CHAPTER III.
CHEERS FOR "THE STARS AND BARS."
If any boy who reads this series of books believes that secession wasthe result of a sudden impulse on the part of the Southern people, hehas but to look into his history to find that he is mistaken. They hadnot only been thinking about it for a long time, but, aided by some ofBuchanan's treacherous cabinet officers, they had been preparing for it.The Secretary of the Navy ordered the best vessels in our little fleetto distant stations, so that they could not be called upon to help thegovernment when the insurgents seized the forts that were scatteredalong the coast; and the Secretary of War took nearly a hundred andfifty thousand stand of arms out of Northern arsenals and sent them tothe South. He did it openly and without any attempt at concealment, andthe Southern papers publicly thanked him for so doing. The Mobile_Register_ said, in so many words, that they were much obliged to Mr.Floyd for "disarming the North and equipping the South."
After such acts as these on the part of government officials, it is notsurprising that private citizens began to take their local affairs intotheir own hands. A regular system of espionage and ostracism wasestablished all over the South. Everybody who was known or suspected ofbeing opposed to slavery and disunion was not only closely watched, butwas denied admission to homes in which he had always been a welcomevisitor. Free negroes were given to understand that they could eitherclear out, or remain and be sold into bondage. Northern men--even thosewho had long been engaged in business in the South, and whose interestswere centered there--were looked upon and treated with contempt, andtheir lives were made miserable in every way that the exasperated andunreasonable people around them could think of.
But, of course, things did not stop here. These suspected persons verysoon became the victims of open violence. Some were taken out of theirhouses at night and whipped; others were tarred and feathered; and morewere hanged by self-appointed vigilance committees, or killed inpersonal encounters. Up to the time of which we write there had beennone of this violence in and around Barrington, but it was coming now.Almost the first thing that attracted the attention of Rodney Gray andhis companions when they went into the post-office was a notice that hadbeen fastened upon the bulletin board. It took them a minute or two toelbow their way through the crowd of men and boys who were gathered infront of it, reading and commenting upon the startling intelligence itcontained, and when they succeeded they read as follows:
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
At a meeting of the citizens and voters of Barrington, held this day,March 9, 1861, it was unanimously
_Resolved:_ That the excitement at present existing among the peoplerenders it prudent for us to appoint a committee of the citizens ofBarrington to recommend what measures (if any) should be adopted for thepurpose of suppressing any unlawful or riotous outbreak in the town; andthat the following named are hereby appointed a "_Committee of Safety_"who are respectfully requested to adopt such measures, or to recommendany measures for adoption by the citizens generally, as may seem to themproper and necessary for the preservation of good order.
Then followed a long list, containing the names of nearly all theprominent and wealthy men of the place.
"Humph!" exclaimed Dick Graham, contemptuously. "The fellows who gotthis up wasted time and ink to no purpose. There has been no outbreak inBarrington, and none threatened."
"How does it come that you are so well posted, Dick?" said a friendlyvoice at his elbow; and when he faced about Dick's eyes met those of Mr.Riley, one of the men whose names appeared on the list. "The gentlemenwho framed that resolution did not mean to convey the impression thatthere had been any riotous proceedings in and around Barrington," hecontinued. "But if they had desired to create an uproar and excite thefears of the women and children, they might have said that there hasbeen an outbreak threatened; and it would have been nothing but thetruth. You boys, who are all the while shut up in the academy, can notbe expected to know all that is going on in the country."
"Who has threatened any outbreak?" inquired Dick incredulously. "Andwhen is it coming off?"
"Look here," said Mr. Riley, lowering his voice. "You remember the JohnBrown raid, don't you?"
"Seems to me I have heard something about it. But you are not afraid ofhim, are you?"
"I am not joking," replied Mr. Riley earnestly. "Brown laid out aregular campaign before he started in at Harper's Ferry. He had a map,and on it had marked several localities in which the negroes weregreatly in excess of the whites. Those towns and villages were to bedestroyed, after the blacks had been coaxed or forced into his army, andBarrington was one of them."
"Well, what of it?" exclaimed Dick. "He didn't get here, did he?"
"Of course he didn't; but he spread such a spirit of discontent amongthe niggers that we have been shaky ever since. And the events of thelast few weeks do not tend to quiet our fears, I assure you."
"When is this insurrection, or whatever you call it, coming off?"
"We don't know when to expect it, but we mean to be ready for it at anyhour of the day or night. We have positive evidence that there are abouthalf a dozen too many Abolitionists, and altogether too many freeniggers, in and around Barrington."
"When did you find it out?"
"We've always known it; but we never felt so very much afraid of thembefore. I don't mind telling you, although I should not want to post iton the town pump, that we have had spies out for the last three or fourdays."
"That's what I thought you were getting at. But who are they?"
"There's Bud Goble, for one."
"Aw, Great Scott!" exclaimed Dick, and even Rodney looked disgusted. "Ihope you haven't put the least faith in anything that lazy, worthlessfellow has said to you."
"He may be too lazy to earn an honest living, but he is far fromworthless in an emergency like the present," replied the committeeman."He is with us all over, and has been very active since these troublesbegan."
"I don't see why he should be so very active. He never owned the priceof a pickaninny in his life. But I'll tell you what's a fact, Mr. Riley:Bud Goble has got something against every Northern man in Barrington andfor miles outside of it, and he will do anything or swear to any numberof lies--"
"Don't you give the Committee of Safety any credit for common-sense orprudence?" demanded Rodney, who, although he appeared to be listening tothe conversation, was busy thinking over a project that had suddenlysuggested itself to him. "You don't suppose that anything will be doneto these suspected men until they have had a fair trial, do you?"
"That's the idea," said Mr. Riley, with a smile. "Rodney, you have yourshare of common-sense, whether the committee have or not."
"A fair trial?" repeated Dick, who was like Marcy Gray in that he never"pulled in his shingle one inch"; in other words, never backed down fromhis principles, no matter who might hear what he had to say about them."Who'll try these suspected men? Judge Lynch; who will order them to bestrung up before they can say a word in their own defense. I tell yousuch work is all wrong."
"Don't let your excitement run away with your reason, Dick," said Mr.Riley soothingly. "There's been no innocent person harmed yet, and,moreover, such a thing never happened in this county."
"No, but it is going on all over the South; and I tell you that thereare plenty of people of the Bud Goble stamp who would do the same thingright here if they were not afraid," said Dick earnestly.
"Put him out! He's a traitor!" cried one of the academy boys; and "puthim out," was echoed from all parts of the post-office. But the boys whouttered the words were all Dick Graham's friends, and an attempt to puthim out would certainly have resulted disastrously to somebody.
"Of course I understand that this is all sport," said Mr. Riley. "Butseriously, Dick, the time may come when it will be anything but safe foryou to express your sentiments with so much freedom."
"I assure you I appreciate your kindness in giving me a friendly word ofcaution, and thank you
for it," replied the boy, "but this is a freecountry, and I shall say what I think, regardless of consequences. Waittill the time for fighting comes and see--"
"See what?" interrupted Billings. "There isn't going to be anyfighting."
"Don't fool yourself. There'll be fighting before this thing is over,and more than you redhot secessionists will want to see--mark that! Andwhen it comes we'll see who will do the most of it, I or men like BudGoble, who have taken advantage of this time of excitement to getinnocent folks into trouble."
Having had his talk out Dick turned to work his way to the window to gethis mail; but before he got there a wild shout arose from the crowd ofstudents who blocked his path, and a moment afterward a brand newConfederate flag fluttered over their heads. Rodney Gray had received apackage from home and this was what he found in it.
"I say, Graham," he exclaimed, as soon as he could make himself heard,"doesn't the sight of this make you ashamed of the sentiments you havejust uttered?"
"Not a bit of it," was the prompt response. "Missouri hasn't recognizedthat flag yet. When she does, I will fight for it as long and as hard asyou will."
"Will you join us in a hurrah for it?" continued Rodney.
"No, I won't."
"Three cheers for the Stars and Bars!" shouted Ed Billings. "Long maythat flag wave, and may it never be polluted by the touch of a hatedYankee."
The cheers that followed were not cheers; they were whoops andyells--very much like those with which the charging Confederates sooften saluted our blue-coats on the field of battle. Dick had half anotion to see if he could not get up a little counter-enthusiasm inbehalf of the Stars and Stripes, but was afraid the attempt might resultin failure; so after he had secured his mail, he went out on the porchand sat down to read those acts of the Confederate Congress calling forone hundred thousand volunteers, and ordering all who sympathized withthe North to leave the limits of the Confederacy within ten days. Hissecession paper told him all about them, the editor enlarged upon andapplauded them, and Dick was forced to the conclusion that things weregetting serious; how serious, he little dreamed until four weeks morehad passed away.
Dick spent half an hour over his paper and letters, and then Rodney Grayappeared. He had found a stick somewhere and fastened his flag to it.Although these two boys had had some sharp verbal contests during thelast three months, they kept up an appearance of friendship, which wasreal so far as Dick Graham was concerned. The latter could not "swallowRodney's disunion doctrines," as he often declared, but for all that hehad a sincere regard for him, and always spoke of him as one of thefinest fellows in school. Perhaps we shall see whether or not Rodneypaid him back in kind.
"Give it a cheer, why don't you?" said Rodney, waving his flag overDick's head. "Where in the world have you been?"
"Right here, waiting for you."
"Well, come up the road a piece. There's a squad there, and we have beencounting noses."
"How many noses do you want, and what do you want them for?" inquiredDick, putting his paper into his pocket and getting upon his feet. "Whatnew nonsense are you up to?"
"There's no nonsense about this, I tell you. It's business. We want asmany noses as we can get, and the boys behind them must be true blue.The fellows said I would be wasting time if I came after you, but I wantto hear you say so with your own lips before I shall believe it. Youhave said more than once that if Missouri goes out and joins theConfederacy, you will go with her, haven't you?"
"You bet, and I say so yet. My State, or any State, has the right to goout of the Union as she came into it--of her own free will; and if thosefellows up North are going to fight to keep her in, I shall fight tohelp her out. That's me; but you see Missouri hasn't yet--"
"I have heard that until I am tired of it," interrupted Rodney."Missouri hasn't gone out yet, but she's going; and in the meantime,what about that flag at the academy? Are you in favor of letting it staythere?"
"That depends entirely upon the colonel," answered Dick. "If he sayshaul her down, down she comes. If he says let her stay up, up she stays.That's me."
"And will you continue to march and drill under it, now that we have aflag of our own?" demanded Rodney.
"That also depends. If the other boys drill under it and march after it,I will. In fact, I don't know but I shall do it any way, whether theothers do or not. I don't know what you mean when you speak of a flag ofour own. I don't recognize that thing you are carrying over yourshoulder. The old flag is my flag, and will be as long as Missouri staysin the Union. I don't see the least use in rushing things. You and yourfriends are taking a good deal upon yourselves when you presume to actin advance of the State."
"Well, you see what the business men of Barrington think of thesituation, don't you? That notice in the post-office looks and soundsmighty innocent, but reading between the lines--"
"So you read between the lines!" exclaimed Dick. "I did the same, and Itell you that that Committee of Safety is a fraud. Bud Goble has beencarrying tales about some innocent men whom, for personal reasons, hedoes not like, and Mr. Riley and a few other hotheads are trying to findsome excuse for driving them out of town. There'll be outrages here thefirst thing you know and they will be committed under cover of thatbusiness men's meeting, and with the connivance of those whose names aresigned to that list."
"Do you mean to say that all those prominent men are such ruffians?"cried Rodney, in great excitement. "Why didn't you say as much when youwere talking to Mr. Riley? You dared not do it."
"I didn't think of it; but I will wait here while you run back and tellhim."
Dick looked sharply at his companion as he said this, and was surprisedto see the usually self-possessed Rodney turn as red as a beet. It wasplain that he had been touched in some tender spot by these chancewords.
"What's he been up to?" was the question Dick Graham propounded tohimself. "If I had known that I was going to hit him as hard as that, Iwouldn't have said a word. He has been doing something sneaking, and Idid not think that of Rodney Gray." Then aloud he said: "I didn't meanto hint that you would do such a thing, but you have been abouthalf-wild during the last few weeks, and I don't believe you know allthe time what you are doing."
"Well, if I'm crazy, I have the satisfaction of knowing that there are agood many like me in the South," replied Rodney, with a light laugh; andhe uttered nothing but the truth. Taken as a body the Southern peoplecertainly acted as if they had lost their senses. Among all those whorejoiced over South Carolina's reckless act there were few who saw that"it was but the prelude to the most terrible tragedy of the age--theunchaining of a storm that was destined to shake the continent withterror and devastation, leaving the Southern States a wreck, andsweeping from the earth the institution in whose behalf the fatal workwas done." You may be sure that Rodney Gray did not see this sadpicture, for just at that moment there were few things he could seeexcept the elegant silk banner that waved above his head, and which hewas determined to hoist at the academy flag-staff the very nextmorning.
"Here are the fellows," he added, as he and Dick came up with the squadwho were gathered on a street corner waiting for them.
"And a fine-looking lot of lads they are," was Dick's comment. "Rebelsthe last one of them."
"Washington was a rebel, young fellow," replied one of the students,"and that is what he would be if he were with us to-day."
"Well, seeing that he isn't here to decide the matter, don't let's wastetime in talking about it," said Cole. "The question is, Is that flag atthe academy going to stay up or come down--which?"
"It's going to come down," replied Billings, very decidedly. "We've gota handsomer flag to take its place. Let's cheer it, and see how many ofthat crowd on the other side of the street will take off their hats toit."
The cheers were given with a will; and this time Dick Graham joinedin--not because he cared a cent for the Stars and Bars, but just to helpmake a noise. The result was all the boys could have desired. The cheerswere answered and hats were li
fted in all directions, and handkerchiefsand red, white, and blue rosettes were waved from the windows ofneighboring houses.
"Every one in sight made some demonstration," said Rodney gleefully."Dick, you are out in the cold."
"I don't feel very forlorn over it," was the reply. "How do you know butthat some of those who cheered your old rag are Union at heart? But whatare you fellows going to do, and what do you want of me?"
"We intend to hoist Rodney's flag on that tower to-morrow morningimmediately after roll-call, and we want to know if you are in."
"No; I'm not in. I'm out. That's me."
"There, Rodney," exclaimed one of the students. "I hope you aresatisfied now that you wasted time when you went after Dick Graham. He'sa Yankee."
"You're another," retorted Dick.
"Do you still claim to be neutral?"
"I do, for a fact. You see, Missouri--"
"Oh, Dick, have a little mercy on a fellow, and don't say that again,"cried half a dozen voices at once.
"Well, then, what do you want me to say? I'll not help you pull down theflag, if that is what you are after. I say, let her alone and she willcome down of herself when the sunset gun is fired."
"We don't want her to come down of herself," answered Rodney. "We wantthe satisfaction of hauling her down."
"Very well, go and do it; but don't come to me whining over the brokenheads you will be sure to get before you are through with the business.If you will let the orderly run her down, I will help steal her, so thatshe can't be run up in the morning; but being neutral, Missouri nothaving gone out of--"
"That scheme won't work at all," Rodney declared, with some disgust inhis tones. "Don't you know that the colonel takes charge of the buntingevery night?"
"I believe I have heard something to that effect."
"And don't you know that he keeps it locked in his bureau?" chimed inBillings.
"Having been on duty at headquarters a time or two I am not ignorant ofthe fact," answered Dick. "All I ask of you is to do as I say, and I'llget the flag."
Of course the boys were impatient to know what they could do to help,and Dick at once proceeded to unfold his plans; but as they will berevealed presently we do not stop to tell what they were. Some of thecombative ones among the students did not like the scheme at all, forthere was not enough danger and excitement in it; and if it succeeded,they would be deprived of the pleasure of listening to the praises whichthey were sure the Barrington people would lavish upon them, when itshould become known that they had hauled the flag down after a desperatebattle with the Northern sympathizers who had tried to protect it. Butthese were in the minority. The others had no desire to provoke a fightwith Marcy Gray and his friends, and it was finally decided that Dick'splan was the safest and best.
"That rather interferes with your arrangements, Cole," said Ed Billings,as the boys paired off and bent their steps toward the academy, RodneyGray leading, with the flag in his hand. "Those girls were particular tosay that the next time you came to see them you must bring word that theflag had been hauled down. I don't know whether or not they will bequite satisfied when you tell them that it was taken from the colonel'sroom, after it had been pulled down in the proper way."
Cole wasn't certain on that point, either; but he had said all he couldagainst the adoption of Dick Graham's plan, and that was all anybodycould do.
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