“The so-called detective who dragged me here paid those men a bounty for me,” she said.
“It wasn’t a bounty, Madam. It was a ransom.”
“I heard the negotiation,” Anna said. “Those highwaymen have a long-standing arrangement with the Confederacy to turn over captured Union soldiers or possible political prisoners for a fee. Because my value was dubious, your detective wasn’t willing to pay the full amount. When the men threatened to kill me, he told them to do it and started to ride away. Finally, when they lowered their demands to a few Confederate dollars, he agreed, tied a rope to my wrists and dragged me to this prison behind his horse.”
“I think you’re exaggerating. The detective’s report says that he led you here behind his horse.”
“Look at my knees and elbows.”
“He mentions that you tripped and fell a few times. If he had really dragged you twenty miles you’d be a bloody pulp.”
“He dragged me twenty miles through the snow behind his horse.” She pushed the paper back at Callahan. “I won’t sign that.”
He nodded. “In that case you won’t become an official prisoner here.” He waited to see if she’d respond, then continued. “That means your name won’t appear on the official reports, thus no one will know you’re here.”
Anna dropped her eyes. “That statement’s a lie. I won’t sign it.”
“Your brothers are looking for you.”
Anna looked up for a moment and then dropped her eyes again.
“But they won’t find you,” Callahan pronounced. “Unless, of course, you become an official prisoner of the Confederacy. If that happened they would be notified immediately.”
She shook her head. “The world should know that the Confederacy employs brigands who rape and murder innocent people. The only statement that I’ll sign will attest to that.”
Callahan spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “You’re making a terrible mistake, Mrs. Lagrange. You need medical attention. By cooperating you would get it, and you could be out of here by as early as tomorrow. If you refuse – well. The population here is diseased. Virtually all of the inmates have dysentery and many are infected with smallpox. In your weakened condition you won’t last a month.”
“Put me in your stinking prison.” Anna shook her head. “I won’t sign that.”
“Then you’ll die here.”
“You had better make sure that I do or when I get out I’ll write a news story that’ll be published in every major newspaper in the world.”
“As you wish. Guard? Take her away.”
April 4, 1864
Rapidan Camp, Virginia
Robert E. Lee stood up as a young man on crutches was shown in. “I was told that you are near death,” he said.
“Not yet, sir,” Johnny Van Buskirk replied.
“Here.” Lee came forward to help him. “Please sit down.”
“Not just yet, thank you, sir.” Johnny looked toward the open door. “First there’s someone that I’d like you to meet.” He beckoned to a boy in baggy clothes and a floppy hat. “My wife, Urilla.”
Urilla came in, removed the hat and shook out her long hair. “What an honor to meet you, General Lee.” She offered him her hand.
Lee was completely flummoxed and it took him several seconds to regain enough composure to take Urilla’s hand. “The honor is mine, Mrs. Van Buskirk.”
“General,” Johnny said excitedly. “We’ve been north of here looking for my Aunt Anna and we came upon a large Yankee force headed toward Richmond.”
“George Meade’s Army of the Potomac,” Lee said with a nod. “We’ve heard the rumors that they were on the move, but have not received any direct intelligence.”
“Grant is with Meade, General,” Urilla said.
“They’re coming with two armies,” Johnny added unnecessarily.
“Could it be a feint to draw us out?” Lee asked.
“No, General.” Urilla stepped to Johnny’s side and helped him sit down. “There are no wives, no sick or wounded with the train, and communication with the outside has been cut off.”
“He has reinforcements arriving continually,” Johnny said in a strained voice. The color had drained from his face.
“Please have a seat, Mrs. Van Buskirk,” Lee said, averting his eyes from Johnny. “Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee?”
“No thank you, General Lee.” Urilla took the chair next to Johnny’s. “My husband just needs a few seconds to catch his breath. The arm is very painful and it hurts him terribly to get on or off the crutches.”
“I’m sorry.” Lee walked around his desk and sat down. “I’m expecting General Stuart shortly. I’m sure he would like to hear your intelligence, if you can stay that long.”
“We have all the time in the world, sir,” Johnny replied.
“You mentioned a quest for your Aunt Anna?” Lee said.
“She was coming to Richmond to see us, but never arrived.” Johnny looked at Urilla. “My wife thinks that she must be dead.”
“Her traveling companion and the coachman were found murdered,” Urilla said. “The coach was burned; the baggage ransacked; there have been no ransom demands. Anna wasn’t young and attractive enough to be sold to white slavers. She must be dead.”
Lee shook his head sadly. “Lawlessness is one of those horrible side consequences of war.”
After a short silence, Johnny cleared his throat. “General. Urilla and I were able to move through the Yankee picket lines with very little trouble. I can’t ride a horse any more, but I’d still like to help.”
“Let me think on that,” Lee said. “And I’d like General Stuart’s opinion.”
Johnny nodded.
“Oh.” Lee searched his desktop. “I’m reminded that I processed your father’s resignation the other day. I was going to mail a copy to you, but since you’re here.”
Johnny looked surprised. “Did he contact you, sir?”
“No. But I was told some of the circumstances of his escape from the Northern prison camp, and it was obvious to me that his resignation was necessary.” He found the document and handed it across the desk. “Please tell your father that he would be welcomed back to the army if his circumstances change.”
“Thank you, sir.” Johnny glanced at the letter. “This will be a great relief to my father and my mother.”
Lee smiled. “I gather that you’ve not spoken to your Uncle Robert lately.”
Johnny shook his head. “No, not lately, sir.”
“I don’t think he’s with Grant anymore,” Urilla said. “If that’s what you were getting at, General.”
Johnny gave her a warning glance.
“You are correct, Mrs. Van Buskirk, Robert is with Sherman,” Lee said, looking pointedly at Johnny.
“I can’t comment on that, sir,” Johnny said.
Lee raised an eyebrow. “Can’t or won’t?”
“I’ll cheerfully pass on information acquired from third parties,” Johnny replied, “but anything I learn from my family I’m honor-bound to protect.”
“Well.” Lee sat back in his chair. “It hardly matters in this case, because I know that Robert is in Tennessee and that your cousin Paul has taken his place on Grant’s staff.”
“How do you know that, sir?” Johnny asked. “If you don’t mind.”
Lee smiled. “No. I don’t mind. Your Uncle Robert told me when he came to ask me to process your father’s resignation.” He chuckled at his little deception.
“He came here?” Johnny asked in surprise. “To see you?”
Lee nodded. “You’re aware that I knew him in Mexico?”
“Yes, sir,” Johnny said. “But I didn’t know that you and he were friends.”
“He was extraordinary back then. Still is extraordinary. But you know that.”
Johnny shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t really know him very well at all, General.”
“He’s perhaps the most courageous man I ever knew and
may be the best tactician too. Your cousin Paul has big shoes to fill on Grant’s staff.”
“General Grant made a poor trade,” Johnny said. “Paul is a fine fighting general, but a poor tactician.”
“Pea’s too impulsive and lacks patience,” General J.E.B. Stuart said as he came through the door. “I’m glad to see you among the living, Johnny Reb.” He shook Johnny’s hand.
“You’re looking well, Beauty,” Johnny said with a grin.
“Don’t I always?” Stuart replied. He kissed Urilla’s hand gallantly and gave her a roguish grin.
“Please pull up a chair, General Stuart,” Lee said. “These young people report that we have a substantial Union force coming toward us.”
“How substantial?” Stuart asked, as he dragged a chair closer to Lee’s desk.
“Over a hundred thousand,” Johnny replied. “Two-Corps, under Hancock, Five-Corps under Warren, Six-Corps under Sedgwick, Nine-Corps under Burnside and Sheridan’s cavalry.”
Stuart whistled softly. “Where are they?”
“Can you take that map off the wall, Jeb?” Urilla asked. “Johnny can’t balance on his crutches and point to the map at the same time.”
“Of course.” Stuart got up and retrieved the map.
“In the meantime,” Lee said, pulling an order pad across the desk, “we’ll break camp and move all three divisions toward Chancellorsville. Ewell will be our van.”
~
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry at me,” Urilla whispered.
“You revealed a family secret to someone outside of the family,” Johnny hissed.
It was after midnight and they were in a narrow bed in a tiny dormer room of the house that Jeb Stuart had commandeered for his headquarters.
“I didn’t know it was a bloody family secret,” Urilla argued.
“You only know where Uncle Robert is at the moment because I told you.”
“I didn’t…”
“Don’t try to lie to me. You were bubbling over to tell Lee so he’d smile and fawn all over you.”
“That’s not true.”
“Your desperate need for masculine attention is going to get us both in serious trouble some day.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You speak before you think.”
“You’re one to talk. You’ve made General Lee suspicious by telling him that you’re honor-bound to keep your family’s secrets.”
“You forced me into doing that.”
She got up and looked out the window at the moon. “God it’s hot.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Don’t bother what?”
“The next thing you’ll do is take off your nightshirt and try to seduce me. Haven’t I made it clear that I’m no longer interested in you?”
She turned to look at him. “You must be mad. Why would I ever want to seduce a ruined cripple like you? You’re disgusting.”
April 22, 1864
Richmond, Virginia
The new female prisoner was dressed as a man. Filthy, like everyone at Castle Thunder, she carried herself with more confidence than most new arrivals.
Anna ventured out from the corner that she had claimed and approached the woman cautiously. “Dr. Walker? Mary? Is that you?”
The woman looked startled for a moment, then examined Anna’s face more closely. “Dear God. Is it Anna? Anna Van Buskirk?”
“I have a safe spot.” Anna pointed. “Well, reasonably safe. Would you like to join me?”
The woman nodded and followed Anna to the corner. “What are you doing here? How long have you been here?”
Anna sat down on the floor with her back to the wall. “The rations are inadequate so don’t waste your strength. Sit.”
The woman sat down. “I heard of this place. Four Pinkerton agents were held here. Two of the men were released, one was executed, but no one knows what happened to the fourth, a woman. I can’t think of her name. Have you seen her? Heard anything?”
Anna shook her head. “A woman Pinkerton? I don’t think so.”
“Hattie something,” Mary said. “Lawson? No. Lawton. That’s it. Her name is Hattie Lawton.”
Anna shook her head again. “Sorry, Mary. I avoid the other inmates. Most are sick and none are trustworthy.”
“Hattie Lawton. She may have been using the name Hattie Webster or Mrs. Timothy Webster. She’s supposed to be a noteworthy beauty.”
“No. The names mean nothing to me.” Anna shivered and closed her eyes. “And she wouldn’t have stayed beautiful in here for more than a day. Look at me.”
“You look ghastly,” Mary said, after a moment. “How long have you been here?”
“Only three weeks. I look like this because I was beaten and raped repeatedly by highwaymen before being sold to the Confederates. Why are you in here?”
“I’m the assistant surgeon of the Fifty-Second Ohio Infantry. About two weeks ago, I was treating the local civilians and I ventured too far from our lines. Confederate troops arrested me as a spy.”
“As a spy? You were treating civilians and they arrested you for spying? Do they know who you really are?”
“Yes, of course they do. Unfortunately that also means that they know I was an active abolitionist before the war. I’m not expecting any mercy.”
Anna shook her head sadly. “I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve this.”
“Neither do you, Anna.” Mary looked around. “Dear Lord. This place is a horror.”
“Yes. And to stay alive in here you’ll have to become a horror yourself.”
“I know. This is the third prison I’ve been in since I was captured. I understand what it takes to survive. If we stick together we’ll make it through this.”
“I know it’s terrible of me to say, but I’m so glad you’re here.”
Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com
May 5, 1864
The Wilderness
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Spotsylvania is on a heavily forested ridge the separates the Po River and the Ni River. West of these two streams, the Mat River and the Ta River run roughly south to join in Spotsylvania County thus forming the Matta River. Farther south, the Po River and the Ni River join to become the Poni River. The Poni River then joins the Matta River in Caroline County to become the Mattaponi River.
Robert E. Lee’s army, coming up the Catharpin Road, had to cross the Po River at Wooden Bridge. General Sedgwick crossed the Ni River at Catharpin Furnace. General Burnside, of Ulysses Grant’s army ran into Confederate pickets at the Ni River crossing and a pitched battle ensued until Burnside was able to secure and fortify it. Union Generals Warren and Hancock came by the Brock Road, which crossed none of the rivers, and neither force had yet made contact with the enemy.
Paul Van Buskirk pointed to the map. “Ewell’s here, sir, just west of General Warren’s current position.”
Grant studied the map for a moment, then turned in his saddle toward an aide. “Message to General Meade. If any opportunity presents itself of pitching into a part of Lee’s army, he’s to do so without giving time for disposition.”
“Yes, sir.” The aide turned his horse and raced away.
“Sir,” Paul said. “Permission to join Warren?”
“Why?” Grant asked.
“To observe, sir. So that you’ll have first-hand information.”
Grant smiled. “So you can be in the middle of the fight.” He waved his hand to dismiss Paul’s protest. “Go ahead. It’s already become pretty obvious that you belong on the battlefield and not on a commanding general’s staff.”
“Sir. I…”
“But don’t interfere with Warren’s command. And make it clear to him that you don’t speak for me.”
“Sir. I just wanted to say that…”
“You better get going or you’ll miss all the action.”
“Yes, sir.” Paul turned his horse and gave it some spurs.
Grant chuckled, then turned t
o Colonel Horace Porter. “You’re my new aide-de-camp. We’ll move young Van Buskirk into a brigade command as soon as one opens up. I fear that could be soon.”
“Yes, sir. And thank you, sir,” Porter replied.
“Don’t thank me. You’ve earned it.”
“Thank you, sir. I mean…”
Grant chuckled. “Were you at West Point with any of the Van Buskirk boys?”
“No, sir,” Porter said. “I was in the class of sixty. Johnny graduated the year before I was a plebe. Johnny’s the youngest Van Buskirk.”
Grant nodded. “You all look so young to me that I can’t gauge the difference in your ages. I hear that Johnny was badly wounded.”
“Yes, sir. I understand that he lost a leg and the use of one arm at Knoxville.”
“A shame,” Grant said.
“He was here a day or two ago. He’s on crutches and the arm makes using them painful, but he’s a tough one.”
Grant turned to look at Porter. “Here? What do you mean, here?”
“Not here exactly, sir,” Porter replied. “He came into camp driving a buckboard. Yesterday, I think it was.”
“Into our camp?”
“Yes, sir.”
“He was, or maybe still is, a general in the Confederate army,” Grant said.
“Yes, sir, but he was looking for his aunt,” Porter said nervously. “She’s apparently gone missing.”
“Oh.” Grant looked thoughtful. “Yes, I know about Anna. Robert hired Pinkerton to find her. But Johnny must know that too.”
Porter shook his head uncertainly. “If he does, he didn’t mention it.”
“You spoke to him?”
“Not exactly, sir. There were several officers who knew him from before the war talking to him and I just joined the group and listened.”
“Was anyone with him?”
“Yes, sir. A boy.”
“A boy? How old?”
“In his early teens, I’d guess. Perhaps a little older.”
“Could it have been a woman dressed as a boy?”
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