his pencil to point. “We have found at least four regiments of cavalry. They were here and here.”
Davy took out his paper. “There’s another regiment of cavalry and a battery of six guns and they are here; not far from where Irish saw his regiments.”
“I found four regiments spread out all along the Stafford Road and we went to the bridge we destroyed. They are rebuilding it and they have a pontoon one in place.”
“You three write down on a fresh piece of paper what you saw and draw your maps. I think we need to send this to the general and the colonel as soon as possible.”
Just then there was a shout from the camp. I drew my gun and we raced back. Wilbur was standing with Billy Pickles’ arm around his neck and what looked like Wilbur’s Bowie knife aimed at his eye. “Looks like I won’t be hanged then will I Lucky Jack? Things are different now. If you all drop your weapons and bring me a horse I’ll be out of here.”
I ignored him and walked up to within four feet of them.
“You don’t come any closer or he loses the eye.”
“You all right Wilbur?”
“No sir, I feel like a damned fool. He said that he was bit by a snake and he was groaning and moaning and I felt sorry for him.”
“Shut up! I’m doing the talking. Get me the horse! And get it quick or this boy loses an eye, maybe two!”
“You have one chance Pickles. You let Wilbur go unharmed and we’ll take you back to camp for a fair trial and a good hanging. If you don’t you die.”
“I mean it. I’ll take this boy’s eye.”
“You a righty or a lefty Wilbur?”
“What the hell has that got to do with anything?” He leaned his head to try to see me a little clearer. He obviously could believe neither my calmness nor my questions. He was confused.
“Well you have knife to his right eye so if he is a …” I fired and the ball went into the middle of his forehead and the knife fell from his lifeless fingers.
Wilbur fell to his knees, “I am really sorry sir.”
I helped him to his feet
. “I’m just sorry that you had to go through that but at least you learned a lesson. Never trust a snake, even if you think the critter is hurting. A snake is still a snake; they will always bite you so kill ‘em.. Anyway we saved ourselves a trial and I got to kill him. Throw him in the Rappahannock. The good people of Fredericksburg need to know they no longer have a town marshal.”
Chapter 15
The next morning I gathered the men around me. “The general needs this information but, I think, that we still have work to do. Wilbur and Ritchie, I want you to take this information back to Kelly’s Ford so that it can be acted upon. I intend to break camp and send the tents and other extra equipment back on the two spare horses” Wilbur looked crestfallen. “Wilbur, no blame is attached to you. The simple fact is that I can trust both of you to ensure that this is delivered safely and that is most important. You have both done sterling work on this patrol. Please do this vital task for me.”
Ritchie spoke, “Of course sir. But you must understand that we all want to be close to you, for that is where the excitement lies. Come on Wilbur, let us ride to the general.”
I gathered the remaining troopers around me. “I think we will ride to Woodbridge. We may not be able to destroy the bridge this time but we can pin down some men to guard it eh?”
Their cheers told me all that I needed to know. They were as game as ever. We rode through the night along the road. When we neared Stafford I halted the column. I suspected that there would be some patrols ahead. The sergeant and the corporal must have been released and they would be searching for us.