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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14595-0.txt b/14595-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55354c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/14595-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8718 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14595 *** + +THE SOLDIER BOY + +OR + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY + +A Story of the Great Rebellion + + +BY + + +OLIVER OPTIC + + + +AUTHOR OF "RICH AND HUMBLE," "ALL ABOARD," "LITTLE BY LITTLE," ETC., ETC. + + +NEW YORK +HURST & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + + + + +TO + +William Lee, Esq. + +THIS BOOK + +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED + +BY HIS FRIEND + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This volume is not altogether a military romance, though it contains the +adventures of one of those noble-hearted and patriotic young men who went +forth from homes of plenty and happiness to fight the battles of our +imperilled country. The incidents of the story may be stirring and +exciting; yet they are not only within the bounds of probability, but have +been more than paralleled in the experience of hundreds of the gallant +soldiers of the loyal army. + +The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a history, though the +writer has carefully consulted the "authorities," both loyal and rebel, +and has taken down the living words of enthusiastic participants in the +stirring scenes described in this volume. He has not attempted to give a +full picture of any battle, or other army operation, but simply of those +movements in which the hero took a part. The book is a narrative of +personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth of a pure patriotism +in the soul of the hero, and describing the perils and privations, the +battles and marches which he shared with thousands of brave men in the +army of the Potomac. + +The author has endeavored to paint a picture of the true soldier, one who +loves his country, and fights for her because he loves her; but, at the +same time, one who is true to himself and his God, while he is faithful to +his patriotic impulses. + +The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and I hope it will +not disappoint the reasonable expectation of those partial friends whose +smile is my joy, whose frown is my grief. But, more than all, I trust this +humble volume will have some small influence in kindling and cherishing +that genuine patriotism which must ever be the salvation of our land, the +foundation of our national prosperity and happiness. + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + +DORCHESTER, Feb. 22, 1864. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER + + I. The Battle of Pinchbrook + II. The Somers Family + III. Taming a Traitor + IV. The Committee come out, and Tom goes in + V. The Attic Chamber + VI. The Way is Prepared + VII. A Midnight Adventure + VIII. Signing the Papers + IX. The Departure + X. Company K + XI. In Washington + XII. On to Richmond + XIII. The Battle of Bull Run + XIV. After the Battle + XV. Tom a Prisoner + XVI. A Perplexing Question + XVII. Dinner and Danger + XVIII. The Rebel Soldier + XIX. Through the Gap + XX. Down the Shenandoah + XXI. The Problem of Rations + XXII. The Picket Guard + XXIII. The End of the Voyage + XXIV. Budd's Ferry + XXV. In the Hospital + XXVI. Tom is Sentimental + XXVII. The Confederate Deserter + XXVIII. On the Peninsula + XXIX. The Battle of Williamsburg + XXX. More of the Battle + XXXI. Glory and Victory + XXXII. "Honorable Mention" + XXXIII. Lieutenant Somers and Others + + + + +THE SOLDIER BOY; + +OR, + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BATTLE OF PINCHBROOK. + + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, mother!" shouted Thomas Somers, as he rushed +into the room where his mother was quietly reading her Bible. + +It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been circulated about the usually +quiet village of Pinchbrook Harbor. Men's lips were compressed, and their +teeth shut tight together. They were indignant, for traitors had fired +upon the flag of the United States. Men, women, and children were roused +by the indignity offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that +struck the walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to strike the souls of +the whole population of the North, and never was there such a great +awakening since the Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon the rock +of Plymouth. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered!" shouted the indignant young patriot again, +as his mother looked up from the blessed volume. + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as she closed the Bible, and +removed her spectacles. + +"Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away at the fort for two days, +and at last we had to give in." + +"There'll be terrible times afore long," replied the old lady, shaking her +head with prophetic earnestness. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and I tell +you there'll be music before long!" continued the youth, so excited that +he paced the room with rapid strides. + +"What's the matter, Thomas?" asked a feeble old gentleman, entering the +room at this moment. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran'ther," repeated Thomas, at the top of +his lungs, for the aged man was quite deaf; "and the President has called +for seventy-five thousand men to go down and fight the traitors." + +"Sho!" exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing with earnestness into +the face of the boy. + +"It's a fact, gran'ther." + +"Well, I'm too old to go," muttered gran'ther Greene; "but I wa'n't +older'n you are when I shouldered my firelock in 1812. I'm too old and +stiff to go now." + +"How old were you, gran'ther, when you went to the war?" asked Thomas, +with more moderation than he had exhibited before. + +"Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am now," replied the +patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously into the old-fashioned high-back +chair, by the side of the cooking stove. + +"Well, I'm sixteen, and I mean to go." + +"You, Thomas! You are crazy! You shan't do any thing of the kind," +interposed Mrs. Somers. "There's men enough to go to the war, without such +boys as you are." + +"You ain't quite stout enough to make a soldier, Thomas. You ain't so big +as I was, when I went off to York state," added gran'ther Greene. + +"I should like to go any how," said Thomas, as he seated himself in a +corner of the room, and began to think thoughts big enough for a +full-grown man. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered," shouted John Somers, rushing into the house +as much excited as his brother had been. + +"We've heard all about it, John," replied his mother. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand men, and in my opinion +the rebels will get an awful licking before they are a fortnight older. I +should like to go and help do it." + +The exciting news was discussed among the members of the Somers family, as +it was in thousands of other families, on that eventful Sunday. Thomas and +John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, but Fort Sumter, and the +terrible castigation which the rebels would receive from the insulted and +outraged North. They were loyal even to enthusiasm; and when they retired +to their chamber at night, they ventured to express to each other their +desire to join the great army which was to avenge the insult offered to +the flag of the Union. + +They were twin brothers, sixteen years of age; but they both thought they +were old enough and strong enough to be soldiers. Their mother, however, +had promptly disapproved of such suggestions, and they had not deemed it +prudent to discuss the idea in her presence. + +On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was fanned to a fever +heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a glow of patriotism. Men neglected their +usual occupations, and talked of the affairs of the nation. Every person +who could procure a flag hung it out at his window, or hoisted it in his +yard, or on his house. The governor had called out a portion of the state +militia, and already the tramp of armed men was heard in the neighboring +city of Boston. + +Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the village, and during the +forenoon he mechanically performed the duties of his position; but he +could think of nothing but the exciting topic of the day. His blood was +boiling with indignation against those who had trailed our hallowed flag +in the dust. He wanted to do something to redeem the honor of his +country--something to wipe out the traitors who had dared to conspire +against her peace. On his way home to dinner, he met Fred Pemberton, who +lived only a short distance from his own house. + +"What do you think now, Fred?" said Thomas. + +"What do I think? I think just as I always did--the North is wrong, and +the South is right," replied Fred. + +"Who fired upon Fort Sumter? That's the question," said Thomas, his eyes +flashing with indignation. + +"Why didn't they give up the fort, then?" + +"Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in before the little State +of South Carolina. Not by a two chalks!" + +"I think the North has been teasing and vexing the South till the +Southerns can't stand it any longer. There'll be war now." + +"I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!" + +"I hope the South will beat!" + +"Do you? Do you, Fred Pemberton?" demanded Tom, so excited he could not +stand still. + +"Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we had let their niggers +alone, there wouldn't have been any trouble." + +"You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don't you see this isn't a quarrel +between the North and the South, but between the government and the +rebels?" + +"I don't see it. If the North had let the South alone, there wouldn't have +been any fuss. I hope the North will get whipped, and I know she will." + +"Fred, you are a traitor to your country!" + +"No, I'm not!" + +"Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I'd ride you on a rail out of town." + +"No, you wouldn't." + +"Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent fellow; but you are a +dirty, low-lived traitor." + +"Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers!" retorted the young +secessionist, angrily. + +"A fellow that won't stand by his country ain't fit to live. You are an +out-and-out traitor." + +"Don't call me that again, Tom Somers," replied Fred, doubling up his +fist. + +"I say you are a traitor." + +"Take that, then." + +Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow on the side of his head. +Perhaps it was fortunate for our young patriot that an opportunity was +thus afforded him to evaporate some of his enthusiasm in the cause of his +country, for there is no knowing what might have been the consequence if +it had remained longer pent up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and +a contest, on a small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the +treason of the South commenced. How long it might have continued, or what +might have been the result, cannot now be considered; for the approach of +a chaise interrupted the battle, and the forces of secession were +reënforced by a full-grown man. + +The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his whip in his hand, and +proceeded to lay it about the legs and body of the representative of the +Union side. This was more than Tom Somers could stand, and he retreated in +good order from the spot, till he had placed himself out of the reach of +the whip. + +"What do you mean, you young scoundrel?" demanded the gentleman who had +interfered. + +Tom looked at him, and discovered that it was Squire Pemberton, the father +of his late opponent. + +"He hit me first," said Tom. + +"He called me a traitor," added Fred. "I won't be called a traitor by him, +or any other fellow." + +"What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you villain?" + +"I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He said he hoped the South +would beat." + +"Suppose he did. I hope so too," added Squire Pemberton. + +The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to settle the question. If +he hoped so, that was enough. + +"Then you are a traitor, too. That's all I've got to say," replied Tom, +boldly. + +"You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word to me!" roared the squire, as +he moved towards the blunt-spoken little patriot. + +For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to fall back; but as he did +so, he picked up a couple of good-sized stones. + +"I said you were a traitor, and I say so again," said Tom. + +"Two can play at that game," added Fred, as he picked up a stone and threw +it at Tom. + +The Union force returned the fire with the most determined energy, until +one of the missiles struck the horse attached to the chaise. The animal, +evidently having no sympathy with either party in this miniature contest, +and without considering how much damage he might do the rebel cause, +started off at a furious pace when the stone struck him. He dashed down +the hill at a fearful rate, and bounded away over the plain that led to +the Harbor. + +Squire Pemberton and his son had more interest in the fate of the runaway +horse than they had in the issue of the contest, and both started at the +top of their speed in pursuit. But they might as well have chased a flash +of lightning, or a locomotive going at the rate of fifty miles an hour. + +Tom Somers came down from the bank which he had ascended to secure a good +position. He had done rather more than he intended to do; but on the whole +he did not much regret it. He watched the course of the spirited animal, +as he dashed madly on to destruction. The career of the horse was short; +for in the act of turning a corner, half a mile from the spot where Tom +stood, he upset the chaise, and was himself thrown down, and, being +entangled in the harness, was unable to rise before a stout man had him by +the head. + +"I wish that chaise had been the southern confederacy," said Tom to +himself, philosophically, when he saw the catastrophe in the distance. +"Well, it served you right, old Secesh; and I'll bet there ain't many +folks in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to comfort the mourners." + +With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his way home. At dinner, +he gave the family a faithful account of the transaction. + +"You didn't do right, Thomas," said his mother. + +"He hit me first." + +"You called him a traitor." + +"He is a traitor, and so is his father." + +"I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is of meat," added +gran'ther Greene. + +"You haven't seen the last of it yet, Thomas," said the prudent mother. + +"No matter, Tom; I'll stand by you," added John. + +After dinner, the two boys walked down to the Harbor together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SOMERS FAMILY. + + +The town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance from Boston, with which it +is connected by railroad. If any of our young readers are of a +geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain the exact +locality of the place, we will save them any unnecessary trouble, for it +is not laid down on any map with which we are familiar. We live in times +of war, and probably our young friends have already learned the meaning of +"military necessity." Our story is essentially a military story, and there +are certain military secrets connected with it which might be traced out +if we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly where Pinchbrook is +situated. + +Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to find out certain +persons connected with some irregular proceedings in and around his house +on the evening of Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to the truth of history +compels us to narrate these proceedings in our humble volume; but we +should exceedingly regret thereby to get any of our friends into a scrape +by informing the squire that they were active participants in the scenes +of that eventful night, or to say any thing which would enable him, a +lawyer, to trace out the authors of the mischief through these pages. +Therefore we cannot say where Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which +would enable our readers to fix definitely its locality. + +Pinchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, engaged, as the +school books would say, in agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and the +fisheries, which, rendered into still plainer English, means that some of +the people are farmers; that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, +are made; that the inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, +and similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels owned in the +place, the principal part of which are fishermen. + +We have not the agricultural and commercial statistics of the place at +hand; but the larger territorial part of the town was devoted to the +farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, while the principal +village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more densely peopled, contained two +stores, four churches, one wharf, a blacksmith shop, and several shoe and +bucket manufactories. + +We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is rather a singular name. +The antiquarians have not yet had an opportunity to determine its origin; +but our private opinion is that the word is a corruption of _Punch_-brook. +Perhaps, at some remote period in the history of the town, before the Sons +of Temperance obtained a foothold in the place, a villainous mixture, +known to topers under the general appellation of "punch," may have been +largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged person +ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, +metaphorically, the punch was said to "flow in streams." Possibly, from +"streams" came "brooks,"--hence, "Punchbrook,"--which, under the strange +mutations of time, has become "Pinchbrook." But we are not learned in +these matters, and we hope that nothing we have said will bias the minds +of antiquarians, and prevent them from devoting that attention to the +origin of the word which its importance demands. + +The Somers family, which we have already partially introduced, occupied a +small cottage not quite a mile from Pinchbrook Harbor. Captain Somers, the +head of the family, had been, and was still, for aught his wife and +children knew, master of the schooner Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he +had heavily mortgaged his house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire +Pemberton. But his voyages had not been uniformly successful, though the +captain believed that his earthly possessions, after discharging all his +liabilities, would amount to about five thousand dollars. + +The mortgage note would become due in June, and Captain Somers had been +making a strong effort to realize upon his property, so as to enable him +to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers had a brother who +was familiarly known in the family as uncle Wyman. He had spent his life, +from the age of eighteen, in the South, and at the time of which we write, +he was a merchant in Norfolk. + +Captain Somers and his brother had been interested together in certain +mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the business man, had the +proceeds of these ventures in his own hands. + +On the 10th of April, only two days before the bombardment of Fort Sumter, +Captain Somers had sailed in the Gazelle, with an assorted cargo, for +Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his wife that he should not +return without effecting a settlement with Wyman, who had postponed it so +many times, that the honest sailor began to fear his brother did not mean +to deal justly with him. Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her +departure from Boston. + +Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern principles, while +his brother, though not in the habit of saying much about politics, was +fully committed on the side of the government, and was willing to sustain +the President in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to +enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the +South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts +adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were in the +hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so strong an +advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the declaration that +he would not return without a settlement. + +The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not in a very +prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house depended entirely upon +the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton +held would be due in June, and as the creditor was not an indulgent man, +there was a prospect that even the little cottage and the little farm +might be wrested from them. + +The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. The two +oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the +Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age. The former had a +place in one of the stores at the village, and the latter occasionally +went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been +brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should +contribute what they could to the support of the family. The youngest +child, Jane, was but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs. +Somers's brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a +pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for twenty +years; and was familiarly known in town as "Gran'ther Green." + +Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the Somers +family, we are prepared to continue our story. + +Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. The +latter had listened with interest and approbation to his brother's account +of the "Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he +thought Thomas might need his assistance before he reached the store, for +Fred and his father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest +where they had left it. + +We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero of this +volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully indorsed the action of +his brother. + +"Fred is a traitor, and so is his father," said he, as they passed out at +the front gate of the little cottage. + +"That's so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear them talk," replied +Thomas. "And I couldn't help calling things by their right names." + +"Bully for you, Tom!" added John, as he turned round, and glanced at the +house to assure himself they were out of the hearing of their mother. +"Between you and me, Tom, there will be music in Pinchbrook to-night." + +He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and heavy with +importance. + +"What do you mean?" asked Thomas, his interest excited by the words +and manner of his brother. + +"There is fun ahead." + +"Tell me what it's all about." + +"You won't say a word--will you?" + +"Of course I won't." + +"Not to mother, I mean, most of all." + +"Certainly not." + +"Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own good." + +"I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff Davis himself is +no bigger traitor than he is." + +"Some of the people are going to make him a call to-night." + +"What for?" + +"What do you suppose? Can't you see through a millstone, Tom, when there +is a hole in it?" + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"You can come with us if you like, and then you will know all about it," +added John, mysteriously. + +"But what are you going to do?" + +"We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his house, or hang it +out of his window." + +"Well, suppose he won't." + +"Then we'll hang him where the flag ought to be. We'll pull the house down +over his head." + +"I'm with you, Jack," replied Thomas, with enthusiasm. + +"We won't have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we can't cure him, we'll ride +him on a rail out of the town." + +"I don't know as you and I ought to get into this scrape," added Thomas, +thoughtfully. + +"Why not?" + +"You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he may get ugly." + +"Let him, if he likes. I'm not going to tolerate a traitor because he has +a mortgage on my father's house. Besides, that is a fair business +transaction; the squire gets his interest." + +"Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil spirit." + +"Women are always timid," said John, sagely. + +"By George! there comes the very man himself!" exclaimed Thomas, as he +discovered a horse and chaise slowly approaching. + +"So it is; that old chaise looks rather the worse for the wear. It looks +as though it had been through the wars." + +The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard usage. One of the shafts +was broken, the dasher wrenched off, and the top stove in. The horse was +covered with mud, and limped badly from the effects of his fall. The +broken shaft and the harness were now plentifully adorned with ropes and +old straps. In fact, the catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim which +the chaise ever might have had to be considered a "hahnsome kerridge." + +"There'll be fun nearer home, I reckon," said John, as he obtained his +first view of the sour visage of the squire. + +"Can't help it," added Thomas. + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom." + +"I intend to do so." + +"Don't say a word about to-night, Tom." + +"Of course not." + +When the chaise had approached near enough to enable the squire to +recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the horse, and got out +of the vehicle, with the whip in his hand. + +"Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to insult me and my son, and +destroy my property. Stay in the chaise, Fred, and hold the horse," he +added to his son. + +But there was not much need of holding the horse now, for he was too lame +to run fast or far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if the squire had +been a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash of their eyes, that he +was about to engage in an unsafe operation. + +"I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of your life, you villain, +you!" roared the squire, brandishing the whip. + +"No, you are not," replied Thomas, coolly. + +"If you drop the weight of that lash on my brother, I'll smash your head," +added John. + +The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form of the young sailor. +Better thoughts, or at least wiser ones, came to his aid. + +"I can bring you to your senses in another way," said he, dropping his +whip, and getting into the chaise again. "You will hear from me before the +week is out." + +"Let him go; don't say a word, Tom," added John. + +"He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by that." + +"Let him prosecute and be hanged! I'll bet by to-morrow morning he will +think better of it. At any rate, he will find out what the people of +Pinchbrook think of him." + +The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached the store, where they found +the group of idlers, that always frequent shops in the country, busily +engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas had been the principal +actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the Pinchbrook Battle was saluted +with a volley of applause, and his conduct fully approved and commended, +for a copperhead in that day was an abomination to the people. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TAMING A TRAITOR. + + +With the exception of Squire Pemberton, Pinchbrook was a thoroughly loyal +town; and the people felt that it was a scandal and a disgrace to have +even a single traitor within its border. The squire took no pains to +conceal his treasonable sentiments, though the whole town was in a blaze +of patriotic excitement. On the contrary, he had gone out of his way, and +taken a great deal of pains, to condemn the government and the people of +the North. + +Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had always been a person of +great influence in the place. He had occupied all the principal official +positions in town and county. He had come to regard himself, as his +townsmen were for the most part willing to regard him, as the social and +political oracle of the place. What he thought in town meeting was +generally the sense of his fellow-citizens, and when he expressed himself +in words, his word was law. + +When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins, with the national flag +trodden under the feet of traitors, with the government insulted and +threatened, Squire Pemberton ventured to speak in tones of condemnation of +the free North, the people of Pinchbrook listened coldly, at first, to the +sayings of their oracle; and when he began to abuse the loyal spirit of +the North, some ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in the +habit of having men dissent, and it made him angry. His treason became +more treasonable, his condemnation more bitter. Plain, honest men, to +whatever party they might have belonged, were disgusted with the great man +of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express their disapprobation +of his course in very decided terms. Some were disposed to be indulgent +because the Squire had a sister in Georgia who had married a planter. But +there was not found a single person, outside of his own family, who was +mean enough to uphold him in his treacherous denunciation of the +government. + +The squire was too self-sufficient and opinionated to be influenced by the +advice of friends or the warning of those who had suddenly become his +enemies. He had so often carried the town to his own views, that, perhaps, +he expected to manufacture a public sentiment in Pinchbrook that would +place the town on the side of the rebels. All day Sunday, and all day +Monday, he rode about the Harbor preaching treason. He tried to convince +the people that the South had all the right, and the North all the wrong; +but he had never found them so obstinate and incredulous before. + +Towards night one of the ministers ventured to suggest to him that he was +sowing the wind, and would reap the whirlwind. The good man even hinted +that he had roused a storm of indignation in the town which he might find +it difficult to allay. + +The squire laughed at the minister, and told him he was not afraid of any +thing. He intended to speak his honest sentiments, as every citizen had a +right to do; and he would like to see any man, or any body of men, who +would dare to meddle with him. + +"I am afraid you will see them, Squire Pemberton," added the minister. + +"Let them come where they please and when they please." + +"What will you do? What is your single arm against scores of strong men?" + +"Nothing, perhaps, but I don't fear them. I am true to my convictions; why +need I fear?" + +"I think your convictions, as you call them, are deluding you. Do you +think Benedict Arnold's convictions, if he had any, would have saved his +neck from the halter?" + +"Do you mean to compare me to Benedict Arnold, sir?" + +"I came to you, as a friend, to warn you of impending danger; and, as your +friend, I am compelled to say that I don't see much difference between +your position and that of Benedict Arnold." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" + +"Not at all, sir. I was only expressing my honest conviction. Instead of +placing yourself on the side of your government, on the side of law and +order, you are going about Pinchbrook Harbor denouncing the legitimate +government of your country, and pleading the cause of rebels and +traitors." + +"Am I not at liberty to say what I please of the government?" + +"In ordinary times, you are. Just now, the country is in a state of war, +and he who is not for the flag is against it. You may criticize the +government as its friend, but not as its foe. When armed men conspire +against the peace of the land, he who pleads their cause is a +traitor--nay, sir, don't be angry; these are my convictions." + +"Political parsons have been the ruin of the country," sneered the squire. +"That is my conviction." + +"Squire Pemberton, I beg you not to be rash. If you must cherish these +pernicious views, I entreat you, keep them to yourself. You may think what +you please, but the utterance of treason makes a traitor." + +"I shall proclaim my views from the housetop," replied the squire, +angrily, as he abruptly turned away from the minister. + +The squire continued obdurate to the last. Neither the persuasions of his +friends nor the threats of his enemies had any effect in silencing his +tongue; and as late as sundown on that day of the Great Awakening he was +pouring treachery and treason into the ears of a neighbor who happened to +pass his house. Half an hour later in the day, there was a great gathering +of men and boys at the bridge on the outskirts of the village. They were +singing Hail Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner. Thomas and John Somers +were there. + +Presently the assemblage began to move up the road which led to Squire +Pemberton's house, singing patriotic songs as they marched. It was a +multitude of persons for Pinchbrook; and no doubt the obnoxious oracle +thought so when he saw the sea of heads that surrounded his dwelling. If +this was a mob, it was certainly a very orderly mob, for the crowd thus +far had done nothing worse than to sing the national airs. + +The arrangements had all been made before the multitude started from the +place of rendezvous. Three gentlemen, the principal of whom was Captain +Barney, had been appointed a committee to wait upon the squire, and +politely request him to display the American flag on his premises. + +In the road, in front of the house, a large fire had been kindled, which +threw a broad, bright glare on the house and the surrounding grounds. It +was as light as day in the vicinity when the committee walked up to the +front door of the house and rang the bell. The squire answered the summons +himself. + +"Squire Pemberton," said Captain Barney, "your fellow-citizens, about two +hundred in number, have called upon you with a simple and reasonable +request." + +"What is it?" demanded the squire. + +"That you hoist the Stars and Stripes on your house." + +"I won't do it!" roared the victim, as he slammed the door in the faces of +the committee. + +"That is insolence," said Captain Barney, quietly. "We will go in." + +The captain led the way; but the door had been locked upon them. The +shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt yielded. + +"What do you mean, you villains?" thundered the squire, as he confronted +the committee in the entry. + +"You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces before we had +finished our story," replied the immovable old sea captain. + +"How dare you break in my door?" growled the squire. + +"We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don't treat us respectfully." + +"A man's house is his castle," added the squire, a little more moderately. + +"That's very good law, but there isn't a house in Pinchbrook that is big +enough or strong enough to shield a traitor from the indignation of his +fellow-citizens. We do not purpose to harm you or your property, if you +behave like a reasonable man." + +"You shall suffer for this outrage," gasped the squire, whose rage was +increased by the cool and civil manner of Captain Barney. + +"When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that your +fellow-citizens wish you to display the national flag." + +"I refuse to do it, sir." + +"Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up their minds not +to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits of the town of +Pinchbrook." + +"I am no traitor." + +"That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your fellow-citizens +assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your patriotism." + +"I will not do it on compulsion." + +"Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable measures." + +"What do you mean by that, sir?" asked the squire, who was evidently +alarmed by the threat. "Do you mean to proceed to violence?" + +"We do, Squire Pemberton," answered Captain Barney, decidedly. + +"O my country!" sighed the victim, "has it come to this? The laws will no +longer protect her citizens." + +"That's very fine, sir. Do you expect the laws to protect you while you +are aiding and abetting those who are trying to destroy them? Is there any +law to protect a traitor in his treason? But we waste time, Squire +Pemberton. Will you display the American flag?" + +"Suppose I refuse?" + +"We will pull your house down over your head. We will give you a coat of +tar and feathers, and remove you beyond the limits of the town. If you +ever come back, we will hang you to the nearest tree." + +"Good Heaven! Is it possible that my fellow-citizens are +assassins--incendiaries!" + +"Your answer, squire." + +"For mercy's sake, husband, do what they ask," interposed his wife, who +had been an anxious listener in the adjoining room. + +"I must do it," groaned the squire, speaking the truth almost for the +first time in forty-eight hours. "Alas! where is our boasted liberty of +speech!" + +"Fudge! squire," replied Captain Barney, contemptuously. "If your friend +Jeff Davis should come to Massachusetts to-morrow, to preach a crusade +against the North, and to raise an army to destroy the free institutions +of the country, I suppose you think it would be an outrage upon free +speech to put him down. We don't think so. Up with the flag, squire." + +"Fred, you may hang the flag out at the front window up stairs," said the +squire to his son. + +"All right, squire. Now a few words more, and we bid you good night. You +may _think_ what you please, but if you utter another word of treason in +Pinchbrook during the term of your natural life, the party outside will +carry out the rest of the programme." + +By this time Fred Pemberton had fastened the flag to one of his mother's +clothes poles, and suspended it out of the window over the porch. It was +hailed with three tremendous cheers by the multitude who were in waiting +to discipline the squire, and exorcise the evil spirit of treason and +secession. + +The work of the evening was finished, not wholly to the satisfaction, +perhaps, of a portion of the younger members of the assemblage, who would +gladly have joined in the work of pillage and destruction, but much to the +gratification of the older and steadier portion of the crowd, who were +averse to violent proceedings. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COMMITTEE COME OUT, AND TOM GOES IN. + + +While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had appointed +to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the house, engaged in +bringing the traitor to terms, the younger members of the assemblage were +very impatient to know how matters were progressing. Thomas Somers was +particularly anxious to have the affair brought to a crisis. In vain he +and a few other of the young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the +interior of the house, where the exciting interview was in progress. + +Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough disciplinarian. +Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were technically illegal; +that in forcing himself into the house of the squire he was breaking the +law of the land; but it seemed to him to be one of those cases where +prompt action was necessary, and the law was too tardy to be of any +service. He was, however, determined that the business should be done with +as little violence as possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the +bridge to do no needless injury to the property or the feelings of the +squire or his family. + +When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the door to +prevent any of the people from following him. He had also directed them +not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until he gave the signal. +These directions proved a great hardship to the boys in the crowd, and +they were completely disgusted when they saw the flag thrown loose from +the front window. + +The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, about a +hundred feet from the road. In front of it was a green lawn, adorned with +several large buttonwood trees. There was no fence to enclose what was +called the front yard. The crowd was assembled on this lawn, and agreeably +to the directions of the leader, or chairman of the committee, none of +them passed into the yard in the rear and at the end of the house, which +was separated from the lawn by a picket fence. + +Boys are instinctively curious to know what is going on, and the "living +room" of the squire, in which the exciting conversation was taking place, +was in the rear of the house. The windows on the front were dark and +uncommunicative. The boys were restless and impatient; if there was to be +any fun, they wanted to see it. Thomas was as impatient as his fellows, +and being more enterprising than the others, he determined, while obeying +the instructions of Captain Barney in the spirit, to disobey them in the +letter. + +He had been a sufferer to the extent of two great wales on the calves of +his legs by the treason of the squire, and no doubt he thought he ought to +be regarded as an exception to those who were called on to observe the +instructions of the chairman of the committee. Leaving the group of +inquiring minds near the front door of the house, he walked down the +driveway till he came to a rail fence, through which he crawled, and +entered the field adjoining the garden of the squire. His fellow-citizens, +men and boys, were too intently watching the house to heed him, and no one +noticed his enterprising movement. + +From the field, he entered the garden, and made his way to the rear of the +house. But even here, he was doomed to disappointment, for Mrs. Pemberton +had drawn her curtains. Our hero was not, however, to be utterly defeated, +and as the curtains had not been fitted by an accomplished upholsterer, +there were openings on either side, through which he might command a full +view of the interior of the room. + +Thomas proceeded slowly and cautiously to obtain a position which would +enable him to gratify his curiosity, and witness the humiliation of the +haughty squire. Beneath the window which, he had chosen to look through, +there was a cellar door, from which a pile of seaweed, placed upon it to +keep the frost out of the cellar, had just been removed. The adventurous +inquirer crept up the slippery boards, and gained the coveted position. He +could not only see the committee and the squire, but he could hear all +they said. He was perfectly delighted with the manner in which the captain +put the question to the squire; and when the latter ordered Fred to hang +out the flag, he was a little disposed to imitate the masculine occupants +of the hen-house, a short distance from his perch; but Tom, as we have +before intimated, had a very tolerable idea of the principles of strategy, +and had the self-possession to hold his tongue, and permit the triumphant +scene within to pass without a crow or a cheer. + +The battle had been fought and the victory won; and though Tom felt that +he was one of the victors, he deemed it prudent, for strategical reasons, +to commence a retreat. The cellar doors, as we have before hinted, were +very slippery, having been thoroughly soaked with moisture while covered +with the seaweed. When the hero of this unauthorized reconnoissance +wheeled about to commence his retreat, his feet incontinently slipped up +upon the inclined surface of the doors, and he came down heavily upon the +rotten boards. This, in itself, would have been but an inconsiderable +disaster, and he might still have withdrawn from the inconvenient +locality, if circumstances had not conspired against him, as circumstances +sometimes will, when they ought to be conciliatory and accommodating. The +force with which Tom fell upon the decayed boards was too much for them, +and the unlucky adventurer became another victim to the treachery of +rotten wood, which has hurled so many thousands from time into eternity. + +But Tom was not hurled so far as that on the present occasion, though for +all practical purposes, for the succeeding half hour, he might as well +have been a hundred fathoms under water, or beneath the wreck of a +twenty-ton locomotive at the bottom of the river. That cellar door was a +bad place to fall through, which may be accounted for on the supposition +that it was not made to fall through. In his downward progress, Tom had +unluckily struck his head against the side of the house; and when he +landed at the bottom of the stairs, he was utterly oblivious to all +distinctions between treason and loyalty. Tom was not killed, I need not +inform the ingenious reader, or this would otherwise have been the last +chapter of the story; but the poor fellow did not know whether he was dead +or alive. + +In fact, he had not sense enough left to consider the question at all; for +there he lay, in the gloom of the traitor's dark cellar, silent and +motionless--a solemn warning to all our young readers of the folly and +wickedness of indulging an illegal and sinful curiosity. It may seem cruel +and inhuman in us to forsake poor Tom in this sad plight; but we must, +nevertheless, go up stairs, in order that the sufferer may be duly and +properly relieved in due and proper season. + +When the committee of three, appointed by the indignant loyalists of +Pinchbrook, had completed their mission in the house of the squire, like +sensible men they proposed to leave; and they so expressed themselves, +through their spokesman, to the unwilling host. They put their hats on, +and moved into the front entry, whither they were followed by the +discomfited traitor. They had scarcely left the room before a tremendous +crash greeted the ears of that portion of the family which remained in the +apartment. This was the precise moment at which poor Tom Somers found +himself on the bottom of the cellar; or, to be entirely accurate, when he +lost himself on the bottom of the cellar. + +Mrs. Pemberton heard the crash, and she very naturally concluded that the +hour of retribution had actually come; that the terrible mob had commenced +the work of destruction. To her "fear-amazed" mind it seemed as though the +whole side of the house had fallen in, and, for a moment, she confidently +expected the chimneys would presently go by the board, and the roof come +thundering down upon the devoted heads of her outraged family. Perhaps, at +that terrible moment, she wished her husband had been like other women's +husbands, a true and loyal man, cheering the old flag, and hurling +harmless anathemas at the graceless rebels. + +But the chimney did not go by the board, nor the roof come thundering down +upon her head. There was not even a sound of destruction to be heard, and +the sides of the house seemed to be firm and decided in their intention to +maintain their perpendicular position. A few minutes later, when the +committee announced to the multitude the success of their undertaking, and +Fred had displayed the flag from the window, peal upon peal of stunning +huzzas saluted her ears, and the awful peril of the preceding moments +appeared to be averted. The squire, having closed and barricaded the +broken door as well as he could, returned to the room, with curses deep +and bitter upon his lips. He was not in the habit of swearing, but the +magnitude of the occasion seemed to justify the innovation, and he swore +hugely, roundly, awfully. He paced the room, ground his teeth, and stamped +upon the floor. + +"Father, did you hear that terrible racket just now?" asked Mrs. +Pemberton. "I thought the side of the house had fallen in." + +"What racket?" demanded the squire, pausing in his excited walk. + +"I am sure they have broken something." + +"It sounded as though it was down cellar," added Susan, the daughter. + +"What was it?" asked the father. + +"I don't know. It sounded like breaking boards. Do go down cellar, and +find out what it was." + +"The scoundrels!" roared the squire, as he rushed up and down the room +again with the fury of a madman. "I'll teach them to break into my house!" + +"Be calm, father," interposed Mrs. Pemberton, who, like most New England +mothers, called her husband by the title which belonged exclusively to the +children. + +"Calm? How can I be calm? Don't you hear the ruffians shout and yell?" + +"They are only cheering the flag." + +The squire muttered a malediction upon the flag, which would probably have +procured for him a coat of tar and feathers, if the mob had heard it. Mrs. +Pemberton was silent, for she had never seen her husband so moved before. +She permitted him to pace the room in his frenzy till his anger had, in +some measure, subsided. + +"I wish you would go down cellar and find out what that noise was," said +Mrs. Pemberton, as soon as she dared to speak again. "Perhaps some of them +are down there now. Who knows but they will set the house afire." + +Squire Pemberton was startled by this suggestion, and, seizing the lamp, +he rushed down cellar to prevent so dire a calamity. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ATTIC CHAMBER. + + +Squire Pemberton rushed down cellar. He was very much excited, and forgot +that he had been troubled with the rheumatism during the preceding winter. +When he opened the cellar door, he was considerably relieved to find that +no brilliant light saluted his expectant gaze. It was as cold and dark in +the cellar as it had been when he sorted over the last of his Warren +Russets, a few days before. + +It was certain, therefore, that the house was not on fire; and, +invigorated by this thought, he descended the stairs. A strong current of +fresh, cold air extinguished the light he carried. As this was contrary to +his usual experience when he went down cellar in the evening after an +apple or a mug of cider, it assured him that there was a screw loose +somewhere. Returning to the room above, he procured a lantern, and +proceeded to the cellar again to renew his investigations. + +The squire felt the cold blast of the April air, and immediately made his +way to the cellar door, holding the lantern up as high as his head, to +ascertain the nature of the mischief which the fanatical abolitionists had +perpetrated. He saw that the cellar door was broken through. The rotten +boards lay upon the steps, and with another malediction upon the mob, he +placed the lantern upon a barrel, and proceeded to repair the damage. As +he stepped forward, he stumbled against the body of the enterprising hero +of this volume, who lay as calm and still as a sleeping child. + +The squire started back, not a little alarmed at the sight of the +motionless body. He felt as though a terrible retribution had fallen upon +somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting to destroy his +property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the cellar stairs by which +he had descended, and stood there for a moment, his tongue paralyzed, and +his knees smiting each other, in the agony of terror. + +We do not know what he was afraid of, but we suppose that instinctive +dread which some people manifest in the presence of death, had completely +overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to be afraid of, for a dead man +is not half so likely to do a person an injury as a living one. But in a +few minutes Squire Pemberton in some measure recovered his +self-possession. + +"There is a dead man down here!" he called up the staircase, in quaking +tones. + +"Mercy on us!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton. "Who is he?" + +"I don't know," replied the squire. + +"Look and see who it is, father," added Mrs. Pemberton. "Perhaps he isn't +dead." + +"Stone dead," persisted the squire. "He fell into the cellar and broke his +neck." + +"Go and see who it is--will you?" + +"Well, you come down and hold the light," said the squire, who was not +quite willing to say that he was scared out of his wits. + +Mrs. Pemberton descended the stairs, followed by Susan and Fred, who had +just returned from the front window, where he had exhibited the flag, +which the crowd outside were still cheering. + +"Who can it be?" continued the old lady, as she slowly and cautiously +walked forward to the scene of the catastrophe. + +"I don't know," replied the squire, in whom the presence of his family had +spurred up a semblance of courage; for if a man ever is brave, it is in +the presence of his wife and children. "If it is one of the ruffians who +came here to destroy my house, I am glad he has lost his life in the +attempt. It is a righteous retribution upon him for his wickedness." + +Mrs. Pemberton took the lantern, and the squire, still excited and +terrified, bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. The victim +lay upon his face, and the squire had to turn him over to obtain a view of +his countenance. + +"I declare it is one of the Somers boys!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton, as her +husband brought the face of Thomas to her view. + +"The young villain!" ejaculated the squire. "It is lucky he was killed, or +the house would have been in flames before this time. He is a desperate +young scoundrel." + +"But he isn't dead, father!" said Mrs. Pemberton, as she knelt upon the +cold ground, and felt the pulse of the insensible boy. "He is only +stunned." + +"I am sorry for it. If it had killed him, it would have served him right," +added the squire, who had suddenly become as bold as a lion--as bold as +two lions. + +"Come, father, let's carry him up stairs, and put him to bed." + +"Do you think I am going to do anything for this young scoundrel!" +exclaimed the squire, indignantly. "Why, he stoned Fred and me to-day, and +stoned the horse, and made him run away and break the chaise all to +pieces." + +"But we mustn't leave him here in this situation. He may die." + +"Let him die." + +"But what will folks say?" + +The more humane wife evidently understood the weak point of the squire, +for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could have induced +him to set at defiance the public sentiment of Pinchbrook. + +"Well, carry him up stairs then; but he never will get out of my house +till he has been severely punished for his crimes." + +The squire and Fred took hold of the senseless form of poor Tom, and +carried it up stairs, where it was placed upon the sofa in the sitting +room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being "an excellent hand in +sickness," and she immediately applied herself to the duty of restoring +the sufferer to consciousness. + +"Don't you think you had better go after the doctor, father?" asked the +good woman. "Some of his bones may be broken, or he may be injured +inwardly." + +"I shall not go for any doctor," snarled the squire. "Do you think I will +trust myself out doors while that howling mob is hanging round the house?" + +"Fred can go," suggested Susan. + +"He can, but he shall not," growled the squire, throwing himself into his +arm chair in the corner, with an appearance of indifference and unconcern, +which were far from representing the actual state of his mind. + +Mrs. Pemberton said no more, but she and Susan went to work upon the +sufferer with camphor and hartshorn in good earnest, and in a short time +they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. They continued the +treatment for some time longer, with the most satisfactory result, till +Tom astonished them by jumping off the sofa, and standing up in the middle +of the room. He rubbed his forehead, hunched up his left shoulder, and +felt of his shins. + +"Are you hurt, Thomas?" asked Mrs. Pemberton, with more of tenderness in +her tones than the squire deemed proper for the occasion. + +"No, marm, I guess not," replied Tom. "My shoulder feels a little stiff, +and I think I barked one of my shins; but I shall be as good as new by +to-morrow." + +But there was an ugly bump on the side of his head, which he had not yet +discovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He acknowledged the bump, +but declared it was only a little sore and would be all right by the next +day. + +"I feel pretty well," continued Tom, "and I guess I'll go home now." + +"I think you won't, young man," interposed Squire Pemberton. + +Tom looked at him, and for the first time since he had come to himself, he +remembered in what manner he had received his injuries. He immediately +came to the conclusion that he had got into a bad scrape. He was in the +house of, and in the presence of, his great enemy. The events of the day +passed in rapid succession through his mind, and he could not help +thinking that he was destined to be the first victim in Pinchbrook to the +war spirit which had just been awakened all over the country. + +The squire thought he would not go home, which was as much as to say he +would not let him go home. Tom's wits were a little confused, after the +hard knock he had received upon the head, and all he could do was to stand +and look at the oracle of Pinchbrook, and wait for further developments. + +"Young man," said the squire, sternly, and in tones that were intended to +make a deep impression upon the mind of the young man, "your time has +come." + +The squire paused, and looked at the culprit to ascertain the effect of +the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be perfectly cool, and was +not annihilated by the suggestive remark of the great man of Pinchbrook. + +"You have become a midnight marauder," added the squire, poetically. + +"It isn't seven o'clock yet," said Tom pointing to the great wooden clock +in the corner of the room. + +"You joined a mob to pillage and destroy the property of a peaceable +citizen. You broke in--" + +"No, sir; the cellar door broke in," interposed the culprit. + +"You broke into my house to set it afire!" continued the squire, in a +rage. + +"No, sir, I did not. I only went round there to see the fun," replied Tom, +pointing to the rear of the house; "and the cellar door broke down and let +me in. I did not mean to do you or your house any harm; and I didn't do +any, except breaking the cellar door, and I will have that mended." + +"Don't tell me, you young villain! You meant to burn my house." + +"No, I didn't mean any thing of the kind," replied Tom, stoutly. "I was +going off when the door broke down. The boards were rotten, and I should +think a man like you ought to have better cellar doors than those are." + +The squire didn't relish this criticism, especially from the source whence +it came. There was a want of humility on the part of the culprit which the +magnate of Pinchbrook thought would be exceedingly becoming in a young man +in his situation. The absence of it made him more angry than before. He +stormed and hurled denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the +mischief he had done during the day, and alluded in strong terms to that +which he intended to perpetrate in the "dead watches of the night"--which +was the poetical rendering of half-past six in the evening; for the squire +was fond of effective phrases. + +Tom ventured to hint that a man who would not stand by his country when +her flag was insulted and "trailed in the dust"--Tom had read the daily +papers--ought to be brought to his senses by such expedients as his +fellow-citizens might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the +squire's wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon the unlucky +youth, which was that he should be taken to the finished room in the +attic, and confined there under bolts and bars till the inquisitor should +further declare and execute his intentions. + +Mrs. Pemberton and Susan remonstrated against this sentence, prudently +suggesting the consequences which might result from detaining the boy. But +the squire declared he should not go till he had at least horsewhipped +him; and if there was any justice left in the land, he would send him to +the county jail in the morning. + +Tom wanted to resist the execution of his sentence, but he was still weak +from the effects of his fall, and he could not expect to vanquish both the +squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, he permitted himself to +be led to the attic chamber. The squire thrust him into the room, and +after carefully securing the door, left our hero to meditate upon the +reverse of fortune which had overtaken him. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAY IS PREPARED. + + +"Where do you suppose Thomas is?" said Mrs. Somers, as she glanced at the +clock, which indicated half-past nine. + +"I don't know," replied John. "He can't be a great ways off. I saw him in +front of the squire's house when the committee went in." + +"The boy's gone down to the Harbor again with the rest of the folks, +talking about the war," added gran'ther Greene, as he rose from his chair, +and hobbled into his chamber adjoining the kitchen. + +At ten o'clock, the mother began to be a little uneasy; and at eleven, +even John had some fears that all was not well with his brother. Neither +of them was able to suggest anything that could possibly have happened to +the absentee. There had been no battle fought, and so nobody could have +been killed. There had been no violence used in the transactions of the +evening further than breaking in the front door of Squire Pemberton, so +that it was not easy to believe that any accident had happened to him. + +John had given a glowing account of the proceedings at the house of the +squire and the family had been much interested and excited by the stirring +narrative. His mother was perfectly satisfied, as no one had been injured, +and hoped the great man of Pinchbrook would be brought to his senses. All +these topics had been fully discussed during the evening. John had +informed his mother that Captain Benson, who had formerly commanded the +Pinchbrook Riflemen, intended to raise a company for the war. He mentioned +the names of half a dozen young men who had expressed their desire to +join. The family had suggested that this and that man would go, and thus +the long evening passed away. + +"I don't see what has become of Thomas," said Mrs. Somers, when the clock +struck eleven, as she rose from her chair and looked out of the window. + +"Well, I don't see, either," replied John. "I don't believe there is +anything going on at this time of night." + +"I hope nothing has happened to him," continued the anxious mother, as she +went to the door and looked out, hoping, perhaps, to discover him in the +gloom of the night, or to hear his familiar step. + +"What could have happened to him?" asked John, who did not believe his +brother was fool enough to fall overboard, or permit any serious accident +to happen to him. + +"I don't know. I can't see what has got the boy. He always comes home +before nine o'clock. Have you heard him say anything that will give you an +idea where he is?" + +"He hasn't said anything to me." + +"Try, and see if you can't think of something," persisted the anxious +mother. + +"He hasn't talked of anything but the war since yesterday morning." + +"What did he say?" + +"I don't know, now," answered John, musing. "He said he should like to +join the army, and go down and fight the rebels." + +Mrs. Somers had heard as much from him, but she had given no particular +attention to his remarks on this subject, for they seemed wild and +visionary. John's words, under the present circumstances, appeared to be +full of importance; and taking her stocking, she seated herself before the +stove, and resumed her knitting. She was silent now, for her heart was +heavy with the premonitions of impending trouble. + +"I will take a walk down to the Harbor, mother, and see if I can find +anything of him. There may be something going on there that I don't know +about. He may be at the store, talking about the war with Captain Barney +and the rest of the folks." + +Mrs. Somers offered no objection to this plan, and John put on his cap, +and left the house. The poor mother brooded upon her trouble for another +hour, and with every new moment, the trouble seemed more real. The clock +struck twelve before John returned; and more than once during his absence, +as she plied her needles, she had wiped away a tear that hung among the +furrows of her care-worn cheek. She had been thinking of her husband, as +well as of her son. He was, or soon would be, in the midst of the +traitors, and she trembled for him. Uncle Wyman was a secessionist; and, +beyond this, she had not much confidence in his integrity, and if Captain +Somers came home at all, his property would all be swept away, and he +would be a beggar. + +The events of that day were not calculated to conciliate Squire Pemberton +towards them, and the farm and the cottage would pass away from them. All +these things had been considered and reconsidered by the devoted mother. +Poverty and want seemed to stare her in the face; and to add to all these +troubles, Thomas did not come home, and, as fond mothers will, she +anticipated the worst. + +John entered the kitchen, and carelessly flung his cap upon the table. +Mrs. Somers looked at him, and waited patiently to hear any intelligence +he might bring. But John threw himself into a chair, looking more gloomy +than before he left the house. He did not speak, and therefore he had no +good news to tell. + +"You didn't see anything of him--did you?" asked Mrs. Somers; but it was a +useless question, for she had already interpreted the meaning of his +downcast looks. + +"No, mother; there isn't a man, woman, or child stirring in the village; +and I didn't see a light in a single house." + +"What do you suppose can have become of him?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Tom is old enough and smart enough to take care of +himself." + +"It's very strange." + +"So it is. I haven't any idea what has become of him." + +"Did you look around Squire Pemberton's house, where he was seen last?" + +"I looked about on both sides of the road, going and coming from the +Harbor. I whistled all the way, and if he had been any where round, he +would have whistled back, as he always does." + +"What do you _suppose_ has become of him?" demanded the poor mother, +worried beyond expression at the mysterious disappearance of her son. + +"I can't tell, mother." + +"Don't you think we had better call up the neighbors, and have something +done about it?" + +"I don't know," replied John, hardly less anxious than his mother. + +"I don't suppose they would be able to find him if we did," added Mrs. +Somers, wiping away the tears from her face. + +"I can't think anything has happened to him, mother. If he had been on the +water, or anything of that kind, I should feel worse about it." + +"If I only knew where he was, I shouldn't feel so bad about it," said she; +and her position, certainly, was a reasonable one. + +"What's the matter, sister?" called gran'ther Greene, from his chamber. +"Hasn't that boy got home yet?" + +"No, he hasn't come yet, and I am worried to death about him," replied +Mrs. Somers, opening the door of her brother's room. + +"What o'clock is it?" + +"After twelve. Thomas never stayed out so late in his life before. What do +you suppose has become of him?" + +"Law sake! I haven't the leastest idea," answered the old man. "Thomas is +a smart boy, and knows enough to keep out of trouble." + +"That's what I say," added John, who had unlimited confidence in his +brother's ability to take care of himself. + +"I'll tell you what _I_ think, John," said Mrs. Somers, throwing herself +into her chair with an air of desperation. + +But she did not tell John what she thought: on the contrary, she sat +rocking herself in silence, as though her thought was too big and too +momentous for utterance. + +"Well, what do you think, mother?" asked John, when he had waited a +reasonable time for her to express her opinion on the exciting topic. + +Mrs. Somers rocked herself more violently than before, and made no reply. + +"What were you going to say?" + +"I think the boy has gone off to Boston, and gone into the army," replied +she, desperately, as though she had fully made up her mind to commit +herself to this belief. + +"Do you think so, mother?" + +"I feel almost sure of it." + +"I don't think so, mother. Tom wouldn't have gone off without saying +something to me about it." + +"If he wouldn't say it to me, he wouldn't be likely to say it to you, +John. It don't look a bit like Thomas to go off and leave his mother in +this way," moaned the poor woman, wiping away a deluge of tears that now +poured from her eyes. + +"I don't believe he has done any such thing, mother," protested John. + +"I feel almost certain about it, now. If the boy wanted to go, and +couldn't stay at home, he ought to have told me so." + +"He did say he wanted to go." + +"I didn't think he really meant it. I want my boys to love their country, +and be ready to fight for it. Much as I should hate to part with them, if +they are needed, they may go; but I don't like to have them run away and +leave me in this mean way. I shouldn't feel half so bad if I knew Thomas +was in the army now, as I do to think he ran away from home, just as +though he had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he +wouldn't be a son of mine if he wasn't ready to go and fight for his +country, and die for her too, if there was any need of it. I didn't think +Thomas would serve me in this way." + +"I don't believe he has." + +"I know he's gone. I like his spunk, but if he had only come to me and +said he _must_ go, I wouldn't have said a word; but to go off without +bidding us good by--it's too bad, and I didn't think Thomas would do such +a thing." + +Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the highest state +of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not adequate to the duty +required of them, and nothing less than the whole floor of the kitchen was +sufficient for the proper venting of her emotion. + +"Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him leave to go, +even if he had teased you for a month?" asked John. + +"Certainly I should," replied his mother, stopping short in the middle of +the floor. "I'm ready and willing to have my boys fight for their country, +but I don't want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a +hen-roost, and without even saying good by to me." + +"If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him go?" demanded +John, earnestly. + +"Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don't think there is any need of boys +like him going, when there are men enough to do the fighting." + +"You told Tom he shouldn't go." + +"Well, I didn't think he really meant it. If he had--What's that, John?" +asked she, suddenly, as a noise at the window attracted her attention. + +"Only the cat, mother." + +"If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was need of your +going, I wouldn't have kept either of you at home. I would go to the +poorhouse first. My father and my brother both fought for their country, +and my sons shall when their country wants them." + +"Then you are willing Tom should go?" + +"I am, but not to have him sneak off like a sheep-stealer." + +"Three cheers for you, mother!" shouted Thomas, as he threw up the window +at which he had been standing for some ten minutes listening to this +interesting conversation. + +"Where have you been, Thomas?" exclaimed the delighted mother. + +"Open the door, Jack, and let me in, and I will tell you all about it," +replied the absentee. + +"Come in; the door isn't locked," said John. + +He came in; and what he had to tell will interest the reader as well as +his mother and his brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE. + + +Tom Somers was an enterprising young man, as our readers have already +discovered; and when the door of the finished room in the attic of Squire +Pemberton's house was fastened upon him, he was not at all disposed to +submit to the fate which appeared to be in store for him. The idea of +becoming a victim to the squire's malice was not to be entertained, and he +threw himself upon the bed to devise some means by which he might make his +escape. + +The prospect was not encouraging, for there was only one window in the +chamber, and the distance to the ground was suggestive of broken limbs, if +not of a broken neck. Tom had read the Life of Baron Trenck, and of +Stephen Burroughs, but the experience of neither of these worthies seemed +to be available on the present occasion. + +As the family had not yet retired, it would not be safe to commence +operations for some hours. The stale, commonplace method of tying the +sheets and blankets together, and thus forming a rope by which he could +descend to the ground, occurred to him; but he had not much confidence in +the project. He lay quietly on the bed till he heard the clocks on the +churches at the Harbor strike twelve. It was time then, if ever, for the +family to be asleep, and he decided to attempt an escape by another means +which had been suggested to him. If it failed, he could then resort to the +old-fashioned way of going down on the rope made of sheets and blankets. + +The apartment in which Tom was confined was not what people in the country +call an "upright chamber." The sides of the room were about four feet in +height; and a section of the apartment would have formed one half of an +irregular octagon. In each side of the chamber there was a small door, +opening into the space near the eaves of the house, which was used to +store old trunks, old boxes, the disused spinning-wheel, and other lumber +of this description. Tom had been in the attic before, and he remembered +these doors, through one of which he now proposed to make his escape. + +When the clock struck twelve, he cautiously rose from the bed, and pulled +off his boots, which a proper respect for his host or the bed had not +prompted him to do before. The house was old, and the floors had a +tendency to creak beneath his tread. With the utmost care, he crawled on +his hands and knees to one of the doors of the lumber hole, which he +succeeded in opening without much noise. + +Making his way in among the old boxes, trunks, and spinning-wheels, he was +fully embarked in his difficult venture. The dust which he stirred up in +his progress produced an almost irresistible desire to sneeze, which Lord +Dundreary might have been happy to indulge, but which might have been +fatal to the execution of Tom Somers's purpose. He rubbed his nose, and +held his handkerchief over the intractable member, and succeeded in +overcoming its dangerous tendency. His movements were necessarily very +slow, for he was in constant dread lest some antiquated relic of the past +should tumble over, and thus disturb the slumbers of the family who +occupied the chambers below. + +But in spite of the perils and difficulties that environed his path, there +was something exciting and exhilarating in the undertaking. It was a real +adventure, and, as such, Tom enjoyed it. As he worked his way through the +labyrinth of antiquities, he could not but picture to himself the surprise +and chagrin of Squire Pemberton, when he should come up to the attic +chamber to wreak his vengeance upon him. He could see the magnate of +Pinchbrook start, compress his lips and clinch his fists, when he found +the bird had flown. + +"Better not crow till I get out of the woods," said he to himself, while +his imagination was still busy upon the agreeable picture. + +After a series of trials and difficulties which our space does not permit +us to describe in full, Tom emerged from the repository of antiquities, +and stood in the open space in front of the finished chamber. With one +boot in each hand, he felt his way to the stairs, and descended to the +entry over the front door. All obstacles now seemed to be overcome, for he +had nothing to do but go down stairs and walk out. + +It often happens, amid the uncertainties of this unstable world, that we +encounter the greatest trials and difficulties precisely where we expect +to find none. As Tom walked along the entry, with one hand on the rail +that protected the staircase to guide him, he struck his foot against the +pole upon which Fred Pemberton had suspended the flag out of the window. +It was very careless of the squire, when he took the flag in, to leave the +stick in that unsafe position, for one of his own family might have +stumbled against it, and broken a leg or an arm, or possibly a neck; and +if it might have been a "cause of offence" to one of the Pembertons, it +certainly laid a grievous burden upon the shoulders of poor Tom Somers. + +When the pole fell, it made a tremendous racket, as all poles will when +they fall just at the moment when they ought to stand up, and be decent +and orderly. This catastrophe had the effect to quicken the steps of the +young man. He reached the stairs, and had commenced a rapid descent, when +the door of the squire's room, which was on the lower floor, opened, and +Tom found himself flanked in that direction. + +"Who's there? What's that?" demanded the squire, in hurried, nervous +tones. + +Tom was so impolite as to make no reply to these pressing interrogatories, +but quickly retreated in the direction from which he had come. + +"Wife, light the lamp, quick," said the squire, in the hall below. + +Just then a door opened on the other side of the entry where Tom stood, +and he caught a faint glimpse of a figure robed in white. Though it was +the solemn hour of midnight, and Tom, I am sorry to say, had read the +Three Spaniards, and Mysteries of Udolpho, he rejected the suggestion that +the "sheeted form" might be a ghost. + +"Who's there?" called the squire again. + +A romantic little scream from the figure in white assured Tom that Miss +Susan was the enemy immediately on his front. Then he caught the glimmer +of the light below, which Mrs. Pemberton had procured, and the race seemed +to be up. Concealment was no longer practicable, and he seized upon the +happy suggestion that the window opening upon the portico over the front +door was available as a means of egress. + +Springing to the window, he raised it with a prompt and vigorous hand, and +before the squire could ascend the stairs, he was upon the roof of the +portico. Throwing his boots down, he grasped the gutter, and "hung off." +He was now on _terra firma_, and all his trials appeared to have reached a +happy termination; but here again he was doomed to disappointment. + +"Bow, wow, wow-er, woo, row!" barked and growled the squire's big bull +dog, when he came to realize that some unusual occurrences were +transpiring. + +The animal was a savage brute, and was kept chained in the barn during the +day, and turned loose when the squire made his last visit to the cattle +about nine in the evening. Tom was thoroughly alarmed when this new enemy +confronted him; but fortunately he had the self-possession to stand his +ground, and not attempt to run away, otherwise the dog would probably have +torn him in pieces. + +"Come here, Tige! Poor fellow! Come here! He's a good fellow! Don't you +know me, Tige?" said Tom, whose only hope seemed to be in conciliation and +compromise. + +If Tige knew him, he appeared to be very unwilling to acknowledge the +acquaintance under the present suspicious circumstances, and at this +unseemly hour. The brute barked, snarled, howled, and growled, and +manifested as strong an indisposition to compromise as a South Carolina +fire-eater. He placed himself in front of the hero of the night's +adventure, as resolute and as intractable as though he had known all the +facts in the case, and intended to carry out to the letter the wishes of +his master. + +Tom slowly retreated towards the garden fence, the dog still following him +up. He had tried coaxing and conciliation, and they had failed. As he +cautiously backed from the house, his feet struck against a heavy cart +stake, which seemed to suggest his next resort. He was well aware that any +quick movement on his part would cause the dog to spring upon him. Placing +his toe under the stake, he raised it with his foot, till he could reach +it with his hand, keeping his gaze fixed upon the eyes of the dog, which +glared like fiery orbs in the gloom of the hour. + +Tige saw the stick, and he appeared to have a wholesome respect for it--a +sentiment inspired by sundry beatings, intended to cure a love of mutton +on the hoof, or beef on the shelf. The brute retreated a few paces; but at +this moment Squire Pemberton appeared at the front door, with a lantern in +his hand. He understood the "situation" at a glance. + +"Take him, Tige! Stu' boy!" shouted the squire. + +The dog snarled an encouraging reply to this suggestion, and moved up +towards the fugitive. Tom's courage was equal to the occasion, and he +levelled a blow at the head of the bull dog, which, if it had hit him +fairly, must have smashed in his skull. As it was, the blow was a heavy +one, and Tige retreated; but the shouts of the squire rallied him, and he +rushed forward to the onslaught again. + +Tom, as we have before had occasion to suggest, was a master of strategy, +and instead of another stroke at the head of his savage foe, with only one +chance in ten of hitting the mark he commenced swinging it vigorously to +the right and left, as a mower does his scythe. His object was to hit the +legs of the dog--a plan which was not entirely original with him, for he +had seen it adopted with signal success by a fisherman at the Harbor. The +consequence of this change of tactics was soon apparent, for Tige got a +rap on the fore leg, which caused him to yelp with pain, and retire from +the field. While the dog moved off in good order in one direction, Tom +effected an equally admirable retreat in the other direction. + +On reaching the road, he pulled on his boots, which he had picked up after +the discomfiture of his canine antagonist. Squire Pemberton still stood at +the door trying to bring Tige to a sense of his duty in the trying +emergency; but the brute had more regard for his own shins than he had for +the mandate of his master, and the victor was permitted to bear away his +laurels without further opposition. + +When he reached his father's house, supposing the front door was locked, +he went to the kitchen window, where he had heard the patriotic remarks of +his mother. Tom told his story in substance as we have related it. + +"Do you mean what you have said, mother?" inquired he, when he had +finished his narrative. + +Mrs. Somers bit her lip in silence for a moment. + +"Certainly I do, Thomas," said she, desperately. + +It was half-past one when the boys retired, but it was another hour before +Tom's excited brain would permit him to sleep. His head was full of a big +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SIGNING THE PAPERS. + + +Thomas went to sleep at last, and, worn out by the fatigue and excitement +of the day, he slept long and soundly. His mother did not call him till +eight o'clock, and it was nine before he reached the store of his +employer, where the recital of the adventure of the preceding night proved +to be a sufficient excuse for his non-appearance at the usual hour. + +In the course of the week Captain Benson had procured the necessary +authority to raise a company for three years or for the war. When he +exhibited his papers, he found twenty persons ready to put down their +names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, and every day added to +the list of brave and self-denying men who were ready to go forward and +fight the battles of liberty and union. The excitement in Pinchbrook was +fanned by the news which each day brought of the zeal and madness of the +traitors. + +Thomas had made up his mind, even before his mother had been surprised +into giving her consent, that he should go to the war. At the first +opportunity, therefore, he wrote his name upon the paper, very much to the +astonishment of Captain Benson and his employer. + +"How old are you, Tom?" asked the captain. + +"I'm in my seventeenth year," replied the soldier boy. + +"You are not old enough." + +"I'm three months older than Sam Thompson; and you didn't even ask him how +old he was." + +"He is larger and heavier than you are!" + +"I can't help that. I'm older than he is, and I think I can do as much in +the way of fighting as he can." + +"I don't doubt that," added the captain, laughing. "Your affair with +Squire Pemberton shows that you have pluck enough for anything. I should +be very glad to have you go; but what does your father say?" + +"He hasn't said anything. He isn't at home. He went away before Sumter was +fired upon by the rebels." + +"True--I remember. What does your mother say?" + +"O, she is willing." + +"Are you sure, Tom?" + +"Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she can give her +consent, and she will sign it." + +Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to dinner, he +presented it to his mother for her signature. + +"I hope you won't back out, mother," said he, as she put on her +spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the contents of the document. + +"Back out of what, Thomas?" + +"I've signed the muster roll, and I belong to Captain Benson's company +now." + +"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, and gazing earnestly +into the face of the young man, to discover whether he was in earnest. + +"Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed the papers; but +Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so that there shall be no +mistake about it." + +The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the thought of +having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp and the march, the +skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and nothing but the most exalted +patriotism could induce a mother to give a son to his country. + +"I don't want to sign this paper, Thomas," said she, when she had finished +reading it. + +"Have you forgot what you said the other night, mother?" + +"No, I haven't forgot it, and I feel now just as I did then. If there is +any real need of your going, I am willing you should go." + +"Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President wasn't joking +when he called for seventy-five thousand men." + +"But there are enough to go without you." + +"That's just what everybody might say, and then there wouldn't be anybody +to go." + +"But you are young, and not very strong." + +"I'm old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a day to myself, I +don't think it's any great hardship to carry father's heavy fowling-piece +from sunrise to sunset; and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as +long as any of them." + +"You are only a boy." + +"I shall be a man soon enough." + +"When you have gone, John will want to go too." + +"No, mother, I don't want to go into the army," said John, with a sly wink +at his brother. "I shall never be a soldier if I can help it." + +"What am I going to do, if you all go off and leave me?" added Mrs. +Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear which was struggling for birth in +her fountain of sorrows. + +"I don't think you will want for anything, mother. I'm sure I wouldn't +leave you, if I thought you would. I don't get but two dollars and a half +a week in the store, and I shall have eleven dollars a month in the army, +and it won't cost me any thing for board or clothes. I will send every +dollar I get home to you." + +"You are a good boy, Thomas," replied Mrs. Somers, unable any longer to +restrain the tear. + +"I know you and John both will do every thing you can for me. If your +father was only at home, I should feel different about it." + +"He would believe in my fighting for my country, if he were here." + +"I know he would," said Mrs. Somers, as she took the pen which Thomas +handed her, and seated herself at the table. "If you are determined to go, +I suppose you will go, whether I am willing or not." + +"No, mother, I will not," added Thomas, decidedly. "I shouldn't have +signed the muster roll if you hadn't said you were willing. And if you say +now that you won't consent, I will take my name off the paper." + +"But you want to go--don't you?" + +"I do; there's no mistake about that: but I won't go if you are not +willing." + +Mrs. Somers wrote her name upon the paper. It was a slow and difficult +operation to her, and during the time she was thus occupied, the rest of +the family watched her in silent anxiety. Perhaps, if she had not +committed herself on the eventful night when she fully believed that +Thomas had run away and joined the army, she might have offered more and +stronger objections than she now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism +in her nature, which she had inherited from her father, who had fought at +Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and Germantown, and which had been exemplified in +the life of her brother; and this, more than any other consideration, +induced her to sign the paper. + +Thousands of loving and devoted mothers have given their sons to their +country in the same holy enthusiasm that inspired her. She was not a +solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both her sons had been +men, instead of boys, she would not have interposed a single objection to +their departure upon a mission so glorious as that to which Thomas had now +devoted himself. + +"There's my name, Thomas," said his mother, as she took off her +spectacles. "I've done it, and you have my free consent. You've always +been a good boy, and I hope you will always be a good soldier." + +"I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I turn my back to a +rebel, I hope you'll disown me." + +"Good, Tom!" exclaimed John, who had been deeply interested in the event +of the hour. + +"Well, Thomas, I'd rather face two rebels than that bull dog you fit with +t'other night," added gran'ther Greene. "You are as bold as a lion, +Thomas." + +"Do you think I can stand it, gran'ther?" added Tom, with a smile. + +"Stand it? Well, Thomas, it's a hard life to be a soldier, and I know +something about it. When we marched from--" + +"Dinner's ready," interposed Mrs. Somers, for gran'ther Greene had marched +that march so many times that every member of the family knew it by heart. + +"There's one good thing about it, Tom," said John: "you have got a +first-rate captain." + +"I'm thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for if there ever was a +Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man," added Mrs. Somers. + +"And all the company will be your own friends and neighbors," said +gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you. I know something +about this business. When we marched from--" + +"Have some more beans, brother?" asked Mrs. Somers. "You will be among +your friends, Thomas, as gran'ther says." + +"That's a great thing, I can tell you," added the veteran. "Soldiers +should stick together like brothers, and feel that they are fighting for +each other, as well as for the country. Then, when you're sick, you want +friends. When we marched from Sackett's Harbor, there was a young +feller--" + +"Have some more tea, brother?" + +"Part of a cup, Nancy," replied the old man, who never took offence even +when the choicest stories of his military experience were nipped in the +bud. + +After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed to him +like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt that he belonged +to his country now, and that the honor of that old flag, which had been +insulted by traitors, was committed to his keeping. He was taking up the +work where his grandfather had left it. He was going forth to fight for +his country, and the thought inspired him with a noble and generous +enthusiasm, before which all the aspirations of his youth vanished. + +As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a pitying +reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full of the great +event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even think of the +exciting incidents which had occurred there. He had neither seen nor heard +any thing of the squire since he had escaped from the attic chamber. + +Just beyond the squire's house he met Captain Barney, who was riding up to +the town hall. + +"What's this I hear of you, Tom?" demanded the captain, as he reined in +his horse. "They say you have joined the company." + +"Yes, sir. I have." + +"Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as a brigadier +general. What does your mother say?" + +"I have her written consent in my pocket." + +"All right. God bless you, my boy!" said the old salt, as he started his +horse. + +"Thank you, sir. There's only one thing that troubles me." + +"Eh? What's that, my boy?" demanded Captain Barney as he reined up the +horse again. + +"I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire Pemberton's the other +night." + +"Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn't want to keelhaul the old traitor +when I heard of it." + +"I don't care anything about the scrape, sir; only I'm afraid the squire +will bother my mother when I'm gone," said Thomas, with some diffidence. + +"If he does, he'll settle the matter with Jack Barney," replied the +captain, decidedly. + +"My father may never come back, you know, and if he does he will be a +beggar. He owes the squire a note, which will be due in June." + +"I'll pay it myself!" roared Captain Barney. "Go and fight for your +country, Tom, like a man. I'll call and see your mother once a week, or +every day in the week, if you say so. She shall not want for any thing as +long as I have a shot in the locker." + +"Thank you, Captain Barney; thank you, sir." + +"I'll take care of your mother, my lad, and I'll take care of the squire. +He shall not foreclose that mortgage, Tom. Don't bother your head about +any of those things. You're a good boy, Tom, and I'll keep every thing all +right at home." + +"Thank you, sir," repeated the soldier boy, as Captain Barney started his +horse again. + +The captain was a retired shipmaster, of ample means, and Tom knew that he +was not only able, but willing, to do all he had promised. His heart was +lighter; a load had been removed from his mind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE DEPARTURE. + + +At the time of which we write, recruiting officers were not very +particular in regard to the age of those whom they received into the +volunteer army. If the young man seemed to have the requisite physical +qualifications, it was of little consequence what his age was; and Tom +Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very good soldier. + +Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the young +recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary legal form, but +because he was acquainted with his father and mother, and would not +willingly have done any thing to displease them. The matter, therefore, +was disposed of to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, and Tom +actually commenced his career as a soldier boy. He immediately resigned +his situation in the store, for the company now numbered forty men, not +half a dozen of whom had any knowledge whatever of military drill. + +As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to lose the +time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into the service of +the United States, the town voted to pay each man fifteen dollars a month +for three months. This generous and patriotic action of the town rejoiced +the heart of Tom Somers, for his mother actually needed the pittance he +had earned at the store. Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband; +but the destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several +northern vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in +that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up between the +North and the South, and she not only feared that Captain Somers had lost +all his worldly possessions, but that he would hardly be able to escape +himself from the fiery furnace of secession and treason. + +To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She foresaw that +she and her family would be subjected to the pressure of want, or at least +be dependent upon the kindness of friends for support. She had freely +stated her fears to her children, and fully exhibited the insufficiency of +the family resources. The vote of the town was a perfect godsend to Tom, +and a fat legacy from a rich relative would not have kindled a stronger +feeling of gratitude in his soul. + +For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, and +evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The company +was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then attached to +the --th regiment, which had just been formed and ordered to Fort Warren. + +On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic citizens of +Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful farewell of his +mother, his brother and sisters, and a score of anxious friends. + +"Now don't let the rebels hit you in the backbone, Thomas," said gran'ther +Green, as he shook the hand of the soldier boy. + +"No, gran'ther; if I can't fight, I won't run away," replied Tom. + +"You've got good blood in your veins, my boy: don't disgrace it. I don't +know as you'll ever see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;" and the old +man turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his wrinkled +cheek. + +"Be a good boy, Thomas," added his mother. + +"I will, mother." + +"And remember what I've been telling you. I'm not half so much afraid of +your being killed by a bullet, as I am of your being ruined by bad men." + +"You needn't fear any thing of that kind, mother." + +"I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as well as from your +enemies. We shall see you again before you go off, I hope." + +"Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet." + +"Don't forget to read your Testament, Thomas," said Mrs. Somers. + +"I won't, mother," replied the soldier boy, as he again shook hands with +all the members of the family, kissed his mother and his sisters, and +hitching up his knapsack, took his place in the ranks. + +His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender scene he +had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his inclination to weep, +but he could no longer restrain the tears. Suddenly they came like a flood +bursting the gates that confined it, and he choked and sobbed like a +little girl. He leaned upon his musket, covering his face with his arm. + +"It's a hard case," said private Hapgood, who stood next to him in the +ranks. + +"I didn't think it would take me down like this," sobbed Tom. + +"Don't blubber, Tom. Let's go off game," added Ben Lethbridge, who stood +on the other side of him. + +"I can't help it, Ben." + +"Yes, you can--dry up! Soldiers don't cry, Tom." + +"Yes, they do, my boy," said Hapgood, who was a little old man, nearly ten +years beyond the period of exemption from military duty. "I don't blame +Tom for crying, and, in my opinion, he'll fight all the better for it." + +"Perhaps he will, old un; but I don't think much of a soldier that +blubbers like a baby. I hope he won't run away when he sees the rebels +coming," sneered Ben. + +"If he does, he'll have a chance to see how thick the heels of your boots +are," answered the old man. + +"What do you mean by that, old un?" demanded Ben. + +"Attention--company! Shoulder--arms! Forward--march!" said the captain; +and the discussion was prevented from proceeding any further. + +The band, which was at the head of the citizens' column, struck up an +inspiring march, and Tom dried his tears. The escort moved off, followed +by the company. They passed the little cottage of Captain Somers, and Tom +saw the whole family except John, who was in the escort, standing at the +front gate. The old soldier swung his hat, Tom's sisters and his mother +waved their handkerchiefs; but when they saw the soldier boy, they had to +use them for another purpose. Tom felt another upward pressure in the +region of the throat; but this time he choked down his rising emotions, +and saved himself from the ridicule of his more callous companion on the +left. + +In violation of military discipline, he turned his head to take one last, +fond look at the home he was leaving behind. It might be the last time he +should ever gaze on that loved spot, now a thousand times more dear than +ever before. Never had he realized the meaning of home; never before had +he felt how closely his heart's tendrils were entwined about that hallowed +place. Again, in spite of his firmness and fortitude, and in spite of the +sneers of Ben Lethbridge, he felt the hot tears sliding down his cheek. + +When he reached the brow of the hill which would soon hide the little +cottage from his view, perhaps forever, he gazed behind him again, to take +his last look at the familiar spot. His mother and sister still stood at +the front gate watching the receding column in which the son and the +brother was marching away to peril and perhaps death. + +"God bless my mother! God bless them all!" were the involuntary +ejaculations of the soldier boy, as he turned away from the hallowed +scene. + +But the memory of that blessed place, sanctified by the presence of those +loving and devoted ones, was shrined in the temple of his heart, ever to +go with him in camp and march, in the perils of battle and siege, to keep +him true to his God, true to himself, and true to those whom he had left +behind him. That last look at home and those that make it home, like the +last fond gaze we bestow on the loved and the lost, was treasured up in +the garner of the heart's choicest memories, to be recalled in the solemn +stillness of the midnight vigil, amid the horrors of the battle-field when +the angry strife of arms had ceased, and in the gloom of the soldier's +sick bed when no mother's hand was near to lave the fevered brow. + +The moment when he obtained his last view of the home of his childhood +seemed like the most eventful period of his existence. His heart grew big +in his bosom, and yet not big enough to contain all he felt. He wept +again, and his tears seemed to come from deeper down than his eyes. He did +not hear the inspiring strains of the band, or the cheers that greeted the +company as they went forth to do and die for their country's imperilled +cause. + +"Blubbering again, Tom?" sneered Ben Lethbridge. "I thought you was more +of a man than that, Tom Somers." + +"I can't help it, Ben," replied Tom, vainly struggling to subdue his +emotions. + +"Better go back, then. We don't want a great baby in the ranks." + +"It's nateral, Ben," said old Hapgood. "He'll get over it when he sees the +rebels." + +"Don't believe he will. I didn't think you were such a great calf, Tom." + +"Shet up, now, Ben," interposed Hapgood. "I'll bet my life he'll stand +fire as well as you will. I've been about in the world some, and I reckon +I've as good an idee of this business as you have. Tom's got a heart under +his ribs." + +"I'll bet he runs away at the first fire." + +"I'll bet he won't." + +"I know I won't!" exclaimed Tom, with energy, as he drew his coat sleeve +across his eyes. + +"It isn't the cock that crows the loudest that will fight the best," added +the old man. "I'll bet Tom will be able to tell you the latest news from +the front, where the battle's the hottest. I fit my way up to the city of +Mexico long er old Scott, and I've heard boys crow afore today." + +"Look here, old un! If you mean to call me a coward, why don't you say so, +right up and down?" growled Ben. + +"Time'll tell, my boy. You don't know what gunpowder smells like yet. If +you'd been with the fust Pennsylvany, where I was, you'd a-known sunthin +about war. Now, shet up, Ben; and don't you worry Tom any more." + +But Tom was no longer in a condition to be worried. Though still sad at +the thought of the home and friends he had left behind, he had reduced his +emotions to proper subjection, and before the column reached Boston, he +had even regained his wonted cheerfulness. The procession halted upon the +wharf, where the company was to embark on a steamer for Fort Warren. As +the boat which was to convey them to the fort had not yet arrived, the men +were permitted to mingle with their friends on the wharf, and, of course, +Tom immediately sought out his brother. He found him engaged in a spirited +conversation with Captain Benson. + +"What is it, Jack?" asked the soldier boy. + +"I want to join this company, and the captain won't let me," replied John. + +"You, Jack!" + +"Yes, I." + +"Did mother say so?" + +"No, but she won't care." + +"Did you ask her?" + +"No; I didn't think of going till after I started from home." + +"Don't think of it, Jack. It would be an awful blow to mother to have both +of us go." + +For half an hour Tom argued the matter with John; but the military +enthusiasm of the latter had been so aroused by the march and its +attendant circumstances, that he could not restrain his inclination. + +"If I don't join this company, I shall some other," said John. + +"I shall have to go home again, if you do; for I won't have mother left +alone. We haven't been mustered in yet. Besides, I thought you wanted to +go into the navy." + +"I do; but I'm bound to go somehow," replied John. + +But what neither Tom nor Captain Benson could do, was accomplished by +Captain Barney, who declared John should go home with him if he had to +take him by the collar. The ardent young patriot yielded as gracefully as +he could to this persuasion. + +The steamer having arrived, the soldiers shook hands with their friends +again, went on board, and, amid the hearty cheers of the citizens of +Pinchbrook, were borne down the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +COMPANY K. + + +Tom Somers felt that he was now a soldier indeed. While the company +remained in Pinchbrook, he had slept every night in his own bed, and taken +his meals in the kitchen of the little cottage. He fully realized that he +had bade a long farewell to all the comforts and luxuries of home. That +day, for the first time, he was to partake of soldiers' fare, and that +night, for the first time, he was to sleep upon a soldier's bed. These +thoughts did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he +had carefully considered, with the best information he could obtain, what +hardships and privations he would be called to endure. He had made up his +mind to bear all things without a murmur for the blessed land of his +birth, which now called upon her sons to defend her from the parricidal +blow of the traitor. + +Tom had not only made up his mind to bear all these things, but to bear +them patiently and cheerfully. He had a little theory of his own, that +rather more than half of the discomforts of this mortal life exist only in +the imagination. If he only _thought_ that every thing was all right, it +went a great way towards making it all right--a very comforting and +satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety down to +seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from ten to forty +degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his stomach when it was +empty, alleviated the toothache or the headache, and changed snarling +babies into new-fledged angels. I commend Tom's philosophy to the +attention and imitation of all my young friends, assured that nothing will +keep them so happy and comfortable as a cheerful and contented +disposition. + +"Tom Somers," said a voice near him, cutting short the consoling +meditation in which he was engaged. + +His name was pronounced in a low and cautious tone, but the voice sounded +familiar to him, and he turned to ascertain who had addressed him. He did +not discover any person who appeared to be the owner of the voice, and was +leaving the position he had taken on the forward deck of the steamer, when +his name was repeated, in the same low and cautious tone. + +"Who is it? Where are you?" said Tom, looking all about him, among the +groups of soldiers who were gathered on various parts of the deck, +discussing the present and the future. + +"Here, Tom," replied the voice, which sounded more familiar every time he +heard it. + +He turned his eye in the direction from which the sound proceeded, and +there, coiled up behind a heap of barrels and boxes, and concealed by a +sail-cloth which had been thrown over the goods to protect them from an +expected shower, he discovered Fred Pemberton. + +"What in the name of creation are you doing there, Fred?" exclaimed Tom, +laughing at the ludicrous attitude of the embryo secessionist. + +"Hush! Don't say a word, Tom. Sit down here where I can talk with you," +added Fred. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"I'll tell if you will keep quiet a moment. Is the company full?" + +"What company?" + +"Captain Benson's, of course." + +"No." + +"I want to join." + +"You!" ejaculated Tom. + +"Come, come, Tom, no blackguarding now. You and I used to be good +friends." + +"I've nothing against you, Fred--that is, if you're not a traitor." + +"I want to join the company." + +"Is your father willing?" + +"Of course he isn't; but that needn't make any difference." + +"But you don't believe in our cause, Fred. We don't want a traitor in the +ranks." + +"Hang the cause! I want to go with the company." + +"Hang the cause? Well, I reckon that's a good recommendation." + +"I'm all right on that." + +"Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, and swear to sustain the +flag of your country?" + +"Of course I am. I only followed the old man's lead; but I have got enough +of it. Do you think Captain Benson will take me into the company?" + +"Perhaps he will." + +"Ask him--will you? You needn't say I'm here, you know." + +"But what will your father say?" + +"I don't care what he says." + +Tom thought, if Fred didn't care, he needn't, and going aft, he found the +captain, and proposed to him the question. + +"Take him--yes. We'll teach him loyalty and patriotism, and before his +time is out, we will make him an abolitionist," replied Captain Benson. +"What will his father say?" + +"His father doesn't know anything about it. Fred ran away, and followed +the company into the city." + +"Squire Pemberton is a traitor, and I believe the army will be the best +school in the world for his son," added the captain. "It will be better +for him to be with us than to be at home. If it was the son of any other +man in Pinchbrook, I wouldn't take him without the consent of his father; +as it is, I feel perfectly justified in accepting him." + +Tom hastened to the forward deck to report the success of his mission. The +result was, that Fred came out of his hiding-place, and exhibited himself +to the astonished members of the Pinchbrook company. When he announced his +intention to go to the war, and, with a pardonable flourish, his desire to +serve his country, he was saluted with a volley of cheers. Captain Benson +soon appeared on the forward deck, and the name of the new recruit was +placed on the enlistment paper. + +Fred was seventeen years of age, and was taller and stouter than Tom +Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age or his physical +ability to endure the hardships of a campaign. + +The steamer arrived at Fort Warren, and the company landed. After waiting +a short time on the wharf, the color company of the --th regiment, to +which they were attached, came down and escorted them to the parade ground +within the fort. It was a desolate and gloomy-looking place to Tom, who +had always lived among green fields, and the beautiful surroundings of a +New England rural district. + +If the fort itself looked dreary, how much more so were the casemates in +which the company was quartered! But Tom's philosophy was proof against +the unpleasant impression, and his joke was as loud and hearty as that of +any of his companions. The men were divided off into messes, and they had +an abundance of work to do in bringing up the company's luggage, and +making their new habitation as comfortable and pleasant as the +circumstances would permit. + +The next day the Pinchbrook boys were designated as Company K, and placed +in the regimental line. The limits of this volume do not permit me to +detail the every-day life of the soldier boy while at Fort Warren, however +interesting and instructive it might be to our friends. A large portion of +the forenoon was devoted to squad and company drill, and of the afternoon +to battalion drill. The colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, +was an enthusiast in military matters, and had the reputation of being one +of the most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, +since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he was no +bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate when he found +that the colonel of the regiment was no taller and no heavier than +himself. And when he heard the high praise bestowed upon the colonel's +military skill and martial energy, he came to the conclusion that it does +not require a big man to make a good soldier. With a feeling of +satisfaction he recalled the fact that Napoleon Bonaparte, when he +commanded the army of Italy, was scarcely a bigger man than the colonel or +himself. + +The colonel was a strict disciplinarian, and he soon diffused his energy +throughout the regiment. It made rapid progress in its military education. +Tom was deeply interested in the details of his new profession, and used +his best endeavors to do his duty promptly and faithfully. This was not +the case with all the boys in the company from Pinchbrook, and I am sorry +to say that some of them, including the brave and chivalric Ben +Lethbridge, had to sit upon the stool of repentance in the guard room on +several occasions. + +Fred Pemberton was clothed in the uniform of the United States volunteers, +and we must do him the justice to say that he performed his duty to the +entire satisfaction of his officers. Fred was a good fellow, and barring +his treason, which he had derived from his father, was highly esteemed by +those who knew him. The only stain that had ever rested upon his character +was removed, and he and Tom were as good friends as ever they had been. +His motive in joining the army, however, could not be applauded. He +thought all his friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, +spiced with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, +and he did not like the idea of being left behind. To the sentiment of +patriotism, as developed in the soul of Tom Somers and many of his +companions, he was an entire stranger. He was going to the war to +participate in the adventures of the --th regiment, rather than to fight +for the flag which had been insulted and dishonored by treason. + +Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to see their +friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness the drills and +parades which were constantly succeeding each other. Among them came many +of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visit from his +whole family. His mother found him so comfortable and contented that she +returned with half the heavy burden on her soul removed. + +While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their friends +from home, there was one in the company who was in constant dread lest he +should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds which the steamers +daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did not wish to see his nearest +friends; but after he had been in the company some ten days, just as the +boys had been dismissed from the forenoon drill, he discovered at a +distance the patriarchal form of his father. + +"My pipe's out, Tom," said Fred, as he rushed into the casemate where a +group of his companions were resting from the fatigues of the morning. + +"What's the matter now, Fred?" + +"The old man has just come into the fort." + +"Has he?" + +"Yes--what shall I do?" + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through all right," +said Sergeant Porter. + +"What shall I do?" demanded Fred, who, whatever his views in regard to the +justice or injustice of coercion, did not wish to be taken from the +company. + +"Come with me," said the sergeant, as he led the way into an adjoining +casemate. "No; nobody else will come," added he, motioning back other +members of the mess who was disposed to follow. + +In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there was a pile +of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments had been packed. +The fugitive from his father's anxious search was directed to get into one +of these boxes, from which the sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; +his confederate put on the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful +supply of air, and other boxes were placed upon that containing the +runaway. + +Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and demanded his +son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. Sergeant Porter kept out +of the way, and not another man in the company knew anything about him. +The boys were very willing to assist the indignant father in his search, +but all their efforts were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate, +and every nook and corner upon the island, but without effect. + +"I want my son, sir," said the squire, angrily, to the captain. "I require +you to produce him." + +"I don't know where he is," replied Captain Benson. + +"You have concealed him, sir." + +"I have not." + +The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no satisfaction, and was +obliged to leave without accomplishing his purpose. As soon as he had +gone, Fred appeared, and the boys laughed for a week over the affair. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN WASHINGTON. + + +On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after being +conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here the "little +colonel" displayed his energy and military skill to much greater advantage +than when within the narrow confines of the fort. The men were not only +carefully and persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the +circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a campaign. + +Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier's pride in his new +situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was not always the +easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he bore his trials with +philosophical patience and fortitude, and made the most of whatever joys +the circumstances placed within his reach. + +Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had enlisted for the +war, and meant to take things as they came. It was not exactly agreeable +to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, rainy night; but grumbling +would not make it any the more agreeable, and only made the grumbler +discontented and unhappy. It did not look like "the pomp and circumstance +of war," and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would +have been better satisfied in their own houses in "the village by the +sea." But most of these men had left their happy homes under the +inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were going forth to +fight the battles of their imperilled country, and this reflection filled +them with a heroism which the petty trials and discomforts of the camp +could not impair. + +While the regiment was at Camp Cameron, the state colors and a standard, +procured by the liberality of its friends, were presented; and the +patriotic speeches delivered on this occasion made a deep impression upon +the mind and heart of the soldier boy. To him they were real--perhaps more +real than to those who uttered the burning words. He was in a situation to +feel the full force of the great sacrifice which the soldier makes for his +country. He devoted himself, heart and soul, to the cause; and what was +but an idle sentiment in the mind of the flowery speech-makers, was truth +and soberness to him who was to meet the foe at the cannon's mouth and at +the bayonet's point. + +"We are off on the 29th," said old Hapgood, one evening, as he entered the +barrack where Tom was writing a letter to his mother. + +"Good! I am glad to hear it. I was just telling my mother that I hoped we +should not have to stay much longer in this place," replied Tom. + +"I think we are having an easy time of it here," added the veteran. "When +you find out what hunger and fatigue mean, you will learn to be contented +with such a place as this." + +"I'm contented enough; but I want to get into the field, and have +something done." + +"Time enough, my boy. I used to feel just so, Tom, when I went to Mexico; +but after a while I got so I didn't care what we did or where we went." + +Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of the time +fixed for the departure of the regiment. The intelligence in this instance +proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the little colonel marched +his command into the city, where it was duly embarked on the cars for New +York. It was a day of excitement, for the streets of the city were +thronged with people, whose cheers and applause were the benison with +which the regiment went forth to do and to die for the nation. Tom was +delighted with this warm reception, but more by meeting his mother and his +brother and sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad +meeting. Mrs. Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son +go forth to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater +perils of the camp? + +It was a sad parting; and many a mother's heart was torn with anguish on +that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her bosom, for the last time, +as she gave him to his country. Cold, stern men, who had never wept +before, wept then--the flesh that was in their stony hearts yielded its +unwilling tribute to nature and affection. + +"All aboard!" shouted the officers, when the train was ready to depart. + +"God bless you, my boy!" sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she kissed her son. "Be +good and true, and don't forget to read your Testament." + +"Good by, mother," was all that Tom could say, as he grasped his musket, +which John had been holding for him, and rushed into the car. + +The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had gathered to +witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever before, the +soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered the service. He +listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was sad and silent. He +sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the anguish of the hour. On and +on dashed the train, and his thoughts still dwelt upon the home and the +mother he had left behind him. + +Our readers can better imagine than we can describe the feelings of the +soldier boy during that long night. The regiment arrived in New York at +half-past ten in the forenoon of the following day, and was escorted up +Broadway by the Sons of Massachusetts. At the Park, it was warmly welcomed +by the President of the Sons, and as the little colonel was a better +soldier than a speech-maker, the response was made by the surgeon. By this +time, Tom was able to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and the +flattering ovation bestowed upon the regiment was a source of personal +pride and satisfaction. The little colonel's command was declared to be +the best drilled and most soldierly body of men which had yet departed for +the battle-fields of the republic. + +The great city was full of wonders to the soldier boy, and during the few +hours he remained there, he was in a constant whirl of excitement. If the +mission before him had been less grand and sublime, he could have wished +to spend a few days in exploring the wonders of the great metropolis; but +the stupendous events that loomed up in the future, prophetic even to the +inexperienced eye of youth, engrossed all his thoughts. He partook of the +bountiful collation in the Park, and was content to march on to scenes +more thrilling and exciting than the tumult of the busy city. + +The regiment took a steamer, at half-past four for Elizabethport, and +thence proceeded by railroad to Washington, by the way of Harrisburg. Some +portions of the journey were performed under the most trying +circumstances. The men were crowded, like sheep, into unsuitable cars, so +that not only were they subjected to many needless discomforts, but their +very lives were endangered. On the way, two men were crowded out of a car, +and, for a time, were supposed to have been killed. + +On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an opportunity +to see the "city of magnificent distances," of which he had heard so much. +The regiment marched from the station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to +their camp ground in the rear of the White House. They were received with +enthusiasm by the people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had +been supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of +destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, gave the +politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of "shoddy." + +The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it passed up +the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his mansion. The boys +greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, which the President +acknowledged by a series of bows, which were not half so ungraceful as one +might have expected after reading the descriptions of him contained in the +newspapers. + +To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he could scarcely +believe that he was looking upon the chief magistrate of this great +nation. He was filled with boyish wonder and astonishment; but, after all, +he was forced to admit that the President, though a tall specimen of +humanity, looked very much like the rest of mankind--to borrow a phrase +from one of his illustrious predecessors. + +Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, and the +simple magnificence of the President. The tents were pitched, and the +weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a couple of days, however, our +soldier boy was "as good as new." + +"Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of the city," said +Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the regiment had become fairly +settled in its new quarters. + +"I should like to take a tramp. There are lots of congressmen here, and I +should like to know what they look like," replied Tom. "I haven't been +outside the lines since we came here." + +"I have; and I'm going again! Fred and I mean to have a good time to-day. +Will you go?" + +"Have you got a pass?" + +"A pass! What a stupid! What do you want of a pass? You can't get one. +They won't give any." + +"Then we can't go, of course." + +"Bah! What a great calf you are! Don't you want to cry again?" + +"Ben, you needn't say cry to me again as long as you live," added Tom. "If +you do, I'll give you something to cry for." + +Tom did not like the style of remark which the other had adopted. He was +angry, and, as he spoke, his fist involuntarily clinched, and his eye +looked fierce and determined. + +"Come, come, Tom; don't bristle up so. If you are a man, just show that +you are, and come along with us." + +"I say, Ben, I want to know who's a baby or a calf, you or I, before we +go, I won't stand any more of your lip." + +"Will you go with us?" demanded Ben, who was rather disposed to dodge the +issue. + +"What do you mean by calling me a calf and a baby? And this isn't the +first time you've done it." + +"Don't you know that every man in the regiment has been all over the city, +and without any pass? When I ask you to go, you begin to talk about a +pass." + +"I choose to obey orders," replied Tom. + +"O, you daresn't go with us." + +"Come along!" said Tom, who had not yet learned to bear the taunts of his +companion. + +"Get your pail." + +Tom got his pail, and was immediately joined by Fred and Ben, each of whom +was also supplied with a pail. There was no water to be had within the +camp ground, and the men were obliged to bring it in pails from the +hydrants in the street. A pail, therefore, was quite as good as a written +document to enable them to pass the guard. + +The party thus provided had no difficulty in passing the sentinels. At a +convenient place outside the line, they concealed the pails, and, for +three hours, roamed at will over the city. + +"Now, Tom, you wanted to see the congressmen?" said Ben, after they had +"done" the city pretty thoroughly. + +"Yes, but I have seen them at the Capitol." + +"But don't you want to get nearer to them, and hear them talk?" + +"Well, I should like to." + +"Come with us, then." + +Ben led the way down the avenue, and entered a building not far from the +railroad station. After passing through a long, narrow entry, they +ascended a flight of stairs, at the head of which the conductor gave two +raps. The door was opened by a negro, and they were invited to enter. At a +table in the middle of the room was seated a foppish-looking man who held +in his hand a silver box. As he turned it, Tom saw that it contained a +pack of cards. + +"Where are your congressmen?" asked the soldier boy, whose eyes had been +opened by the appearance of the cards. + +"They will be here pretty soon," replied Ben. + +The foppish man looked at his watch, and declared they would come in the +course of five or ten minutes. He then took the cards out of the box, and, +after shuffling them, returned them to their place. Fred placed a +"quarter" on the table; the gambler put another by its side, and drew out +a card from the silver case. Tom did not understand the game; but his +companion put the quarters in his pocket. + +"See that, Tom!" said he. "Got any money?" + +"If I have I shall keep it." + +"Put down a quarter, and make another." + +"No, sir! I'm no gambler!" replied Tom, with emphasis. + +"Quite respectable, I assure you," added the blackleg at the table. + +"I'm going," said Tom, decidedly. + +"Baby!" sneered Ben. "Afraid to play!" + +"I _won't_ play! I'm going." + +The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his expectation, +he was followed by Fred and Ben. + +"Baby is afraid of cards!" sneered Ben, as they passed through the long +entry. + +"Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you," replied Tom, as he planted a +heavy blow between the eyes of his companion. + +Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and there was a +prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but Fred Pemberton +interposed his good offices, and effected a compromise, which, like most +of the political compromises, was only the postponement of the conflict. + +"I told you not to call me 'baby,' again," said Tom, as they passed out of +the building. "I will convince you before I am done that I'm not a baby." + +Ben found it convenient to offer no reply to this plain statement of +facts, and the three soldiers made their way back to the camp, and, having +obtained their pails and filled them with water at the hydrants, they +passed the guard without a question. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ON TO RICHMOND. + + +It so happened that Ben Lethbridge, probably satisfied that it was not the +fist of a baby which had partially blackened both of his eyes, and +produced a heavy pain under his left ear, did not demand the satisfaction +which was needed to heal his wounded honor. The matter was duly discussed +in the tent of Tom's mess; but our soldier boy, while he professed to be +entirely satisfied, was willing to meet Ben at such time and place as he +desired, and finish up the affair. + +The other party was magnanimous, and declared that he too was satisfied; +and old Hapgood thought they had better proceed no further with the +affair, for both of them might be arrested for disorderly conduct. + +"I am satisfied, Ben; but if you ever call me a baby or a calf again, it +will all have to be settled over again," said Tom, as he laid aside his +musket, which he had been cleaning during the conversation. + +"I don't want to quarrel with you, Tom," replied Ben, "but I wish you +would be a little more like the rest of the fellows." + +"What do you mean by that? I am like the rest of the fellows." + +"You wouldn't play cards." + +"Yes, I will play cards, but I won't gamble; and there isn't many fellows +in the company that will." + +"That's so," added Hapgood. "I know all about that business. When I went +to Mexico, I lost my money as fast as I got it, playing cards. Don't +gamble, boys." + +"I won't, for one," said Tom, with emphasis. + +"Are you going to set up for a soldier-saint, too?" sneered Ben, turning +to the old man. + +"I'm no saint, but I've larned better than to gamble." + +"I think you'd better stop drinking too," added Ben. + +"Come, Ben, you are meaner than dirt," said Tom, indignantly. + +Old Hapgood was a confirmed toper. The people in Pinchbrook said he was a +good man, but, they used to add, with a shrug of the shoulders, "pity he +drinks." It was a sad pity, but he seemed to have no power over his +appetite. The allusion of Ben to his besetting sin was cruel and +mortifying, for the old man had certainly tried to reform, and since the +regiment left Boston, he had not tasted the intoxicating cup. He had +declared before the mess that he had stopped drinking; so his resolution +was known to all his companions, though none of them had much confidence +in his ability to carry it out. + +"I didn't speak to you, Tom Somers," said Ben, sharply. + +"You said a mean thing in my presence." + +"By and by we shall be having a prayer meeting in our tent every night." + +"If you are invited I hope you will come," added Tom, "for if prayers will +do any body any good, they won't hurt you." + +"If you will take care of yourself, and let me alone, it's all I ask of +you." + +"I'm agreed." + +This was about the last of the skirmishing between Tom and Ben. The latter +was a little disposed to be bully; and from the time the company left +Pinchbrook, he had been in the habit of calling Tom a baby, and other +opprobrious terms, till the subject of his sneers could endure them no +longer. Tom had come to the conclusion that he could obtain respectful +treatment only by the course he had adopted. Perhaps, if he had possessed +the requisite patience, he might have attained the same result by a less +repulsive and more noble policy. + +The regiment remained in Washington about a fortnight. The capital was no +longer considered to be in danger. A large body of troops had been massed +in and around the city, and the rebels' boast that they would soon capture +Washington was no longer heeded. Fear and anxiety had given place to hope +and expectation. "On to Richmond!" was the cry sounded by the newspapers, +and repeated by the people. The army of newly-fledged soldiers was burning +with eagerness to be led against the rebels. "On to Richmond!" shouted +citizens and soldiers, statesmen and politicians. Some cursed and some +deprecated the cautious slowness of the old general who had never been +defeated. + +"On to Richmond!" cried the boys in Tom's regiment, and none more +earnestly than he. + +"Don't hurry old Scott. He knows what he is about. I know something about +this business, for I've seen old Scott where the bullets flew thicker'n +snow flakes at Christmas," was the oft-repeated reply of Hapgood, the +veteran of Company K. + +The movement which had been so long desired and expected was made at last, +and the regiment struck its tents, and proceeded over Long Bridge into +Virginia. The first camp was at Shuter's Hill, near Alexandria. + +"Now we are in for it," said Tom Somers, when the mess gathered in their +tent after the camp was formed. "I hope we shall not remain here long." + +"Don't be in a hurry, my brave boy," said old Hapgood. "We may stop here a +month." + +"I hope not." + +"Don't hope anything about it, Tom. Take things as they come." + +But the impatience of the soldier boy was soon relieved; for at daylight +on the morning of the 16th of July, the regiment was routed out, the tents +were struck, and at nine o'clock they took up the line of march to the +southward. It was "on to Richmond," in earnest, now, and merrily marched +the men, who little knew what trials and sufferings, what scenes of blood +and death, lay in their path. + +The little colonel's command had been put in Franklin's brigade, which +formed a part of Heintzelman's division; but little did Tom or his +fellow-soldiers know of anything but their own regiment. The "sacred soil" +of Virginia seemed to be covered with Federal soldiers, and whichever way +he turned, columns of troops might be seen, all obedient to the one grand +impulse of the loyal nation--"On to Richmond." + +The great wagons, gun carriages, and caissons rolling slowly along, the +rattling drums, with here and there the inspiring strains of a band, the +general officers, with their staffs, were full of interest and excitement +to the soldier boy; and though the business before him was stern and +terrible, yet it seemed like some great pageant, moving grandly along to +celebrate, rather than win, a glorious triumph. + +The novelty of the movement, however, soon wore away, and it required only +a few hours to convince the inexperienced soldiers in our regiment that it +was no idle pageant in which they were engaged. The short intervals of +rest which were occasionally allowed were moments to be appreciated. All +day long they toiled upon their weary way, praying for the night to come, +with its coveted hours of repose. The night did come, but it brought no +rest to the weary and footsore soldiers. + +Tom was terribly fatigued. His knapsack, which had been light upon his +buoyant frame in the morning, now seemed to weigh two hundred pounds, +while his musket had grown proportionally heavy. Hour after hour, in the +darkness of that gloomy night, he trudged on, keeping his place in the +ranks with a resolution which neither the long hours nor the weary miles +could break down. + +"I can't stand this much longer," whined Ben Lethbridge. "I shall drop +pretty soon, and die by the roadside." + +"No, you won't," added Hapgood. "Stick to it a little while longer; never +say die." + +"I can't stand it." + +"Yes, you can. Only think you can, and you can," added the veteran. + +"What do they think we are made of? We can't march all day and all night. +I wish I was at home." + +"I wish I hadn't come," said Fred Pemberton. + +"Cheer up! cheer up, boys. Stick to it a little longer," said the veteran. + +It was three o'clock the next morning before they were permitted to halt, +when the boys rolled themselves up in their blankets, and dropped upon the +ground. It was positive enjoyment to Tom, and he felt happy; for rest was +happiness when the body was all worn out. A thought of the cottage and of +his mother crossed his mind, and he dropped asleep to dream of the joys of +home. + +Short and sweet was that blessed time of rest; for at four o'clock, after +only one brief hour of repose, the regiment was turned out again, and +resumed its weary march to the southward. But that short interval of rest +was a fountain of strength to Tom, and without a murmur he took his place +by the side of his grumbling companions. Ben and Fred were disgusted with +the army, and wanted to go back; but that was impossible. + +Again, for weary hours, they toiled upon the march. They passed Fairfax, +and encamped near the railroad station, where a full night's rest was +allowed them. By the advice of Hapgood, Tom went to a brook, and washed +his aching feet in cold water. The veteran campaigner gave him other +useful hints, which were of great service to him. That night he had as +good reason to bless the memory of the man who invented sleep as ever +Sancho Panza had, and every hour was fully improved. + +At six o'clock, the next morning, the regiment marched again. Tom's legs +were stiff, but he felt so much better than on the preceding day, that he +began to think that he could stand any thing. In the early part of the +afternoon his ears were saluted by a new sound--one which enabled him more +fully than before to realize the nature of the mission upon which he had +been sent. It was the roar of cannon. On that day was fought the battle of +Blackburn's Ford; and when the regiment reached its halting-place at +Centreville, the story of the fight was told by enthusiastic lips. +Massachusetts men had stood firm and resolute before the artillery and +musketry of the rebels, and every man who heard the story was proud that +he hailed from the Old Bay State, and panted for the time when he might +show himself worthy of his origin, and true to the traditions of the past. + +The regiment lay in camp the two following days, and the men had an +opportunity to recover in some measure from the fatigues of their first +severe march. Visions of glory and victory were beginning to dawn upon +them. They had listened to the cannon of the enemy, and they knew that the +rebels were not many miles distant in front of them. A few days, perhaps a +few hours, would elapse before the terrible conflict would commence. Some +of those manly forms must soon sleep in the soldier's grave; some of those +beating hearts must soon cease to beat forever; but still the brave and +the true longed for the hour that would enable them to "strike home" for +the nation's salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN. + + +"Tumble out! Tumble out!" shouted the sergeant, who was in the mess with +the soldiers we have introduced. "Reveille! Don't you hear it?" + +"But it isn't morning," growled Ben Lethbridge. + +"I haven't been asleep more than an hour or two," snarled Fred Pemberton. + +"Shut up your heads, and turn out!" said the sergeant. + +It was the morning of the eventful twenty-first of July, and it was only +two o'clock when the regiment was roused from its slumbers; but there was +no great hardship in this fact, for most of the men had been sleeping the +greater portion of the time during the preceding two days. Tom Somers was +ready to take his place in the line in a few moments. + +"Come, fellows, hurry up," said he to his tardy companions. "The time has +come, and, I tell you, there'll be music before many hours." + +"Where are we going, Tom? Have you any idea?" asked Fred. + +"Going down to Manassas Junction, I suppose. That's where the rebels are." + +"Do you suppose we shall get into a fight?" asked Ben. + +"I don't know; I hope so." + +"So do I," returned Ben, faintly; "but I don't like to be broke of my rest +in this way." + +Tom, full of excited anticipations in regard to the events of the day, +laughed heartily at this reply, and left the tent. The regiment was formed +in line, but there were two vacancies in the section to which he belonged. +Fred and Ben had answered to their names at roll call. On some pretence +they had asked permission to leave the line for a few moments, and that +was the last that had been seen of them. + +"Where do you suppose they are?" said Tom to Hapgood. + +"I don't know. I hain't got much confidence in Ben's pluck, and I +shouldn't wonder if he had run away." + +"But that is desertion." + +"That's just what you may call it; and I've seen men shot for it." + +The regiment remained in line several hours before the order came to move. +At daylight, while the men were still standing in the road, four soldiers, +attended by a staff officer, conducted the two missing men of Company K +into the presence of the regiment. + +"These men say they belong to your regiment," said the officer, saluting +the little colonel. + +Captain Benson immediately claimed them, and Fred and Ben were ordered +into the ranks. + +"Cowards--are you?" said the captain. "You shall take your places in the +ranks, and at the right time we will settle this case." + +"I enlisted without my father's consent, and you can't hold me if I don't +choose to stay," replied Fred Pemberton. + +"Next time you must ask your father before you come. It is too late to +repent now." + +"I'm going home." + +"No, you're not. Sergeant, if either of those men attempt to leave the +ranks again, shoot them!" said the captain. + +Fred and Ben took their places in the ranks amid the laughter and jeers of +the company. + +"Who's the baby now?" said Bob Dornton. + +"You have disgraced the company," added old Hapgood. "I didn't think you +would run away before the battle commenced." + +"I shall keep both eyes on you, my boys, and if you skulk again, I'll obey +orders--by the Lord Harry, I will!" said the sergeant, as he glanced at +the lock of his musket. "Company K isn't going to be laughed at for your +cowardice." + +At six o'clock the order came for the brigade to march. It now consisted +of only three regiments, for the time of one, composed of three months' +men, had expired while at Centreville; and though requested and importuned +to remain a few days longer, they basely withdrew, even while they were on +the very verge of the battlefield. This regiment left, and carried with it +the scorn and contempt of the loyal and true men, who were as ready to +fight the battles of their country on one day as on another. + +The men knew they were going to battle now, for the enemy was only a few +miles distant. The soldier boy's heart was full of hope. He knew not what +a battle was; he could form no adequate conception of the terrible scene +which was soon to open upon his view. He prayed and trusted that he might +be able to do his duty with courage and fidelity. To say that he had no +doubts and fears would be to say that he was not human. + +As the brigade toiled slowly along, he tried to picture the scene which +was before him, and thus make himself familiar with its terrors before he +was actually called to confront them. He endeavored to imagine the sounds +of screaming shells and whistling bullets, that the reality, when it came, +might not appall him. He thought of his companions dropping dead around +him, of his friends mangled by bayonets and cannon shot; he painted the +most terrible picture of a battle which his imagination could conjure up, +hoping in this manner to be prepared for the worst. + +The day was hot, and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon the +devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march. They were fatigued by +continued exertion, and some of the weary ones, when the sun approached +the meridian, began to hope the great battle would not take place on that +day. Tom Somers, nearly worn out by the tedious march, and half famished +after the scanty breakfast of hard bread he had eaten before daylight, +began to feel that he was in no condition to face the storm of bullets +which he had been imagining. + +No orders came to halt at noon, though the crowded roads several times +secured them a welcome rest: but on marched the weary soldiers, till the +roar of cannon broke upon their ears; and as they moved farther on, the +rattling volleys of musketry were heard, denoting that the battle had +already commenced. These notes of strife were full of inspiration to the +loyal and patriotic in the columns. A new life was breathed into them. +They were enthusiastic in the good cause, and their souls immediately +became so big that what had been body before seemed to become spirit now. +They forgot their empty stomachs and their weary limbs. The music of +battle, wild and terrible as it was to these untutored soldiers, charmed +away the weariness of the body, and, to the quickstep of thundering cannon +and crashing musketry, they pressed on with elastic tread to the horrors +before them. + +Tom felt that he had suddenly and miraculously been made over anew. He +could not explain the reason, but his legs had ceased to ache, his feet to +be sore, and his musket and his knapsack were deprived of their +superfluous weight. + +"God be with me in this battle!" he exclaimed to himself a dozen times. +"God give me strength and courage!" + +Animated by his trust in Him who will always sustain those who confide in +him, the soldier boy pressed on, determined not to disgrace the name he +bore. The terrible sounds became more and more distinct as the regiment +advanced, and in about two hours after the battle had opened, the brigade +arrived at the field of operations. One regiment was immediately detached +and sent off in one direction, while the other two were ordered to support +a battery on a hill, from which it was belching forth a furious storm of +shells upon the rebels. + +The little colonel's sword gleamed in the air, as he gave the order to +march on the double-quick to the position assigned to him. + +"Now, Tom, steady, and think of nothing but God and your country," said +old Hapgood, as the regiment commenced its rapid march. "I know something +about this business, and I can tell you we shall have hot work before we +get through with it." + +"Where are the rebels? I don't see any," asked Tom, who found that his +ideas of the manner in which a battle is fought were very much at fault. + +"You will see them very soon. They are in their breastworks. There! Look +down there!" exclaimed the veteran as the regiment reached a spot which +commanded a full view of the battle. + +Tom looked upon the fearful scene. The roar of the artillery and the crash +of the small arms were absolutely stunning. He saw men fall, and lie +motionless on the ground, where they were trampled upon by the horses, and +crushed beneath the wheels of cannon and caisson. But the cry was, that +the army of the Union had won the field, and it inspired him with new zeal +and new courage. + +Scarcely had the remnant of the brigade reached the right of the battery, +before they were ordered to charge down the valley, by Colonel Franklin, +the acting brigadier. They were executing the command with a dash and +vigor that would have been creditable to veterans, when they were ordered +to cross the ravine, and support the Eire Zouaves. The movement was made, +and Tom soon found himself in the thickest of the fight. Shot and shell +were flying in every direction, and the bullets hissed like hailstones +around him. + +In spite of all his preparations for this awful scene, his heart rose up +into his throat. His eyes were blinded by the volumes of rolling smoke, +and his mind confused by the rapid succession of incidents that were +transpiring around him. The pictures he had painted were sunlight and +golden compared with the dread reality. Dead and dying men strewed the +ground in every direction. Wounded horses were careering on a mad course +of destruction, trampling the wounded and the dead beneath their feet. The +hoarse shouts of the officers were heard above the roar of battle. The +scene mocked all the attempts which the soldier boy had made to imagine +its horrors. + +In front of the regiment were the famous Eire Zouaves, no longer guided +and controlled by the master genius of Ellsworth. They fought like tigers, +furiously, madly; but all discipline had ceased among them, and they +rushed wildly to the right and the left, totally heedless of their +officers. They fought like demons, and as Tom saw them shoot down, hew +down, or bayonet the hapless rebels who came within their reach, it seemed +to him as though they had lost their humanity, and been transformed into +fiends. + +As soon as the regiment reached its position, the order was given to fire. +Tom found this a happy relief; and when he had discharged his musket a few +times, all thoughts of the horrors of the scene forsook him. He no longer +saw the dead and the dying; he no longer heard the appalling roar of +battle. He had become a part of the scene, instead of an idle spectator. +He was sending the bolt of death into the midst of the enemies of his +country. + +"Bravo! Good boy, Tom," said old Hapgood, who seemed to be as much at ease +as when he had counselled patience and resignation in the quiet of the +tent. "Don't fire too high, Tom." + +"I've got the idea," replied the soldier boy. "I begin to feel quite at +home." + +"O, you'll do; and I knew you would from the first." + +The shouts of victory which had sounded over the field were full of +inspiration to the men; but at the moment when the laurels seemed to be +resting securely upon our banners, the rebel line moved forward with +irresistible fury. Tom, at one instant, as he cast his eye along the line, +found himself flanked on either side by his comrades; at the next there +was a wild, indescribable tramp and roar, and he found himself alone. The +regiment was scattered in every direction, and he did not see a single man +whom he knew. There was a moving mass of Federal soldiers all around him. +The Zouaves had been forced back, and the cry of victory had given place +to the ominous sounds which betokened a defeat, if not a rout. + +The rebels had been reënforced, and had hurled their fresh legions upon +our exhausted troops, who could no longer roll back the masses that +crowded upon them. The day was lost. + +Tom, bewildered by this sudden and disastrous result, moved back with the +crowds around him. Men had ceased to be brave and firm; they were fleeing +in mortal terror before the victorious battalions that surged against +them. + +"It's all up with us, my lad," said a panting Zouave. "Run for your life. +Come along with me." + +Tom followed the Zouave towards the woods, the storm of bullets still +raining destruction around them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AFTER THE BATTLE. + + +Tom Somers floated with the tide of humanity that was setting away from +the scene of disaster and defeat. The panic that prevailed was even more +fearful than the battle, for wounded and dying men were mercilessly +trodden down by the feet of the horses, and run over by the wheels of the +cannon and the baggage wagons. Though the battle was ended, the rebels +still poured storms of shot and shell into the retreating, panic-stricken +host. + +Tom did not know where to go, for there were panic and death on all sides +of him. The soldiers were flying in every direction, some of them into the +very arms of their remorseless enemies. But the woods seemed to promise +the most secure retreat from the fury of the Black Horse Cavalry, which +was now sweeping over the battle-field. The Zouave ran in this direction, +and our soldier boy followed him. Now that the excitement of the conflict +was over, the enthusiasm which had buoyed him up began to subside. The day +was lost; all hopes of glory had fled; and a total defeat and rout were +not calculated to add much strength to his over-tasked limbs. + +He was nearly used up, and it was hard work to run--very hard work; and +nothing but the instinct of self-preservation enabled him to keep the tall +and wiry form of the Zouave in sight. They reached the ravine, where the +water was about three feet deep. The shot, and shell, and bullets still +fell in showers around them, and occasionally one of the luckless +fugitives was struck down. They crossed the stream, and continued on their +flight. An officer on horseback dashed by them, and bade them run with all +their might, or they would be taken. + +"For Heaven's sake, get me some water!" said a rebel, who was wounded in +the leg, to a Zouave, who passed near him. + +"You are a rebel, but I will do that for you," replied the Zouave; and he +gave him a canteen filled with water. + +The rebel drank a long, deep draught, and then levelled his musket at the +head of his Samaritan enemy and fired. This transaction had occupied but a +moment, and Tom saw the whole. His blood froze with horror at the +unparalleled atrocity of the act. The Zouave, whom Tom had followed, +uttered a terrible oath, and snatching the musket from the hands of the +soldier boy, he rushed upon the soulless miscreant, and transfixed him +upon the bayonet. Uttering fierce curses all the time, he plunged the +bayonet again and again into the vitals of the rebel, till life was +extinct. + +"Boy, I used to be human once," said the Zouave, when he had executed this +summary justice upon the rebel; "but I'm not human now. I'm all devil." + +"What a wretch that rebel was!" exclaimed Tom, who seemed to breathe freer +now that retribution had overtaken the viper. + +"A wretch! Haven't you got any bigger word than that, boy? He was a fiend! +But we mustn't stop here." + +"I thought the rebels were human." + +"Human? That isn't the first time to-day I've seen such a thing as that +done. Come along, my boy; come along." + +Tom followed the Zouave again; but he was too much exhausted to run any +farther. Even the terrors of the Black Horse Cavalry could not inspire him +with strength and courage to continue his flight at any swifter pace than +a walk. + +"I can go no farther," said he, at last. + +"Yes, you can; pull up! pull up! You will be taken if you stop here." + +"I can't help it. I can go no farther. I am used up." + +"Pull up, pull up, my boy!" + +"I can't." + +"But I don't want to leave you here. They'll murder you--cut your throat, +like a dog." + +"I will hide myself in the bushes till I get a little more strength." + +"Try it a little longer. You are too good a fellow to be butchered like a +calf," added the generous Zouave. + +But it was no use to plead with him, for exhausted nature refused to +support him, and he dropped upon the ground like a log. + +"Poor fellow! I would carry you in my arms if I could." + +"Save yourself if you can," replied Tom, faintly. + +The kind-hearted fireman was sorry to leave him, but he knew that one who +wore his uniform could expect no mercy from the rebels. They had been too +terrible upon the battle-field to receive any consideration from those +whom they had so severely punished. He was, therefore, unwilling to trust +himself to the tender mercies of the cavalry, who were sweeping the fields +to pick up prisoners; and after asking Tom's name and regiment, he +reluctantly left him. + +Tom had eaten nothing since daylight in the morning, which, added to the +long march, and the intense excitement of his first battle-field, had +apparently reduced him to the last extremity. Then, for the first time, he +realized what it was to be a soldier. Then he thought of his happy +home--of his devoted mother. What must she not suffer when the telegraph +should flash over the wires the intelligence of the terrible disaster +which had overtaken the Union army! It would be many days, if not weeks or +months, before she could know whether he was dead or alive. What anguish +must she not endure! + +He had but a moment for thoughts like these before he heard the sweep of +the rebel cavalry, as they dashed down the road through the woods. He must +not remain where he was, or the record of his earthly career would soon be +closed. On his hands and knees he crawled away from the road, and rolled +himself up behind a rotten log, just in season to escape the observation +of the cavalrymen as they rode by the spot. + +Here and there in the woods were the extended forms of Federals and +rebels, who had dragged their wounded bodies away from the scene of mortal +strife to breathe their last in this holy sanctuary of nature, or to +escape from the death-dealing shot, and the mangling wheels that rumbled +over the dead and the dying. Close by the soldier boy's retreat lay one +who was moaning piteously for water. Tom had filled his canteen at a brook +on the way, and he crawled up to the sufferer to lave his dying thirst. On +reaching the wounded man, he found that he was a rebel, and the fate of +the Zouave who had done a similar kindness only a short time before +presented itself to his mind. + +"Water! Water! For the love of God, give me a drop of water," moaned the +dying soldier. + +Tom thought of the Zouave again, and had almost steeled his heart against +the piteous cry. He turned away. + +"Water! Water! If you are a Christian give me some water," groaned the +sufferer. + +Our soldier boy could no longer resist the appeal. He felt that he could +not be loved on earth or forgiven in heaven if he denied the petition of +the dying rebel; but before he granted it, he assured himself that the +sufferer had no dangerous weapon in his possession. The man was deadly +pale; one of his arms hung useless by his side; and he was covered with +blood. He was a terrible-looking object, and Tom felt sick and faint as he +gazed upon him. + +Placing his canteen at the lips of the poor wretch, he bade him drink. His +frame quivered as he clutched the canteen with his remaining hand. The +death damp was on his forehead; but his eye lighted up with new lustre as +he drank the grateful beverage. + +"God bless you! God bless you!" exclaimed he as he removed the canteen +from his lips. "You are a Yankee," he added, as he fixed his glazing eyes +upon Tom's uniform. "Are you wounded?" + +"No; I am worn out. I have eaten nothing since daylight, and not much +then. I am used up." + +"Put your hand in my haversack. There is something there," gasped the +dying man. + +Tom bent over him to comply with the invitation; but, with a thrill of +horror, he started back, as he listened to the death-rattle in the throat +of the rebel, and saw his eyes fixed and lustreless in death. It was an +awful scene to the inexperienced youth. Though he had seen hundreds fall +in the battle of that day, death had not seemed so ghastly and horrible to +him as now, when he stood face to face with the grim monster. For a few +moments he forgot his own toil-worn limbs, his craving hunger, and his +aching head. + +He gazed upon the silent form before him, which had ceased to suffer, and +he felt thankful that he had been able to mitigate even a single pang of +the dying rebel. But not long could he gaze, awe-struck, at the ghastly +spectacle before him, for he had a life to save. The words of the +sufferer--his last words--offering him the contents of his haversack +recurred to him; but Tom's sensibilities recoiled at the thought of eating +bread taken from the body of a dead man, and he turned away. + +"Why shouldn't I take it?" said he to himself. "It may save my life. With +rest and food, I may escape. Pooh! I'll not be a fool!" + +Bending over the dead man, he resolutely cut the haversack from his body, +and then returned to the log whose friendly shelter had screened him from +the eyes of the rebel horsemen. Seating himself upon the ground, he +commenced exploring the haversack. It contained two "ash-cakes," a slice +of bacon, and a small bottle. Tom's eyes glowed with delight as he gazed +upon this rich feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the +circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, he +began to eat. Ash-cake was a new institution to him. It was an Indian cake +baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the rebels at Manassas. +It tasted very much like his mother's johnny-cake, only he missed the +fresh butter with which he had been wont to cover the article at home. + +The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though each of +the latter was about the size of a saucer. It was a large meal, even for a +growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a new sinew into his frame. +While he was eating, he drew the cork from the bottle. It contained +whiskey. Tom had heard that there was virtue in whiskey; that it was +invigorating to a tired man, and he was tempted, under these extremely +trying circumstances, to experiment upon the beverage. He would certainly +have been excusable if he had done so; but our hero had a kind of horror +of the article, which would not let him even taste it. He was afraid that +he should acquire a habit which would go with him through life, and make +him what Hapgood and others whom he knew were--a torment to themselves, +and a nuisance to their fellow-beings. Putting the cork in the bottle, he +threw it upon the ground. + +With his renewed strength came renewed hope; but he did not deem it +prudent to wander about the woods at present: therefore he threw himself +on the ground under the protecting log to obtain the repose he so much +needed. + +He thought of home, and wondered whether he should ever see the cottage of +his parents again; and while he was thinking, overcome by the excitement +and fatigue of the day, he dropped asleep. It was strange that he could do +so, consciously environed by so many perils; but he had in a measure +become callous to danger, and he slept long and deep. + +When he awoke, it was dark and silent around him. The roar of battle had +ceased, and the calm of death seemed to have settled upon the scene of +strife. Tom's bones still ached; but he was wonderfully refreshed by the +nap he had taken. He had no idea of the time, and could not tell whether +he had slept one hour or six. He was strong enough to walk now, and the +first consideration was to escape from the vicinity of the rebel camps; +but he had no conception of where he was, or what direction would lead him +to the Federal lines. + +A kind Providence had watched over him thus far; had spared his life in +the fury of battle; had fed him in the wilderness, like Elijah of old; and +restored his wasted strength. He could only trust to Providence for +guidance, and, using his best judgment in choosing the direction, he +entered upon the difficult task of finding his way out of the woods. He +had walked an hour or more, when, suddenly, three men sprung up in the +path before him. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" demanded one of them. + +"Friend!" replied Tom; though he had a great many doubts in regard to the +truth of his assertion. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign!" + +But the soldier boy had no countersign to give. He had fallen upon a rebel +picket post, and was made a prisoner. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +TOM A PRISONER. + + +Tom could not exactly understand how he happened to be made a prisoner. He +had certainly moved with extreme caution, and he wondered that he had not +received some intimation of the presence of the enemy before it was too +late to retreat. But, as we have before hinted, Tom was a philosopher; and +he did not despair even under the present reverse of circumstances, though +he was greatly disconcerted. + +"Who are you?" demanded one of the rebel soldiers, when they had duly +possessed his body, which, however, was not a very chivalrous adventure, +for the prisoner was unarmed, his gun having been thrown away by the +friendly Zouave, after he had so terribly avenged his murdered companion. + +"I'm a soldier," replied Tom, greatly perplexed by the trials of his +difficult situation. + +As yet he did not know whether he had fallen into the hands of friend or +foe, for the night was cloudy and dark, and he could not see what uniform +the pickets wore. + +"What do you belong to?" demanded the spokesman of the picket trio. + +"I belong to the army," answered Tom, with admirable simplicity. + +Our soldier boy, as the reader already knows, had been well "brought up." +He had been taught to tell the truth at all times; and he did so on the +present occasion, very much to the confusion, no doubt, of the rebel +soldiers, who had not been brought up under the droppings of the sanctuary +in a New England village. + +"B'long to the army--do you?" repeated Secesh, who must have thought Tom a +very candid person. + +"Yes, sir, I belong to the army," added the prisoner. + +"I s'pose you won't mind telling us what army you belong to, 'cause it +mought make a difference in our calculations," added the spokesman. + +Tom did not know but that it might make some difference in his +calculations, and for this reason he was exceedingly unwilling to commit +himself before he ascertained upon which side his questioners belonged. + +"Can you tell me where I am?" asked Tom, resolved to use a little strategy +in obtaining the desired information. + +"May be I can," replied the picket. + +"Will you do so?" + +"Sartin, stranger--you are in the woods," added Secesh; whereat his +companions indulged in a wholesome chuckle, which assured Tom that they +were human, and his hopes rose accordingly. + +"Thank you," replied Tom, with infinite good nature. + +"You say you belong to the army, and I say you are in the woods," said the +soldier, repeating the double postulate, so that the essence of the joke +should by no possibility fail to penetrate the cerebellum of his auditor. + +Tom was perfectly willing to acknowledge that he was in the woods, both +actually and metaphorically, and he was very much disturbed to know how he +should get out of the woods--a problem which has puzzled wiser heads than +his, even in less perplexing emergencies. He was fearful that, if he +declared himself to be a Union soldier, he should share the fate of others +whom he had seen coolly bayoneted on that eventful day. + +"Now, stranger, s'pose you tell me what army you b'long to; then I can +tell you where you are," continued the soldier. + +"What do you belong to?" asked Tom, though he did not put the question +very confidently. + +"I belong to the army;" and the two other pickets honored the reply with +another chuckle. "You can't fool old Alabammy." + +There was no further need of fooling "Old Alabammy," for the worthy old +gentleman, symbolically represented by the rebel soldier, had kindly done +it himself; and Tom then realized that he was in the hands of the enemy. +It is true, the balance of the picket trio laughed heartily at the +unfortunate slip of the tongue made by their companion, but Tom was in no +condition to relish the joke, or he might perhaps have insinuated himself +into the good graces of the jolly Secesh by repeating Pat's mysterious +problem--"Tell me how many cheeses there are in the bag, and I'll give ye +the whole five;" for, though this is an old joke in the civilized parts of +the world, it is not at all probable that it had been perpetrated in the +benighted regions of Secessia. + +The announcement of the fact that he was in the hands of the foe, as we +have before intimated, left Tom in no condition to give or take a joke. +His heart was suddenly deprived of some portion of its ordinary gravity, +and rose up to the vicinity of his throat. He drew sundry deep and long +breaths, indicative of his alarm; for though Tom was a brave boy,--as +these pages have already demonstrated,--he had a terrible idea of the +tender mercies of the rebels. His first impulse was to break away from his +captors, and run the risk of being overtaken by a trio of musket balls; +for death from the quick action of a bullet seemed preferable to the fate +which his fears conjured up if he should be taken by the bloodthirsty +rebels. But the chances were too decidedly against him, and he reluctantly +brought his mind to the condition of philosophical submission. + +"Well, stranger, which army do you b'long to?" said the spokesman of the +picket trio, when he had fully recovered his self-possession. + +"I belong to the United States army," replied Tom, desperately. + +"That means the Yankee army, I s'pose." + +"Yes, sir; you call it by that name." + +"Then you are my prisoner." + +"I surrender because I can't help myself." + +"Hev you nary toothpick or bone-cracker in your pockets?" + +"Any what?" replied Tom, whose dictionary seemed to be at fault. + +"Nary pistol, knife, or any thing of that sort?" + +"Nothing but my jackknife." + +"Any plunder?" + +"We piled up our knapsacks and haversacks before we went into the fight. +Here is my canteen half full of water; I gave the other half to one of +your soldiers, when he was dying of his wounds." + +"Did ye?" + +"Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I am?" + +"You are inside the lines of our army, about three miles below +Centreville," replied one of the pickets. + +"What time is it?" + +"Nigh upon nine o'clock, I should say. One of you fellers must take this +prisoner to headquarters," he continued, speaking to his companions. + +Tom was very agreeably surprised to find that his captors did not propose +to hang, shoot, or bayonet him; and the Southern Confederacy rose a few +degrees in his estimation. Certainly the men who had taken him were not +fiends, and he began to hope that his situation as a prisoner would not be +so terrible as his fancy had pictured it. + +One of the men was deputed to conduct him to the officer of the guard; and +he walked along by the side of the soldier through the woods, in the +direction from which he had just come. + +"Can you tell me how the battle went at last?" asked Tom, as they pursued +their way through the forest. + +"We whipped you all to pieces. Your army hasn't done running yet. We shall +take Washington to-morrow, and Jeff Davis will be in the White House +before the week is out." + +"Have you taken many prisoners?" asked Tom, who could not dispute the +position of the rebel soldier. + +"About fifty thousand, I b'lieve," replied Secesh, with refreshing +confidence. + +Tom indulged in a low whistle, but his companion could not tell whether it +was an expression of regret or incredulity. If they had stood on an +equality, Tom would probably have suggested that the figures should be +interpreted "over the left"--an idiosyncrasy in language which he had +imported from Pinchbrook, but which may not be wholly unintelligible to +our young readers. + +From his conductor he obtained some particulars of the battle and its +result, which were afterwards more fully set forth in General Beauregard's +official report, and which would have read better on the pages of Sinbad +the Sailor than in the folios of a military despatch. But the Secesh +soldier's "facts and figures" were comforting to Tom, who still had a +stronger interest in the condition of the good cause, after the heavy blow +it had received, than he had in his own individual welfare. Like too heavy +a dose of poison, the magnitude of the stories refuted and defeated them. +The soldier boy listened in respectful silence, but he was utterly +incredulous. It was even possible that the Union army had won a victory, +after all, though he was not very sanguine on this point. + +He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment to which +his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with about twenty others, +who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his companions in misery, most of +whom, worn out by the fatigues of the day, were sleeping soundly upon the +ground. Only two or three of them were awake; but these were strangers to +him, and he was unable to obtain any information from them concerning any +of his friends in the regiment. + +It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; but there +was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor great coats, yet +this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy threw himself upon the +ground, but the nap he had taken under the side of the log set his eyes +wide open for a time. He could only think of home, his mother and sisters, +and John, by this time snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been +wont to dream of the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds +when he found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could +not help thinking that his situation might have been worse. + +Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing since +morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his companions +were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought of the anguish +which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the battle. When the +regiment should be gathered together again, he would be reported as +"missing," and this would be a terrible word to her, for it meant killed, +wounded, or a prisoner. If he could only assure her that he still lived +and was uninjured, he would have been happy--happy in spite of the +drenching rain--happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the +hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had faithfully +performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he settled himself in the +most comfortable place he could find on the ground, and thanked God that +he had been spared his life through the perils of that awful day, and more +fervently that he had been enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and +then, with the Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart, +he fell asleep. + +He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as thoroughly soaked +as though he had just come out of the river. There was no help for it, and +it was no use to grumble. After walking to and fro for half an hour, he +lay down again, and, between sleeping and waking, finished the night; +uncomfortably, it is true, and yet without any positive suffering. There +were hundreds, if not thousands, who were enduring the agony of fearful +wounds through that long night; who were lying alone and uncared for where +they had fallen in the deadly strife; who were dying every hour, away from +their homes and friends, and with no kind hand to minister to their +necessities, with no sweet voice of a loved one to smooth their passage +down to the dark, cold grave. + +Tom thought of these, for he had seen them in his path, and he felt that +he had no cause to complain--that he ought to be cheerful and happy. At +the dawn of the day he and his fellow-prisoners were marched to Sudley +Church, where they were to be confined until they could be sent to +Richmond. Here Tom found a captain belonging to his regiment; but neither +could give any information to the other in regard to their friends. + +"I shall not stay here long," said the captain, in a whisper, when they +had become better acquainted. "I intend to leave to-night." + +"Can't I go with you?" asked Tom. + +"You can go, but we had better not go together." + +Tom thought for a while, and determined upon an attempt to escape. During +the day, he carefully examined the premises, and decided upon his mode of +operations. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A PERPLEXING QUESTION. + + +Tom Somers, who had had some experience, in a small way, in the kind of +business now before him, was filled with hope when he had adopted his +plan. He was a resolute and energetic young man, and to resolve upon any +thing was almost equivalent to doing it. There were a great many +difficulties in the way of success, it is true; but, nothing daunted by +these, he determined to persevere. The church in which the prisoners were +confined was carefully guarded on the exterior, and the sentinels carried +loaded muskets in their hands--so that the affair before him was more +hazardous and trying than that of escaping from the attic chamber of +Squire Pemberton's house in Pinchbrook. + +If he succeeded in making his way out of the church and eluding the guard +which surrounded it, even then his trials would only have commenced; for +there were many miles of hostile country between him and Washington, +whither he supposed the Federal army had been driven. The captain who +intended to escape at the same time gave him some information which would +be of service to him in finding his way to the Potomac. He charged him +particularly to follow the railroad, which would conduct him to +Alexandria, in the vicinity of which he would probably find the regiment. + +At dark the prisoners disposed of themselves as well as they could for the +night. Tom saw the captain go through all the forms of preparing for a +comfortable lodging, and he did the same himself. For hours he lay +ruminating upon his purpose. When it was midnight, he thought it was time +for him to commence the enterprise. He worked himself along on the floor +till he reached the principal entrance. The door was open, as it had been +all day, to enable the guards to obtain an occasional view of the +prisoners. + +The sentinels were evidently in no condition to discharge their duties +with fidelity, for they had been marching and fighting for two or three +days, and were nearly exhausted. Leaning against the door, Tom discovered +a musket, which the careless guard had left there. On the floor in the +entry lay two rebel soldiers. They had stretched themselves across the +threshold of the door, so that no one could pass in or out of the church +without stepping over them. + +Tom carefully rose from his recumbent posture, and took possession of the +musket. Then, with the utmost prudence, he stepped over the bodies of the +sleeping soldiers; but with all his circumspection, he could not prevent +one of his shoes from squeaking a little, and it required only a particle +of noise to rouse the guard. + +"Who goes there?" demanded one of them, springing to his feet. + +"Is this the way you do your duty?" replied Tom, as sternly as though he +had been a brigadier general. + +"Who are you?" said the soldier, apparently impressed by the words and the +tones of him who reproved his neglect. + +"Who am I, you sleepy scum! I'll let you know who I am in about ten +minutes," added Tom, as he passed out at the front door of the church. + +"Give me back my gun--won't you?" pleaded the confused sentinel. + +"I'll give it back to you at the court-martial which will sit on your case +to-morrow." + +"Who goes there?" challenged one of the sentinels on the outside. + +"Who goes there!" added Tom, in a sneering tone. "Have you waked up? Where +were you five minutes ago, when I passed this post? There won't be a +prisoner left here by morning. The long roll wouldn't wake up such a +stupid set of fellows." + +"Stop, sir!" said the astonished sentinel. "You can't pass this line." + +"Can't I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while you were asleep." + +"I haven't been asleep." + +"Where have you been, then?" demanded Tom with terrible energy. + +"Been here, sir." + +"I'll court-martial the whole of you!" + +"Stop, sir, or I'll fire at you!" added the soldier, as Tom moved on. + +"Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I'll rid the army of one unfaithful +man on the spot!" said the soldier boy, as he raised the musket to his +shoulder. + +"Don't fire, you fool!" interposed one of the men whom Tom had roused from +his slumbers in the entry. "Don't you see he is an officer?" + +"I'll teach you how to perform your duty!" added Tom, as he walked away. + +The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no further +objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as coolly as though he +had just been regularly relieved from guard duty. He had walked but a +short distance before he discovered the camp of a regiment or brigade, +which, of course, it was necessary for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he +jumped over the fence into a field--his first object being to place a +respectful distance between himself and the enemy. + +The scene through which he had just passed, though he had preserved the +appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been exceedingly trying to +his nerves; and when the moment of pressing danger had passed, he found +his heart up in his throat, and his strength almost wasted by the +excitement. He felt as one feels when he has just escaped a peril which +menaced him with instant death. It was singular that the soldier had not +fired, but the fact that he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing +power in impudence. + +For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, but without +knowing where he was going--whether he was moving toward Richmond or +Washington. As the musket which he had taken from the church was not only +an encumbrance, but might betray him, he threw it away, though, thinking +some means of defence might be useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust +it in his belt. Thus relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a +road. As there was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed +this road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his +search--the railroad. + +But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been called upon +to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there were, unfortunately, +two ends--one of which lay within the Federal lines, and the other within +the rebel lines. If Tom had been an astronomer, which he was not, the +night was too cloudy to enable him to consult the stars; besides, some +railroads are so abominably crooked that the heavenly orbs would hardly +have been safe pilots. He did not know which was north, nor which was +south, and to go the wrong way would be to jump out of the frying pan into +the fire. + +Tom sat down by the side of the road, and tried to settle the difficult +question; but the more he thought, the more perplexed he became--which +shows the folly of attempting to reason when there are no premises to +reason from. He was, no doubt, an excellent logician; but bricks cannot be +made without straw. + +"Which way shall I go?" said Tom to himself, as he stood up and peered +first one way and then the other through the gloom of the night. + +But he could not see Washington in one direction, nor Richmond in the +other, and he had not a single landmark to guide him in coming to a +decision. + +"I'll toss up!" exclaimed he, desperately, as he took off his cap and +threw it up into the air. "Right side up, this way--wrong side, that way; +and may the fates or the angels turn it in the proper way." + +He stooped down to pick up the cap, and ascertain which way it had come +down. It came down right side up, and Tom immediately started off in the +direction indicated. Although he had no confidence in the arbitrament of +the cap, he felt relieved to find the question disposed of even in this +doubtful manner. + +He kept both eyes wide open as he advanced, for if he had taken the wrong +way a few miles of travel would bring him to the main camp of the rebels +in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. He pursued his lonely journey for +some time without impediment, and without discovering any camp, either +large or small. He gathered new confidence as he proceeded. After he had +walked two or three hours upon the railroad, he thought it was about time +for Fairfax station to heave in sight, if he had chosen the right way--or +for the rebel camps to appear if he had chosen the wrong way. With the +first place he was familiar, as his regiment had encamped a short distance +from it. + +He was sorely perplexed by the non-appearance of either of these expected +points. The country began to look wilder and less familiar as he +proceeded. The region before him looked rugged and mountainous, and the +dark outlines of several lofty peaks touched the sky in front of him. But +with the feeling that every step he advanced placed a wider space between +him and his captors at Sudley church, he continued on his way till the +gray streaks of daylight appeared behind him. + +This phenomenon promised to afford him a gleam of intelligence upon which +to found a correct solution of his course. Tom knew that, in the ordinary +course of events, the sun ought to rise in the east and set in the west. +If he was going to the north, the sun would rise on his right hand--if to +the south, on his left hand. The streaks of light grew more and more +distinct, and the clouds having rolled away, he satisfied himself where +the sun would appear. Contrary to both wings of his theory, the place was +neither on his right nor his left, for it was exactly behind him. But his +position might be upon a bend of the railroad whose direction did not +correspond with the general course of the road. For half an hour longer, +therefore, he pursued his way, carefully noting every curve, until he was +fully convinced that his course was nearer west than north. The sun rose +precisely as had been laid down in the programme, and precisely where he +expected it would rise. + +It was clear enough that he was not moving to the south; and, satisfied +that he was in no danger of stumbling upon Richmond, his courage +increased, and he plodded on till he discovered a small village--or what +would be called such in Virginia--though it contained only a few houses. +As he still wore the uniform of the United States army, he did not deem it +prudent to pass through this village; besides, he was terribly perplexed +to know what station it could be, and what had become of Fairfax. Though +he must have passed through the country before, it did not look natural to +him. + +Leaving the railroad, he took to the fields, intending to pass round the +village, or conceal himself in the woods till he could go through it in +safety. After walking diligently for so many hours, Tom was reminded that +he had a stomach. His rations on the preceding day had not been very +bountiful, and he was positively hungry. The organ which had reminded him +of its existence was beginning to be imperative in its demands, and a new +problem was presented for solution--one which had not before received the +attention which it deserved. + +In the fields and forest he found a few berries; but all he could find +made but a slight impression upon the neglected organ. If Tom was a +philosopher, in his humble way, he was reasonable enough to admit that a +man could not live without eating. At this point, therefore, the question +of rations became a serious and solemn problem; and the longer it remained +unsolved the more difficult and harassing it became. + +After he had rested all the forenoon in a secluded spot, without +interruption from man or beast, he decided to settle this question of +rations once for all. If impudence had enabled him to pass a line of rebel +sentries, it ought to furnish him with a dinner. Leaving his hiding place, +he walked till he discovered a small house, at which he determined to +apply for something to eat. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +DINNER AND DANGER. + + +The house at which Tom applied for food evidently did not belong to one of +the "first families," or, if it did, the owner's fortunes had become sadly +dilapidated. It was built of rough boards, with a huge stone chimney, +which was erected on the outside of the structure. The humblest fisherman +in Pinchbrook Harbor would have thought himself poorly accommodated in +such a rough and rickety mansion. + +If Tom's case had not been growing desperate, he would not have run the +risk of showing himself to any person on the "sacred soil" who was "to the +manor born;" but his stomach was becoming more and more imperative in its +demands, and he knocked at the front door with many misgivings, especially +as his exchequer contained less than a dollar of clear cash. + +The inmates were either very deaf or very much indisposed to see visitors; +and Tom, after he had knocked three times, began to think he had not run +any great risk in coming to this house. As nobody replied to his summons, +he took the liberty to open the door and enter. The establishment was even +more primitive in its interior than its exterior, and the soldier boy +could not help contrasting it with the neat houses of the poor in his +native town. + +The front door opened into a large room without the formality of an entry +or hall. In one corner of the apartment stood a bed. At one side was a +large fireplace, in which half a dozen sticks of green wood were hissing +and sizzling in a vain attempt to make the contents of an iron pot, which +hung over them, reach the boiling point. No person was to be seen or heard +on the premises, though the fire and the pot were suggestive of humanity +at no great distance from the spot. + +A door on the back side of the room was open, and Tom looked out in search +of the occupants of the house. In the garden he discovered the whole +family, consisting of a man and his wife, a girl of twelve, and a boy of +ten. The man was digging in the garden, and the rest of the troupe seemed +to be superintending the operation. The head of the family was altogether +the most interesting person to Tom, for he must either shake hands or +fight with him. He did not look like a giant in intellect, and he +certainly was not a giant in stature. With the bayonet still in his belt, +Tom was not afraid of him. + +"How are you, people?" said Tom, as he walked towards the family, who with +one accord suspended all operations, and gave their whole attention to the +stranger. + +"How are ye, yourself?" replied the man, rather gruffly. + +"Do you keep a hotel?" demanded Tom, who concealed the anxiety of his +heart under a broad grin. + +"I reckon I don't. What do you want here?" + +"I want something to eat," replied Tom, proceeding to business with +commendable straight-forwardness. + +"We hain't got nothin' here," said the man, sourly. "That ain't what ye +come fur, nuther." + +"Must have something to eat. I'm not very particular, but I must have +something." + +"You can't hev it 'bout yere, no how. That ain't what ye come fur, +nuther." + +"If you know what I came for better than I do, suppose you tell me what it +is," added Tom, who was a little mystified by the manner of the man. + +"You air one of them soger fellers, and you want me to 'list; but I tell +yer, ye can't do nothin' of the sort. I'll be dog derned if I'll go." + +"I don't want you to go," protested Tom. "I'm half starved and all I want +is something to eat." + +"Yer don't reelly mean so." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Where d'yer come from?" + +"From down below here. Have you seen any soldiers pass through this +place?" + +"I reckon I hev; but they hain't seen me; and I reckon they won't see me +very soon;" and the man chuckled at his own cleverness in keeping clear of +recruiting officers. + +"I don't want you, and if you will give me something to eat, you will get +rid of me very quick." + +"Betsey, you kin feed the feller, if yer like, and I'll go over and see +whar the hogs is." + +The man dropped his shovel, and began to move off towards the woods, +probably to see whether Tom would attempt to detain him. At the same time +"Betsey" led the way into the house, and the visitor paid no further +attention to the master. + +"We hain't got much to eat in the house," said the woman, as they entered +the room. "There's some biled pork and pertaters in the pot, and we've got +some bread, sech as 'tis." + +"It will do me very well. I'm hungry, and can eat any thing," replied Tom. + +The woman placed a tin plate on the table, and dished up the contents of +the kettle on the fire. She added some cold hoe cake to the dinner, and +Tom thought it was a feast fit for a king. He took a seat at the table, +and made himself entirely at home. The food was coarse, but it was good, +and the hungry soldier boy did ample justice to the viands. The boy and +girl who had followed him into the house, stood, one on each side of him, +watching him in speechless astonishment. + +"Where did yer come from?" asked the woman, when Tom had about half +finished his dinner. + +"From down below," replied Tom, rather indefinitely. + +"Don't b'long in these yere parts, I reckon?" + +"No, marm." + +"Where are ye gwine?" + +"Going to join my regiment." + +"Where is yer rigiment?" + +"That's more than I know, marm." + +"How long yer been travelling?" persisted the woman, who was perhaps +afraid that the guest would eat up the whole of the family's dinner, if +she did not make some kind of a feint to attract his attention. + +"Only a few days, marm." + +"Kin yer till me what all thet noise was about day 'fore yesterday?" + +"Yes, marm; it was a big battle." + +"Gracious me! Yer don't say so! Whar was it?" + +"Down below Centreville." + +"Which beat?" + +"The Confederates drove the Yankees off the field," answered Tom, +suspending business long enough to glance at the woman, and see how the +intelligence was received. + +"Yer don't! Then they won't want my old man." + +Tom was unable to determine whether his hostess was Union or "Secesh" from +her words or her looks. He could not inform her whether they would want +her old man or not. When he had eaten all he could, he proposed like an +honest youth to pay for what he had eaten; but Betsey had the true idea of +southern hospitality, and refused to receive money for the food eaten +beneath her roof. She had a loaf of coarse bread, however, in which she +permitted Tom to invest the sum of six cents. + +"I am very much obliged to you, marm; and I shall be glad to do as much +for you, any time," said Tom, as he went towards the front door. + +As he was about to open it, his ears were startled by an imperative knock +on the outside. He stepped back to one of the two windows on the front of +the house, where he discovered an officer and two "grayback" soldiers. The +ghost of his grandmother would not have been half so appalling a sight, +and he retreated to the back door with a very undignified haste. + +"Gracious me!" exclaimed the lady of the house. "Who kin thet be?" + +"An officer and two soldiers," replied Tom, hastily. + +"Then they are arter my old man!" said she, dropping into the only chair +the room contained. + +"Don't say I'm here, marm, and I'll help your husband, if they catch him. +Tell them he has gone off to be absent a week." + +"He'd be absent more'n thet if he knowed them fellers was arter him." + +The woman moved towards the front door, and Tom through the back door; but +as he was about to pass into the garden, he caught a glimpse of one of the +graybacks in the rear of the house. For a moment his case seemed to be +hopeless; but he retreated into the room again, just as the woman opened +the front door to admit the officer. He could not escape from the house, +and his only resource was to secure a hiding place within its walls. There +were only two which seemed to be available; one of these was the bed, and +the other the chimney. If any search was made, of course the soldiers +would explore the bed first; and the chimney seemed the most practicable. + +There was no time for consideration, for the woman had already opened the +door, and was answering the questions of the Confederate officer; so Tom +sprang into the fireplace, and, by the aid of the projecting stones, +climbed up to a secure position. The chimney was large enough to +accommodate half a dozen boys of Tom's size. The fire had gone out, and +though the stones were rather warm in the fireplace, he was not +uncomfortable. + +The fears of the lady of the house proved to be well grounded this time, +for the party had actually come in search of her "old man;" and what was +more, the officer announced his intention not to leave without him. + +"He's gone away fur a week, and he won't be hum before the fust of August, +no how," said the woman resolutely, and adopting Tom's suggestion to the +letter. + +"All nonsense, woman! He is about here, somewhere, and we will find him." + +"You may, if you kin." + +The officer then went out at the back door, as Tom judged by his +footsteps, and the woman asked one of the children what had become of the +other soldier man. The boy said he was up chimney. She then told them not +to tell the officer where he was. + +"What shell I do?" said she, placing herself before the fireplace. + +"Don't be alarmed. He will keep out of their way," replied Tom. + +"But the officer man said he was gwine to stay 'bout yere till he gits +hum," moaned the poor woman. + +"He will not do any such thing. Your husband has the woods before him, and +he won't let them catch him." + +"Deary me! I'm 'feared they will." + +"Where are they now?" + +"They're gone out to look for him." + +The officer and his men returned in a few moments, having satisfied +themselves that the proprietor of the place was not on the premises. + +"Now we'll search the house," said the officer; and Tom heard them walking +about in the room. + +Of course the militia man could not be found, and the officer used some +very unbecoming language to express his disapprobation of the skulker, as +he called him. + +"Woman, if you don't tell me where your husband is, I'll have you +arrested," said he, angrily. + +"I don't know myself. He's gone off over the mountains to git some things. +Thet's all I know about it, and if yer want to arrest me, yer kin." + +But the officer concluded that she would be a poor substitute for an able +bodied man, and he compromised the matter by leaving one of the privates, +instructing him not to let the woman or the children leave the house, and +to remain till the skulker returned. + +This was not very pleasant information for Tom who perceived that he was +likely to be shut up in the chimney for the rest of the day, and perhaps +be smoked or roasted out at supper time. Climbing up to the top of his +prison house, he looked over, and saw the officer and one private +disappear in the woods which lay between the house and the railroad. +Looking over the other way, he saw the coveted recruit approaching the +house from beyond the garden. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REBEL SOLDIER. + + +Tom Somers was not very well satisfied with his situation, for the soldier +who had been left in possession of the house was armed with a musket, and +the prospect of escaping before night was not very flattering. The +patriarch of the family, who had such a horror of recruiting officers, was +approaching, and in a few moments there would be an exciting scene in the +vicinity. + +Independent of his promise made to the woman to help her husband, if she +would not betray him, Tom deemed it his duty to prevent the so-called +Confederate States of America from obtaining even a single additional +recruit for the armies of rebellion and treason. Without having any +personal feeling in the matter, therefore, he was disposed to do all he +could to assist his host in "avoiding the draft." What would have been +treason in New England was loyalty in Virginia. + +The unfortunate subject of the Virginia militia law was unconsciously +approaching the trap which had been set for him. He had, no doubt, come to +the conclusion, by this time, that the hungry soldier boy was not a +recruiting officer, or even the corporal of a guard sent to apprehend him, +and he was returning with confidence to partake of his noonday meal. Tom, +from his perch at the top of the chimney, watched him as he ambled along +over the rough path with his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was +something rather exciting in the situation of affairs, and he soon found +himself deeply interested in the issue. + +The unhappy citizen owing service to the Confederate States climbed over +the zigzag fence that enclosed his garden, and continued to approach the +rude dwelling which the law had defined to be his castle. Tom did not dare +to speak in tones loud enough to be heard by the innocent victim of the +officer's conspiracy, for they would have betrayed his presence to the +enemy. Sitting upon the top stones of the chimney, he gesticulated +violently, hoping to attract his attention; but the man did not look up, +and consequently could not see the signals. + +He had approached within ten rods of the back door of the house, when Tom, +fearing his footsteps might attract the attention of the soldier, ventured +to give a low whistle. As this was not heeded, he repeated the signal when +the man was within two or three rods of the house; but even this was not +noticed, and throwing his head forward, so that the sound of his voice +should not descend the chimney, he spoke. + +"Halloo!" said he. + +The man suddenly stopped, and looked up. Tom made signals with his hands +for him to leave; but this mute language appeared not to be intelligible +to him. + +"Consarn yer picter, what are yer doin' up thar?" said the proprietor of +the castle, in tones which seemed to Tom as loud as the roar of the cannon +at Bull Run. + +"Hush! Hush!" replied Tom, gesticulating with all his might, and using all +his ingenuity to invent signs that would convey to the militiaman the idea +that he was in imminent danger. + +"You be scotched!" snarled the man. "What are yer doin'? What ails yer?" + +"They are after you!" added Tom, in a hoarse whisper. + +The fellow most provokingly refused to hear him, and Tom thought his skull +was amazingly thick, and his perceptions amazingly blunt. + +"Now you come down from thar," said he, as he picked up a couple of +stones. "You act like a monkey, and I s'pose yer be one. Now make tracks +down that chimley." + +But instead of doing this, Tom retreated into his shell, as a snail does +when the moment of peril arrives. The soldier in the house was not deaf; +and if he had been, he could hardly have helped hearing the stentorian +tones of his victim. Instead of going out the back door, like a sensible +man, he passed out at the front door, and in a moment more Tom heard his +voice just beneath him. + +"Halt!" shouted the soldier, as he brought his musket to his shoulder. +"Your name is Joe Burnap." + +"That's my name, but I don't want nothin' o' you," replied the embarrassed +militiaman, as he dropped the stones with which he had intended to assault +Tom's citadel. + +"I want something of you," replied the soldier. "You must go with me. +Advance, and give yourself up." + +"What fur?" asked poor Joe. + +"We want you for the army. You are an enrolled militiaman. You must go +with me." + +"Ill be dog derned if I do," answered Joe Burnap, desperately. + +"If you attempt to run away, I'll shoot you. You shall go with me, dead or +alive, and hang me if I care much which." + +Joe evidently did care. He did not want to go with the soldier; his +southern blood had not been fired by the wrongs of his country; and he was +equally averse to being shot in cold blood by this minion of the +Confederacy. His position was exceedingly embarrassing, for he could +neither run, fight, nor compromise. While matters were in this interesting +and critical condition, Tom ventured to raise his head over the top of the +chimney to obtain a better view of the belligerents. Joe stood where he +had last seen him, and the soldier was standing within three feet of the +foot of the chimney. + +"What ye going to do, Joe Burnap?" demanded the latter, after waiting a +reasonable time for the other to make up his mind. + +"What am I gwine to do?" repeated Joe, vacantly, as he glanced to the +right and the left, apparently in the hope of obtaining some suggestion +that would enable him to decide the momentous question. + +"You needn't look round, Joe; you've got to come or be shot. Just take +your choice between the two, and don't waste my time." + +"I s'pose I can't help myself," replied Joe. "I'll tell ye what I'll do. I +want to fix up things about hum a little, and I'll jine ye down to the Gap +to-morrow." + +"No you don't, Joe Burnap!" said the soldier, shaking his head. + +"Then I'll jine ye to-night," suggested the strategist. + +"My orders are not to return without you, and I shall obey them." + +Mrs. Burnap, who had followed the soldier out of the house, stood behind +him wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She protested with all a +woman's eloquence against the proceedings of the soldier; but her tears +and her homely rhetoric were equally unavailing. While the parties were +confronting each other, the soldier dropped his piece, and listened to the +arguments of Joe and his wife. When he turned for a moment to listen to +the appeals of the woman, her husband improved the opportunity to commence +a retreat. He moved off steadily for a few paces, when the enemy +discovered the retrograde march, and again brought the gun to his +shoulder. + +"None of that, Joe," said the soldier, sternly. "Now march back again, or +I'll shoot you;" and Tom heard the click of the hammer as he cocked the +piece. "I've fooled long enough with you, and we'll end this business +here. Come here, at once, or I'll put a bullet through your head." + +"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! For mercy's sake don't shoot," cried Mrs. +Burnap. + +"I'll give him one minute to obey the order; if he don't do it then, I'll +fire. That's all I've got to say." + +Tom saw by the soldier's manner that he intended to execute his threat. He +saw him brace up his nerves, and otherwise prepare himself for the bloody +deed. But Tom did not think that Joe had the stubbornness or the courage, +whichever it might be called, to run the risk of dodging the bullet. He +foresaw, too, that, if Joe gave himself up, his hiding place would be +exposed, and the soldier would have two prisoners to conduct back to his +officer, instead of one. It was therefore high time for him to do +something for his own protection, if not for that of his host. + +The necessity of defending himself, or of doing something to cover his +retreat in an emergency, had been anticipated by Tom, and he had made such +preparations as the circumstances would admit. His first suggestion was to +dart his bayonet down at the rebel soldier, as he had seen the fishermen +of Pinchbrook harpoon a horse mackerel; but the chances of hitting the +mark were too uncertain to permit him to risk the loss of his only weapon, +and he rejected the plan. He adopted the method, however, in a modified, +form, deciding to use the material of which the chimney was constructed, +instead of the bayonet. The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, +were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his hands ready +for operations. + +"Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man," repeated the soldier, who +evidently had some scruples about depriving the infant Confederacy of an +able-bodied recruit. + +Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted himself up +from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the soldier, fully +expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his brains. The best laid +calculations often miscarry, and Tom's did in part, for the missile, +instead of striking the soldier upon the head, hit him on the right arm. +The musket was discharged, either by the blow or by the act of its owner, +and fell out of his hands upon the ground. + +Now, a stone as big as a man's head, does not fall from the height of +fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human frame without +inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with this doctrine of +probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down upon the rebel, and which +struck him upon the right arm, entirely disabled that useful member. The +hero of this achievement was satisfied with the result, though it had not +realized his anticipations. Concluding that the time had arrived for an +effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the house, +descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the ground. + +The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the surprise +occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. Tom rushed up to him, +and secured the musket before he had time to regain his self-possession. + +"Who are you?" demanded the soldier, holding up the injured arm with his +left hand. + +"Your most obedient servant," replied Tom, facetiously, as he placed +himself in the attitude of "charge bayonets." "Have you any dangerous +weapons about your person?" + +"Yes, I have," replied the soldier, resolutely, as he retreated a few +steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand into the breast pocket of his +coat. + +"Hands down!" exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with the bayonet attached to +the musket. "Here, Joe Burnap!" + +"What d' yer want?" replied the proprietor of the house, who was as +completely "demoralized" by the scene as the rebel soldier himself. + +"Put your hand into this man's pocket, and take out his pistol. If he +resists, I'll punch him with this," added Tom, demonstrating the movement +by a few vigorous thrusts with the bayonet. + +With some hesitation Joe took a revolver from the pocket of the soldier, +and handed it to Tom. + +"Examine all his pockets. Take out everything he has in them," added Tom, +cocking the revolver, and pointing it at the head of the prisoner. + +Joe took from the pockets of the rebel a quantity of pistol cartridges, a +knife, some letters, and a wallet. + +"Who's this fur?" asked Joe, as he proceeded to open the wallet, and take +therefrom a roll of Confederate "shin-plasters." + +"Give it back to him." + +"But this is money." + +"Money!" sneered Tom. "A northern beggar wouldn't thank you for all he +could carry of it. Give it back to him, and every thing else except the +cartridges." + +Joe reluctantly restored the wallet, the letters, and the knife, to the +pockets from which he had taken them. Tom then directed him to secure the +cartridge box of the soldier. + +"You are my prisoner," said Tom; "but I believe in treating prisoners +well. You may go into the house, and if your arm is much hurt, Mrs. Burnap +may do what she can to help you." + +The prisoner sullenly attended the woman into the house, and Tom followed +as far as the front door. + +"Now, what am I gwine to do?" said Joe. "You've got me into a right smart +scrape." + +"I thought I had got you out of one," replied Tom. "Do you intend to +remain here?" + +"Sartin not, now. I must clear." + +"So must I; and we have no time to spare. Get what you can to eat, and +come along." + +In ten minutes more, Tom and Joe Burnap were travelling towards the +mountains. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THROUGH THE GAP. + + +Joe Burnap was perfectly familiar with the country, and Tom readily +accepted him as a guide; and, as they had a common object in view, neither +had good cause for mistrusting the other. They walked, without stopping to +rest, till the sun set behind the mountains towards which they were +travelling. + +"I reckon we needn't hurry now," said Joe, as he seated himself on a rock. + +"I don't think there is any danger of their catching us," replied Tom, as +he seated himself beside his fellow-traveller. "Can you tell me where we +are?" + +"I reckon I can. There ain't a foot of land in these yere parts that I +hain't had my foot on. I've toted plunder of all sorts through these woods +more'n ten thousand times." + +"Well, where are we?" asked Tom, whose doubts in regard to the locality +had not yet been solved. + +In the pressure of more exciting matters, he had not attempted to explain +why he did not come to Fairfax station while following the railroad. + +"If we keep on a little while longer, I reckon we shall come to +Thoroughfare Gap," answered Joe. + +"But where do you live? What town is your house in?" asked Tom, who had +never heard of Thoroughfare Gap before. + +"Haymarket is the nearest town to my house." + +"What railroad is that over there?" asked Tom, who was no nearer the +solution of the question than he had been in the beginning. + +"That's the Manassas Gap Railroad, I reckon," replied Joe, who seemed to +be astonished at the ignorance of his companion. + +"Just so," added Tom, who now, for the first time, comprehended where he +was. + +When he left Sudley church, he walked at random till he came to the +railroad; but he had struck the Manassas Gap Railroad instead of the main +line, and it had led him away from the great body of the rebels, though it +also conducted him away from Washington, where he desired to go. He was +perplexed at the discovery, and at once began to debate the question +whether it was advisable for him to proceed any farther in this direction. + +"I suppose you are a Union man--ain't you?" said Tom, after he had +considered his situation for some time. + +Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes from the +ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom. He stared at him for a +moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former attitude. + +"You don't want to fight for the south," added Tom; "so I suppose you +don't believe in the Southern Confederacy." + +"I don't want to fight for nuther of 'em," replied Joe, after a moment of +further consideration. "If they'll only let me alone, I don't keer which +beats." + +His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared to be +entirely impartial. The newspapers on either side would not have disturbed +him. Patriotism--love of country--had not found a resting place in his +soul. Tom had not, from the beginning, entertained a very high respect for +the man; but now he despised him, and thought that a rebel was a gentleman +compared with such a character. How a man could live in the United States, +and not feel an interest in the stirring events which were transpiring +around him, was beyond his comprehension. In one word, he so thoroughly +despised Joe Burnap, that he resolved, at the first convenient +opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the company of +such a person. + +"Now which side do you fight fur?" asked Joe, after a long period of +silence. + +"For the Union side," replied Tom, promptly. + +"What are yer doin' here, then?" + +"I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got away, and I want +to get to Washington." + +"I reckon this ain't the way to git thar," added Joe. + +"I doubt whether I can get there any other way." + +Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the world, and all +that the government owed him, for a good map of Virginia--or even for a +knowledge of geography which would have enabled him to find his way by the +safest route to Washington. But he had been a diligent scholar in school, +and had faithfully improved the limited opportunities which had been +afforded him. His mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had +studied in school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical +benefit to him. + +He had treasured up some information, derived from the newspapers, in +regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it passed through the +Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed the Shenandoah River: this +emptied into the Potomac, which would certainly conduct him to Washington. +In following these two rivers, he should have to describe nearly a circle, +which was not an encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and +in an enemy's country. + +If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with rebel +soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their lines without +being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route by the Shenandoah +appeared, he decided to adopt it. + +Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the bag which +he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily procure on leaving +home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed their walk for another +hour. + +"I reckon we'd better stop here," said Joe. "The Gap's only half a mile +from here, and it's too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar's +too many soldiers goin' that way." + +"What time will you go through?" asked Tom. + +"Not afore midnight." + +"Then I'll turn in and take a nap. I didn't sleep any last night." + +"I'm agreed," replied Joe, who seemed to be indifferent to every thing +while he could keep out of the rebel army. + +Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and went to +sleep. Exhausted by fatigue and the want of rest, he did not wake for many +hours. He came to his senses with a start, and jumped upon his feet. For a +moment, he could not think where he was; but then came the recollection +that he was in the country of his enemies--a wanderer and a fugitive. + +He looked about him in search of his travelling companion; but the fact +that he could not see him in the night was no argument that he was not +near him. He supposed Joe had chosen a place to sleep in the vicinity, and +thinking he might not wake in season to pass through the Gap before +daylight, he commenced a search for him. He beat about the place for half +an hour, calling his companion by name; but he could not see him, and no +sound responded to the call but the echoes of his own voice. + +The independent Virginia farmer had anticipated Tom's intention to part +company with him, and, by this time, perhaps, had passed through the Gap. +The soldier boy was not quite ready to dispense with the services of his +guide, inasmuch as he did not even know where the Gap was, or in what +direction he must travel to reach it. While he was debating his prospects, +an enterprising rooster, in the distance, sounded his morning call. This +assured him that he must be near some travelled road, and, taking the +direction from the fowl, he resumed his journey. + +A short walk brought him out of the woods, and, in the gray light of the +dawn, he discovered a house. As he did not care to make any new +acquaintances, he avoided the house, and continued his travels till he +arrived at a road. As it was too early in the morning for people to be +stirring, he ventured to follow the highway, and soon perceived an opening +in the mountains, which he doubted not was the Gap. + +At sunrise he arrived at another house, which suddenly came into view as +he rounded a bend in the road. Near it were several negroes engaged in +various occupations. As he passed the house, the negroes all suspended +operations, and stared at him till he was out of sight. He soon reached +the Gap; but he had advanced only a short distance before he discovered a +battery of light artillery stationed on a kind of bluff, and whose guns +commanded the approaches in every direction. + +Deeming it prudent to reconnoitre before he proceeded any farther, he also +ascertained that the Gap was picketed by rebel infantry. Of course it was +impossible to pass through under these circumstances, and he again took to +the woods. The scanty supply of food which he had purchased from Mrs. +Burnap was now produced, and he made an economical breakfast. Finding a +secluded place, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep. +Though he slept till the sun had passed the meridian, the day was a very +long one. + +When it was fairly dark, he resolved to attempt the passage of the Gap, +for he was so tired of inaction that peril and hardship seemed preferable +to doing nothing. Returning to the road, he pursued his way with due +diligence through the narrowing defile of the mountains, till he suddenly +came upon a sentinel, who challenged him. Before he started from his +hiding place, Tom had carefully loaded the revolver which he had taken +from the rebel soldier; and, as he walked along, he carried the weapon in +his hand, ready for any emergency that might require its use. + +The guard questioned him, and Tom replied that he had fought in the battle +down below, and had a furlough to go home and see his father, who was very +sick. + +"Where's your furlough?" demanded the soldier. + +"In my pocket." + +"Let me see it." + +"Here it is," replied Tom, producing an old letter which he happened to +have in his pocket. + +The sentinel took the paper, unfolded it, and turned it over two or three +times. It was too dark for him to read it if he had been able to do so, +for all the rebel soldiers are not gifted in this way. + +"I reckon this won't do," he added, after patiently considering the +matter. "Just you tote this paper up to the corporal thar, and if he says +it's all right, you kin go on." + +"But I can't stop to do all that. Here's my pass, and I want to go on. My +father may die before I get home." + +"What regiment do you b'long to?" asked the guard, who evidently did not +wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier unnecessarily. + +"The Second Virginia," replied Tom, at a venture. + +"Where does your father live?" continued the sentinel. + +"Just beyond the Gap, if he's living at all." + +"What town?" + +Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single place on the +route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to answer the question. + +"About five or six miles from here," he answered. + +"Is it Salem or White Plains?" demanded the soldier, whose cunning was +inferior to his honesty. + +"White Plains," added Tom, promptly accepting the suggestion. + +"What's the matter with your father?" + +"I don't know; he was taken suddenly." + +"Pears like your uniform ain't exactly our sort," added the soldier. + +"Mine was all used up, and I got one on the battle-field." + +"I wouldn't do that. It's mean to rob a dead man of his clothes." + +"Couldn't help it--I was almost naked," replied Tom, who perfectly agreed +with the rebel on this point. + +"You kin go on, Old Virginny," said the soldier, whose kindly sympathy for +Tom and his sick father was highly commendable. + +The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of which he +immediately availed himself. Tom did not yet realize the force of the +maxim that "all is fair in war," and his conscience gave a momentary +twinge as he thought of the deception he had practised upon the honest and +kind-hearted rebel. He was very thankful that he had not been compelled to +put a bullet through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the +man had not been obliged to do him a similar favor. + +The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the next +morning. He went through three or four small villages. After passing +through the Gap, he had taken the railroad, as less likely to lead him +through the more thickly settled parts of the country. Before him the +mountains of the Blue Ridge rose like an impassable wall, and when the day +dawned he was approaching Manassas Gap. He had walked twenty-five miles +during the night, and prudence, as well as fatigue, required him to seek a +place of rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWN THE SHENANDOAH. + + +In that wild mountain region, Tom had no difficulty in finding a secluded +spot, where there was no probability that he would be molested. He had +been in a state of constant excitement during the night, for the country +was full of soldiers. The mountaineers of Virginia were rushing to the +standard of rebellion. They were a wild, rude set of men, and they made +the night hideous with their debauchery. Tom succeeded in keeping out of +the way of the straggling parties which were roaming here and there; but +he was filled with dread and anxiety lest he should, at the next moment, +stumble upon a camp, or a squad of these marauders. + +The nook in the mountains which he had chosen as his resting place was a +cleft in the rocks, concealed by the overhanging branches of trees. Here +he made his bed, as the sun rose, and, worn out with fatigue and anxiety, +he dropped asleep. + +When he awoke, the sun was near the meridian. He rose and walked out a +short distance from his lodging place, and listened for any sounds which +might indicate the presence of an enemy. All was still; silence deep and +profound reigned through the solitudes of the mountains. Tom returned to +his place of concealment, and after eating the remainder of the food he +had brought with him, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to +sleep again. He had nothing else to do, and he needed all the rest he +could obtain. It was fortunate for him that he had self-possession enough +to sleep--to banish his nervous doubts and fears, and thus secure the +repose which was indispensable to the success of his arduous enterprise. + +It was after sundown when he finished his second nap. He had slept nearly +all day,--at least ten hours,--and he was entirely refreshed and restored. +He was rather stiff in some of his limbs when he got up; but he knew this +would wear off after a little exercise. He had no supper with which to +brace himself for the night's work; so he took a drink from the mountain +stream, and made his way back to the railroad. But it was too early then +to commence the passage of the Gap, and he sat for a couple of hours by +the side of the road, before he ventured to resume his journey. + +While he was passing through the narrow gorge in the mountains, he met +several persons, on foot and on horseback; but as he was armed with a +pistol, he did not turn out for them; but when a party of soldiers +approached, he sought a hiding place by the side of the road until they +were out of hearing. When he had passed through the Gap, he came to a road +crossing the track, and after debating the question thoroughly, he decided +to abandon the railroad, and pursued his course by the common highway +towards the North. + +Continuing his journey diligently for a time longer, he came to another +road, branching off to the left from the one he had chosen, which required +further consideration. But his conclusion was satisfactory, and he +continued on the same road, which soon brought him to a more thickly +settled country than that through which he had been travelling. + +By this time Tom's stomach began to be rebellious again, and the question +of rations began to assume a serious aspect. He was not suffering for +food, but it was so much more comfortable to travel upon a full stomach +than an empty one, that he could not pass a dwelling house without +thinking of the contents of the cellar and closets. It was perfectly +proper to forage on the enemy; but he could not eat raw chicken and geese, +or the problem of rations would have been effectually settled by a +demonstration on the hen-coops of the Shenandoah valley. + +He came to a halt before a large mansion, which had the appearance of +belonging to a wealthy person. Its larder and kitchen cupboards, he +doubted not, were plentifully supplied with the luxuries of the season; +and Tom thought he might as well obtain his provisions now, as wait till +he was driven to desperation by hunger. He entered the front gate of the +great house, and stepped upon the veranda in front of it. The windows +reached down to the floor. He tried one of them, and found that it was not +fastened. He carefully raised the sash and entered. + +Tom was determined to put himself upon his impudence on the present +occasion; but he satisfied himself that his revolver was in condition for +instant use before he proceeded any farther. Passing from the front room +to an apartment in the rear, he found a lamp and matches, and concluded +that he would have some light on the subject, which was duly obtained. +Leaving this room, he entered another, which proved to be the kitchen. A +patient search revealed to him the lurking place of a cold roast chicken, +some fried bacon, bread, and crackers. + +Placing these things on the table, he seated himself to partake of the +feast which the forethought of the occupants had provided for him. Tom +began to be entirely at home, for having thrown himself on his impudence +now; he did not permit any doubts or fears to disturb him; but the handle +of his pistol protruded from between the buttons of his coat. He ate till +he had satisfied himself, when he happened to think that the coffee pot he +had seen in the closet might contain some cold coffee; and he brought it +out. He was not disappointed, and even found sugar and milk. He poured out +a bowl of the beverage, and, having prepared it to his taste, was about to +conclude the feast in this genteel style, when he heard footsteps in the +adjoining entry. + +Tom determined not to be cheated out of his coffee, and instead of putting +himself in a flurry, he took the bowl in one hand and the pistol in the +other. The door opened, and a negro timidly entered the room. + +"Well, sar!" said the servant, as he edged along the side of the room. +"Hem! Well, sar!" + +Tom took no notice of him, but continued to drink his coffee as coolly as +though he had been in his mother's cottage at Pinchbrook. + +"Hem! Well, sar!" repeated the negro, who evidently wished to have the +interloper take some notice of him. + +But the soldier boy refused to descend from his dignity or his impudence. +He finished the bowl of coffee as deliberately as though the darkey had +been somewhere else. + +"Well, sar! Who's you, sar?" + +"Eh, Blackee?" + +"Who's you, sar?" + +"Good chicken! Good bread! Good bacon!" added Tom. "Are the folks at home, +Blackee?" + +"No, sar; nobody but de women folks, sar. Who's you, sar?" + +"It don't make much difference who I am. Where's your master?" + +"Gone to Richmond, sar. He's member ob Congress." + +"Then he's in poor business, Blackee," said Tom, as he took out his +handkerchief, and proceeded to transfer the remnants of his supper to its +capacious folds. + +"Better luff dem tings alone, sar." + +But Tom refused to "luff dem alone," and when he had placed them on the +handkerchief, he made a bundle of them. + +"Golly, sar! I'll tell my missus what's gwine on down here," added the +servant, as he moved towards the door. + +"See here, Blackee," interposed Tom, pointing his pistol at the negro; "if +you move, I'll put one of these balls through your skull." + +"De Lud sabe us, massa! Don't shoot dis nigger, massa." + +"Hold your tongue then, and mind what I say." + +"Yes, massa," whined the darkey, in the most abject tones. + +"Now come with me, Blackee, and if you open your mouth, one of these pills +shall go down your throat." + +Tom flourished his pistol before the negro, and led the way to the window +by which he had entered the house. Passing out upon the veranda, he +cautiously conducted the terrified servant to the road; and when they had +gone a short distance, he halted. + +"Now, Blackee, what town is this?" demanded Tom. + +"Leeds Manor, sar," replied the trembling negro. + +"How far is it to the Shenandoah River?" + +"Only two or tree miles, massa. Now let dis chile go home again." + +"Not yet." + +"Hab mercy on dis nigger dis time, and sabe him." + +"I won't hurt you, if you behave yourself." + +Tom questioned him for some time in regard to the river, and the towns +upon its banks; and when he had obtained all the information in regard to +the valley which the servant possessed, he resumed his journey, driving +the negro before him. + +"Spare dis chile, massa, for de sake ob de wife and chil'n," pleaded the +unwilling guide. + +"I tell you I won't hurt you if you behave yourself," replied Tom. "You'll +have the whole place down upon me in half an hour, if I let you go now." + +"No, massa; dis nigger won't say one word 'bout you, nor de tings you took +from de house--not one word, massa. Spare dis chile, and luff him go +home." + +But Tom compelled him to walk before him till they came to the river. The +place was called Seaburn's Ford. + +"Now, Blackee, if anybody wants me, tell them I've gone to Winchester," +said Tom, when he had ordered his escort to halt. + +"No, massa, I won't say one word," replied the servant. + +"If you do, I'll shoot you the very next time I see you--depend upon that. +You can go now." + +The negro was not slow to avail himself of this privilege, and ran off, +evidently expecting a bullet from the revolver would overtake him before +he had gone far, for he glanced fearfully over his shoulder, begging his +captor not to shoot him. + +Tom stood upon the bank of the Shenandoah. The negro had told him that he +was about thirty miles from Harper's Ferry, which he knew was in +possession of General Patterson's forces. Attached to a tree on the shore +was a small flat-bottomed boat, which attracted the attention of the +soldier boy. Tom was accustomed to boats, and the sight of this one +suggested a change of programme, for it would be much easier to float down +the stream, than to walk the thirty miles. This was a point which needed +no argument; and unfastening the painter of the boat, he jumped in, and +pushed off. Seating himself in the stern, with the paddle in his hand, he +kept her head with the current, and swept down the rapid stream like a +dreamy youth just starting upon the voyage of life. + +Like the pilgrim on the sea of time, Tom was not familiar with the +navigation of the Shenandoah, and he had neither chart nor compass to +assist him. The current was very swift, and once in a while the bateau +bumped upon a concealed rock, or bar of sand. Fortunately no serious +accident occurred to him, though he found that the labor of managing the +boat was scarcely less than that of walking. + +There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of missing the +road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers or inquisitive +civilians. His light bark rushed on its way down the stream, without +attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if any were abroad at +that unseemly hour of the night. The difficulties of the navigation were +overcome with more or less labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his +mind that he had done a good night's work; and choosing a secluded nook by +the side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the +return of darkness. + +The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, and he ate +his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he was not very +tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something better to do, he felt +compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the previous day, to dispose of +the weary hours in this agreeable manner. His pastime, however, was soon +interrupted by loud shouts and the tramp of men, not far from the spot +where he lay. A hurried examination of the surroundings assured him that +he had chosen a resting place near one of the fords of the river, over +which a rebel regiment was then passing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE PROBLEM OF RATIONS. + + +The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a few rods +distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and his boat. When +he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with terror; and, fully +believing that his hour had come, he dropped upon the ground, to wait, in +trembling anxiety, the passage of the troops. It was a regiment of +Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the most fantastic style with +hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They yelled and howled like so many +wildcats. + +From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a good view +of the men, as they waded across the river. He was fearful that some of +them might stray from the ranks, and stumble upon his place of refuge; but +a kind Providence put it into their heads to mind their own business, and +Tom gathered hope as the yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the +distance. + +"This is no place for me," said Tom to himself, when the sounds had died +away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. "A whole army of them may camp +near that ford, and drive me out of my hiding place." + +Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied no carriage +or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying the paddle with the +utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he found that the public +highway ran along the banks of the river, which exposed him to increased +risk of being seen. A couple of vehicles passed along the road while he +was in this exposed situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take +no notice of him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently +the boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable +place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the bateau. + +As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, ate his +dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so tranquil as he +had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains. Visions of rebel soldiers +haunted his dreams, and more than once he started up, and gazed wildly +around him; but these were only visions, and there was something more real +to disturb his slumbers. + +"Hi! Who are you?" exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who had penetrated the +thicket without disturbing the sleeper. + +Tom started up, and sprang to his feet. One of the tall mountaineers, whom +he had seen crossing the ford, stood before him; and the reality was even +more appalling than the vision. + +"Who mought you be?" demanded the tall soldier, with a good-natured grin +upon his greasy face. + +"Faith! I believe I've been asleep!" said Tom, rubbing his eyes, and +looking as innocent as a young lamb. + +"You may bet your life on thet, my boy," replied the rebel, laughing. "Hi! +Jarvey!" added he, apparently addressing a companion at no great distance +from the spot. + +Heavy footsteps announced the approach of Jarvey, who soon joined them. He +was not less than six feet three inches in height, and, with two such +customers as these, Tom had no hope except in successful strategy. He had +no doubt they had obtained information of him from the persons in the +vehicles, and had come to secure him. He fully expected to be marched off +to the rebel regiment, which could not be far off. + +"Who is he, Sid?" asked Jarvey, when he reached the spot. + +"Dunno. Say, who are ye, stranger?" + +"Who am I? Tom Somers, of course. Do you belong to that regiment that +stopped over yonder last night?" asked Tom, with a proper degree of +enthusiasm. "Don't you know me?" + +"Well, we don't." + +"Didn't you see me over there? That's a bully regiment of yours. I'd like +to join it." + +"Would you, though, sonny?" said Sid, laughing till his mouth opened wide +enough for a railroad train to pass in. + +"Wouldn't I, though!" replied Tom. "If there's any big fighting done, I'll +bet your boys do it." + +"Bet your life on thet," added Jarvey. "But why don't you jine a +regiment?" + +"Don't want to join any regiment that comes along. I want to go into a +fighting regiment, like yours." + +"Well, sonny, you ain't big enough to jine ours," said Sid, as he +compassionately eyed the young man's diminutive proportions. + +"The old man wouldn't let me go in when I wanted to, and I'm bound not to +go in any of your fancy regiments. I want to fight when I go." + +"You'll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing here?" + +"I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to sleep." + +"Where's your fish-line?" + +"In the boat." + +"What ye got in that handkerchief?" + +"My dinner," replied Tom. "Won't you take a bite?" + +"What ye got?" + +"A piece of cold chicken and some bread." + +"We don't mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men with this gear on in +these yere parts?" asked Jarvey, as he pointed to his uniform. + +"Yes, _sir_," replied Tom, vigorously. + +"Whar d'ye see 'em, sonny?" + +"They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while ago." + +"How many?" + +"Two," replied Tom, with promptness. + +"Where's the other?" asked Jarvey, turning to his companion. + +"He's in these yere woods, somewhar. We'll fotch 'em before night. You say +the two men crossed the ford--did ye, sonny?" + +"Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with them?" + +"They're mean trash, and want to run off. Now, sonny, 'spose you put us +over the river in your boat." + +"Yes, _sir_!" replied Tom, readily. + +The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by their great +weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of the river. + +"Thank'e, sonny," said Jarvey, as they jumped on shore. "If you were only +four foot higher, we'd like to take you into our regiment. You'll make a +right smart chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, sonny." + +"Good by," answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, indicative of his +satisfaction at being so well rid of his passengers. + +He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a prisoner to +this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his senses when he +found himself again safely floating down the rapid tide of the Shenandoah. +His impudence and his self-possession had saved him; but it was a mystery +to him that his uniform, or the absence of his fish-line, or the answers +he gave, had not betrayed him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen +a United States uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him +about his dress. + +Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he ventured to stop +again, for he could not hope to meet with many rebel soldiers who were so +innocent and inexperienced as these wildcats of the mountains had been. +When the darkness favored his movements, he again embarked upon his +voyage. Twice during the night his boat got aground, and once he was +pitched into the river by striking upon a rock; but he escaped these and +other perils of the navigation with nothing worse than a thorough ducking, +which was by no means a new experience to the soldier boy. In the morning, +well satisfied with his night's work, he laid up for the day in the safest +place he could find. + +On the second day of his voyage down the river, the old problem of rations +again presented itself for consideration, for the ham and chicken he had +procured at Leed's Manor were all gone. There were plenty of houses on the +banks of the river, but Tom had hoped to complete his cruise without the +necessity of again exposing himself to the peril of being captured while +foraging for the commissary department. But the question was as imperative +as it had been several times before, and twelve hours fasting gave him +only a faint hint of what his necessities might compel him to endure in +twenty-four or forty-eight hours. He did not consider it wise to postpone +the settlement of the problem till he was actually suffering for the want +of food. + +On the third night of his voyage, therefore, he hauled up the bateau at a +convenient place, and started off upon a foraging expedition, intending to +visit some farmer's kitchen, and help himself, as he had done on a former +occasion. Of course, Tom had no idea where he was; but he hoped and +believed that he should soon reach Harper's Ferry. + +After making his way through the woods for half a mile, he came to a +public road, which he followed till it brought him to a house. It was +evidently the abode of a thrifty farmer, for near it were half a dozen +negro houses. As the dwelling had no long windows in front, Tom was +obliged to approach the place by a flank and rear movement; but the back +door was locked. He tried the windows, and they were fastened. While he +was reconnoitring the premises, he heard heavy footsteps within. Returning +to the door, he knocked vigorously for admission. + +"Who's thar?" said a man, as he threw the door wide open. + +"A stranger, who wants something to eat," replied Tom, boldly. + +"Who are ye?" + +"My name is Tom Somers," added the soldier boy, as he stepped into the +house. "Can you tell me whether the Seventh Georgia Regiment is down this +way?" + +"I reckon 'tis; least wise I don't know. There's three rigiments about +five mile below yere." + +"I was told my regiment was down this way, and I'm trying to find it. I'm +half starved. Will you give me something to eat?" + +"Sartin, stranger; I'll do thet." + +The man, who was evidently the proprietor of the house, brought up the +remnant of a boiled ham, a loaf of white bread, some butter, and a pitcher +of milk. Tom ate till he was satisfied. The farmer, in deference to his +amazing appetite probably, suspended his questions till the guest began to +show some signs of satiety, when he pressed him again as vigorously as +though he had been born and brought up among the hills of New England. + +"Where d'ye come from?" said he. + +"From Manassas. I lost my regiment in the fight; and the next day I heard +they had been toted over this way, and I put after them right smart," +answered Tom, adopting as much of the Georgia vernacular as his knowledge +would permit. + +"Walk all the way?" + +"No; I came in the keers most of the way." + +"But you don't wear our colors," added the farmer, glancing at Tom's +clothes. + +"My clothes were all worn out, and I helped myself to the best suit I +could find on the field." + +"What regiment did ye say ye b'longed to?" queried the man, eying the +uniform again. + +"To the Seventh Georgia. Perhaps you can tell me where I shall find it." + +"I can't; but I reckon there's somebody here that can. I'll call him." + +Tom was not at all particular about obtaining this information. There was +evidently some military man in the house, who would expose him if he +remained any longer. + +"Who is it, father?" asked a person who had probably heard a part of the +conversation we have narrated; for the voice proceeded from a bed-room +adjoining the apartment in which Tom had eaten his supper. + +"A soldier b'longing to the Seventh Georgia," answered the farmer. "That's +my son; he's a captain in the cavalry, and he'll know all about it. He can +tell you where yer regiment is," added he, turning to Tom, who was edging +towards the door. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for my supper," said the fugitive, +nervously. "I reckon I'll be moving along." + +"Wait half a second, and my son will tell you just where to find your +regiment." + +"The Seventh Georgia?" said the captain of cavalry, entering the room at +this moment with nothing but his pants on. "There's no such regiment up +here, and hasn't been. I reckon you're a deserter." + +"No, _sir!_ I scorn the charge," replied Tom, with becoming indignation. +"I never desert my colors." + +"I suppose not," added the officer, glancing at his uniform; "but your +colors desert you." + +Tom failed to appreciate the wit of the reply, and backed off towards the +door, with one hand upon the stock of his revolver. + +"Hold on to him, father; don't let him go," said the officer, as he rushed +back into his chamber, evidently for his pistols or his sabre. + +"Hands off, or you are a dead man;" cried Tom, as he pointed his revolver +at the head of the farmer. + +In another instant, the captain of cavalry reappeared with a pistol in +each hand. A stunning report resounded through the house, and Tom heard a +bullet whistle by his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE PICKET GUARD. + + +It was sufficiently obvious to Tom that, on the present occasion, the +suspicions of his host were awakened. It is possible that, if he had +depended upon his impudence, he might have succeeded in deceiving the +Confederate officer; but his evident intention to retire from the contest +before an investigation could be had, proved him, in the estimation of the +captain, to be either a spy or a deserter, and shooting him was preferable +to losing him. + +The officer fired quick, and with little attention to the important matter +of a steady aim; and Tom had to thank his stars for the hasty shot, for, +though it went within a few inches of his head, "a miss was as good as a +mile," and the brains of our hero remained intact and complete. But he was +not willing to be the subject of any further experiments of this +description, and without waiting further to express his gratitude to the +host for the bountiful supper he had eaten, he threw open the door, and +dashed off at the top of his speed. + +The revolver he carried was a very good implement with which to bully a +negro, or an unarmed farmer; but Tom had more confidence in his legs than +in his skill as a marksman, and before the captain could transfer the +second pistol from his left to his right hand, he had passed out of the +house, and was concealed from his pursuers by the gloom of the night. He +felt that he had had a narrow escape, and he was not disposed to trifle +with destiny by loitering in the vicinity of the house. + +He had not proceeded far before he heard a hue and cry behind him; and if +the captain of cavalry had not stopped to put on his boots, it is more +than possible that our humble volume might have contained a chapter or two +upon prison life in Richmond. Undoubtedly it was quite proper for the +officer to put on his boots before he went out; a decent regard for his +individual sanitary condition, and a reasonable horror of ague and +rheumatism, would have induced him to do it, even at the risk of losing a +Federal prisoner, or a rebel deserter, as the case might be. At any rate, +if Tom had known the cause of the delay, he would freely have forgiven him +for wasting his time in healthful precautions. + +The fugitive retraced his steps to the river by the same route he had +taken in approaching the hospitable roof of the farmer. As nearly as he +could judge by the sounds that reached him from the distance, the officer +and his father were gathering up a force to hunt down the fugitive. Tom +jumped into the bateau, and pushed off. Keeping under the shadow of the +bank of the river, he plied his paddle vigorously, and by the time his +pursuers arrived at the river, he was a couple of miles from the spot. He +could hear a shout occasionally in the deep silence of the night, but with +the distance between him and the enemy, he felt entirely secure. The +danger had passed, and he floated leisurely on his voyage, buoyant as his +light bark, and hopeful as the dream of youth. + +Hour after hour, in the gloom of the solemn night, he was borne by the +swift tide towards the lines of the loyal army. The day was dawning, and +he was on the lookout for a suitable place to conceal himself, until the +friendly shades of night should again favor his movements. After the +experience of the former night near the ford, he was very cautious in the +selection of a hiding place. It is not always safe to be fastidious; for +while Tom was rejecting one location, and waiting for another to appear, +the river bore him into a tract of very open country, which was less +favorable than that through which he had just been passing. + +The prospect began to make him nervous; and while he was bitterly +regretting that he had not moored the boat before, he was startled to hear +a sharp, commanding voice on the bank at his left. + +"Who comes there? Halt!" + +Tom looked up, and discovered a grayback, standing on the shore, very +deliberately pointing his musket at him. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the picket; for at this point were stationed +the outposts of the rebel force in the Shenandoah valley. + +"Friend!" replied Tom. + +"Halt, then!" + +"I would, if I could," answered Tom, as hastily as possible. + +"Halt, or I'll fire!" + +"I tell you I can't halt," replied Tom, using his paddle vigorously, as +though he was trying to urge the bateau to the shore. "Don't fire! For +mercy's sake, don't fire." + +Tom appeared to be intensely frightened at the situation in which he was +placed, and redoubled his efforts apparently to gain the bank of the +stream; but the more he seemed to paddle one way, the more the boat went +the other way. However much Tom appeared to be terrified by the peril that +menaced him, it must be confessed that he was not wholly unmoved. + +"Stop your boat, quick!" said the soldier, who had partially dropped his +musket from its menacing position. + +"I can't stop it," responded Tom, apparently in an agony of terror. "I +would go ashore if I could." + +"What's the matter?" + +"The water runs so swift, I can't stop her; been trying this two hours." + +"You will be inside the Yankee lines in half an hour if you don't fetch +to," shouted the picket. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Tom, redoubling his efforts. + +But it was useless to struggle with the furious current, and Tom threw +himself into the bottom of the boat, as if in utter desperation. If +Niagara Falls, with their thundering roar and fearful abyss, had been +before him, his agony could not have been more intense, as judged from the +shore. + +By this time, the sentinel on the bank had been joined by his two +companions, and the three men forming the picket post stood gazing at him, +as he abandoned himself to the awful fate of being captured by the +blood-thirsty Yankees, to whose lines the relentless current of the +Shenandoah was bearing him. + +When Tom was first challenged by the grayback, the boat had been some +twenty rods above him; and it had now passed the spot where he stood, but +the rebels were still near enough to converse with him. Tom heard one of +them ask another who he was. Of course neither of them knew who he was, or +where he came from. + +"Try again!" shouted one of the pickets. "The Yankees will have you in a +few minutes." + +Tom did make another ineffectual effort to check the progress of the +bateau, and again abandoned the attempt in despair. The rebels followed +him on the bank, encouraging him with words of cheer, and with dire +prophecies of his fate if he fell into the hands of the cruel Yankees. + +"Can't you help me?" pleaded Tom, in accents of despair. "Throw me a rope! +Do something for me." + +Now, this was a suggestion that had not before occurred to the picket +guard, and Tom would have been infinitely wiser if he had not put the idea +of assisting him into their dull brains; for it is not at all probable +that they would have thought of such a thing themselves, for the south, +especially the poor white trash, are not largely endowed with inventive +genius. + +"Save me! Save me!" cried Tom, as he saw the rebels engaged in a hasty +consultation, the result of which was, that two of them started off upon +the run in a direction at right angles with the stream. + +"Try again! Stick to it!" shouted the picket left on the shore. + +"I can't do any more; I'm all tired out," replied Tom, throwing himself +for the fourth time in the bottom of the boat, the very picture of +despair. + +The picture was very much exaggerated and over-drawn; but as long as the +bullet from the rebel's musket did not come his way, Tom was satisfied +with his acting, and hopeful for the future. The man on the shore, full of +sympathy for the distressed and exhausted voyager, walked and ran so as to +keep up with the refractory barge, which seemed to be spitefully hurling +its agonized passenger into the Federal lines, where death and dungeons +lurked at every corner. + +While this exciting drama was in progress, the stream bore Tom to a sharp +bend in the river, where the current set in close to the shore. His +attentive guardian on the bank ran ahead, and stationed himself at this +point, ready to afford any assistance to the disconsolate navigator which +the circumstances might permit. + +"Now's your chance!" shouted he. "Gosh all whittaker! put in now, and do +your pootiest!" + +Tom adopted this friendly advice, and "put in" with all his might; but the +more he "put in," the more he put out--from the shore, whither the +inauspicious eddies were sweeping him. If Tom had not been born in +Pinchbrook, and had a home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated +accomplishment, he would probably have been borne into the arms of the +expectant rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which +that gentleman's musket contained. As it was, he had the skill to do what +he seemed not to be doing. Mr. Johnny Reb evidently did not suspect that +Tom was "playing 'possum," as the Tennessee sharpshooters would have +expressed it. The voyager's efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and +certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which ought +to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat. + +The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the waiting arms +of the sympathizing grayback. As it passed, he waded a short distance into +the water, and stretched forth his musket to the unhappy voyager. Tom +threw down his paddle, and sprang with desperate energy to obtain a hold +upon the gun. He even succeeded in grasping the end of the bayonet. For a +moment he pulled so hard that it was doubtful whether the bateau would be +hauled ashore, or Secesh drawn into the deep water. + +"Hold on tight, my boy! Pull for your life!" shouted the soldier, highly +excited by the probable success of his philanthropic efforts. + +"Save me! Save me!" groaned Tom, as he tugged, or seemed to do so, at the +bayonet. + +Then, while the united exertions of the saver and the saved, in +anticipation, were on the very point of being successful, the polished +steel of the bayonet unaccountably slipped through the fingers of Tom, and +the bateau was borne off towards the opposite shore. + +"Save me! Save me," cried Tom again, in tones more piteous than ever. + +"What d'ye let go fur?" said the grayback, indignantly, as his musket, +which he had held by the tip end of the stock, dropped into the water, +when Tom let go of the bayonet. + +The soldier indulged in a volley of peculiarly southern oaths, with which +we cannot disfigure our page, even in deference to the necessity of +painting a correct picture of the scene we have described. Tom had a vein +of humor in his composition, which has already displayed itself in some of +the rough experiences of his career; and when he saw the rebel soldier +deprived of all power to make war upon him, either offensive or defensive, +he could not resist the temptation to celebrate the signal strategical +victory he had obtained over the picket guard. This triumphal +demonstration was not very dignified, nor, under the circumstances, very +prudent or sensible. It consisted in placing the thumb of his right hand +upon the end of his nose, while he wiggled the four remaining digital +appendages of the same member in the most aggravating manner, whistling +Yankee Doodle as an accompaniment to the movement. + +If Secesh did not understand the case before, he did now; and fishing up +his musket, he emptied the water out of the barrel, and attempted to fire +it. Luckily for Tom, the gun would not go off, and he swept on his way +jubilant and joyous. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE END OF THE VOYAGE. + + +Tom Somers's voyage down the Shenandoah was, in many respects, a type of +human life. He experienced the various reverses, the trials and hardships, +which attend all sojourners here below. He triumphed over all obstacles, +and when he had completely outwitted the grayback who had labored so +diligently to save him from his impending fate, he was at the zenith of +prosperity. He had vanquished the last impediment, and the lines of the +Union army--the haven of peace to him--were only a short distance from the +scene of his victory. + +Prosperity makes men arrogant and reckless, and I am sorry to say that it +had the same effect upon Tom Somers. If he had been content modestly to +enjoy the victory he had achieved, it would have been wiser and safer for +him; but when Fortune was kind to him, he mocked her, and she turned +against him. + +When he had passed out of the reach of the rebel soldier, whose musket had +been rendered useless for the time being, Tom believed that he was safe, +and that he had fairly escaped from the last peril that menaced him on the +voyage. But he was mistaken; for as the current swept the bateau around +the bend of the river, he discovered, to his astonishment and chagrin, the +two secesh soldiers, who had left the picket post some time before, +standing at convenient distances from each other and from the shore, in +the water, ready to rescue him from the fate before him. The place they +had chosen was evidently a ford of the river, where they intended to check +the boat in its mad career down the stream. They were painfully persistent +in their kind intentions to save him from the horrible Yankees, and Tom +wished they had been less humane and less enthusiastic in his cause. + +As soon as Tom perceived this trap, he regretted his imprudence in +betraying himself to the soldier from whom he had just escaped. His sorrow +was not diminished, when, a few minutes later, he heard the shouts of the +third soldier, who, by hard running across the fields, had reached the +ford before him. + +"Shoot him! Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" bellowed the grayback on the shore. + +Tom was appalled at these words, and wondered how the soldier could have +found out that he was a Yankee; but when he recalled the fact that he had +entertained him with Yankee Doodle at their last meeting, the mystery +became less formidable. + +"Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" shouted Secesh on the bank of the stream. + +"We've left our guns on shore," replied Secesh in the water. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for that," said Tom to himself, as he +grasped his paddle, and set the boat over towards the right bank of the +river. + +No doubt the rebels in the water, when they saw with what facility the +boatman moved the bateau in the swift tide, as compared with his futile +efforts farther up the stream, were fully satisfied of the truth of their +companion's assertion. Tom decided to run the gauntlet between the right +bank and the soldier nearest to that shore. He paddled the bateau with all +his vigor, until he had obtained the desired position. + +The graybacks in the water, realizing that they were engaged on an errand +of peace and humanity, had left their muskets on shore. They were, +therefore, comparatively harmless; but the one on shore had reached the +ford, and picking up one of the muskets of his companions, without threat +or warning, fired. It was lucky for Tom that he was not a Tennessee +sharpshooter, nor a Texas ranger, for the shot passed harmlessly over him. +The soldier dropped the gun, and picked up the other, which he instantly +discharged, and with better aim than before, for the ball struck the +bateau, though not within four feet of where Tom stood. + +"Don't waste your powder, if you can't shoot better than that," shouted +one of the soldiers in the water. "You'll hit us next." + +"Stop him, then! Stop him!" replied the grayback on the shore. "Kill him +if you can." + +Tom was paddling with all his might to pass the ford before the soldier +nearest to him should reach a position in which he could intercept the +boat. The rebel was an enterprising fellow, and the soldier boy's chances +were growing amazingly small. Secesh had actually reached a place where he +could make a dash at the boat. There he stood with a long bowie-knife +between his teeth, and with both hands outstretched, ready to seize upon +the unfortunate bark. He looked grim and ferocious, and Tom saw that he +was thoroughly in earnest. + +It was a trying situation for a boy of Tom's years, and he would fain have +dodged the issue. That bowie-knife had a wicked look, though it was mild +and tame compared with the savage eye of the rebel who held it. As it was +a case of life and death, the fugitive braced himself up to meet the +shock. Taking his position in the stern of the boat, he held the paddle in +his left hand, while his right firmly grasped his revolver. It was either +"kill or be killed," and Tom was not so sentimental as to choose the +latter rather than the former, especially as his intended victim was a +secessionist and a rebel. + +"Keep off, or you are a dead man," shouted Tom, as he flourished his +pistol so that his assailant could obtain a fair view of its calibre, and +in the hope that the fellow would be willing to adopt a politician's +expedient, and compromise the matter by retiring out of range. + +"Tew kin play at that game. This yere tooth-pick will wipe you out," +coolly replied the fellow, as he made a spring at the boat. + +"Stand off!" screamed Tom, as he raised the pistol, and fired. + +It was a short range, and Tom would have been inexcusable if he had missed +his aim. The rebel struck his chest with his right hand, and the bowie +knife dropped from his teeth; but with his left hand he had grasped the +gunwale of the boat, and as he sunk down in the shallow water, he pulled +the bateau over on one side till the water poured in, and threatened to +swamp her. Fortunately the wounded man relaxed his hold, the boat righted, +and Tom commenced paddling again with all his strength and skill. + +The other soldier in the water, as soon as he discovered where Tom +intended to pass, hastened over to assist his associate. The shouts of +their companion on shore had fully fired their southern hearts, and both +of them were ten times as zealous to kill or capture a Yankee, as they had +been to save a Virginian. When the wounded man clutched the boat, the +other was not more than ten feet from him, but farther down the stream. +His associate fell, and he sprang forward to engage in the affray. + +"Stand off, or you are a dead man!" yelled Tom, with emphasis, as he plied +his paddle with renewed energy, for he saw that the man could not reach +him. + +The bateau passed them both, and Tom began to breathe easier. The second +rebel, finding he could not capture or kill the detested Yankee, went to +the assistance of his companion. The soldier boy suspended his exertions, +for the danger seemed to be over, and gazed with interest upon the scene +which was transpiring in the water just above him. He was anxious to know +whether he had killed the rebel or not. There was something awful in the +circumstances, for the soldier boy's sensibilities were too acute to +permit him to take a human life, though it was that of an enemy, without +producing a deep impression upon his mind. Perhaps, in the great battle in +which he had been a participant, he had killed several rebels; if he had +done so, he had not seen them fall. This was the first man he had +consciously killed or wounded, and the fact was solemn, if not appalling, +to the young soldier. + +As the rebel raised his companion from the water he seemed to be dead, and +Tom was forced to the conclusion that he had killed him. He had done the +deed in self-defence, and in the strict line of duty. He could not be +blamed even by his enemies for the act. He felt no exultation, and hoped +from the bottom of his heart that the man was prepared to meet his Maker, +into whose presence he had been so suddenly summoned. + +Tom had heard the boys in Pinchbrook talk lightly about killing rebels, +and he had talked so himself; but the reality was not so pleasant as it +had seemed at a distance. He was sorry for the poor fellow, and wished he +had not been obliged to kill him. It was terrible to him, even in battle, +to take a human life, to slay a being created in the image of God, and for +whom Christ lived and died. + +While he was indulging in these sad reflections, he heard a bullet whistle +near his head. The Secesh soldier on the shore had loaded up his +companions' muskets, and was doing his best to bring down the lucky +fugitive. His last shot was not a bad one, and Tom could not help +thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that he would not waste any fine +feelings over him. He did not like the sound of those whizzing bullets, +and as he had never boasted of his courage, he did not scorn to adopt +precautionary measures. The water was three inches deep in the bottom of +the bateau; but Tom deemed it prudent to lie down there until the current +should bear him out of the reach of the rebel bullets. + +He maintained this recumbent posture for half an hour or more, listening +to the balls that frequently whistled over his head. Once he ventured to +raise his head, and discovered, not one man, but a dozen, on the shore, +which accounted for the rapid firing he heard. When he looked up again, +his bateau had passed round a bend, and he was no longer exposed to the +fire of the enemy. + +From his heart Tom thanked God for his escape. He was religiously grateful +for the aid which Providence had rendered him, and when he thought how +near he had stood to the brink of destruction, he realized how narrow the +span between the Here and the Hereafter. And the moral of his reflections +was, that if he stood so near to the open gate of death, he ought always +to live wisely and well, and ever be prepared to pass the portals which +separate time from eternity. + +Tom's thoughts were sad and heavy. He could not banish from his mind the +face of the rebel, as he raised his hand to his breast, where he had +received his mortal wound. That countenance, full of hate and revenge, +haunted him for weeks afterwards, in the solitude of his tent, and on his +midnight vigils as a sentinel. + +As he sat in the boat, thinking of the events of the morning, and +listening to the mournful rippling of the waters, which, to his subdued +soul, sounded like the requiem of his victim, he was challenged from the +shore again. + +"Who comes there!" + +Tom jumped up, and saw a sentinel on the bank pointing his gun at him. He +surveyed the form with anxious interest; but this time he had nothing to +fear, for the soldier wore the blue uniform of the United States army. + +"Friend," replied he, as he grasped his paddle. + +"Come ashore, or I'll put a bullet through you," added the sentinel. + +"Don't do it!" said Tom, with energy. "Can't you see the colors I wear." + +"Come ashore, then." + +"I will." + +The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it was +astonishing to observe with what better success than when invited to land +by the grayback up the river. The guard assisted him in landing and +securing his boat. + +"Who are you?" demanded he, as he gazed at Tom's wet and soiled garments. + +"I was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and came back on my own hook." + +"Perhaps you were, but you can't pass these lines," said the soldier. + +Tom was sent to the Federal camp, and passed from one officer to another, +till he was finally introduced to General Banks, at Harper's Ferry. He was +questioned in regard to his own adventures, the country he had passed +through, and the troops of the enemy he had seen. When, to use his own +expression, he had been "pumped dry," he was permitted to rest a few days, +and then forwarded to his regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BUDD'S FERRY. + + +Though Tom Somers had been absent from the regiment only a fortnight, it +seemed to him as though a year had elapsed since the day of the battle +when he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his townsmen and friends. He +had been ordered to report to the provost marshal at Washington, where he +learned that his regiment was at Bladensburg, about six miles from the +city. Being provided with the necessary pass and "transportation," he soon +reached the camp. + +"Tom Somers! Tom Somers!" shouted several of his comrades, as soon as they +recognized him. + +"Three cheers for Tom Somers!" shouted Bob Dornton. + +The soldier boy was a favorite in the company, and his return was +sufficient to justify such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, were given +with tremendous enthusiasm. + +"Tom, I'm glad to see you!" said old Hapgood, with extended hand, while +his eyes filled with tears. "I was afeared we should never see you again." + +The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who was present. +His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to him, and he was +determined always to merit the good will of his companions in arms. + +"Now, fellows, tell us what the news is," said Tom, as he seated himself +on a camp stool before the tent of his mess. + +"There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the orderly," added one +of his friends. "I suppose you have got a bigger story to tell than any of +us, but you shall have a chance to read your letters first." + +These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given to him, and +the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, lest he should find +in them some bad news; but his mother and all the family were well. One of +them was written since the battle, and it was evidently penned with deep +solicitude for his fate, of which nothing had been heard. + +Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him that his +mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, for all the men +had written to their friends since the battle. The captain who had escaped +from Sudley church had reported him alive and well, but he had no +information in regard to his escape. + +"We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same as usual in +Pinchbrook," wrote one of his older sisters. "John is so bent upon going +to sea in the navy, that it is as much as mother can do to keep him at +home. He says the country wants him, and he wants to go; and what's more, +he must go. We haven't heard a word from father since he left home; but +Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in the +harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope that he is +safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy keeping. + +"Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went into the army. He +don't say a word about politics now." + +In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had advanced the +money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire Pemberton had not +said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His brother added that he was +determined to go into the navy, even if he had to run away. He could get +good wages, and he thought it was a pity that he should not do his share +towards supporting the family. + +Tom finished his letters, and was rejoiced to find that his friends at +home were all well and happy; and in a few days more, a letter from him +would gladden their hearts with the intelligence of his safe return to the +regiment. + +"All well--ain't they?" asked Hapgood, as Tom folded up the letters and +put them in his pocket; and the veteran could not fail to see, from the +happy expression of his countenance, that their contents were +satisfactory. + +"All well," replied Tom. "Where is Fred Pemberton? I haven't seen him +yet." + +"In the hospital: he's sick, or thinks he is," answered Hapgood. "Ben +Lethbridge is in the guard house. He attempted to run away while we were +coming over from Shuter's Hill." + +"Who were killed, and who were wounded? I haven't heard a word about the +affair, you know," asked Tom. + +"Sergeant Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner. Sergeant Brown was hit +by a shell, but not hurt much. The second lieutenant was wounded in the +foot, and--" + +A loud laugh from the men interrupted the statement. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Tom. + +"He resigned," added Bob Dornton, chuckling. + +"You said he was wounded?" + +"I didn't say so; the lieutenant said so himself, and hobbled about with a +big cane for a week; but as soon as his resignation was accepted, he threw +away his stick, and walked as well as ever he could." + +The boys all laughed heartily, and seemed to enjoy the joke prodigiously. +Tom thought it was a remarkable cure, though the remedy was one which no +decent man would be willing to adopt. + +"How's Captain Benson?" + +"He's better; he felt awful bad because he wasn't in that battle. The +colonel has gone home, sick. He has more pluck than body. He was +sun-struck, and dropped off his horse, like a dead man, on the field. It's +a great pity he hasn't twice or three times as much body; if he had, he'd +make a first-rate officer." + +It was now Tom's turn to relate his adventures; and he modestly told his +story. His auditors were deeply interested in his narrative, and when he +had finished, it was unanimously voted that Tom was a "trump;" which I +suppose means nothing more than that he was a smart fellow--a position +which no one who has read his adventures will be disposed to controvert. + +A long period of comparative inactivity for the regiment followed the +battle of Bull Run. General McClellan had been called from the scene of +his brilliant operations in Western Virginia, to command the army of the +Potomac, and he was engaged in the arduous task of organizing the vast +body of loyal troops that rushed forward to sustain the government in this +dark hour of peril. + +While at Bladensburg the --th regiment with three others were formed into +a brigade, the command of which was given to Hooker--a name then unknown +beyond the circle of his own friends. + +About the first of November the brigade was sent to Budd's Ferry, thirty +miles below Washington, on the Potomac, to watch the rebels in that +vicinity. The enemy had, by this time, closed the river against the +passage of vessels to the capital, by erecting batteries at various +places, the principal of which were at Evansport, Shipping Point, and +Cockpit Point. Budd's Ferry was a position in the vicinity of these works, +and the brigade was employed in picketing the river, to prevent the enemy +on the other side from approaching, and also to arrest the operations of +the viler traitors on this side, who were attempting to send supplies to +the rebels. + +It was not a very exciting life to which the boys of our regiment were +introduced on their arrival at Budd's Ferry, though the rebel batteries at +Shipping Point made a great deal of noise and smoke at times. As the +season advanced the weather began to grow colder, and the soldiers were +called to a new experience in military life; but as they were gradually +inured to the diminishing temperature, the hardship was less severe than +those who gather around their northern fireside may be disposed to +imagine. Tom continued to be a philosopher, which was better than an extra +blanket; and he got along very well. + +It was a dark, cold, and windy night, in December, when Tom found himself +doing picket duty near the mouth of Chickamoxon Creek. Nobody supposed +that any rebel sympathizer would be mad enough to attempt the passage of +the river on such a night as that, for the Potomac looked alive with the +angry waves that beat upon its broad bosom. Hapgood and Fred Pemberton +were with him, and the party did the best they could to keep themselves +comfortable, and at the same time discharge the duty assigned to them. + +"Here, lads," said old Hapgood, who, closely muffled in his great-coat, +was walking up and down the bank of the creek to keep the blood warm in +his veins. + +"What is it, Hapgood?" demanded Fred, who was coiled up on the lee side of +a tree, to protect him from the cold blast that swept down the creek. + +"Hush!" said Hapgood. "Don't make a noise; there's a boat coming. Down! +down! Don't let them see you." + +Tom and Fred crawled upon the ground to the verge of the creek, and placed +themselves by the side of the veteran. + +"I don't see any boat," said Tom. + +"I can see her plain enough, with my old eyes. Look up the creek." + +"Ay, ay! I see her." + +"So do I," added Fred. "What shall we do?" + +"Stop her, of course." replied Tom. + +"That's easy enough said, but not so easily done. We had better send word +up to the battery, and let them open upon her," suggested Fred. + +"Open upon the man in the moon!" replied Tom, contemptuously. "Don't you +see she is under sail, and driving down like sixty? We must board her!" + +Tom spoke in an emphatic whisper, and pointed to a small boat, which lay +upon the shore. The craft approaching was a small schooner apparently +about five tons burden. The secessionists of Baltimore or elsewhere had +chosen this dark and tempestuous night to send over a mail and such +supplies as could not be obtained, for love or money, on the other side of +the Potomac. Of course, they expected to run the risk of a few shots from +the Union pickets on the river; but on such a night, and in such a sea, +there was very little danger of their hitting the mark. + +Up the creek the water was comparatively smooth; but the little schooner +was driving furiously down the stream, with the wind on her quarter, and +the chances of making a safe and profitable run to the rebel line, those +on board, no doubt, believed were all in their favor. + +"We have no time to lose," said Hapgood, with energy, as he pushed off the +boat, which lay upon the beach. "Tumble in lively, and be sure your guns +are in good order." + +"Mine is all right," added Tom, as he examined the cap on his musket, and +then jumped into the boat. + +"So is mine," said Fred; "but I don't much like this business. Do you +know how many men there are in the schooner?" + +"Don't know, and don't care," replied Tom. + +"Of course they are armed. They have revolvers, I'll bet my month's pay." + +"If you don't want to go, stay on shore," answered Hapgood, petulantly. +"But don't make a noise about it." + +"Of course I'll go, but I think we are getting into a bad scrape." + +Tom and Hapgood held a hurried consultation, which ended in the former's +taking a position in the bow of the boat, while the other two took their +places at the oars. The muskets were laid across the thwarts, and the +rowers pulled out to the middle of the creek, just in season to intercept +the schooner. Of course they were seen by the men on board of her, who +attempted to avoid them. + +"Hallo!" said Tom, in a kind of confidential tone. "On board the schooner +there! Are you going over?" + +"Yes. What do you want?" answered one of the men on board the vessel. + +"We want to get over, and are afraid to go in this boat. Won't you take us +over?" + +"Who are you?" + +"Friends. We've got a mail bag." + +"Where did you get it?" + +"In Washington." + +By this time, the schooner had luffed up into the wind, and Tom directed +his companions to pull again. In a moment the boat was alongside the +schooner, and the soldier boy was about to jump upon her half-deck, when +the rebel crew, very naturally, ordered him to wait till they had +satisfied themselves in regard to his secession proclivities. + +There were five men in the schooner, all of whom were seated near the +stern. Tom did not heed the protest of the traitors, but sprang on board +the schooner, followed by his companions. + +"Now, tell us who you are before you come any farther," said one of the +men. + +"Massachusetts soldiers! Surrender, or you are a dead man," replied Tom, +pointing his gun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +IN THE HOSPITAL. + + +The night was very dark, so that the rebels in the boat could not +distinguish the uniform of those who had applied for a passage on the +schooner. Perhaps Tom Somers's experience in the Blue Ridge and on the +Shenandoah had improved his strategic ability, so that his words and his +manner seemed plausible. But as strategy and cunning always owe their +success to the comparative stupidity of the victims, Tom and his +companions gained the half-deck of the schooner more by the palpable +blundering of her crew than through the brilliancy of their own scheme. + +Tom did not stop, in the midst of the exciting enterprise, to determine +the particular reason of his success, as we, his humble biographer, have +done. He was on the enemy's ground, and confronting the enemy's forces, +and logic was as much out of place as rebellion in a free republican +country. He was closely followed by Hapgood, and at a later period by Fred +Pemberton. The nerves of the latter were not remarkably steady, and as he +stepped on board the schooner, he neglected to take the painter with him; +and the consequence was, that the boat went adrift. It is good generalship +to keep the line of retreat open; and Fred's neglect had deprived them of +all means of retiring from the scene of action. The only alternative was +to fight their way through, and find safety in success. + +To Tom's reply, that the party were Massachusetts soldiers, the rebel who +had acted as spokesman for the crew, uttered a volley of oaths, expressive +of his indignation and disgust at the sudden check which had been given to +their prosperous voyage. + +"Surrender!" repeated Tom, in energetic tones. + +Two of the rebels at the stern discharged their pistols in answer to the +summons--a piece of impudence which our Massachusetts soldiers could not +tolerate; and they returned the fire. The secessionists evidently carried +revolvers; and a turn of the barrel enabled them to fire a second volley, +which the soldiers were unable to do, for they had no time to load their +guns. + +"O!" groaned Fred, as he sunk down upon the half-deck. "I'm hit." + +"We can't stand this, Hapgood," said Tom, fiercely, as he leaped into the +midst of the party in the standing room. "Let's give them the bayonet." + +"Give it to 'em, Tom!" replied the veteran, as he placed himself by the +side of his young companion. + +"Will you surrender?" demanded Tom, as he thrust vigorously with his +bayonet. + +"We surrender," replied one of the men; but it was not the one who had +spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat upon the bottom of the +boat. + +"Give up your pistols, then," added Hapgood. "You look out for the boat, +Tom, and I will take care of these fellows." + +Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the spokesman of the +party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller of the boat, he soon +brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in the stern, he assumed the +management of the schooner, while Hapgood busied himself in taking the +pistols from the hands of the rebels, and exploring their pockets, in +search of other dangerous weapons. + +"How are you, Fred?" shouted Tom, when the pressing business of the moment +had been disposed of. "Are you much hurt?" + +"I'm afraid my time's most up," replied he, faintly. + +"Where are you hit?" + +"In the face; the ball went through my head, I suppose," he added, in +tones that were hardly audible, in the warring of the December blast. + +"Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. Have you got an +easy place?" + +"No, the water dashes over me." + +"Can't you move him aft, Hapgood?" + +"Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed," replied the veteran, who +had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and was securing the arms of the +prisoners behind them. + +"There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers apiece, and we can +have it all our own way, if they show fight." + +But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender care he +lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, and made him as +comfortable as the circumstances would permit. + +"Now, where are we, Hapgood?" asked Tom, who had been vainly peering ahead +to discover some familiar object by which to steer. I can't see the first +thing." + +"I don't know where we are," replied Hapgood. "I never was much of a +sailor, and I leave the navigating all to you." + +"I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we were," added Tom, who had +thus far been utterly unable to ascertain the "ship's position." + +During the brief struggle for the possession of the schooner, she had +drifted some distance, which had caused the new commander to lose his +bearings. The shore they had just left had disappeared, as though it had +been swallowed up by an earthquake. No lights were allowed on shore, where +they could be seen from the river, for they afforded so many targets to +the artillerymen in the rebel batteries. The more Tom tried to discover a +familiar object to steer by, the more it seemed as though the land and +everything else had been cut adrift, and emigrated to foreign parts. Those +who have been in a boat in a very dark night, or in a dense fog, will be +able to appreciate the bewilderment of the skipper of the captured +schooner. + +"Look out, Tom, that you don't run us into some of those rebel batteries," +said Hapgood, after he had watched the rapid progress of the boat for a +few moments. "A shot from a thirty-two pounder would be a pill we couldn't +swallow." + +"No danger of that, Hapgood," answered Tom, confidently. + +"I don't know about that, my boy," answered the veteran, in a tone heavy +with dire anxiety. + +"I know it. The schooner was running with the wind on her starboard +quarter when we boarded her. We are now close-hauled, and of course we +can't make the shore on the other side while we are on this tack." + +Well, I don't know much about it, Tom, but if you say its all right, I'm +satisfied; that' all. I'd trust you just as far as I would General +McClennon, and you know we all b'lieve in him." + +"What are you going to do with us?" asked one of the rebels, who began to +exhibit some interest in the fate of the schooner. + +"I suppose you will find good quarters in Fort McHenry," replied Tom. +"Where do you belong?" + +"In Baltimore." + +"What are you doing here, then?" + +"We go in for the South." + +"Go in, then!" added Tom, laughing. + +"You'll fetch up where all the rest of 'em do," said Hapgood. + +"How's that fellow that was hit?" asked Tom, pointing to the rebel who lay +in the middle of the standing room. + +"I guess it's all right with him," replied Hapgood, bending over the +silent form. "No; he isn't dead." + +"I have it!" shouted Tom, suddenly crowding the helm hard-a-lee. + +"What, Tom?" + +"I see where we are. We are running up the river. I see the land on the +weather bow." + +The schooner was put about, and after running with the wind amidships for +ten or fifteen minutes, Tom discovered the outline of Mrs. Budd's house, +which was directly under the guns of the Union battery. + +"Stand by the fore halliards, Hapgood," said Tom, as the boat came about +again. "Let go!" + +The foresail came down, and Tom sprang upon the pier, as the schooner came +up under its lee. In a moment the boat was made fast. By this time the +pickets appeared. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the soldier. + +"Friends!" replied Tom. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign." + +"Little Mac," whispered the soldier boy in the ear of the sentinel. + +"Who are you?" + +"Co. K." answered Tom. + +"What's the row? The long roll was beat just now, and the whole regiment +is in line. What was that firing?" + +"We have captured this boat, and five prisoners, one of them wounded, if +not dead." + +"Bully for you," replied the picket. + +They were soon joined by a squad of men, and Fred Pemberton and the +wounded rebel were conveyed to the hospital, while the four prisoners were +conducted to a secure place. Hapgood and Tom then hastened to the parade, +where the regiment was drawn up, and reported the events which had just +transpired. It was unanimously voted by officers and privates that the +picket guard had done "a big thing," and they were warmly and generously +commended for their skill and bravery. + +Hapgood and Tom requested permission to go to the hospital and see their +companion. They found that the surgeon had already dressed his wound. + +"Will he die?" asked Tom, full of solicitude for his friend. + +"Die! no; it's a mere scratch. The ball ploughed into his cheek a little +way," replied the surgeon. "It isn't a bad wound. He was more scared than +hurt." + +"I am glad it is no worse," said Captain Benson, who, with fatherly +solicitude for his men, had come to the hospital as soon as the company +was dismissed. "But what ails you, Tom? You look pale." + +"Nothing, captain." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I don't think I am badly hurt. I believe one of those pistol balls grazed +my side; but I hardly felt it." + +"Let me see," said the surgeon. + +The doctor opened Tom's coat, and his gray shirt was found to be saturated +with blood. + +"That's a worse wound than Pemberton's. Didn't you know it, Tom?" + +"Well, of course I knew it; but I didn't think it was any thing," replied +Tom, apologetically. "I knew it wouldn't do to drop down, or we should all +be in Dixie in half an hour." + +"You are my man for the present," said the doctor, as he proceeded to a +further examination of the wound. + +Tom was hit in the side by one of the pistol bullets. As I have not the +surgeon's report of the case, I cannot give a minute description of it; +but he comforted Hapgood and the captain with the assurance that, though +severe, it was not a dangerous wound. + +"Tom Somers, there's a sergeant's warrant in Company K for one of you +three men," said Captain Benson, when the patient was comfortably settled +upon his camp bed. "The colonel told me to give him the name of the most +deserving man in my company." + +"Give it to Tom," said Hapgood, promptly. "He led off in this matter, and +ef't hadn't been for him, we should all have been on t'other side of the +river, and p'raps on t'other side of Jordan, afore this time. And then, to +think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat like a +commodore, when the life-blood was runnin' out of him all the time! It +belongs to Tom." + +"Give it to Tom," added Fred, who lay near the patient. + +"No, Captain Benson," interposed Tom, faintly. "Hapgood is an old soldier, +and deserves it more than I do. Give it to him, and I shall be better +satisfied than if you give it to me." + +"Tom Somers!" exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of tears sliding down his +furrowed cheeks, "I won't stand nothin' of the sort! I'd jump into the +river and drownd myself before I'd take it, after what you've done." + +"You are both worthy of it," added Captain Benson. + +"Please give it to Hapgood," pleaded Tom. "He first proposed going out +after the little schooner." + +"Give it to Tom, cap'n. It'll help heal his wound," said Hapgood. + +"No; it would do me more good to have you receive it," protested Tom. + +"Well, here, I can't have this battle fought in the hospital," interposed +the surgeon. "They are good friends, captain, and whichever one you give +it to, the other will be suited. You had better settle the case at +head-quarters." + +"If you please, Captain Benson, I would like to have Hapgood stay with me +to-night, if he can be spared." + +The veteran was promptly detailed for hospital duty, and the captain +returned to his quarters to decide the momentous question in regard to the +sergeant's warrant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TOM IS SENTIMENTAL. + + +The little schooner which the picket guard had captured was loaded with +valuable supplies for the rebels, which of course were confiscated without +ceremony. The mail bag which was on board contained a great many letters +from traitors in Baltimore, some of whom were exposed by the capture of +their treasonable correspondence. + +Tom's wound proved to be more serious than even the surgeon had +anticipated; but the best care which it was possible to give in a military +hospital was bestowed upon him. Old Hapgood, in recognition of his +services on that eventful night, was permitted to be near the patient as +much as the interests of the service would permit; and the old man was +happy when seated by the rude couch of the soldier boy, ministering to his +necessities, or cheering him with bright hopes of the future. A strong +friendship had grown up between them, for Tom's kind heart and brave +conduct produced a deep impression upon the old man. + +"Here, Tom," said Captain Benson, as he approached the sufferer, a few +days after he entered the hospital, and laid a paper upon the bed. "Here's +a prescription which the colonel says you must take." + +"What is it?" asked Tom, with a faint smile. + +"A sergeant's warrant." + +"Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on!" exclaimed old Hapgood, +jumping up like a youth of sixteen, and swinging his cap above his head. + +"Shut up, there!" shouted the hospital steward. "Don't you know any better +than to make such a racket in this place?" + +"I beg pardon, Jameson. I forgot where I was," apologized the veteran. +"The news was so good I couldn't help it. Our Tom is a sergeant now!" + +"Not yet, Hapgood," replied Tom, feebly. "I can't accept it, Captain +Benson; it belongs to Hapgood, sir, and I shall feel a great deal better +if you put his name in place of mine." + +"Don't do it, cap'n!" interposed the old man, vehemently. "Tom shall be a +brigadier general if the war lasts one year more. I should feel like a +whipped kitten if that warrant was altered." + +"The matter has been fully and fairly considered at head-quarters, and +there is no such thing as altering the decision now; so, Tom, you can put +the stripes on your arm just as soon as you please." + +Hapgood insisted, the surgeon insisted, and the captain insisted; and Tom +was too sick to hold way with them in an argument, and his name was placed +upon the roster of the company as a sergeant. He was proud of the +distinction which had been conferred upon him, though he thought Hapgood, +as an older and abler soldier, was better entitled to the honor than +himself. + +It was six weeks before Tom was able to enter upon the actual enjoyment of +the well-merited promotion which he had won by his gallantry; but when he +appeared before the company with the chevron of the sergeant upon his arm, +he was lustily cheered by his comrades, and it was evident that the +appointment was a very popular one. Not even the grumblers, of whom there +is a full quota in every regiment, deemed it prudent to growl at the +decision of the officers. If any one ventured to suggest that he was too +young to be placed over older and stronger men, his friends replied, that +men in the army were measured by bravery and skill, not by years. + +If my young readers wish to know why Tom's appointment was so well +received by his companions in arms, I can only reply, that he had not only +been brave and cheerful in the midst of peril and hardship, but he was +kind and obliging to his comrades. He had always been willing to help +those that needed help, to sympathize with those in trouble, and generally +to do all he could to render those around him happy. + +Above all these considerations, Tom was a young man of high principle. He +had obeyed his mother's parting injunction, often repeated in the letters +which came to him from home, and had faithfully "read his Testament." +Without being a hypocrite or a canting saint, Tom carried about with him +the true elements of Christian character. + +Tom had fought a greater battle than that in which he had been engaged at +Bull Run a hundred times, in resisting the temptations which beset him +from within and without. True to God and true to himself, he had won the +victory. Though his lot was cast in the midst of men who swore, gambled, +and drank liquor, he had shunned these vices, and loved the sinner while +he hated the sin. Such a person could not fail to win the respect of his +companions. Though he had been jeered at and insulted for being sober, +honest, and pious, he had fought down and lived down all these vilifiers, +and won their esteem. + +It must be acknowledged that Tom's piety was of the robust type. He would +not allow any man to insult him; and after the chastisement he had given +Ben Lethbridge, not even those who were strong enough to whip him were +disposed to trespass upon his rights and dignity. Perhaps Tom's creed +needed a little revising; but he lived under martial law, which does not +take cognizance of insults and revilings. He was willing to be smitten on +the one cheek, and on the other also, for the good of his country, or even +his friends, but not to be wantonly insulted. + +The influence of Tom's principles was not confined to himself, for "a +little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." This was particularly true of +Hapgood, who, more through Tom's preaching and practice than from any +strength in his own character, had steadily maintained his purpose to +abstain from intoxicating drinks, though occasional opportunities were +presented for the indulgence of his darling vice. Tom and he read the +Testament and other good books which were sent to the regiment, and both +profited by them. + +When the soldier boy was discharged from the hospital, the surgeon gave +him a pair of woolen socks, from a case of them which had been sent by the +friends of the soldier in Boston and its vicinity. He was very much in +need of them, and from the depths of his heart he blessed the ladies who +had done this good work. He unrolled the socks, and proceeded to pull one +of them on. It was as good a fit as though his mother had knit it on +purpose for him. + +"God bless the lady that knit these socks!" exclaimed Tom, as he began to +draw on the other. + +"Amen!" replied Hapgood, who was watching the operation in full sympathy +with his protege. + +"Eh! what's this?" added Tom, for his foot had met with an obstruction in +its passage down the leg. + +He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took therefrom a +letter enclosed in an envelope. + +"See that, uncle?" said he, exhibiting the prize. + +"What is it, Tom? Open it quick," replied Hapgood. + +The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note enclosing a +photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of pleasure, which +would have caused the original of the miniature, the author of the note, +and the author of the socks, to blush up to her eyes if she had beheld the +expression of admiration which glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the +young sergeant. + +"By all that's lovely, isn't she a beauty!" exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as +he glanced from the picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder. + +"She's hahnsome, and no mistake," replied the veteran, with a grim smile. + +"Well, she is!" added Tom, whose eyes were riveted to the photograph. + +"Well, why don't you read the letter, Tom?" demanded the old soldier, +after the young man had gazed with blushing cheek upon the sweet face of +the author of his socks for full five minutes. + +"I guess I will," said Tom; but he did not; for the picture seemed to be +glory and beauty enough to satisfy him for the present. + +"Read the letter, Tom!" shouted the veteran, after he had waited as long +as the nature of the case seemed to require. + +The soldier boy carefully placed the photograph in the envelope, and +unfolded the letter. It was written in a beautiful hand, which looked as +soft and delicate as the fair fingers which had penned the lines. He +glanced at it as a whole, admired the penmanship, and the fairy-like +symmetry that make up the _tout-ensemble_ of the page, and was about to +dissolve into another rhapsody, when Hapgood, who was not half so +sentimental as the sergeant, became impatient to know the contents of the +missive. Tom read it aloud to the stoical veteran; and though we cannot +clothe its sweet words in the fairy chirography which transported our +hero, and made the letter a dream of bliss to him, we shall venture to +present it to our curious readers, stiffened and hardened into the dull, +cold forms of the printer's art. + + No.----, RUTLAND STREET, BOSTON, _Nov._ 5, 1861. + + MY DEAR SOLDIER:-- + + This is the first pair of socks I ever knit; and I send them to + you with my blessing upon the brave defenders of my country. I + hope they will keep your feet warm, and thus keep your heart warm + towards God and our blessed land. + + Grandma says I am a silly girl, and I suppose I am; but if you + feel half as much interest in me as I do in the person who will + wear the first pair of socks I ever knit, you will wish to know + how I look; therefore I send you my photograph. + + I very much desire to know whether my work has done any good; + whether my socks are ever worn in a battle; and most of all, I + desire to know how the noble fellow looks that wears them. + Therefore I beg you to answer my letter, and also to send me your + photograph, if you can conveniently. + + Now, my dear soldier, be brave and true, and, above all, do not + run away from the rebels with my socks on your feet. You may + retreat when your officers order you to retire; but if you are a + coward, and find yourself compelled to run away, please pull them + off before you do so, for I should die with mortification if I + thought I had knit a pair of socks for a Union soldier to run away + in. + + Truly yours, for our flag and our country. + + LILIAN ASHFORD. + +"Well, if that gal ain't a trump, then there ain't no snakes in Virginny!" +exclaimed Hapgood. "She's got the true grit, and no mistake." + +"That's so," replied the recipient of the gift, thoughtfully, as he bent +down, and began to pull off the sock which encased his left foot. + +"What are you doing?" demanded Hapgood, surprised at this new movement of +his companion. + +"I can't wear these socks yet, uncle," replied he. + +"Why not?" + +Don't she say she wants them worn in a battle?" + +"Tom, you are a little fool!" added the veteran, petulantly. "Are you +going with cold feet just to please a silly gal, whose head is as full of +moonshine as an egg is of meat. Put on the socks, and keep your feet warm. +If you don't, I'll write to her, and tell what a fool you are." + +Tom did put them on, but he could not help feeling that uncle Hapgood, as +he was familiarly called in the camp, did not understand and appreciate +his sentiments. The socks seemed to be too precious to be worn in the +vulgar mud of Maryland. To him there was something ethereal about them, +and it looked a little like profanation to put any thing emanating from +the fairy fingers of the original of that photograph, and the author of +that letter, upon his feet. + +"Now you act like a sensible fellow, as you are, Tom," said Hapgood, as +the sergeant put on his army brogans. + +"Well, uncle, one thing is certain: I never will run away from the rebels +with these socks on," added Tom, with a rich glow of enthusiasm. + +"If Gen'l McClennon don't stir his stumps pretty soon, you'll wear 'em out +afore you git a chance to run away." + +Tom, almost for the first time since he had been in the army, wanted to be +alone. With those socks on, it seemed just as though he was walking the +streets of the New Jerusalem, with heaven and stacks of silver-fringed and +golden-tinged clouds beneath his feet, buried up to the eyes in floods of +liquid moonshine. + +If "grandma" really thought that Lilian Ashford was a silly girl, and if +Lilian really supposed so herself, it must be added, in justification of +her conduct, that she had given the soldier boy a new incentive to do his +duty nobly, and kindled in his soul a holy aspiration to serve God and his +country with renewed zeal and fidelity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE CONFEDERATE DESERTER. + + +While Tom was in the hospital, he received a letter from his sister, +informing him that his brother John had actually entered the navy, and +with his mother's consent. The news from home was so favorable, that the +soldier boy was pleased to hear that Jack had realized his darling wish, +and that he was now in his element. + +Intelligence from home, accompanied with letters, papers, books, comforts, +and luxuries of various kinds, reached him every two or three weeks; and +when the news went back that Tom had been made a sergeant for gallant +conduct, there was a great sensation in Pinchbrook. The letters which +reached him after the receipt of this gratifying announcement contained +all the gossip of the place in regard to the important event. Of course, +Tom was delighted by these letters, and was more than ever determined to +be diligent and faithful in the discharge of his duties, and never to +disgrace the name he bore. He was confident his friends would never have +occasion to blush for his conduct--including the original of the +photograph, the author of the letter and of the socks. + +Tom recovered from the effects of his wound, as we have before intimated, +and took his place in the regimental line as a sergeant. January and +February passed away without any very stirring events; but in the month of +March came indications of activity. The rebels began to draw in their +lines, by abandoning various points, till the nation was startled by the +evacuation of their strongly fortified position at Manassas, and the forts +in front of Budd's Ferry were suddenly left for the occupation of the +Federal troops. + +Hooker's men crossed the Potomac, and Tom was once more on the sacred soil +of Virginia. Skirmishers were sent out in various directions, and though a +deserted camp, which had been hastily abandoned, was found, there were no +rebels to be seen. The Union boys were not disposed to leave their +investigations at this interesting point, and they pursued their way still +farther into the country. Somehow or other, Tom and his party did not +receive the order to return, and the enterprising young hero continued his +march in search of further adventures. It was altogether too tame for him +and the congenial spirits in his section to retire without seeing a live +rebel or two; and I am not sure, if their desire had not been gratified, +that they would not have penetrated to Fredericksburg, and captured that +citadel of rebellion in advance to General Augur, who visited the place in +April. + +As it was, they stumbled upon the pickets of a rebel force, and as soon as +their uniform was identified they had the honor of being fired upon, +though none of them had the honor of being killed in the midst of their +virtual disobedience of orders. But their appearance created a panic among +the Confederates, who had no means of knowing that they were not the +pioneers of a whole division of Union troops, for General McClellan had +removed the spell which bound the loyal army to its camps, and corps, +divisions, and brigades were pushing forward into the dominion of the +traitors. + +The alarm was given, and Tom saw that he was rushing into a bad scrape; +and as prudence is as much a requisite of the good soldier as bravery, he +ordered his men to fall back. Rebels are very much like ill-natured curs, +ever ready to pursue a retreating foe, or run away from an advancing one. +The Confederates chased them, and as the legs of the former seemed to be +in remarkably good condition, the sergeant came to the conclusion that it +would not be safe to run too fast. + +"Halt!" shouted he; and the men promptly obeyed the order. + +They discharged their muskets, and then made a demonstration towards the +enemy, who, obeying their instinct, ran away as fast as their legs would +carry them. Taking advantage of this movement on their part, Tom again +ordered a retreat. + +"They are after us again," said Hapgood. "I hope there ain't no cavalry +within hearing. If there is, we may take a journey to Richmond." + +"They have stopped to load their guns," replied Tom. "We will use our legs +now." + +"See that, Tom!" said Hapgood, suddenly. + +"What?" + +"There's one of them rushing towards us all alone." + +"He has thrown up his gun. The others are yelling to him to come back. +What does that mean?" + +"He is a deserter; he wants to get away from them. There he comes." + +"Yes, and there comes the rest of them--the whole rebel army--more than a +million of them," said Fred Pemberton. "It's time for us to be going." + +"See! They are firing at him. Forward!" added Tom, leading the way. + +The party rushed forward, for a short distance; but the dozen rebels had +been reënforced, and it was madness to rush into the very teeth of danger. +Tom ordered his men to halt and fire at will. The deserter, probably +finding that he was between two fires, turned aside from the direct course +he was pursuing, and sought shelter in the woods. The sergeant then +directed his men to retire, for whether the retreat of the runaway rebel +was covered or not, it was no longer safe to remain. + +Fortunately the Confederates were more in doubt than the Unionists; and +perhaps expecting to fall upon a larger body of the latter, they abandoned +the pursuit, and returned to their posts. Nothing was seen of the deserter +for some time, and Tom concluded that he had lost his way in the woods, or +had missed the direction taken by the Federal scouts. + +"He was a plucky fellow, any how," said one of the men, "to attempt to run +away in the very face of his companions." + +"Well, he timed it well, for he started just when their guns were all +empty," added another. + +"I'm not sorry he missed us," continued Hapgood. "I don't like a desarter, +no how. It goes right agin my grain." + +"But he was running from the wrong to the right side," replied Tom. + +"I don't keer if he was. Them colors on t'other side were his'n. He chose +'em for himself, and it's mean to run away from 'em. If a man's go'n to be +a rebel, let him be one, and stick to it." + +"You don't know any thing about it, uncle. Thousands of men have been +forced into the rebel army, and I don't blame them for getting out of it +the best way they can. I should do so." + +"That may be. Tom; that may be," added the veteran, taking off his cap and +rubbing his bald head, as though a new idea had penetrated it. "I didn't +think of that." + +"He's a brave man, whoever he is, and whatever he is." + +"He must want to get away from 'em pretty bad, or he wouldn't have run +that risk. I shouldn't wonder if they hit him." + +"Perhaps he is wounded, and gone into the woods there to die," suggested +Tom. + +"Halloo!" shouted some one in the rear of them. + +"There's your man," said Hapgood. + +"Halloo!" cried the same voice. + +"Halloo, yourself!" shouted Hapgood in reply to the hail. + +The party halted, and after waiting a few moments, the rebel deserter came +in sight. He was apparently a man of fifty; and no mendicant of St. Giles, +who followed begging as a profession, could have given himself a more +wretched and squalid appearance, if he had devoted a lifetime to the study +of making himself look miserable. He wore a long black and gray beard, +uncut and unkempt, and snarled, tangled, and knotted into the most +fantastic forms. His gray uniform, plentifully bedaubed with Virginia mud, +was torn in a hundred places, and hung in tatters upon his emaciated +frame. On his head was an old felt hat, in a terribly dilapidated +condition. He wore one boot and one shoe, which he had probably taken from +the common sewer of Richmond, or some other southern city; they were +ripped to such an extent that the "uppers" went flipperty-flap as he +walked, and had the general appearance of the open mouth of the mythic +dragon, with five bare toes in each to represent teeth. + +As he approached, the unthinking soldiers of the party indulged in screams +of laughter at the uncouth appearance of the whilom rebel; and certainly +the character in tableau or farce need not have spoken, to convulse any +audience that ever assembled in Christendom. Rip Van Winkle, with the +devastations and dilapidations of five-and-twenty years hanging about him, +did not present a more forlorn appearance than did this representative of +the Confederate army. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded the deserter, not at all delighted +with this reception. + +"I say, old fellow, how long since you escaped from the rag-bag?" jeered +one of the men. + +"What's the price of boots in Richmond now?" asked another. + +"Who's your barber?" + +"Silence, men!" interposed Tom, sternly, for he could not permit his boys +to make fun of the wretchedness of any human being. + +"We'll sell you out for paper stock," said Ben Lethbridge, who had just +returned from three months' service in the Rip-Raps for desertion. + +"Shut up, Ben!" added Tom. + +"Dry up, all of you!" said Corporal Snyder. + +"Who and what are you?" asked Tom, of the deserter. + +"I'm a Union man!" replied the stranger with emphasis; "and I didn't +expect to be treated in this way after all I've suffered." + +"They thought you were a rebel. You wear the colors of the rebel army," +answered the sergeant, willing to explain the rudeness of his men. + +"Well, I suppose I do look rather the worse for the wear," added the +grayback, glancing down at the tattered uniform he wore. "I joined the +rebel army, after I had tried every way in the world to get out of this +infernal country; but I never fired a gun at a Union man. Seems to me, +sergeant, I've seen you before somewhere. What's your name? Where did you +come from?" + +"Pinchbrook, Massachusetts; and most of us hail from the same place." + +"Creation!" exclaimed the deserter. "You don't say so!" + +"Your voice sounds familiar to me," added Tom; and for some reason his +chest was heaving violently beneath his suddenly accelerated respiration. + +As he spoke, he walked towards the dilapidated rebel, who had not ventured +to come within twenty feet of the party. + +"Did you say Pinchbrook?" demanded the stranger, who began to display a +great deal of emotion. + +"Pinchbrook, sir," added Tom; and so intensely was he excited, that the +words were gasped from his lips. + +"What's your name?" + +"Thomas Somers," replied the sergeant. + +"Tom!" screamed the deserter, rushing forward. + +"Father!" cried Tom, as he grasped the hand of the phantom Confederate. + +The soldiers of the party were transfixed with astonishment at this +unexpected scene, and they stood like statues gazing at the meeting of +father and son, till the final development of their relationship, when the +muscles of their faces relaxed, and the expression of wonder gave place to +joyous sympathy. + +"Captain Somers, of Pinchbrook!" shouted old Hapgood; and the men joined +with him in a roar of intense satisfaction, that made the woods ring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ON THE PENINSULA. + + +The scene between Captain Somers and his son was very affecting and very +exciting; and if the soldiers had all been uncles and first cousins of the +parties, they could not have manifested more interest on the joyous +occasion. The father wept, and the son wept; for each, amid the terrible +experience of these troublous times, had hardly expected to meet the +other. + +For several minutes they held each other by the hand, laughing and weeping +alternately, and neither being able to express the intense emotions which +agitated him. The men shouted and laughed in full sympathy with the +reunited sire and son. + +"I'm glad to see you, Tom," said Captain Somers, as he wiped away the +tears that were sliding down upon his grizzly beard. "I haven't cried +before for thirty years; I'm ashamed of it, Tom, but I can't help it." + +"I didn't expect to find you here, father, and clothed in the rebel +uniform; but I'm glad to see you in any uniform," replied the soldier boy. + +"So you're in the army, Tom," continued the father, gazing with +satisfaction at the neat appearance of the sergeant. + +"Yes, sir; I enlisted within a fortnight after we heard that the traitors +had bombarded Fort Sumter." + +"I see you've got three stripes on your arm." + +"Yes, Cap'n Somers," said Hapgood; "Tom was made a sergeant for gallant +conduct on the river in December; and he deserved his promotion too." + +"I'm glad to see you with that uniform on your back, Tom; and glad to hear +that you have behaved well." + +"I was in the battle of Bull Run, father, and was taken prisoner, but I +got away." + +"Well, Tom, we'll hear about that bimeby," said the old man, stopping and +looking nervously into the face of his son. "I want to ask a great many +questions, Tom, but I hardly dare to do it. You know I haven't heard a +word from home since I left, and it's almost a year now." + +"You needn't be afraid, father; the folks are all well. I have got a heap +of letters at the camp, and you shall read them all as soon as we get +there." + +"Is your mother well, Tom?" + +"First rate." + +"And John?" + +"Yes, sir; but he's gone into the navy. He was bound to be in the fight +any how." + +"John's a chip of the old block. He wanted to snuff the salt water afore +he was a week old. John's a good sailor, and he ought to have a good lay +wherever he goes," added the father. + +Captain Somers and Tom sat upon the ground for half an hour, until the +fugitive from the rebel army was in some degree rested after the hard run +he had had through the woods. The soldiers gathered around them, as much +interested as though they had been members of the Somers family. Tom's +father had a multitude of questions to ask about Pinchbrook and its +people, all of which were answered to his satisfaction. + +The sergeant thought it was time for the party to move on, and his father +declared that he was able to walk any distance which would bring him +nearer to the home of his wife and children. The order was given, and the +little band resumed its march. + +"How have you been all this time, father?" asked Tom, as he walked along +by the side of Captain Somers. + +"I've been pretty fairly most of the time. I'm tough and hardy, or I +should have been dead afore this time. We've been half starved and half +frozen in the camp; but I managed to live through it, hoping and expecting +to get away from those rascally rebels." + +"Where have you been all the time?" asked Tom. "Have you been in the rebel +army long?" + +"About four months; but I may as well begin at the beginning, and tell you +the whole story," added the captain. "I got to Norfolk all right, and was +there when the news came up that the rebels had taken Sumter. Every body +was mad, and I was as mad as the rest of them, though not exactly in the +same way. I let on a little with my tongue, and came pretty near being +tarred and feathered, and I think I should have been, if your uncle Wyman +hadn't interfered." + +"Did he settle with you, father?" + +"After a while he did. He had some fifteen thousand dollars in New York, +which had just been sent over from England, and as he was secesh, he was +terribly afeard the Lincoln government would confiscate it; so he settled +with me, and gave me a power of attorney to draw his money, pay myself, +and take care of what was over. I've got the papers safe in my waistbands +now." + +"Good! Glory, hallelujah!" shouted Tom. "We can pay off old Pemberton now, +for it goes against my grain to owe a dollar to a traitor. But if uncle +Wyman is a rebel, and I suppose he is, I hope the government will +confiscate what's over after you have paid yourself." + +"Well, I don't know. We will see about that bimeby. He used me fair, and I +don't wish him any harm; but I hate his principles. Well, just then, Tom, +when I had got my accounts squared, the rascals took my vessel, and sunk +it in the channel to keep the Union fleet out. My pipe was out then, and I +couldn't do any thing more. I hung round the city of Norfolk till I saw +there was no chance to get out in that direction; and then I left. I was +up near Bull Run--the rebels call it Manassas--when the battle was fought; +but our folks got licked so badly, that it was no use to try to get +through there. + +"I tried half a dozen times to crawl through, and had nearly starved to +death in the woods; but some rebel cavalry pickets spied me out, called me +a traitor, and sent me back. My money was all gone by this time, and I +went over to Norfolk again. Your uncle Wyman told me I had better keep +quiet where I was, for just as sure as his name was Somers, the North +would all fall to pieces in less than six months. He expected the rebel +army would be in New York afore long, and I should be a great deal better +off where I was. He tried to get a pass to send me through the rebel +lines, but he couldn't do it. + +"Things went on in this way till your uncle Wyman went to Charleston on +business, and I haven't seen him from that day to this. The rebels tried +to make me go into their navy, but I wouldn't do it, of course; but when I +couldn't do any other way, I went into the army, hoping I should be sent +to the front, and find a chance to get away. I've been watching ever +since, but I never happened to get within twenty miles of the Union +pickets before. But here I am, and I'm perfectly satisfied with the past, +though I've suffered a good deal in one way and another." + +By the time Captain Somers had finished his narrative, the party arrived +at the camp. Tom was reprimanded very gently for detaching himself from +the main body of the regiment; but when he reported the events of his +excursion, as he had safely returned with his command, nothing more was +said about his adventure. + +At the camp the Union refugee was provided with comfortable clothing; his +hair and beard were trimmed down to decent proportions, and he was +otherwise purged of the barbarisms of the rebel camp. But even then he did +not look like the stout, hearty, healthy Captain Somers who sailed from +Boston in the Gazelle nearly a year before. He was haggard and emaciated +from anxiety and semi-starvation. + +Captain Somers was warmly welcomed by the members of Company K, who came +from Pinchbrook; and when his physical wants had been satisfied, he was +sent to General Hooker, to communicate to him such intelligence as he +possessed in regard to the position and numbers of the rebel army. He +remained at the camp but two days, at the end of which time he was sent to +Washington, and from there hastened to his home in Pinchbrook. A letter +from Tom, announcing the joyful intelligence of his return, had preceded +him. + +In ten days after parting with his father, the sergeant received a full +and glowing account of the reception of Captain Somers, who became quite a +lion in Pinchbrook for the time being. He received his money as he passed +through New York, though not without the aid of a government order which +he had procured in Washington, and only the amount that was actually due +to him, for uncle Wyman's funds were then in process of being confiscated. + +The only drawback upon his father's happiness was the absence of John, who +had been drafted into a vessel bound to the South. He had not seen him for +a year, and another year would probably elapse before he could expect to +realize this pleasure. But the captain's patriotism had been intensified a +hundred fold by his bitter experience in Virginia; and while his twin sons +were gallantly serving their country in the army and the navy, he was +willing to sacrifice the yearnings of his paternal heart, and he hoped and +prayed that they might do their duty faithfully. + +Tom's regiment remained on the Potomac but a short time after the event we +have related. Sharper and sterner experience was before these tried +soldiers, and the first indications of active service were greeted with +joyous enthusiasm. Suddenly the camp was broken up, and the order to march +given. The men wondered and speculated upon their destination, and though +the prophets of the regiments gave them certain information in regard to +the direction they were to take, most of them were incredulous. One +declared they were going to Richmond by the way of Fredericksburg; +another, by the way of Manassas; and a third was positive, from hints he +had seen in the newspapers, that they were going down the valley of the +Shenandoah, to take the capital of Rebeldom on the flank and rear. + +While the prophets and wise men were speculating, the regiment marched on; +and to the astonishment of all, and to the utter confusion of the seers, +they were embarked in a transport--the steamer Napoleon--bound no one knew +where. One regiment and half of another belonging to the brigade were +huddled on board of this one steamer. Every foot of standing room was +occupied, and, of course, the boys were not very comfortably quartered; +but, as Tom expressed it, there was music ahead, and the brave hearts on +board were ready to stand any thing if they could only get a fight out of +the rebels. The mortification of their defeat at Bull Run still hung +heavily on their spirits, and they were panting for an opportunity to +retaliate upon the foe, and win the laurels they had lost upon that +disastrous field. + +The prophets, though their failure to foretell the coming event had cast +them into disgrace, were still ready to volunteer an opinion. They +declared that the transports were bound to North Carolina, to follow up +Burnside's successes; but most of the men were content to wait till the +future should develop itself. + +The troops were eager for active duty, and if they could get into the +field and strike a heavy blow at the rebellion, they did not care where it +was. They had unbounded confidence in the young general who was to +organize victory for them, and they were willing to obey orders, and leave +every thing to him. + +It "thundered all around" them. Roanoke, Pea Ridge, Newbern, Winchester, +Donelson, were a succession of Union victories, which inspired them with +zeal and courage to endure all hardships, and face any peril which might +be in their path. + +The transport descended the Potomac, and came to anchor in the bay, where +they lay one day; the steamer then continued on her course, and landed her +troops in Cheseman's Creek, an indentation of the peninsula between the +York and James Rivers. After lying in camp a few days, they marched again, +and Tom learned that the regiment was before Yorktown, which had been +strongly fortified by the rebels to resist the advance of the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. + + +What the army of the Potomac achieved and suffered before Yorktown, we +must leave for the historian. Our soldier boy was only one hero among +thousands who toiled in the soft mud of the early spring, who watched and +waited for the tremendous events which have now passed into history, and +whose actors will be honored and remembered by future generations. + +Tom Somers bore his full share of the trials and hardships of that +eventful period; and when McClellan's scientific engineering had driven +the rebels from their strong works without a struggle to retain them, he +moved forward with the gallant army. "On to Richmond!" again sounded along +the lines, and the soldiers toiled through mud and mire, hoping and +expecting to strike the final blow that would crush out the rebellion. + +Yorktown was evacuated. The rebels were fleeing from their frowning +batteries, and the order came for Hooker's division to join in the +pursuit. At noon the brigade--now under command of General Grover +commenced its forward movement. + +"Rather rough," said Hapgood, as the regiment struggled on through the +mire. "Rather soft, I think," replied Tom, laughing. + +"I hope we haven't got to march far through this mud," added Ben +Lethbridge. + +"That will depend upon how soon we come up with the rebels. If it rests +with Hooker, I tell you he will get a fight out of the rebs, if such a +thing is possible." + +After the regiment had marched five or six miles, the order came to halt; +and the intelligence passed along the column that the cavalry had come up +with the enemy, and were waiting the arrival of an infantry force to +assist in the attack. + +"Good!" shouted Tom. "We shall have a battle before night." + +"Perhaps not," added Hapgood. "It takes the cat a good while to catch the +mouse, even after she smells the critter." + +"Why don't we march? What are we stopping here for?" said Tom, +impatiently. + +"They say Smith's division has got in ahead of us. Keep cool, Tom; never +be in a hurry for a battle. Some of us that stand here now won't be alive +in twenty-four hours from now; for I don't believe the rebs are going to +let us have it all our own way," said the veteran. + +"Nor I," added Fred Pemberton. "I shall be killed in this fight." + +"How do you know, Fred?" demanded Hapgood, sternly. + +"Of course I don't know, but I feel it in my bones that I shall fall in +the first battle." + +"Your bones ain't no guide at all. I know something about this business, +and I've seen croakers afore to-day. Don't talk about being killed, or +even hit. Be ready to die, do your duty like a soldier, and leave all the +rest to your Maker," said the veteran, solemnly. + +"I don't have any such feeling as that. I know I shan't be killed," +laughed Ben. "The bullet hasn't been cast yet that will stop my wind." + +"Perhaps it has, my boy. It may be in some rebel soldier's cartridge box +over yonder, even now. I tell you, boys, you don't know any thing about +it. Just afore we went in at Cerry Gordy, a feller by my side said the +same thing you did, Ben; and he was the first man that went down. I tried +to pick him up, and do something for him, but he was stone dead. I tell +you, Ben, you don't know any thing about it. Leave it all to the +Almighty." + +"Pooh, uncle!" sneered Ben, trying to laugh down the solemn words of the +old man. "Don't you think we'd better have a prayer meetin' before we go +in?" + +"I think we should fight the better for it, for he who trusts in God don't +fear death." + +But it was evident that the words of Hapgood, especially the incident of +Cerro Gordo, had made a deep impression upon the mind of the thoughtless +young man. Though the division did not move for three hours, he was very +silent and sober. He seemed to feel that he had been tempting Providence +by his bold speech, and even expressed his regret to Tom for what he had +said. + +It was dark when the order to march was given. The night was exceedingly +gloomy, and the rain poured down upon the devoted army, as it moved +forward to do its great work. Hour after hour, in the deep darkness and +the pouring rain, the men struggled through the mire, expecting every +moment to be hurled upon the rebel battalions, or to meet the impetuous +onset of the foe. + +Between ten and eleven, when the men were nearly worn out by the +exhausting labors of the march, they were ordered to halt in the road, and +bivouac for the rest of the night. What a time and what a place for +repose! They could only wrap themselves up in their wet blankets, and +stretch themselves upon the ground, soaked with water, and with the rain +still pouring down upon them. But they slept, and enjoyed their rest, for +Nature was imperative in her demands. + +At daylight the march was resumed; for the intrepid Hooker, ever faithful +to the trust confided to him, was wholly in earnest. At half-past five the +column was halted in the woods. The rebel works before Williamsburg were +in sight, and General Hooker rode to the front to examine the position of +the enemy. + +In front of the rebel batteries, and on each side of the roads, the trees +had been felled, in order to give the guns in the field works full play +upon an approaching force. + +"Hurrah!" shouted some of the boys on the right of the column. "Our +brigade is to commence the attack." + +"How do you know?" growled Hapgood, who did not think a soldier ought to +know any thing about the plan of the battle. + +"We are ordered to move," replied Tom. "I suppose that's all they know +about it." + +The prophets on the right were correct this time, for the regiment was +soon sent to the right of the road, and ordered to deploy as skirmishers. +A battery was thrown forward in front of the felled timber; but before a +gun could be fired, two officers and two privates were seen to fall before +the unerring aim of the rebel sharpshooters, occupying the rifle pits +which dotted the cleared land in front of the forts. + +"That's a hot place," said Ben Lethbridge. + +"We shall all see hot work before the sun goes down to-night," replied +Tom. "But let us stand up to it like men." + +"That's the talk, Tom!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Have you got those socks on, my boy?" + +"I have, uncle; and I have the letter and the photograph in my pocket." + +"Good, Tom! After this day's work is over, you can write the lady a +letter, and tell her that her socks have been in a battle." + +"And that I didn't run away in them." + +The roar of the guns in Fort Magruder interrupted the conversation. The +gunners of the battery in front of them had been driven from their pieces; +but it was almost instantly manned by volunteers, and a destructive fire +poured into the works. Other batteries were brought up, and the fort was +soon silenced. The roar of battle sounded all along the line; the thunder +of cannon and the crash of musketry reverberated through the woods and +over the plain, assuring the impatient troops that they were engaged in no +trivial affair; that they were fighting a great battle, of which thousands +yet unborn would read upon the pages of history. + +Our regiment closed up its lines, and the gallant colonel gave the order +to move forward in the direction of the field works. On, on, steadily and +firmly marched the men of Massachusetts, through ditch and swamp, through +mud and mire, loading, firing, and charging, as the enemy presented +opportunity. The hot work of the day had commenced; for, from every bush, +tree, and covert, which could conceal a man, the rebels poured a deadly +fire into the ranks of the advancing Federals. + +Tom stood as firm as a rock. The doubts and fears which beset him in his +first battle had no existence on this day. So thoroughly had he schooled +his mind to the fearful ordeal of carnage, that he felt quite at home. He +was cool and determined, and continually encouraged those around him by +his cheering words as well as by his example. + +"Ben is down!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Poor fellow!" replied Tom, without taking his eye off the foe in front. + +"There goes Bob Dornton!" added Hapgood. + +"Stand up to it, my men!" said Tom, firmly, for he had no time then to +think of the fallen. + +"Forward!" shouted the impetuous colonel, who, if he had never been +popular with the men before, was rapidly establishing himself in their +good graces by his unflinching heroism. "Forward! double quick! march!" + +And on dashed the gallant regiment, mounting the enemy's lofty works, and +driving the foe before them like sheep, at the point of the bayonet. This +was the first experience of this exciting description which Tom had seen, +and he entered into the spirit of it with a hearty zeal. + +"Halt!" was the order, as a regiment filed out in front of them, with a +flag of truce flying on its front. "Steady--don't fire," repeated several +officers along the line. + +"What regiment are you?" shouted a person, as the flag came within +speaking distance. + +"What are you?" demanded an officer of the storming party. + +"We're the Alabama eighth!" + +"We are the Massachusetts --th," replied our men. + +"Then you are the villains we want!" returned the rebel, plentifully +interlarding the sentence with oaths. + +The flag of truce dropped, and the dastardly foe poured in a volley of +musketry, before which a dozen of our brave boys fell, either killed or +wounded. + +"Fire!" yelled the colonel; and the order was obeyed with a will. "Charge +bayonets! Forward--double quick--march!" + +The men, burning with indignation at the treachery of the rebel horde, +sprang forward to wreak their righteous vengeance upon the cowardly +traitors. So impetuous was the charge, that the rebel regiment broke, and +sought safety in flight. + +"Down with them!" hoarsely screamed Tom, as the line swayed forward, and +pursued the panic-stricken foe into the woods on the left. The even line +was broken, and the boys scattered to do their work to the best advantage. + +Tom's legs seemed to be in excellent condition, notwithstanding the +toilsome marches of the last twenty-four hours; and he dashed forward into +the woods followed by only a dozen choice spirits, whose enthusiasm was +equal to his own. A squad of flying rebels in front of them was the object +of their present anxiety, and they soon distanced their companions. + +The rebels, seeing by how small a force they were pursued, rallied and +formed line again. + +"Give it to them!" cried Tom, as he led his little force upon the rebels. + +"Hold on, Tom!" said Hapgood; "we have gone far enough. There's a rebel +regiment forming behind us." + +"Can't help it," said Tom, as he rushed forward, with the veteran by his +side. "Give it to them!" + +Tom and his men threw themselves upon the rebel squad, and a sharp fight +ensued, in which the parties fought with bayonets, clubbed muskets, and +even with the death grip upon each other's throats. The traitors could not +stand it, and fled again. + +The sergeant glanced behind him, and saw the rebel regiment formed ready +to charge upon his own. He was cut off from his friends, with the enemy on +his front and rear. Three of his men had fallen in the sharp encounter +with the rebels, and most of them were wounded or bruised, and all of them +out of breath. To add to the peril of the situation, the squad they had +been pursuing were rallying and being reënforced by their fugitive +companions. + +"Bad, Tom, bad," said Hapgood, who was puffing and blowing like a +porpoise, as he ominously shook his head. + +"Follow me!" said Tom, confidently, as he led the way in a direction at +right angles with the advance of the party. + +Our regiment had reformed again, and soon gave that in front of them +enough to do. The rebels in their rear caused the sergeant's squad no +little annoyance; but they continued on their course, loading and firing +as they retreated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +MORE OF THE BATTLE. + + +While Tom and his little command were working their way back to the Union +lines, followed up by the disorganized band of rebels, a series of most +unearthly yells swept over the field, for they had emerged from the woods. +It was the rallying cry of the Confederate regiment which had formed in +their rear. They were charging upon the Massachusetts --th; but they might +as well have charged upon the Rock of Gibraltar, for presently Tom was +delighted to see them retiring before the tremendous onslaught of his +friends. + +"Hurrah!" shouted he, forgetting the foe in his rear, and pressing forward +to that on his front, at the same time changing his course so as to +approach the right wing of the rebel regiment. + +"Don't be rash, Tom," said the old soldier, who never permitted the +sergeant to leave his side. + +"Follow me, boys!" roared Tom, breathless with excitement, as he started +off on the double quick towards the breaking lines of the enemy. + +"Here we are!" replied the gallant fellows behind him, pushing forward +with a zeal equal to that of their leader, from whom they derived their +inspiration. "Go in, sergeant, and we'll stand by you." + +But the bold soldier boy had discretion as well as gallantry; and he saw +that if he threw his little force upon the rebel line, the whole party +would be instantly annihilated. A covert of bushes fortunately lay on the +right flank of the retreating regiment, and Tom ordered his men to conceal +themselves behind it, until a favorable moment should arrive to take their +places in the lines. + +The men were glad enough to obtain a breathing spell; but, at such a +tremendous moment as that, idleness would have been treason, for such a +glorious opportunity to strike a heavy blow had not before occurred. + +"Load up, and fire at will," said Tom, as he charged his musket. "Don't +throw your lead away either." + +"We are a dead shot here if we are any where," added Hapgood, as he and +the rest of the party hastily loaded their muskets. + +Pop went Tom's piece first, and over went the rebel at the extreme right +of the rebel regiment. There was no such thing as missing the mark, for +they were on the flank of the Confederate line, which the united efforts +of the officers could hardly preserve. The men in the covert fired when +they were ready; and as they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not +to waste their lead, every shot told upon the rebels. + +The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of bushes, which +glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant's little command poured in +their volleys; but they were too closely pressed by the Federals in front +to attempt to dislodge them. The rebel privates were not long in +ascertaining what was so clear to their officers--that they were flanked, +and were being shot down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not +defend themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the +advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they realized +that the bolts of death were dropping among them from another direction, +they could no longer endure that awful suspense which takes possession of +the minds of men when they are suspended, as it were, between life and +death. + +Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line was just +abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men fall before the +deadly fire of his party. + +"Give it to them, boys! They shake!" shouted Tom, as he delivered his fire +again. "Pour in as fast as you can, but don't waste your powder." + +The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their fire was +sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the rebel ranks; +for the right of the line, probably supposing a company, if not a whole +regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed in the covert, suddenly broke +and fled with the utmost precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of +their officers to rally them. + +The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial panic, and +charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate hand-to-hand encounter +ensued, during which Tom and his companions emerged from their +concealment, and ran along the rear of the victorious line. They soon +satisfied themselves of what they had before believed--that the regiment +was their own; and they lost no time in finding the company to which they +belonged. They joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout +of the rebel force. + +The position of the enemy's lines did not permit them to follow the +advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon given to fall back. +At this juncture the regiment, which had been constantly engaged for +several hours, was relieved; and not too early in the day, for the men +were completely exhausted by the furious onslaughts they had made. + +"Who were those men in the bushes on the flank of the rebel regiment?" +demanded the colonel, as he reined up his jaded horse in front of Company +K. + +"Sergeant Somers and others," replied Captain Benson. + +"Somers again!" exclaimed the colonel. + +"Yes, sir. They pursued the regiment into the woods--the one that showed +the flag of truce--till they were separated from the rest of us." +"Forward, Sergeant Somers," added the colonel. + +Tom modestly stepped forward, and he would have blushed if his face had +not been so reddened by his previous exertions as to leave no room for a +deepening of its tint. + +"You did a big thing, Sergeant Somers. You broke that rebel line by your +steady fire. Sergeant Somers, I thank you and the men you commanded for +your good service." + +Tom bowed, and the regiment cheered. It was the proudest moment of his +life to be thanked on the field, while the guns were roaring and the +musketry rattling, for the good service he had rendered. It would form an +excellent paragraph for his letter to Lilian Ashford, especially as he had +more than once, in the perils of that exciting hour, thought of the socks +he wore, and of the letter and the photograph which nestled in his breast +pocket, and upon which his quick throbbing heart was beating the notes of +glory and victory. + +"We gave you up for lost," said Captain Benson, as Tom returned to the +line. + +"We are safe, thank God!" replied Tom, "though three of our number fell in +the woods, or on the field where we were chased by the rebels." + +"Sergeant Somers saved us," added uncle Hapgood. "If he hadn't been as +cool as cowcumber, and as stiff as the mainmast of a frigate, we should +have been taken, every one of us." + +"Bravo, Tom!" said the captain. + +"The men stood by me like heroes, or it would have been all up with the +whole of us. They are good fellows, and they deserve as much credit as I +do." + +The battle continued to rage with increasing fury, till the roar, and the +crash, and the sweep of armed legions beggared description. Regiments and +brigades advanced and fell back with the varying fortunes of the day, but +as yet there was nothing to indicate the final result. + +When the men of our regiment had recovered their breath, an order came for +them to proceed to the left. On their arrival at the position assigned to +them, they were immediately led to the front, where the batteries which +had been pouring a hot fire into the enemy were in imminent danger of +being surrounded. Indeed, the swoop of the rebel infantry upon the guns +had already been made, and the cannoneers had been driven from their +stations. With the colonel on the right, and the adjutant in command on +the left, the regiment charged upon the foe, as it had twice before +charged on that eventful day, with an enthusiasm bordering upon fury. + +The rebels had even spiked one of the guns, and they maintained their +position with an obstinacy which promised the annihilation of one or the +other of the contending forces. A desperate strife ensued, in which the +least perceptible advantage was gained by the Federals. But if they could +do no more, they held the enemy in check, till the gunners could charge +their pieces with grape and canister, which they poured into the rebels +with the most deadly effect. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Tom, as the rebels quaked before the withering storm of +shot belched forth by the guns of the battery. "They shake! Give it to +them!" + +"Steady, my men! steady," said Captain Benson. "The ammunition of the +battery is expended," he added, as the cannon ceased their work of +destruction. "We must hold these pieces, and every man must do his duty." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" replied Tom, vigorously, and the cry was repeated through +the company. + +As soon as the guns were thus rendered useless, the enemy swept down upon +the supports again, intent upon capturing the pieces. They advanced with +that terrific yell which is enough of itself to frighten a nervous man, +and with an impetuosity which nothing human could resist. Our regiment +recoiled under the shock; but it was forced back by the sheer stress of +numbers. + +"Rally men! Rally, my brave fellows!" shouted the adjutant, in command of +the left wing. + +"Stand stiff! Roll them back!" roared the colonel. + +"Steady, men!" added Captain Benson. + +"Now, give it to them!" screamed Tom, as he plunged his bayonet into the +vitals of the rebel in front of him, and pushed forward into the very +midst of the foe. + +The sergeant seemed suddenly to be endowed with the strength of a giant, +and he held his own till Hapgood sprang to his assistance. The rest of the +line, inspired by this daring conduct, rushed forward, and fell upon the +foe with a fury that could not be resisted. + +"Bravo! Bravo, Tom!" shouted the captain. "Go in, boys!" roared the +lieutenant. + +And the boys "went in," and forced back the rebel line, and held the guns +until another battery with a supply of ammunition arrived upon the ground +to relieve them. The enemy was again repulsed, and the guns were saved by +the unflinching heroism of our gallant Massachusetts regiment--another +paragraph for the letter to Lilian Ashford. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +GLORY AND VICTORY. + + +The battle now raged more fiercely than ever, and hotter and hotter became +the fire on every side. The shouts of the enemy indicated the arrival of +reënforcements. "Johnston!" "Long-street!" resounded over the field, and +roused the rebels to renewed activity. More certainly was the increase of +the enemy's force determined by the gradual falling back of the brigade at +the left of the road; but the men fought with desperate courage, and +yielded not a foot of ground without enriching it with their best blood. + +There were no signs of reënforcements for over exhausted troops, though a +whole corps was within hearing of the booming guns that were slaughtering +our outnumbered and exhausted brigades. On the field the aspect began to +be dark and unpromising, and Tom prayed with all his soul that he might be +spared the pain of beholding another defeat, another rout. + +Our regiment was ordered to the support of the yielding brigade on the +left. The woods were full of rebels, and the issue of the conflict in this +part of the field was almost hopeless. The enemy seemed to be inspired by +the slight advantage they had gained, and their yells were fiercer and +more diabolical than ever, as they gathered themselves up for a desperate +onslaught. + +The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to waver upon a +balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, and the Union force +fell back a little, but only a little, and doggedly resisted the advance +of the foe. It needed but little to restore the equilibrium, and our +regiment, after struggling through the mud with all attainable speed, +arrived upon the spot when the prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause. + +The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had all day +long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the physical exertion +required of them. But the battle was going against the North, and they +were ready again to make a desperate effort to redeem the field. + +"One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel," said General Hooker, as +the weary soldiers moved up to the endangered position. + +"You shall have it, general. My men are always ready, though they are +nearly used up." + +"Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out a few minutes +longer, all will be well with us." + +"We'll drive them back, general!" shouted the colonel. + +"Go in, then!" added the gallant Hooker, waving his sword to encourage the +soldiers. "Forward! You have no time to lose!" + +The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of the work +before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all day, and +Massachusetts would be proud of them. A ringing cheer was the reply to the +stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were given for the advance. + +On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated themselves +upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up their temporary +advantage. The point of attack was all in their favor, and their +exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe kindled up the expiring +enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose assistance they had come. The +shock was terrible--more fearful and destructive than any which our boys +had before experienced. + +"Steady, my men!" shouted Captain Benson. + +"Give it to them!" roared Tom, maddened to desperation by the awful strife +around him, and by seeing so many of our men fall by his side. + +"Stand up to it!" shouted the excited colonel. "They run!" + +At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of Company K +placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of them, taking +advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and actually broke through +the line, trampling some of our soldiers beneath their feet, and +transfixing them with their bayonets. + +A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole rebel +regiment began to press into the weak place. The breach was made by the +side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by the pressure of the +rebel battalion. + +"Close up!" yelled Tom. "Close up! Hail, Columbia! and give it to them!" + +Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after the capture +of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged its six barrels into +the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood and Fred Pemberton, who were +armed in like manner from the same source, imitated the example of the +sergeant. + +"Now give them the bayonet, boys!" screamed Tom, hoarsely, as he plunged +into the midst of the rebels. + +The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal energy, and +the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and wounded rebels, and +Federals, who had fallen in that sharp encounter. + +"Bravo!" shouted General Hooker, whose attention had been drawn to the +break in the line. "Bravo, sergeant! You shall have a commission! Forward, +my brave boys! Massachusetts sees you!" + +"Up and at them," cried Tom, as the rebels began to yield and break before +the tremendous charge of our regiment. + +The young sergeant's throat was raw with the shouting he had done, and his +limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of the day; but the words of +the commander of the division made him over new again, and his husky voice +still rang along the line, full of new courage and new energy to his +exhausted comrades. The rebels were driven back for the time, and fled +before the iron masses that crowded upon them. + +The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost decimated by +the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, were permitted to +breathe once more. + +"This is awful," said the veteran of Company K, panting from the violence +of his exertions. "I never saw any thing like this before." + +"Nor I," replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with exhaustion. + +"I know something about this business. I thought Cerry Gordy was +consid'able of a battle, but 'twas nothin' like this." + +"It's awful," sighed Tom, as he thought of the good fellows he had seen +fall upon the field. + +"Heaps of our boys have gone down!" + +"Attention--battalion!" came ringing with startling effect along the line, +in the familiar tones of the intrepid colonel. + +"If we win the day, we can afford to lose many. Victory or death!" shouted +Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience to the command. "More work for +us!" + +"How do you feel, Tom?" demanded the veteran, as they sprang into the +line. + +"All right," replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of spirits. + +"Are you sure, my boy?" continued the veteran, gazing with deep anxiety +into the face of the sergeant. + +"I'm first rate, uncle. I think I can stand it as long as any body else." + +"You have done wonders to-day, Tom. I'm proud of you, but I'm afeared you +are doing too much. If you are used up, it wouldn't be any disgrace for +you to go to the rear. After what you've done, nobody will say a word. +Don't kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear." + +"I go to the rear!" exclaimed Tom, with indignation. + +"If you are disabled, I mean, of course," apologized the veteran. + +"I'm not disabled. If I go to the rear with these socks on, it won't be +till after the breath has left my body." + +"Socks!" replied Hapgood, with a sneer. "I'm afeared that gal will be the +death of you." + +"I don't sulk in these socks," replied Tom, with a faint smile, as the +regiment moved off on the double quick to some new position of peril. + +"The rebels are flanking us!" shouted an officer in another command, as +our regiment hurried forward to the endangered point. + +"That's what we are wanted for," said Hapgood. + +The enemy had nearly accomplished their purpose when our gallant colonel +and his jaded force reached the left of the line, and in a few moments +more would have poured a flanking fire into our devoted battalions, which +were struggling with terrible energy to roll back the pressure in front of +them. + +The colonel had his men well in hand, and he manoeuvred them with +consummate skill, so as to bring them advantageously to the work they were +to perform. The regiment was hurled against the head of the flanking +column, and the boys rushed forward with that dash and spirit which had +characterized their conduct half a score of times before in various parts +of the field. + +Tom's muscles had become loose and soft after the long continued strain +upon them, and if his soul had not been ten times as big as his body, he +must have sunk under the exhaustion of the day. Another desperate +onslaught was required of the men of our regiment, and commanding all his +energies, Tom braced himself up once more for the fearful struggle. + +"How do you feel now, Tom?" demanded the anxious veteran, as he bit off +the cartridge, and rammed it home. + +"First rate, uncle!" replied Tom, as the regiment poured a withering +volley into the rebel line. + +"For Heaven's sake, Tom, don't kill yourself," added the old man, as they +loaded up again. "Your knees shake under you now." + +"Do you think I'm afraid, uncle?" demanded the sergeant with a grim smile. + +"No, no, Tom; of course I don't think any thing of the kind. I'm afeared +you'll bust a blood-vessel, or something of that sort." + +"If I do, I'll let you know, uncle." + +"Charge bayonets! Double quick--march!" rang along the line. + +"Have at them!" cried Tom, who was always the first to catch the orders of +the commanding officer. "Down with them! Give 'em Yankee Doodle, Hail, +Columbia, and the Red, White, and Blue." + +The advancing column, shaken by the furious fire of our regiment, recoiled +before the shock. Slowly the foe fell back, leaving heaps of their slain +upon the hotly-contested ground. Our boys halted, and poured in another +destructive volley. + +The Confederate officers rallied their men, and, maddened by the check +they had received, drove them forward to recover the lost ground. + +"Once more, boys! Give it to 'em again," cried Tom, as the order to +advance was repeated. + +His words were only representations of his actions; for, as he spoke, he +rushed on a little in front of his comrades, who, however, pressed forward +to keep up with him. He did not exceed the orders of his superior, but he +was one of the promptest to obey them. On dashed the regiment, and again +the rebel line recoiled, and soon broke in spite of the admirable efforts +of their officers to keep them steady. + +"Kearney! Kearney! Kearney is here!" shouted the weary heroes in various +parts of the field. + +"Down with them!" roared Tom, as the inspiring words rang in his ears. +"Down with them! Kearney has come, and the day is ours!" + +He had scarcely uttered the words, and sprung forward, before he was seen +to drop upon the ground, several paces in front of the line, though the +undaunted old Hapgood was close by his side. The enemy had fled; the +danger of being flanked was averted; and when Kearney's men dashed on the +field, the sad-hearted veteran, assisted by Fred Pemberton, bore the +silent form of the gallant sergeant to the rear. + +Kearney and Hancock rushed gallantly to the rescue of the exhausted +troops, and Hooker's division was ordered to the rear to act as a reserve. +The strife raged with unabated fury as those who had borne the brunt of +the battle slowly fell back to give place to the fresh legions. + +Poor Tom was tenderly carried by the wiry veteran and his friends to the +surgeon's quarters in the rear. There were tears in the eyes of the old +man as he laid the silent form of his _protégé_ upon the wet ground. There +he sat by his charge, sorrowful beyond expression, till tremendous shouts +rent the air. Tom opened his eyes. + +"Glory and Victory!" shouted he, in husky tones, as he sprang to his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +HONORABLE MENTION. + + +The surgeon examined Tom's wound, and found that he had been struck by a +bullet over the left temple. The flesh was torn off, and if the skull was +not fractured, it had received a tremendous hard shock. It was probably +done at the instant when he turned to rally the men of Company K, and the +ball glanced under the visor of his cap, close enough to scrape upon his +skull, but far enough off to save his brains. Half an inch closer, and the +bullet would have wound up Tom's earthly career. + +The shock had stunned him, and he had dropped like a dead man, while the +profusion of blood that came from the wound covered his face, and his +friends could not tell whether he was killed or not. He was a pitiable +object as he lay on the ground by the surgeon's quarters; but the veteran +soon assured himself that his young charge was not dead. + +Hapgood washed the gore from his face, and did what he could in his +unscientific manner; and probably the cold water had a salutary effect +upon the patient, for when Hancock and Kearney had completed their work, +and the cry of victory rang over the bloody field, he was sufficiently +revived to hear the inspiring tones of triumph. Leaping to his feet, faint +and sick as he was, he took up the cry, and shouted in unison with the +victors upon the field. + +But he had scarcely uttered the notes of glory and victory before his +strength deserted him, and he would have dropped upon the ground if he had +not been caught by Hapgood. He groaned heavily as he sank into the arms of +his friend, and yielded to the faintness and exhaustion of the moment. + +The surgeon said the wound was not a very bad one, but that the patient +was completely worn out by the excessive fatigues of march and battle. In +due time he was conveyed to the college building in Williamsburg, where +hundreds of his companions in arms were suffering and dying of their +wounds. He received every attention which the circumstances would permit. +Hapgood, by sundry vigorous applications at headquarters, was, in +consideration of his own and his _protégé's_ good conduct on the battle +field, permitted to remain with the patient over night. + +The sergeant's skull, as we have before intimated, was not very badly +damaged, as physical injuries were measured after the bloody battle of +that day. But his wound was not the only detriment he had experienced in +the trying ordeal of that terrible day. His constitution had not yet been +fully developed; his muscles were not hardened, and the fatigues of battle +and march had a more serious effect upon him than the ounce of lead which +had struck him on the forehead. + +The surgeon understood his case perfectly, and after dressing his wound, +he administered some simple restoratives, and ordered the patient to go to +sleep. On the night of the 3d of May, he had been on guard duty; on that +of the 4th, he had obtained but three hours' sleep; and thus deprived of +the rest which a growing boy needs, he had passed through the fearful +scenes of the battle, in which his energies, mental and physical, had been +tasked to their utmost. He was completely worn out, and in spite of the +surroundings of the hospital, he went to sleep, obeying to the letter the +orders of the surgeon. + +After twelve hours of almost uninterrupted slumber, Tom's condition was +very materially improved, and when the doctor went his morning round, our +sergeant buoyantly proposed to join his regiment forthwith. + +"Not yet, my boy," said the surgeon, kindly. "I shall not permit you to do +duty for at least thirty days to come," he added, as he felt the patient's +pulse. + +"I feel pretty well, sir," replied Tom. + +"No, you don't. Your regiment will remain here, I learn, for a few days, +and you must keep quiet, or you will have a fever." + +"I don't feel sick, and my head doesn't pain me a bit." + +"That may be, but you are not fit for duty. You did too much yesterday. +They say you behaved like a hero, on the field." + +"I tried to do my duty," replied Tom, his pale cheek suffused with a +blush. + +"Boys like you can't stand much of such work as that. We must fix you up +for the next battle; and you shall go into Richmond with the rest of the +boys." + +"Must I stay in here all the time?" + +"No, you may go where you please. I will give you a certificate which will +keep you safe from harm. You can walk about, and visit your regiment if +you wish." + +"Thank you, doctor." + +Hapgood had been compelled to leave the hospital before his patient waked, +and Tom had not yet learned any thing in regard to the casualties of the +battle. Armed with the surgeon's certificate, he left the hospital, and +walked to the place where the steward told him he would find his regiment. +Somewhat to his astonishment he found that he was very weak; and before he +had accomplished half the distance to the camp, he came to the conclusion +that he was in no condition to carry a knapsack and a musket on a long +march. But after resting himself for a short time, he succeeded in +reaching his friends. + +He was warmly received by his companions, and the veteran of the company +had nearly hugged him in his joy and admiration. + +"Honorable mention, Tom," said Hapgood. "You will be promoted as true as +you live." + +"O, I guess not," replied Tom, modestly. "I didn't do any more than any +body else. At any rate, you were close by my side, uncle." + +"Yes, but I followed, and you led. The commander of the division says you +shall be a lieutenant. He said so on the field, and the colonel said so +to-day." + +"I don't think I deserve it." + +"I do; and if you don't get a commission, then there ain't no justice left +in the land. I tell you, Tom, you shall be a brigadier if the war lasts +only one year more." + +"O, nonsense, uncle!" + +"Well, if you ain't, you ought to be." + +"I'm lucky to get out alive. Whom have we lost, uncle?" + +"A good many fine fellows." replied Hapgood, shaking his head, sadly. + +"Poor Ben dropped early in the day." + +"Yes, I was afraid he'd got most to the end of his chapter afore we went +in. Poor fellow! I'm sorry for him, and sorry for his folks." + +"Fred Pemberton said he should be killed, and Ben said he should not, you +remember." + +"Yes, and that shows how little we know about these things." + +"Bob Dornton was killed, too." + +"No, he's badly hurt, but the surgeon thinks he will git over it. The +cap'n was slightly wounded." And Hapgood mentioned the names of those in +the company who had been killed or wounded, or were missing. + +"It was an awful day," sighed Tom, when the old man had finished the list. +"There will be sad hearts in Pinchbrook when the news gets there." + +"So there will, Tom; but we gained the day. We did something handsome for +'Old Glory,' and I s'pose it's all right." + +"I would rather have been killed than lost the battle." + +"So would I; and betwixt you and me, Tom, you didn't come very fur from +losing your number in the mess," added the veteran, as he thrust his +little fingers into a bullet hole in the breast of Tom's coat. "That was +rather a close shave." + +"I felt that one, but I hadn't time to think about it then, for it was +just as we were repelling that flank movement," replied Tom, as he +unbuttoned his coat, and thrust his hand into his breast pocket. "Do you +suppose she will give me another?" he added, as he drew forth the envelope +which contained the letter and the photograph of the author of his socks. + +A minie ball had found its way through the envelope, grinding a furrow +through the picture, transversely, carrying away the chin and throat of +the young lady. The letter was mangled and minced up beyond restoration. +Tom had discovered the catastrophe when he waked up in the hospital, for +his last thought at night, and his first in the morning, had been the +beautiful Lilian Ashford. He was sad when he first beheld the wreck; but +when he thought what a glorious assurance this would be of his conduct on +the field, he was pleased with the idea; and while in his heart he thanked +the rebel marksman for not putting the bullet any nearer to the vital +organ beneath the envelope, he was not ungrateful for the splendid +testimonial he had given him of his position during the battle. + +"Of course she'll give you another. Won't she be proud of that picture +when she gets it back?" + +"If I had been a coward, I couldn't have run away with those socks on my +feet." + +Tom remained with the regiment several hours, and then, in obedience to +the surgeon's orders, returned to the hospital, where he wrote a letter to +his father, containing a short account of the battle, and another to +Lilian Ashford, setting forth the accident which had happened to the +picture, and begging her to send him another. + +I am afraid in this last letter Tom indulged in some moonshiny nonsense; +but we are willing to excuse him for saying that the thought of the +beautiful original of the photograph and the beautiful author of his socks +had inspired him with courage on the battle field, and enabled him +faithfully to perform his duty, to the honor and glory of the flag beneath +whose starry folds he had fought, bled, and conquered, and so forth. It +would not be unnatural in a young man of eighteen to express as much as +this, and, we are not sure that he said any more. + +The next day Tom was down with a slow fever, induced by fatigue and +over-exertion. He lay upon his cot for a fortnight, before he was able to +go out again; but he was frequently visited by Hapgood and other friends +in the regiment. About the middle of the month, the brigade moved on, and +Tom was sad at the thought of lying idle, while the glorious work of the +army was waiting for true and tried men. + +Tom received "honorable mention" in the report of the colonel, and his +recommendation, supported by that of the general of the division, brought +to the hospital his commission as second lieutenant. + +"Here's medicine for you," said the chaplain, as he handed the patient a +ponderous envelope. + +"What is it, sir?" + +"I don't know, but it has an official look." + +The sergeant opened it, and read the commission, duly signed by the +governor of Massachusetts, and countersigned and sealed in proper form. +Tom was astounded at the purport of the document. He could hardly believe +his senses; but it read all right, and dated from the day of the battle in +which he had distinguished himself. This was glory enough, and it took Tom +forty-eight hours thoroughly to digest the contents of the envelope. + +_Lieutenant Somers_! The words had a queer sound, and he could not realize +that he was a commissioned officer. But he came to a better understanding +of the subject the next day, when a letter from Lilian Ashford was placed +in his hands. It was actually addressed to "Lieutenant Thomas Somers." She +had read of his gallant conduct and of his promotion on the battle field +in the newspapers. She sent him two photographs of herself, and a sweet +little letter, begging him to return the photograph which had been damaged +by a rebel bullet. + +Of course Tom complied with this natural request; but, as the surgeon +thought his patient would improve faster at home than in the hospital, he +had procured a furlough of thirty days for him, and the lieutenant decided +to present the photograph in person. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS AND OTHERS. + + +Tom Somers had been absent from home nearly a year; and much as his heart +was in the work of putting down the rebellion, he was delighted with the +thought of visiting, even for a brief period, the loved ones who thought +of and prayed for him in the little cottage in Pinchbrook. I am not quite +sure that the well-merited promotion he had just received did not have +some influence upon him, for it would not have been unnatural for a young +man of eighteen, who had won his shoulder-straps by hard fighting on a +bloody field, to feel some pride in the laurels he had earned. Not that +Tom was proud or vain; but he was moved by a lofty and noble ambition. It +is quite likely he wondered what the people of Pinchbrook would say when +he appeared there with the straps upon his shoulders. + +Of course he thought what his father would say, what his mother would say, +and he could see the wrinkled face of gran'ther Greene expand into a +genial smile of commendation. It is quite possible that he had even more +interest in his reception at No ---- Rutland Street, when he should +present himself to the author and finisher of those marvellous socks, +which had wielded such an immense influence upon their wearer in camp and +on the field. Perhaps it was a weakness on the part of the soldier boy, +but we are compelled to record the fact that he had faithfully conned his +speech for that interesting occasion. He had supposed every thing she +would say, and carefully prepared a suitable reply to each remark, adorned +with all the graces of rhetoric within his reach. + +With the furlough in his pocket, Tom obtained his order for +transportation, and with a light heart, full of pleasant anticipations, +started for home. As he was still dressed in the faded and shattered +uniform of a non-commissioned officer, he did not attract any particular +notice on the way. He was enabled to pass through Baltimore, Philadelphia, +and New York, without being bored by a public reception, which some less +deserving heroes have not been permitted to escape. But the people did not +understand that Tom had a second lieutenant's commission in his pocket, +and he was too modest to proclaim the fact, which may be the reason why he +was suffered to pass through these great emporiums of trade without an +escort, or other demonstration of respect and admiration. + +Tom's heart jumped with strange emotions when he arrived at Boston, +perhaps because he was within a few miles of home; possibly because he was +in the city that contained Lilian Ashford, for boys will be silly in spite +of all the exertions of parents, guardians, and teachers, to make them +sober and sensible. Such absurdities as "the air she breathes," and other +rhapsodies of that sort, may have flitted through his mind; but we are +positive that Tom did not give voice to any such nonsense, for every body +in the city was a total stranger to him, so far as he knew. Besides, Tom +had no notion of appearing before the original of the photograph in the +rusty uniform he wore; and as he had to wait an hour for the Pinchbrook +train, he hastened to a tailor's to order a suit of clothes which would be +appropriate to his new dignity. + +He ordered them, was duly measured and had given the tailor his promise to +call for the garments at the expiration of five days, when the man of +shears disturbed the serene current of his meditations by suggesting that +the lieutenant should pay one half of the price of the suit in advance. + +"It is a custom we adopt in all our dealings with strangers," politely +added the tailor. + +"But I don't propose to take the uniform away until it is paid for," said +Tom, blushing with mortification; for it so happened that he had not money +enough to meet the demand of the tailor. + +"Certainly not," blandly replied Shears; "but we cannot make up the goods +with the risk of not disposing of them. They may not fit the next man who +wants such a suit." + +"I have not the money, sir;" and Tom felt that the confession was an awful +sacrifice of dignity on the part of an officer in the army of the Potomac, +who had fought gallantly for his country on the bloody fields of +Williamsburg and Bull Run. + +"I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the goods, but you +will see that our rule is a reasonable one." + +Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a suitable +return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he had endured for +him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the flattering request of +the tailor that he would call again. With his pride touched, he walked +down to the railroad station to await the departure of the train. He had +hardly entered the building before he discovered the familiar form of +Captain Barney, to whom he hastened to present himself. + +"Why, Tom, my hearty!" roared the old sea captain, as he grasped and wrung +his hand. "I'm glad to see you. Shiver my mainmast, but you've grown a +foot since you went away. But you don't look well, Tom." + +"I'm not very well, sir; but I'm improving very rapidly." + +"How's your wound?" + +"O, that's almost well." + +"Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you," said Captain Barney, as he led +the soldier boy to a seat. + +In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of Williamsburg, +and the old sailor had communicated all the news from Pinchbrook. + +"Tom, you're a lieutenant now, but you haven't got on your uniform," +continued Captain Barney. + +"No, sir," replied Tom, laughing. "I went into a store to order one, and +they wouldn't trust me." + +"Wouldn't trust _you_, Tom!" exclaimed the captain. "Show me the place, +and I'll smash in their deadlights." + +"I don't know as I blame them. I was a stranger to them." + +"But, Tom, you mustn't go home without a uniform. Come with me, and you +shall be fitted out at once. I'm proud of you, Tom. You are one of my +boys, and I want you to go into Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your +colors flying." + +"We haven't time now; the train leaves in a few moments." + +"There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, and don't know +you're coming; so they can afford to wait." + +Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted him to several stores before +he could find a ready-made uniform that would fit him; but at last they +found one which had been made to order for an officer who was too sick to +use it at present. It was an excellent fit, and the young lieutenant was +soon arrayed in the garments, with the symbolic straps on his shoulder. + +"Bravo, Tom! You look like a new man. There isn't a better looking officer +in the service." + +Very likely the subject of this remark thought so too, as he surveyed +himself in the full-length mirror. The old uniform, with two bullet-holes +in the breast of the coat, was done up in a bundle and sent to the express +office, to be forwarded to Pinchbrook. Captain Barney then walked with him +to a military furnishing store, where a cap, sword, belt, and sash, were +purchased. For some reason which he did not explain, the captain retained +the sword himself, but Tom was duly invested with the other accoutrements. + +Our hero felt "pretty good," as he walked down to the station with his +friend; but he looked splendidly in his new outfit, and we are willing to +excuse certain impressible young ladies, who cast an admiring glance at +him as he passed down the street. It was not Tom's fault that he was a +handsome young man; and he was not responsible for the conduct of those +who chose to look at him. + +With a heart beating with wild emotion, Tom stepped out of the cars at +Pinchbrook. Here he was compelled to undergo the penalty of greatness. His +friends cheered him, and shook his hand till his arm ached. + +Captain Barney's wagon was at the station, and before going to his own +home, he drove Tom to the little cottage of his father. I cannot describe +the emotions of the returned soldier when the horse stopped at the garden +gate. Leaping from the vehicle, he rushed into the house, and bolted into +the kitchen, even before the family had seen the horse at the front gate. + +"How d'ye do, mother?" cried Tom, as he threw himself pell-mell into the +arms of Mrs. Somers. + +"Why, Tom!" almost screamed she, as she returned his embrace. "How _do_ +you do?" + +"Pretty well, mother. How do you do, father?" + +"Glad to see you," replied Captain Somers, as he seized his son's hand. + +"Bless my soul, Tom!" squeaked gran'ther Greene, shaking in every fibre of +his frame from the combined influence of rhapsody and rheumatism. + +Tom threw both arms around Jenny's neck, and kissed her half a dozen times +with a concussion like that of a battery of light artillery. + +"Why, Tom! I never thought nothin' of seein' you!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers. +"I thought you was sick in the hospital." + +"I am better now, and home for thirty days." + +"And got your new rig on," added his father. + +"Captain Barney wouldn't let me come home without my shoulder-straps. I +met him in the city. He paid the bills." + +"I'll make it all right with him." + +"I'll pay for it by and by. You know I have over a hundred dollars a month +now." + +"Gracious me!" ejaculated Mrs. Somers, as she gazed with admiration upon +the new and elegant uniform which covered the fine form of her darling +boy. + +Presently Captain Barney came into the house, and for two hours Tom fought +his battles over again, to the great satisfaction of his partial auditors. +The day passed off amid the mutual rejoicings of the parties; and the +pleasure of the occasion was only marred by the thought, on the mother's +part, that her son must soon return to the scene of strife. + +The soldier boy--we beg his pardon; Lieutenant Somers--hardly went out of +the house until after dinner on the following day, when he took a walk +down to the harbor, where he was warmly greeted by all his friends. Even +Squire Pemberton seemed kindly disposed towards him, and asked him many +questions in regard to Fred. Before he went home, he was not a little +startled to receive an invitation to meet some of his friends in the town +hall in the evening, which it was impossible for him to decline. + +At the appointed hour, he appeared at the hall, which was filled with +people. The lieutenant did not know what to make of it, and trembled +before his friends as he had never done before the enemies of his country. +He was cheered lustily by the men, and the women waved their +handkerchiefs, as though he had been a general of division. But his +confusion reached the climax when Captain Barney led him upon the +platform, and Mr. Boltwood, a young lawyer resident in Pinchbrook, +proceeded to address him in highly complimentary terms, reviewing his +career at Bull Run, on the Shenandoah, on the Potomac, to its culmination +at Williamsburg, and concluded by presenting him the sword which the +captain had purchased, in behalf of his friends and admirers in his native +town. + +Fortunately for Tom, the speech was long, as he was enabled in some +measure to recover his self-possession. In trembling tones he thanked the +donors for their gift, and promised to use it in defence of his country as +long as a drop of blood was left in his veins--highly poetical, but it +required strong terms to express our hero's enthusiasm--whereat the men +and boys applauded most vehemently, and the ladies flourished their +cambrics with the most commendable zeal. Tom bowed--bowed again--and kept +bowing, just as he had seen General McClellan bow when he was cheered by +the troops. As the people would not stop applauding, Tom, his face all +aglow with joy and confusion, descended from the platform, and took his +seat by the side of his mother. + +The magnates of Pinchbrook then made speeches--except Squire +Pemberton--about the war, patriotism, gunpowder, and eleven-inch shot and +shells. Every body thought it was "a big thing," and went home to talk +about it for the next week. Tom's father, and mother, and sister, and +gran'ther Greene, said ever so many pretty things, and every body was as +happy as happy could be, except that John was not at home to share in the +festivities. Letters occasionally came from the sailor boy, and they went +to him from the soldier boy. + +Mrs. Somers was not a little surprised, the next day, to hear her son +announce his intention to take the first train for the city; but Tom could +not postpone his visit to No ---- Rutland Street any longer, for he was +afraid his uniform would lose its gloss, and the shoulder-straps their +dazzling brilliancy. + +Tom's courage had nearly forsaken him when he desperately rang the bell at +the home of Lilian Ashford; and he almost hoped the servant would inform +him that she was not at home. Lilian was at home, and quaking like a +condemned criminal before the gallows, he was ushered into the presence of +the author of his socks. + +Stammering out his name he drew from his pocket the battered photograph +and the shattered letter, and proceeded at once to business. Lilian +Ashford blushed, and Tom blushed--that is to say, they both blushed. When +he had presented his relics, he ventured to look in her face. The living +Lilian was even more beautiful than the Lilian of the photograph. + +"Dear me! So you are the soldier that wore the socks I knit," said Lilian; +and our hero thought it was the sweetest voice he ever heard. + +"I am, Miss Ashford, and I did not run away in them either." + +"I'm glad you did not," added she, with a musical laugh, which made Tom +think of the melody of the spheres, or some such nonsense. + +"I have to thank you for my promotion," said Tom, boldly. + +"Thank me!" exclaimed she, her fair blue eyes dilating with astonishment. + +"The socks inspired me with courage and fortitude," replied Tom, in exact +accordance with the programme he had laid down for the occasion. "I am +sure the thought of her who knit them, the beautiful letter, and the more +beautiful photograph, enabled me to do that which won my promotion." + +"Well, I declare!" shouted Lilian, in a kind of silvery scream. + +Bravo, Tom! you are getting along swimmingly. And he said sundry other +smart things which we have not room to record. He stayed half an hour, and +Lilian begged him to call again, and see her grandmother, who was out of +town that day. Of course he promised to come, promised to bring his +photograph, promised to write to her when he returned to the army--and I +don't know what he did not promise, and I hardly think he knew himself. + +But the brief dream ended, and Tom went home to Pinchbrook, after he had +sat for his picture. The careless fellow left Lilian's photograph on the +table in his chamber a few days after, and his mother wanted to know whose +it was; and the whole story came out, and Tom was laughed at, and Jenny +made fun of him, and Captain Barney told him he was a match for the finest +girl in the country. The lieutenant blushed like a boy, but rather enjoyed +the whole thing. + +A sad day came at last, and Tom went back to the army. He went full of +hope, and the blessing of the loved ones went with him. He was received +with enthusiasm by his old companions in arms, and Hapgood--then a +sergeant--still declared that he would be a brigadier in due time,--or, if +he was not, he ought to be. His subsequent career, if not always as +fortunate as that portion which we have recorded, was unstained by +cowardice or vice. + + + + +FINIS. + + + + * * * * * + + +Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our Publications + + +1. 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Adams.</p> +<hr /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<p>This volume is not altogether a military romance, though it +contains the adventures of one of those noble-hearted and patriotic +young men who went forth from homes of plenty and happiness to +fight the battles of our imperilled country. The incidents of the +story may be stirring and exciting; yet they are not only within +the bounds of probability, but have been more than paralleled in +the experience of hundreds of the gallant soldiers of the loyal +army.</p> +<p>The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a history, +though the writer has carefully consulted the +“authorities,” both loyal and rebel, and has taken down +the living words of enthusiastic participants in the stirring +scenes described in this volume. He has not attempted to give a +full picture of any battle, or other army operation, but simply of +those movements in which the hero took a part. The book is a +narrative of personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth +of a pure patriotism in the soul of the hero, and describing the +perils and privations, the battles and marches which he shared with +thousands of brave men in the army of the Potomac.</p> +<p>The author has endeavored to paint a picture of the true +soldier, one who loves his country, and fights for her because he +loves her; but, at the same time, one who is true to himself and +his God, while he is faithful to his patriotic impulses.</p> +<p>The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and I +hope it will not disappoint the reasonable expectation of those +partial friends whose smile is my joy, whose frown is my grief. +But, more than all, I trust this humble volume will have some small +influence in kindling and cherishing that genuine patriotism which +must ever be the salvation of our land, the foundation of our +national prosperity and happiness.</p> +<p>WILLIAM T. ADAMS.<br /> +DORCHESTER, Feb. 22, 1864.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents">CONTENTS.</a></h2> +<h3>CHAPTER</h3> +<ol style= +"list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:15%;font-variant:small-caps;"> +<li><a href="#Ch_1">The Battle of Pinchbrook</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_2">The Somers Family</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_3">Taming a Traitor</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_4">The Committee come out, and Tom goes +in</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_5">The Attic Chamber</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_6">The Way is Prepared</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_7">A Midnight Adventure</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_8">Signing the Papers</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_9">The Departure</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_10">Company K</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_11">In Washington</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_12">On to Richmond</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_13">The Battle of Bull Run</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_14">After the Battle</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_15">Tom a Prisoner</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_16">A Perplexing Question</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_17">Dinner and Danger</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_18">The Rebel Soldier</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_19">Through the Gap</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_20">Down the Shenandoah</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_21">The Problem of Rations</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_22">The Picket Guard</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_23">The End of the Voyage</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_24">Budd’s Ferry</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_25">In the Hospital</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_26">Tom is Sentimental</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_27">The Confederate Deserter</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_28">On the Peninsula</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_29">The Battle of Williamsburg</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_30">More of the Battle</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_31">Glory and Victory</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_32">“Honorable Mention”</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_33">Lieutenant Somers and Others</a></li> +</ol> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Soldier Boy;</h2> +<h4>or,</h4> +<h2>Tom Somers in the Army.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_1" name="Ch_1">Chapter I.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Pinchbrook.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered, mother!” shouted +Thomas Somers, as he rushed into the room where his mother was +quietly reading her Bible.</p> +<p>It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been circulated about +the usually quiet village of Pinchbrook Harbor. Men’s lips +were compressed, and their teeth shut tight together. They were +indignant, for traitors had fired upon the flag of the United +States. Men, women, and children were roused by the indignity +offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that struck the +walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to strike the souls of the +whole population of the North, and never was there such a great +awakening since the Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon +the rock of Plymouth.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered!” shouted the indignant +young patriot again, as his mother looked up from the blessed +volume.</p> +<p>“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as +she closed the Bible, and removed her spectacles.</p> +<p>“Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away at the +fort for two days, and at last we had to give in.”</p> +<p>“There’ll be terrible times afore long,” +replied the old lady, shaking her head with prophetic +earnestness.</p> +<p>“The President has called for seventy-five thousand +volunteers, and I tell you there’ll be music before +long!” continued the youth, so excited that he paced the room +with rapid strides.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Thomas?” asked a feeble +old gentleman, entering the room at this moment.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran’ther,” +repeated Thomas, at the top of his lungs, for the aged man was +quite deaf; “and the President has called for seventy-five +thousand men to go down and fight the traitors.”</p> +<p>“Sho!” exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing +with earnestness into the face of the boy.</p> +<p>“It’s a fact, gran’ther.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m too old to go,” muttered +gran’ther Greene; “but I wa’n’t +older’n you are when I shouldered my firelock in 1812. +I’m too old and stiff to go now.”</p> +<p>“How old were you, gran’ther, when you went to the +war?” asked Thomas, with more moderation than he had +exhibited before.</p> +<p>“Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am +now,” replied the patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously +into the old-fashioned high-back chair, by the side of the cooking +stove.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m sixteen, and I mean to go.”</p> +<p>“You, Thomas! You are crazy! You shan’t do any thing +of the kind,” interposed Mrs. Somers. “There’s +men enough to go to the war, without such boys as you +are.”</p> +<p>“You ain’t quite stout enough to make a soldier, +Thomas. You ain’t so big as I was, when I went off to York +state,” added gran’ther Greene.</p> +<p>“I should like to go any how,” said Thomas, as he +seated himself in a corner of the room, and began to think thoughts +big enough for a full-grown man.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered,” shouted John Somers, +rushing into the house as much excited as his brother had been.</p> +<p>“We’ve heard all about it, John,” replied his +mother.</p> +<p>“The President has called for seventy-five thousand men, +and in my opinion the rebels will get an awful licking before they +are a fortnight older. I should like to go and help do +it.”</p> +<p>The exciting news was discussed among the members of the Somers +family, as it was in thousands of other families, on that eventful +Sunday. Thomas and John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, +but Fort Sumter, and the terrible castigation which the rebels +would receive from the insulted and outraged North. They were loyal +even to enthusiasm; and when they retired to their chamber at +night, they ventured to express to each other their desire to join +the great army which was to avenge the insult offered to the flag +of the Union.</p> +<p>They were twin brothers, sixteen years of age; but they both +thought they were old enough and strong enough to be soldiers. +Their mother, however, had promptly disapproved of such +suggestions, and they had not deemed it prudent to discuss the idea +in her presence.</p> +<p>On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was fanned to a +fever heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a glow of patriotism. Men +neglected their usual occupations, and talked of the affairs of the +nation. Every person who could procure a flag hung it out at his +window, or hoisted it in his yard, or on his house. The governor +had called out a portion of the state militia, and already the +tramp of armed men was heard in the neighboring city of Boston.</p> +<p>Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the village, and during +the forenoon he mechanically performed the duties of his position; +but he could think of nothing but the exciting topic of the day. +His blood was boiling with indignation against those who had +trailed our hallowed flag in the dust. He wanted to do something to +redeem the honor of his country—something to wipe out the +traitors who had dared to conspire against her peace. On his way +home to dinner, he met Fred Pemberton, who lived only a short +distance from his own house.</p> +<p>“What do you think now, Fred?” said Thomas.</p> +<p>“What do I think? I think just as I always did—the +North is wrong, and the South is right,” replied Fred.</p> +<p>“Who fired upon Fort Sumter? That’s the +question,” said Thomas, his eyes flashing with +indignation.</p> +<p>“Why didn’t they give up the fort, then?”</p> +<p>“Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in before +the little State of South Carolina. Not by a two chalks!”</p> +<p>“I think the North has been teasing and vexing the South +till the Southerns can’t stand it any longer. There’ll +be war now.”</p> +<p>“I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!”</p> +<p>“I hope the South will beat!”</p> +<p>“Do you? Do you, Fred Pemberton?” demanded Tom, so +excited he could not stand still.</p> +<p>“Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we had let +their niggers alone, there wouldn’t have been any +trouble.”</p> +<p>“You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don’t you see this +isn’t a quarrel between the North and the South, but between +the government and the rebels?”</p> +<p>“I don’t see it. If the North had let the South +alone, there wouldn’t have been any fuss. I hope the North +will get whipped, and I know she will.”</p> +<p>“Fred, you are a traitor to your country!”</p> +<p>“No, I’m not!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I’d ride you on +a rail out of town.”</p> +<p>“No, you wouldn’t.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent fellow; +but you are a dirty, low-lived traitor.”</p> +<p>“Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers!” +retorted the young secessionist, angrily.</p> +<p>“A fellow that won’t stand by his country +ain’t fit to live. You are an out-and-out traitor.”</p> +<p>“Don’t call me that again, Tom Somers,” +replied Fred, doubling up his fist.</p> +<p>“I say you are a traitor.”</p> +<p>“Take that, then.”</p> +<p>Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow on the side of +his head. Perhaps it was fortunate for our young patriot that an +opportunity was thus afforded him to evaporate some of his +enthusiasm in the cause of his country, for there is no knowing +what might have been the consequence if it had remained longer pent +up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and a contest, on a +small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the treason of +the South commenced. How long it might have continued, or what +might have been the result, cannot now be considered; for the +approach of a chaise interrupted the battle, and the forces of +secession were reënforced by a full-grown man.</p> +<p>The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his whip in his +hand, and proceeded to lay it about the legs and body of the +representative of the Union side. This was more than Tom Somers +could stand, and he retreated in good order from the spot, till he +had placed himself out of the reach of the whip.</p> +<p>“What do you mean, you young scoundrel?” demanded +the gentleman who had interfered.</p> +<p>Tom looked at him, and discovered that it was Squire Pemberton, +the father of his late opponent.</p> +<p>“He hit me first,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“He called me a traitor,” added Fred. “I +won’t be called a traitor by him, or any other +fellow.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you +villain?”</p> +<p>“I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He said he +hoped the South would beat.”</p> +<p>“Suppose he did. I hope so too,” added Squire +Pemberton.</p> +<p>The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to settle the +question. If he hoped so, that was enough.</p> +<p>“Then you are a traitor, too. That’s all I’ve +got to say,” replied Tom, boldly.</p> +<p>“You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word to me!” +roared the squire, as he moved towards the blunt-spoken little +patriot.</p> +<p>For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to fall back; but +as he did so, he picked up a couple of good-sized stones.</p> +<p>“I said you were a traitor, and I say so again,” +said Tom.</p> +<p>“Two can play at that game,” added Fred, as he +picked up a stone and threw it at Tom.</p> +<p>The Union force returned the fire with the most determined +energy, until one of the missiles struck the horse attached to the +chaise. The animal, evidently having no sympathy with either party +in this miniature contest, and without considering how much damage +he might do the rebel cause, started off at a furious pace when the +stone struck him. He dashed down the hill at a fearful rate, and +bounded away over the plain that led to the Harbor.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton and his son had more interest in the fate of +the runaway horse than they had in the issue of the contest, and +both started at the top of their speed in pursuit. But they might +as well have chased a flash of lightning, or a locomotive going at +the rate of fifty miles an hour.</p> +<p>Tom Somers came down from the bank which he had ascended to +secure a good position. He had done rather more than he intended to +do; but on the whole he did not much regret it. He watched the +course of the spirited animal, as he dashed madly on to +destruction. The career of the horse was short; for in the act of +turning a corner, half a mile from the spot where Tom stood, he +upset the chaise, and was himself thrown down, and, being entangled +in the harness, was unable to rise before a stout man had him by +the head.</p> +<p>“I wish that chaise had been the southern +confederacy,” said Tom to himself, philosophically, when he +saw the catastrophe in the distance. “Well, it served you +right, old Secesh; and I’ll bet there ain’t many folks +in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to comfort the +mourners.”</p> +<p>With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his way home. At +dinner, he gave the family a faithful account of the +transaction.</p> +<p>“You didn’t do right, Thomas,” said his +mother.</p> +<p>“He hit me first.”</p> +<p>“You called him a traitor.”</p> +<p>“He is a traitor, and so is his father.”</p> +<p>“I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is of +meat,” added gran’ther Greene.</p> +<p>“You haven’t seen the last of it yet, Thomas,” +said the prudent mother.</p> +<p>“No matter, Tom; I’ll stand by you,” added +John.</p> +<p>After dinner, the two boys walked down to the Harbor +together.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_2" name="Ch_2">Chapter II.</a></h3> +<h2>The Somers Family.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance from Boston, with +which it is connected by railroad. If any of our young readers are +of a geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain the +exact locality of the place, we will save them any unnecessary +trouble, for it is not laid down on any map with which we are +familiar. We live in times of war, and probably our young friends +have already learned the meaning of “military +necessity.” Our story is essentially a military story, and +there are certain military secrets connected with it which might be +traced out if we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly +where Pinchbrook is situated.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to find out +certain persons connected with some irregular proceedings in and +around his house on the evening of Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to +the truth of history compels us to narrate these proceedings in our +humble volume; but we should exceedingly regret thereby to get any +of our friends into a scrape by informing the squire that they were +active participants in the scenes of that eventful night, or to say +any thing which would enable him, a lawyer, to trace out the +authors of the mischief through these pages. Therefore we cannot +say where Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which would enable our +readers to fix definitely its locality.</p> +<p>Pinchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, +engaged, as the school books would say, in agriculture, +manufactures, commerce, and the fisheries, which, rendered into +still plainer English, means that some of the people are farmers; +that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, are made; that +the inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, and +similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels owned in the +place, the principal part of which are fishermen.</p> +<p>We have not the agricultural and commercial statistics of the +place at hand; but the larger territorial part of the town was +devoted to the farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, +while the principal village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more +densely peopled, contained two stores, four churches, one wharf, a +blacksmith shop, and several shoe and bucket manufactories.</p> +<p>We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is rather a +singular name. The antiquarians have not yet had an opportunity to +determine its origin; but our private opinion is that the word is a +corruption of <em>Punch</em>-brook. Perhaps, at some remote period +in the history of the town, before the Sons of Temperance obtained +a foothold in the place, a villainous mixture, known to topers +under the general appellation of “punch,” may have been +largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged +person ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, +metaphorically, the punch was said to “flow in +streams.” Possibly, from “streams” came +“brooks,”—hence, +“Punchbrook,”—which, under the strange mutations +of time, has become “Pinchbrook.” But we are not +learned in these matters, and we hope that nothing we have said +will bias the minds of antiquarians, and prevent them from devoting +that attention to the origin of the word which its importance +demands.</p> +<p>The Somers family, which we have already partially introduced, +occupied a small cottage not quite a mile from Pinchbrook Harbor. +Captain Somers, the head of the family, had been, and was still, +for aught his wife and children knew, master of the schooner +Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he had heavily mortgaged his +house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire Pemberton. But his voyages +had not been uniformly successful, though the captain believed that +his earthly possessions, after discharging all his liabilities, +would amount to about five thousand dollars.</p> +<p>The mortgage note would become due in June, and Captain Somers +had been making a strong effort to realize upon his property, so as +to enable him to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers +had a brother who was familiarly known in the family as uncle +Wyman. He had spent his life, from the age of eighteen, in the +South, and at the time of which we write, he was a merchant in +Norfolk.</p> +<p>Captain Somers and his brother had been interested together in +certain mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the business +man, had the proceeds of these ventures in his own hands.</p> +<p>On the 10th of April, only two days before the bombardment of +Fort Sumter, Captain Somers had sailed in the Gazelle, with an +assorted cargo, for Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his +wife that he should not return without effecting a settlement with +Wyman, who had postponed it so many times, that the honest sailor +began to fear his brother did not mean to deal justly with him. +Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her departure from +Boston.</p> +<p>Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern +principles, while his brother, though not in the habit of saying +much about politics, was fully committed on the side of the +government, and was willing to sustain the President in the use of +all the coercion that might be necessary to enforce obedience to +the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the South had made +Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts +adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were +in the hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so +strong an advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the +declaration that he would not return without a settlement.</p> +<p>The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not +in a very prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house +depended entirely upon the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The +mortgage note which Squire Pemberton held would be due in June, and +as the creditor was not an indulgent man, there was a prospect that +even the little cottage and the little farm might be wrested from +them.</p> +<p>The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. +The two oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working +fishermen at the Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years +of age. The former had a place in one of the stores at the village, +and the latter occasionally went a fishing trip with his +brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been brought up to work, and +there was need enough now that they should contribute what they +could to the support of the family. The youngest child, Jane, was +but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs. Somers’s +brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a +pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for +twenty years; and was familiarly known in town as +“Gran’ther Green.”</p> +<p>Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the +Somers family, we are prepared to continue our story.</p> +<p>Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. +The latter had listened with interest and approbation to his +brother’s account of the “Battle of Pinchbrook,” +as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he thought Thomas might +need his assistance before he reached the store, for Fred and his +father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest where +they had left it.</p> +<p>We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero +of this volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully +indorsed the action of his brother.</p> +<p>“Fred is a traitor, and so is his father,” said he, +as they passed out at the front gate of the little cottage.</p> +<p>“That’s so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear +them talk,” replied Thomas. “And I couldn’t help +calling things by their right names.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you, Tom!” added John, as he turned +round, and glanced at the house to assure himself they were out of +the hearing of their mother. “Between you and me, Tom, there +will be music in Pinchbrook to-night.”</p> +<p>He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and +heavy with importance.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Thomas, his interest +excited by the words and manner of his brother.</p> +<p>“There is fun ahead.”</p> +<p>“Tell me what it’s all about.”</p> +<p>“You won’t say a word—will you?”</p> +<p>“Of course I won’t.”</p> +<p>“Not to mother, I mean, most of all.”</p> +<p>“Certainly not.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own +good.”</p> +<p>“I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff +Davis himself is no bigger traitor than he is.”</p> +<p>“Some of the people are going to make him a call +to-night.”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“What do you suppose? Can’t you see through a +millstone, Tom, when there is a hole in it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean.”</p> +<p>“You can come with us if you like, and then you will know +all about it,” added John, mysteriously.</p> +<p>“But what are you going to do?”</p> +<p>“We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his +house, or hang it out of his window.”</p> +<p>“Well, suppose he won’t.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll hang him where the flag ought to be. +We’ll pull the house down over his head.”</p> +<p>“I’m with you, Jack,” replied Thomas, with +enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“We won’t have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we +can’t cure him, we’ll ride him on a rail out of the +town.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know as you and I ought to get into this +scrape,” added Thomas, thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he +may get ugly.”</p> +<p>“Let him, if he likes. I’m not going to tolerate a +traitor because he has a mortgage on my father’s house. +Besides, that is a fair business transaction; the squire gets his +interest.”</p> +<p>“Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil +spirit.”</p> +<p>“Women are always timid,” said John, sagely.</p> +<p>“By George! there comes the very man himself!” +exclaimed Thomas, as he discovered a horse and chaise slowly +approaching.</p> +<p>“So it is; that old chaise looks rather the worse for the +wear. It looks as though it had been through the wars.”</p> +<p>The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard usage. One of +the shafts was broken, the dasher wrenched off, and the top stove +in. The horse was covered with mud, and limped badly from the +effects of his fall. The broken shaft and the harness were now +plentifully adorned with ropes and old straps. In fact, the +catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim which the chaise ever +might have had to be considered a “hahnsome +kerridge.”</p> +<p>“There’ll be fun nearer home, I reckon,” said +John, as he obtained his first view of the sour visage of the +squire.</p> +<p>“Can’t help it,” added Thomas.</p> +<p>“Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I intend to do so.”</p> +<p>“Don’t say a word about to-night, Tom.”</p> +<p>“Of course not.”</p> +<p>When the chaise had approached near enough to enable the squire +to recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the horse, +and got out of the vehicle, with the whip in his hand.</p> +<p>“Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to insult me +and my son, and destroy my property. Stay in the chaise, Fred, and +hold the horse,” he added to his son.</p> +<p>But there was not much need of holding the horse now, for he was +too lame to run fast or far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if +the squire had been a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash +of their eyes, that he was about to engage in an unsafe +operation.</p> +<p>“I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of your life, +you villain, you!” roared the squire, brandishing the +whip.</p> +<p>“No, you are not,” replied Thomas, coolly.</p> +<p>“If you drop the weight of that lash on my brother, +I’ll smash your head,” added John.</p> +<p>The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form of the young +sailor. Better thoughts, or at least wiser ones, came to his +aid.</p> +<p>“I can bring you to your senses in another way,” +said he, dropping his whip, and getting into the chaise again. +“You will hear from me before the week is out.”</p> +<p>“Let him go; don’t say a word, Tom,” added +John.</p> +<p>“He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by +that.”</p> +<p>“Let him prosecute and be hanged! I’ll bet by +to-morrow morning he will think better of it. At any rate, he will +find out what the people of Pinchbrook think of him.”</p> +<p>The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached the store, where +they found the group of idlers, that always frequent shops in the +country, busily engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas +had been the principal actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the +Pinchbrook Battle was saluted with a volley of applause, and his +conduct fully approved and commended, for a copperhead in that day +was an abomination to the people.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_3" name="Ch_3">Chapter III.</a></h3> +<h2>Taming a Traitor.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>With the exception of Squire Pemberton, Pinchbrook was a +thoroughly loyal town; and the people felt that it was a scandal +and a disgrace to have even a single traitor within its border. The +squire took no pains to conceal his treasonable sentiments, though +the whole town was in a blaze of patriotic excitement. On the +contrary, he had gone out of his way, and taken a great deal of +pains, to condemn the government and the people of the North.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had always been a +person of great influence in the place. He had occupied all the +principal official positions in town and county. He had come to +regard himself, as his townsmen were for the most part willing to +regard him, as the social and political oracle of the place. What +he thought in town meeting was generally the sense of his +fellow-citizens, and when he expressed himself in words, his word +was law.</p> +<p>When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins, with the +national flag trodden under the feet of traitors, with the +government insulted and threatened, Squire Pemberton ventured to +speak in tones of condemnation of the free North, the people of +Pinchbrook listened coldly, at first, to the sayings of their +oracle; and when he began to abuse the loyal spirit of the North, +some ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in the habit +of having men dissent, and it made him angry. His treason became +more treasonable, his condemnation more bitter. Plain, honest men, +to whatever party they might have belonged, were disgusted with the +great man of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express their +disapprobation of his course in very decided terms. Some were +disposed to be indulgent because the Squire had a sister in Georgia +who had married a planter. But there was not found a single person, +outside of his own family, who was mean enough to uphold him in his +treacherous denunciation of the government.</p> +<p>The squire was too self-sufficient and opinionated to be +influenced by the advice of friends or the warning of those who had +suddenly become his enemies. He had so often carried the town to +his own views, that, perhaps, he expected to manufacture a public +sentiment in Pinchbrook that would place the town on the side of +the rebels. All day Sunday, and all day Monday, he rode about the +Harbor preaching treason. He tried to convince the people that the +South had all the right, and the North all the wrong; but he had +never found them so obstinate and incredulous before.</p> +<p>Towards night one of the ministers ventured to suggest to him +that he was sowing the wind, and would reap the whirlwind. The good +man even hinted that he had roused a storm of indignation in the +town which he might find it difficult to allay.</p> +<p>The squire laughed at the minister, and told him he was not +afraid of any thing. He intended to speak his honest sentiments, as +every citizen had a right to do; and he would like to see any man, +or any body of men, who would dare to meddle with him.</p> +<p>“I am afraid you will see them, Squire Pemberton,” +added the minister.</p> +<p>“Let them come where they please and when they +please.”</p> +<p>“What will you do? What is your single arm against scores +of strong men?”</p> +<p>“Nothing, perhaps, but I don’t fear them. I am true +to my convictions; why need I fear?”</p> +<p>“I think your convictions, as you call them, are deluding +you. Do you think Benedict Arnold’s convictions, if he had +any, would have saved his neck from the halter?”</p> +<p>“Do you mean to compare me to Benedict Arnold, +sir?”</p> +<p>“I came to you, as a friend, to warn you of impending +danger; and, as your friend, I am compelled to say that I +don’t see much difference between your position and that of +Benedict Arnold.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean to insult me?”</p> +<p>“Not at all, sir. I was only expressing my honest +conviction. Instead of placing yourself on the side of your +government, on the side of law and order, you are going about +Pinchbrook Harbor denouncing the legitimate government of your +country, and pleading the cause of rebels and traitors.”</p> +<p>“Am I not at liberty to say what I please of the +government?”</p> +<p>“In ordinary times, you are. Just now, the country is in a +state of war, and he who is not for the flag is against it. You may +criticize the government as its friend, but not as its foe. When +armed men conspire against the peace of the land, he who pleads +their cause is a traitor—nay, sir, don’t be angry; +these are my convictions.”</p> +<p>“Political parsons have been the ruin of the +country,” sneered the squire. “That is my +conviction.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton, I beg you not to be rash. If you must +cherish these pernicious views, I entreat you, keep them to +yourself. You may think what you please, but the utterance of +treason makes a traitor.”</p> +<p>“I shall proclaim my views from the housetop,” +replied the squire, angrily, as he abruptly turned away from the +minister.</p> +<p>The squire continued obdurate to the last. Neither the +persuasions of his friends nor the threats of his enemies had any +effect in silencing his tongue; and as late as sundown on that day +of the Great Awakening he was pouring treachery and treason into +the ears of a neighbor who happened to pass his house. Half an hour +later in the day, there was a great gathering of men and boys at +the bridge on the outskirts of the village. They were singing Hail +Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner. Thomas and John Somers were +there.</p> +<p>Presently the assemblage began to move up the road which led to +Squire Pemberton’s house, singing patriotic songs as they +marched. It was a multitude of persons for Pinchbrook; and no doubt +the obnoxious oracle thought so when he saw the sea of heads that +surrounded his dwelling. If this was a mob, it was certainly a very +orderly mob, for the crowd thus far had done nothing worse than to +sing the national airs.</p> +<p>The arrangements had all been made before the multitude started +from the place of rendezvous. Three gentlemen, the principal of +whom was Captain Barney, had been appointed a committee to wait +upon the squire, and politely request him to display the American +flag on his premises.</p> +<p>In the road, in front of the house, a large fire had been +kindled, which threw a broad, bright glare on the house and the +surrounding grounds. It was as light as day in the vicinity when +the committee walked up to the front door of the house and rang the +bell. The squire answered the summons himself.</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton,” said Captain Barney, “your +fellow-citizens, about two hundred in number, have called upon you +with a simple and reasonable request.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded the squire.</p> +<p>“That you hoist the Stars and Stripes on your +house.”</p> +<p>“I won’t do it!” roared the victim, as he +slammed the door in the faces of the committee.</p> +<p>“That is insolence,” said Captain Barney, quietly. +“We will go in.”</p> +<p>The captain led the way; but the door had been locked upon them. +The shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt +yielded.</p> +<p>“What do you mean, you villains?” thundered the +squire, as he confronted the committee in the entry.</p> +<p>“You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces +before we had finished our story,” replied the immovable old +sea captain.</p> +<p>“How dare you break in my door?” growled the +squire.</p> +<p>“We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don’t +treat us respectfully.”</p> +<p>“A man’s house is his castle,” added the +squire, a little more moderately.</p> +<p>“That’s very good law, but there isn’t a house +in Pinchbrook that is big enough or strong enough to shield a +traitor from the indignation of his fellow-citizens. We do not +purpose to harm you or your property, if you behave like a +reasonable man.”</p> +<p>“You shall suffer for this outrage,” gasped the +squire, whose rage was increased by the cool and civil manner of +Captain Barney.</p> +<p>“When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that +your fellow-citizens wish you to display the national +flag.”</p> +<p>“I refuse to do it, sir.”</p> +<p>“Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up +their minds not to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits +of the town of Pinchbrook.”</p> +<p>“I am no traitor.”</p> +<p>“That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your +fellow-citizens assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your +patriotism.”</p> +<p>“I will not do it on compulsion.”</p> +<p>“Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable +measures.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that, sir?” asked the squire, +who was evidently alarmed by the threat. “Do you mean to +proceed to violence?”</p> +<p>“We do, Squire Pemberton,” answered Captain Barney, +decidedly.</p> +<p>“O my country!” sighed the victim, “has it +come to this? The laws will no longer protect her +citizens.”</p> +<p>“That’s very fine, sir. Do you expect the laws to +protect you while you are aiding and abetting those who are trying +to destroy them? Is there any law to protect a traitor in his +treason? But we waste time, Squire Pemberton. Will you display the +American flag?”</p> +<p>“Suppose I refuse?”</p> +<p>“We will pull your house down over your head. We will give +you a coat of tar and feathers, and remove you beyond the limits of +the town. If you ever come back, we will hang you to the nearest +tree.”</p> +<p>“Good Heaven! Is it possible that my fellow-citizens are +assassins—incendiaries!”</p> +<p>“Your answer, squire.”</p> +<p>“For mercy’s sake, husband, do what they ask,” +interposed his wife, who had been an anxious listener in the +adjoining room.</p> +<p>“I must do it,” groaned the squire, speaking the +truth almost for the first time in forty-eight hours. “Alas! +where is our boasted liberty of speech!”</p> +<p>“Fudge! squire,” replied Captain Barney, +contemptuously. “If your friend Jeff Davis should come to +Massachusetts to-morrow, to preach a crusade against the North, and +to raise an army to destroy the free institutions of the country, I +suppose you think it would be an outrage upon free speech to put +him down. We don’t think so. Up with the flag, +squire.”</p> +<p>“Fred, you may hang the flag out at the front window up +stairs,” said the squire to his son.</p> +<p>“All right, squire. Now a few words more, and we bid you +good night. You may <em>think</em> what you please, but if you +utter another word of treason in Pinchbrook during the term of your +natural life, the party outside will carry out the rest of the +programme.”</p> +<p>By this time Fred Pemberton had fastened the flag to one of his +mother’s clothes poles, and suspended it out of the window +over the porch. It was hailed with three tremendous cheers by the +multitude who were in waiting to discipline the squire, and +exorcise the evil spirit of treason and secession.</p> +<p>The work of the evening was finished, not wholly to the +satisfaction, perhaps, of a portion of the younger members of the +assemblage, who would gladly have joined in the work of pillage and +destruction, but much to the gratification of the older and +steadier portion of the crowd, who were averse to violent +proceedings.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_4" name="Ch_4">Chapter IV.</a></h3> +<h2>The Committee come out, and Tom goes in.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had +appointed to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the +house, engaged in bringing the traitor to terms, the younger +members of the assemblage were very impatient to know how matters +were progressing. Thomas Somers was particularly anxious to have +the affair brought to a crisis. In vain he and a few other of the +young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the interior of the +house, where the exciting interview was in progress.</p> +<p>Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough +disciplinarian. Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were +technically illegal; that in forcing himself into the house of the +squire he was breaking the law of the land; but it seemed to him to +be one of those cases where prompt action was necessary, and the +law was too tardy to be of any service. He was, however, determined +that the business should be done with as little violence as +possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the bridge to do no +needless injury to the property or the feelings of the squire or +his family.</p> +<p>When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the +door to prevent any of the people from following him. He had also +directed them not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until +he gave the signal. These directions proved a great hardship to the +boys in the crowd, and they were completely disgusted when they saw +the flag thrown loose from the front window.</p> +<p>The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, +about a hundred feet from the road. In front of it was a green +lawn, adorned with several large buttonwood trees. There was no +fence to enclose what was called the front yard. The crowd was +assembled on this lawn, and agreeably to the directions of the +leader, or chairman of the committee, none of them passed into the +yard in the rear and at the end of the house, which was separated +from the lawn by a picket fence.</p> +<p>Boys are instinctively curious to know what is going on, and the +“living room” of the squire, in which the exciting +conversation was taking place, was in the rear of the house. The +windows on the front were dark and uncommunicative. The boys were +restless and impatient; if there was to be any fun, they wanted to +see it. Thomas was as impatient as his fellows, and being more +enterprising than the others, he determined, while obeying the +instructions of Captain Barney in the spirit, to disobey them in +the letter.</p> +<p>He had been a sufferer to the extent of two great wales on the +calves of his legs by the treason of the squire, and no doubt he +thought he ought to be regarded as an exception to those who were +called on to observe the instructions of the chairman of the +committee. Leaving the group of inquiring minds near the front door +of the house, he walked down the driveway till he came to a rail +fence, through which he crawled, and entered the field adjoining +the garden of the squire. His fellow-citizens, men and boys, were +too intently watching the house to heed him, and no one noticed his +enterprising movement.</p> +<p>From the field, he entered the garden, and made his way to the +rear of the house. But even here, he was doomed to disappointment, +for Mrs. Pemberton had drawn her curtains. Our hero was not, +however, to be utterly defeated, and as the curtains had not been +fitted by an accomplished upholsterer, there were openings on +either side, through which he might command a full view of the +interior of the room.</p> +<p>Thomas proceeded slowly and cautiously to obtain a position +which would enable him to gratify his curiosity, and witness the +humiliation of the haughty squire. Beneath the window which, he had +chosen to look through, there was a cellar door, from which a pile +of seaweed, placed upon it to keep the frost out of the cellar, had +just been removed. The adventurous inquirer crept up the slippery +boards, and gained the coveted position. He could not only see the +committee and the squire, but he could hear all they said. He was +perfectly delighted with the manner in which the captain put the +question to the squire; and when the latter ordered Fred to hang +out the flag, he was a little disposed to imitate the masculine +occupants of the hen-house, a short distance from his perch; but +Tom, as we have before intimated, had a very tolerable idea of the +principles of strategy, and had the self-possession to hold his +tongue, and permit the triumphant scene within to pass without a +crow or a cheer.</p> +<p>The battle had been fought and the victory won; and though Tom +felt that he was one of the victors, he deemed it prudent, for +strategical reasons, to commence a retreat. The cellar doors, as we +have before hinted, were very slippery, having been thoroughly +soaked with moisture while covered with the seaweed. When the hero +of this unauthorized reconnoissance wheeled about to commence his +retreat, his feet incontinently slipped up upon the inclined +surface of the doors, and he came down heavily upon the rotten +boards. This, in itself, would have been but an inconsiderable +disaster, and he might still have withdrawn from the inconvenient +locality, if circumstances had not conspired against him, as +circumstances sometimes will, when they ought to be conciliatory +and accommodating. The force with which Tom fell upon the decayed +boards was too much for them, and the unlucky adventurer became +another victim to the treachery of rotten wood, which has hurled so +many thousands from time into eternity.</p> +<p>But Tom was not hurled so far as that on the present occasion, +though for all practical purposes, for the succeeding half hour, he +might as well have been a hundred fathoms under water, or beneath +the wreck of a twenty-ton locomotive at the bottom of the river. +That cellar door was a bad place to fall through, which may be +accounted for on the supposition that it was not made to fall +through. In his downward progress, Tom had unluckily struck his +head against the side of the house; and when he landed at the +bottom of the stairs, he was utterly oblivious to all distinctions +between treason and loyalty. Tom was not killed, I need not inform +the ingenious reader, or this would otherwise have been the last +chapter of the story; but the poor fellow did not know whether he +was dead or alive.</p> +<p>In fact, he had not sense enough left to consider the question +at all; for there he lay, in the gloom of the traitor’s dark +cellar, silent and motionless—a solemn warning to all our +young readers of the folly and wickedness of indulging an illegal +and sinful curiosity. It may seem cruel and inhuman in us to +forsake poor Tom in this sad plight; but we must, nevertheless, go +up stairs, in order that the sufferer may be duly and properly +relieved in due and proper season.</p> +<p>When the committee of three, appointed by the indignant +loyalists of Pinchbrook, had completed their mission in the house +of the squire, like sensible men they proposed to leave; and they +so expressed themselves, through their spokesman, to the unwilling +host. They put their hats on, and moved into the front entry, +whither they were followed by the discomfited traitor. They had +scarcely left the room before a tremendous crash greeted the ears +of that portion of the family which remained in the apartment. This +was the precise moment at which poor Tom Somers found himself on +the bottom of the cellar; or, to be entirely accurate, when he lost +himself on the bottom of the cellar.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton heard the crash, and she very naturally concluded +that the hour of retribution had actually come; that the terrible +mob had commenced the work of destruction. To her +“fear-amazed” mind it seemed as though the whole side +of the house had fallen in, and, for a moment, she confidently +expected the chimneys would presently go by the board, and the roof +come thundering down upon the devoted heads of her outraged family. +Perhaps, at that terrible moment, she wished her husband had been +like other women’s husbands, a true and loyal man, cheering +the old flag, and hurling harmless anathemas at the graceless +rebels.</p> +<p>But the chimney did not go by the board, nor the roof come +thundering down upon her head. There was not even a sound of +destruction to be heard, and the sides of the house seemed to be +firm and decided in their intention to maintain their perpendicular +position. A few minutes later, when the committee announced to the +multitude the success of their undertaking, and Fred had displayed +the flag from the window, peal upon peal of stunning huzzas saluted +her ears, and the awful peril of the preceding moments appeared to +be averted. The squire, having closed and barricaded the broken +door as well as he could, returned to the room, with curses deep +and bitter upon his lips. He was not in the habit of swearing, but +the magnitude of the occasion seemed to justify the innovation, and +he swore hugely, roundly, awfully. He paced the room, ground his +teeth, and stamped upon the floor.</p> +<p>“Father, did you hear that terrible racket just +now?” asked Mrs. Pemberton. “I thought the side of the +house had fallen in.”</p> +<p>“What racket?” demanded the squire, pausing in his +excited walk.</p> +<p>“I am sure they have broken something.”</p> +<p>“It sounded as though it was down cellar,” added +Susan, the daughter.</p> +<p>“What was it?” asked the father.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. It sounded like breaking boards. Do +go down cellar, and find out what it was.”</p> +<p>“The scoundrels!” roared the squire, as he rushed up +and down the room again with the fury of a madman. +“I’ll teach them to break into my house!”</p> +<p>“Be calm, father,” interposed Mrs. Pemberton, who, +like most New England mothers, called her husband by the title +which belonged exclusively to the children.</p> +<p>“Calm? How can I be calm? Don’t you hear the +ruffians shout and yell?”</p> +<p>“They are only cheering the flag.”</p> +<p>The squire muttered a malediction upon the flag, which would +probably have procured for him a coat of tar and feathers, if the +mob had heard it. Mrs. Pemberton was silent, for she had never seen +her husband so moved before. She permitted him to pace the room in +his frenzy till his anger had, in some measure, subsided.</p> +<p>“I wish you would go down cellar and find out what that +noise was,” said Mrs. Pemberton, as soon as she dared to +speak again. “Perhaps some of them are down there now. Who +knows but they will set the house afire.”</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton was startled by this suggestion, and, seizing +the lamp, he rushed down cellar to prevent so dire a calamity.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_5" name="Ch_5">Chapter V.</a></h3> +<h2>The Attic Chamber.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Squire Pemberton rushed down cellar. He was very much excited, +and forgot that he had been troubled with the rheumatism during the +preceding winter. When he opened the cellar door, he was +considerably relieved to find that no brilliant light saluted his +expectant gaze. It was as cold and dark in the cellar as it had +been when he sorted over the last of his Warren Russets, a few days +before.</p> +<p>It was certain, therefore, that the house was not on fire; and, +invigorated by this thought, he descended the stairs. A strong +current of fresh, cold air extinguished the light he carried. As +this was contrary to his usual experience when he went down cellar +in the evening after an apple or a mug of cider, it assured him +that there was a screw loose somewhere. Returning to the room +above, he procured a lantern, and proceeded to the cellar again to +renew his investigations.</p> +<p>The squire felt the cold blast of the April air, and immediately +made his way to the cellar door, holding the lantern up as high as +his head, to ascertain the nature of the mischief which the +fanatical abolitionists had perpetrated. He saw that the cellar +door was broken through. The rotten boards lay upon the steps, and +with another malediction upon the mob, he placed the lantern upon a +barrel, and proceeded to repair the damage. As he stepped forward, +he stumbled against the body of the enterprising hero of this +volume, who lay as calm and still as a sleeping child.</p> +<p>The squire started back, not a little alarmed at the sight of +the motionless body. He felt as though a terrible retribution had +fallen upon somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting +to destroy his property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the +cellar stairs by which he had descended, and stood there for a +moment, his tongue paralyzed, and his knees smiting each other, in +the agony of terror.</p> +<p>We do not know what he was afraid of, but we suppose that +instinctive dread which some people manifest in the presence of +death, had completely overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to +be afraid of, for a dead man is not half so likely to do a person +an injury as a living one. But in a few minutes Squire Pemberton in +some measure recovered his self-possession.</p> +<p>“There is a dead man down here!” he called up the +staircase, in quaking tones.</p> +<p>“Mercy on us!” exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton. “Who +is he?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied the squire.</p> +<p>“Look and see who it is, father,” added Mrs. +Pemberton. “Perhaps he isn’t dead.”</p> +<p>“Stone dead,” persisted the squire. “He fell +into the cellar and broke his neck.”</p> +<p>“Go and see who it is—will you?”</p> +<p>“Well, you come down and hold the light,” said the +squire, who was not quite willing to say that he was scared out of +his wits.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton descended the stairs, followed by Susan and Fred, +who had just returned from the front window, where he had exhibited +the flag, which the crowd outside were still cheering.</p> +<p>“Who can it be?” continued the old lady, as she +slowly and cautiously walked forward to the scene of the +catastrophe.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied the squire, in whom +the presence of his family had spurred up a semblance of courage; +for if a man ever is brave, it is in the presence of his wife and +children. “If it is one of the ruffians who came here to +destroy my house, I am glad he has lost his life in the attempt. It +is a righteous retribution upon him for his wickedness.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton took the lantern, and the squire, still excited +and terrified, bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. +The victim lay upon his face, and the squire had to turn him over +to obtain a view of his countenance.</p> +<p>“I declare it is one of the Somers boys!” exclaimed +Mrs. Pemberton, as her husband brought the face of Thomas to her +view.</p> +<p>“The young villain!” ejaculated the squire. +“It is lucky he was killed, or the house would have been in +flames before this time. He is a desperate young +scoundrel.”</p> +<p>“But he isn’t dead, father!” said Mrs. +Pemberton, as she knelt upon the cold ground, and felt the pulse of +the insensible boy. “He is only stunned.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry for it. If it had killed him, it would have +served him right,” added the squire, who had suddenly become +as bold as a lion—as bold as two lions.</p> +<p>“Come, father, let’s carry him up stairs, and put +him to bed.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I am going to do anything for this young +scoundrel!” exclaimed the squire, indignantly. “Why, he +stoned Fred and me to-day, and stoned the horse, and made him run +away and break the chaise all to pieces.”</p> +<p>“But we mustn’t leave him here in this situation. He +may die.”</p> +<p>“Let him die.”</p> +<p>“But what will folks say?”</p> +<p>The more humane wife evidently understood the weak point of the +squire, for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could +have induced him to set at defiance the public sentiment of +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Well, carry him up stairs then; but he never will get out +of my house till he has been severely punished for his +crimes.”</p> +<p>The squire and Fred took hold of the senseless form of poor Tom, +and carried it up stairs, where it was placed upon the sofa in the +sitting room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being “an +excellent hand in sickness,” and she immediately applied +herself to the duty of restoring the sufferer to consciousness.</p> +<p>“Don’t you think you had better go after the doctor, +father?” asked the good woman. “Some of his bones may +be broken, or he may be injured inwardly.”</p> +<p>“I shall not go for any doctor,” snarled the squire. +“Do you think I will trust myself out doors while that +howling mob is hanging round the house?”</p> +<p>“Fred can go,” suggested Susan.</p> +<p>“He can, but he shall not,” growled the squire, +throwing himself into his arm chair in the corner, with an +appearance of indifference and unconcern, which were far from +representing the actual state of his mind.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton said no more, but she and Susan went to work upon +the sufferer with camphor and hartshorn in good earnest, and in a +short time they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. +They continued the treatment for some time longer, with the most +satisfactory result, till Tom astonished them by jumping off the +sofa, and standing up in the middle of the room. He rubbed his +forehead, hunched up his left shoulder, and felt of his shins.</p> +<p>“Are you hurt, Thomas?” asked Mrs. Pemberton, with +more of tenderness in her tones than the squire deemed proper for +the occasion.</p> +<p>“No, marm, I guess not,” replied Tom. “My +shoulder feels a little stiff, and I think I barked one of my +shins; but I shall be as good as new by to-morrow.”</p> +<p>But there was an ugly bump on the side of his head, which he had +not yet discovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He +acknowledged the bump, but declared it was only a little sore and +would be all right by the next day.</p> +<p>“I feel pretty well,” continued Tom, “and I +guess I’ll go home now.”</p> +<p>“I think you won’t, young man,” interposed +Squire Pemberton.</p> +<p>Tom looked at him, and for the first time since he had come to +himself, he remembered in what manner he had received his injuries. +He immediately came to the conclusion that he had got into a bad +scrape. He was in the house of, and in the presence of, his great +enemy. The events of the day passed in rapid succession through his +mind, and he could not help thinking that he was destined to be the +first victim in Pinchbrook to the war spirit which had just been +awakened all over the country.</p> +<p>The squire thought he would not go home, which was as much as to +say he would not let him go home. Tom’s wits were a little +confused, after the hard knock he had received upon the head, and +all he could do was to stand and look at the oracle of Pinchbrook, +and wait for further developments.</p> +<p>“Young man,” said the squire, sternly, and in tones +that were intended to make a deep impression upon the mind of the +young man, “your time has come.”</p> +<p>The squire paused, and looked at the culprit to ascertain the +effect of the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be +perfectly cool, and was not annihilated by the suggestive remark of +the great man of Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“You have become a midnight marauder,” added the +squire, poetically.</p> +<p>“It isn’t seven o’clock yet,” said Tom +pointing to the great wooden clock in the corner of the room.</p> +<p>“You joined a mob to pillage and destroy the property of a +peaceable citizen. You broke in—”</p> +<p>“No, sir; the cellar door broke in,” interposed the +culprit.</p> +<p>“You broke into my house to set it afire!” continued +the squire, in a rage.</p> +<p>“No, sir, I did not. I only went round there to see the +fun,” replied Tom, pointing to the rear of the house; +“and the cellar door broke down and let me in. I did not mean +to do you or your house any harm; and I didn’t do any, except +breaking the cellar door, and I will have that mended.”</p> +<p>“Don’t tell me, you young villain! You meant to burn +my house.”</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t mean any thing of the kind,” +replied Tom, stoutly. “I was going off when the door broke +down. The boards were rotten, and I should think a man like you +ought to have better cellar doors than those are.”</p> +<p>The squire didn’t relish this criticism, especially from +the source whence it came. There was a want of humility on the part +of the culprit which the magnate of Pinchbrook thought would be +exceedingly becoming in a young man in his situation. The absence +of it made him more angry than before. He stormed and hurled +denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the mischief he had +done during the day, and alluded in strong terms to that which he +intended to perpetrate in the “dead watches of the +night”—which was the poetical rendering of half-past +six in the evening; for the squire was fond of effective +phrases.</p> +<p>Tom ventured to hint that a man who would not stand by his +country when her flag was insulted and “trailed in the +dust”—Tom had read the daily papers—ought to be +brought to his senses by such expedients as his fellow-citizens +might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the +squire’s wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon +the unlucky youth, which was that he should be taken to the +finished room in the attic, and confined there under bolts and bars +till the inquisitor should further declare and execute his +intentions.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton and Susan remonstrated against this sentence, +prudently suggesting the consequences which might result from +detaining the boy. But the squire declared he should not go till he +had at least horsewhipped him; and if there was any justice left in +the land, he would send him to the county jail in the morning.</p> +<p>Tom wanted to resist the execution of his sentence, but he was +still weak from the effects of his fall, and he could not expect to +vanquish both the squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, +he permitted himself to be led to the attic chamber. The squire +thrust him into the room, and after carefully securing the door, +left our hero to meditate upon the reverse of fortune which had +overtaken him.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_6" name="Ch_6">Chapter VI.</a></h3> +<h2>The Way is Prepared.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Where do you suppose Thomas is?” said Mrs. Somers, +as she glanced at the clock, which indicated half-past nine.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied John. “He +can’t be a great ways off. I saw him in front of the +squire’s house when the committee went in.”</p> +<p>“The boy’s gone down to the Harbor again with the +rest of the folks, talking about the war,” added +gran’ther Greene, as he rose from his chair, and hobbled into +his chamber adjoining the kitchen.</p> +<p>At ten o’clock, the mother began to be a little uneasy; +and at eleven, even John had some fears that all was not well with +his brother. Neither of them was able to suggest anything that +could possibly have happened to the absentee. There had been no +battle fought, and so nobody could have been killed. There had been +no violence used in the transactions of the evening further than +breaking in the front door of Squire Pemberton, so that it was not +easy to believe that any accident had happened to him.</p> +<p>John had given a glowing account of the proceedings at the house +of the squire and the family had been much interested and excited +by the stirring narrative. His mother was perfectly satisfied, as +no one had been injured, and hoped the great man of Pinchbrook +would be brought to his senses. All these topics had been fully +discussed during the evening. John had informed his mother that +Captain Benson, who had formerly commanded the Pinchbrook Riflemen, +intended to raise a company for the war. He mentioned the names of +half a dozen young men who had expressed their desire to join. The +family had suggested that this and that man would go, and thus the +long evening passed away.</p> +<p>“I don’t see what has become of Thomas,” said +Mrs. Somers, when the clock struck eleven, as she rose from her +chair and looked out of the window.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t see, either,” replied John. +“I don’t believe there is anything going on at this +time of night.”</p> +<p>“I hope nothing has happened to him,” continued the +anxious mother, as she went to the door and looked out, hoping, +perhaps, to discover him in the gloom of the night, or to hear his +familiar step.</p> +<p>“What could have happened to him?” asked John, who +did not believe his brother was fool enough to fall overboard, or +permit any serious accident to happen to him.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I can’t see what has got the +boy. He always comes home before nine o’clock. Have you heard +him say anything that will give you an idea where he is?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t said anything to me.”</p> +<p>“Try, and see if you can’t think of +something,” persisted the anxious mother.</p> +<p>“He hasn’t talked of anything but the war since +yesterday morning.”</p> +<p>“What did he say?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, now,” answered John, musing. +“He said he should like to join the army, and go down and +fight the rebels.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers had heard as much from him, but she had given no +particular attention to his remarks on this subject, for they +seemed wild and visionary. John’s words, under the present +circumstances, appeared to be full of importance; and taking her +stocking, she seated herself before the stove, and resumed her +knitting. She was silent now, for her heart was heavy with the +premonitions of impending trouble.</p> +<p>“I will take a walk down to the Harbor, mother, and see if +I can find anything of him. There may be something going on there +that I don’t know about. He may be at the store, talking +about the war with Captain Barney and the rest of the +folks.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers offered no objection to this plan, and John put on +his cap, and left the house. The poor mother brooded upon her +trouble for another hour, and with every new moment, the trouble +seemed more real. The clock struck twelve before John returned; and +more than once during his absence, as she plied her needles, she +had wiped away a tear that hung among the furrows of her care-worn +cheek. She had been thinking of her husband, as well as of her son. +He was, or soon would be, in the midst of the traitors, and she +trembled for him. Uncle Wyman was a secessionist; and, beyond this, +she had not much confidence in his integrity, and if Captain Somers +came home at all, his property would all be swept away, and he +would be a beggar.</p> +<p>The events of that day were not calculated to conciliate Squire +Pemberton towards them, and the farm and the cottage would pass +away from them. All these things had been considered and +reconsidered by the devoted mother. Poverty and want seemed to +stare her in the face; and to add to all these troubles, Thomas did +not come home, and, as fond mothers will, she anticipated the +worst.</p> +<p>John entered the kitchen, and carelessly flung his cap upon the +table. Mrs. Somers looked at him, and waited patiently to hear any +intelligence he might bring. But John threw himself into a chair, +looking more gloomy than before he left the house. He did not +speak, and therefore he had no good news to tell.</p> +<p>“You didn’t see anything of him—did +you?” asked Mrs. Somers; but it was a useless question, for +she had already interpreted the meaning of his downcast looks.</p> +<p>“No, mother; there isn’t a man, woman, or child +stirring in the village; and I didn’t see a light in a single +house.”</p> +<p>“What do you suppose can have become of him?”</p> +<p>“I’m sure I don’t know. Tom is old enough and +smart enough to take care of himself.”</p> +<p>“It’s very strange.”</p> +<p>“So it is. I haven’t any idea what has become of +him.”</p> +<p>“Did you look around Squire Pemberton’s house, where +he was seen last?”</p> +<p>“I looked about on both sides of the road, going and +coming from the Harbor. I whistled all the way, and if he had been +any where round, he would have whistled back, as he always +does.”</p> +<p>“What do you <em>suppose</em> has become of him?” +demanded the poor mother, worried beyond expression at the +mysterious disappearance of her son.</p> +<p>“I can’t tell, mother.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think we had better call up the +neighbors, and have something done about it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied John, hardly less +anxious than his mother.</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose they would be able to find him if +we did,” added Mrs. Somers, wiping away the tears from her +face.</p> +<p>“I can’t think anything has happened to him, mother. +If he had been on the water, or anything of that kind, I should +feel worse about it.”</p> +<p>“If I only knew where he was, I shouldn’t feel so +bad about it,” said she; and her position, certainly, was a +reasonable one.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, sister?” called +gran’ther Greene, from his chamber. “Hasn’t that +boy got home yet?”</p> +<p>“No, he hasn’t come yet, and I am worried to death +about him,” replied Mrs. Somers, opening the door of her +brother’s room.</p> +<p>“What o’clock is it?”</p> +<p>“After twelve. Thomas never stayed out so late in his life +before. What do you suppose has become of him?”</p> +<p>“Law sake! I haven’t the leastest idea,” +answered the old man. “Thomas is a smart boy, and knows +enough to keep out of trouble.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I say,” added John, who had +unlimited confidence in his brother’s ability to take care of +himself.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what <em>I</em> think, John,” +said Mrs. Somers, throwing herself into her chair with an air of +desperation.</p> +<p>But she did not tell John what she thought: on the contrary, she +sat rocking herself in silence, as though her thought was too big +and too momentous for utterance.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you think, mother?” asked John, when +he had waited a reasonable time for her to express her opinion on +the exciting topic.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers rocked herself more violently than before, and made +no reply.</p> +<p>“What were you going to say?”</p> +<p>“I think the boy has gone off to Boston, and gone into the +army,” replied she, desperately, as though she had fully made +up her mind to commit herself to this belief.</p> +<p>“Do you think so, mother?”</p> +<p>“I feel almost sure of it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think so, mother. Tom wouldn’t have +gone off without saying something to me about it.”</p> +<p>“If he wouldn’t say it to me, he wouldn’t be +likely to say it to you, John. It don’t look a bit like +Thomas to go off and leave his mother in this way,” moaned +the poor woman, wiping away a deluge of tears that now poured from +her eyes.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he has done any such thing, +mother,” protested John.</p> +<p>“I feel almost certain about it, now. If the boy wanted to +go, and couldn’t stay at home, he ought to have told me +so.”</p> +<p>“He did say he wanted to go.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t think he really meant it. I want my boys +to love their country, and be ready to fight for it. Much as I +should hate to part with them, if they are needed, they may go; but +I don’t like to have them run away and leave me in this mean +way. I shouldn’t feel half so bad if I knew Thomas was in the +army now, as I do to think he ran away from home, just as though he +had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he +wouldn’t be a son of mine if he wasn’t ready to go and +fight for his country, and die for her too, if there was any need +of it. I didn’t think Thomas would serve me in this +way.”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he has.”</p> +<p>“I know he’s gone. I like his spunk, but if he had +only come to me and said he <em>must</em> go, I wouldn’t have +said a word; but to go off without bidding us good +by—it’s too bad, and I didn’t think Thomas would +do such a thing.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the +highest state of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not +adequate to the duty required of them, and nothing less than the +whole floor of the kitchen was sufficient for the proper venting of +her emotion.</p> +<p>“Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him +leave to go, even if he had teased you for a month?” asked +John.</p> +<p>“Certainly I should,” replied his mother, stopping +short in the middle of the floor. “I’m ready and +willing to have my boys fight for their country, but I don’t +want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a hen-roost, +and without even saying good by to me.”</p> +<p>“If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him +go?” demanded John, earnestly.</p> +<p>“Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don’t think there +is any need of boys like him going, when there are men enough to do +the fighting.”</p> +<p>“You told Tom he shouldn’t go.”</p> +<p>“Well, I didn’t think he really meant it. If he +had—What’s that, John?” asked she, suddenly, as a +noise at the window attracted her attention.</p> +<p>“Only the cat, mother.”</p> +<p>“If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was +need of your going, I wouldn’t have kept either of you at +home. I would go to the poorhouse first. My father and my brother +both fought for their country, and my sons shall when their country +wants them.”</p> +<p>“Then you are willing Tom should go?”</p> +<p>“I am, but not to have him sneak off like a +sheep-stealer.”</p> +<p>“Three cheers for you, mother!” shouted Thomas, as +he threw up the window at which he had been standing for some ten +minutes listening to this interesting conversation.</p> +<p>“Where have you been, Thomas?” exclaimed the +delighted mother.</p> +<p>“Open the door, Jack, and let me in, and I will tell you +all about it,” replied the absentee.</p> +<p>“Come in; the door isn’t locked,” said +John.</p> +<p>He came in; and what he had to tell will interest the reader as +well as his mother and his brother.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_7" name="Ch_7">Chapter VII.</a></h3> +<h2>A Midnight Adventure.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers was an enterprising young man, as our readers have +already discovered; and when the door of the finished room in the +attic of Squire Pemberton’s house was fastened upon him, he +was not at all disposed to submit to the fate which appeared to be +in store for him. The idea of becoming a victim to the +squire’s malice was not to be entertained, and he threw +himself upon the bed to devise some means by which he might make +his escape.</p> +<p>The prospect was not encouraging, for there was only one window +in the chamber, and the distance to the ground was suggestive of +broken limbs, if not of a broken neck. Tom had read the Life of +Baron Trenck, and of Stephen Burroughs, but the experience of +neither of these worthies seemed to be available on the present +occasion.</p> +<p>As the family had not yet retired, it would not be safe to +commence operations for some hours. The stale, commonplace method +of tying the sheets and blankets together, and thus forming a rope +by which he could descend to the ground, occurred to him; but he +had not much confidence in the project. He lay quietly on the bed +till he heard the clocks on the churches at the Harbor strike +twelve. It was time then, if ever, for the family to be asleep, and +he decided to attempt an escape by another means which had been +suggested to him. If it failed, he could then resort to the +old-fashioned way of going down on the rope made of sheets and +blankets.</p> +<p>The apartment in which Tom was confined was not what people in +the country call an “upright chamber.” The sides of the +room were about four feet in height; and a section of the apartment +would have formed one half of an irregular octagon. In each side of +the chamber there was a small door, opening into the space near the +eaves of the house, which was used to store old trunks, old boxes, +the disused spinning-wheel, and other lumber of this description. +Tom had been in the attic before, and he remembered these doors, +through one of which he now proposed to make his escape.</p> +<p>When the clock struck twelve, he cautiously rose from the bed, +and pulled off his boots, which a proper respect for his host or +the bed had not prompted him to do before. The house was old, and +the floors had a tendency to creak beneath his tread. With the +utmost care, he crawled on his hands and knees to one of the doors +of the lumber hole, which he succeeded in opening without much +noise.</p> +<p>Making his way in among the old boxes, trunks, and +spinning-wheels, he was fully embarked in his difficult venture. +The dust which he stirred up in his progress produced an almost +irresistible desire to sneeze, which Lord Dundreary might have been +happy to indulge, but which might have been fatal to the execution +of Tom Somers’s purpose. He rubbed his nose, and held his +handkerchief over the intractable member, and succeeded in +overcoming its dangerous tendency. His movements were necessarily +very slow, for he was in constant dread lest some antiquated relic +of the past should tumble over, and thus disturb the slumbers of +the family who occupied the chambers below.</p> +<p>But in spite of the perils and difficulties that environed his +path, there was something exciting and exhilarating in the +undertaking. It was a real adventure, and, as such, Tom enjoyed it. +As he worked his way through the labyrinth of antiquities, he could +not but picture to himself the surprise and chagrin of Squire +Pemberton, when he should come up to the attic chamber to wreak his +vengeance upon him. He could see the magnate of Pinchbrook start, +compress his lips and clinch his fists, when he found the bird had +flown.</p> +<p>“Better not crow till I get out of the woods,” said +he to himself, while his imagination was still busy upon the +agreeable picture.</p> +<p>After a series of trials and difficulties which our space does +not permit us to describe in full, Tom emerged from the repository +of antiquities, and stood in the open space in front of the +finished chamber. With one boot in each hand, he felt his way to +the stairs, and descended to the entry over the front door. All +obstacles now seemed to be overcome, for he had nothing to do but +go down stairs and walk out.</p> +<p>It often happens, amid the uncertainties of this unstable world, +that we encounter the greatest trials and difficulties precisely +where we expect to find none. As Tom walked along the entry, with +one hand on the rail that protected the staircase to guide him, he +struck his foot against the pole upon which Fred Pemberton had +suspended the flag out of the window. It was very careless of the +squire, when he took the flag in, to leave the stick in that unsafe +position, for one of his own family might have stumbled against it, +and broken a leg or an arm, or possibly a neck; and if it might +have been a “cause of offence” to one of the +Pembertons, it certainly laid a grievous burden upon the shoulders +of poor Tom Somers.</p> +<p>When the pole fell, it made a tremendous racket, as all poles +will when they fall just at the moment when they ought to stand up, +and be decent and orderly. This catastrophe had the effect to +quicken the steps of the young man. He reached the stairs, and had +commenced a rapid descent, when the door of the squire’s +room, which was on the lower floor, opened, and Tom found himself +flanked in that direction.</p> +<p>“Who’s there? What’s that?” demanded the +squire, in hurried, nervous tones.</p> +<p>Tom was so impolite as to make no reply to these pressing +interrogatories, but quickly retreated in the direction from which +he had come.</p> +<p>“Wife, light the lamp, quick,” said the squire, in +the hall below.</p> +<p>Just then a door opened on the other side of the entry where Tom +stood, and he caught a faint glimpse of a figure robed in white. +Though it was the solemn hour of midnight, and Tom, I am sorry to +say, had read the Three Spaniards, and Mysteries of Udolpho, he +rejected the suggestion that the “sheeted form” might +be a ghost.</p> +<p>“Who’s there?” called the squire again.</p> +<p>A romantic little scream from the figure in white assured Tom +that Miss Susan was the enemy immediately on his front. Then he +caught the glimmer of the light below, which Mrs. Pemberton had +procured, and the race seemed to be up. Concealment was no longer +practicable, and he seized upon the happy suggestion that the +window opening upon the portico over the front door was available +as a means of egress.</p> +<p>Springing to the window, he raised it with a prompt and vigorous +hand, and before the squire could ascend the stairs, he was upon +the roof of the portico. Throwing his boots down, he grasped the +gutter, and “hung off.” He was now on <em>terra +firma</em>, and all his trials appeared to have reached a happy +termination; but here again he was doomed to disappointment.</p> +<p>“Bow, wow, wow-er, woo, row!” barked and growled the +squire’s big bull dog, when he came to realize that some +unusual occurrences were transpiring.</p> +<p>The animal was a savage brute, and was kept chained in the barn +during the day, and turned loose when the squire made his last +visit to the cattle about nine in the evening. Tom was thoroughly +alarmed when this new enemy confronted him; but fortunately he had +the self-possession to stand his ground, and not attempt to run +away, otherwise the dog would probably have torn him in pieces.</p> +<p>“Come here, Tige! Poor fellow! Come here! He’s a +good fellow! Don’t you know me, Tige?” said Tom, whose +only hope seemed to be in conciliation and compromise.</p> +<p>If Tige knew him, he appeared to be very unwilling to +acknowledge the acquaintance under the present suspicious +circumstances, and at this unseemly hour. The brute barked, +snarled, howled, and growled, and manifested as strong an +indisposition to compromise as a South Carolina fire-eater. He +placed himself in front of the hero of the night’s adventure, +as resolute and as intractable as though he had known all the facts +in the case, and intended to carry out to the letter the wishes of +his master.</p> +<p>Tom slowly retreated towards the garden fence, the dog still +following him up. He had tried coaxing and conciliation, and they +had failed. As he cautiously backed from the house, his feet struck +against a heavy cart stake, which seemed to suggest his next +resort. He was well aware that any quick movement on his part would +cause the dog to spring upon him. Placing his toe under the stake, +he raised it with his foot, till he could reach it with his hand, +keeping his gaze fixed upon the eyes of the dog, which glared like +fiery orbs in the gloom of the hour.</p> +<p>Tige saw the stick, and he appeared to have a wholesome respect +for it—a sentiment inspired by sundry beatings, intended to +cure a love of mutton on the hoof, or beef on the shelf. The brute +retreated a few paces; but at this moment Squire Pemberton appeared +at the front door, with a lantern in his hand. He understood the +“situation” at a glance.</p> +<p>“Take him, Tige! Stu’ boy!” shouted the +squire.</p> +<p>The dog snarled an encouraging reply to this suggestion, and +moved up towards the fugitive. Tom’s courage was equal to the +occasion, and he levelled a blow at the head of the bull dog, +which, if it had hit him fairly, must have smashed in his skull. As +it was, the blow was a heavy one, and Tige retreated; but the +shouts of the squire rallied him, and he rushed forward to the +onslaught again.</p> +<p>Tom, as we have before had occasion to suggest, was a master of +strategy, and instead of another stroke at the head of his savage +foe, with only one chance in ten of hitting the mark he commenced +swinging it vigorously to the right and left, as a mower does his +scythe. His object was to hit the legs of the dog—a plan +which was not entirely original with him, for he had seen it +adopted with signal success by a fisherman at the Harbor. The +consequence of this change of tactics was soon apparent, for Tige +got a rap on the fore leg, which caused him to yelp with pain, and +retire from the field. While the dog moved off in good order in one +direction, Tom effected an equally admirable retreat in the other +direction.</p> +<p>On reaching the road, he pulled on his boots, which he had +picked up after the discomfiture of his canine antagonist. Squire +Pemberton still stood at the door trying to bring Tige to a sense +of his duty in the trying emergency; but the brute had more regard +for his own shins than he had for the mandate of his master, and +the victor was permitted to bear away his laurels without further +opposition.</p> +<p>When he reached his father’s house, supposing the front +door was locked, he went to the kitchen window, where he had heard +the patriotic remarks of his mother. Tom told his story in +substance as we have related it.</p> +<p>“Do you mean what you have said, mother?” inquired +he, when he had finished his narrative.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers bit her lip in silence for a moment.</p> +<p>“Certainly I do, Thomas,” said she, desperately.</p> +<p>It was half-past one when the boys retired, but it was another +hour before Tom’s excited brain would permit him to sleep. +His head was full of a big thought.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_8" name="Ch_8">Chapter VIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Signing the Papers.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Thomas went to sleep at last, and, worn out by the fatigue and +excitement of the day, he slept long and soundly. His mother did +not call him till eight o’clock, and it was nine before he +reached the store of his employer, where the recital of the +adventure of the preceding night proved to be a sufficient excuse +for his non-appearance at the usual hour.</p> +<p>In the course of the week Captain Benson had procured the +necessary authority to raise a company for three years or for the +war. When he exhibited his papers, he found twenty persons ready to +put down their names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, +and every day added to the list of brave and self-denying men who +were ready to go forward and fight the battles of liberty and +union. The excitement in Pinchbrook was fanned by the news which +each day brought of the zeal and madness of the traitors.</p> +<p>Thomas had made up his mind, even before his mother had been +surprised into giving her consent, that he should go to the war. At +the first opportunity, therefore, he wrote his name upon the paper, +very much to the astonishment of Captain Benson and his +employer.</p> +<p>“How old are you, Tom?” asked the captain.</p> +<p>“I’m in my seventeenth year,” replied the +soldier boy.</p> +<p>“You are not old enough.”</p> +<p>“I’m three months older than Sam Thompson; and you +didn’t even ask him how old he was.”</p> +<p>“He is larger and heavier than you are!”</p> +<p>“I can’t help that. I’m older than he is, and +I think I can do as much in the way of fighting as he +can.”</p> +<p>“I don’t doubt that,” added the captain, +laughing. “Your affair with Squire Pemberton shows that you +have pluck enough for anything. I should be very glad to have you +go; but what does your father say?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t said anything. He isn’t at home. He +went away before Sumter was fired upon by the rebels.”</p> +<p>“True—I remember. What does your mother +say?”</p> +<p>“O, she is willing.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she +can give her consent, and she will sign it.”</p> +<p>Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to +dinner, he presented it to his mother for her signature.</p> +<p>“I hope you won’t back out, mother,” said he, +as she put on her spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the +contents of the document.</p> +<p>“Back out of what, Thomas?”</p> +<p>“I’ve signed the muster roll, and I belong to +Captain Benson’s company now.”</p> +<p>“You!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, +and gazing earnestly into the face of the young man, to discover +whether he was in earnest.</p> +<p>“Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed +the papers; but Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so +that there shall be no mistake about it.”</p> +<p>The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the +thought of having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp +and the march, the skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and +nothing but the most exalted patriotism could induce a mother to +give a son to his country.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to sign this paper, Thomas,” +said she, when she had finished reading it.</p> +<p>“Have you forgot what you said the other night, +mother?”</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t forgot it, and I feel now just as I +did then. If there is any real need of your going, I am willing you +should go.”</p> +<p>“Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President +wasn’t joking when he called for seventy-five thousand +men.”</p> +<p>“But there are enough to go without you.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what everybody might say, and then +there wouldn’t be anybody to go.”</p> +<p>“But you are young, and not very strong.”</p> +<p>“I’m old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a +day to myself, I don’t think it’s any great hardship to +carry father’s heavy fowling-piece from sunrise to sunset; +and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as long as any of +them.”</p> +<p>“You are only a boy.”</p> +<p>“I shall be a man soon enough.”</p> +<p>“When you have gone, John will want to go too.”</p> +<p>“No, mother, I don’t want to go into the +army,” said John, with a sly wink at his brother. “I +shall never be a soldier if I can help it.”</p> +<p>“What am I going to do, if you all go off and leave +me?” added Mrs. Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear which +was struggling for birth in her fountain of sorrows.</p> +<p>“I don’t think you will want for anything, mother. +I’m sure I wouldn’t leave you, if I thought you would. +I don’t get but two dollars and a half a week in the store, +and I shall have eleven dollars a month in the army, and it +won’t cost me any thing for board or clothes. I will send +every dollar I get home to you.”</p> +<p>“You are a good boy, Thomas,” replied Mrs. Somers, +unable any longer to restrain the tear.</p> +<p>“I know you and John both will do every thing you can for +me. If your father was only at home, I should feel different about +it.”</p> +<p>“He would believe in my fighting for my country, if he +were here.”</p> +<p>“I know he would,” said Mrs. Somers, as she took the +pen which Thomas handed her, and seated herself at the table. +“If you are determined to go, I suppose you will go, whether +I am willing or not.”</p> +<p>“No, mother, I will not,” added Thomas, decidedly. +“I shouldn’t have signed the muster roll if you +hadn’t said you were willing. And if you say now that you +won’t consent, I will take my name off the paper.”</p> +<p>“But you want to go—don’t you?”</p> +<p>“I do; there’s no mistake about that: but I +won’t go if you are not willing.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers wrote her name upon the paper. It was a slow and +difficult operation to her, and during the time she was thus +occupied, the rest of the family watched her in silent anxiety. +Perhaps, if she had not committed herself on the eventful night +when she fully believed that Thomas had run away and joined the +army, she might have offered more and stronger objections than she +now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism in her nature, which +she had inherited from her father, who had fought at Bunker Hill, +Brandywine, and Germantown, and which had been exemplified in the +life of her brother; and this, more than any other consideration, +induced her to sign the paper.</p> +<p>Thousands of loving and devoted mothers have given their sons to +their country in the same holy enthusiasm that inspired her. She +was not a solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both +her sons had been men, instead of boys, she would not have +interposed a single objection to their departure upon a mission so +glorious as that to which Thomas had now devoted himself.</p> +<p>“There’s my name, Thomas,” said his mother, as +she took off her spectacles. “I’ve done it, and you +have my free consent. You’ve always been a good boy, and I +hope you will always be a good soldier.”</p> +<p>“I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I +turn my back to a rebel, I hope you’ll disown me.”</p> +<p>“Good, Tom!” exclaimed John, who had been deeply +interested in the event of the hour.</p> +<p>“Well, Thomas, I’d rather face two rebels than that +bull dog you fit with t’other night,” added +gran’ther Greene. “You are as bold as a lion, +Thomas.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I can stand it, gran’ther?” +added Tom, with a smile.</p> +<p>“Stand it? Well, Thomas, it’s a hard life to be a +soldier, and I know something about it. When we marched +from—”</p> +<p>“Dinner’s ready,” interposed Mrs. Somers, for +gran’ther Greene had marched that march so many times that +every member of the family knew it by heart.</p> +<p>“There’s one good thing about it, Tom,” said +John: “you have got a first-rate captain.”</p> +<p>“I’m thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for +if there ever was a Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man,” +added Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“And all the company will be your own friends and +neighbors,” said gran’ther Greene; “and +that’s something, I can tell you. I know something about this +business. When we marched from—”</p> +<p>“Have some more beans, brother?” asked Mrs. Somers. +“You will be among your friends, Thomas, as gran’ther +says.”</p> +<p>“That’s a great thing, I can tell you,” added +the veteran. “Soldiers should stick together like brothers, +and feel that they are fighting for each other, as well as for the +country. Then, when you’re sick, you want friends. When we +marched from Sackett’s Harbor, there was a young +feller—”</p> +<p>“Have some more tea, brother?”</p> +<p>“Part of a cup, Nancy,” replied the old man, who +never took offence even when the choicest stories of his military +experience were nipped in the bud.</p> +<p>After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed +to him like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt +that he belonged to his country now, and that the honor of that old +flag, which had been insulted by traitors, was committed to his +keeping. He was taking up the work where his grandfather had left +it. He was going forth to fight for his country, and the thought +inspired him with a noble and generous enthusiasm, before which all +the aspirations of his youth vanished.</p> +<p>As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a +pitying reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full +of the great event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even +think of the exciting incidents which had occurred there. He had +neither seen nor heard any thing of the squire since he had escaped +from the attic chamber.</p> +<p>Just beyond the squire’s house he met Captain Barney, who +was riding up to the town hall.</p> +<p>“What’s this I hear of you, Tom?” demanded the +captain, as he reined in his horse. “They say you have joined +the company.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. I have.”</p> +<p>“Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as +a brigadier general. What does your mother say?”</p> +<p>“I have her written consent in my pocket.”</p> +<p>“All right. God bless you, my boy!” said the old +salt, as he started his horse.</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. There’s only one thing that +troubles me.”</p> +<p>“Eh? What’s that, my boy?” demanded Captain +Barney as he reined up the horse again.</p> +<p>“I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire +Pemberton’s the other night.”</p> +<p>“Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn’t want to +keelhaul the old traitor when I heard of it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t care anything about the scrape, sir; only +I’m afraid the squire will bother my mother when I’m +gone,” said Thomas, with some diffidence.</p> +<p>“If he does, he’ll settle the matter with Jack +Barney,” replied the captain, decidedly.</p> +<p>“My father may never come back, you know, and if he does +he will be a beggar. He owes the squire a note, which will be due +in June.”</p> +<p>“I’ll pay it myself!” roared Captain Barney. +“Go and fight for your country, Tom, like a man. I’ll +call and see your mother once a week, or every day in the week, if +you say so. She shall not want for any thing as long as I have a +shot in the locker.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Captain Barney; thank you, sir.”</p> +<p>“I’ll take care of your mother, my lad, and +I’ll take care of the squire. He shall not foreclose that +mortgage, Tom. Don’t bother your head about any of those +things. You’re a good boy, Tom, and I’ll keep every +thing all right at home.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir,” repeated the soldier boy, as +Captain Barney started his horse again.</p> +<p>The captain was a retired shipmaster, of ample means, and Tom +knew that he was not only able, but willing, to do all he had +promised. His heart was lighter; a load had been removed from his +mind.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_9" name="Ch_9">Chapter IX.</a></h3> +<h2>The Departure.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>At the time of which we write, recruiting officers were not very +particular in regard to the age of those whom they received into +the volunteer army. If the young man seemed to have the requisite +physical qualifications, it was of little consequence what his age +was; and Tom Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very +good soldier.</p> +<p>Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the +young recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary +legal form, but because he was acquainted with his father and +mother, and would not willingly have done any thing to displease +them. The matter, therefore, was disposed of to the satisfaction of +all the parties concerned, and Tom actually commenced his career as +a soldier boy. He immediately resigned his situation in the store, +for the company now numbered forty men, not half a dozen of whom +had any knowledge whatever of military drill.</p> +<p>As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to +lose the time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into +the service of the United States, the town voted to pay each man +fifteen dollars a month for three months. This generous and +patriotic action of the town rejoiced the heart of Tom Somers, for +his mother actually needed the pittance he had earned at the store. +Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband; but the destruction +of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several northern +vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in +that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up +between the North and the South, and she not only feared that +Captain Somers had lost all his worldly possessions, but that he +would hardly be able to escape himself from the fiery furnace of +secession and treason.</p> +<p>To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She +foresaw that she and her family would be subjected to the pressure +of want, or at least be dependent upon the kindness of friends for +support. She had freely stated her fears to her children, and fully +exhibited the insufficiency of the family resources. The vote of +the town was a perfect godsend to Tom, and a fat legacy from a rich +relative would not have kindled a stronger feeling of gratitude in +his soul.</p> +<p>For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, +and evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The +company was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then +attached to the —th regiment, which had just been formed and +ordered to Fort Warren.</p> +<p>On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic +citizens of Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful +farewell of his mother, his brother and sisters, and a score of +anxious friends.</p> +<p>“Now don’t let the rebels hit you in the backbone, +Thomas,” said gran’ther Green, as he shook the hand of +the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“No, gran’ther; if I can’t fight, I +won’t run away,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“You’ve got good blood in your veins, my boy: +don’t disgrace it. I don’t know as you’ll ever +see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;” and the old man +turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his +wrinkled cheek.</p> +<p>“Be a good boy, Thomas,” added his mother.</p> +<p>“I will, mother.”</p> +<p>“And remember what I’ve been telling you. I’m +not half so much afraid of your being killed by a bullet, as I am +of your being ruined by bad men.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t fear any thing of that kind, +mother.”</p> +<p>“I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as +well as from your enemies. We shall see you again before you go +off, I hope.”</p> +<p>“Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet.”</p> +<p>“Don’t forget to read your Testament, Thomas,” +said Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“I won’t, mother,” replied the soldier boy, as +he again shook hands with all the members of the family, kissed his +mother and his sisters, and hitching up his knapsack, took his +place in the ranks.</p> +<p>His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender +scene he had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his +inclination to weep, but he could no longer restrain the tears. +Suddenly they came like a flood bursting the gates that confined +it, and he choked and sobbed like a little girl. He leaned upon his +musket, covering his face with his arm.</p> +<p>“It’s a hard case,” said private Hapgood, who +stood next to him in the ranks.</p> +<p>“I didn’t think it would take me down like +this,” sobbed Tom.</p> +<p>“Don’t blubber, Tom. Let’s go off game,” +added Ben Lethbridge, who stood on the other side of him.</p> +<p>“I can’t help it, Ben.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you can—dry up! Soldiers don’t cry, +Tom.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they do, my boy,” said Hapgood, who was a +little old man, nearly ten years beyond the period of exemption +from military duty. “I don’t blame Tom for crying, and, +in my opinion, he’ll fight all the better for it.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he will, old un; but I don’t think much of +a soldier that blubbers like a baby. I hope he won’t run away +when he sees the rebels coming,” sneered Ben.</p> +<p>“If he does, he’ll have a chance to see how thick +the heels of your boots are,” answered the old man.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that, old un?” demanded +Ben.</p> +<p>“Attention—company! Shoulder—arms! +Forward—march!” said the captain; and the discussion +was prevented from proceeding any further.</p> +<p>The band, which was at the head of the citizens’ column, +struck up an inspiring march, and Tom dried his tears. The escort +moved off, followed by the company. They passed the little cottage +of Captain Somers, and Tom saw the whole family except John, who +was in the escort, standing at the front gate. The old soldier +swung his hat, Tom’s sisters and his mother waved their +handkerchiefs; but when they saw the soldier boy, they had to use +them for another purpose. Tom felt another upward pressure in the +region of the throat; but this time he choked down his rising +emotions, and saved himself from the ridicule of his more callous +companion on the left.</p> +<p>In violation of military discipline, he turned his head to take +one last, fond look at the home he was leaving behind. It might be +the last time he should ever gaze on that loved spot, now a +thousand times more dear than ever before. Never had he realized +the meaning of home; never before had he felt how closely his +heart’s tendrils were entwined about that hallowed place. +Again, in spite of his firmness and fortitude, and in spite of the +sneers of Ben Lethbridge, he felt the hot tears sliding down his +cheek.</p> +<p>When he reached the brow of the hill which would soon hide the +little cottage from his view, perhaps forever, he gazed behind him +again, to take his last look at the familiar spot. His mother and +sister still stood at the front gate watching the receding column +in which the son and the brother was marching away to peril and +perhaps death.</p> +<p>“God bless my mother! God bless them all!” were the +involuntary ejaculations of the soldier boy, as he turned away from +the hallowed scene.</p> +<p>But the memory of that blessed place, sanctified by the presence +of those loving and devoted ones, was shrined in the temple of his +heart, ever to go with him in camp and march, in the perils of +battle and siege, to keep him true to his God, true to himself, and +true to those whom he had left behind him. That last look at home +and those that make it home, like the last fond gaze we bestow on +the loved and the lost, was treasured up in the garner of the +heart’s choicest memories, to be recalled in the solemn +stillness of the midnight vigil, amid the horrors of the +battle-field when the angry strife of arms had ceased, and in the +gloom of the soldier’s sick bed when no mother’s hand +was near to lave the fevered brow.</p> +<p>The moment when he obtained his last view of the home of his +childhood seemed like the most eventful period of his existence. +His heart grew big in his bosom, and yet not big enough to contain +all he felt. He wept again, and his tears seemed to come from +deeper down than his eyes. He did not hear the inspiring strains of +the band, or the cheers that greeted the company as they went forth +to do and die for their country’s imperilled cause.</p> +<p>“Blubbering again, Tom?” sneered Ben Lethbridge. +“I thought you was more of a man than that, Tom +Somers.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help it, Ben,” replied Tom, vainly +struggling to subdue his emotions.</p> +<p>“Better go back, then. We don’t want a great baby in +the ranks.”</p> +<p>“It’s nateral, Ben,” said old Hapgood. +“He’ll get over it when he sees the rebels.”</p> +<p>“Don’t believe he will. I didn’t think you +were such a great calf, Tom.”</p> +<p>“Shet up, now, Ben,” interposed Hapgood. +“I’ll bet my life he’ll stand fire as well as you +will. I’ve been about in the world some, and I reckon +I’ve as good an idee of this business as you have. +Tom’s got a heart under his ribs.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet he runs away at the first fire.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet he won’t.”</p> +<p>“I know I won’t!” exclaimed Tom, with energy, +as he drew his coat sleeve across his eyes.</p> +<p>“It isn’t the cock that crows the loudest that will +fight the best,” added the old man. “I’ll bet Tom +will be able to tell you the latest news from the front, where the +battle’s the hottest. I fit my way up to the city of Mexico +long er old Scott, and I’ve heard boys crow afore +today.”</p> +<p>“Look here, old un! If you mean to call me a coward, why +don’t you say so, right up and down?” growled Ben.</p> +<p>“Time’ll tell, my boy. You don’t know what +gunpowder smells like yet. If you’d been with the fust +Pennsylvany, where I was, you’d a-known sunthin about war. +Now, shet up, Ben; and don’t you worry Tom any +more.”</p> +<p>But Tom was no longer in a condition to be worried. Though still +sad at the thought of the home and friends he had left behind, he +had reduced his emotions to proper subjection, and before the +column reached Boston, he had even regained his wonted +cheerfulness. The procession halted upon the wharf, where the +company was to embark on a steamer for Fort Warren. As the boat +which was to convey them to the fort had not yet arrived, the men +were permitted to mingle with their friends on the wharf, and, of +course, Tom immediately sought out his brother. He found him +engaged in a spirited conversation with Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“What is it, Jack?” asked the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“I want to join this company, and the captain won’t +let me,” replied John.</p> +<p>“You, Jack!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I.”</p> +<p>“Did mother say so?”</p> +<p>“No, but she won’t care.”</p> +<p>“Did you ask her?”</p> +<p>“No; I didn’t think of going till after I started +from home.”</p> +<p>“Don’t think of it, Jack. It would be an awful blow +to mother to have both of us go.”</p> +<p>For half an hour Tom argued the matter with John; but the +military enthusiasm of the latter had been so aroused by the march +and its attendant circumstances, that he could not restrain his +inclination.</p> +<p>“If I don’t join this company, I shall some +other,” said John.</p> +<p>“I shall have to go home again, if you do; for I +won’t have mother left alone. We haven’t been mustered +in yet. Besides, I thought you wanted to go into the +navy.”</p> +<p>“I do; but I’m bound to go somehow,” replied +John.</p> +<p>But what neither Tom nor Captain Benson could do, was +accomplished by Captain Barney, who declared John should go home +with him if he had to take him by the collar. The ardent young +patriot yielded as gracefully as he could to this persuasion.</p> +<p>The steamer having arrived, the soldiers shook hands with their +friends again, went on board, and, amid the hearty cheers of the +citizens of Pinchbrook, were borne down the bay.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_10" name="Ch_10">Chapter X.</a></h3> +<h2>Company K.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers felt that he was now a soldier indeed. While the +company remained in Pinchbrook, he had slept every night in his own +bed, and taken his meals in the kitchen of the little cottage. He +fully realized that he had bade a long farewell to all the comforts +and luxuries of home. That day, for the first time, he was to +partake of soldiers’ fare, and that night, for the first +time, he was to sleep upon a soldier’s bed. These thoughts +did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he +had carefully considered, with the best information he could +obtain, what hardships and privations he would be called to endure. +He had made up his mind to bear all things without a murmur for the +blessed land of his birth, which now called upon her sons to defend +her from the parricidal blow of the traitor.</p> +<p>Tom had not only made up his mind to bear all these things, but +to bear them patiently and cheerfully. He had a little theory of +his own, that rather more than half of the discomforts of this +mortal life exist only in the imagination. If he only +<em>thought</em> that every thing was all right, it went a great +way towards making it all right—a very comforting and +satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety +down to seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from +ten to forty degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his +stomach when it was empty, alleviated the toothache or the +headache, and changed snarling babies into new-fledged angels. I +commend Tom’s philosophy to the attention and imitation of +all my young friends, assured that nothing will keep them so happy +and comfortable as a cheerful and contented disposition.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers,” said a voice near him, cutting short +the consoling meditation in which he was engaged.</p> +<p>His name was pronounced in a low and cautious tone, but the +voice sounded familiar to him, and he turned to ascertain who had +addressed him. He did not discover any person who appeared to be +the owner of the voice, and was leaving the position he had taken +on the forward deck of the steamer, when his name was repeated, in +the same low and cautious tone.</p> +<p>“Who is it? Where are you?” said Tom, looking all +about him, among the groups of soldiers who were gathered on +various parts of the deck, discussing the present and the +future.</p> +<p>“Here, Tom,” replied the voice, which sounded more +familiar every time he heard it.</p> +<p>He turned his eye in the direction from which the sound +proceeded, and there, coiled up behind a heap of barrels and boxes, +and concealed by a sail-cloth which had been thrown over the goods +to protect them from an expected shower, he discovered Fred +Pemberton.</p> +<p>“What in the name of creation are you doing there, +Fred?” exclaimed Tom, laughing at the ludicrous attitude of +the embryo secessionist.</p> +<p>“Hush! Don’t say a word, Tom. Sit down here where I +can talk with you,” added Fred.</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell if you will keep quiet a moment. Is the +company full?”</p> +<p>“What company?”</p> +<p>“Captain Benson’s, of course.”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“I want to join.”</p> +<p>“You!” ejaculated Tom.</p> +<p>“Come, come, Tom, no blackguarding now. You and I used to +be good friends.”</p> +<p>“I’ve nothing against you, Fred—that is, if +you’re not a traitor.”</p> +<p>“I want to join the company.”</p> +<p>“Is your father willing?”</p> +<p>“Of course he isn’t; but that needn’t make any +difference.”</p> +<p>“But you don’t believe in our cause, Fred. We +don’t want a traitor in the ranks.”</p> +<p>“Hang the cause! I want to go with the company.”</p> +<p>“Hang the cause? Well, I reckon that’s a good +recommendation.”</p> +<p>“I’m all right on that.”</p> +<p>“Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, and swear +to sustain the flag of your country?”</p> +<p>“Of course I am. I only followed the old man’s lead; +but I have got enough of it. Do you think Captain Benson will take +me into the company?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he will.”</p> +<p>“Ask him—will you? You needn’t say I’m +here, you know.”</p> +<p>“But what will your father say?”</p> +<p>“I don’t care what he says.”</p> +<p>Tom thought, if Fred didn’t care, he needn’t, and +going aft, he found the captain, and proposed to him the +question.</p> +<p>“Take him—yes. We’ll teach him loyalty and +patriotism, and before his time is out, we will make him an +abolitionist,” replied Captain Benson. “What will his +father say?”</p> +<p>“His father doesn’t know anything about it. Fred ran +away, and followed the company into the city.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton is a traitor, and I believe the army +will be the best school in the world for his son,” added the +captain. “It will be better for him to be with us than to be +at home. If it was the son of any other man in Pinchbrook, I +wouldn’t take him without the consent of his father; as it +is, I feel perfectly justified in accepting him.”</p> +<p>Tom hastened to the forward deck to report the success of his +mission. The result was, that Fred came out of his hiding-place, +and exhibited himself to the astonished members of the Pinchbrook +company. When he announced his intention to go to the war, and, +with a pardonable flourish, his desire to serve his country, he was +saluted with a volley of cheers. Captain Benson soon appeared on +the forward deck, and the name of the new recruit was placed on the +enlistment paper.</p> +<p>Fred was seventeen years of age, and was taller and stouter than +Tom Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age or his +physical ability to endure the hardships of a campaign.</p> +<p>The steamer arrived at Fort Warren, and the company landed. +After waiting a short time on the wharf, the color company of the +—th regiment, to which they were attached, came down and +escorted them to the parade ground within the fort. It was a +desolate and gloomy-looking place to Tom, who had always lived +among green fields, and the beautiful surroundings of a New England +rural district.</p> +<p>If the fort itself looked dreary, how much more so were the +casemates in which the company was quartered! But Tom’s +philosophy was proof against the unpleasant impression, and his +joke was as loud and hearty as that of any of his companions. The +men were divided off into messes, and they had an abundance of work +to do in bringing up the company’s luggage, and making their +new habitation as comfortable and pleasant as the circumstances +would permit.</p> +<p>The next day the Pinchbrook boys were designated as Company K, +and placed in the regimental line. The limits of this volume do not +permit me to detail the every-day life of the soldier boy while at +Fort Warren, however interesting and instructive it might be to our +friends. A large portion of the forenoon was devoted to squad and +company drill, and of the afternoon to battalion drill. The +colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, was an enthusiast +in military matters, and had the reputation of being one of the +most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, +since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he +was no bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate +when he found that the colonel of the regiment was no taller and no +heavier than himself. And when he heard the high praise bestowed +upon the colonel’s military skill and martial energy, he came +to the conclusion that it does not require a big man to make a good +soldier. With a feeling of satisfaction he recalled the fact that +Napoleon Bonaparte, when he commanded the army of Italy, was +scarcely a bigger man than the colonel or himself.</p> +<p>The colonel was a strict disciplinarian, and he soon diffused +his energy throughout the regiment. It made rapid progress in its +military education. Tom was deeply interested in the details of his +new profession, and used his best endeavors to do his duty promptly +and faithfully. This was not the case with all the boys in the +company from Pinchbrook, and I am sorry to say that some of them, +including the brave and chivalric Ben Lethbridge, had to sit upon +the stool of repentance in the guard room on several occasions.</p> +<p>Fred Pemberton was clothed in the uniform of the United States +volunteers, and we must do him the justice to say that he performed +his duty to the entire satisfaction of his officers. Fred was a +good fellow, and barring his treason, which he had derived from his +father, was highly esteemed by those who knew him. The only stain +that had ever rested upon his character was removed, and he and Tom +were as good friends as ever they had been. His motive in joining +the army, however, could not be applauded. He thought all his +friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, spiced +with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, +and he did not like the idea of being left behind. To the sentiment +of patriotism, as developed in the soul of Tom Somers and many of +his companions, he was an entire stranger. He was going to the war +to participate in the adventures of the —th regiment, rather +than to fight for the flag which had been insulted and dishonored +by treason.</p> +<p>Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to +see their friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness +the drills and parades which were constantly succeeding each other. +Among them came many of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was +delighted by a visit from his whole family. His mother found him so +comfortable and contented that she returned with half the heavy +burden on her soul removed.</p> +<p>While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their +friends from home, there was one in the company who was in constant +dread lest he should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds +which the steamers daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did +not wish to see his nearest friends; but after he had been in the +company some ten days, just as the boys had been dismissed from the +forenoon drill, he discovered at a distance the patriarchal form of +his father.</p> +<p>“My pipe’s out, Tom,” said Fred, as he rushed +into the casemate where a group of his companions were resting from +the fatigues of the morning.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter now, Fred?”</p> +<p>“The old man has just come into the fort.”</p> +<p>“Has he?”</p> +<p>“Yes—what shall I do?”</p> +<p>“Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through +all right,” said Sergeant Porter.</p> +<p>“What shall I do?” demanded Fred, who, whatever his +views in regard to the justice or injustice of coercion, did not +wish to be taken from the company.</p> +<p>“Come with me,” said the sergeant, as he led the way +into an adjoining casemate. “No; nobody else will +come,” added he, motioning back other members of the mess who +was disposed to follow.</p> +<p>In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there +was a pile of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments +had been packed. The fugitive from his father’s anxious +search was directed to get into one of these boxes, from which the +sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; his confederate put on +the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful supply of air, +and other boxes were placed upon that containing the runaway.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and +demanded his son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. +Sergeant Porter kept out of the way, and not another man in the +company knew anything about him. The boys were very willing to +assist the indignant father in his search, but all their efforts +were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate, and every nook +and corner upon the island, but without effect.</p> +<p>“I want my son, sir,” said the squire, angrily, to +the captain. “I require you to produce him.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where he is,” replied Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“You have concealed him, sir.”</p> +<p>“I have not.”</p> +<p>The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no +satisfaction, and was obliged to leave without accomplishing his +purpose. As soon as he had gone, Fred appeared, and the boys +laughed for a week over the affair.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_11" name="Ch_11">Chapter XI.</a></h3> +<h2>In Washington.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after +being conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here +the “little colonel” displayed his energy and military +skill to much greater advantage than when within the narrow +confines of the fort. The men were not only carefully and +persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the +circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a +campaign.</p> +<p>Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier’s pride in +his new situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was +not always the easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he +bore his trials with philosophical patience and fortitude, and made +the most of whatever joys the circumstances placed within his +reach.</p> +<p>Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had +enlisted for the war, and meant to take things as they came. It was +not exactly agreeable to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, +rainy night; but grumbling would not make it any the more +agreeable, and only made the grumbler discontented and unhappy. It +did not look like “the pomp and circumstance of war,” +and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would have +been better satisfied in their own houses in “the village by +the sea.” But most of these men had left their happy homes +under the inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were +going forth to fight the battles of their imperilled country, and +this reflection filled them with a heroism which the petty trials +and discomforts of the camp could not impair.</p> +<p>While the regiment was at Camp Cameron, the state colors and a +standard, procured by the liberality of its friends, were +presented; and the patriotic speeches delivered on this occasion +made a deep impression upon the mind and heart of the soldier boy. +To him they were real—perhaps more real than to those who +uttered the burning words. He was in a situation to feel the full +force of the great sacrifice which the soldier makes for his +country. He devoted himself, heart and soul, to the cause; and what +was but an idle sentiment in the mind of the flowery speech-makers, +was truth and soberness to him who was to meet the foe at the +cannon’s mouth and at the bayonet’s point.</p> +<p>“We are off on the 29th,” said old Hapgood, one +evening, as he entered the barrack where Tom was writing a letter +to his mother.</p> +<p>“Good! I am glad to hear it. I was just telling my mother +that I hoped we should not have to stay much longer in this +place,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“I think we are having an easy time of it here,” +added the veteran. “When you find out what hunger and fatigue +mean, you will learn to be contented with such a place as +this.”</p> +<p>“I’m contented enough; but I want to get into the +field, and have something done.”</p> +<p>“Time enough, my boy. I used to feel just so, Tom, when I +went to Mexico; but after a while I got so I didn’t care what +we did or where we went.”</p> +<p>Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of +the time fixed for the departure of the regiment. The intelligence +in this instance proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the +little colonel marched his command into the city, where it was duly +embarked on the cars for New York. It was a day of excitement, for +the streets of the city were thronged with people, whose cheers and +applause were the benison with which the regiment went forth to do +and to die for the nation. Tom was delighted with this warm +reception, but more by meeting his mother and his brother and +sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad meeting. Mrs. +Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son go forth +to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater perils +of the camp?</p> +<p>It was a sad parting; and many a mother’s heart was torn +with anguish on that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her +bosom, for the last time, as she gave him to his country. Cold, +stern men, who had never wept before, wept then—the flesh +that was in their stony hearts yielded its unwilling tribute to +nature and affection.</p> +<p>“All aboard!” shouted the officers, when the train +was ready to depart.</p> +<p>“God bless you, my boy!” sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she +kissed her son. “Be good and true, and don’t forget to +read your Testament.”</p> +<p>“Good by, mother,” was all that Tom could say, as he +grasped his musket, which John had been holding for him, and rushed +into the car.</p> +<p>The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had +gathered to witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever +before, the soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered +the service. He listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was +sad and silent. He sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the +anguish of the hour. On and on dashed the train, and his thoughts +still dwelt upon the home and the mother he had left behind +him.</p> +<p>Our readers can better imagine than we can describe the feelings +of the soldier boy during that long night. The regiment arrived in +New York at half-past ten in the forenoon of the following day, and +was escorted up Broadway by the Sons of Massachusetts. At the Park, +it was warmly welcomed by the President of the Sons, and as the +little colonel was a better soldier than a speech-maker, the +response was made by the surgeon. By this time, Tom was able to +enter into the spirit of the occasion, and the flattering ovation +bestowed upon the regiment was a source of personal pride and +satisfaction. The little colonel’s command was declared to be +the best drilled and most soldierly body of men which had yet +departed for the battle-fields of the republic.</p> +<p>The great city was full of wonders to the soldier boy, and +during the few hours he remained there, he was in a constant whirl +of excitement. If the mission before him had been less grand and +sublime, he could have wished to spend a few days in exploring the +wonders of the great metropolis; but the stupendous events that +loomed up in the future, prophetic even to the inexperienced eye of +youth, engrossed all his thoughts. He partook of the bountiful +collation in the Park, and was content to march on to scenes more +thrilling and exciting than the tumult of the busy city.</p> +<p>The regiment took a steamer, at half-past four for +Elizabethport, and thence proceeded by railroad to Washington, by +the way of Harrisburg. Some portions of the journey were performed +under the most trying circumstances. The men were crowded, like +sheep, into unsuitable cars, so that not only were they subjected +to many needless discomforts, but their very lives were endangered. +On the way, two men were crowded out of a car, and, for a time, +were supposed to have been killed.</p> +<p>On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an +opportunity to see the “city of magnificent distances,” +of which he had heard so much. The regiment marched from the +station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to their camp ground in the +rear of the White House. They were received with enthusiasm by the +people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had been +supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of +destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, +gave the politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of +“shoddy.”</p> +<p>The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it +passed up the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his +mansion. The boys greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, +which the President acknowledged by a series of bows, which were +not half so ungraceful as one might have expected after reading the +descriptions of him contained in the newspapers.</p> +<p>To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he +could scarcely believe that he was looking upon the chief +magistrate of this great nation. He was filled with boyish wonder +and astonishment; but, after all, he was forced to admit that the +President, though a tall specimen of humanity, looked very much +like the rest of mankind—to borrow a phrase from one of his +illustrious predecessors.</p> +<p>Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, +and the simple magnificence of the President. The tents were +pitched, and the weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a +couple of days, however, our soldier boy was “as good as +new.”</p> +<p>“Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of +the city,” said Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the +regiment had become fairly settled in its new quarters.</p> +<p>“I should like to take a tramp. There are lots of +congressmen here, and I should like to know what they look +like,” replied Tom. “I haven’t been outside the +lines since we came here.”</p> +<p>“I have; and I’m going again! Fred and I mean to +have a good time to-day. Will you go?”</p> +<p>“Have you got a pass?”</p> +<p>“A pass! What a stupid! What do you want of a pass? You +can’t get one. They won’t give any.”</p> +<p>“Then we can’t go, of course.”</p> +<p>“Bah! What a great calf you are! Don’t you want to +cry again?”</p> +<p>“Ben, you needn’t say cry to me again as long as you +live,” added Tom. “If you do, I’ll give you +something to cry for.”</p> +<p>Tom did not like the style of remark which the other had +adopted. He was angry, and, as he spoke, his fist involuntarily +clinched, and his eye looked fierce and determined.</p> +<p>“Come, come, Tom; don’t bristle up so. If you are a +man, just show that you are, and come along with us.”</p> +<p>“I say, Ben, I want to know who’s a baby or a calf, +you or I, before we go, I won’t stand any more of your +lip.”</p> +<p>“Will you go with us?” demanded Ben, who was rather +disposed to dodge the issue.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by calling me a calf and a baby? And +this isn’t the first time you’ve done it.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you know that every man in the regiment has +been all over the city, and without any pass? When I ask you to go, +you begin to talk about a pass.”</p> +<p>“I choose to obey orders,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“O, you daresn’t go with us.”</p> +<p>“Come along!” said Tom, who had not yet learned to +bear the taunts of his companion.</p> +<p>“Get your pail.”</p> +<p>Tom got his pail, and was immediately joined by Fred and Ben, +each of whom was also supplied with a pail. There was no water to +be had within the camp ground, and the men were obliged to bring it +in pails from the hydrants in the street. A pail, therefore, was +quite as good as a written document to enable them to pass the +guard.</p> +<p>The party thus provided had no difficulty in passing the +sentinels. At a convenient place outside the line, they concealed +the pails, and, for three hours, roamed at will over the city.</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, you wanted to see the congressmen?” said +Ben, after they had “done” the city pretty +thoroughly.</p> +<p>“Yes, but I have seen them at the Capitol.”</p> +<p>“But don’t you want to get nearer to them, and hear +them talk?”</p> +<p>“Well, I should like to.”</p> +<p>“Come with us, then.”</p> +<p>Ben led the way down the avenue, and entered a building not far +from the railroad station. After passing through a long, narrow +entry, they ascended a flight of stairs, at the head of which the +conductor gave two raps. The door was opened by a negro, and they +were invited to enter. At a table in the middle of the room was +seated a foppish-looking man who held in his hand a silver box. As +he turned it, Tom saw that it contained a pack of cards.</p> +<p>“Where are your congressmen?” asked the soldier boy, +whose eyes had been opened by the appearance of the cards.</p> +<p>“They will be here pretty soon,” replied Ben.</p> +<p>The foppish man looked at his watch, and declared they would +come in the course of five or ten minutes. He then took the cards +out of the box, and, after shuffling them, returned them to their +place. Fred placed a “quarter” on the table; the +gambler put another by its side, and drew out a card from the +silver case. Tom did not understand the game; but his companion put +the quarters in his pocket.</p> +<p>“See that, Tom!” said he. “Got any +money?”</p> +<p>“If I have I shall keep it.”</p> +<p>“Put down a quarter, and make another.”</p> +<p>“No, sir! I’m no gambler!” replied Tom, with +emphasis.</p> +<p>“Quite respectable, I assure you,” added the +blackleg at the table.</p> +<p>“I’m going,” said Tom, decidedly.</p> +<p>“Baby!” sneered Ben. “Afraid to +play!”</p> +<p>“I <em>won’t</em> play! I’m going.”</p> +<p>The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his +expectation, he was followed by Fred and Ben.</p> +<p>“Baby is afraid of cards!” sneered Ben, as they +passed through the long entry.</p> +<p>“Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you,” replied +Tom, as he planted a heavy blow between the eyes of his +companion.</p> +<p>Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and +there was a prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but +Fred Pemberton interposed his good offices, and effected a +compromise, which, like most of the political compromises, was only +the postponement of the conflict.</p> +<p>“I told you not to call me ‘baby,’ +again,” said Tom, as they passed out of the building. +“I will convince you before I am done that I’m not a +baby.”</p> +<p>Ben found it convenient to offer no reply to this plain +statement of facts, and the three soldiers made their way back to +the camp, and, having obtained their pails and filled them with +water at the hydrants, they passed the guard without a +question.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_12" name="Ch_12">Chapter XII.</a></h3> +<h2>On to Richmond.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It so happened that Ben Lethbridge, probably satisfied that it +was not the fist of a baby which had partially blackened both of +his eyes, and produced a heavy pain under his left ear, did not +demand the satisfaction which was needed to heal his wounded honor. +The matter was duly discussed in the tent of Tom’s mess; but +our soldier boy, while he professed to be entirely satisfied, was +willing to meet Ben at such time and place as he desired, and +finish up the affair.</p> +<p>The other party was magnanimous, and declared that he too was +satisfied; and old Hapgood thought they had better proceed no +further with the affair, for both of them might be arrested for +disorderly conduct.</p> +<p>“I am satisfied, Ben; but if you ever call me a baby or a +calf again, it will all have to be settled over again,” said +Tom, as he laid aside his musket, which he had been cleaning during +the conversation.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to quarrel with you, Tom,” +replied Ben, “but I wish you would be a little more like the +rest of the fellows.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that? I am like the rest of the +fellows.”</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t play cards.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I will play cards, but I won’t gamble; and +there isn’t many fellows in the company that will.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” added Hapgood. “I know all +about that business. When I went to Mexico, I lost my money as fast +as I got it, playing cards. Don’t gamble, boys.”</p> +<p>“I won’t, for one,” said Tom, with +emphasis.</p> +<p>“Are you going to set up for a soldier-saint, too?” +sneered Ben, turning to the old man.</p> +<p>“I’m no saint, but I’ve larned better than to +gamble.”</p> +<p>“I think you’d better stop drinking too,” +added Ben.</p> +<p>“Come, Ben, you are meaner than dirt,” said Tom, +indignantly.</p> +<p>Old Hapgood was a confirmed toper. The people in Pinchbrook said +he was a good man, but, they used to add, with a shrug of the +shoulders, “pity he drinks.” It was a sad pity, but he +seemed to have no power over his appetite. The allusion of Ben to +his besetting sin was cruel and mortifying, for the old man had +certainly tried to reform, and since the regiment left Boston, he +had not tasted the intoxicating cup. He had declared before the +mess that he had stopped drinking; so his resolution was known to +all his companions, though none of them had much confidence in his +ability to carry it out.</p> +<p>“I didn’t speak to you, Tom Somers,” said Ben, +sharply.</p> +<p>“You said a mean thing in my presence.”</p> +<p>“By and by we shall be having a prayer meeting in our tent +every night.”</p> +<p>“If you are invited I hope you will come,” added +Tom, “for if prayers will do any body any good, they +won’t hurt you.”</p> +<p>“If you will take care of yourself, and let me alone, +it’s all I ask of you.”</p> +<p>“I’m agreed.”</p> +<p>This was about the last of the skirmishing between Tom and Ben. +The latter was a little disposed to be bully; and from the time the +company left Pinchbrook, he had been in the habit of calling Tom a +baby, and other opprobrious terms, till the subject of his sneers +could endure them no longer. Tom had come to the conclusion that he +could obtain respectful treatment only by the course he had +adopted. Perhaps, if he had possessed the requisite patience, he +might have attained the same result by a less repulsive and more +noble policy.</p> +<p>The regiment remained in Washington about a fortnight. The +capital was no longer considered to be in danger. A large body of +troops had been massed in and around the city, and the +rebels’ boast that they would soon capture Washington was no +longer heeded. Fear and anxiety had given place to hope and +expectation. “On to Richmond!” was the cry sounded by +the newspapers, and repeated by the people. The army of +newly-fledged soldiers was burning with eagerness to be led against +the rebels. “On to Richmond!” shouted citizens and +soldiers, statesmen and politicians. Some cursed and some +deprecated the cautious slowness of the old general who had never +been defeated.</p> +<p>“On to Richmond!” cried the boys in Tom’s +regiment, and none more earnestly than he.</p> +<p>“Don’t hurry old Scott. He knows what he is about. I +know something about this business, for I’ve seen old Scott +where the bullets flew thicker’n snow flakes at +Christmas,” was the oft-repeated reply of Hapgood, the +veteran of Company K.</p> +<p>The movement which had been so long desired and expected was +made at last, and the regiment struck its tents, and proceeded over +Long Bridge into Virginia. The first camp was at Shuter’s +Hill, near Alexandria.</p> +<p>“Now we are in for it,” said Tom Somers, when the +mess gathered in their tent after the camp was formed. “I +hope we shall not remain here long.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be in a hurry, my brave boy,” said old +Hapgood. “We may stop here a month.”</p> +<p>“I hope not.”</p> +<p>“Don’t hope anything about it, Tom. Take things as +they come.”</p> +<p>But the impatience of the soldier boy was soon relieved; for at +daylight on the morning of the 16th of July, the regiment was +routed out, the tents were struck, and at nine o’clock they +took up the line of march to the southward. It was “on to +Richmond,” in earnest, now, and merrily marched the men, who +little knew what trials and sufferings, what scenes of blood and +death, lay in their path.</p> +<p>The little colonel’s command had been put in +Franklin’s brigade, which formed a part of +Heintzelman’s division; but little did Tom or his +fellow-soldiers know of anything but their own regiment. The +“sacred soil” of Virginia seemed to be covered with +Federal soldiers, and whichever way he turned, columns of troops +might be seen, all obedient to the one grand impulse of the loyal +nation—“On to Richmond.”</p> +<p>The great wagons, gun carriages, and caissons rolling slowly +along, the rattling drums, with here and there the inspiring +strains of a band, the general officers, with their staffs, were +full of interest and excitement to the soldier boy; and though the +business before him was stern and terrible, yet it seemed like some +great pageant, moving grandly along to celebrate, rather than win, +a glorious triumph.</p> +<p>The novelty of the movement, however, soon wore away, and it +required only a few hours to convince the inexperienced soldiers in +our regiment that it was no idle pageant in which they were +engaged. The short intervals of rest which were occasionally +allowed were moments to be appreciated. All day long they toiled +upon their weary way, praying for the night to come, with its +coveted hours of repose. The night did come, but it brought no rest +to the weary and footsore soldiers.</p> +<p>Tom was terribly fatigued. His knapsack, which had been light +upon his buoyant frame in the morning, now seemed to weigh two +hundred pounds, while his musket had grown proportionally heavy. +Hour after hour, in the darkness of that gloomy night, he trudged +on, keeping his place in the ranks with a resolution which neither +the long hours nor the weary miles could break down.</p> +<p>“I can’t stand this much longer,” whined Ben +Lethbridge. “I shall drop pretty soon, and die by the +roadside.”</p> +<p>“No, you won’t,” added Hapgood. “Stick +to it a little while longer; never say die.”</p> +<p>“I can’t stand it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you can. Only think you can, and you can,” +added the veteran.</p> +<p>“What do they think we are made of? We can’t march +all day and all night. I wish I was at home.”</p> +<p>“I wish I hadn’t come,” said Fred +Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Cheer up! cheer up, boys. Stick to it a little +longer,” said the veteran.</p> +<p>It was three o’clock the next morning before they were +permitted to halt, when the boys rolled themselves up in their +blankets, and dropped upon the ground. It was positive enjoyment to +Tom, and he felt happy; for rest was happiness when the body was +all worn out. A thought of the cottage and of his mother crossed +his mind, and he dropped asleep to dream of the joys of home.</p> +<p>Short and sweet was that blessed time of rest; for at four +o’clock, after only one brief hour of repose, the regiment +was turned out again, and resumed its weary march to the southward. +But that short interval of rest was a fountain of strength to Tom, +and without a murmur he took his place by the side of his grumbling +companions. Ben and Fred were disgusted with the army, and wanted +to go back; but that was impossible.</p> +<p>Again, for weary hours, they toiled upon the march. They passed +Fairfax, and encamped near the railroad station, where a full +night’s rest was allowed them. By the advice of Hapgood, Tom +went to a brook, and washed his aching feet in cold water. The +veteran campaigner gave him other useful hints, which were of great +service to him. That night he had as good reason to bless the +memory of the man who invented sleep as ever Sancho Panza had, and +every hour was fully improved.</p> +<p>At six o’clock, the next morning, the regiment marched +again. Tom’s legs were stiff, but he felt so much better than +on the preceding day, that he began to think that he could stand +any thing. In the early part of the afternoon his ears were saluted +by a new sound—one which enabled him more fully than before +to realize the nature of the mission upon which he had been sent. +It was the roar of cannon. On that day was fought the battle of +Blackburn’s Ford; and when the regiment reached its +halting-place at Centreville, the story of the fight was told by +enthusiastic lips. Massachusetts men had stood firm and resolute +before the artillery and musketry of the rebels, and every man who +heard the story was proud that he hailed from the Old Bay State, +and panted for the time when he might show himself worthy of his +origin, and true to the traditions of the past.</p> +<p>The regiment lay in camp the two following days, and the men had +an opportunity to recover in some measure from the fatigues of +their first severe march. Visions of glory and victory were +beginning to dawn upon them. They had listened to the cannon of the +enemy, and they knew that the rebels were not many miles distant in +front of them. A few days, perhaps a few hours, would elapse before +the terrible conflict would commence. Some of those manly forms +must soon sleep in the soldier’s grave; some of those beating +hearts must soon cease to beat forever; but still the brave and the +true longed for the hour that would enable them to “strike +home” for the nation’s salvation.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_13" name="Ch_13">Chapter XIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Bull Run.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Tumble out! Tumble out!” shouted the sergeant, who +was in the mess with the soldiers we have introduced. +“Reveille! Don’t you hear it?”</p> +<p>“But it isn’t morning,” growled Ben +Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“I haven’t been asleep more than an hour or +two,” snarled Fred Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Shut up your heads, and turn out!” said the +sergeant.</p> +<p>It was the morning of the eventful twenty-first of July, and it +was only two o’clock when the regiment was roused from its +slumbers; but there was no great hardship in this fact, for most of +the men had been sleeping the greater portion of the time during +the preceding two days. Tom Somers was ready to take his place in +the line in a few moments.</p> +<p>“Come, fellows, hurry up,” said he to his tardy +companions. “The time has come, and, I tell you, +there’ll be music before many hours.”</p> +<p>“Where are we going, Tom? Have you any idea?” asked +Fred.</p> +<p>“Going down to Manassas Junction, I suppose. That’s +where the rebels are.”</p> +<p>“Do you suppose we shall get into a fight?” asked +Ben.</p> +<p>“I don’t know; I hope so.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” returned Ben, faintly; “but I +don’t like to be broke of my rest in this way.”</p> +<p>Tom, full of excited anticipations in regard to the events of +the day, laughed heartily at this reply, and left the tent. The +regiment was formed in line, but there were two vacancies in the +section to which he belonged. Fred and Ben had answered to their +names at roll call. On some pretence they had asked permission to +leave the line for a few moments, and that was the last that had +been seen of them.</p> +<p>“Where do you suppose they are?” said Tom to +Hapgood.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I hain’t got much confidence in +Ben’s pluck, and I shouldn’t wonder if he had run +away.”</p> +<p>“But that is desertion.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what you may call it; and I’ve +seen men shot for it.”</p> +<p>The regiment remained in line several hours before the order +came to move. At daylight, while the men were still standing in the +road, four soldiers, attended by a staff officer, conducted the two +missing men of Company K into the presence of the regiment.</p> +<p>“These men say they belong to your regiment,” said +the officer, saluting the little colonel.</p> +<p>Captain Benson immediately claimed them, and Fred and Ben were +ordered into the ranks.</p> +<p>“Cowards—are you?” said the captain. +“You shall take your places in the ranks, and at the right +time we will settle this case.”</p> +<p>“I enlisted without my father’s consent, and you +can’t hold me if I don’t choose to stay,” replied +Fred Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Next time you must ask your father before you come. It is +too late to repent now.”</p> +<p>“I’m going home.”</p> +<p>“No, you’re not. Sergeant, if either of those men +attempt to leave the ranks again, shoot them!” said the +captain.</p> +<p>Fred and Ben took their places in the ranks amid the laughter +and jeers of the company.</p> +<p>“Who’s the baby now?” said Bob Dornton.</p> +<p>“You have disgraced the company,” added old Hapgood. +“I didn’t think you would run away before the battle +commenced.”</p> +<p>“I shall keep both eyes on you, my boys, and if you skulk +again, I’ll obey orders—by the Lord Harry, I +will!” said the sergeant, as he glanced at the lock of his +musket. “Company K isn’t going to be laughed at for +your cowardice.”</p> +<p>At six o’clock the order came for the brigade to march. It +now consisted of only three regiments, for the time of one, +composed of three months’ men, had expired while at +Centreville; and though requested and importuned to remain a few +days longer, they basely withdrew, even while they were on the very +verge of the battlefield. This regiment left, and carried with it +the scorn and contempt of the loyal and true men, who were as ready +to fight the battles of their country on one day as on another.</p> +<p>The men knew they were going to battle now, for the enemy was +only a few miles distant. The soldier boy’s heart was full of +hope. He knew not what a battle was; he could form no adequate +conception of the terrible scene which was soon to open upon his +view. He prayed and trusted that he might be able to do his duty +with courage and fidelity. To say that he had no doubts and fears +would be to say that he was not human.</p> +<p>As the brigade toiled slowly along, he tried to picture the +scene which was before him, and thus make himself familiar with its +terrors before he was actually called to confront them. He +endeavored to imagine the sounds of screaming shells and whistling +bullets, that the reality, when it came, might not appall him. He +thought of his companions dropping dead around him, of his friends +mangled by bayonets and cannon shot; he painted the most terrible +picture of a battle which his imagination could conjure up, hoping +in this manner to be prepared for the worst.</p> +<p>The day was hot, and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon +the devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march. They were +fatigued by continued exertion, and some of the weary ones, when +the sun approached the meridian, began to hope the great battle +would not take place on that day. Tom Somers, nearly worn out by +the tedious march, and half famished after the scanty breakfast of +hard bread he had eaten before daylight, began to feel that he was +in no condition to face the storm of bullets which he had been +imagining.</p> +<p>No orders came to halt at noon, though the crowded roads several +times secured them a welcome rest: but on marched the weary +soldiers, till the roar of cannon broke upon their ears; and as +they moved farther on, the rattling volleys of musketry were heard, +denoting that the battle had already commenced. These notes of +strife were full of inspiration to the loyal and patriotic in the +columns. A new life was breathed into them. They were enthusiastic +in the good cause, and their souls immediately became so big that +what had been body before seemed to become spirit now. They forgot +their empty stomachs and their weary limbs. The music of battle, +wild and terrible as it was to these untutored soldiers, charmed +away the weariness of the body, and, to the quickstep of thundering +cannon and crashing musketry, they pressed on with elastic tread to +the horrors before them.</p> +<p>Tom felt that he had suddenly and miraculously been made over +anew. He could not explain the reason, but his legs had ceased to +ache, his feet to be sore, and his musket and his knapsack were +deprived of their superfluous weight.</p> +<p>“God be with me in this battle!” he exclaimed to +himself a dozen times. “God give me strength and +courage!”</p> +<p>Animated by his trust in Him who will always sustain those who +confide in him, the soldier boy pressed on, determined not to +disgrace the name he bore. The terrible sounds became more and more +distinct as the regiment advanced, and in about two hours after the +battle had opened, the brigade arrived at the field of operations. +One regiment was immediately detached and sent off in one +direction, while the other two were ordered to support a battery on +a hill, from which it was belching forth a furious storm of shells +upon the rebels.</p> +<p>The little colonel’s sword gleamed in the air, as he gave +the order to march on the double-quick to the position assigned to +him.</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, steady, and think of nothing but God and your +country,” said old Hapgood, as the regiment commenced its +rapid march. “I know something about this business, and I can +tell you we shall have hot work before we get through with +it.”</p> +<p>“Where are the rebels? I don’t see any,” asked +Tom, who found that his ideas of the manner in which a battle is +fought were very much at fault.</p> +<p>“You will see them very soon. They are in their +breastworks. There! Look down there!” exclaimed the veteran +as the regiment reached a spot which commanded a full view of the +battle.</p> +<p>Tom looked upon the fearful scene. The roar of the artillery and +the crash of the small arms were absolutely stunning. He saw men +fall, and lie motionless on the ground, where they were trampled +upon by the horses, and crushed beneath the wheels of cannon and +caisson. But the cry was, that the army of the Union had won the +field, and it inspired him with new zeal and new courage.</p> +<p>Scarcely had the remnant of the brigade reached the right of the +battery, before they were ordered to charge down the valley, by +Colonel Franklin, the acting brigadier. They were executing the +command with a dash and vigor that would have been creditable to +veterans, when they were ordered to cross the ravine, and support +the Eire Zouaves. The movement was made, and Tom soon found himself +in the thickest of the fight. Shot and shell were flying in every +direction, and the bullets hissed like hailstones around him.</p> +<p>In spite of all his preparations for this awful scene, his heart +rose up into his throat. His eyes were blinded by the volumes of +rolling smoke, and his mind confused by the rapid succession of +incidents that were transpiring around him. The pictures he had +painted were sunlight and golden compared with the dread reality. +Dead and dying men strewed the ground in every direction. Wounded +horses were careering on a mad course of destruction, trampling the +wounded and the dead beneath their feet. The hoarse shouts of the +officers were heard above the roar of battle. The scene mocked all +the attempts which the soldier boy had made to imagine its +horrors.</p> +<p>In front of the regiment were the famous Eire Zouaves, no longer +guided and controlled by the master genius of Ellsworth. They +fought like tigers, furiously, madly; but all discipline had ceased +among them, and they rushed wildly to the right and the left, +totally heedless of their officers. They fought like demons, and as +Tom saw them shoot down, hew down, or bayonet the hapless rebels +who came within their reach, it seemed to him as though they had +lost their humanity, and been transformed into fiends.</p> +<p>As soon as the regiment reached its position, the order was +given to fire. Tom found this a happy relief; and when he had +discharged his musket a few times, all thoughts of the horrors of +the scene forsook him. He no longer saw the dead and the dying; he +no longer heard the appalling roar of battle. He had become a part +of the scene, instead of an idle spectator. He was sending the bolt +of death into the midst of the enemies of his country.</p> +<p>“Bravo! Good boy, Tom,” said old Hapgood, who seemed +to be as much at ease as when he had counselled patience and +resignation in the quiet of the tent. “Don’t fire too +high, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I’ve got the idea,” replied the soldier boy. +“I begin to feel quite at home.”</p> +<p>“O, you’ll do; and I knew you would from the +first.”</p> +<p>The shouts of victory which had sounded over the field were full +of inspiration to the men; but at the moment when the laurels +seemed to be resting securely upon our banners, the rebel line +moved forward with irresistible fury. Tom, at one instant, as he +cast his eye along the line, found himself flanked on either side +by his comrades; at the next there was a wild, indescribable tramp +and roar, and he found himself alone. The regiment was scattered in +every direction, and he did not see a single man whom he knew. +There was a moving mass of Federal soldiers all around him. The +Zouaves had been forced back, and the cry of victory had given +place to the ominous sounds which betokened a defeat, if not a +rout.</p> +<p>The rebels had been reënforced, and had hurled their fresh +legions upon our exhausted troops, who could no longer roll back +the masses that crowded upon them. The day was lost.</p> +<p>Tom, bewildered by this sudden and disastrous result, moved back +with the crowds around him. Men had ceased to be brave and firm; +they were fleeing in mortal terror before the victorious battalions +that surged against them.</p> +<p>“It’s all up with us, my lad,” said a panting +Zouave. “Run for your life. Come along with me.”</p> +<p>Tom followed the Zouave towards the woods, the storm of bullets +still raining destruction around them.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_14" name="Ch_14">Chapter XIV.</a></h3> +<h2>After the Battle.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers floated with the tide of humanity that was setting +away from the scene of disaster and defeat. The panic that +prevailed was even more fearful than the battle, for wounded and +dying men were mercilessly trodden down by the feet of the horses, +and run over by the wheels of the cannon and the baggage wagons. +Though the battle was ended, the rebels still poured storms of shot +and shell into the retreating, panic-stricken host.</p> +<p>Tom did not know where to go, for there were panic and death on +all sides of him. The soldiers were flying in every direction, some +of them into the very arms of their remorseless enemies. But the +woods seemed to promise the most secure retreat from the fury of +the Black Horse Cavalry, which was now sweeping over the +battle-field. The Zouave ran in this direction, and our soldier boy +followed him. Now that the excitement of the conflict was over, the +enthusiasm which had buoyed him up began to subside. The day was +lost; all hopes of glory had fled; and a total defeat and rout were +not calculated to add much strength to his over-tasked limbs.</p> +<p>He was nearly used up, and it was hard work to run—very +hard work; and nothing but the instinct of self-preservation +enabled him to keep the tall and wiry form of the Zouave in sight. +They reached the ravine, where the water was about three feet deep. +The shot, and shell, and bullets still fell in showers around them, +and occasionally one of the luckless fugitives was struck down. +They crossed the stream, and continued on their flight. An officer +on horseback dashed by them, and bade them run with all their +might, or they would be taken.</p> +<p>“For Heaven’s sake, get me some water!” said a +rebel, who was wounded in the leg, to a Zouave, who passed near +him.</p> +<p>“You are a rebel, but I will do that for you,” +replied the Zouave; and he gave him a canteen filled with +water.</p> +<p>The rebel drank a long, deep draught, and then levelled his +musket at the head of his Samaritan enemy and fired. This +transaction had occupied but a moment, and Tom saw the whole. His +blood froze with horror at the unparalleled atrocity of the act. +The Zouave, whom Tom had followed, uttered a terrible oath, and +snatching the musket from the hands of the soldier boy, he rushed +upon the soulless miscreant, and transfixed him upon the bayonet. +Uttering fierce curses all the time, he plunged the bayonet again +and again into the vitals of the rebel, till life was extinct.</p> +<p>“Boy, I used to be human once,” said the Zouave, +when he had executed this summary justice upon the rebel; +“but I’m not human now. I’m all devil.”</p> +<p>“What a wretch that rebel was!” exclaimed Tom, who +seemed to breathe freer now that retribution had overtaken the +viper.</p> +<p>“A wretch! Haven’t you got any bigger word than +that, boy? He was a fiend! But we mustn’t stop +here.”</p> +<p>“I thought the rebels were human.”</p> +<p>“Human? That isn’t the first time to-day I’ve +seen such a thing as that done. Come along, my boy; come +along.”</p> +<p>Tom followed the Zouave again; but he was too much exhausted to +run any farther. Even the terrors of the Black Horse Cavalry could +not inspire him with strength and courage to continue his flight at +any swifter pace than a walk.</p> +<p>“I can go no farther,” said he, at last.</p> +<p>“Yes, you can; pull up! pull up! You will be taken if you +stop here.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help it. I can go no farther. I am used +up.”</p> +<p>“Pull up, pull up, my boy!”</p> +<p>“I can’t.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t want to leave you here. They’ll +murder you—cut your throat, like a dog.”</p> +<p>“I will hide myself in the bushes till I get a little more +strength.”</p> +<p>“Try it a little longer. You are too good a fellow to be +butchered like a calf,” added the generous Zouave.</p> +<p>But it was no use to plead with him, for exhausted nature +refused to support him, and he dropped upon the ground like a +log.</p> +<p>“Poor fellow! I would carry you in my arms if I +could.”</p> +<p>“Save yourself if you can,” replied Tom, +faintly.</p> +<p>The kind-hearted fireman was sorry to leave him, but he knew +that one who wore his uniform could expect no mercy from the +rebels. They had been too terrible upon the battle-field to receive +any consideration from those whom they had so severely punished. He +was, therefore, unwilling to trust himself to the tender mercies of +the cavalry, who were sweeping the fields to pick up prisoners; and +after asking Tom’s name and regiment, he reluctantly left +him.</p> +<p>Tom had eaten nothing since daylight in the morning, which, +added to the long march, and the intense excitement of his first +battle-field, had apparently reduced him to the last extremity. +Then, for the first time, he realized what it was to be a soldier. +Then he thought of his happy home—of his devoted mother. What +must she not suffer when the telegraph should flash over the wires +the intelligence of the terrible disaster which had overtaken the +Union army! It would be many days, if not weeks or months, before +she could know whether he was dead or alive. What anguish must she +not endure!</p> +<p>He had but a moment for thoughts like these before he heard the +sweep of the rebel cavalry, as they dashed down the road through +the woods. He must not remain where he was, or the record of his +earthly career would soon be closed. On his hands and knees he +crawled away from the road, and rolled himself up behind a rotten +log, just in season to escape the observation of the cavalrymen as +they rode by the spot.</p> +<p>Here and there in the woods were the extended forms of Federals +and rebels, who had dragged their wounded bodies away from the +scene of mortal strife to breathe their last in this holy sanctuary +of nature, or to escape from the death-dealing shot, and the +mangling wheels that rumbled over the dead and the dying. Close by +the soldier boy’s retreat lay one who was moaning piteously +for water. Tom had filled his canteen at a brook on the way, and he +crawled up to the sufferer to lave his dying thirst. On reaching +the wounded man, he found that he was a rebel, and the fate of the +Zouave who had done a similar kindness only a short time before +presented itself to his mind.</p> +<p>“Water! Water! For the love of God, give me a drop of +water,” moaned the dying soldier.</p> +<p>Tom thought of the Zouave again, and had almost steeled his +heart against the piteous cry. He turned away.</p> +<p>“Water! Water! If you are a Christian give me some +water,” groaned the sufferer.</p> +<p>Our soldier boy could no longer resist the appeal. He felt that +he could not be loved on earth or forgiven in heaven if he denied +the petition of the dying rebel; but before he granted it, he +assured himself that the sufferer had no dangerous weapon in his +possession. The man was deadly pale; one of his arms hung useless +by his side; and he was covered with blood. He was a +terrible-looking object, and Tom felt sick and faint as he gazed +upon him.</p> +<p>Placing his canteen at the lips of the poor wretch, he bade him +drink. His frame quivered as he clutched the canteen with his +remaining hand. The death damp was on his forehead; but his eye +lighted up with new lustre as he drank the grateful beverage.</p> +<p>“God bless you! God bless you!” exclaimed he as he +removed the canteen from his lips. “You are a Yankee,” +he added, as he fixed his glazing eyes upon Tom’s uniform. +“Are you wounded?”</p> +<p>“No; I am worn out. I have eaten nothing since daylight, +and not much then. I am used up.”</p> +<p>“Put your hand in my haversack. There is something +there,” gasped the dying man.</p> +<p>Tom bent over him to comply with the invitation; but, with a +thrill of horror, he started back, as he listened to the +death-rattle in the throat of the rebel, and saw his eyes fixed and +lustreless in death. It was an awful scene to the inexperienced +youth. Though he had seen hundreds fall in the battle of that day, +death had not seemed so ghastly and horrible to him as now, when he +stood face to face with the grim monster. For a few moments he +forgot his own toil-worn limbs, his craving hunger, and his aching +head.</p> +<p>He gazed upon the silent form before him, which had ceased to +suffer, and he felt thankful that he had been able to mitigate even +a single pang of the dying rebel. But not long could he gaze, +awe-struck, at the ghastly spectacle before him, for he had a life +to save. The words of the sufferer—his last +words—offering him the contents of his haversack recurred to +him; but Tom’s sensibilities recoiled at the thought of +eating bread taken from the body of a dead man, and he turned +away.</p> +<p>“Why shouldn’t I take it?” said he to himself. +“It may save my life. With rest and food, I may escape. Pooh! +I’ll not be a fool!”</p> +<p>Bending over the dead man, he resolutely cut the haversack from +his body, and then returned to the log whose friendly shelter had +screened him from the eyes of the rebel horsemen. Seating himself +upon the ground, he commenced exploring the haversack. It contained +two “ash-cakes,” a slice of bacon, and a small bottle. +Tom’s eyes glowed with delight as he gazed upon this rich +feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the +circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, +he began to eat. Ash-cake was a new institution to him. It was an +Indian cake baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the +rebels at Manassas. It tasted very much like his mother’s +johnny-cake, only he missed the fresh butter with which he had been +wont to cover the article at home.</p> +<p>The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though +each of the latter was about the size of a saucer. It was a large +meal, even for a growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a +new sinew into his frame. While he was eating, he drew the cork +from the bottle. It contained whiskey. Tom had heard that there was +virtue in whiskey; that it was invigorating to a tired man, and he +was tempted, under these extremely trying circumstances, to +experiment upon the beverage. He would certainly have been +excusable if he had done so; but our hero had a kind of horror of +the article, which would not let him even taste it. He was afraid +that he should acquire a habit which would go with him through +life, and make him what Hapgood and others whom he knew +were—a torment to themselves, and a nuisance to their +fellow-beings. Putting the cork in the bottle, he threw it upon the +ground.</p> +<p>With his renewed strength came renewed hope; but he did not deem +it prudent to wander about the woods at present: therefore he threw +himself on the ground under the protecting log to obtain the repose +he so much needed.</p> +<p>He thought of home, and wondered whether he should ever see the +cottage of his parents again; and while he was thinking, overcome +by the excitement and fatigue of the day, he dropped asleep. It was +strange that he could do so, consciously environed by so many +perils; but he had in a measure become callous to danger, and he +slept long and deep.</p> +<p>When he awoke, it was dark and silent around him. The roar of +battle had ceased, and the calm of death seemed to have settled +upon the scene of strife. Tom’s bones still ached; but he was +wonderfully refreshed by the nap he had taken. He had no idea of +the time, and could not tell whether he had slept one hour or six. +He was strong enough to walk now, and the first consideration was +to escape from the vicinity of the rebel camps; but he had no +conception of where he was, or what direction would lead him to the +Federal lines.</p> +<p>A kind Providence had watched over him thus far; had spared his +life in the fury of battle; had fed him in the wilderness, like +Elijah of old; and restored his wasted strength. He could only +trust to Providence for guidance, and, using his best judgment in +choosing the direction, he entered upon the difficult task of +finding his way out of the woods. He had walked an hour or more, +when, suddenly, three men sprung up in the path before him.</p> +<p>“Halt! Who comes there?” demanded one of them.</p> +<p>“Friend!” replied Tom; though he had a great many +doubts in regard to the truth of his assertion.</p> +<p>“Advance, friend, and give the countersign!”</p> +<p>But the soldier boy had no countersign to give. He had fallen +upon a rebel picket post, and was made a prisoner.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_15" name="Ch_15">Chapter XV.</a></h3> +<h2>Tom a Prisoner.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom could not exactly understand how he happened to be made a +prisoner. He had certainly moved with extreme caution, and he +wondered that he had not received some intimation of the presence +of the enemy before it was too late to retreat. But, as we have +before hinted, Tom was a philosopher; and he did not despair even +under the present reverse of circumstances, though he was greatly +disconcerted.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded one of the rebel soldiers, +when they had duly possessed his body, which, however, was not a +very chivalrous adventure, for the prisoner was unarmed, his gun +having been thrown away by the friendly Zouave, after he had so +terribly avenged his murdered companion.</p> +<p>“I’m a soldier,” replied Tom, greatly +perplexed by the trials of his difficult situation.</p> +<p>As yet he did not know whether he had fallen into the hands of +friend or foe, for the night was cloudy and dark, and he could not +see what uniform the pickets wore.</p> +<p>“What do you belong to?” demanded the spokesman of +the picket trio.</p> +<p>“I belong to the army,” answered Tom, with admirable +simplicity.</p> +<p>Our soldier boy, as the reader already knows, had been well +“brought up.” He had been taught to tell the truth at +all times; and he did so on the present occasion, very much to the +confusion, no doubt, of the rebel soldiers, who had not been +brought up under the droppings of the sanctuary in a New England +village.</p> +<p>“B’long to the army—do you?” repeated +Secesh, who must have thought Tom a very candid person.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, I belong to the army,” added the +prisoner.</p> +<p>“I s’pose you won’t mind telling us what army +you belong to, ’cause it mought make a difference in our +calculations,” added the spokesman.</p> +<p>Tom did not know but that it might make some difference in his +calculations, and for this reason he was exceedingly unwilling to +commit himself before he ascertained upon which side his +questioners belonged.</p> +<p>“Can you tell me where I am?” asked Tom, resolved to +use a little strategy in obtaining the desired information.</p> +<p>“May be I can,” replied the picket.</p> +<p>“Will you do so?”</p> +<p>“Sartin, stranger—you are in the woods,” added +Secesh; whereat his companions indulged in a wholesome chuckle, +which assured Tom that they were human, and his hopes rose +accordingly.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” replied Tom, with infinite good +nature.</p> +<p>“You say you belong to the army, and I say you are in the +woods,” said the soldier, repeating the double postulate, so +that the essence of the joke should by no possibility fail to +penetrate the cerebellum of his auditor.</p> +<p>Tom was perfectly willing to acknowledge that he was in the +woods, both actually and metaphorically, and he was very much +disturbed to know how he should get out of the woods—a +problem which has puzzled wiser heads than his, even in less +perplexing emergencies. He was fearful that, if he declared himself +to be a Union soldier, he should share the fate of others whom he +had seen coolly bayoneted on that eventful day.</p> +<p>“Now, stranger, s’pose you tell me what army you +b’long to; then I can tell you where you are,” +continued the soldier.</p> +<p>“What do you belong to?” asked Tom, though he did +not put the question very confidently.</p> +<p>“I belong to the army;” and the two other pickets +honored the reply with another chuckle. “You can’t fool +old Alabammy.”</p> +<p>There was no further need of fooling “Old Alabammy,” +for the worthy old gentleman, symbolically represented by the rebel +soldier, had kindly done it himself; and Tom then realized that he +was in the hands of the enemy. It is true, the balance of the +picket trio laughed heartily at the unfortunate slip of the tongue +made by their companion, but Tom was in no condition to relish the +joke, or he might perhaps have insinuated himself into the good +graces of the jolly Secesh by repeating Pat’s mysterious +problem—“Tell me how many cheeses there are in the bag, +and I’ll give ye the whole five;” for, though this is +an old joke in the civilized parts of the world, it is not at all +probable that it had been perpetrated in the benighted regions of +Secessia.</p> +<p>The announcement of the fact that he was in the hands of the +foe, as we have before intimated, left Tom in no condition to give +or take a joke. His heart was suddenly deprived of some portion of +its ordinary gravity, and rose up to the vicinity of his throat. He +drew sundry deep and long breaths, indicative of his alarm; for +though Tom was a brave boy,—as these pages have already +demonstrated,—he had a terrible idea of the tender mercies of +the rebels. His first impulse was to break away from his captors, +and run the risk of being overtaken by a trio of musket balls; for +death from the quick action of a bullet seemed preferable to the +fate which his fears conjured up if he should be taken by the +bloodthirsty rebels. But the chances were too decidedly against +him, and he reluctantly brought his mind to the condition of +philosophical submission.</p> +<p>“Well, stranger, which army do you b’long to?” +said the spokesman of the picket trio, when he had fully recovered +his self-possession.</p> +<p>“I belong to the United States army,” replied Tom, +desperately.</p> +<p>“That means the Yankee army, I s’pose.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; you call it by that name.”</p> +<p>“Then you are my prisoner.”</p> +<p>“I surrender because I can’t help myself.”</p> +<p>“Hev you nary toothpick or bone-cracker in your +pockets?”</p> +<p>“Any what?” replied Tom, whose dictionary seemed to +be at fault.</p> +<p>“Nary pistol, knife, or any thing of that sort?”</p> +<p>“Nothing but my jackknife.”</p> +<p>“Any plunder?”</p> +<p>“We piled up our knapsacks and haversacks before we went +into the fight. Here is my canteen half full of water; I gave the +other half to one of your soldiers, when he was dying of his +wounds.”</p> +<p>“Did ye?”</p> +<p>“Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I +am?”</p> +<p>“You are inside the lines of our army, about three miles +below Centreville,” replied one of the pickets.</p> +<p>“What time is it?”</p> +<p>“Nigh upon nine o’clock, I should say. One of you +fellers must take this prisoner to headquarters,” he +continued, speaking to his companions.</p> +<p>Tom was very agreeably surprised to find that his captors did +not propose to hang, shoot, or bayonet him; and the Southern +Confederacy rose a few degrees in his estimation. Certainly the men +who had taken him were not fiends, and he began to hope that his +situation as a prisoner would not be so terrible as his fancy had +pictured it.</p> +<p>One of the men was deputed to conduct him to the officer of the +guard; and he walked along by the side of the soldier through the +woods, in the direction from which he had just come.</p> +<p>“Can you tell me how the battle went at last?” asked +Tom, as they pursued their way through the forest.</p> +<p>“We whipped you all to pieces. Your army hasn’t done +running yet. We shall take Washington to-morrow, and Jeff Davis +will be in the White House before the week is out.”</p> +<p>“Have you taken many prisoners?” asked Tom, who +could not dispute the position of the rebel soldier.</p> +<p>“About fifty thousand, I b’lieve,” replied +Secesh, with refreshing confidence.</p> +<p>Tom indulged in a low whistle, but his companion could not tell +whether it was an expression of regret or incredulity. If they had +stood on an equality, Tom would probably have suggested that the +figures should be interpreted “over the left”—an +idiosyncrasy in language which he had imported from Pinchbrook, but +which may not be wholly unintelligible to our young readers.</p> +<p>From his conductor he obtained some particulars of the battle +and its result, which were afterwards more fully set forth in +General Beauregard’s official report, and which would have +read better on the pages of Sinbad the Sailor than in the folios of +a military despatch. But the Secesh soldier’s “facts +and figures” were comforting to Tom, who still had a stronger +interest in the condition of the good cause, after the heavy blow +it had received, than he had in his own individual welfare. Like +too heavy a dose of poison, the magnitude of the stories refuted +and defeated them. The soldier boy listened in respectful silence, +but he was utterly incredulous. It was even possible that the Union +army had won a victory, after all, though he was not very sanguine +on this point.</p> +<p>He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment +to which his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with +about twenty others, who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his +companions in misery, most of whom, worn out by the fatigues of the +day, were sleeping soundly upon the ground. Only two or three of +them were awake; but these were strangers to him, and he was unable +to obtain any information from them concerning any of his friends +in the regiment.</p> +<p>It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; +but there was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor +great coats, yet this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy +threw himself upon the ground, but the nap he had taken under the +side of the log set his eyes wide open for a time. He could only +think of home, his mother and sisters, and John, by this time +snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been wont to dream of +the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds when he +found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could +not help thinking that his situation might have been worse.</p> +<p>Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing +since morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his +companions were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought +of the anguish which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the +battle. When the regiment should be gathered together again, he +would be reported as “missing,” and this would be a +terrible word to her, for it meant killed, wounded, or a prisoner. +If he could only assure her that he still lived and was uninjured, +he would have been happy—happy in spite of the drenching +rain—happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the +hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had +faithfully performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he +settled himself in the most comfortable place he could find on the +ground, and thanked God that he had been spared his life through +the perils of that awful day, and more fervently that he had been +enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and then, with the +Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart, he fell +asleep.</p> +<p>He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as +thoroughly soaked as though he had just come out of the river. +There was no help for it, and it was no use to grumble. After +walking to and fro for half an hour, he lay down again, and, +between sleeping and waking, finished the night; uncomfortably, it +is true, and yet without any positive suffering. There were +hundreds, if not thousands, who were enduring the agony of fearful +wounds through that long night; who were lying alone and uncared +for where they had fallen in the deadly strife; who were dying +every hour, away from their homes and friends, and with no kind +hand to minister to their necessities, with no sweet voice of a +loved one to smooth their passage down to the dark, cold grave.</p> +<p>Tom thought of these, for he had seen them in his path, and he +felt that he had no cause to complain—that he ought to be +cheerful and happy. At the dawn of the day he and his +fellow-prisoners were marched to Sudley Church, where they were to +be confined until they could be sent to Richmond. Here Tom found a +captain belonging to his regiment; but neither could give any +information to the other in regard to their friends.</p> +<p>“I shall not stay here long,” said the captain, in a +whisper, when they had become better acquainted. “I intend to +leave to-night.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I go with you?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“You can go, but we had better not go together.”</p> +<p>Tom thought for a while, and determined upon an attempt to +escape. During the day, he carefully examined the premises, and +decided upon his mode of operations.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_16" name="Ch_16">Chapter XVI.</a></h3> +<h2>A Perplexing Question.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers, who had had some experience, in a small way, in the +kind of business now before him, was filled with hope when he had +adopted his plan. He was a resolute and energetic young man, and to +resolve upon any thing was almost equivalent to doing it. There +were a great many difficulties in the way of success, it is true; +but, nothing daunted by these, he determined to persevere. The +church in which the prisoners were confined was carefully guarded +on the exterior, and the sentinels carried loaded muskets in their +hands—so that the affair before him was more hazardous and +trying than that of escaping from the attic chamber of Squire +Pemberton’s house in Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>If he succeeded in making his way out of the church and eluding +the guard which surrounded it, even then his trials would only have +commenced; for there were many miles of hostile country between him +and Washington, whither he supposed the Federal army had been +driven. The captain who intended to escape at the same time gave +him some information which would be of service to him in finding +his way to the Potomac. He charged him particularly to follow the +railroad, which would conduct him to Alexandria, in the vicinity of +which he would probably find the regiment.</p> +<p>At dark the prisoners disposed of themselves as well as they +could for the night. Tom saw the captain go through all the forms +of preparing for a comfortable lodging, and he did the same +himself. For hours he lay ruminating upon his purpose. When it was +midnight, he thought it was time for him to commence the +enterprise. He worked himself along on the floor till he reached +the principal entrance. The door was open, as it had been all day, +to enable the guards to obtain an occasional view of the +prisoners.</p> +<p>The sentinels were evidently in no condition to discharge their +duties with fidelity, for they had been marching and fighting for +two or three days, and were nearly exhausted. Leaning against the +door, Tom discovered a musket, which the careless guard had left +there. On the floor in the entry lay two rebel soldiers. They had +stretched themselves across the threshold of the door, so that no +one could pass in or out of the church without stepping over +them.</p> +<p>Tom carefully rose from his recumbent posture, and took +possession of the musket. Then, with the utmost prudence, he +stepped over the bodies of the sleeping soldiers; but with all his +circumspection, he could not prevent one of his shoes from +squeaking a little, and it required only a particle of noise to +rouse the guard.</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” demanded one of them, springing to +his feet.</p> +<p>“Is this the way you do your duty?” replied Tom, as +sternly as though he had been a brigadier general.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” said the soldier, apparently +impressed by the words and the tones of him who reproved his +neglect.</p> +<p>“Who am I, you sleepy scum! I’ll let you know who I +am in about ten minutes,” added Tom, as he passed out at the +front door of the church.</p> +<p>“Give me back my gun—won’t you?” pleaded +the confused sentinel.</p> +<p>“I’ll give it back to you at the court-martial which +will sit on your case to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” challenged one of the sentinels on +the outside.</p> +<p>“Who goes there!” added Tom, in a sneering tone. +“Have you waked up? Where were you five minutes ago, when I +passed this post? There won’t be a prisoner left here by +morning. The long roll wouldn’t wake up such a stupid set of +fellows.”</p> +<p>“Stop, sir!” said the astonished sentinel. +“You can’t pass this line.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while +you were asleep.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t been asleep.”</p> +<p>“Where have you been, then?” demanded Tom with +terrible energy.</p> +<p>“Been here, sir.”</p> +<p>“I’ll court-martial the whole of you!”</p> +<p>“Stop, sir, or I’ll fire at you!” added the +soldier, as Tom moved on.</p> +<p>“Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I’ll rid the +army of one unfaithful man on the spot!” said the soldier +boy, as he raised the musket to his shoulder.</p> +<p>“Don’t fire, you fool!” interposed one of the +men whom Tom had roused from his slumbers in the entry. +“Don’t you see he is an officer?”</p> +<p>“I’ll teach you how to perform your duty!” +added Tom, as he walked away.</p> +<p>The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no +further objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as +coolly as though he had just been regularly relieved from guard +duty. He had walked but a short distance before he discovered the +camp of a regiment or brigade, which, of course, it was necessary +for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he jumped over the fence into a +field—his first object being to place a respectful distance +between himself and the enemy.</p> +<p>The scene through which he had just passed, though he had +preserved the appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been +exceedingly trying to his nerves; and when the moment of pressing +danger had passed, he found his heart up in his throat, and his +strength almost wasted by the excitement. He felt as one feels when +he has just escaped a peril which menaced him with instant death. +It was singular that the soldier had not fired, but the fact that +he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing power in +impudence.</p> +<p>For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, +but without knowing where he was going—whether he was moving +toward Richmond or Washington. As the musket which he had taken +from the church was not only an encumbrance, but might betray him, +he threw it away, though, thinking some means of defence might be +useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust it in his belt. Thus +relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a road. As there +was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed this +road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his +search—the railroad.</p> +<p>But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been +called upon to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there +were, unfortunately, two ends—one of which lay within the +Federal lines, and the other within the rebel lines. If Tom had +been an astronomer, which he was not, the night was too cloudy to +enable him to consult the stars; besides, some railroads are so +abominably crooked that the heavenly orbs would hardly have been +safe pilots. He did not know which was north, nor which was south, +and to go the wrong way would be to jump out of the frying pan into +the fire.</p> +<p>Tom sat down by the side of the road, and tried to settle the +difficult question; but the more he thought, the more perplexed he +became—which shows the folly of attempting to reason when +there are no premises to reason from. He was, no doubt, an +excellent logician; but bricks cannot be made without straw.</p> +<p>“Which way shall I go?” said Tom to himself, as he +stood up and peered first one way and then the other through the +gloom of the night.</p> +<p>But he could not see Washington in one direction, nor Richmond +in the other, and he had not a single landmark to guide him in +coming to a decision.</p> +<p>“I’ll toss up!” exclaimed he, desperately, as +he took off his cap and threw it up into the air. “Right side +up, this way—wrong side, that way; and may the fates or the +angels turn it in the proper way.”</p> +<p>He stooped down to pick up the cap, and ascertain which way it +had come down. It came down right side up, and Tom immediately +started off in the direction indicated. Although he had no +confidence in the arbitrament of the cap, he felt relieved to find +the question disposed of even in this doubtful manner.</p> +<p>He kept both eyes wide open as he advanced, for if he had taken +the wrong way a few miles of travel would bring him to the main +camp of the rebels in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. He pursued +his lonely journey for some time without impediment, and without +discovering any camp, either large or small. He gathered new +confidence as he proceeded. After he had walked two or three hours +upon the railroad, he thought it was about time for Fairfax station +to heave in sight, if he had chosen the right way—or for the +rebel camps to appear if he had chosen the wrong way. With the +first place he was familiar, as his regiment had encamped a short +distance from it.</p> +<p>He was sorely perplexed by the non-appearance of either of these +expected points. The country began to look wilder and less familiar +as he proceeded. The region before him looked rugged and +mountainous, and the dark outlines of several lofty peaks touched +the sky in front of him. But with the feeling that every step he +advanced placed a wider space between him and his captors at Sudley +church, he continued on his way till the gray streaks of daylight +appeared behind him.</p> +<p>This phenomenon promised to afford him a gleam of intelligence +upon which to found a correct solution of his course. Tom knew +that, in the ordinary course of events, the sun ought to rise in +the east and set in the west. If he was going to the north, the sun +would rise on his right hand—if to the south, on his left +hand. The streaks of light grew more and more distinct, and the +clouds having rolled away, he satisfied himself where the sun would +appear. Contrary to both wings of his theory, the place was neither +on his right nor his left, for it was exactly behind him. But his +position might be upon a bend of the railroad whose direction did +not correspond with the general course of the road. For half an +hour longer, therefore, he pursued his way, carefully noting every +curve, until he was fully convinced that his course was nearer west +than north. The sun rose precisely as had been laid down in the +programme, and precisely where he expected it would rise.</p> +<p>It was clear enough that he was not moving to the south; and, +satisfied that he was in no danger of stumbling upon Richmond, his +courage increased, and he plodded on till he discovered a small +village—or what would be called such in Virginia—though +it contained only a few houses. As he still wore the uniform of the +United States army, he did not deem it prudent to pass through this +village; besides, he was terribly perplexed to know what station it +could be, and what had become of Fairfax. Though he must have +passed through the country before, it did not look natural to +him.</p> +<p>Leaving the railroad, he took to the fields, intending to pass +round the village, or conceal himself in the woods till he could go +through it in safety. After walking diligently for so many hours, +Tom was reminded that he had a stomach. His rations on the +preceding day had not been very bountiful, and he was positively +hungry. The organ which had reminded him of its existence was +beginning to be imperative in its demands, and a new problem was +presented for solution—one which had not before received the +attention which it deserved.</p> +<p>In the fields and forest he found a few berries; but all he +could find made but a slight impression upon the neglected organ. +If Tom was a philosopher, in his humble way, he was reasonable +enough to admit that a man could not live without eating. At this +point, therefore, the question of rations became a serious and +solemn problem; and the longer it remained unsolved the more +difficult and harassing it became.</p> +<p>After he had rested all the forenoon in a secluded spot, without +interruption from man or beast, he decided to settle this question +of rations once for all. If impudence had enabled him to pass a +line of rebel sentries, it ought to furnish him with a dinner. +Leaving his hiding place, he walked till he discovered a small +house, at which he determined to apply for something to eat.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_17" name="Ch_17">Chapter XVII.</a></h3> +<h2>Dinner and Danger.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The house at which Tom applied for food evidently did not belong +to one of the “first families,” or, if it did, the +owner’s fortunes had become sadly dilapidated. It was built +of rough boards, with a huge stone chimney, which was erected on +the outside of the structure. The humblest fisherman in Pinchbrook +Harbor would have thought himself poorly accommodated in such a +rough and rickety mansion.</p> +<p>If Tom’s case had not been growing desperate, he would not +have run the risk of showing himself to any person on the +“sacred soil” who was “to the manor born;” +but his stomach was becoming more and more imperative in its +demands, and he knocked at the front door with many misgivings, +especially as his exchequer contained less than a dollar of clear +cash.</p> +<p>The inmates were either very deaf or very much indisposed to see +visitors; and Tom, after he had knocked three times, began to think +he had not run any great risk in coming to this house. As nobody +replied to his summons, he took the liberty to open the door and +enter. The establishment was even more primitive in its interior +than its exterior, and the soldier boy could not help contrasting +it with the neat houses of the poor in his native town.</p> +<p>The front door opened into a large room without the formality of +an entry or hall. In one corner of the apartment stood a bed. At +one side was a large fireplace, in which half a dozen sticks of +green wood were hissing and sizzling in a vain attempt to make the +contents of an iron pot, which hung over them, reach the boiling +point. No person was to be seen or heard on the premises, though +the fire and the pot were suggestive of humanity at no great +distance from the spot.</p> +<p>A door on the back side of the room was open, and Tom looked out +in search of the occupants of the house. In the garden he +discovered the whole family, consisting of a man and his wife, a +girl of twelve, and a boy of ten. The man was digging in the +garden, and the rest of the troupe seemed to be superintending the +operation. The head of the family was altogether the most +interesting person to Tom, for he must either shake hands or fight +with him. He did not look like a giant in intellect, and he +certainly was not a giant in stature. With the bayonet still in his +belt, Tom was not afraid of him.</p> +<p>“How are you, people?” said Tom, as he walked +towards the family, who with one accord suspended all operations, +and gave their whole attention to the stranger.</p> +<p>“How are ye, yourself?” replied the man, rather +gruffly.</p> +<p>“Do you keep a hotel?” demanded Tom, who concealed +the anxiety of his heart under a broad grin.</p> +<p>“I reckon I don’t. What do you want here?”</p> +<p>“I want something to eat,” replied Tom, proceeding +to business with commendable straight-forwardness.</p> +<p>“We hain’t got nothin’ here,” said the +man, sourly. “That ain’t what ye come fur, +nuther.”</p> +<p>“Must have something to eat. I’m not very +particular, but I must have something.”</p> +<p>“You can’t hev it ’bout yere, no how. That +ain’t what ye come fur, nuther.”</p> +<p>“If you know what I came for better than I do, suppose you +tell me what it is,” added Tom, who was a little mystified by +the manner of the man.</p> +<p>“You air one of them soger fellers, and you want me to +’list; but I tell yer, ye can’t do nothin’ of the +sort. I’ll be dog derned if I’ll go.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want you to go,” protested Tom. +“I’m half starved and all I want is something to +eat.”</p> +<p>“Yer don’t reelly mean so.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I do.”</p> +<p>“Where d’yer come from?”</p> +<p>“From down below here. Have you seen any soldiers pass +through this place?”</p> +<p>“I reckon I hev; but they hain’t seen me; and I +reckon they won’t see me very soon;” and the man +chuckled at his own cleverness in keeping clear of recruiting +officers.</p> +<p>“I don’t want you, and if you will give me something +to eat, you will get rid of me very quick.”</p> +<p>“Betsey, you kin feed the feller, if yer like, and +I’ll go over and see whar the hogs is.”</p> +<p>The man dropped his shovel, and began to move off towards the +woods, probably to see whether Tom would attempt to detain him. At +the same time “Betsey” led the way into the house, and +the visitor paid no further attention to the master.</p> +<p>“We hain’t got much to eat in the house,” said +the woman, as they entered the room. “There’s some +biled pork and pertaters in the pot, and we’ve got some +bread, sech as ’tis.”</p> +<p>“It will do me very well. I’m hungry, and can eat +any thing,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>The woman placed a tin plate on the table, and dished up the +contents of the kettle on the fire. She added some cold hoe cake to +the dinner, and Tom thought it was a feast fit for a king. He took +a seat at the table, and made himself entirely at home. The food +was coarse, but it was good, and the hungry soldier boy did ample +justice to the viands. The boy and girl who had followed him into +the house, stood, one on each side of him, watching him in +speechless astonishment.</p> +<p>“Where did yer come from?” asked the woman, when Tom +had about half finished his dinner.</p> +<p>“From down below,” replied Tom, rather +indefinitely.</p> +<p>“Don’t b’long in these yere parts, I +reckon?”</p> +<p>“No, marm.”</p> +<p>“Where are ye gwine?”</p> +<p>“Going to join my regiment.”</p> +<p>“Where is yer rigiment?”</p> +<p>“That’s more than I know, marm.”</p> +<p>“How long yer been travelling?” persisted the woman, +who was perhaps afraid that the guest would eat up the whole of the +family’s dinner, if she did not make some kind of a feint to +attract his attention.</p> +<p>“Only a few days, marm.”</p> +<p>“Kin yer till me what all thet noise was about day +’fore yesterday?”</p> +<p>“Yes, marm; it was a big battle.”</p> +<p>“Gracious me! Yer don’t say so! Whar was +it?”</p> +<p>“Down below Centreville.”</p> +<p>“Which beat?”</p> +<p>“The Confederates drove the Yankees off the field,” +answered Tom, suspending business long enough to glance at the +woman, and see how the intelligence was received.</p> +<p>“Yer don’t! Then they won’t want my old +man.”</p> +<p>Tom was unable to determine whether his hostess was Union or +“Secesh” from her words or her looks. He could not +inform her whether they would want her old man or not. When he had +eaten all he could, he proposed like an honest youth to pay for +what he had eaten; but Betsey had the true idea of southern +hospitality, and refused to receive money for the food eaten +beneath her roof. She had a loaf of coarse bread, however, in which +she permitted Tom to invest the sum of six cents.</p> +<p>“I am very much obliged to you, marm; and I shall be glad +to do as much for you, any time,” said Tom, as he went +towards the front door.</p> +<p>As he was about to open it, his ears were startled by an +imperative knock on the outside. He stepped back to one of the two +windows on the front of the house, where he discovered an officer +and two “grayback” soldiers. The ghost of his +grandmother would not have been half so appalling a sight, and he +retreated to the back door with a very undignified haste.</p> +<p>“Gracious me!” exclaimed the lady of the house. +“Who kin thet be?”</p> +<p>“An officer and two soldiers,” replied Tom, +hastily.</p> +<p>“Then they are arter my old man!” said she, dropping +into the only chair the room contained.</p> +<p>“Don’t say I’m here, marm, and I’ll help +your husband, if they catch him. Tell them he has gone off to be +absent a week.”</p> +<p>“He’d be absent more’n thet if he knowed them +fellers was arter him.”</p> +<p>The woman moved towards the front door, and Tom through the back +door; but as he was about to pass into the garden, he caught a +glimpse of one of the graybacks in the rear of the house. For a +moment his case seemed to be hopeless; but he retreated into the +room again, just as the woman opened the front door to admit the +officer. He could not escape from the house, and his only resource +was to secure a hiding place within its walls. There were only two +which seemed to be available; one of these was the bed, and the +other the chimney. If any search was made, of course the soldiers +would explore the bed first; and the chimney seemed the most +practicable.</p> +<p>There was no time for consideration, for the woman had already +opened the door, and was answering the questions of the Confederate +officer; so Tom sprang into the fireplace, and, by the aid of the +projecting stones, climbed up to a secure position. The chimney was +large enough to accommodate half a dozen boys of Tom’s size. +The fire had gone out, and though the stones were rather warm in +the fireplace, he was not uncomfortable.</p> +<p>The fears of the lady of the house proved to be well grounded +this time, for the party had actually come in search of her +“old man;” and what was more, the officer announced his +intention not to leave without him.</p> +<p>“He’s gone away fur a week, and he won’t be +hum before the fust of August, no how,” said the woman +resolutely, and adopting Tom’s suggestion to the letter.</p> +<p>“All nonsense, woman! He is about here, somewhere, and we +will find him.”</p> +<p>“You may, if you kin.”</p> +<p>The officer then went out at the back door, as Tom judged by his +footsteps, and the woman asked one of the children what had become +of the other soldier man. The boy said he was up chimney. She then +told them not to tell the officer where he was.</p> +<p>“What shell I do?” said she, placing herself before +the fireplace.</p> +<p>“Don’t be alarmed. He will keep out of their +way,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“But the officer man said he was gwine to stay ’bout +yere till he gits hum,” moaned the poor woman.</p> +<p>“He will not do any such thing. Your husband has the woods +before him, and he won’t let them catch him.”</p> +<p>“Deary me! I’m ’feared they will.”</p> +<p>“Where are they now?”</p> +<p>“They’re gone out to look for him.”</p> +<p>The officer and his men returned in a few moments, having +satisfied themselves that the proprietor of the place was not on +the premises.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll search the house,” said the +officer; and Tom heard them walking about in the room.</p> +<p>Of course the militia man could not be found, and the officer +used some very unbecoming language to express his disapprobation of +the skulker, as he called him.</p> +<p>“Woman, if you don’t tell me where your husband is, +I’ll have you arrested,” said he, angrily.</p> +<p>“I don’t know myself. He’s gone off over the +mountains to git some things. Thet’s all I know about it, and +if yer want to arrest me, yer kin.”</p> +<p>But the officer concluded that she would be a poor substitute +for an able bodied man, and he compromised the matter by leaving +one of the privates, instructing him not to let the woman or the +children leave the house, and to remain till the skulker +returned.</p> +<p>This was not very pleasant information for Tom who perceived +that he was likely to be shut up in the chimney for the rest of the +day, and perhaps be smoked or roasted out at supper time. Climbing +up to the top of his prison house, he looked over, and saw the +officer and one private disappear in the woods which lay between +the house and the railroad. Looking over the other way, he saw the +coveted recruit approaching the house from beyond the garden.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_18" name="Ch_18">Chapter XVIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Rebel Soldier.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers was not very well satisfied with his situation, for +the soldier who had been left in possession of the house was armed +with a musket, and the prospect of escaping before night was not +very flattering. The patriarch of the family, who had such a horror +of recruiting officers, was approaching, and in a few moments there +would be an exciting scene in the vicinity.</p> +<p>Independent of his promise made to the woman to help her +husband, if she would not betray him, Tom deemed it his duty to +prevent the so-called Confederate States of America from obtaining +even a single additional recruit for the armies of rebellion and +treason. Without having any personal feeling in the matter, +therefore, he was disposed to do all he could to assist his host in +“avoiding the draft.” What would have been treason in +New England was loyalty in Virginia.</p> +<p>The unfortunate subject of the Virginia militia law was +unconsciously approaching the trap which had been set for him. He +had, no doubt, come to the conclusion, by this time, that the +hungry soldier boy was not a recruiting officer, or even the +corporal of a guard sent to apprehend him, and he was returning +with confidence to partake of his noonday meal. Tom, from his perch +at the top of the chimney, watched him as he ambled along over the +rough path with his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was something +rather exciting in the situation of affairs, and he soon found +himself deeply interested in the issue.</p> +<p>The unhappy citizen owing service to the Confederate States +climbed over the zigzag fence that enclosed his garden, and +continued to approach the rude dwelling which the law had defined +to be his castle. Tom did not dare to speak in tones loud enough to +be heard by the innocent victim of the officer’s conspiracy, +for they would have betrayed his presence to the enemy. Sitting +upon the top stones of the chimney, he gesticulated violently, +hoping to attract his attention; but the man did not look up, and +consequently could not see the signals.</p> +<p>He had approached within ten rods of the back door of the house, +when Tom, fearing his footsteps might attract the attention of the +soldier, ventured to give a low whistle. As this was not heeded, he +repeated the signal when the man was within two or three rods of +the house; but even this was not noticed, and throwing his head +forward, so that the sound of his voice should not descend the +chimney, he spoke.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” said he.</p> +<p>The man suddenly stopped, and looked up. Tom made signals with +his hands for him to leave; but this mute language appeared not to +be intelligible to him.</p> +<p>“Consarn yer picter, what are yer doin’ up +thar?” said the proprietor of the castle, in tones which +seemed to Tom as loud as the roar of the cannon at Bull Run.</p> +<p>“Hush! Hush!” replied Tom, gesticulating with all +his might, and using all his ingenuity to invent signs that would +convey to the militiaman the idea that he was in imminent +danger.</p> +<p>“You be scotched!” snarled the man. “What are +yer doin’? What ails yer?”</p> +<p>“They are after you!” added Tom, in a hoarse +whisper.</p> +<p>The fellow most provokingly refused to hear him, and Tom thought +his skull was amazingly thick, and his perceptions amazingly +blunt.</p> +<p>“Now you come down from thar,” said he, as he picked +up a couple of stones. “You act like a monkey, and I +s’pose yer be one. Now make tracks down that +chimley.”</p> +<p>But instead of doing this, Tom retreated into his shell, as a +snail does when the moment of peril arrives. The soldier in the +house was not deaf; and if he had been, he could hardly have helped +hearing the stentorian tones of his victim. Instead of going out +the back door, like a sensible man, he passed out at the front +door, and in a moment more Tom heard his voice just beneath +him.</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted the soldier, as he brought his +musket to his shoulder. “Your name is Joe Burnap.”</p> +<p>“That’s my name, but I don’t want +nothin’ o’ you,” replied the embarrassed +militiaman, as he dropped the stones with which he had intended to +assault Tom’s citadel.</p> +<p>“I want something of you,” replied the soldier. +“You must go with me. Advance, and give yourself +up.”</p> +<p>“What fur?” asked poor Joe.</p> +<p>“We want you for the army. You are an enrolled militiaman. +You must go with me.”</p> +<p>“Ill be dog derned if I do,” answered Joe Burnap, +desperately.</p> +<p>“If you attempt to run away, I’ll shoot you. You +shall go with me, dead or alive, and hang me if I care much +which.”</p> +<p>Joe evidently did care. He did not want to go with the soldier; +his southern blood had not been fired by the wrongs of his country; +and he was equally averse to being shot in cold blood by this +minion of the Confederacy. His position was exceedingly +embarrassing, for he could neither run, fight, nor compromise. +While matters were in this interesting and critical condition, Tom +ventured to raise his head over the top of the chimney to obtain a +better view of the belligerents. Joe stood where he had last seen +him, and the soldier was standing within three feet of the foot of +the chimney.</p> +<p>“What ye going to do, Joe Burnap?” demanded the +latter, after waiting a reasonable time for the other to make up +his mind.</p> +<p>“What am I gwine to do?” repeated Joe, vacantly, as +he glanced to the right and the left, apparently in the hope of +obtaining some suggestion that would enable him to decide the +momentous question.</p> +<p>“You needn’t look round, Joe; you’ve got to +come or be shot. Just take your choice between the two, and +don’t waste my time.”</p> +<p>“I s’pose I can’t help myself,” replied +Joe. “I’ll tell ye what I’ll do. I want to fix up +things about hum a little, and I’ll jine ye down to the Gap +to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“No you don’t, Joe Burnap!” said the soldier, +shaking his head.</p> +<p>“Then I’ll jine ye to-night,” suggested the +strategist.</p> +<p>“My orders are not to return without you, and I shall obey +them.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Burnap, who had followed the soldier out of the house, +stood behind him wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She +protested with all a woman’s eloquence against the +proceedings of the soldier; but her tears and her homely rhetoric +were equally unavailing. While the parties were confronting each +other, the soldier dropped his piece, and listened to the arguments +of Joe and his wife. When he turned for a moment to listen to the +appeals of the woman, her husband improved the opportunity to +commence a retreat. He moved off steadily for a few paces, when the +enemy discovered the retrograde march, and again brought the gun to +his shoulder.</p> +<p>“None of that, Joe,” said the soldier, sternly. +“Now march back again, or I’ll shoot you;” and +Tom heard the click of the hammer as he cocked the piece. +“I’ve fooled long enough with you, and we’ll end +this business here. Come here, at once, or I’ll put a bullet +through your head.”</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! For mercy’s +sake don’t shoot,” cried Mrs. Burnap.</p> +<p>“I’ll give him one minute to obey the order; if he +don’t do it then, I’ll fire. That’s all +I’ve got to say.”</p> +<p>Tom saw by the soldier’s manner that he intended to +execute his threat. He saw him brace up his nerves, and otherwise +prepare himself for the bloody deed. But Tom did not think that Joe +had the stubbornness or the courage, whichever it might be called, +to run the risk of dodging the bullet. He foresaw, too, that, if +Joe gave himself up, his hiding place would be exposed, and the +soldier would have two prisoners to conduct back to his officer, +instead of one. It was therefore high time for him to do something +for his own protection, if not for that of his host.</p> +<p>The necessity of defending himself, or of doing something to +cover his retreat in an emergency, had been anticipated by Tom, and +he had made such preparations as the circumstances would admit. His +first suggestion was to dart his bayonet down at the rebel soldier, +as he had seen the fishermen of Pinchbrook harpoon a horse +mackerel; but the chances of hitting the mark were too uncertain to +permit him to risk the loss of his only weapon, and he rejected the +plan. He adopted the method, however, in a modified, form, deciding +to use the material of which the chimney was constructed, instead +of the bayonet. The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, +were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his +hands ready for operations.</p> +<p>“Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man,” +repeated the soldier, who evidently had some scruples about +depriving the infant Confederacy of an able-bodied recruit.</p> +<p>Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted +himself up from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the +soldier, fully expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his +brains. The best laid calculations often miscarry, and Tom’s +did in part, for the missile, instead of striking the soldier upon +the head, hit him on the right arm. The musket was discharged, +either by the blow or by the act of its owner, and fell out of his +hands upon the ground.</p> +<p>Now, a stone as big as a man’s head, does not fall from +the height of fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human +frame without inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with +this doctrine of probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down +upon the rebel, and which struck him upon the right arm, entirely +disabled that useful member. The hero of this achievement was +satisfied with the result, though it had not realized his +anticipations. Concluding that the time had arrived for an +effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the +house, descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the +ground.</p> +<p>The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the +surprise occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. Tom +rushed up to him, and secured the musket before he had time to +regain his self-possession.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded the soldier, holding up the +injured arm with his left hand.</p> +<p>“Your most obedient servant,” replied Tom, +facetiously, as he placed himself in the attitude of “charge +bayonets.” “Have you any dangerous weapons about your +person?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I have,” replied the soldier, resolutely, as +he retreated a few steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand +into the breast pocket of his coat.</p> +<p>“Hands down!” exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with +the bayonet attached to the musket. “Here, Joe +Burnap!”</p> +<p>“What d’ yer want?” replied the proprietor of +the house, who was as completely “demoralized” by the +scene as the rebel soldier himself.</p> +<p>“Put your hand into this man’s pocket, and take out +his pistol. If he resists, I’ll punch him with this,” +added Tom, demonstrating the movement by a few vigorous thrusts +with the bayonet.</p> +<p>With some hesitation Joe took a revolver from the pocket of the +soldier, and handed it to Tom.</p> +<p>“Examine all his pockets. Take out everything he has in +them,” added Tom, cocking the revolver, and pointing it at +the head of the prisoner.</p> +<p>Joe took from the pockets of the rebel a quantity of pistol +cartridges, a knife, some letters, and a wallet.</p> +<p>“Who’s this fur?” asked Joe, as he proceeded +to open the wallet, and take therefrom a roll of Confederate +“shin-plasters.”</p> +<p>“Give it back to him.”</p> +<p>“But this is money.”</p> +<p>“Money!” sneered Tom. “A northern beggar +wouldn’t thank you for all he could carry of it. Give it back +to him, and every thing else except the cartridges.”</p> +<p>Joe reluctantly restored the wallet, the letters, and the knife, +to the pockets from which he had taken them. Tom then directed him +to secure the cartridge box of the soldier.</p> +<p>“You are my prisoner,” said Tom; “but I +believe in treating prisoners well. You may go into the house, and +if your arm is much hurt, Mrs. Burnap may do what she can to help +you.”</p> +<p>The prisoner sullenly attended the woman into the house, and Tom +followed as far as the front door.</p> +<p>“Now, what am I gwine to do?” said Joe. +“You’ve got me into a right smart scrape.”</p> +<p>“I thought I had got you out of one,” replied Tom. +“Do you intend to remain here?”</p> +<p>“Sartin not, now. I must clear.”</p> +<p>“So must I; and we have no time to spare. Get what you can +to eat, and come along.”</p> +<p>In ten minutes more, Tom and Joe Burnap were travelling towards +the mountains.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_19" name="Ch_19">Chapter XIX.</a></h3> +<h2>Through the Gap.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Joe Burnap was perfectly familiar with the country, and Tom +readily accepted him as a guide; and, as they had a common object +in view, neither had good cause for mistrusting the other. They +walked, without stopping to rest, till the sun set behind the +mountains towards which they were travelling.</p> +<p>“I reckon we needn’t hurry now,” said Joe, as +he seated himself on a rock.</p> +<p>“I don’t think there is any danger of their catching +us,” replied Tom, as he seated himself beside his +fellow-traveller. “Can you tell me where we are?”</p> +<p>“I reckon I can. There ain’t a foot of land in these +yere parts that I hain’t had my foot on. I’ve toted +plunder of all sorts through these woods more’n ten thousand +times.”</p> +<p>“Well, where are we?” asked Tom, whose doubts in +regard to the locality had not yet been solved.</p> +<p>In the pressure of more exciting matters, he had not attempted +to explain why he did not come to Fairfax station while following +the railroad.</p> +<p>“If we keep on a little while longer, I reckon we shall +come to Thoroughfare Gap,” answered Joe.</p> +<p>“But where do you live? What town is your house in?” +asked Tom, who had never heard of Thoroughfare Gap before.</p> +<p>“Haymarket is the nearest town to my house.”</p> +<p>“What railroad is that over there?” asked Tom, who +was no nearer the solution of the question than he had been in the +beginning.</p> +<p>“That’s the Manassas Gap Railroad, I reckon,” +replied Joe, who seemed to be astonished at the ignorance of his +companion.</p> +<p>“Just so,” added Tom, who now, for the first time, +comprehended where he was.</p> +<p>When he left Sudley church, he walked at random till he came to +the railroad; but he had struck the Manassas Gap Railroad instead +of the main line, and it had led him away from the great body of +the rebels, though it also conducted him away from Washington, +where he desired to go. He was perplexed at the discovery, and at +once began to debate the question whether it was advisable for him +to proceed any farther in this direction.</p> +<p>“I suppose you are a Union man—ain’t +you?” said Tom, after he had considered his situation for +some time.</p> +<p>Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes +from the ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom. He stared at +him for a moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former +attitude.</p> +<p>“You don’t want to fight for the south,” added +Tom; “so I suppose you don’t believe in the Southern +Confederacy.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to fight for nuther of +’em,” replied Joe, after a moment of further +consideration. “If they’ll only let me alone, I +don’t keer which beats.”</p> +<p>His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared +to be entirely impartial. The newspapers on either side would not +have disturbed him. Patriotism—love of country—had not +found a resting place in his soul. Tom had not, from the beginning, +entertained a very high respect for the man; but now he despised +him, and thought that a rebel was a gentleman compared with such a +character. How a man could live in the United States, and not feel +an interest in the stirring events which were transpiring around +him, was beyond his comprehension. In one word, he so thoroughly +despised Joe Burnap, that he resolved, at the first convenient +opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the +company of such a person.</p> +<p>“Now which side do you fight fur?” asked Joe, after +a long period of silence.</p> +<p>“For the Union side,” replied Tom, promptly.</p> +<p>“What are yer doin’ here, then?”</p> +<p>“I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got +away, and I want to get to Washington.”</p> +<p>“I reckon this ain’t the way to git thar,” +added Joe.</p> +<p>“I doubt whether I can get there any other way.”</p> +<p>Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the +world, and all that the government owed him, for a good map of +Virginia—or even for a knowledge of geography which would +have enabled him to find his way by the safest route to Washington. +But he had been a diligent scholar in school, and had faithfully +improved the limited opportunities which had been afforded him. His +mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had studied in +school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical +benefit to him.</p> +<p>He had treasured up some information, derived from the +newspapers, in regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it +passed through the Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed +the Shenandoah River: this emptied into the Potomac, which would +certainly conduct him to Washington. In following these two rivers, +he should have to describe nearly a circle, which was not an +encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and in an +enemy’s country.</p> +<p>If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with +rebel soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their +lines without being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route +by the Shenandoah appeared, he decided to adopt it.</p> +<p>Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the +bag which he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily +procure on leaving home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed +their walk for another hour.</p> +<p>“I reckon we’d better stop here,” said Joe. +“The Gap’s only half a mile from here, and it’s +too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar’s too many +soldiers goin’ that way.”</p> +<p>“What time will you go through?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Not afore midnight.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll turn in and take a nap. I didn’t +sleep any last night.”</p> +<p>“I’m agreed,” replied Joe, who seemed to be +indifferent to every thing while he could keep out of the rebel +army.</p> +<p>Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and +went to sleep. Exhausted by fatigue and the want of rest, he did +not wake for many hours. He came to his senses with a start, and +jumped upon his feet. For a moment, he could not think where he +was; but then came the recollection that he was in the country of +his enemies—a wanderer and a fugitive.</p> +<p>He looked about him in search of his travelling companion; but +the fact that he could not see him in the night was no argument +that he was not near him. He supposed Joe had chosen a place to +sleep in the vicinity, and thinking he might not wake in season to +pass through the Gap before daylight, he commenced a search for +him. He beat about the place for half an hour, calling his +companion by name; but he could not see him, and no sound responded +to the call but the echoes of his own voice.</p> +<p>The independent Virginia farmer had anticipated Tom’s +intention to part company with him, and, by this time, perhaps, had +passed through the Gap. The soldier boy was not quite ready to +dispense with the services of his guide, inasmuch as he did not +even know where the Gap was, or in what direction he must travel to +reach it. While he was debating his prospects, an enterprising +rooster, in the distance, sounded his morning call. This assured +him that he must be near some travelled road, and, taking the +direction from the fowl, he resumed his journey.</p> +<p>A short walk brought him out of the woods, and, in the gray +light of the dawn, he discovered a house. As he did not care to +make any new acquaintances, he avoided the house, and continued his +travels till he arrived at a road. As it was too early in the +morning for people to be stirring, he ventured to follow the +highway, and soon perceived an opening in the mountains, which he +doubted not was the Gap.</p> +<p>At sunrise he arrived at another house, which suddenly came into +view as he rounded a bend in the road. Near it were several negroes +engaged in various occupations. As he passed the house, the negroes +all suspended operations, and stared at him till he was out of +sight. He soon reached the Gap; but he had advanced only a short +distance before he discovered a battery of light artillery +stationed on a kind of bluff, and whose guns commanded the +approaches in every direction.</p> +<p>Deeming it prudent to reconnoitre before he proceeded any +farther, he also ascertained that the Gap was picketed by rebel +infantry. Of course it was impossible to pass through under these +circumstances, and he again took to the woods. The scanty supply of +food which he had purchased from Mrs. Burnap was now produced, and +he made an economical breakfast. Finding a secluded place, he +stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep. Though he +slept till the sun had passed the meridian, the day was a very long +one.</p> +<p>When it was fairly dark, he resolved to attempt the passage of +the Gap, for he was so tired of inaction that peril and hardship +seemed preferable to doing nothing. Returning to the road, he +pursued his way with due diligence through the narrowing defile of +the mountains, till he suddenly came upon a sentinel, who +challenged him. Before he started from his hiding place, Tom had +carefully loaded the revolver which he had taken from the rebel +soldier; and, as he walked along, he carried the weapon in his +hand, ready for any emergency that might require its use.</p> +<p>The guard questioned him, and Tom replied that he had fought in +the battle down below, and had a furlough to go home and see his +father, who was very sick.</p> +<p>“Where’s your furlough?” demanded the +soldier.</p> +<p>“In my pocket.”</p> +<p>“Let me see it.”</p> +<p>“Here it is,” replied Tom, producing an old letter +which he happened to have in his pocket.</p> +<p>The sentinel took the paper, unfolded it, and turned it over two +or three times. It was too dark for him to read it if he had been +able to do so, for all the rebel soldiers are not gifted in this +way.</p> +<p>“I reckon this won’t do,” he added, after +patiently considering the matter. “Just you tote this paper +up to the corporal thar, and if he says it’s all right, you +kin go on.”</p> +<p>“But I can’t stop to do all that. Here’s my +pass, and I want to go on. My father may die before I get +home.”</p> +<p>“What regiment do you b’long to?” asked the +guard, who evidently did not wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier +unnecessarily.</p> +<p>“The Second Virginia,” replied Tom, at a +venture.</p> +<p>“Where does your father live?” continued the +sentinel.</p> +<p>“Just beyond the Gap, if he’s living at +all.”</p> +<p>“What town?”</p> +<p>Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single +place on the route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to +answer the question.</p> +<p>“About five or six miles from here,” he +answered.</p> +<p>“Is it Salem or White Plains?” demanded the soldier, +whose cunning was inferior to his honesty.</p> +<p>“White Plains,” added Tom, promptly accepting the +suggestion.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with your father?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know; he was taken suddenly.”</p> +<p>“Pears like your uniform ain’t exactly our +sort,” added the soldier.</p> +<p>“Mine was all used up, and I got one on the +battle-field.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t do that. It’s mean to rob a dead +man of his clothes.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t help it—I was almost naked,” +replied Tom, who perfectly agreed with the rebel on this point.</p> +<p>“You kin go on, Old Virginny,” said the soldier, +whose kindly sympathy for Tom and his sick father was highly +commendable.</p> +<p>The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of +which he immediately availed himself. Tom did not yet realize the +force of the maxim that “all is fair in war,” and his +conscience gave a momentary twinge as he thought of the deception +he had practised upon the honest and kind-hearted rebel. He was +very thankful that he had not been compelled to put a bullet +through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the man had +not been obliged to do him a similar favor.</p> +<p>The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the +next morning. He went through three or four small villages. After +passing through the Gap, he had taken the railroad, as less likely +to lead him through the more thickly settled parts of the country. +Before him the mountains of the Blue Ridge rose like an impassable +wall, and when the day dawned he was approaching Manassas Gap. He +had walked twenty-five miles during the night, and prudence, as +well as fatigue, required him to seek a place of rest.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_20" name="Ch_20">Chapter XX.</a></h3> +<h2>Down the Shenandoah.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>In that wild mountain region, Tom had no difficulty in finding a +secluded spot, where there was no probability that he would be +molested. He had been in a state of constant excitement during the +night, for the country was full of soldiers. The mountaineers of +Virginia were rushing to the standard of rebellion. They were a +wild, rude set of men, and they made the night hideous with their +debauchery. Tom succeeded in keeping out of the way of the +straggling parties which were roaming here and there; but he was +filled with dread and anxiety lest he should, at the next moment, +stumble upon a camp, or a squad of these marauders.</p> +<p>The nook in the mountains which he had chosen as his resting +place was a cleft in the rocks, concealed by the overhanging +branches of trees. Here he made his bed, as the sun rose, and, worn +out with fatigue and anxiety, he dropped asleep.</p> +<p>When he awoke, the sun was near the meridian. He rose and walked +out a short distance from his lodging place, and listened for any +sounds which might indicate the presence of an enemy. All was +still; silence deep and profound reigned through the solitudes of +the mountains. Tom returned to his place of concealment, and after +eating the remainder of the food he had brought with him, he +stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep again. He had +nothing else to do, and he needed all the rest he could obtain. It +was fortunate for him that he had self-possession enough to +sleep—to banish his nervous doubts and fears, and thus secure +the repose which was indispensable to the success of his arduous +enterprise.</p> +<p>It was after sundown when he finished his second nap. He had +slept nearly all day,—at least ten hours,—and he was +entirely refreshed and restored. He was rather stiff in some of his +limbs when he got up; but he knew this would wear off after a +little exercise. He had no supper with which to brace himself for +the night’s work; so he took a drink from the mountain +stream, and made his way back to the railroad. But it was too early +then to commence the passage of the Gap, and he sat for a couple of +hours by the side of the road, before he ventured to resume his +journey.</p> +<p>While he was passing through the narrow gorge in the mountains, +he met several persons, on foot and on horseback; but as he was +armed with a pistol, he did not turn out for them; but when a party +of soldiers approached, he sought a hiding place by the side of the +road until they were out of hearing. When he had passed through the +Gap, he came to a road crossing the track, and after debating the +question thoroughly, he decided to abandon the railroad, and +pursued his course by the common highway towards the North.</p> +<p>Continuing his journey diligently for a time longer, he came to +another road, branching off to the left from the one he had chosen, +which required further consideration. But his conclusion was +satisfactory, and he continued on the same road, which soon brought +him to a more thickly settled country than that through which he +had been travelling.</p> +<p>By this time Tom’s stomach began to be rebellious again, +and the question of rations began to assume a serious aspect. He +was not suffering for food, but it was so much more comfortable to +travel upon a full stomach than an empty one, that he could not +pass a dwelling house without thinking of the contents of the +cellar and closets. It was perfectly proper to forage on the enemy; +but he could not eat raw chicken and geese, or the problem of +rations would have been effectually settled by a demonstration on +the hen-coops of the Shenandoah valley.</p> +<p>He came to a halt before a large mansion, which had the +appearance of belonging to a wealthy person. Its larder and kitchen +cupboards, he doubted not, were plentifully supplied with the +luxuries of the season; and Tom thought he might as well obtain his +provisions now, as wait till he was driven to desperation by +hunger. He entered the front gate of the great house, and stepped +upon the veranda in front of it. The windows reached down to the +floor. He tried one of them, and found that it was not fastened. He +carefully raised the sash and entered.</p> +<p>Tom was determined to put himself upon his impudence on the +present occasion; but he satisfied himself that his revolver was in +condition for instant use before he proceeded any farther. Passing +from the front room to an apartment in the rear, he found a lamp +and matches, and concluded that he would have some light on the +subject, which was duly obtained. Leaving this room, he entered +another, which proved to be the kitchen. A patient search revealed +to him the lurking place of a cold roast chicken, some fried bacon, +bread, and crackers.</p> +<p>Placing these things on the table, he seated himself to partake +of the feast which the forethought of the occupants had provided +for him. Tom began to be entirely at home, for having thrown +himself on his impudence now; he did not permit any doubts or fears +to disturb him; but the handle of his pistol protruded from between +the buttons of his coat. He ate till he had satisfied himself, when +he happened to think that the coffee pot he had seen in the closet +might contain some cold coffee; and he brought it out. He was not +disappointed, and even found sugar and milk. He poured out a bowl +of the beverage, and, having prepared it to his taste, was about to +conclude the feast in this genteel style, when he heard footsteps +in the adjoining entry.</p> +<p>Tom determined not to be cheated out of his coffee, and instead +of putting himself in a flurry, he took the bowl in one hand and +the pistol in the other. The door opened, and a negro timidly +entered the room.</p> +<p>“Well, sar!” said the servant, as he edged along the +side of the room. “Hem! Well, sar!”</p> +<p>Tom took no notice of him, but continued to drink his coffee as +coolly as though he had been in his mother’s cottage at +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Hem! Well, sar!” repeated the negro, who evidently +wished to have the interloper take some notice of him.</p> +<p>But the soldier boy refused to descend from his dignity or his +impudence. He finished the bowl of coffee as deliberately as though +the darkey had been somewhere else.</p> +<p>“Well, sar! Who’s you, sar?”</p> +<p>“Eh, Blackee?”</p> +<p>“Who’s you, sar?”</p> +<p>“Good chicken! Good bread! Good bacon!” added Tom. +“Are the folks at home, Blackee?”</p> +<p>“No, sar; nobody but de women folks, sar. Who’s you, +sar?”</p> +<p>“It don’t make much difference who I am. +Where’s your master?”</p> +<p>“Gone to Richmond, sar. He’s member ob +Congress.”</p> +<p>“Then he’s in poor business, Blackee,” said +Tom, as he took out his handkerchief, and proceeded to transfer the +remnants of his supper to its capacious folds.</p> +<p>“Better luff dem tings alone, sar.”</p> +<p>But Tom refused to “luff dem alone,” and when he had +placed them on the handkerchief, he made a bundle of them.</p> +<p>“Golly, sar! I’ll tell my missus what’s gwine +on down here,” added the servant, as he moved towards the +door.</p> +<p>“See here, Blackee,” interposed Tom, pointing his +pistol at the negro; “if you move, I’ll put one of +these balls through your skull.”</p> +<p>“De Lud sabe us, massa! Don’t shoot dis nigger, +massa.”</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue then, and mind what I say.”</p> +<p>“Yes, massa,” whined the darkey, in the most abject +tones.</p> +<p>“Now come with me, Blackee, and if you open your mouth, +one of these pills shall go down your throat.”</p> +<p>Tom flourished his pistol before the negro, and led the way to +the window by which he had entered the house. Passing out upon the +veranda, he cautiously conducted the terrified servant to the road; +and when they had gone a short distance, he halted.</p> +<p>“Now, Blackee, what town is this?” demanded Tom.</p> +<p>“Leeds Manor, sar,” replied the trembling negro.</p> +<p>“How far is it to the Shenandoah River?”</p> +<p>“Only two or tree miles, massa. Now let dis chile go home +again.”</p> +<p>“Not yet.”</p> +<p>“Hab mercy on dis nigger dis time, and sabe +him.”</p> +<p>“I won’t hurt you, if you behave +yourself.”</p> +<p>Tom questioned him for some time in regard to the river, and the +towns upon its banks; and when he had obtained all the information +in regard to the valley which the servant possessed, he resumed his +journey, driving the negro before him.</p> +<p>“Spare dis chile, massa, for de sake ob de wife and +chil’n,” pleaded the unwilling guide.</p> +<p>“I tell you I won’t hurt you if you behave +yourself,” replied Tom. “You’ll have the whole +place down upon me in half an hour, if I let you go now.”</p> +<p>“No, massa; dis nigger won’t say one word +’bout you, nor de tings you took from de house—not one +word, massa. Spare dis chile, and luff him go home.”</p> +<p>But Tom compelled him to walk before him till they came to the +river. The place was called Seaburn’s Ford.</p> +<p>“Now, Blackee, if anybody wants me, tell them I’ve +gone to Winchester,” said Tom, when he had ordered his escort +to halt.</p> +<p>“No, massa, I won’t say one word,” replied the +servant.</p> +<p>“If you do, I’ll shoot you the very next time I see +you—depend upon that. You can go now.”</p> +<p>The negro was not slow to avail himself of this privilege, and +ran off, evidently expecting a bullet from the revolver would +overtake him before he had gone far, for he glanced fearfully over +his shoulder, begging his captor not to shoot him.</p> +<p>Tom stood upon the bank of the Shenandoah. The negro had told +him that he was about thirty miles from Harper’s Ferry, which +he knew was in possession of General Patterson’s forces. +Attached to a tree on the shore was a small flat-bottomed boat, +which attracted the attention of the soldier boy. Tom was +accustomed to boats, and the sight of this one suggested a change +of programme, for it would be much easier to float down the stream, +than to walk the thirty miles. This was a point which needed no +argument; and unfastening the painter of the boat, he jumped in, +and pushed off. Seating himself in the stern, with the paddle in +his hand, he kept her head with the current, and swept down the +rapid stream like a dreamy youth just starting upon the voyage of +life.</p> +<p>Like the pilgrim on the sea of time, Tom was not familiar with +the navigation of the Shenandoah, and he had neither chart nor +compass to assist him. The current was very swift, and once in a +while the bateau bumped upon a concealed rock, or bar of sand. +Fortunately no serious accident occurred to him, though he found +that the labor of managing the boat was scarcely less than that of +walking.</p> +<p>There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of +missing the road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers +or inquisitive civilians. His light bark rushed on its way down the +stream, without attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if +any were abroad at that unseemly hour of the night. The +difficulties of the navigation were overcome with more or less +labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his mind that he had +done a good night’s work; and choosing a secluded nook by the +side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the +return of darkness.</p> +<p>The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, +and he ate his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he +was not very tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something +better to do, he felt compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the +previous day, to dispose of the weary hours in this agreeable +manner. His pastime, however, was soon interrupted by loud shouts +and the tramp of men, not far from the spot where he lay. A hurried +examination of the surroundings assured him that he had chosen a +resting place near one of the fords of the river, over which a +rebel regiment was then passing.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_21" name="Ch_21">Chapter XXI.</a></h3> +<h2>The Problem of Rations.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a +few rods distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and +his boat. When he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with +terror; and, fully believing that his hour had come, he dropped +upon the ground, to wait, in trembling anxiety, the passage of the +troops. It was a regiment of Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the +most fantastic style with hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They +yelled and howled like so many wildcats.</p> +<p>From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a +good view of the men, as they waded across the river. He was +fearful that some of them might stray from the ranks, and stumble +upon his place of refuge; but a kind Providence put it into their +heads to mind their own business, and Tom gathered hope as the +yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the distance.</p> +<p>“This is no place for me,” said Tom to himself, when +the sounds had died away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. +“A whole army of them may camp near that ford, and drive me +out of my hiding place.”</p> +<p>Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied +no carriage or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying +the paddle with the utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he +found that the public highway ran along the banks of the river, +which exposed him to increased risk of being seen. A couple of +vehicles passed along the road while he was in this exposed +situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take no notice of +him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently the +boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable +place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the +bateau.</p> +<p>As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, +ate his dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so +tranquil as he had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains. +Visions of rebel soldiers haunted his dreams, and more than once he +started up, and gazed wildly around him; but these were only +visions, and there was something more real to disturb his +slumbers.</p> +<p>“Hi! Who are you?” exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who +had penetrated the thicket without disturbing the sleeper.</p> +<p>Tom started up, and sprang to his feet. One of the tall +mountaineers, whom he had seen crossing the ford, stood before him; +and the reality was even more appalling than the vision.</p> +<p>“Who mought you be?” demanded the tall soldier, with +a good-natured grin upon his greasy face.</p> +<p>“Faith! I believe I’ve been asleep!” said Tom, +rubbing his eyes, and looking as innocent as a young lamb.</p> +<p>“You may bet your life on thet, my boy,” replied the +rebel, laughing. “Hi! Jarvey!” added he, apparently +addressing a companion at no great distance from the spot.</p> +<p>Heavy footsteps announced the approach of Jarvey, who soon +joined them. He was not less than six feet three inches in height, +and, with two such customers as these, Tom had no hope except in +successful strategy. He had no doubt they had obtained information +of him from the persons in the vehicles, and had come to secure +him. He fully expected to be marched off to the rebel regiment, +which could not be far off.</p> +<p>“Who is he, Sid?” asked Jarvey, when he reached the +spot.</p> +<p>“Dunno. Say, who are ye, stranger?”</p> +<p>“Who am I? Tom Somers, of course. Do you belong to that +regiment that stopped over yonder last night?” asked Tom, +with a proper degree of enthusiasm. “Don’t you know +me?”</p> +<p>“Well, we don’t.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you see me over there? That’s a bully +regiment of yours. I’d like to join it.”</p> +<p>“Would you, though, sonny?” said Sid, laughing till +his mouth opened wide enough for a railroad train to pass in.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t I, though!” replied Tom. “If +there’s any big fighting done, I’ll bet your boys do +it.”</p> +<p>“Bet your life on thet,” added Jarvey. “But +why don’t you jine a regiment?”</p> +<p>“Don’t want to join any regiment that comes along. I +want to go into a fighting regiment, like yours.”</p> +<p>“Well, sonny, you ain’t big enough to jine +ours,” said Sid, as he compassionately eyed the young +man’s diminutive proportions.</p> +<p>“The old man wouldn’t let me go in when I wanted to, +and I’m bound not to go in any of your fancy regiments. I +want to fight when I go.”</p> +<p>“You’ll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing +here?”</p> +<p>“I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to +sleep.”</p> +<p>“Where’s your fish-line?”</p> +<p>“In the boat.”</p> +<p>“What ye got in that handkerchief?”</p> +<p>“My dinner,” replied Tom. “Won’t you +take a bite?”</p> +<p>“What ye got?”</p> +<p>“A piece of cold chicken and some bread.”</p> +<p>“We don’t mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men +with this gear on in these yere parts?” asked Jarvey, as he +pointed to his uniform.</p> +<p>“Yes, <em>sir</em>,” replied Tom, vigorously.</p> +<p>“Whar d’ye see ’em, sonny?”</p> +<p>“They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while +ago.”</p> +<p>“How many?”</p> +<p>“Two,” replied Tom, with promptness.</p> +<p>“Where’s the other?” asked Jarvey, turning to +his companion.</p> +<p>“He’s in these yere woods, somewhar. We’ll +fotch ’em before night. You say the two men crossed the +ford—did ye, sonny?”</p> +<p>“Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with +them?”</p> +<p>“They’re mean trash, and want to run off. Now, +sonny, ’spose you put us over the river in your +boat.”</p> +<p>“Yes, <em>sir</em>!” replied Tom, readily.</p> +<p>The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by +their great weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of +the river.</p> +<p>“Thank’e, sonny,” said Jarvey, as they jumped +on shore. “If you were only four foot higher, we’d like +to take you into our regiment. You’ll make a right smart +chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, +sonny.”</p> +<p>“Good by,” answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, +indicative of his satisfaction at being so well rid of his +passengers.</p> +<p>He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a +prisoner to this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his +senses when he found himself again safely floating down the rapid +tide of the Shenandoah. His impudence and his self-possession had +saved him; but it was a mystery to him that his uniform, or the +absence of his fish-line, or the answers he gave, had not betrayed +him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen a United States +uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him about his +dress.</p> +<p>Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he +ventured to stop again, for he could not hope to meet with many +rebel soldiers who were so innocent and inexperienced as these +wildcats of the mountains had been. When the darkness favored his +movements, he again embarked upon his voyage. Twice during the +night his boat got aground, and once he was pitched into the river +by striking upon a rock; but he escaped these and other perils of +the navigation with nothing worse than a thorough ducking, which +was by no means a new experience to the soldier boy. In the +morning, well satisfied with his night’s work, he laid up for +the day in the safest place he could find.</p> +<p>On the second day of his voyage down the river, the old problem +of rations again presented itself for consideration, for the ham +and chicken he had procured at Leed’s Manor were all gone. +There were plenty of houses on the banks of the river, but Tom had +hoped to complete his cruise without the necessity of again +exposing himself to the peril of being captured while foraging for +the commissary department. But the question was as imperative as it +had been several times before, and twelve hours fasting gave him +only a faint hint of what his necessities might compel him to +endure in twenty-four or forty-eight hours. He did not consider it +wise to postpone the settlement of the problem till he was actually +suffering for the want of food.</p> +<p>On the third night of his voyage, therefore, he hauled up the +bateau at a convenient place, and started off upon a foraging +expedition, intending to visit some farmer’s kitchen, and +help himself, as he had done on a former occasion. Of course, Tom +had no idea where he was; but he hoped and believed that he should +soon reach Harper’s Ferry.</p> +<p>After making his way through the woods for half a mile, he came +to a public road, which he followed till it brought him to a house. +It was evidently the abode of a thrifty farmer, for near it were +half a dozen negro houses. As the dwelling had no long windows in +front, Tom was obliged to approach the place by a flank and rear +movement; but the back door was locked. He tried the windows, and +they were fastened. While he was reconnoitring the premises, he +heard heavy footsteps within. Returning to the door, he knocked +vigorously for admission.</p> +<p>“Who’s thar?” said a man, as he threw the door +wide open.</p> +<p>“A stranger, who wants something to eat,” replied +Tom, boldly.</p> +<p>“Who are ye?”</p> +<p>“My name is Tom Somers,” added the soldier boy, as +he stepped into the house. “Can you tell me whether the +Seventh Georgia Regiment is down this way?”</p> +<p>“I reckon ’tis; least wise I don’t know. +There’s three rigiments about five mile below +yere.”</p> +<p>“I was told my regiment was down this way, and I’m +trying to find it. I’m half starved. Will you give me +something to eat?”</p> +<p>“Sartin, stranger; I’ll do thet.”</p> +<p>The man, who was evidently the proprietor of the house, brought +up the remnant of a boiled ham, a loaf of white bread, some butter, +and a pitcher of milk. Tom ate till he was satisfied. The farmer, +in deference to his amazing appetite probably, suspended his +questions till the guest began to show some signs of satiety, when +he pressed him again as vigorously as though he had been born and +brought up among the hills of New England.</p> +<p>“Where d’ye come from?” said he.</p> +<p>“From Manassas. I lost my regiment in the fight; and the +next day I heard they had been toted over this way, and I put after +them right smart,” answered Tom, adopting as much of the +Georgia vernacular as his knowledge would permit.</p> +<p>“Walk all the way?”</p> +<p>“No; I came in the keers most of the way.”</p> +<p>“But you don’t wear our colors,” added the +farmer, glancing at Tom’s clothes.</p> +<p>“My clothes were all worn out, and I helped myself to the +best suit I could find on the field.”</p> +<p>“What regiment did ye say ye b’longed to?” +queried the man, eying the uniform again.</p> +<p>“To the Seventh Georgia. Perhaps you can tell me where I +shall find it.”</p> +<p>“I can’t; but I reckon there’s somebody here +that can. I’ll call him.”</p> +<p>Tom was not at all particular about obtaining this information. +There was evidently some military man in the house, who would +expose him if he remained any longer.</p> +<p>“Who is it, father?” asked a person who had probably +heard a part of the conversation we have narrated; for the voice +proceeded from a bed-room adjoining the apartment in which Tom had +eaten his supper.</p> +<p>“A soldier b’longing to the Seventh Georgia,” +answered the farmer. “That’s my son; he’s a +captain in the cavalry, and he’ll know all about it. He can +tell you where yer regiment is,” added he, turning to Tom, +who was edging towards the door.</p> +<p>“I’m very much obliged to you for my supper,” +said the fugitive, nervously. “I reckon I’ll be moving +along.”</p> +<p>“Wait half a second, and my son will tell you just where +to find your regiment.”</p> +<p>“The Seventh Georgia?” said the captain of cavalry, +entering the room at this moment with nothing but his pants on. +“There’s no such regiment up here, and hasn’t +been. I reckon you’re a deserter.”</p> +<p>“No, <em>sir!</em> I scorn the charge,” replied Tom, +with becoming indignation. “I never desert my +colors.”</p> +<p>“I suppose not,” added the officer, glancing at his +uniform; “but your colors desert you.”</p> +<p>Tom failed to appreciate the wit of the reply, and backed off +towards the door, with one hand upon the stock of his revolver.</p> +<p>“Hold on to him, father; don’t let him go,” +said the officer, as he rushed back into his chamber, evidently for +his pistols or his sabre.</p> +<p>“Hands off, or you are a dead man;” cried Tom, as he +pointed his revolver at the head of the farmer.</p> +<p>In another instant, the captain of cavalry reappeared with a +pistol in each hand. A stunning report resounded through the house, +and Tom heard a bullet whistle by his head.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_22" name="Ch_22">Chapter XXII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Picket Guard.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It was sufficiently obvious to Tom that, on the present +occasion, the suspicions of his host were awakened. It is possible +that, if he had depended upon his impudence, he might have +succeeded in deceiving the Confederate officer; but his evident +intention to retire from the contest before an investigation could +be had, proved him, in the estimation of the captain, to be either +a spy or a deserter, and shooting him was preferable to losing +him.</p> +<p>The officer fired quick, and with little attention to the +important matter of a steady aim; and Tom had to thank his stars +for the hasty shot, for, though it went within a few inches of his +head, “a miss was as good as a mile,” and the brains of +our hero remained intact and complete. But he was not willing to be +the subject of any further experiments of this description, and +without waiting further to express his gratitude to the host for +the bountiful supper he had eaten, he threw open the door, and +dashed off at the top of his speed.</p> +<p>The revolver he carried was a very good implement with which to +bully a negro, or an unarmed farmer; but Tom had more confidence in +his legs than in his skill as a marksman, and before the captain +could transfer the second pistol from his left to his right hand, +he had passed out of the house, and was concealed from his pursuers +by the gloom of the night. He felt that he had had a narrow escape, +and he was not disposed to trifle with destiny by loitering in the +vicinity of the house.</p> +<p>He had not proceeded far before he heard a hue and cry behind +him; and if the captain of cavalry had not stopped to put on his +boots, it is more than possible that our humble volume might have +contained a chapter or two upon prison life in Richmond. +Undoubtedly it was quite proper for the officer to put on his boots +before he went out; a decent regard for his individual sanitary +condition, and a reasonable horror of ague and rheumatism, would +have induced him to do it, even at the risk of losing a Federal +prisoner, or a rebel deserter, as the case might be. At any rate, +if Tom had known the cause of the delay, he would freely have +forgiven him for wasting his time in healthful precautions.</p> +<p>The fugitive retraced his steps to the river by the same route +he had taken in approaching the hospitable roof of the farmer. As +nearly as he could judge by the sounds that reached him from the +distance, the officer and his father were gathering up a force to +hunt down the fugitive. Tom jumped into the bateau, and pushed off. +Keeping under the shadow of the bank of the river, he plied his +paddle vigorously, and by the time his pursuers arrived at the +river, he was a couple of miles from the spot. He could hear a +shout occasionally in the deep silence of the night, but with the +distance between him and the enemy, he felt entirely secure. The +danger had passed, and he floated leisurely on his voyage, buoyant +as his light bark, and hopeful as the dream of youth.</p> +<p>Hour after hour, in the gloom of the solemn night, he was borne +by the swift tide towards the lines of the loyal army. The day was +dawning, and he was on the lookout for a suitable place to conceal +himself, until the friendly shades of night should again favor his +movements. After the experience of the former night near the ford, +he was very cautious in the selection of a hiding place. It is not +always safe to be fastidious; for while Tom was rejecting one +location, and waiting for another to appear, the river bore him +into a tract of very open country, which was less favorable than +that through which he had just been passing.</p> +<p>The prospect began to make him nervous; and while he was +bitterly regretting that he had not moored the boat before, he was +startled to hear a sharp, commanding voice on the bank at his +left.</p> +<p>“Who comes there? Halt!”</p> +<p>Tom looked up, and discovered a grayback, standing on the shore, +very deliberately pointing his musket at him.</p> +<p>“Who comes there?” demanded the picket; for at this +point were stationed the outposts of the rebel force in the +Shenandoah valley.</p> +<p>“Friend!” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“Halt, then!”</p> +<p>“I would, if I could,” answered Tom, as hastily as +possible.</p> +<p>“Halt, or I’ll fire!”</p> +<p>“I tell you I can’t halt,” replied Tom, using +his paddle vigorously, as though he was trying to urge the bateau +to the shore. “Don’t fire! For mercy’s sake, +don’t fire.”</p> +<p>Tom appeared to be intensely frightened at the situation in +which he was placed, and redoubled his efforts apparently to gain +the bank of the stream; but the more he seemed to paddle one way, +the more the boat went the other way. However much Tom appeared to +be terrified by the peril that menaced him, it must be confessed +that he was not wholly unmoved.</p> +<p>“Stop your boat, quick!” said the soldier, who had +partially dropped his musket from its menacing position.</p> +<p>“I can’t stop it,” responded Tom, apparently +in an agony of terror. “I would go ashore if I +could.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“The water runs so swift, I can’t stop her; been +trying this two hours.”</p> +<p>“You will be inside the Yankee lines in half an hour if +you don’t fetch to,” shouted the picket.</p> +<p>“Gracious!” exclaimed Tom, redoubling his +efforts.</p> +<p>But it was useless to struggle with the furious current, and Tom +threw himself into the bottom of the boat, as if in utter +desperation. If Niagara Falls, with their thundering roar and +fearful abyss, had been before him, his agony could not have been +more intense, as judged from the shore.</p> +<p>By this time, the sentinel on the bank had been joined by his +two companions, and the three men forming the picket post stood +gazing at him, as he abandoned himself to the awful fate of being +captured by the blood-thirsty Yankees, to whose lines the +relentless current of the Shenandoah was bearing him.</p> +<p>When Tom was first challenged by the grayback, the boat had been +some twenty rods above him; and it had now passed the spot where he +stood, but the rebels were still near enough to converse with him. +Tom heard one of them ask another who he was. Of course neither of +them knew who he was, or where he came from.</p> +<p>“Try again!” shouted one of the pickets. “The +Yankees will have you in a few minutes.”</p> +<p>Tom did make another ineffectual effort to check the progress of +the bateau, and again abandoned the attempt in despair. The rebels +followed him on the bank, encouraging him with words of cheer, and +with dire prophecies of his fate if he fell into the hands of the +cruel Yankees.</p> +<p>“Can’t you help me?” pleaded Tom, in accents +of despair. “Throw me a rope! Do something for me.”</p> +<p>Now, this was a suggestion that had not before occurred to the +picket guard, and Tom would have been infinitely wiser if he had +not put the idea of assisting him into their dull brains; for it is +not at all probable that they would have thought of such a thing +themselves, for the south, especially the poor white trash, are not +largely endowed with inventive genius.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me!” cried Tom, as he saw the rebels +engaged in a hasty consultation, the result of which was, that two +of them started off upon the run in a direction at right angles +with the stream.</p> +<p>“Try again! Stick to it!” shouted the picket left on +the shore.</p> +<p>“I can’t do any more; I’m all tired +out,” replied Tom, throwing himself for the fourth time in +the bottom of the boat, the very picture of despair.</p> +<p>The picture was very much exaggerated and over-drawn; but as +long as the bullet from the rebel’s musket did not come his +way, Tom was satisfied with his acting, and hopeful for the future. +The man on the shore, full of sympathy for the distressed and +exhausted voyager, walked and ran so as to keep up with the +refractory barge, which seemed to be spitefully hurling its +agonized passenger into the Federal lines, where death and dungeons +lurked at every corner.</p> +<p>While this exciting drama was in progress, the stream bore Tom +to a sharp bend in the river, where the current set in close to the +shore. His attentive guardian on the bank ran ahead, and stationed +himself at this point, ready to afford any assistance to the +disconsolate navigator which the circumstances might permit.</p> +<p>“Now’s your chance!” shouted he. “Gosh +all whittaker! put in now, and do your pootiest!”</p> +<p>Tom adopted this friendly advice, and “put in” with +all his might; but the more he “put in,” the more he +put out—from the shore, whither the inauspicious eddies were +sweeping him. If Tom had not been born in Pinchbrook, and had a +home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated accomplishment, he +would probably have been borne into the arms of the expectant +rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which that +gentleman’s musket contained. As it was, he had the skill to +do what he seemed not to be doing. Mr. Johnny Reb evidently did not +suspect that Tom was “playing ’possum,” as the +Tennessee sharpshooters would have expressed it. The +voyager’s efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and +certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which +ought to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat.</p> +<p>The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the +waiting arms of the sympathizing grayback. As it passed, he waded a +short distance into the water, and stretched forth his musket to +the unhappy voyager. Tom threw down his paddle, and sprang with +desperate energy to obtain a hold upon the gun. He even succeeded +in grasping the end of the bayonet. For a moment he pulled so hard +that it was doubtful whether the bateau would be hauled ashore, or +Secesh drawn into the deep water.</p> +<p>“Hold on tight, my boy! Pull for your life!” shouted +the soldier, highly excited by the probable success of his +philanthropic efforts.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me!” groaned Tom, as he tugged, or +seemed to do so, at the bayonet.</p> +<p>Then, while the united exertions of the saver and the saved, in +anticipation, were on the very point of being successful, the +polished steel of the bayonet unaccountably slipped through the +fingers of Tom, and the bateau was borne off towards the opposite +shore.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me,” cried Tom again, in tones more +piteous than ever.</p> +<p>“What d’ye let go fur?” said the grayback, +indignantly, as his musket, which he had held by the tip end of the +stock, dropped into the water, when Tom let go of the bayonet.</p> +<p>The soldier indulged in a volley of peculiarly southern oaths, +with which we cannot disfigure our page, even in deference to the +necessity of painting a correct picture of the scene we have +described. Tom had a vein of humor in his composition, which has +already displayed itself in some of the rough experiences of his +career; and when he saw the rebel soldier deprived of all power to +make war upon him, either offensive or defensive, he could not +resist the temptation to celebrate the signal strategical victory +he had obtained over the picket guard. This triumphal demonstration +was not very dignified, nor, under the circumstances, very prudent +or sensible. It consisted in placing the thumb of his right hand +upon the end of his nose, while he wiggled the four remaining +digital appendages of the same member in the most aggravating +manner, whistling Yankee Doodle as an accompaniment to the +movement.</p> +<p>If Secesh did not understand the case before, he did now; and +fishing up his musket, he emptied the water out of the barrel, and +attempted to fire it. Luckily for Tom, the gun would not go off, +and he swept on his way jubilant and joyous.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_23" name="Ch_23">Chapter XXIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The End of the Voyage.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers’s voyage down the Shenandoah was, in many +respects, a type of human life. He experienced the various +reverses, the trials and hardships, which attend all sojourners +here below. He triumphed over all obstacles, and when he had +completely outwitted the grayback who had labored so diligently to +save him from his impending fate, he was at the zenith of +prosperity. He had vanquished the last impediment, and the lines of +the Union army—the haven of peace to him—were only a +short distance from the scene of his victory.</p> +<p>Prosperity makes men arrogant and reckless, and I am sorry to +say that it had the same effect upon Tom Somers. If he had been +content modestly to enjoy the victory he had achieved, it would +have been wiser and safer for him; but when Fortune was kind to +him, he mocked her, and she turned against him.</p> +<p>When he had passed out of the reach of the rebel soldier, whose +musket had been rendered useless for the time being, Tom believed +that he was safe, and that he had fairly escaped from the last +peril that menaced him on the voyage. But he was mistaken; for as +the current swept the bateau around the bend of the river, he +discovered, to his astonishment and chagrin, the two secesh +soldiers, who had left the picket post some time before, standing +at convenient distances from each other and from the shore, in the +water, ready to rescue him from the fate before him. The place they +had chosen was evidently a ford of the river, where they intended +to check the boat in its mad career down the stream. They were +painfully persistent in their kind intentions to save him from the +horrible Yankees, and Tom wished they had been less humane and less +enthusiastic in his cause.</p> +<p>As soon as Tom perceived this trap, he regretted his imprudence +in betraying himself to the soldier from whom he had just escaped. +His sorrow was not diminished, when, a few minutes later, he heard +the shouts of the third soldier, who, by hard running across the +fields, had reached the ford before him.</p> +<p>“Shoot him! Shoot him! He’s a Yankee!” +bellowed the grayback on the shore.</p> +<p>Tom was appalled at these words, and wondered how the soldier +could have found out that he was a Yankee; but when he recalled the +fact that he had entertained him with Yankee Doodle at their last +meeting, the mystery became less formidable.</p> +<p>“Shoot him! He’s a Yankee!” shouted Secesh on +the bank of the stream.</p> +<p>“We’ve left our guns on shore,” replied Secesh +in the water.</p> +<p>“I’m very much obliged to you for that,” said +Tom to himself, as he grasped his paddle, and set the boat over +towards the right bank of the river.</p> +<p>No doubt the rebels in the water, when they saw with what +facility the boatman moved the bateau in the swift tide, as +compared with his futile efforts farther up the stream, were fully +satisfied of the truth of their companion’s assertion. Tom +decided to run the gauntlet between the right bank and the soldier +nearest to that shore. He paddled the bateau with all his vigor, +until he had obtained the desired position.</p> +<p>The graybacks in the water, realizing that they were engaged on +an errand of peace and humanity, had left their muskets on shore. +They were, therefore, comparatively harmless; but the one on shore +had reached the ford, and picking up one of the muskets of his +companions, without threat or warning, fired. It was lucky for Tom +that he was not a Tennessee sharpshooter, nor a Texas ranger, for +the shot passed harmlessly over him. The soldier dropped the gun, +and picked up the other, which he instantly discharged, and with +better aim than before, for the ball struck the bateau, though not +within four feet of where Tom stood.</p> +<p>“Don’t waste your powder, if you can’t shoot +better than that,” shouted one of the soldiers in the water. +“You’ll hit us next.”</p> +<p>“Stop him, then! Stop him!” replied the grayback on +the shore. “Kill him if you can.”</p> +<p>Tom was paddling with all his might to pass the ford before the +soldier nearest to him should reach a position in which he could +intercept the boat. The rebel was an enterprising fellow, and the +soldier boy’s chances were growing amazingly small. Secesh +had actually reached a place where he could make a dash at the +boat. There he stood with a long bowie-knife between his teeth, and +with both hands outstretched, ready to seize upon the unfortunate +bark. He looked grim and ferocious, and Tom saw that he was +thoroughly in earnest.</p> +<p>It was a trying situation for a boy of Tom’s years, and he +would fain have dodged the issue. That bowie-knife had a wicked +look, though it was mild and tame compared with the savage eye of +the rebel who held it. As it was a case of life and death, the +fugitive braced himself up to meet the shock. Taking his position +in the stern of the boat, he held the paddle in his left hand, +while his right firmly grasped his revolver. It was either +“kill or be killed,” and Tom was not so sentimental as +to choose the latter rather than the former, especially as his +intended victim was a secessionist and a rebel.</p> +<p>“Keep off, or you are a dead man,” shouted Tom, as +he flourished his pistol so that his assailant could obtain a fair +view of its calibre, and in the hope that the fellow would be +willing to adopt a politician’s expedient, and compromise the +matter by retiring out of range.</p> +<p>“Tew kin play at that game. This yere tooth-pick will wipe +you out,” coolly replied the fellow, as he made a spring at +the boat.</p> +<p>“Stand off!” screamed Tom, as he raised the pistol, +and fired.</p> +<p>It was a short range, and Tom would have been inexcusable if he +had missed his aim. The rebel struck his chest with his right hand, +and the bowie knife dropped from his teeth; but with his left hand +he had grasped the gunwale of the boat, and as he sunk down in the +shallow water, he pulled the bateau over on one side till the water +poured in, and threatened to swamp her. Fortunately the wounded man +relaxed his hold, the boat righted, and Tom commenced paddling +again with all his strength and skill.</p> +<p>The other soldier in the water, as soon as he discovered where +Tom intended to pass, hastened over to assist his associate. The +shouts of their companion on shore had fully fired their southern +hearts, and both of them were ten times as zealous to kill or +capture a Yankee, as they had been to save a Virginian. When the +wounded man clutched the boat, the other was not more than ten feet +from him, but farther down the stream. His associate fell, and he +sprang forward to engage in the affray.</p> +<p>“Stand off, or you are a dead man!” yelled Tom, with +emphasis, as he plied his paddle with renewed energy, for he saw +that the man could not reach him.</p> +<p>The bateau passed them both, and Tom began to breathe easier. +The second rebel, finding he could not capture or kill the detested +Yankee, went to the assistance of his companion. The soldier boy +suspended his exertions, for the danger seemed to be over, and +gazed with interest upon the scene which was transpiring in the +water just above him. He was anxious to know whether he had killed +the rebel or not. There was something awful in the circumstances, +for the soldier boy’s sensibilities were too acute to permit +him to take a human life, though it was that of an enemy, without +producing a deep impression upon his mind. Perhaps, in the great +battle in which he had been a participant, he had killed several +rebels; if he had done so, he had not seen them fall. This was the +first man he had consciously killed or wounded, and the fact was +solemn, if not appalling, to the young soldier.</p> +<p>As the rebel raised his companion from the water he seemed to be +dead, and Tom was forced to the conclusion that he had killed him. +He had done the deed in self-defence, and in the strict line of +duty. He could not be blamed even by his enemies for the act. He +felt no exultation, and hoped from the bottom of his heart that the +man was prepared to meet his Maker, into whose presence he had been +so suddenly summoned.</p> +<p>Tom had heard the boys in Pinchbrook talk lightly about killing +rebels, and he had talked so himself; but the reality was not so +pleasant as it had seemed at a distance. He was sorry for the poor +fellow, and wished he had not been obliged to kill him. It was +terrible to him, even in battle, to take a human life, to slay a +being created in the image of God, and for whom Christ lived and +died.</p> +<p>While he was indulging in these sad reflections, he heard a +bullet whistle near his head. The Secesh soldier on the shore had +loaded up his companions’ muskets, and was doing his best to +bring down the lucky fugitive. His last shot was not a bad one, and +Tom could not help thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that +he would not waste any fine feelings over him. He did not like the +sound of those whizzing bullets, and as he had never boasted of his +courage, he did not scorn to adopt precautionary measures. The +water was three inches deep in the bottom of the bateau; but Tom +deemed it prudent to lie down there until the current should bear +him out of the reach of the rebel bullets.</p> +<p>He maintained this recumbent posture for half an hour or more, +listening to the balls that frequently whistled over his head. Once +he ventured to raise his head, and discovered, not one man, but a +dozen, on the shore, which accounted for the rapid firing he heard. +When he looked up again, his bateau had passed round a bend, and he +was no longer exposed to the fire of the enemy.</p> +<p>From his heart Tom thanked God for his escape. He was +religiously grateful for the aid which Providence had rendered him, +and when he thought how near he had stood to the brink of +destruction, he realized how narrow the span between the Here and +the Hereafter. And the moral of his reflections was, that if he +stood so near to the open gate of death, he ought always to live +wisely and well, and ever be prepared to pass the portals which +separate time from eternity.</p> +<p>Tom’s thoughts were sad and heavy. He could not banish +from his mind the face of the rebel, as he raised his hand to his +breast, where he had received his mortal wound. That countenance, +full of hate and revenge, haunted him for weeks afterwards, in the +solitude of his tent, and on his midnight vigils as a sentinel.</p> +<p>As he sat in the boat, thinking of the events of the morning, +and listening to the mournful rippling of the waters, which, to his +subdued soul, sounded like the requiem of his victim, he was +challenged from the shore again.</p> +<p>“Who comes there!”</p> +<p>Tom jumped up, and saw a sentinel on the bank pointing his gun +at him. He surveyed the form with anxious interest; but this time +he had nothing to fear, for the soldier wore the blue uniform of +the United States army.</p> +<p>“Friend,” replied he, as he grasped his paddle.</p> +<p>“Come ashore, or I’ll put a bullet through +you,” added the sentinel.</p> +<p>“Don’t do it!” said Tom, with energy. +“Can’t you see the colors I wear.”</p> +<p>“Come ashore, then.”</p> +<p>“I will.”</p> +<p>The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it +was astonishing to observe with what better success than when +invited to land by the grayback up the river. The guard assisted +him in landing and securing his boat.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded he, as he gazed at +Tom’s wet and soiled garments.</p> +<p>“I was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and came back on my own +hook.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you were, but you can’t pass these +lines,” said the soldier.</p> +<p>Tom was sent to the Federal camp, and passed from one officer to +another, till he was finally introduced to General Banks, at +Harper’s Ferry. He was questioned in regard to his own +adventures, the country he had passed through, and the troops of +the enemy he had seen. When, to use his own expression, he had been +“pumped dry,” he was permitted to rest a few days, and +then forwarded to his regiment.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_24" name="Ch_24">Chapter XXIV.</a></h3> +<h2>Budd’s Ferry.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Though Tom Somers had been absent from the regiment only a +fortnight, it seemed to him as though a year had elapsed since the +day of the battle when he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his +townsmen and friends. He had been ordered to report to the provost +marshal at Washington, where he learned that his regiment was at +Bladensburg, about six miles from the city. Being provided with the +necessary pass and “transportation,” he soon reached +the camp.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers! Tom Somers!” shouted several of his +comrades, as soon as they recognized him.</p> +<p>“Three cheers for Tom Somers!” shouted Bob +Dornton.</p> +<p>The soldier boy was a favorite in the company, and his return +was sufficient to justify such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, +were given with tremendous enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“Tom, I’m glad to see you!” said old Hapgood, +with extended hand, while his eyes filled with tears. “I was +afeared we should never see you again.”</p> +<p>The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who +was present. His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to +him, and he was determined always to merit the good will of his +companions in arms.</p> +<p>“Now, fellows, tell us what the news is,” said Tom, +as he seated himself on a camp stool before the tent of his +mess.</p> +<p>“There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the +orderly,” added one of his friends. “I suppose you have +got a bigger story to tell than any of us, but you shall have a +chance to read your letters first.”</p> +<p>These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given +to him, and the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, +lest he should find in them some bad news; but his mother and all +the family were well. One of them was written since the battle, and +it was evidently penned with deep solicitude for his fate, of which +nothing had been heard.</p> +<p>Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him +that his mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, +for all the men had written to their friends since the battle. The +captain who had escaped from Sudley church had reported him alive +and well, but he had no information in regard to his escape.</p> +<p>“We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same +as usual in Pinchbrook,” wrote one of his older sisters. +“John is so bent upon going to sea in the navy, that it is as +much as mother can do to keep him at home. He says the country +wants him, and he wants to go; and what’s more, he must go. +We haven’t heard a word from father since he left home; but +Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in +the harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope +that he is safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy +keeping.</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went +into the army. He don’t say a word about politics +now.”</p> +<p>In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had +advanced the money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire +Pemberton had not said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His +brother added that he was determined to go into the navy, even if +he had to run away. He could get good wages, and he thought it was +a pity that he should not do his share towards supporting the +family.</p> +<p>Tom finished his letters, and was rejoiced to find that his +friends at home were all well and happy; and in a few days more, a +letter from him would gladden their hearts with the intelligence of +his safe return to the regiment.</p> +<p>“All well—ain’t they?” asked Hapgood, as +Tom folded up the letters and put them in his pocket; and the +veteran could not fail to see, from the happy expression of his +countenance, that their contents were satisfactory.</p> +<p>“All well,” replied Tom. “Where is Fred +Pemberton? I haven’t seen him yet.”</p> +<p>“In the hospital: he’s sick, or thinks he is,” +answered Hapgood. “Ben Lethbridge is in the guard house. He +attempted to run away while we were coming over from Shuter’s +Hill.”</p> +<p>“Who were killed, and who were wounded? I haven’t +heard a word about the affair, you know,” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Sergeant Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner. +Sergeant Brown was hit by a shell, but not hurt much. The second +lieutenant was wounded in the foot, and—”</p> +<p>A loud laugh from the men interrupted the statement.</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at?” demanded Tom.</p> +<p>“He resigned,” added Bob Dornton, chuckling.</p> +<p>“You said he was wounded?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t say so; the lieutenant said so himself, +and hobbled about with a big cane for a week; but as soon as his +resignation was accepted, he threw away his stick, and walked as +well as ever he could.”</p> +<p>The boys all laughed heartily, and seemed to enjoy the joke +prodigiously. Tom thought it was a remarkable cure, though the +remedy was one which no decent man would be willing to adopt.</p> +<p>“How’s Captain Benson?”</p> +<p>“He’s better; he felt awful bad because he +wasn’t in that battle. The colonel has gone home, sick. He +has more pluck than body. He was sun-struck, and dropped off his +horse, like a dead man, on the field. It’s a great pity he +hasn’t twice or three times as much body; if he had, +he’d make a first-rate officer.”</p> +<p>It was now Tom’s turn to relate his adventures; and he +modestly told his story. His auditors were deeply interested in his +narrative, and when he had finished, it was unanimously voted that +Tom was a “trump;” which I suppose means nothing more +than that he was a smart fellow—a position which no one who +has read his adventures will be disposed to controvert.</p> +<p>A long period of comparative inactivity for the regiment +followed the battle of Bull Run. General McClellan had been called +from the scene of his brilliant operations in Western Virginia, to +command the army of the Potomac, and he was engaged in the arduous +task of organizing the vast body of loyal troops that rushed +forward to sustain the government in this dark hour of peril.</p> +<p>While at Bladensburg the —th regiment with three others +were formed into a brigade, the command of which was given to +Hooker—a name then unknown beyond the circle of his own +friends.</p> +<p>About the first of November the brigade was sent to Budd’s +Ferry, thirty miles below Washington, on the Potomac, to watch the +rebels in that vicinity. The enemy had, by this time, closed the +river against the passage of vessels to the capital, by erecting +batteries at various places, the principal of which were at +Evansport, Shipping Point, and Cockpit Point. Budd’s Ferry +was a position in the vicinity of these works, and the brigade was +employed in picketing the river, to prevent the enemy on the other +side from approaching, and also to arrest the operations of the +viler traitors on this side, who were attempting to send supplies +to the rebels.</p> +<p>It was not a very exciting life to which the boys of our +regiment were introduced on their arrival at Budd’s Ferry, +though the rebel batteries at Shipping Point made a great deal of +noise and smoke at times. As the season advanced the weather began +to grow colder, and the soldiers were called to a new experience in +military life; but as they were gradually inured to the diminishing +temperature, the hardship was less severe than those who gather +around their northern fireside may be disposed to imagine. Tom +continued to be a philosopher, which was better than an extra +blanket; and he got along very well.</p> +<p>It was a dark, cold, and windy night, in December, when Tom +found himself doing picket duty near the mouth of Chickamoxon +Creek. Nobody supposed that any rebel sympathizer would be mad +enough to attempt the passage of the river on such a night as that, +for the Potomac looked alive with the angry waves that beat upon +its broad bosom. Hapgood and Fred Pemberton were with him, and the +party did the best they could to keep themselves comfortable, and +at the same time discharge the duty assigned to them.</p> +<p>“Here, lads,” said old Hapgood, who, closely muffled +in his great-coat, was walking up and down the bank of the creek to +keep the blood warm in his veins.</p> +<p>“What is it, Hapgood?” demanded Fred, who was coiled +up on the lee side of a tree, to protect him from the cold blast +that swept down the creek.</p> +<p>“Hush!” said Hapgood. “Don’t make a +noise; there’s a boat coming. Down! down! Don’t let +them see you.”</p> +<p>Tom and Fred crawled upon the ground to the verge of the creek, +and placed themselves by the side of the veteran.</p> +<p>“I don’t see any boat,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“I can see her plain enough, with my old eyes. Look up the +creek.”</p> +<p>“Ay, ay! I see her.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” added Fred. “What shall we +do?”</p> +<p>“Stop her, of course.” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“That’s easy enough said, but not so easily done. We +had better send word up to the battery, and let them open upon +her,” suggested Fred.</p> +<p>“Open upon the man in the moon!” replied Tom, +contemptuously. “Don’t you see she is under sail, and +driving down like sixty? We must board her!”</p> +<p>Tom spoke in an emphatic whisper, and pointed to a small boat, +which lay upon the shore. The craft approaching was a small +schooner apparently about five tons burden. The secessionists of +Baltimore or elsewhere had chosen this dark and tempestuous night +to send over a mail and such supplies as could not be obtained, for +love or money, on the other side of the Potomac. Of course, they +expected to run the risk of a few shots from the Union pickets on +the river; but on such a night, and in such a sea, there was very +little danger of their hitting the mark.</p> +<p>Up the creek the water was comparatively smooth; but the little +schooner was driving furiously down the stream, with the wind on +her quarter, and the chances of making a safe and profitable run to +the rebel line, those on board, no doubt, believed were all in +their favor.</p> +<p>“We have no time to lose,” said Hapgood, with +energy, as he pushed off the boat, which lay upon the beach. +“Tumble in lively, and be sure your guns are in good +order.”</p> +<p>“Mine is all right,” added Tom, as he examined the +cap on his musket, and then jumped into the boat.</p> +<p>“So is mine,” said Fred; “but I don’t +much like this business. Do you know how many men there are in the +schooner?”</p> +<p>“Don’t know, and don’t care,” replied +Tom.</p> +<p>“Of course they are armed. They have revolvers, I’ll +bet my month’s pay.”</p> +<p>“If you don’t want to go, stay on shore,” +answered Hapgood, petulantly. “But don’t make a noise +about it.”</p> +<p>“Of course I’ll go, but I think we are getting into +a bad scrape.”</p> +<p>Tom and Hapgood held a hurried consultation, which ended in the +former’s taking a position in the bow of the boat, while the +other two took their places at the oars. The muskets were laid +across the thwarts, and the rowers pulled out to the middle of the +creek, just in season to intercept the schooner. Of course they +were seen by the men on board of her, who attempted to avoid +them.</p> +<p>“Hallo!” said Tom, in a kind of confidential tone. +“On board the schooner there! Are you going over?”</p> +<p>“Yes. What do you want?” answered one of the men on +board the vessel.</p> +<p>“We want to get over, and are afraid to go in this boat. +Won’t you take us over?”</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“Friends. We’ve got a mail bag.”</p> +<p>“Where did you get it?”</p> +<p>“In Washington.”</p> +<p>By this time, the schooner had luffed up into the wind, and Tom +directed his companions to pull again. In a moment the boat was +alongside the schooner, and the soldier boy was about to jump upon +her half-deck, when the rebel crew, very naturally, ordered him to +wait till they had satisfied themselves in regard to his secession +proclivities.</p> +<p>There were five men in the schooner, all of whom were seated +near the stern. Tom did not heed the protest of the traitors, but +sprang on board the schooner, followed by his companions.</p> +<p>“Now, tell us who you are before you come any +farther,” said one of the men.</p> +<p>“Massachusetts soldiers! Surrender, or you are a dead +man,” replied Tom, pointing his gun.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_25" name="Ch_25">Chapter XXV.</a></h3> +<h2>In the Hospital.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The night was very dark, so that the rebels in the boat could +not distinguish the uniform of those who had applied for a passage +on the schooner. Perhaps Tom Somers’s experience in the Blue +Ridge and on the Shenandoah had improved his strategic ability, so +that his words and his manner seemed plausible. But as strategy and +cunning always owe their success to the comparative stupidity of +the victims, Tom and his companions gained the half-deck of the +schooner more by the palpable blundering of her crew than through +the brilliancy of their own scheme.</p> +<p>Tom did not stop, in the midst of the exciting enterprise, to +determine the particular reason of his success, as we, his humble +biographer, have done. He was on the enemy’s ground, and +confronting the enemy’s forces, and logic was as much out of +place as rebellion in a free republican country. He was closely +followed by Hapgood, and at a later period by Fred Pemberton. The +nerves of the latter were not remarkably steady, and as he stepped +on board the schooner, he neglected to take the painter with him; +and the consequence was, that the boat went adrift. It is good +generalship to keep the line of retreat open; and Fred’s +neglect had deprived them of all means of retiring from the scene +of action. The only alternative was to fight their way through, and +find safety in success.</p> +<p>To Tom’s reply, that the party were Massachusetts +soldiers, the rebel who had acted as spokesman for the crew, +uttered a volley of oaths, expressive of his indignation and +disgust at the sudden check which had been given to their +prosperous voyage.</p> +<p>“Surrender!” repeated Tom, in energetic tones.</p> +<p>Two of the rebels at the stern discharged their pistols in +answer to the summons—a piece of impudence which our +Massachusetts soldiers could not tolerate; and they returned the +fire. The secessionists evidently carried revolvers; and a turn of +the barrel enabled them to fire a second volley, which the soldiers +were unable to do, for they had no time to load their guns.</p> +<p>“O!” groaned Fred, as he sunk down upon the +half-deck. “I’m hit.”</p> +<p>“We can’t stand this, Hapgood,” said Tom, +fiercely, as he leaped into the midst of the party in the standing +room. “Let’s give them the bayonet.”</p> +<p>“Give it to ’em, Tom!” replied the veteran, as +he placed himself by the side of his young companion.</p> +<p>“Will you surrender?” demanded Tom, as he thrust +vigorously with his bayonet.</p> +<p>“We surrender,” replied one of the men; but it was +not the one who had spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat +upon the bottom of the boat.</p> +<p>“Give up your pistols, then,” added Hapgood. +“You look out for the boat, Tom, and I will take care of +these fellows.”</p> +<p>Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the +spokesman of the party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller +of the boat, he soon brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in +the stern, he assumed the management of the schooner, while Hapgood +busied himself in taking the pistols from the hands of the rebels, +and exploring their pockets, in search of other dangerous +weapons.</p> +<p>“How are you, Fred?” shouted Tom, when the pressing +business of the moment had been disposed of. “Are you much +hurt?”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid my time’s most up,” replied +he, faintly.</p> +<p>“Where are you hit?”</p> +<p>“In the face; the ball went through my head, I +suppose,” he added, in tones that were hardly audible, in the +warring of the December blast.</p> +<p>“Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. +Have you got an easy place?”</p> +<p>“No, the water dashes over me.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you move him aft, Hapgood?”</p> +<p>“Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed,” +replied the veteran, who had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and +was securing the arms of the prisoners behind them.</p> +<p>“There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers +apiece, and we can have it all our own way, if they show +fight.”</p> +<p>But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender +care he lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, +and made him as comfortable as the circumstances would permit.</p> +<p>“Now, where are we, Hapgood?” asked Tom, who had +been vainly peering ahead to discover some familiar object by which +to steer. I can’t see the first thing.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where we are,” replied Hapgood. +“I never was much of a sailor, and I leave the navigating all +to you.”</p> +<p>“I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we +were,” added Tom, who had thus far been utterly unable to +ascertain the “ship’s position.”</p> +<p>During the brief struggle for the possession of the schooner, +she had drifted some distance, which had caused the new commander +to lose his bearings. The shore they had just left had disappeared, +as though it had been swallowed up by an earthquake. No lights were +allowed on shore, where they could be seen from the river, for they +afforded so many targets to the artillerymen in the rebel +batteries. The more Tom tried to discover a familiar object to +steer by, the more it seemed as though the land and everything else +had been cut adrift, and emigrated to foreign parts. Those who have +been in a boat in a very dark night, or in a dense fog, will be +able to appreciate the bewilderment of the skipper of the captured +schooner.</p> +<p>“Look out, Tom, that you don’t run us into some of +those rebel batteries,” said Hapgood, after he had watched +the rapid progress of the boat for a few moments. “A shot +from a thirty-two pounder would be a pill we couldn’t +swallow.”</p> +<p>“No danger of that, Hapgood,” answered Tom, +confidently.</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that, my boy,” answered +the veteran, in a tone heavy with dire anxiety.</p> +<p>“I know it. The schooner was running with the wind on her +starboard quarter when we boarded her. We are now close-hauled, and +of course we can’t make the shore on the other side while we +are on this tack.”</p> +<p>Well, I don’t know much about it, Tom, but if you say its +all right, I’m satisfied; that’ all. I’d trust +you just as far as I would General McClennon, and you know we all +b’lieve in him.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with us?” asked one of the +rebels, who began to exhibit some interest in the fate of the +schooner.</p> +<p>“I suppose you will find good quarters in Fort +McHenry,” replied Tom. “Where do you belong?”</p> +<p>“In Baltimore.”</p> +<p>“What are you doing here, then?”</p> +<p>“We go in for the South.”</p> +<p>“Go in, then!” added Tom, laughing.</p> +<p>“You’ll fetch up where all the rest of ’em +do,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“How’s that fellow that was hit?” asked Tom, +pointing to the rebel who lay in the middle of the standing +room.</p> +<p>“I guess it’s all right with him,” replied +Hapgood, bending over the silent form. “No; he isn’t +dead.”</p> +<p>“I have it!” shouted Tom, suddenly crowding the helm +hard-a-lee.</p> +<p>“What, Tom?”</p> +<p>“I see where we are. We are running up the river. I see +the land on the weather bow.”</p> +<p>The schooner was put about, and after running with the wind +amidships for ten or fifteen minutes, Tom discovered the outline of +Mrs. Budd’s house, which was directly under the guns of the +Union battery.</p> +<p>“Stand by the fore halliards, Hapgood,” said Tom, as +the boat came about again. “Let go!”</p> +<p>The foresail came down, and Tom sprang upon the pier, as the +schooner came up under its lee. In a moment the boat was made fast. +By this time the pickets appeared.</p> +<p>“Who comes there?” demanded the soldier.</p> +<p>“Friends!” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“Advance, friend, and give the countersign.”</p> +<p>“Little Mac,” whispered the soldier boy in the ear +of the sentinel.</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“Co. K.” answered Tom.</p> +<p>“What’s the row? The long roll was beat just now, +and the whole regiment is in line. What was that firing?”</p> +<p>“We have captured this boat, and five prisoners, one of +them wounded, if not dead.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you,” replied the picket.</p> +<p>They were soon joined by a squad of men, and Fred Pemberton and +the wounded rebel were conveyed to the hospital, while the four +prisoners were conducted to a secure place. Hapgood and Tom then +hastened to the parade, where the regiment was drawn up, and +reported the events which had just transpired. It was unanimously +voted by officers and privates that the picket guard had done +“a big thing,” and they were warmly and generously +commended for their skill and bravery.</p> +<p>Hapgood and Tom requested permission to go to the hospital and +see their companion. They found that the surgeon had already +dressed his wound.</p> +<p>“Will he die?” asked Tom, full of solicitude for his +friend.</p> +<p>“Die! no; it’s a mere scratch. The ball ploughed +into his cheek a little way,” replied the surgeon. “It +isn’t a bad wound. He was more scared than hurt.”</p> +<p>“I am glad it is no worse,” said Captain Benson, +who, with fatherly solicitude for his men, had come to the hospital +as soon as the company was dismissed. “But what ails you, +Tom? You look pale.”</p> +<p>“Nothing, captain.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think I am badly hurt. I believe one of +those pistol balls grazed my side; but I hardly felt it.”</p> +<p>“Let me see,” said the surgeon.</p> +<p>The doctor opened Tom’s coat, and his gray shirt was found +to be saturated with blood.</p> +<p>“That’s a worse wound than Pemberton’s. +Didn’t you know it, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Well, of course I knew it; but I didn’t think it +was any thing,” replied Tom, apologetically. “I knew it +wouldn’t do to drop down, or we should all be in Dixie in +half an hour.”</p> +<p>“You are my man for the present,” said the doctor, +as he proceeded to a further examination of the wound.</p> +<p>Tom was hit in the side by one of the pistol bullets. As I have +not the surgeon’s report of the case, I cannot give a minute +description of it; but he comforted Hapgood and the captain with +the assurance that, though severe, it was not a dangerous +wound.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers, there’s a sergeant’s warrant in +Company K for one of you three men,” said Captain Benson, +when the patient was comfortably settled upon his camp bed. +“The colonel told me to give him the name of the most +deserving man in my company.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom,” said Hapgood, promptly. “He +led off in this matter, and ef’t hadn’t been for him, +we should all have been on t’other side of the river, and +p’raps on t’other side of Jordan, afore this time. And +then, to think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat +like a commodore, when the life-blood was runnin’ out of him +all the time! It belongs to Tom.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom,” added Fred, who lay near the +patient.</p> +<p>“No, Captain Benson,” interposed Tom, faintly. +“Hapgood is an old soldier, and deserves it more than I do. +Give it to him, and I shall be better satisfied than if you give it +to me.”</p> +<p>“Tom Somers!” exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of +tears sliding down his furrowed cheeks, “I won’t stand +nothin’ of the sort! I’d jump into the river and drownd +myself before I’d take it, after what you’ve +done.”</p> +<p>“You are both worthy of it,” added Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“Please give it to Hapgood,” pleaded Tom. “He +first proposed going out after the little schooner.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom, cap’n. It’ll help heal his +wound,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“No; it would do me more good to have you receive +it,” protested Tom.</p> +<p>“Well, here, I can’t have this battle fought in the +hospital,” interposed the surgeon. “They are good +friends, captain, and whichever one you give it to, the other will +be suited. You had better settle the case at +head-quarters.”</p> +<p>“If you please, Captain Benson, I would like to have +Hapgood stay with me to-night, if he can be spared.”</p> +<p>The veteran was promptly detailed for hospital duty, and the +captain returned to his quarters to decide the momentous question +in regard to the sergeant’s warrant.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_26" name="Ch_26">Chapter XXVI.</a></h3> +<h2>Tom is Sentimental.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The little schooner which the picket guard had captured was +loaded with valuable supplies for the rebels, which of course were +confiscated without ceremony. The mail bag which was on board +contained a great many letters from traitors in Baltimore, some of +whom were exposed by the capture of their treasonable +correspondence.</p> +<p>Tom’s wound proved to be more serious than even the +surgeon had anticipated; but the best care which it was possible to +give in a military hospital was bestowed upon him. Old Hapgood, in +recognition of his services on that eventful night, was permitted +to be near the patient as much as the interests of the service +would permit; and the old man was happy when seated by the rude +couch of the soldier boy, ministering to his necessities, or +cheering him with bright hopes of the future. A strong friendship +had grown up between them, for Tom’s kind heart and brave +conduct produced a deep impression upon the old man.</p> +<p>“Here, Tom,” said Captain Benson, as he approached +the sufferer, a few days after he entered the hospital, and laid a +paper upon the bed. “Here’s a prescription which the +colonel says you must take.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Tom, with a faint smile.</p> +<p>“A sergeant’s warrant.”</p> +<p>“Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on!” +exclaimed old Hapgood, jumping up like a youth of sixteen, and +swinging his cap above his head.</p> +<p>“Shut up, there!” shouted the hospital steward. +“Don’t you know any better than to make such a racket +in this place?”</p> +<p>“I beg pardon, Jameson. I forgot where I was,” +apologized the veteran. “The news was so good I +couldn’t help it. Our Tom is a sergeant now!”</p> +<p>“Not yet, Hapgood,” replied Tom, feebly. “I +can’t accept it, Captain Benson; it belongs to Hapgood, sir, +and I shall feel a great deal better if you put his name in place +of mine.”</p> +<p>“Don’t do it, cap’n!” interposed the old +man, vehemently. “Tom shall be a brigadier general if the war +lasts one year more. I should feel like a whipped kitten if that +warrant was altered.”</p> +<p>“The matter has been fully and fairly considered at +head-quarters, and there is no such thing as altering the decision +now; so, Tom, you can put the stripes on your arm just as soon as +you please.”</p> +<p>Hapgood insisted, the surgeon insisted, and the captain +insisted; and Tom was too sick to hold way with them in an +argument, and his name was placed upon the roster of the company as +a sergeant. He was proud of the distinction which had been +conferred upon him, though he thought Hapgood, as an older and +abler soldier, was better entitled to the honor than himself.</p> +<p>It was six weeks before Tom was able to enter upon the actual +enjoyment of the well-merited promotion which he had won by his +gallantry; but when he appeared before the company with the chevron +of the sergeant upon his arm, he was lustily cheered by his +comrades, and it was evident that the appointment was a very +popular one. Not even the grumblers, of whom there is a full quota +in every regiment, deemed it prudent to growl at the decision of +the officers. If any one ventured to suggest that he was too young +to be placed over older and stronger men, his friends replied, that +men in the army were measured by bravery and skill, not by +years.</p> +<p>If my young readers wish to know why Tom’s appointment was +so well received by his companions in arms, I can only reply, that +he had not only been brave and cheerful in the midst of peril and +hardship, but he was kind and obliging to his comrades. He had +always been willing to help those that needed help, to sympathize +with those in trouble, and generally to do all he could to render +those around him happy.</p> +<p>Above all these considerations, Tom was a young man of high +principle. He had obeyed his mother’s parting injunction, +often repeated in the letters which came to him from home, and had +faithfully “read his Testament.” Without being a +hypocrite or a canting saint, Tom carried about with him the true +elements of Christian character.</p> +<p>Tom had fought a greater battle than that in which he had been +engaged at Bull Run a hundred times, in resisting the temptations +which beset him from within and without. True to God and true to +himself, he had won the victory. Though his lot was cast in the +midst of men who swore, gambled, and drank liquor, he had shunned +these vices, and loved the sinner while he hated the sin. Such a +person could not fail to win the respect of his companions. Though +he had been jeered at and insulted for being sober, honest, and +pious, he had fought down and lived down all these vilifiers, and +won their esteem.</p> +<p>It must be acknowledged that Tom’s piety was of the robust +type. He would not allow any man to insult him; and after the +chastisement he had given Ben Lethbridge, not even those who were +strong enough to whip him were disposed to trespass upon his rights +and dignity. Perhaps Tom’s creed needed a little revising; +but he lived under martial law, which does not take cognizance of +insults and revilings. He was willing to be smitten on the one +cheek, and on the other also, for the good of his country, or even +his friends, but not to be wantonly insulted.</p> +<p>The influence of Tom’s principles was not confined to +himself, for “a little leaven leaveneth the whole +lump.” This was particularly true of Hapgood, who, more +through Tom’s preaching and practice than from any strength +in his own character, had steadily maintained his purpose to +abstain from intoxicating drinks, though occasional opportunities +were presented for the indulgence of his darling vice. Tom and he +read the Testament and other good books which were sent to the +regiment, and both profited by them.</p> +<p>When the soldier boy was discharged from the hospital, the +surgeon gave him a pair of woolen socks, from a case of them which +had been sent by the friends of the soldier in Boston and its +vicinity. He was very much in need of them, and from the depths of +his heart he blessed the ladies who had done this good work. He +unrolled the socks, and proceeded to pull one of them on. It was as +good a fit as though his mother had knit it on purpose for him.</p> +<p>“God bless the lady that knit these socks!” +exclaimed Tom, as he began to draw on the other.</p> +<p>“Amen!” replied Hapgood, who was watching the +operation in full sympathy with his protege.</p> +<p>“Eh! what’s this?” added Tom, for his foot had +met with an obstruction in its passage down the leg.</p> +<p>He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took +therefrom a letter enclosed in an envelope.</p> +<p>“See that, uncle?” said he, exhibiting the +prize.</p> +<p>“What is it, Tom? Open it quick,” replied +Hapgood.</p> +<p>The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note +enclosing a photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of +pleasure, which would have caused the original of the miniature, +the author of the note, and the author of the socks, to blush up to +her eyes if she had beheld the expression of admiration which +glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the young sergeant.</p> +<p>“By all that’s lovely, isn’t she a +beauty!” exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as he glanced from the +picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder.</p> +<p>“She’s hahnsome, and no mistake,” replied the +veteran, with a grim smile.</p> +<p>“Well, she is!” added Tom, whose eyes were riveted +to the photograph.</p> +<p>“Well, why don’t you read the letter, Tom?” +demanded the old soldier, after the young man had gazed with +blushing cheek upon the sweet face of the author of his socks for +full five minutes.</p> +<p>“I guess I will,” said Tom; but he did not; for the +picture seemed to be glory and beauty enough to satisfy him for the +present.</p> +<p>“Read the letter, Tom!” shouted the veteran, after +he had waited as long as the nature of the case seemed to +require.</p> +<p>The soldier boy carefully placed the photograph in the envelope, +and unfolded the letter. It was written in a beautiful hand, which +looked as soft and delicate as the fair fingers which had penned +the lines. He glanced at it as a whole, admired the penmanship, and +the fairy-like symmetry that make up the <em>tout-ensemble</em> of +the page, and was about to dissolve into another rhapsody, when +Hapgood, who was not half so sentimental as the sergeant, became +impatient to know the contents of the missive. Tom read it aloud to +the stoical veteran; and though we cannot clothe its sweet words in +the fairy chirography which transported our hero, and made the +letter a dream of bliss to him, we shall venture to present it to +our curious readers, stiffened and hardened into the dull, cold +forms of the printer’s art.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>No.——, RUTLAND STREET, BOSTON, <em>Nov.</em> 5, +1861.</p> +<p>MY DEAR SOLDIER:—</p> +<p>This is the first pair of socks I ever knit; and I send them to +you with my blessing upon the brave defenders of my country. I hope +they will keep your feet warm, and thus keep your heart warm +towards God and our blessed land.</p> +<p>Grandma says I am a silly girl, and I suppose I am; but if you +feel half as much interest in me as I do in the person who will +wear the first pair of socks I ever knit, you will wish to know how +I look; therefore I send you my photograph.</p> +<p>I very much desire to know whether my work has done any good; +whether my socks are ever worn in a battle; and most of all, I +desire to know how the noble fellow looks that wears them. +Therefore I beg you to answer my letter, and also to send me your +photograph, if you can conveniently.</p> +<p>Now, my dear soldier, be brave and true, and, above all, do not +run away from the rebels with my socks on your feet. You may +retreat when your officers order you to retire; but if you are a +coward, and find yourself compelled to run away, please pull them +off before you do so, for I should die with mortification if I +thought I had knit a pair of socks for a Union soldier to run away +in.</p> +<p class="rgt">Truly yours, for our flag and our country.<br /> +LILIAN ASHFORD.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>“Well, if that gal ain’t a trump, then there +ain’t no snakes in Virginny!” exclaimed Hapgood. +“She’s got the true grit, and no mistake.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” replied the recipient of the +gift, thoughtfully, as he bent down, and began to pull off the sock +which encased his left foot.</p> +<p>“What are you doing?” demanded Hapgood, surprised at +this new movement of his companion.</p> +<p>“I can’t wear these socks yet, uncle,” replied +he.</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>Don’t she say she wants them worn in a battle?”</p> +<p>“Tom, you are a little fool!” added the veteran, +petulantly. “Are you going with cold feet just to please a +silly gal, whose head is as full of moonshine as an egg is of meat. +Put on the socks, and keep your feet warm. If you don’t, +I’ll write to her, and tell what a fool you are.”</p> +<p>Tom did put them on, but he could not help feeling that uncle +Hapgood, as he was familiarly called in the camp, did not +understand and appreciate his sentiments. The socks seemed to be +too precious to be worn in the vulgar mud of Maryland. To him there +was something ethereal about them, and it looked a little like +profanation to put any thing emanating from the fairy fingers of +the original of that photograph, and the author of that letter, +upon his feet.</p> +<p>“Now you act like a sensible fellow, as you are, +Tom,” said Hapgood, as the sergeant put on his army +brogans.</p> +<p>“Well, uncle, one thing is certain: I never will run away +from the rebels with these socks on,” added Tom, with a rich +glow of enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“If Gen’l McClennon don’t stir his stumps +pretty soon, you’ll wear ’em out afore you git a chance +to run away.”</p> +<p>Tom, almost for the first time since he had been in the army, +wanted to be alone. With those socks on, it seemed just as though +he was walking the streets of the New Jerusalem, with heaven and +stacks of silver-fringed and golden-tinged clouds beneath his feet, +buried up to the eyes in floods of liquid moonshine.</p> +<p>If “grandma” really thought that Lilian Ashford was +a silly girl, and if Lilian really supposed so herself, it must be +added, in justification of her conduct, that she had given the +soldier boy a new incentive to do his duty nobly, and kindled in +his soul a holy aspiration to serve God and his country with +renewed zeal and fidelity.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_27" name="Ch_27">Chapter XXVII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Confederate Deserter.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom was in the hospital, he received a letter from his +sister, informing him that his brother John had actually entered +the navy, and with his mother’s consent. The news from home +was so favorable, that the soldier boy was pleased to hear that +Jack had realized his darling wish, and that he was now in his +element.</p> +<p>Intelligence from home, accompanied with letters, papers, books, +comforts, and luxuries of various kinds, reached him every two or +three weeks; and when the news went back that Tom had been made a +sergeant for gallant conduct, there was a great sensation in +Pinchbrook. The letters which reached him after the receipt of this +gratifying announcement contained all the gossip of the place in +regard to the important event. Of course, Tom was delighted by +these letters, and was more than ever determined to be diligent and +faithful in the discharge of his duties, and never to disgrace the +name he bore. He was confident his friends would never have +occasion to blush for his conduct—including the original of +the photograph, the author of the letter and of the socks.</p> +<p>Tom recovered from the effects of his wound, as we have before +intimated, and took his place in the regimental line as a sergeant. +January and February passed away without any very stirring events; +but in the month of March came indications of activity. The rebels +began to draw in their lines, by abandoning various points, till +the nation was startled by the evacuation of their strongly +fortified position at Manassas, and the forts in front of +Budd’s Ferry were suddenly left for the occupation of the +Federal troops.</p> +<p>Hooker’s men crossed the Potomac, and Tom was once more on +the sacred soil of Virginia. Skirmishers were sent out in various +directions, and though a deserted camp, which had been hastily +abandoned, was found, there were no rebels to be seen. The Union +boys were not disposed to leave their investigations at this +interesting point, and they pursued their way still farther into +the country. Somehow or other, Tom and his party did not receive +the order to return, and the enterprising young hero continued his +march in search of further adventures. It was altogether too tame +for him and the congenial spirits in his section to retire without +seeing a live rebel or two; and I am not sure, if their desire had +not been gratified, that they would not have penetrated to +Fredericksburg, and captured that citadel of rebellion in advance +to General Augur, who visited the place in April.</p> +<p>As it was, they stumbled upon the pickets of a rebel force, and +as soon as their uniform was identified they had the honor of being +fired upon, though none of them had the honor of being killed in +the midst of their virtual disobedience of orders. But their +appearance created a panic among the Confederates, who had no means +of knowing that they were not the pioneers of a whole division of +Union troops, for General McClellan had removed the spell which +bound the loyal army to its camps, and corps, divisions, and +brigades were pushing forward into the dominion of the +traitors.</p> +<p>The alarm was given, and Tom saw that he was rushing into a bad +scrape; and as prudence is as much a requisite of the good soldier +as bravery, he ordered his men to fall back. Rebels are very much +like ill-natured curs, ever ready to pursue a retreating foe, or +run away from an advancing one. The Confederates chased them, and +as the legs of the former seemed to be in remarkably good +condition, the sergeant came to the conclusion that it would not be +safe to run too fast.</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted he; and the men promptly obeyed the +order.</p> +<p>They discharged their muskets, and then made a demonstration +towards the enemy, who, obeying their instinct, ran away as fast as +their legs would carry them. Taking advantage of this movement on +their part, Tom again ordered a retreat.</p> +<p>“They are after us again,” said Hapgood. “I +hope there ain’t no cavalry within hearing. If there is, we +may take a journey to Richmond.”</p> +<p>“They have stopped to load their guns,” replied Tom. +“We will use our legs now.”</p> +<p>“See that, Tom!” said Hapgood, suddenly.</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“There’s one of them rushing towards us all +alone.”</p> +<p>“He has thrown up his gun. The others are yelling to him +to come back. What does that mean?”</p> +<p>“He is a deserter; he wants to get away from them. There +he comes.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and there comes the rest of them—the whole +rebel army—more than a million of them,” said Fred +Pemberton. “It’s time for us to be going.”</p> +<p>“See! They are firing at him. Forward!” added Tom, +leading the way.</p> +<p>The party rushed forward, for a short distance; but the dozen +rebels had been reënforced, and it was madness to rush into +the very teeth of danger. Tom ordered his men to halt and fire at +will. The deserter, probably finding that he was between two fires, +turned aside from the direct course he was pursuing, and sought +shelter in the woods. The sergeant then directed his men to retire, +for whether the retreat of the runaway rebel was covered or not, it +was no longer safe to remain.</p> +<p>Fortunately the Confederates were more in doubt than the +Unionists; and perhaps expecting to fall upon a larger body of the +latter, they abandoned the pursuit, and returned to their posts. +Nothing was seen of the deserter for some time, and Tom concluded +that he had lost his way in the woods, or had missed the direction +taken by the Federal scouts.</p> +<p>“He was a plucky fellow, any how,” said one of the +men, “to attempt to run away in the very face of his +companions.”</p> +<p>“Well, he timed it well, for he started just when their +guns were all empty,” added another.</p> +<p>“I’m not sorry he missed us,” continued +Hapgood. “I don’t like a desarter, no how. It goes +right agin my grain.”</p> +<p>“But he was running from the wrong to the right +side,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“I don’t keer if he was. Them colors on +t’other side were his’n. He chose ’em for +himself, and it’s mean to run away from ’em. If a +man’s go’n to be a rebel, let him be one, and stick to +it.”</p> +<p>“You don’t know any thing about it, uncle. Thousands +of men have been forced into the rebel army, and I don’t +blame them for getting out of it the best way they can. I should do +so.”</p> +<p>“That may be. Tom; that may be,” added the veteran, +taking off his cap and rubbing his bald head, as though a new idea +had penetrated it. “I didn’t think of that.”</p> +<p>“He’s a brave man, whoever he is, and whatever he +is.”</p> +<p>“He must want to get away from ’em pretty bad, or he +wouldn’t have run that risk. I shouldn’t wonder if they +hit him.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he is wounded, and gone into the woods there to +die,” suggested Tom.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” shouted some one in the rear of them.</p> +<p>“There’s your man,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” cried the same voice.</p> +<p>“Halloo, yourself!” shouted Hapgood in reply to the +hail.</p> +<p>The party halted, and after waiting a few moments, the rebel +deserter came in sight. He was apparently a man of fifty; and no +mendicant of St. Giles, who followed begging as a profession, could +have given himself a more wretched and squalid appearance, if he +had devoted a lifetime to the study of making himself look +miserable. He wore a long black and gray beard, uncut and unkempt, +and snarled, tangled, and knotted into the most fantastic forms. +His gray uniform, plentifully bedaubed with Virginia mud, was torn +in a hundred places, and hung in tatters upon his emaciated frame. +On his head was an old felt hat, in a terribly dilapidated +condition. He wore one boot and one shoe, which he had probably +taken from the common sewer of Richmond, or some other southern +city; they were ripped to such an extent that the +“uppers” went flipperty-flap as he walked, and had the +general appearance of the open mouth of the mythic dragon, with +five bare toes in each to represent teeth.</p> +<p>As he approached, the unthinking soldiers of the party indulged +in screams of laughter at the uncouth appearance of the whilom +rebel; and certainly the character in tableau or farce need not +have spoken, to convulse any audience that ever assembled in +Christendom. Rip Van Winkle, with the devastations and +dilapidations of five-and-twenty years hanging about him, did not +present a more forlorn appearance than did this representative of +the Confederate army.</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at?” demanded the deserter, +not at all delighted with this reception.</p> +<p>“I say, old fellow, how long since you escaped from the +rag-bag?” jeered one of the men.</p> +<p>“What’s the price of boots in Richmond now?” +asked another.</p> +<p>“Who’s your barber?”</p> +<p>“Silence, men!” interposed Tom, sternly, for he +could not permit his boys to make fun of the wretchedness of any +human being.</p> +<p>“We’ll sell you out for paper stock,” said Ben +Lethbridge, who had just returned from three months’ service +in the Rip-Raps for desertion.</p> +<p>“Shut up, Ben!” added Tom.</p> +<p>“Dry up, all of you!” said Corporal Snyder.</p> +<p>“Who and what are you?” asked Tom, of the +deserter.</p> +<p>“I’m a Union man!” replied the stranger with +emphasis; “and I didn’t expect to be treated in this +way after all I’ve suffered.”</p> +<p>“They thought you were a rebel. You wear the colors of the +rebel army,” answered the sergeant, willing to explain the +rudeness of his men.</p> +<p>“Well, I suppose I do look rather the worse for the +wear,” added the grayback, glancing down at the tattered +uniform he wore. “I joined the rebel army, after I had tried +every way in the world to get out of this infernal country; but I +never fired a gun at a Union man. Seems to me, sergeant, I’ve +seen you before somewhere. What’s your name? Where did you +come from?”</p> +<p>“Pinchbrook, Massachusetts; and most of us hail from the +same place.”</p> +<p>“Creation!” exclaimed the deserter. “You +don’t say so!”</p> +<p>“Your voice sounds familiar to me,” added Tom; and +for some reason his chest was heaving violently beneath his +suddenly accelerated respiration.</p> +<p>As he spoke, he walked towards the dilapidated rebel, who had +not ventured to come within twenty feet of the party.</p> +<p>“Did you say Pinchbrook?” demanded the stranger, who +began to display a great deal of emotion.</p> +<p>“Pinchbrook, sir,” added Tom; and so intensely was +he excited, that the words were gasped from his lips.</p> +<p>“What’s your name?”</p> +<p>“Thomas Somers,” replied the sergeant.</p> +<p>“Tom!” screamed the deserter, rushing forward.</p> +<p>“Father!” cried Tom, as he grasped the hand of the +phantom Confederate.</p> +<p>The soldiers of the party were transfixed with astonishment at +this unexpected scene, and they stood like statues gazing at the +meeting of father and son, till the final development of their +relationship, when the muscles of their faces relaxed, and the +expression of wonder gave place to joyous sympathy.</p> +<p>“Captain Somers, of Pinchbrook!” shouted old +Hapgood; and the men joined with him in a roar of intense +satisfaction, that made the woods ring.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_28" name="Ch_28">Chapter XXVIII.</a></h3> +<h2>On the Peninsula.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The scene between Captain Somers and his son was very affecting +and very exciting; and if the soldiers had all been uncles and +first cousins of the parties, they could not have manifested more +interest on the joyous occasion. The father wept, and the son wept; +for each, amid the terrible experience of these troublous times, +had hardly expected to meet the other.</p> +<p>For several minutes they held each other by the hand, laughing +and weeping alternately, and neither being able to express the +intense emotions which agitated him. The men shouted and laughed in +full sympathy with the reunited sire and son.</p> +<p>“I’m glad to see you, Tom,” said Captain +Somers, as he wiped away the tears that were sliding down upon his +grizzly beard. “I haven’t cried before for thirty +years; I’m ashamed of it, Tom, but I can’t help +it.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t expect to find you here, father, and +clothed in the rebel uniform; but I’m glad to see you in any +uniform,” replied the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“So you’re in the army, Tom,” continued the +father, gazing with satisfaction at the neat appearance of the +sergeant.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I enlisted within a fortnight after we heard +that the traitors had bombarded Fort Sumter.”</p> +<p>“I see you’ve got three stripes on your +arm.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Cap’n Somers,” said Hapgood; “Tom +was made a sergeant for gallant conduct on the river in December; +and he deserved his promotion too.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad to see you with that uniform on your back, +Tom; and glad to hear that you have behaved well.”</p> +<p>“I was in the battle of Bull Run, father, and was taken +prisoner, but I got away.”</p> +<p>“Well, Tom, we’ll hear about that bimeby,” +said the old man, stopping and looking nervously into the face of +his son. “I want to ask a great many questions, Tom, but I +hardly dare to do it. You know I haven’t heard a word from +home since I left, and it’s almost a year now.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t be afraid, father; the folks are all +well. I have got a heap of letters at the camp, and you shall read +them all as soon as we get there.”</p> +<p>“Is your mother well, Tom?”</p> +<p>“First rate.”</p> +<p>“And John?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; but he’s gone into the navy. He was bound +to be in the fight any how.”</p> +<p>“John’s a chip of the old block. He wanted to snuff +the salt water afore he was a week old. John’s a good sailor, +and he ought to have a good lay wherever he goes,” added the +father.</p> +<p>Captain Somers and Tom sat upon the ground for half an hour, +until the fugitive from the rebel army was in some degree rested +after the hard run he had had through the woods. The soldiers +gathered around them, as much interested as though they had been +members of the Somers family. Tom’s father had a multitude of +questions to ask about Pinchbrook and its people, all of which were +answered to his satisfaction.</p> +<p>The sergeant thought it was time for the party to move on, and +his father declared that he was able to walk any distance which +would bring him nearer to the home of his wife and children. The +order was given, and the little band resumed its march.</p> +<p>“How have you been all this time, father?” asked +Tom, as he walked along by the side of Captain Somers.</p> +<p>“I’ve been pretty fairly most of the time. I’m +tough and hardy, or I should have been dead afore this time. +We’ve been half starved and half frozen in the camp; but I +managed to live through it, hoping and expecting to get away from +those rascally rebels.”</p> +<p>“Where have you been all the time?” asked Tom. +“Have you been in the rebel army long?”</p> +<p>“About four months; but I may as well begin at the +beginning, and tell you the whole story,” added the captain. +“I got to Norfolk all right, and was there when the news came +up that the rebels had taken Sumter. Every body was mad, and I was +as mad as the rest of them, though not exactly in the same way. I +let on a little with my tongue, and came pretty near being tarred +and feathered, and I think I should have been, if your uncle Wyman +hadn’t interfered.”</p> +<p>“Did he settle with you, father?”</p> +<p>“After a while he did. He had some fifteen thousand +dollars in New York, which had just been sent over from England, +and as he was secesh, he was terribly afeard the Lincoln government +would confiscate it; so he settled with me, and gave me a power of +attorney to draw his money, pay myself, and take care of what was +over. I’ve got the papers safe in my waistbands +now.”</p> +<p>“Good! Glory, hallelujah!” shouted Tom. “We +can pay off old Pemberton now, for it goes against my grain to owe +a dollar to a traitor. But if uncle Wyman is a rebel, and I suppose +he is, I hope the government will confiscate what’s over +after you have paid yourself.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know. We will see about that bimeby. +He used me fair, and I don’t wish him any harm; but I hate +his principles. Well, just then, Tom, when I had got my accounts +squared, the rascals took my vessel, and sunk it in the channel to +keep the Union fleet out. My pipe was out then, and I +couldn’t do any thing more. I hung round the city of Norfolk +till I saw there was no chance to get out in that direction; and +then I left. I was up near Bull Run—the rebels call it +Manassas—when the battle was fought; but our folks got licked +so badly, that it was no use to try to get through there.</p> +<p>“I tried half a dozen times to crawl through, and had +nearly starved to death in the woods; but some rebel cavalry +pickets spied me out, called me a traitor, and sent me back. My +money was all gone by this time, and I went over to Norfolk again. +Your uncle Wyman told me I had better keep quiet where I was, for +just as sure as his name was Somers, the North would all fall to +pieces in less than six months. He expected the rebel army would be +in New York afore long, and I should be a great deal better off +where I was. He tried to get a pass to send me through the rebel +lines, but he couldn’t do it.</p> +<p>“Things went on in this way till your uncle Wyman went to +Charleston on business, and I haven’t seen him from that day +to this. The rebels tried to make me go into their navy, but I +wouldn’t do it, of course; but when I couldn’t do any +other way, I went into the army, hoping I should be sent to the +front, and find a chance to get away. I’ve been watching ever +since, but I never happened to get within twenty miles of the Union +pickets before. But here I am, and I’m perfectly satisfied +with the past, though I’ve suffered a good deal in one way +and another.”</p> +<p>By the time Captain Somers had finished his narrative, the party +arrived at the camp. Tom was reprimanded very gently for detaching +himself from the main body of the regiment; but when he reported +the events of his excursion, as he had safely returned with his +command, nothing more was said about his adventure.</p> +<p>At the camp the Union refugee was provided with comfortable +clothing; his hair and beard were trimmed down to decent +proportions, and he was otherwise purged of the barbarisms of the +rebel camp. But even then he did not look like the stout, hearty, +healthy Captain Somers who sailed from Boston in the Gazelle nearly +a year before. He was haggard and emaciated from anxiety and +semi-starvation.</p> +<p>Captain Somers was warmly welcomed by the members of Company K, +who came from Pinchbrook; and when his physical wants had been +satisfied, he was sent to General Hooker, to communicate to him +such intelligence as he possessed in regard to the position and +numbers of the rebel army. He remained at the camp but two days, at +the end of which time he was sent to Washington, and from there +hastened to his home in Pinchbrook. A letter from Tom, announcing +the joyful intelligence of his return, had preceded him.</p> +<p>In ten days after parting with his father, the sergeant received +a full and glowing account of the reception of Captain Somers, who +became quite a lion in Pinchbrook for the time being. He received +his money as he passed through New York, though not without the aid +of a government order which he had procured in Washington, and only +the amount that was actually due to him, for uncle Wyman’s +funds were then in process of being confiscated.</p> +<p>The only drawback upon his father’s happiness was the +absence of John, who had been drafted into a vessel bound to the +South. He had not seen him for a year, and another year would +probably elapse before he could expect to realize this pleasure. +But the captain’s patriotism had been intensified a hundred +fold by his bitter experience in Virginia; and while his twin sons +were gallantly serving their country in the army and the navy, he +was willing to sacrifice the yearnings of his paternal heart, and +he hoped and prayed that they might do their duty faithfully.</p> +<p>Tom’s regiment remained on the Potomac but a short time +after the event we have related. Sharper and sterner experience was +before these tried soldiers, and the first indications of active +service were greeted with joyous enthusiasm. Suddenly the camp was +broken up, and the order to march given. The men wondered and +speculated upon their destination, and though the prophets of the +regiments gave them certain information in regard to the direction +they were to take, most of them were incredulous. One declared they +were going to Richmond by the way of Fredericksburg; another, by +the way of Manassas; and a third was positive, from hints he had +seen in the newspapers, that they were going down the valley of the +Shenandoah, to take the capital of Rebeldom on the flank and +rear.</p> +<p>While the prophets and wise men were speculating, the regiment +marched on; and to the astonishment of all, and to the utter +confusion of the seers, they were embarked in a transport—the +steamer Napoleon—bound no one knew where. One regiment and +half of another belonging to the brigade were huddled on board of +this one steamer. Every foot of standing room was occupied, and, of +course, the boys were not very comfortably quartered; but, as Tom +expressed it, there was music ahead, and the brave hearts on board +were ready to stand any thing if they could only get a fight out of +the rebels. The mortification of their defeat at Bull Run still +hung heavily on their spirits, and they were panting for an +opportunity to retaliate upon the foe, and win the laurels they had +lost upon that disastrous field.</p> +<p>The prophets, though their failure to foretell the coming event +had cast them into disgrace, were still ready to volunteer an +opinion. They declared that the transports were bound to North +Carolina, to follow up Burnside’s successes; but most of the +men were content to wait till the future should develop itself.</p> +<p>The troops were eager for active duty, and if they could get +into the field and strike a heavy blow at the rebellion, they did +not care where it was. They had unbounded confidence in the young +general who was to organize victory for them, and they were willing +to obey orders, and leave every thing to him.</p> +<p>It “thundered all around” them. Roanoke, Pea Ridge, +Newbern, Winchester, Donelson, were a succession of Union +victories, which inspired them with zeal and courage to endure all +hardships, and face any peril which might be in their path.</p> +<p>The transport descended the Potomac, and came to anchor in the +bay, where they lay one day; the steamer then continued on her +course, and landed her troops in Cheseman’s Creek, an +indentation of the peninsula between the York and James Rivers. +After lying in camp a few days, they marched again, and Tom learned +that the regiment was before Yorktown, which had been strongly +fortified by the rebels to resist the advance of the Union +army.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_29" name="Ch_29">Chapter XXIX.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Williamsburg.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>What the army of the Potomac achieved and suffered before +Yorktown, we must leave for the historian. Our soldier boy was only +one hero among thousands who toiled in the soft mud of the early +spring, who watched and waited for the tremendous events which have +now passed into history, and whose actors will be honored and +remembered by future generations.</p> +<p>Tom Somers bore his full share of the trials and hardships of +that eventful period; and when McClellan’s scientific +engineering had driven the rebels from their strong works without a +struggle to retain them, he moved forward with the gallant army. +“On to Richmond!” again sounded along the lines, and +the soldiers toiled through mud and mire, hoping and expecting to +strike the final blow that would crush out the rebellion.</p> +<p>Yorktown was evacuated. The rebels were fleeing from their +frowning batteries, and the order came for Hooker’s division +to join in the pursuit. At noon the brigade—now under command +of General Grover commenced its forward movement.</p> +<p>“Rather rough,” said Hapgood, as the regiment +struggled on through the mire. “Rather soft, I think,” +replied Tom, laughing.</p> +<p>“I hope we haven’t got to march far through this +mud,” added Ben Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“That will depend upon how soon we come up with the +rebels. If it rests with Hooker, I tell you he will get a fight out +of the rebs, if such a thing is possible.”</p> +<p>After the regiment had marched five or six miles, the order came +to halt; and the intelligence passed along the column that the +cavalry had come up with the enemy, and were waiting the arrival of +an infantry force to assist in the attack.</p> +<p>“Good!” shouted Tom. “We shall have a battle +before night.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” added Hapgood. “It takes the +cat a good while to catch the mouse, even after she smells the +critter.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t we march? What are we stopping here +for?” said Tom, impatiently.</p> +<p>“They say Smith’s division has got in ahead of us. +Keep cool, Tom; never be in a hurry for a battle. Some of us that +stand here now won’t be alive in twenty-four hours from now; +for I don’t believe the rebs are going to let us have it all +our own way,” said the veteran.</p> +<p>“Nor I,” added Fred Pemberton. “I shall be +killed in this fight.”</p> +<p>“How do you know, Fred?” demanded Hapgood, +sternly.</p> +<p>“Of course I don’t know, but I feel it in my bones +that I shall fall in the first battle.”</p> +<p>“Your bones ain’t no guide at all. I know something +about this business, and I’ve seen croakers afore to-day. +Don’t talk about being killed, or even hit. Be ready to die, +do your duty like a soldier, and leave all the rest to your +Maker,” said the veteran, solemnly.</p> +<p>“I don’t have any such feeling as that. I know I +shan’t be killed,” laughed Ben. “The bullet +hasn’t been cast yet that will stop my wind.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps it has, my boy. It may be in some rebel +soldier’s cartridge box over yonder, even now. I tell you, +boys, you don’t know any thing about it. Just afore we went +in at Cerry Gordy, a feller by my side said the same thing you did, +Ben; and he was the first man that went down. I tried to pick him +up, and do something for him, but he was stone dead. I tell you, +Ben, you don’t know any thing about it. Leave it all to the +Almighty.”</p> +<p>“Pooh, uncle!” sneered Ben, trying to laugh down the +solemn words of the old man. “Don’t you think +we’d better have a prayer meetin’ before we go +in?”</p> +<p>“I think we should fight the better for it, for he who +trusts in God don’t fear death.”</p> +<p>But it was evident that the words of Hapgood, especially the +incident of Cerro Gordo, had made a deep impression upon the mind +of the thoughtless young man. Though the division did not move for +three hours, he was very silent and sober. He seemed to feel that +he had been tempting Providence by his bold speech, and even +expressed his regret to Tom for what he had said.</p> +<p>It was dark when the order to march was given. The night was +exceedingly gloomy, and the rain poured down upon the devoted army, +as it moved forward to do its great work. Hour after hour, in the +deep darkness and the pouring rain, the men struggled through the +mire, expecting every moment to be hurled upon the rebel +battalions, or to meet the impetuous onset of the foe.</p> +<p>Between ten and eleven, when the men were nearly worn out by the +exhausting labors of the march, they were ordered to halt in the +road, and bivouac for the rest of the night. What a time and what a +place for repose! They could only wrap themselves up in their wet +blankets, and stretch themselves upon the ground, soaked with +water, and with the rain still pouring down upon them. But they +slept, and enjoyed their rest, for Nature was imperative in her +demands.</p> +<p>At daylight the march was resumed; for the intrepid Hooker, ever +faithful to the trust confided to him, was wholly in earnest. At +half-past five the column was halted in the woods. The rebel works +before Williamsburg were in sight, and General Hooker rode to the +front to examine the position of the enemy.</p> +<p>In front of the rebel batteries, and on each side of the roads, +the trees had been felled, in order to give the guns in the field +works full play upon an approaching force.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted some of the boys on the right of +the column. “Our brigade is to commence the +attack.”</p> +<p>“How do you know?” growled Hapgood, who did not +think a soldier ought to know any thing about the plan of the +battle.</p> +<p>“We are ordered to move,” replied Tom. “I +suppose that’s all they know about it.”</p> +<p>The prophets on the right were correct this time, for the +regiment was soon sent to the right of the road, and ordered to +deploy as skirmishers. A battery was thrown forward in front of the +felled timber; but before a gun could be fired, two officers and +two privates were seen to fall before the unerring aim of the rebel +sharpshooters, occupying the rifle pits which dotted the cleared +land in front of the forts.</p> +<p>“That’s a hot place,” said Ben Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“We shall all see hot work before the sun goes down +to-night,” replied Tom. “But let us stand up to it like +men.”</p> +<p>“That’s the talk, Tom!” exclaimed Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Have you got those socks on, my boy?”</p> +<p>“I have, uncle; and I have the letter and the photograph +in my pocket.”</p> +<p>“Good, Tom! After this day’s work is over, you can +write the lady a letter, and tell her that her socks have been in a +battle.”</p> +<p>“And that I didn’t run away in them.”</p> +<p>The roar of the guns in Fort Magruder interrupted the +conversation. The gunners of the battery in front of them had been +driven from their pieces; but it was almost instantly manned by +volunteers, and a destructive fire poured into the works. Other +batteries were brought up, and the fort was soon silenced. The roar +of battle sounded all along the line; the thunder of cannon and the +crash of musketry reverberated through the woods and over the +plain, assuring the impatient troops that they were engaged in no +trivial affair; that they were fighting a great battle, of which +thousands yet unborn would read upon the pages of history.</p> +<p>Our regiment closed up its lines, and the gallant colonel gave +the order to move forward in the direction of the field works. On, +on, steadily and firmly marched the men of Massachusetts, through +ditch and swamp, through mud and mire, loading, firing, and +charging, as the enemy presented opportunity. The hot work of the +day had commenced; for, from every bush, tree, and covert, which +could conceal a man, the rebels poured a deadly fire into the ranks +of the advancing Federals.</p> +<p>Tom stood as firm as a rock. The doubts and fears which beset +him in his first battle had no existence on this day. So thoroughly +had he schooled his mind to the fearful ordeal of carnage, that he +felt quite at home. He was cool and determined, and continually +encouraged those around him by his cheering words as well as by his +example.</p> +<p>“Ben is down!” exclaimed Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Poor fellow!” replied Tom, without taking his eye +off the foe in front.</p> +<p>“There goes Bob Dornton!” added Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Stand up to it, my men!” said Tom, firmly, for he +had no time then to think of the fallen.</p> +<p>“Forward!” shouted the impetuous colonel, who, if he +had never been popular with the men before, was rapidly +establishing himself in their good graces by his unflinching +heroism. “Forward! double quick! march!”</p> +<p>And on dashed the gallant regiment, mounting the enemy’s +lofty works, and driving the foe before them like sheep, at the +point of the bayonet. This was the first experience of this +exciting description which Tom had seen, and he entered into the +spirit of it with a hearty zeal.</p> +<p>“Halt!” was the order, as a regiment filed out in +front of them, with a flag of truce flying on its front. +“Steady—don’t fire,” repeated several +officers along the line.</p> +<p>“What regiment are you?” shouted a person, as the +flag came within speaking distance.</p> +<p>“What are you?” demanded an officer of the storming +party.</p> +<p>“We’re the Alabama eighth!”</p> +<p>“We are the Massachusetts —th,” replied our +men.</p> +<p>“Then you are the villains we want!” returned the +rebel, plentifully interlarding the sentence with oaths.</p> +<p>The flag of truce dropped, and the dastardly foe poured in a +volley of musketry, before which a dozen of our brave boys fell, +either killed or wounded.</p> +<p>“Fire!” yelled the colonel; and the order was obeyed +with a will. “Charge bayonets! Forward—double +quick—march!”</p> +<p>The men, burning with indignation at the treachery of the rebel +horde, sprang forward to wreak their righteous vengeance upon the +cowardly traitors. So impetuous was the charge, that the rebel +regiment broke, and sought safety in flight.</p> +<p>“Down with them!” hoarsely screamed Tom, as the line +swayed forward, and pursued the panic-stricken foe into the woods +on the left. The even line was broken, and the boys scattered to do +their work to the best advantage.</p> +<p>Tom’s legs seemed to be in excellent condition, +notwithstanding the toilsome marches of the last twenty-four hours; +and he dashed forward into the woods followed by only a dozen +choice spirits, whose enthusiasm was equal to his own. A squad of +flying rebels in front of them was the object of their present +anxiety, and they soon distanced their companions.</p> +<p>The rebels, seeing by how small a force they were pursued, +rallied and formed line again.</p> +<p>“Give it to them!” cried Tom, as he led his little +force upon the rebels.</p> +<p>“Hold on, Tom!” said Hapgood; “we have gone +far enough. There’s a rebel regiment forming behind +us.”</p> +<p>“Can’t help it,” said Tom, as he rushed +forward, with the veteran by his side. “Give it to +them!”</p> +<p>Tom and his men threw themselves upon the rebel squad, and a +sharp fight ensued, in which the parties fought with bayonets, +clubbed muskets, and even with the death grip upon each +other’s throats. The traitors could not stand it, and fled +again.</p> +<p>The sergeant glanced behind him, and saw the rebel regiment +formed ready to charge upon his own. He was cut off from his +friends, with the enemy on his front and rear. Three of his men had +fallen in the sharp encounter with the rebels, and most of them +were wounded or bruised, and all of them out of breath. To add to +the peril of the situation, the squad they had been pursuing were +rallying and being reënforced by their fugitive +companions.</p> +<p>“Bad, Tom, bad,” said Hapgood, who was puffing and +blowing like a porpoise, as he ominously shook his head.</p> +<p>“Follow me!” said Tom, confidently, as he led the +way in a direction at right angles with the advance of the +party.</p> +<p>Our regiment had reformed again, and soon gave that in front of +them enough to do. The rebels in their rear caused the +sergeant’s squad no little annoyance; but they continued on +their course, loading and firing as they retreated.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_30" name="Ch_30">Chapter XXX.</a></h3> +<h2>More of the Battle.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom and his little command were working their way back to +the Union lines, followed up by the disorganized band of rebels, a +series of most unearthly yells swept over the field, for they had +emerged from the woods. It was the rallying cry of the Confederate +regiment which had formed in their rear. They were charging upon +the Massachusetts —th; but they might as well have charged +upon the Rock of Gibraltar, for presently Tom was delighted to see +them retiring before the tremendous onslaught of his friends.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted he, forgetting the foe in his +rear, and pressing forward to that on his front, at the same time +changing his course so as to approach the right wing of the rebel +regiment.</p> +<p>“Don’t be rash, Tom,” said the old soldier, +who never permitted the sergeant to leave his side.</p> +<p>“Follow me, boys!” roared Tom, breathless with +excitement, as he started off on the double quick towards the +breaking lines of the enemy.</p> +<p>“Here we are!” replied the gallant fellows behind +him, pushing forward with a zeal equal to that of their leader, +from whom they derived their inspiration. “Go in, sergeant, +and we’ll stand by you.”</p> +<p>But the bold soldier boy had discretion as well as gallantry; +and he saw that if he threw his little force upon the rebel line, +the whole party would be instantly annihilated. A covert of bushes +fortunately lay on the right flank of the retreating regiment, and +Tom ordered his men to conceal themselves behind it, until a +favorable moment should arrive to take their places in the +lines.</p> +<p>The men were glad enough to obtain a breathing spell; but, at +such a tremendous moment as that, idleness would have been treason, +for such a glorious opportunity to strike a heavy blow had not +before occurred.</p> +<p>“Load up, and fire at will,” said Tom, as he charged +his musket. “Don’t throw your lead away +either.”</p> +<p>“We are a dead shot here if we are any where,” added +Hapgood, as he and the rest of the party hastily loaded their +muskets.</p> +<p>Pop went Tom’s piece first, and over went the rebel at the +extreme right of the rebel regiment. There was no such thing as +missing the mark, for they were on the flank of the Confederate +line, which the united efforts of the officers could hardly +preserve. The men in the covert fired when they were ready; and as +they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not to waste their +lead, every shot told upon the rebels.</p> +<p>The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of +bushes, which glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant’s +little command poured in their volleys; but they were too closely +pressed by the Federals in front to attempt to dislodge them. The +rebel privates were not long in ascertaining what was so clear to +their officers—that they were flanked, and were being shot +down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not defend +themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the +advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they +realized that the bolts of death were dropping among them from +another direction, they could no longer endure that awful suspense +which takes possession of the minds of men when they are suspended, +as it were, between life and death.</p> +<p>Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line +was just abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men +fall before the deadly fire of his party.</p> +<p>“Give it to them, boys! They shake!” shouted Tom, as +he delivered his fire again. “Pour in as fast as you can, but +don’t waste your powder.”</p> +<p>The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their +fire was sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the +rebel ranks; for the right of the line, probably supposing a +company, if not a whole regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed +in the covert, suddenly broke and fled with the utmost +precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of their officers to +rally them.</p> +<p>The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial +panic, and charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate +hand-to-hand encounter ensued, during which Tom and his companions +emerged from their concealment, and ran along the rear of the +victorious line. They soon satisfied themselves of what they had +before believed—that the regiment was their own; and they +lost no time in finding the company to which they belonged. They +joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout of the +rebel force.</p> +<p>The position of the enemy’s lines did not permit them to +follow the advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon +given to fall back. At this juncture the regiment, which had been +constantly engaged for several hours, was relieved; and not too +early in the day, for the men were completely exhausted by the +furious onslaughts they had made.</p> +<p>“Who were those men in the bushes on the flank of the +rebel regiment?” demanded the colonel, as he reined up his +jaded horse in front of Company K.</p> +<p>“Sergeant Somers and others,” replied Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“Somers again!” exclaimed the colonel.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. They pursued the regiment into the +woods—the one that showed the flag of truce—till they +were separated from the rest of us.” “Forward, Sergeant +Somers,” added the colonel.</p> +<p>Tom modestly stepped forward, and he would have blushed if his +face had not been so reddened by his previous exertions as to leave +no room for a deepening of its tint.</p> +<p>“You did a big thing, Sergeant Somers. You broke that +rebel line by your steady fire. Sergeant Somers, I thank you and +the men you commanded for your good service.”</p> +<p>Tom bowed, and the regiment cheered. It was the proudest moment +of his life to be thanked on the field, while the guns were roaring +and the musketry rattling, for the good service he had rendered. It +would form an excellent paragraph for his letter to Lilian Ashford, +especially as he had more than once, in the perils of that exciting +hour, thought of the socks he wore, and of the letter and the +photograph which nestled in his breast pocket, and upon which his +quick throbbing heart was beating the notes of glory and +victory.</p> +<p>“We gave you up for lost,” said Captain Benson, as +Tom returned to the line.</p> +<p>“We are safe, thank God!” replied Tom, “though +three of our number fell in the woods, or on the field where we +were chased by the rebels.”</p> +<p>“Sergeant Somers saved us,” added uncle Hapgood. +“If he hadn’t been as cool as cowcumber, and as stiff +as the mainmast of a frigate, we should have been taken, every one +of us.”</p> +<p>“Bravo, Tom!” said the captain.</p> +<p>“The men stood by me like heroes, or it would have been +all up with the whole of us. They are good fellows, and they +deserve as much credit as I do.”</p> +<p>The battle continued to rage with increasing fury, till the +roar, and the crash, and the sweep of armed legions beggared +description. Regiments and brigades advanced and fell back with the +varying fortunes of the day, but as yet there was nothing to +indicate the final result.</p> +<p>When the men of our regiment had recovered their breath, an +order came for them to proceed to the left. On their arrival at the +position assigned to them, they were immediately led to the front, +where the batteries which had been pouring a hot fire into the +enemy were in imminent danger of being surrounded. Indeed, the +swoop of the rebel infantry upon the guns had already been made, +and the cannoneers had been driven from their stations. With the +colonel on the right, and the adjutant in command on the left, the +regiment charged upon the foe, as it had twice before charged on +that eventful day, with an enthusiasm bordering upon fury.</p> +<p>The rebels had even spiked one of the guns, and they maintained +their position with an obstinacy which promised the annihilation of +one or the other of the contending forces. A desperate strife +ensued, in which the least perceptible advantage was gained by the +Federals. But if they could do no more, they held the enemy in +check, till the gunners could charge their pieces with grape and +canister, which they poured into the rebels with the most deadly +effect.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted Tom, as the rebels quaked before +the withering storm of shot belched forth by the guns of the +battery. “They shake! Give it to them!”</p> +<p>“Steady, my men! steady,” said Captain Benson. +“The ammunition of the battery is expended,” he added, +as the cannon ceased their work of destruction. “We must hold +these pieces, and every man must do his duty.”</p> +<p>“Ay, ay, sir!” replied Tom, vigorously, and the cry +was repeated through the company.</p> +<p>As soon as the guns were thus rendered useless, the enemy swept +down upon the supports again, intent upon capturing the pieces. +They advanced with that terrific yell which is enough of itself to +frighten a nervous man, and with an impetuosity which nothing human +could resist. Our regiment recoiled under the shock; but it was +forced back by the sheer stress of numbers.</p> +<p>“Rally men! Rally, my brave fellows!” shouted the +adjutant, in command of the left wing.</p> +<p>“Stand stiff! Roll them back!” roared the +colonel.</p> +<p>“Steady, men!” added Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“Now, give it to them!” screamed Tom, as he plunged +his bayonet into the vitals of the rebel in front of him, and +pushed forward into the very midst of the foe.</p> +<p>The sergeant seemed suddenly to be endowed with the strength of +a giant, and he held his own till Hapgood sprang to his assistance. +The rest of the line, inspired by this daring conduct, rushed +forward, and fell upon the foe with a fury that could not be +resisted.</p> +<p>“Bravo! Bravo, Tom!” shouted the captain. “Go +in, boys!” roared the lieutenant.</p> +<p>And the boys “went in,” and forced back the rebel +line, and held the guns until another battery with a supply of +ammunition arrived upon the ground to relieve them. The enemy was +again repulsed, and the guns were saved by the unflinching heroism +of our gallant Massachusetts regiment—another paragraph for +the letter to Lilian Ashford.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_31" name="Ch_31">Chapter XXXI.</a></h3> +<h2>Glory and Victory.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The battle now raged more fiercely than ever, and hotter and +hotter became the fire on every side. The shouts of the enemy +indicated the arrival of reënforcements. +“Johnston!” “Long-street!” resounded over +the field, and roused the rebels to renewed activity. More +certainly was the increase of the enemy’s force determined by +the gradual falling back of the brigade at the left of the road; +but the men fought with desperate courage, and yielded not a foot +of ground without enriching it with their best blood.</p> +<p>There were no signs of reënforcements for over exhausted +troops, though a whole corps was within hearing of the booming guns +that were slaughtering our outnumbered and exhausted brigades. On +the field the aspect began to be dark and unpromising, and Tom +prayed with all his soul that he might be spared the pain of +beholding another defeat, another rout.</p> +<p>Our regiment was ordered to the support of the yielding brigade +on the left. The woods were full of rebels, and the issue of the +conflict in this part of the field was almost hopeless. The enemy +seemed to be inspired by the slight advantage they had gained, and +their yells were fiercer and more diabolical than ever, as they +gathered themselves up for a desperate onslaught.</p> +<p>The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to +waver upon a balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, +and the Union force fell back a little, but only a little, and +doggedly resisted the advance of the foe. It needed but little to +restore the equilibrium, and our regiment, after struggling through +the mud with all attainable speed, arrived upon the spot when the +prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause.</p> +<p>The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had +all day long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the +physical exertion required of them. But the battle was going +against the North, and they were ready again to make a desperate +effort to redeem the field.</p> +<p>“One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel,” +said General Hooker, as the weary soldiers moved up to the +endangered position.</p> +<p>“You shall have it, general. My men are always ready, +though they are nearly used up.”</p> +<p>“Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out +a few minutes longer, all will be well with us.”</p> +<p>“We’ll drive them back, general!” shouted the +colonel.</p> +<p>“Go in, then!” added the gallant Hooker, waving his +sword to encourage the soldiers. “Forward! You have no time +to lose!”</p> +<p>The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of +the work before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all +day, and Massachusetts would be proud of them. A ringing cheer was +the reply to the stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were +given for the advance.</p> +<p>On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated +themselves upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up +their temporary advantage. The point of attack was all in their +favor, and their exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe +kindled up the expiring enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose +assistance they had come. The shock was terrible—more fearful +and destructive than any which our boys had before experienced.</p> +<p>“Steady, my men!” shouted Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“Give it to them!” roared Tom, maddened to +desperation by the awful strife around him, and by seeing so many +of our men fall by his side.</p> +<p>“Stand up to it!” shouted the excited colonel. +“They run!”</p> +<p>At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of +Company K placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of +them, taking advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and +actually broke through the line, trampling some of our soldiers +beneath their feet, and transfixing them with their bayonets.</p> +<p>A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole +rebel regiment began to press into the weak place. The breach was +made by the side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by +the pressure of the rebel battalion.</p> +<p>“Close up!” yelled Tom. “Close up! Hail, +Columbia! and give it to them!”</p> +<p>Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after +the capture of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged +its six barrels into the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood +and Fred Pemberton, who were armed in like manner from the same +source, imitated the example of the sergeant.</p> +<p>“Now give them the bayonet, boys!” screamed Tom, +hoarsely, as he plunged into the midst of the rebels.</p> +<p>The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal +energy, and the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and +wounded rebels, and Federals, who had fallen in that sharp +encounter.</p> +<p>“Bravo!” shouted General Hooker, whose attention had +been drawn to the break in the line. “Bravo, sergeant! You +shall have a commission! Forward, my brave boys! Massachusetts sees +you!”</p> +<p>“Up and at them,” cried Tom, as the rebels began to +yield and break before the tremendous charge of our regiment.</p> +<p>The young sergeant’s throat was raw with the shouting he +had done, and his limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of +the day; but the words of the commander of the division made him +over new again, and his husky voice still rang along the line, full +of new courage and new energy to his exhausted comrades. The rebels +were driven back for the time, and fled before the iron masses that +crowded upon them.</p> +<p>The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost +decimated by the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, +were permitted to breathe once more.</p> +<p>“This is awful,” said the veteran of Company K, +panting from the violence of his exertions. “I never saw any +thing like this before.”</p> +<p>“Nor I,” replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with +exhaustion.</p> +<p>“I know something about this business. I thought Cerry +Gordy was consid’able of a battle, but ’twas +nothin’ like this.”</p> +<p>“It’s awful,” sighed Tom, as he thought of the +good fellows he had seen fall upon the field.</p> +<p>“Heaps of our boys have gone down!”</p> +<p>“Attention—battalion!” came ringing with +startling effect along the line, in the familiar tones of the +intrepid colonel.</p> +<p>“If we win the day, we can afford to lose many. Victory or +death!” shouted Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience +to the command. “More work for us!”</p> +<p>“How do you feel, Tom?” demanded the veteran, as +they sprang into the line.</p> +<p>“All right,” replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of +spirits.</p> +<p>“Are you sure, my boy?” continued the veteran, +gazing with deep anxiety into the face of the sergeant.</p> +<p>“I’m first rate, uncle. I think I can stand it as +long as any body else.”</p> +<p>“You have done wonders to-day, Tom. I’m proud of +you, but I’m afeared you are doing too much. If you are used +up, it wouldn’t be any disgrace for you to go to the rear. +After what you’ve done, nobody will say a word. Don’t +kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear.”</p> +<p>“I go to the rear!” exclaimed Tom, with +indignation.</p> +<p>“If you are disabled, I mean, of course,” apologized +the veteran.</p> +<p>“I’m not disabled. If I go to the rear with these +socks on, it won’t be till after the breath has left my +body.”</p> +<p>“Socks!” replied Hapgood, with a sneer. +“I’m afeared that gal will be the death of +you.”</p> +<p>“I don’t sulk in these socks,” replied Tom, +with a faint smile, as the regiment moved off on the double quick +to some new position of peril.</p> +<p>“The rebels are flanking us!” shouted an officer in +another command, as our regiment hurried forward to the endangered +point.</p> +<p>“That’s what we are wanted for,” said +Hapgood.</p> +<p>The enemy had nearly accomplished their purpose when our gallant +colonel and his jaded force reached the left of the line, and in a +few moments more would have poured a flanking fire into our devoted +battalions, which were struggling with terrible energy to roll back +the pressure in front of them.</p> +<p>The colonel had his men well in hand, and he manoeuvred them +with consummate skill, so as to bring them advantageously to the +work they were to perform. The regiment was hurled against the head +of the flanking column, and the boys rushed forward with that dash +and spirit which had characterized their conduct half a score of +times before in various parts of the field.</p> +<p>Tom’s muscles had become loose and soft after the long +continued strain upon them, and if his soul had not been ten times +as big as his body, he must have sunk under the exhaustion of the +day. Another desperate onslaught was required of the men of our +regiment, and commanding all his energies, Tom braced himself up +once more for the fearful struggle.</p> +<p>“How do you feel now, Tom?” demanded the anxious +veteran, as he bit off the cartridge, and rammed it home.</p> +<p>“First rate, uncle!” replied Tom, as the regiment +poured a withering volley into the rebel line.</p> +<p>“For Heaven’s sake, Tom, don’t kill +yourself,” added the old man, as they loaded up again. +“Your knees shake under you now.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I’m afraid, uncle?” demanded the +sergeant with a grim smile.</p> +<p>“No, no, Tom; of course I don’t think any thing of +the kind. I’m afeared you’ll bust a blood-vessel, or +something of that sort.”</p> +<p>“If I do, I’ll let you know, uncle.”</p> +<p>“Charge bayonets! Double quick—march!” rang +along the line.</p> +<p>“Have at them!” cried Tom, who was always the first +to catch the orders of the commanding officer. “Down with +them! Give ’em Yankee Doodle, Hail, Columbia, and the Red, +White, and Blue.”</p> +<p>The advancing column, shaken by the furious fire of our +regiment, recoiled before the shock. Slowly the foe fell back, +leaving heaps of their slain upon the hotly-contested ground. Our +boys halted, and poured in another destructive volley.</p> +<p>The Confederate officers rallied their men, and, maddened by the +check they had received, drove them forward to recover the lost +ground.</p> +<p>“Once more, boys! Give it to ’em again,” cried +Tom, as the order to advance was repeated.</p> +<p>His words were only representations of his actions; for, as he +spoke, he rushed on a little in front of his comrades, who, +however, pressed forward to keep up with him. He did not exceed the +orders of his superior, but he was one of the promptest to obey +them. On dashed the regiment, and again the rebel line recoiled, +and soon broke in spite of the admirable efforts of their officers +to keep them steady.</p> +<p>“Kearney! Kearney! Kearney is here!” shouted the +weary heroes in various parts of the field.</p> +<p>“Down with them!” roared Tom, as the inspiring words +rang in his ears. “Down with them! Kearney has come, and the +day is ours!”</p> +<p>He had scarcely uttered the words, and sprung forward, before he +was seen to drop upon the ground, several paces in front of the +line, though the undaunted old Hapgood was close by his side. The +enemy had fled; the danger of being flanked was averted; and when +Kearney’s men dashed on the field, the sad-hearted veteran, +assisted by Fred Pemberton, bore the silent form of the gallant +sergeant to the rear.</p> +<p>Kearney and Hancock rushed gallantly to the rescue of the +exhausted troops, and Hooker’s division was ordered to the +rear to act as a reserve. The strife raged with unabated fury as +those who had borne the brunt of the battle slowly fell back to +give place to the fresh legions.</p> +<p>Poor Tom was tenderly carried by the wiry veteran and his +friends to the surgeon’s quarters in the rear. There were +tears in the eyes of the old man as he laid the silent form of his +<em>protégé</em> upon the wet ground. There he sat by +his charge, sorrowful beyond expression, till tremendous shouts +rent the air. Tom opened his eyes.</p> +<p>“Glory and Victory!” shouted he, in husky tones, as +he sprang to his feet.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_32" name="Ch_32">Chapter XXXII.</a></h3> +<h2>Honorable Mention.</h2> +<p>The surgeon examined Tom’s wound, and found that he had +been struck by a bullet over the left temple. The flesh was torn +off, and if the skull was not fractured, it had received a +tremendous hard shock. It was probably done at the instant when he +turned to rally the men of Company K, and the ball glanced under +the visor of his cap, close enough to scrape upon his skull, but +far enough off to save his brains. Half an inch closer, and the +bullet would have wound up Tom’s earthly career.</p> +<p>The shock had stunned him, and he had dropped like a dead man, +while the profusion of blood that came from the wound covered his +face, and his friends could not tell whether he was killed or not. +He was a pitiable object as he lay on the ground by the +surgeon’s quarters; but the veteran soon assured himself that +his young charge was not dead.</p> +<p>Hapgood washed the gore from his face, and did what he could in +his unscientific manner; and probably the cold water had a salutary +effect upon the patient, for when Hancock and Kearney had completed +their work, and the cry of victory rang over the bloody field, he +was sufficiently revived to hear the inspiring tones of triumph. +Leaping to his feet, faint and sick as he was, he took up the cry, +and shouted in unison with the victors upon the field.</p> +<p>But he had scarcely uttered the notes of glory and victory +before his strength deserted him, and he would have dropped upon +the ground if he had not been caught by Hapgood. He groaned heavily +as he sank into the arms of his friend, and yielded to the +faintness and exhaustion of the moment.</p> +<p>The surgeon said the wound was not a very bad one, but that the +patient was completely worn out by the excessive fatigues of march +and battle. In due time he was conveyed to the college building in +Williamsburg, where hundreds of his companions in arms were +suffering and dying of their wounds. He received every attention +which the circumstances would permit. Hapgood, by sundry vigorous +applications at headquarters, was, in consideration of his own and +his <em>protégé’s</em> good conduct on the +battle field, permitted to remain with the patient over night.</p> +<p>The sergeant’s skull, as we have before intimated, was not +very badly damaged, as physical injuries were measured after the +bloody battle of that day. But his wound was not the only detriment +he had experienced in the trying ordeal of that terrible day. His +constitution had not yet been fully developed; his muscles were not +hardened, and the fatigues of battle and march had a more serious +effect upon him than the ounce of lead which had struck him on the +forehead.</p> +<p>The surgeon understood his case perfectly, and after dressing +his wound, he administered some simple restoratives, and ordered +the patient to go to sleep. On the night of the 3d of May, he had +been on guard duty; on that of the 4th, he had obtained but three +hours’ sleep; and thus deprived of the rest which a growing +boy needs, he had passed through the fearful scenes of the battle, +in which his energies, mental and physical, had been tasked to +their utmost. He was completely worn out, and in spite of the +surroundings of the hospital, he went to sleep, obeying to the +letter the orders of the surgeon.</p> +<p>After twelve hours of almost uninterrupted slumber, Tom’s +condition was very materially improved, and when the doctor went +his morning round, our sergeant buoyantly proposed to join his +regiment forthwith.</p> +<p>“Not yet, my boy,” said the surgeon, kindly. +“I shall not permit you to do duty for at least thirty days +to come,” he added, as he felt the patient’s pulse.</p> +<p>“I feel pretty well, sir,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“No, you don’t. Your regiment will remain here, I +learn, for a few days, and you must keep quiet, or you will have a +fever.”</p> +<p>“I don’t feel sick, and my head doesn’t pain +me a bit.”</p> +<p>“That may be, but you are not fit for duty. You did too +much yesterday. They say you behaved like a hero, on the +field.”</p> +<p>“I tried to do my duty,” replied Tom, his pale cheek +suffused with a blush.</p> +<p>“Boys like you can’t stand much of such work as +that. We must fix you up for the next battle; and you shall go into +Richmond with the rest of the boys.”</p> +<p>“Must I stay in here all the time?”</p> +<p>“No, you may go where you please. I will give you a +certificate which will keep you safe from harm. You can walk about, +and visit your regiment if you wish.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, doctor.”</p> +<p>Hapgood had been compelled to leave the hospital before his +patient waked, and Tom had not yet learned any thing in regard to +the casualties of the battle. Armed with the surgeon’s +certificate, he left the hospital, and walked to the place where +the steward told him he would find his regiment. Somewhat to his +astonishment he found that he was very weak; and before he had +accomplished half the distance to the camp, he came to the +conclusion that he was in no condition to carry a knapsack and a +musket on a long march. But after resting himself for a short time, +he succeeded in reaching his friends.</p> +<p>He was warmly received by his companions, and the veteran of the +company had nearly hugged him in his joy and admiration.</p> +<p>“Honorable mention, Tom,” said Hapgood. “You +will be promoted as true as you live.”</p> +<p>“O, I guess not,” replied Tom, modestly. “I +didn’t do any more than any body else. At any rate, you were +close by my side, uncle.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but I followed, and you led. The commander of the +division says you shall be a lieutenant. He said so on the field, +and the colonel said so to-day.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think I deserve it.”</p> +<p>“I do; and if you don’t get a commission, then there +ain’t no justice left in the land. I tell you, Tom, you shall +be a brigadier if the war lasts only one year more.”</p> +<p>“O, nonsense, uncle!”</p> +<p>“Well, if you ain’t, you ought to be.”</p> +<p>“I’m lucky to get out alive. Whom have we lost, +uncle?”</p> +<p>“A good many fine fellows.” replied Hapgood, shaking +his head, sadly.</p> +<p>“Poor Ben dropped early in the day.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I was afraid he’d got most to the end of his +chapter afore we went in. Poor fellow! I’m sorry for him, and +sorry for his folks.”</p> +<p>“Fred Pemberton said he should be killed, and Ben said he +should not, you remember.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and that shows how little we know about these +things.”</p> +<p>“Bob Dornton was killed, too.”</p> +<p>“No, he’s badly hurt, but the surgeon thinks he will +git over it. The cap’n was slightly wounded.” And +Hapgood mentioned the names of those in the company who had been +killed or wounded, or were missing.</p> +<p>“It was an awful day,” sighed Tom, when the old man +had finished the list. “There will be sad hearts in +Pinchbrook when the news gets there.”</p> +<p>“So there will, Tom; but we gained the day. We did +something handsome for ‘Old Glory,’ and I s’pose +it’s all right.”</p> +<p>“I would rather have been killed than lost the +battle.”</p> +<p>“So would I; and betwixt you and me, Tom, you didn’t +come very fur from losing your number in the mess,” added the +veteran, as he thrust his little fingers into a bullet hole in the +breast of Tom’s coat. “That was rather a close +shave.”</p> +<p>“I felt that one, but I hadn’t time to think about +it then, for it was just as we were repelling that flank +movement,” replied Tom, as he unbuttoned his coat, and thrust +his hand into his breast pocket. “Do you suppose she will +give me another?” he added, as he drew forth the envelope +which contained the letter and the photograph of the author of his +socks.</p> +<p>A minie ball had found its way through the envelope, grinding a +furrow through the picture, transversely, carrying away the chin +and throat of the young lady. The letter was mangled and minced up +beyond restoration. Tom had discovered the catastrophe when he +waked up in the hospital, for his last thought at night, and his +first in the morning, had been the beautiful Lilian Ashford. He was +sad when he first beheld the wreck; but when he thought what a +glorious assurance this would be of his conduct on the field, he +was pleased with the idea; and while in his heart he thanked the +rebel marksman for not putting the bullet any nearer to the vital +organ beneath the envelope, he was not ungrateful for the splendid +testimonial he had given him of his position during the battle.</p> +<p>“Of course she’ll give you another. Won’t she +be proud of that picture when she gets it back?”</p> +<p>“If I had been a coward, I couldn’t have run away +with those socks on my feet.”</p> +<p>Tom remained with the regiment several hours, and then, in +obedience to the surgeon’s orders, returned to the hospital, +where he wrote a letter to his father, containing a short account +of the battle, and another to Lilian Ashford, setting forth the +accident which had happened to the picture, and begging her to send +him another.</p> +<p>I am afraid in this last letter Tom indulged in some moonshiny +nonsense; but we are willing to excuse him for saying that the +thought of the beautiful original of the photograph and the +beautiful author of his socks had inspired him with courage on the +battle field, and enabled him faithfully to perform his duty, to +the honor and glory of the flag beneath whose starry folds he had +fought, bled, and conquered, and so forth. It would not be +unnatural in a young man of eighteen to express as much as this, +and, we are not sure that he said any more.</p> +<p>The next day Tom was down with a slow fever, induced by fatigue +and over-exertion. He lay upon his cot for a fortnight, before he +was able to go out again; but he was frequently visited by Hapgood +and other friends in the regiment. About the middle of the month, +the brigade moved on, and Tom was sad at the thought of lying idle, +while the glorious work of the army was waiting for true and tried +men.</p> +<p>Tom received “honorable mention” in the report of +the colonel, and his recommendation, supported by that of the +general of the division, brought to the hospital his commission as +second lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Here’s medicine for you,” said the chaplain, +as he handed the patient a ponderous envelope.</p> +<p>“What is it, sir?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, but it has an official +look.”</p> +<p>The sergeant opened it, and read the commission, duly signed by +the governor of Massachusetts, and countersigned and sealed in +proper form. Tom was astounded at the purport of the document. He +could hardly believe his senses; but it read all right, and dated +from the day of the battle in which he had distinguished himself. +This was glory enough, and it took Tom forty-eight hours thoroughly +to digest the contents of the envelope.</p> +<p><em>Lieutenant Somers</em>! The words had a queer sound, and he +could not realize that he was a commissioned officer. But he came +to a better understanding of the subject the next day, when a +letter from Lilian Ashford was placed in his hands. It was actually +addressed to “Lieutenant Thomas Somers.” She had read +of his gallant conduct and of his promotion on the battle field in +the newspapers. She sent him two photographs of herself, and a +sweet little letter, begging him to return the photograph which had +been damaged by a rebel bullet.</p> +<p>Of course Tom complied with this natural request; but, as the +surgeon thought his patient would improve faster at home than in +the hospital, he had procured a furlough of thirty days for him, +and the lieutenant decided to present the photograph in person.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_33" name="Ch_33">Chapter XXXIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Lieutenant Somers and Others.</h2> +<p>Tom Somers had been absent from home nearly a year; and much as +his heart was in the work of putting down the rebellion, he was +delighted with the thought of visiting, even for a brief period, +the loved ones who thought of and prayed for him in the little +cottage in Pinchbrook. I am not quite sure that the well-merited +promotion he had just received did not have some influence upon +him, for it would not have been unnatural for a young man of +eighteen, who had won his shoulder-straps by hard fighting on a +bloody field, to feel some pride in the laurels he had earned. Not +that Tom was proud or vain; but he was moved by a lofty and noble +ambition. It is quite likely he wondered what the people of +Pinchbrook would say when he appeared there with the straps upon +his shoulders.</p> +<p>Of course he thought what his father would say, what his mother +would say, and he could see the wrinkled face of gran’ther +Greene expand into a genial smile of commendation. It is quite +possible that he had even more interest in his reception at No +—— Rutland Street, when he should present himself to +the author and finisher of those marvellous socks, which had +wielded such an immense influence upon their wearer in camp and on +the field. Perhaps it was a weakness on the part of the soldier +boy, but we are compelled to record the fact that he had faithfully +conned his speech for that interesting occasion. He had supposed +every thing she would say, and carefully prepared a suitable reply +to each remark, adorned with all the graces of rhetoric within his +reach.</p> +<p>With the furlough in his pocket, Tom obtained his order for +transportation, and with a light heart, full of pleasant +anticipations, started for home. As he was still dressed in the +faded and shattered uniform of a non-commissioned officer, he did +not attract any particular notice on the way. He was enabled to +pass through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, without being +bored by a public reception, which some less deserving heroes have +not been permitted to escape. But the people did not understand +that Tom had a second lieutenant’s commission in his pocket, +and he was too modest to proclaim the fact, which may be the reason +why he was suffered to pass through these great emporiums of trade +without an escort, or other demonstration of respect and +admiration.</p> +<p>Tom’s heart jumped with strange emotions when he arrived +at Boston, perhaps because he was within a few miles of home; +possibly because he was in the city that contained Lilian Ashford, +for boys will be silly in spite of all the exertions of parents, +guardians, and teachers, to make them sober and sensible. Such +absurdities as “the air she breathes,” and other +rhapsodies of that sort, may have flitted through his mind; but we +are positive that Tom did not give voice to any such nonsense, for +every body in the city was a total stranger to him, so far as he +knew. Besides, Tom had no notion of appearing before the original +of the photograph in the rusty uniform he wore; and as he had to +wait an hour for the Pinchbrook train, he hastened to a +tailor’s to order a suit of clothes which would be +appropriate to his new dignity.</p> +<p>He ordered them, was duly measured and had given the tailor his +promise to call for the garments at the expiration of five days, +when the man of shears disturbed the serene current of his +meditations by suggesting that the lieutenant should pay one half +of the price of the suit in advance.</p> +<p>“It is a custom we adopt in all our dealings with +strangers,” politely added the tailor.</p> +<p>“But I don’t propose to take the uniform away until +it is paid for,” said Tom, blushing with mortification; for +it so happened that he had not money enough to meet the demand of +the tailor.</p> +<p>“Certainly not,” blandly replied Shears; “but +we cannot make up the goods with the risk of not disposing of them. +They may not fit the next man who wants such a suit.”</p> +<p>“I have not the money, sir;” and Tom felt that the +confession was an awful sacrifice of dignity on the part of an +officer in the army of the Potomac, who had fought gallantly for +his country on the bloody fields of Williamsburg and Bull Run.</p> +<p>“I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the +goods, but you will see that our rule is a reasonable +one.”</p> +<p>Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a +suitable return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he +had endured for him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the +flattering request of the tailor that he would call again. With his +pride touched, he walked down to the railroad station to await the +departure of the train. He had hardly entered the building before +he discovered the familiar form of Captain Barney, to whom he +hastened to present himself.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom, my hearty!” roared the old sea captain, +as he grasped and wrung his hand. “I’m glad to see you. +Shiver my mainmast, but you’ve grown a foot since you went +away. But you don’t look well, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I’m not very well, sir; but I’m improving +very rapidly.”</p> +<p>“How’s your wound?”</p> +<p>“O, that’s almost well.”</p> +<p>“Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you,” said +Captain Barney, as he led the soldier boy to a seat.</p> +<p>In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of +Williamsburg, and the old sailor had communicated all the news from +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Tom, you’re a lieutenant now, but you haven’t +got on your uniform,” continued Captain Barney.</p> +<p>“No, sir,” replied Tom, laughing. “I went into +a store to order one, and they wouldn’t trust me.”</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t trust <em>you</em>, Tom!” exclaimed +the captain. “Show me the place, and I’ll smash in +their deadlights.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know as I blame them. I was a stranger to +them.”</p> +<p>“But, Tom, you mustn’t go home without a uniform. +Come with me, and you shall be fitted out at once. I’m proud +of you, Tom. You are one of my boys, and I want you to go into +Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your colors flying.”</p> +<p>“We haven’t time now; the train leaves in a few +moments.”</p> +<p>“There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, +and don’t know you’re coming; so they can afford to +wait.”</p> +<p>Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted him to several +stores before he could find a ready-made uniform that would fit +him; but at last they found one which had been made to order for an +officer who was too sick to use it at present. It was an excellent +fit, and the young lieutenant was soon arrayed in the garments, +with the symbolic straps on his shoulder.</p> +<p>“Bravo, Tom! You look like a new man. There isn’t a +better looking officer in the service.”</p> +<p>Very likely the subject of this remark thought so too, as he +surveyed himself in the full-length mirror. The old uniform, with +two bullet-holes in the breast of the coat, was done up in a bundle +and sent to the express office, to be forwarded to Pinchbrook. +Captain Barney then walked with him to a military furnishing store, +where a cap, sword, belt, and sash, were purchased. For some reason +which he did not explain, the captain retained the sword himself, +but Tom was duly invested with the other accoutrements.</p> +<p>Our hero felt “pretty good,” as he walked down to +the station with his friend; but he looked splendidly in his new +outfit, and we are willing to excuse certain impressible young +ladies, who cast an admiring glance at him as he passed down the +street. It was not Tom’s fault that he was a handsome young +man; and he was not responsible for the conduct of those who chose +to look at him.</p> +<p>With a heart beating with wild emotion, Tom stepped out of the +cars at Pinchbrook. Here he was compelled to undergo the penalty of +greatness. His friends cheered him, and shook his hand till his arm +ached.</p> +<p>Captain Barney’s wagon was at the station, and before +going to his own home, he drove Tom to the little cottage of his +father. I cannot describe the emotions of the returned soldier when +the horse stopped at the garden gate. Leaping from the vehicle, he +rushed into the house, and bolted into the kitchen, even before the +family had seen the horse at the front gate.</p> +<p>“How d’ye do, mother?” cried Tom, as he threw +himself pell-mell into the arms of Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom!” almost screamed she, as she returned his +embrace. “How <em>do</em> you do?”</p> +<p>“Pretty well, mother. How do you do, father?”</p> +<p>“Glad to see you,” replied Captain Somers, as he +seized his son’s hand.</p> +<p>“Bless my soul, Tom!” squeaked gran’ther +Greene, shaking in every fibre of his frame from the combined +influence of rhapsody and rheumatism.</p> +<p>Tom threw both arms around Jenny’s neck, and kissed her +half a dozen times with a concussion like that of a battery of +light artillery.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom! I never thought nothin’ of seein’ +you!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers. “I thought you was sick in +the hospital.”</p> +<p>“I am better now, and home for thirty days.”</p> +<p>“And got your new rig on,” added his father.</p> +<p>“Captain Barney wouldn’t let me come home without my +shoulder-straps. I met him in the city. He paid the +bills.”</p> +<p>“I’ll make it all right with him.”</p> +<p>“I’ll pay for it by and by. You know I have over a +hundred dollars a month now.”</p> +<p>“Gracious me!” ejaculated Mrs. Somers, as she gazed +with admiration upon the new and elegant uniform which covered the +fine form of her darling boy.</p> +<p>Presently Captain Barney came into the house, and for two hours +Tom fought his battles over again, to the great satisfaction of his +partial auditors. The day passed off amid the mutual rejoicings of +the parties; and the pleasure of the occasion was only marred by +the thought, on the mother’s part, that her son must soon +return to the scene of strife.</p> +<p>The soldier boy—we beg his pardon; Lieutenant +Somers—hardly went out of the house until after dinner on the +following day, when he took a walk down to the harbor, where he was +warmly greeted by all his friends. Even Squire Pemberton seemed +kindly disposed towards him, and asked him many questions in regard +to Fred. Before he went home, he was not a little startled to +receive an invitation to meet some of his friends in the town hall +in the evening, which it was impossible for him to decline.</p> +<p>At the appointed hour, he appeared at the hall, which was filled +with people. The lieutenant did not know what to make of it, and +trembled before his friends as he had never done before the enemies +of his country. He was cheered lustily by the men, and the women +waved their handkerchiefs, as though he had been a general of +division. But his confusion reached the climax when Captain Barney +led him upon the platform, and Mr. Boltwood, a young lawyer +resident in Pinchbrook, proceeded to address him in highly +complimentary terms, reviewing his career at Bull Run, on the +Shenandoah, on the Potomac, to its culmination at Williamsburg, and +concluded by presenting him the sword which the captain had +purchased, in behalf of his friends and admirers in his native +town.</p> +<p>Fortunately for Tom, the speech was long, as he was enabled in +some measure to recover his self-possession. In trembling tones he +thanked the donors for their gift, and promised to use it in +defence of his country as long as a drop of blood was left in his +veins—highly poetical, but it required strong terms to +express our hero’s enthusiasm—whereat the men and boys +applauded most vehemently, and the ladies flourished their cambrics +with the most commendable zeal. Tom bowed—bowed +again—and kept bowing, just as he had seen General McClellan +bow when he was cheered by the troops. As the people would not stop +applauding, Tom, his face all aglow with joy and confusion, +descended from the platform, and took his seat by the side of his +mother.</p> +<p>The magnates of Pinchbrook then made speeches—except +Squire Pemberton—about the war, patriotism, gunpowder, and +eleven-inch shot and shells. Every body thought it was “a big +thing,” and went home to talk about it for the next week. +Tom’s father, and mother, and sister, and gran’ther +Greene, said ever so many pretty things, and every body was as +happy as happy could be, except that John was not at home to share +in the festivities. Letters occasionally came from the sailor boy, +and they went to him from the soldier boy.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers was not a little surprised, the next day, to hear +her son announce his intention to take the first train for the +city; but Tom could not postpone his visit to No —— +Rutland Street any longer, for he was afraid his uniform would lose +its gloss, and the shoulder-straps their dazzling brilliancy.</p> +<p>Tom’s courage had nearly forsaken him when he desperately +rang the bell at the home of Lilian Ashford; and he almost hoped +the servant would inform him that she was not at home. Lilian was +at home, and quaking like a condemned criminal before the gallows, +he was ushered into the presence of the author of his socks.</p> +<p>Stammering out his name he drew from his pocket the battered +photograph and the shattered letter, and proceeded at once to +business. Lilian Ashford blushed, and Tom blushed—that is to +say, they both blushed. When he had presented his relics, he +ventured to look in her face. The living Lilian was even more +beautiful than the Lilian of the photograph.</p> +<p>“Dear me! So you are the soldier that wore the socks I +knit,” said Lilian; and our hero thought it was the sweetest +voice he ever heard.</p> +<p>“I am, Miss Ashford, and I did not run away in them +either.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad you did not,” added she, with a +musical laugh, which made Tom think of the melody of the spheres, +or some such nonsense.</p> +<p>“I have to thank you for my promotion,” said Tom, +boldly.</p> +<p>“Thank me!” exclaimed she, her fair blue eyes +dilating with astonishment.</p> +<p>“The socks inspired me with courage and fortitude,” +replied Tom, in exact accordance with the programme he had laid +down for the occasion. “I am sure the thought of her who knit +them, the beautiful letter, and the more beautiful photograph, +enabled me to do that which won my promotion.”</p> +<p>“Well, I declare!” shouted Lilian, in a kind of +silvery scream.</p> +<p>Bravo, Tom! you are getting along swimmingly. And he said sundry +other smart things which we have not room to record. He stayed half +an hour, and Lilian begged him to call again, and see her +grandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course he promised to +come, promised to bring his photograph, promised to write to her +when he returned to the army—and I don’t know what he +did not promise, and I hardly think he knew himself.</p> +<p>But the brief dream ended, and Tom went home to Pinchbrook, +after he had sat for his picture. The careless fellow left +Lilian’s photograph on the table in his chamber a few days +after, and his mother wanted to know whose it was; and the whole +story came out, and Tom was laughed at, and Jenny made fun of him, +and Captain Barney told him he was a match for the finest girl in +the country. The lieutenant blushed like a boy, but rather enjoyed +the whole thing.</p> +<p>A sad day came at last, and Tom went back to the army. He went +full of hope, and the blessing of the loved ones went with him. He +was received with enthusiasm by his old companions in arms, and +Hapgood—then a sergeant—still declared that he would be +a brigadier in due time,—or, if he was not, he ought to be. +His subsequent career, if not always as fortunate as that portion +which we have recorded, was unstained by cowardice or vice.</p> +<h2>FINIS.</h2> +<hr class="full" /> +<h3>Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our +Publications</h3> +<ol> +<li> +<p>You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the +best standard books published, at prices less than offered by +others.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will find listed in our catalogue books on every topic: +Poetry, Fiction, Romance, Travel, Adventure, Humor, Science, +History, Religion, Biography, Drama, etc., besides Dictionaries and +Manuals, Bibles, Recitation and Hand Books, Sets, Octavos, +Presentation Books and Juvenile and Nursery Literature in immense +variety.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will be able to purchase books at prices within your reach; +as low as 10 cents for paper covered books, to $5.00 for books +bound in cloth or leather, adaptable for gift and presentation +purposes, to suit the tastes of the most critical.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will save considerable money by taking advantage of our +SPECIAL DISCOUNTS, which we offer to those whose purchases are +large enough to warrant us in making a reduction.</p> +</li> +</ol> +<p class="cen"><em>A postal to us will place it in your +hands</em></p> +<p class="cen">HURST & CO., <em>Publishers</em>,<br /> +395, 397, 399 Broadway, New York.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h3>The Famous Alger Books</h3> +<h4>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</h4> +<h4>The Boy’s Writer</h4> +<p>A series of books known to all boys; books that are good and +wholesome, with enough “ginger” in them to suit the +tastes of the younger generation. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..82bd23b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14595 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14595) diff --git a/old/14595-8.txt b/old/14595-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd95ef6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14595-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9108 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army +by Oliver Optic + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army + A Story of the Great Rebellion + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: January 4, 2005 [EBook #14595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOLDIER BOY *** + + + + +Produced by Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE SOLDIER BOY + +OR + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY + +A Story of the Great Rebellion + + +BY + + +OLIVER OPTIC + + + +AUTHOR OF "RICH AND HUMBLE," "ALL ABOARD," "LITTLE BY LITTLE," ETC., ETC. + + +NEW YORK +HURST & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + + + + +TO + +William Lee, Esq. + +THIS BOOK + +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED + +BY HIS FRIEND + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This volume is not altogether a military romance, though it contains the +adventures of one of those noble-hearted and patriotic young men who went +forth from homes of plenty and happiness to fight the battles of our +imperilled country. The incidents of the story may be stirring and +exciting; yet they are not only within the bounds of probability, but have +been more than paralleled in the experience of hundreds of the gallant +soldiers of the loyal army. + +The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a history, though the +writer has carefully consulted the "authorities," both loyal and rebel, +and has taken down the living words of enthusiastic participants in the +stirring scenes described in this volume. He has not attempted to give a +full picture of any battle, or other army operation, but simply of those +movements in which the hero took a part. The book is a narrative of +personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth of a pure patriotism +in the soul of the hero, and describing the perils and privations, the +battles and marches which he shared with thousands of brave men in the +army of the Potomac. + +The author has endeavored to paint a picture of the true soldier, one who +loves his country, and fights for her because he loves her; but, at the +same time, one who is true to himself and his God, while he is faithful to +his patriotic impulses. + +The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and I hope it will +not disappoint the reasonable expectation of those partial friends whose +smile is my joy, whose frown is my grief. But, more than all, I trust this +humble volume will have some small influence in kindling and cherishing +that genuine patriotism which must ever be the salvation of our land, the +foundation of our national prosperity and happiness. + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + +DORCHESTER, Feb. 22, 1864. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER + + I. The Battle of Pinchbrook + II. The Somers Family + III. Taming a Traitor + IV. The Committee come out, and Tom goes in + V. The Attic Chamber + VI. The Way is Prepared + VII. A Midnight Adventure + VIII. Signing the Papers + IX. The Departure + X. Company K + XI. In Washington + XII. On to Richmond + XIII. The Battle of Bull Run + XIV. After the Battle + XV. Tom a Prisoner + XVI. A Perplexing Question + XVII. Dinner and Danger + XVIII. The Rebel Soldier + XIX. Through the Gap + XX. Down the Shenandoah + XXI. The Problem of Rations + XXII. The Picket Guard + XXIII. The End of the Voyage + XXIV. Budd's Ferry + XXV. In the Hospital + XXVI. Tom is Sentimental + XXVII. The Confederate Deserter + XXVIII. On the Peninsula + XXIX. The Battle of Williamsburg + XXX. More of the Battle + XXXI. Glory and Victory + XXXII. "Honorable Mention" + XXXIII. Lieutenant Somers and Others + + + + +THE SOLDIER BOY; + +OR, + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BATTLE OF PINCHBROOK. + + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, mother!" shouted Thomas Somers, as he rushed +into the room where his mother was quietly reading her Bible. + +It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been circulated about the usually +quiet village of Pinchbrook Harbor. Men's lips were compressed, and their +teeth shut tight together. They were indignant, for traitors had fired +upon the flag of the United States. Men, women, and children were roused +by the indignity offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that +struck the walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to strike the souls of +the whole population of the North, and never was there such a great +awakening since the Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon the rock +of Plymouth. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered!" shouted the indignant young patriot again, +as his mother looked up from the blessed volume. + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as she closed the Bible, and +removed her spectacles. + +"Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away at the fort for two days, +and at last we had to give in." + +"There'll be terrible times afore long," replied the old lady, shaking her +head with prophetic earnestness. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and I tell +you there'll be music before long!" continued the youth, so excited that +he paced the room with rapid strides. + +"What's the matter, Thomas?" asked a feeble old gentleman, entering the +room at this moment. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran'ther," repeated Thomas, at the top of +his lungs, for the aged man was quite deaf; "and the President has called +for seventy-five thousand men to go down and fight the traitors." + +"Sho!" exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing with earnestness into +the face of the boy. + +"It's a fact, gran'ther." + +"Well, I'm too old to go," muttered gran'ther Greene; "but I wa'n't +older'n you are when I shouldered my firelock in 1812. I'm too old and +stiff to go now." + +"How old were you, gran'ther, when you went to the war?" asked Thomas, +with more moderation than he had exhibited before. + +"Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am now," replied the +patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously into the old-fashioned high-back +chair, by the side of the cooking stove. + +"Well, I'm sixteen, and I mean to go." + +"You, Thomas! You are crazy! You shan't do any thing of the kind," +interposed Mrs. Somers. "There's men enough to go to the war, without such +boys as you are." + +"You ain't quite stout enough to make a soldier, Thomas. You ain't so big +as I was, when I went off to York state," added gran'ther Greene. + +"I should like to go any how," said Thomas, as he seated himself in a +corner of the room, and began to think thoughts big enough for a +full-grown man. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered," shouted John Somers, rushing into the house +as much excited as his brother had been. + +"We've heard all about it, John," replied his mother. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand men, and in my opinion +the rebels will get an awful licking before they are a fortnight older. I +should like to go and help do it." + +The exciting news was discussed among the members of the Somers family, as +it was in thousands of other families, on that eventful Sunday. Thomas and +John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, but Fort Sumter, and the +terrible castigation which the rebels would receive from the insulted and +outraged North. They were loyal even to enthusiasm; and when they retired +to their chamber at night, they ventured to express to each other their +desire to join the great army which was to avenge the insult offered to +the flag of the Union. + +They were twin brothers, sixteen years of age; but they both thought they +were old enough and strong enough to be soldiers. Their mother, however, +had promptly disapproved of such suggestions, and they had not deemed it +prudent to discuss the idea in her presence. + +On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was fanned to a fever +heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a glow of patriotism. Men neglected their +usual occupations, and talked of the affairs of the nation. Every person +who could procure a flag hung it out at his window, or hoisted it in his +yard, or on his house. The governor had called out a portion of the state +militia, and already the tramp of armed men was heard in the neighboring +city of Boston. + +Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the village, and during the +forenoon he mechanically performed the duties of his position; but he +could think of nothing but the exciting topic of the day. His blood was +boiling with indignation against those who had trailed our hallowed flag +in the dust. He wanted to do something to redeem the honor of his +country--something to wipe out the traitors who had dared to conspire +against her peace. On his way home to dinner, he met Fred Pemberton, who +lived only a short distance from his own house. + +"What do you think now, Fred?" said Thomas. + +"What do I think? I think just as I always did--the North is wrong, and +the South is right," replied Fred. + +"Who fired upon Fort Sumter? That's the question," said Thomas, his eyes +flashing with indignation. + +"Why didn't they give up the fort, then?" + +"Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in before the little State +of South Carolina. Not by a two chalks!" + +"I think the North has been teasing and vexing the South till the +Southerns can't stand it any longer. There'll be war now." + +"I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!" + +"I hope the South will beat!" + +"Do you? Do you, Fred Pemberton?" demanded Tom, so excited he could not +stand still. + +"Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we had let their niggers +alone, there wouldn't have been any trouble." + +"You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don't you see this isn't a quarrel +between the North and the South, but between the government and the +rebels?" + +"I don't see it. If the North had let the South alone, there wouldn't have +been any fuss. I hope the North will get whipped, and I know she will." + +"Fred, you are a traitor to your country!" + +"No, I'm not!" + +"Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I'd ride you on a rail out of town." + +"No, you wouldn't." + +"Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent fellow; but you are a +dirty, low-lived traitor." + +"Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers!" retorted the young +secessionist, angrily. + +"A fellow that won't stand by his country ain't fit to live. You are an +out-and-out traitor." + +"Don't call me that again, Tom Somers," replied Fred, doubling up his +fist. + +"I say you are a traitor." + +"Take that, then." + +Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow on the side of his head. +Perhaps it was fortunate for our young patriot that an opportunity was +thus afforded him to evaporate some of his enthusiasm in the cause of his +country, for there is no knowing what might have been the consequence if +it had remained longer pent up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and +a contest, on a small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the +treason of the South commenced. How long it might have continued, or what +might have been the result, cannot now be considered; for the approach of +a chaise interrupted the battle, and the forces of secession were +reënforced by a full-grown man. + +The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his whip in his hand, and +proceeded to lay it about the legs and body of the representative of the +Union side. This was more than Tom Somers could stand, and he retreated in +good order from the spot, till he had placed himself out of the reach of +the whip. + +"What do you mean, you young scoundrel?" demanded the gentleman who had +interfered. + +Tom looked at him, and discovered that it was Squire Pemberton, the father +of his late opponent. + +"He hit me first," said Tom. + +"He called me a traitor," added Fred. "I won't be called a traitor by him, +or any other fellow." + +"What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you villain?" + +"I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He said he hoped the South +would beat." + +"Suppose he did. I hope so too," added Squire Pemberton. + +The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to settle the question. If +he hoped so, that was enough. + +"Then you are a traitor, too. That's all I've got to say," replied Tom, +boldly. + +"You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word to me!" roared the squire, as +he moved towards the blunt-spoken little patriot. + +For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to fall back; but as he did +so, he picked up a couple of good-sized stones. + +"I said you were a traitor, and I say so again," said Tom. + +"Two can play at that game," added Fred, as he picked up a stone and threw +it at Tom. + +The Union force returned the fire with the most determined energy, until +one of the missiles struck the horse attached to the chaise. The animal, +evidently having no sympathy with either party in this miniature contest, +and without considering how much damage he might do the rebel cause, +started off at a furious pace when the stone struck him. He dashed down +the hill at a fearful rate, and bounded away over the plain that led to +the Harbor. + +Squire Pemberton and his son had more interest in the fate of the runaway +horse than they had in the issue of the contest, and both started at the +top of their speed in pursuit. But they might as well have chased a flash +of lightning, or a locomotive going at the rate of fifty miles an hour. + +Tom Somers came down from the bank which he had ascended to secure a good +position. He had done rather more than he intended to do; but on the whole +he did not much regret it. He watched the course of the spirited animal, +as he dashed madly on to destruction. The career of the horse was short; +for in the act of turning a corner, half a mile from the spot where Tom +stood, he upset the chaise, and was himself thrown down, and, being +entangled in the harness, was unable to rise before a stout man had him by +the head. + +"I wish that chaise had been the southern confederacy," said Tom to +himself, philosophically, when he saw the catastrophe in the distance. +"Well, it served you right, old Secesh; and I'll bet there ain't many +folks in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to comfort the mourners." + +With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his way home. At dinner, +he gave the family a faithful account of the transaction. + +"You didn't do right, Thomas," said his mother. + +"He hit me first." + +"You called him a traitor." + +"He is a traitor, and so is his father." + +"I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is of meat," added +gran'ther Greene. + +"You haven't seen the last of it yet, Thomas," said the prudent mother. + +"No matter, Tom; I'll stand by you," added John. + +After dinner, the two boys walked down to the Harbor together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SOMERS FAMILY. + + +The town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance from Boston, with which it +is connected by railroad. If any of our young readers are of a +geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain the exact +locality of the place, we will save them any unnecessary trouble, for it +is not laid down on any map with which we are familiar. We live in times +of war, and probably our young friends have already learned the meaning of +"military necessity." Our story is essentially a military story, and there +are certain military secrets connected with it which might be traced out +if we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly where Pinchbrook is +situated. + +Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to find out certain +persons connected with some irregular proceedings in and around his house +on the evening of Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to the truth of history +compels us to narrate these proceedings in our humble volume; but we +should exceedingly regret thereby to get any of our friends into a scrape +by informing the squire that they were active participants in the scenes +of that eventful night, or to say any thing which would enable him, a +lawyer, to trace out the authors of the mischief through these pages. +Therefore we cannot say where Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which +would enable our readers to fix definitely its locality. + +Pinchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, engaged, as the +school books would say, in agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and the +fisheries, which, rendered into still plainer English, means that some of +the people are farmers; that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, +are made; that the inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, +and similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels owned in the +place, the principal part of which are fishermen. + +We have not the agricultural and commercial statistics of the place at +hand; but the larger territorial part of the town was devoted to the +farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, while the principal +village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more densely peopled, contained two +stores, four churches, one wharf, a blacksmith shop, and several shoe and +bucket manufactories. + +We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is rather a singular name. +The antiquarians have not yet had an opportunity to determine its origin; +but our private opinion is that the word is a corruption of _Punch_-brook. +Perhaps, at some remote period in the history of the town, before the Sons +of Temperance obtained a foothold in the place, a villainous mixture, +known to topers under the general appellation of "punch," may have been +largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged person +ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, +metaphorically, the punch was said to "flow in streams." Possibly, from +"streams" came "brooks,"--hence, "Punchbrook,"--which, under the strange +mutations of time, has become "Pinchbrook." But we are not learned in +these matters, and we hope that nothing we have said will bias the minds +of antiquarians, and prevent them from devoting that attention to the +origin of the word which its importance demands. + +The Somers family, which we have already partially introduced, occupied a +small cottage not quite a mile from Pinchbrook Harbor. Captain Somers, the +head of the family, had been, and was still, for aught his wife and +children knew, master of the schooner Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he +had heavily mortgaged his house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire +Pemberton. But his voyages had not been uniformly successful, though the +captain believed that his earthly possessions, after discharging all his +liabilities, would amount to about five thousand dollars. + +The mortgage note would become due in June, and Captain Somers had been +making a strong effort to realize upon his property, so as to enable him +to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers had a brother who +was familiarly known in the family as uncle Wyman. He had spent his life, +from the age of eighteen, in the South, and at the time of which we write, +he was a merchant in Norfolk. + +Captain Somers and his brother had been interested together in certain +mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the business man, had the +proceeds of these ventures in his own hands. + +On the 10th of April, only two days before the bombardment of Fort Sumter, +Captain Somers had sailed in the Gazelle, with an assorted cargo, for +Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his wife that he should not +return without effecting a settlement with Wyman, who had postponed it so +many times, that the honest sailor began to fear his brother did not mean +to deal justly with him. Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her +departure from Boston. + +Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern principles, while +his brother, though not in the habit of saying much about politics, was +fully committed on the side of the government, and was willing to sustain +the President in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to +enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the +South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts +adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were in the +hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so strong an +advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the declaration that +he would not return without a settlement. + +The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not in a very +prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house depended entirely upon +the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton +held would be due in June, and as the creditor was not an indulgent man, +there was a prospect that even the little cottage and the little farm +might be wrested from them. + +The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. The two +oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the +Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age. The former had a +place in one of the stores at the village, and the latter occasionally +went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been +brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should +contribute what they could to the support of the family. The youngest +child, Jane, was but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs. +Somers's brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a +pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for twenty +years; and was familiarly known in town as "Gran'ther Green." + +Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the Somers +family, we are prepared to continue our story. + +Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. The +latter had listened with interest and approbation to his brother's account +of the "Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he +thought Thomas might need his assistance before he reached the store, for +Fred and his father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest +where they had left it. + +We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero of this +volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully indorsed the action of +his brother. + +"Fred is a traitor, and so is his father," said he, as they passed out at +the front gate of the little cottage. + +"That's so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear them talk," replied +Thomas. "And I couldn't help calling things by their right names." + +"Bully for you, Tom!" added John, as he turned round, and glanced at the +house to assure himself they were out of the hearing of their mother. +"Between you and me, Tom, there will be music in Pinchbrook to-night." + +He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and heavy with +importance. + +"What do you mean?" asked Thomas, his interest excited by the words +and manner of his brother. + +"There is fun ahead." + +"Tell me what it's all about." + +"You won't say a word--will you?" + +"Of course I won't." + +"Not to mother, I mean, most of all." + +"Certainly not." + +"Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own good." + +"I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff Davis himself is +no bigger traitor than he is." + +"Some of the people are going to make him a call to-night." + +"What for?" + +"What do you suppose? Can't you see through a millstone, Tom, when there +is a hole in it?" + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"You can come with us if you like, and then you will know all about it," +added John, mysteriously. + +"But what are you going to do?" + +"We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his house, or hang it +out of his window." + +"Well, suppose he won't." + +"Then we'll hang him where the flag ought to be. We'll pull the house down +over his head." + +"I'm with you, Jack," replied Thomas, with enthusiasm. + +"We won't have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we can't cure him, we'll ride +him on a rail out of the town." + +"I don't know as you and I ought to get into this scrape," added Thomas, +thoughtfully. + +"Why not?" + +"You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he may get ugly." + +"Let him, if he likes. I'm not going to tolerate a traitor because he has +a mortgage on my father's house. Besides, that is a fair business +transaction; the squire gets his interest." + +"Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil spirit." + +"Women are always timid," said John, sagely. + +"By George! there comes the very man himself!" exclaimed Thomas, as he +discovered a horse and chaise slowly approaching. + +"So it is; that old chaise looks rather the worse for the wear. It looks +as though it had been through the wars." + +The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard usage. One of the shafts +was broken, the dasher wrenched off, and the top stove in. The horse was +covered with mud, and limped badly from the effects of his fall. The +broken shaft and the harness were now plentifully adorned with ropes and +old straps. In fact, the catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim which +the chaise ever might have had to be considered a "hahnsome kerridge." + +"There'll be fun nearer home, I reckon," said John, as he obtained his +first view of the sour visage of the squire. + +"Can't help it," added Thomas. + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom." + +"I intend to do so." + +"Don't say a word about to-night, Tom." + +"Of course not." + +When the chaise had approached near enough to enable the squire to +recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the horse, and got out +of the vehicle, with the whip in his hand. + +"Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to insult me and my son, and +destroy my property. Stay in the chaise, Fred, and hold the horse," he +added to his son. + +But there was not much need of holding the horse now, for he was too lame +to run fast or far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if the squire had +been a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash of their eyes, that he +was about to engage in an unsafe operation. + +"I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of your life, you villain, +you!" roared the squire, brandishing the whip. + +"No, you are not," replied Thomas, coolly. + +"If you drop the weight of that lash on my brother, I'll smash your head," +added John. + +The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form of the young sailor. +Better thoughts, or at least wiser ones, came to his aid. + +"I can bring you to your senses in another way," said he, dropping his +whip, and getting into the chaise again. "You will hear from me before the +week is out." + +"Let him go; don't say a word, Tom," added John. + +"He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by that." + +"Let him prosecute and be hanged! I'll bet by to-morrow morning he will +think better of it. At any rate, he will find out what the people of +Pinchbrook think of him." + +The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached the store, where they found +the group of idlers, that always frequent shops in the country, busily +engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas had been the principal +actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the Pinchbrook Battle was saluted +with a volley of applause, and his conduct fully approved and commended, +for a copperhead in that day was an abomination to the people. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TAMING A TRAITOR. + + +With the exception of Squire Pemberton, Pinchbrook was a thoroughly loyal +town; and the people felt that it was a scandal and a disgrace to have +even a single traitor within its border. The squire took no pains to +conceal his treasonable sentiments, though the whole town was in a blaze +of patriotic excitement. On the contrary, he had gone out of his way, and +taken a great deal of pains, to condemn the government and the people of +the North. + +Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had always been a person of +great influence in the place. He had occupied all the principal official +positions in town and county. He had come to regard himself, as his +townsmen were for the most part willing to regard him, as the social and +political oracle of the place. What he thought in town meeting was +generally the sense of his fellow-citizens, and when he expressed himself +in words, his word was law. + +When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins, with the national flag +trodden under the feet of traitors, with the government insulted and +threatened, Squire Pemberton ventured to speak in tones of condemnation of +the free North, the people of Pinchbrook listened coldly, at first, to the +sayings of their oracle; and when he began to abuse the loyal spirit of +the North, some ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in the +habit of having men dissent, and it made him angry. His treason became +more treasonable, his condemnation more bitter. Plain, honest men, to +whatever party they might have belonged, were disgusted with the great man +of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express their disapprobation +of his course in very decided terms. Some were disposed to be indulgent +because the Squire had a sister in Georgia who had married a planter. But +there was not found a single person, outside of his own family, who was +mean enough to uphold him in his treacherous denunciation of the +government. + +The squire was too self-sufficient and opinionated to be influenced by the +advice of friends or the warning of those who had suddenly become his +enemies. He had so often carried the town to his own views, that, perhaps, +he expected to manufacture a public sentiment in Pinchbrook that would +place the town on the side of the rebels. All day Sunday, and all day +Monday, he rode about the Harbor preaching treason. He tried to convince +the people that the South had all the right, and the North all the wrong; +but he had never found them so obstinate and incredulous before. + +Towards night one of the ministers ventured to suggest to him that he was +sowing the wind, and would reap the whirlwind. The good man even hinted +that he had roused a storm of indignation in the town which he might find +it difficult to allay. + +The squire laughed at the minister, and told him he was not afraid of any +thing. He intended to speak his honest sentiments, as every citizen had a +right to do; and he would like to see any man, or any body of men, who +would dare to meddle with him. + +"I am afraid you will see them, Squire Pemberton," added the minister. + +"Let them come where they please and when they please." + +"What will you do? What is your single arm against scores of strong men?" + +"Nothing, perhaps, but I don't fear them. I am true to my convictions; why +need I fear?" + +"I think your convictions, as you call them, are deluding you. Do you +think Benedict Arnold's convictions, if he had any, would have saved his +neck from the halter?" + +"Do you mean to compare me to Benedict Arnold, sir?" + +"I came to you, as a friend, to warn you of impending danger; and, as your +friend, I am compelled to say that I don't see much difference between +your position and that of Benedict Arnold." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" + +"Not at all, sir. I was only expressing my honest conviction. Instead of +placing yourself on the side of your government, on the side of law and +order, you are going about Pinchbrook Harbor denouncing the legitimate +government of your country, and pleading the cause of rebels and +traitors." + +"Am I not at liberty to say what I please of the government?" + +"In ordinary times, you are. Just now, the country is in a state of war, +and he who is not for the flag is against it. You may criticize the +government as its friend, but not as its foe. When armed men conspire +against the peace of the land, he who pleads their cause is a +traitor--nay, sir, don't be angry; these are my convictions." + +"Political parsons have been the ruin of the country," sneered the squire. +"That is my conviction." + +"Squire Pemberton, I beg you not to be rash. If you must cherish these +pernicious views, I entreat you, keep them to yourself. You may think what +you please, but the utterance of treason makes a traitor." + +"I shall proclaim my views from the housetop," replied the squire, +angrily, as he abruptly turned away from the minister. + +The squire continued obdurate to the last. Neither the persuasions of his +friends nor the threats of his enemies had any effect in silencing his +tongue; and as late as sundown on that day of the Great Awakening he was +pouring treachery and treason into the ears of a neighbor who happened to +pass his house. Half an hour later in the day, there was a great gathering +of men and boys at the bridge on the outskirts of the village. They were +singing Hail Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner. Thomas and John Somers +were there. + +Presently the assemblage began to move up the road which led to Squire +Pemberton's house, singing patriotic songs as they marched. It was a +multitude of persons for Pinchbrook; and no doubt the obnoxious oracle +thought so when he saw the sea of heads that surrounded his dwelling. If +this was a mob, it was certainly a very orderly mob, for the crowd thus +far had done nothing worse than to sing the national airs. + +The arrangements had all been made before the multitude started from the +place of rendezvous. Three gentlemen, the principal of whom was Captain +Barney, had been appointed a committee to wait upon the squire, and +politely request him to display the American flag on his premises. + +In the road, in front of the house, a large fire had been kindled, which +threw a broad, bright glare on the house and the surrounding grounds. It +was as light as day in the vicinity when the committee walked up to the +front door of the house and rang the bell. The squire answered the summons +himself. + +"Squire Pemberton," said Captain Barney, "your fellow-citizens, about two +hundred in number, have called upon you with a simple and reasonable +request." + +"What is it?" demanded the squire. + +"That you hoist the Stars and Stripes on your house." + +"I won't do it!" roared the victim, as he slammed the door in the faces of +the committee. + +"That is insolence," said Captain Barney, quietly. "We will go in." + +The captain led the way; but the door had been locked upon them. The +shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt yielded. + +"What do you mean, you villains?" thundered the squire, as he confronted +the committee in the entry. + +"You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces before we had +finished our story," replied the immovable old sea captain. + +"How dare you break in my door?" growled the squire. + +"We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don't treat us respectfully." + +"A man's house is his castle," added the squire, a little more moderately. + +"That's very good law, but there isn't a house in Pinchbrook that is big +enough or strong enough to shield a traitor from the indignation of his +fellow-citizens. We do not purpose to harm you or your property, if you +behave like a reasonable man." + +"You shall suffer for this outrage," gasped the squire, whose rage was +increased by the cool and civil manner of Captain Barney. + +"When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that your +fellow-citizens wish you to display the national flag." + +"I refuse to do it, sir." + +"Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up their minds not +to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits of the town of +Pinchbrook." + +"I am no traitor." + +"That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your fellow-citizens +assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your patriotism." + +"I will not do it on compulsion." + +"Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable measures." + +"What do you mean by that, sir?" asked the squire, who was evidently +alarmed by the threat. "Do you mean to proceed to violence?" + +"We do, Squire Pemberton," answered Captain Barney, decidedly. + +"O my country!" sighed the victim, "has it come to this? The laws will no +longer protect her citizens." + +"That's very fine, sir. Do you expect the laws to protect you while you +are aiding and abetting those who are trying to destroy them? Is there any +law to protect a traitor in his treason? But we waste time, Squire +Pemberton. Will you display the American flag?" + +"Suppose I refuse?" + +"We will pull your house down over your head. We will give you a coat of +tar and feathers, and remove you beyond the limits of the town. If you +ever come back, we will hang you to the nearest tree." + +"Good Heaven! Is it possible that my fellow-citizens are +assassins--incendiaries!" + +"Your answer, squire." + +"For mercy's sake, husband, do what they ask," interposed his wife, who +had been an anxious listener in the adjoining room. + +"I must do it," groaned the squire, speaking the truth almost for the +first time in forty-eight hours. "Alas! where is our boasted liberty of +speech!" + +"Fudge! squire," replied Captain Barney, contemptuously. "If your friend +Jeff Davis should come to Massachusetts to-morrow, to preach a crusade +against the North, and to raise an army to destroy the free institutions +of the country, I suppose you think it would be an outrage upon free +speech to put him down. We don't think so. Up with the flag, squire." + +"Fred, you may hang the flag out at the front window up stairs," said the +squire to his son. + +"All right, squire. Now a few words more, and we bid you good night. You +may _think_ what you please, but if you utter another word of treason in +Pinchbrook during the term of your natural life, the party outside will +carry out the rest of the programme." + +By this time Fred Pemberton had fastened the flag to one of his mother's +clothes poles, and suspended it out of the window over the porch. It was +hailed with three tremendous cheers by the multitude who were in waiting +to discipline the squire, and exorcise the evil spirit of treason and +secession. + +The work of the evening was finished, not wholly to the satisfaction, +perhaps, of a portion of the younger members of the assemblage, who would +gladly have joined in the work of pillage and destruction, but much to the +gratification of the older and steadier portion of the crowd, who were +averse to violent proceedings. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COMMITTEE COME OUT, AND TOM GOES IN. + + +While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had appointed +to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the house, engaged in +bringing the traitor to terms, the younger members of the assemblage were +very impatient to know how matters were progressing. Thomas Somers was +particularly anxious to have the affair brought to a crisis. In vain he +and a few other of the young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the +interior of the house, where the exciting interview was in progress. + +Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough disciplinarian. +Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were technically illegal; +that in forcing himself into the house of the squire he was breaking the +law of the land; but it seemed to him to be one of those cases where +prompt action was necessary, and the law was too tardy to be of any +service. He was, however, determined that the business should be done with +as little violence as possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the +bridge to do no needless injury to the property or the feelings of the +squire or his family. + +When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the door to +prevent any of the people from following him. He had also directed them +not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until he gave the signal. +These directions proved a great hardship to the boys in the crowd, and +they were completely disgusted when they saw the flag thrown loose from +the front window. + +The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, about a +hundred feet from the road. In front of it was a green lawn, adorned with +several large buttonwood trees. There was no fence to enclose what was +called the front yard. The crowd was assembled on this lawn, and agreeably +to the directions of the leader, or chairman of the committee, none of +them passed into the yard in the rear and at the end of the house, which +was separated from the lawn by a picket fence. + +Boys are instinctively curious to know what is going on, and the "living +room" of the squire, in which the exciting conversation was taking place, +was in the rear of the house. The windows on the front were dark and +uncommunicative. The boys were restless and impatient; if there was to be +any fun, they wanted to see it. Thomas was as impatient as his fellows, +and being more enterprising than the others, he determined, while obeying +the instructions of Captain Barney in the spirit, to disobey them in the +letter. + +He had been a sufferer to the extent of two great wales on the calves of +his legs by the treason of the squire, and no doubt he thought he ought to +be regarded as an exception to those who were called on to observe the +instructions of the chairman of the committee. Leaving the group of +inquiring minds near the front door of the house, he walked down the +driveway till he came to a rail fence, through which he crawled, and +entered the field adjoining the garden of the squire. His fellow-citizens, +men and boys, were too intently watching the house to heed him, and no one +noticed his enterprising movement. + +From the field, he entered the garden, and made his way to the rear of the +house. But even here, he was doomed to disappointment, for Mrs. Pemberton +had drawn her curtains. Our hero was not, however, to be utterly defeated, +and as the curtains had not been fitted by an accomplished upholsterer, +there were openings on either side, through which he might command a full +view of the interior of the room. + +Thomas proceeded slowly and cautiously to obtain a position which would +enable him to gratify his curiosity, and witness the humiliation of the +haughty squire. Beneath the window which, he had chosen to look through, +there was a cellar door, from which a pile of seaweed, placed upon it to +keep the frost out of the cellar, had just been removed. The adventurous +inquirer crept up the slippery boards, and gained the coveted position. He +could not only see the committee and the squire, but he could hear all +they said. He was perfectly delighted with the manner in which the captain +put the question to the squire; and when the latter ordered Fred to hang +out the flag, he was a little disposed to imitate the masculine occupants +of the hen-house, a short distance from his perch; but Tom, as we have +before intimated, had a very tolerable idea of the principles of strategy, +and had the self-possession to hold his tongue, and permit the triumphant +scene within to pass without a crow or a cheer. + +The battle had been fought and the victory won; and though Tom felt that +he was one of the victors, he deemed it prudent, for strategical reasons, +to commence a retreat. The cellar doors, as we have before hinted, were +very slippery, having been thoroughly soaked with moisture while covered +with the seaweed. When the hero of this unauthorized reconnoissance +wheeled about to commence his retreat, his feet incontinently slipped up +upon the inclined surface of the doors, and he came down heavily upon the +rotten boards. This, in itself, would have been but an inconsiderable +disaster, and he might still have withdrawn from the inconvenient +locality, if circumstances had not conspired against him, as circumstances +sometimes will, when they ought to be conciliatory and accommodating. The +force with which Tom fell upon the decayed boards was too much for them, +and the unlucky adventurer became another victim to the treachery of +rotten wood, which has hurled so many thousands from time into eternity. + +But Tom was not hurled so far as that on the present occasion, though for +all practical purposes, for the succeeding half hour, he might as well +have been a hundred fathoms under water, or beneath the wreck of a +twenty-ton locomotive at the bottom of the river. That cellar door was a +bad place to fall through, which may be accounted for on the supposition +that it was not made to fall through. In his downward progress, Tom had +unluckily struck his head against the side of the house; and when he +landed at the bottom of the stairs, he was utterly oblivious to all +distinctions between treason and loyalty. Tom was not killed, I need not +inform the ingenious reader, or this would otherwise have been the last +chapter of the story; but the poor fellow did not know whether he was dead +or alive. + +In fact, he had not sense enough left to consider the question at all; for +there he lay, in the gloom of the traitor's dark cellar, silent and +motionless--a solemn warning to all our young readers of the folly and +wickedness of indulging an illegal and sinful curiosity. It may seem cruel +and inhuman in us to forsake poor Tom in this sad plight; but we must, +nevertheless, go up stairs, in order that the sufferer may be duly and +properly relieved in due and proper season. + +When the committee of three, appointed by the indignant loyalists of +Pinchbrook, had completed their mission in the house of the squire, like +sensible men they proposed to leave; and they so expressed themselves, +through their spokesman, to the unwilling host. They put their hats on, +and moved into the front entry, whither they were followed by the +discomfited traitor. They had scarcely left the room before a tremendous +crash greeted the ears of that portion of the family which remained in the +apartment. This was the precise moment at which poor Tom Somers found +himself on the bottom of the cellar; or, to be entirely accurate, when he +lost himself on the bottom of the cellar. + +Mrs. Pemberton heard the crash, and she very naturally concluded that the +hour of retribution had actually come; that the terrible mob had commenced +the work of destruction. To her "fear-amazed" mind it seemed as though the +whole side of the house had fallen in, and, for a moment, she confidently +expected the chimneys would presently go by the board, and the roof come +thundering down upon the devoted heads of her outraged family. Perhaps, at +that terrible moment, she wished her husband had been like other women's +husbands, a true and loyal man, cheering the old flag, and hurling +harmless anathemas at the graceless rebels. + +But the chimney did not go by the board, nor the roof come thundering down +upon her head. There was not even a sound of destruction to be heard, and +the sides of the house seemed to be firm and decided in their intention to +maintain their perpendicular position. A few minutes later, when the +committee announced to the multitude the success of their undertaking, and +Fred had displayed the flag from the window, peal upon peal of stunning +huzzas saluted her ears, and the awful peril of the preceding moments +appeared to be averted. The squire, having closed and barricaded the +broken door as well as he could, returned to the room, with curses deep +and bitter upon his lips. He was not in the habit of swearing, but the +magnitude of the occasion seemed to justify the innovation, and he swore +hugely, roundly, awfully. He paced the room, ground his teeth, and stamped +upon the floor. + +"Father, did you hear that terrible racket just now?" asked Mrs. +Pemberton. "I thought the side of the house had fallen in." + +"What racket?" demanded the squire, pausing in his excited walk. + +"I am sure they have broken something." + +"It sounded as though it was down cellar," added Susan, the daughter. + +"What was it?" asked the father. + +"I don't know. It sounded like breaking boards. Do go down cellar, and +find out what it was." + +"The scoundrels!" roared the squire, as he rushed up and down the room +again with the fury of a madman. "I'll teach them to break into my house!" + +"Be calm, father," interposed Mrs. Pemberton, who, like most New England +mothers, called her husband by the title which belonged exclusively to the +children. + +"Calm? How can I be calm? Don't you hear the ruffians shout and yell?" + +"They are only cheering the flag." + +The squire muttered a malediction upon the flag, which would probably have +procured for him a coat of tar and feathers, if the mob had heard it. Mrs. +Pemberton was silent, for she had never seen her husband so moved before. +She permitted him to pace the room in his frenzy till his anger had, in +some measure, subsided. + +"I wish you would go down cellar and find out what that noise was," said +Mrs. Pemberton, as soon as she dared to speak again. "Perhaps some of them +are down there now. Who knows but they will set the house afire." + +Squire Pemberton was startled by this suggestion, and, seizing the lamp, +he rushed down cellar to prevent so dire a calamity. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ATTIC CHAMBER. + + +Squire Pemberton rushed down cellar. He was very much excited, and forgot +that he had been troubled with the rheumatism during the preceding winter. +When he opened the cellar door, he was considerably relieved to find that +no brilliant light saluted his expectant gaze. It was as cold and dark in +the cellar as it had been when he sorted over the last of his Warren +Russets, a few days before. + +It was certain, therefore, that the house was not on fire; and, +invigorated by this thought, he descended the stairs. A strong current of +fresh, cold air extinguished the light he carried. As this was contrary to +his usual experience when he went down cellar in the evening after an +apple or a mug of cider, it assured him that there was a screw loose +somewhere. Returning to the room above, he procured a lantern, and +proceeded to the cellar again to renew his investigations. + +The squire felt the cold blast of the April air, and immediately made his +way to the cellar door, holding the lantern up as high as his head, to +ascertain the nature of the mischief which the fanatical abolitionists had +perpetrated. He saw that the cellar door was broken through. The rotten +boards lay upon the steps, and with another malediction upon the mob, he +placed the lantern upon a barrel, and proceeded to repair the damage. As +he stepped forward, he stumbled against the body of the enterprising hero +of this volume, who lay as calm and still as a sleeping child. + +The squire started back, not a little alarmed at the sight of the +motionless body. He felt as though a terrible retribution had fallen upon +somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting to destroy his +property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the cellar stairs by which +he had descended, and stood there for a moment, his tongue paralyzed, and +his knees smiting each other, in the agony of terror. + +We do not know what he was afraid of, but we suppose that instinctive +dread which some people manifest in the presence of death, had completely +overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to be afraid of, for a dead man +is not half so likely to do a person an injury as a living one. But in a +few minutes Squire Pemberton in some measure recovered his +self-possession. + +"There is a dead man down here!" he called up the staircase, in quaking +tones. + +"Mercy on us!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton. "Who is he?" + +"I don't know," replied the squire. + +"Look and see who it is, father," added Mrs. Pemberton. "Perhaps he isn't +dead." + +"Stone dead," persisted the squire. "He fell into the cellar and broke his +neck." + +"Go and see who it is--will you?" + +"Well, you come down and hold the light," said the squire, who was not +quite willing to say that he was scared out of his wits. + +Mrs. Pemberton descended the stairs, followed by Susan and Fred, who had +just returned from the front window, where he had exhibited the flag, +which the crowd outside were still cheering. + +"Who can it be?" continued the old lady, as she slowly and cautiously +walked forward to the scene of the catastrophe. + +"I don't know," replied the squire, in whom the presence of his family had +spurred up a semblance of courage; for if a man ever is brave, it is in +the presence of his wife and children. "If it is one of the ruffians who +came here to destroy my house, I am glad he has lost his life in the +attempt. It is a righteous retribution upon him for his wickedness." + +Mrs. Pemberton took the lantern, and the squire, still excited and +terrified, bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. The victim +lay upon his face, and the squire had to turn him over to obtain a view of +his countenance. + +"I declare it is one of the Somers boys!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton, as her +husband brought the face of Thomas to her view. + +"The young villain!" ejaculated the squire. "It is lucky he was killed, or +the house would have been in flames before this time. He is a desperate +young scoundrel." + +"But he isn't dead, father!" said Mrs. Pemberton, as she knelt upon the +cold ground, and felt the pulse of the insensible boy. "He is only +stunned." + +"I am sorry for it. If it had killed him, it would have served him right," +added the squire, who had suddenly become as bold as a lion--as bold as +two lions. + +"Come, father, let's carry him up stairs, and put him to bed." + +"Do you think I am going to do anything for this young scoundrel!" +exclaimed the squire, indignantly. "Why, he stoned Fred and me to-day, and +stoned the horse, and made him run away and break the chaise all to +pieces." + +"But we mustn't leave him here in this situation. He may die." + +"Let him die." + +"But what will folks say?" + +The more humane wife evidently understood the weak point of the squire, +for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could have induced +him to set at defiance the public sentiment of Pinchbrook. + +"Well, carry him up stairs then; but he never will get out of my house +till he has been severely punished for his crimes." + +The squire and Fred took hold of the senseless form of poor Tom, and +carried it up stairs, where it was placed upon the sofa in the sitting +room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being "an excellent hand in +sickness," and she immediately applied herself to the duty of restoring +the sufferer to consciousness. + +"Don't you think you had better go after the doctor, father?" asked the +good woman. "Some of his bones may be broken, or he may be injured +inwardly." + +"I shall not go for any doctor," snarled the squire. "Do you think I will +trust myself out doors while that howling mob is hanging round the house?" + +"Fred can go," suggested Susan. + +"He can, but he shall not," growled the squire, throwing himself into his +arm chair in the corner, with an appearance of indifference and unconcern, +which were far from representing the actual state of his mind. + +Mrs. Pemberton said no more, but she and Susan went to work upon the +sufferer with camphor and hartshorn in good earnest, and in a short time +they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. They continued the +treatment for some time longer, with the most satisfactory result, till +Tom astonished them by jumping off the sofa, and standing up in the middle +of the room. He rubbed his forehead, hunched up his left shoulder, and +felt of his shins. + +"Are you hurt, Thomas?" asked Mrs. Pemberton, with more of tenderness in +her tones than the squire deemed proper for the occasion. + +"No, marm, I guess not," replied Tom. "My shoulder feels a little stiff, +and I think I barked one of my shins; but I shall be as good as new by +to-morrow." + +But there was an ugly bump on the side of his head, which he had not yet +discovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He acknowledged the bump, +but declared it was only a little sore and would be all right by the next +day. + +"I feel pretty well," continued Tom, "and I guess I'll go home now." + +"I think you won't, young man," interposed Squire Pemberton. + +Tom looked at him, and for the first time since he had come to himself, he +remembered in what manner he had received his injuries. He immediately +came to the conclusion that he had got into a bad scrape. He was in the +house of, and in the presence of, his great enemy. The events of the day +passed in rapid succession through his mind, and he could not help +thinking that he was destined to be the first victim in Pinchbrook to the +war spirit which had just been awakened all over the country. + +The squire thought he would not go home, which was as much as to say he +would not let him go home. Tom's wits were a little confused, after the +hard knock he had received upon the head, and all he could do was to stand +and look at the oracle of Pinchbrook, and wait for further developments. + +"Young man," said the squire, sternly, and in tones that were intended to +make a deep impression upon the mind of the young man, "your time has +come." + +The squire paused, and looked at the culprit to ascertain the effect of +the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be perfectly cool, and was +not annihilated by the suggestive remark of the great man of Pinchbrook. + +"You have become a midnight marauder," added the squire, poetically. + +"It isn't seven o'clock yet," said Tom pointing to the great wooden clock +in the corner of the room. + +"You joined a mob to pillage and destroy the property of a peaceable +citizen. You broke in--" + +"No, sir; the cellar door broke in," interposed the culprit. + +"You broke into my house to set it afire!" continued the squire, in a +rage. + +"No, sir, I did not. I only went round there to see the fun," replied Tom, +pointing to the rear of the house; "and the cellar door broke down and let +me in. I did not mean to do you or your house any harm; and I didn't do +any, except breaking the cellar door, and I will have that mended." + +"Don't tell me, you young villain! You meant to burn my house." + +"No, I didn't mean any thing of the kind," replied Tom, stoutly. "I was +going off when the door broke down. The boards were rotten, and I should +think a man like you ought to have better cellar doors than those are." + +The squire didn't relish this criticism, especially from the source whence +it came. There was a want of humility on the part of the culprit which the +magnate of Pinchbrook thought would be exceedingly becoming in a young man +in his situation. The absence of it made him more angry than before. He +stormed and hurled denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the +mischief he had done during the day, and alluded in strong terms to that +which he intended to perpetrate in the "dead watches of the night"--which +was the poetical rendering of half-past six in the evening; for the squire +was fond of effective phrases. + +Tom ventured to hint that a man who would not stand by his country when +her flag was insulted and "trailed in the dust"--Tom had read the daily +papers--ought to be brought to his senses by such expedients as his +fellow-citizens might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the +squire's wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon the unlucky +youth, which was that he should be taken to the finished room in the +attic, and confined there under bolts and bars till the inquisitor should +further declare and execute his intentions. + +Mrs. Pemberton and Susan remonstrated against this sentence, prudently +suggesting the consequences which might result from detaining the boy. But +the squire declared he should not go till he had at least horsewhipped +him; and if there was any justice left in the land, he would send him to +the county jail in the morning. + +Tom wanted to resist the execution of his sentence, but he was still weak +from the effects of his fall, and he could not expect to vanquish both the +squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, he permitted himself to +be led to the attic chamber. The squire thrust him into the room, and +after carefully securing the door, left our hero to meditate upon the +reverse of fortune which had overtaken him. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAY IS PREPARED. + + +"Where do you suppose Thomas is?" said Mrs. Somers, as she glanced at the +clock, which indicated half-past nine. + +"I don't know," replied John. "He can't be a great ways off. I saw him in +front of the squire's house when the committee went in." + +"The boy's gone down to the Harbor again with the rest of the folks, +talking about the war," added gran'ther Greene, as he rose from his chair, +and hobbled into his chamber adjoining the kitchen. + +At ten o'clock, the mother began to be a little uneasy; and at eleven, +even John had some fears that all was not well with his brother. Neither +of them was able to suggest anything that could possibly have happened to +the absentee. There had been no battle fought, and so nobody could have +been killed. There had been no violence used in the transactions of the +evening further than breaking in the front door of Squire Pemberton, so +that it was not easy to believe that any accident had happened to him. + +John had given a glowing account of the proceedings at the house of the +squire and the family had been much interested and excited by the stirring +narrative. His mother was perfectly satisfied, as no one had been injured, +and hoped the great man of Pinchbrook would be brought to his senses. All +these topics had been fully discussed during the evening. John had +informed his mother that Captain Benson, who had formerly commanded the +Pinchbrook Riflemen, intended to raise a company for the war. He mentioned +the names of half a dozen young men who had expressed their desire to +join. The family had suggested that this and that man would go, and thus +the long evening passed away. + +"I don't see what has become of Thomas," said Mrs. Somers, when the clock +struck eleven, as she rose from her chair and looked out of the window. + +"Well, I don't see, either," replied John. "I don't believe there is +anything going on at this time of night." + +"I hope nothing has happened to him," continued the anxious mother, as she +went to the door and looked out, hoping, perhaps, to discover him in the +gloom of the night, or to hear his familiar step. + +"What could have happened to him?" asked John, who did not believe his +brother was fool enough to fall overboard, or permit any serious accident +to happen to him. + +"I don't know. I can't see what has got the boy. He always comes home +before nine o'clock. Have you heard him say anything that will give you an +idea where he is?" + +"He hasn't said anything to me." + +"Try, and see if you can't think of something," persisted the anxious +mother. + +"He hasn't talked of anything but the war since yesterday morning." + +"What did he say?" + +"I don't know, now," answered John, musing. "He said he should like to +join the army, and go down and fight the rebels." + +Mrs. Somers had heard as much from him, but she had given no particular +attention to his remarks on this subject, for they seemed wild and +visionary. John's words, under the present circumstances, appeared to be +full of importance; and taking her stocking, she seated herself before the +stove, and resumed her knitting. She was silent now, for her heart was +heavy with the premonitions of impending trouble. + +"I will take a walk down to the Harbor, mother, and see if I can find +anything of him. There may be something going on there that I don't know +about. He may be at the store, talking about the war with Captain Barney +and the rest of the folks." + +Mrs. Somers offered no objection to this plan, and John put on his cap, +and left the house. The poor mother brooded upon her trouble for another +hour, and with every new moment, the trouble seemed more real. The clock +struck twelve before John returned; and more than once during his absence, +as she plied her needles, she had wiped away a tear that hung among the +furrows of her care-worn cheek. She had been thinking of her husband, as +well as of her son. He was, or soon would be, in the midst of the +traitors, and she trembled for him. Uncle Wyman was a secessionist; and, +beyond this, she had not much confidence in his integrity, and if Captain +Somers came home at all, his property would all be swept away, and he +would be a beggar. + +The events of that day were not calculated to conciliate Squire Pemberton +towards them, and the farm and the cottage would pass away from them. All +these things had been considered and reconsidered by the devoted mother. +Poverty and want seemed to stare her in the face; and to add to all these +troubles, Thomas did not come home, and, as fond mothers will, she +anticipated the worst. + +John entered the kitchen, and carelessly flung his cap upon the table. +Mrs. Somers looked at him, and waited patiently to hear any intelligence +he might bring. But John threw himself into a chair, looking more gloomy +than before he left the house. He did not speak, and therefore he had no +good news to tell. + +"You didn't see anything of him--did you?" asked Mrs. Somers; but it was a +useless question, for she had already interpreted the meaning of his +downcast looks. + +"No, mother; there isn't a man, woman, or child stirring in the village; +and I didn't see a light in a single house." + +"What do you suppose can have become of him?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Tom is old enough and smart enough to take care of +himself." + +"It's very strange." + +"So it is. I haven't any idea what has become of him." + +"Did you look around Squire Pemberton's house, where he was seen last?" + +"I looked about on both sides of the road, going and coming from the +Harbor. I whistled all the way, and if he had been any where round, he +would have whistled back, as he always does." + +"What do you _suppose_ has become of him?" demanded the poor mother, +worried beyond expression at the mysterious disappearance of her son. + +"I can't tell, mother." + +"Don't you think we had better call up the neighbors, and have something +done about it?" + +"I don't know," replied John, hardly less anxious than his mother. + +"I don't suppose they would be able to find him if we did," added Mrs. +Somers, wiping away the tears from her face. + +"I can't think anything has happened to him, mother. If he had been on the +water, or anything of that kind, I should feel worse about it." + +"If I only knew where he was, I shouldn't feel so bad about it," said she; +and her position, certainly, was a reasonable one. + +"What's the matter, sister?" called gran'ther Greene, from his chamber. +"Hasn't that boy got home yet?" + +"No, he hasn't come yet, and I am worried to death about him," replied +Mrs. Somers, opening the door of her brother's room. + +"What o'clock is it?" + +"After twelve. Thomas never stayed out so late in his life before. What do +you suppose has become of him?" + +"Law sake! I haven't the leastest idea," answered the old man. "Thomas is +a smart boy, and knows enough to keep out of trouble." + +"That's what I say," added John, who had unlimited confidence in his +brother's ability to take care of himself. + +"I'll tell you what _I_ think, John," said Mrs. Somers, throwing herself +into her chair with an air of desperation. + +But she did not tell John what she thought: on the contrary, she sat +rocking herself in silence, as though her thought was too big and too +momentous for utterance. + +"Well, what do you think, mother?" asked John, when he had waited a +reasonable time for her to express her opinion on the exciting topic. + +Mrs. Somers rocked herself more violently than before, and made no reply. + +"What were you going to say?" + +"I think the boy has gone off to Boston, and gone into the army," replied +she, desperately, as though she had fully made up her mind to commit +herself to this belief. + +"Do you think so, mother?" + +"I feel almost sure of it." + +"I don't think so, mother. Tom wouldn't have gone off without saying +something to me about it." + +"If he wouldn't say it to me, he wouldn't be likely to say it to you, +John. It don't look a bit like Thomas to go off and leave his mother in +this way," moaned the poor woman, wiping away a deluge of tears that now +poured from her eyes. + +"I don't believe he has done any such thing, mother," protested John. + +"I feel almost certain about it, now. If the boy wanted to go, and +couldn't stay at home, he ought to have told me so." + +"He did say he wanted to go." + +"I didn't think he really meant it. I want my boys to love their country, +and be ready to fight for it. Much as I should hate to part with them, if +they are needed, they may go; but I don't like to have them run away and +leave me in this mean way. I shouldn't feel half so bad if I knew Thomas +was in the army now, as I do to think he ran away from home, just as +though he had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he +wouldn't be a son of mine if he wasn't ready to go and fight for his +country, and die for her too, if there was any need of it. I didn't think +Thomas would serve me in this way." + +"I don't believe he has." + +"I know he's gone. I like his spunk, but if he had only come to me and +said he _must_ go, I wouldn't have said a word; but to go off without +bidding us good by--it's too bad, and I didn't think Thomas would do such +a thing." + +Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the highest state +of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not adequate to the duty +required of them, and nothing less than the whole floor of the kitchen was +sufficient for the proper venting of her emotion. + +"Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him leave to go, +even if he had teased you for a month?" asked John. + +"Certainly I should," replied his mother, stopping short in the middle of +the floor. "I'm ready and willing to have my boys fight for their country, +but I don't want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a +hen-roost, and without even saying good by to me." + +"If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him go?" demanded +John, earnestly. + +"Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don't think there is any need of boys +like him going, when there are men enough to do the fighting." + +"You told Tom he shouldn't go." + +"Well, I didn't think he really meant it. If he had--What's that, John?" +asked she, suddenly, as a noise at the window attracted her attention. + +"Only the cat, mother." + +"If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was need of your +going, I wouldn't have kept either of you at home. I would go to the +poorhouse first. My father and my brother both fought for their country, +and my sons shall when their country wants them." + +"Then you are willing Tom should go?" + +"I am, but not to have him sneak off like a sheep-stealer." + +"Three cheers for you, mother!" shouted Thomas, as he threw up the window +at which he had been standing for some ten minutes listening to this +interesting conversation. + +"Where have you been, Thomas?" exclaimed the delighted mother. + +"Open the door, Jack, and let me in, and I will tell you all about it," +replied the absentee. + +"Come in; the door isn't locked," said John. + +He came in; and what he had to tell will interest the reader as well as +his mother and his brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE. + + +Tom Somers was an enterprising young man, as our readers have already +discovered; and when the door of the finished room in the attic of Squire +Pemberton's house was fastened upon him, he was not at all disposed to +submit to the fate which appeared to be in store for him. The idea of +becoming a victim to the squire's malice was not to be entertained, and he +threw himself upon the bed to devise some means by which he might make his +escape. + +The prospect was not encouraging, for there was only one window in the +chamber, and the distance to the ground was suggestive of broken limbs, if +not of a broken neck. Tom had read the Life of Baron Trenck, and of +Stephen Burroughs, but the experience of neither of these worthies seemed +to be available on the present occasion. + +As the family had not yet retired, it would not be safe to commence +operations for some hours. The stale, commonplace method of tying the +sheets and blankets together, and thus forming a rope by which he could +descend to the ground, occurred to him; but he had not much confidence in +the project. He lay quietly on the bed till he heard the clocks on the +churches at the Harbor strike twelve. It was time then, if ever, for the +family to be asleep, and he decided to attempt an escape by another means +which had been suggested to him. If it failed, he could then resort to the +old-fashioned way of going down on the rope made of sheets and blankets. + +The apartment in which Tom was confined was not what people in the country +call an "upright chamber." The sides of the room were about four feet in +height; and a section of the apartment would have formed one half of an +irregular octagon. In each side of the chamber there was a small door, +opening into the space near the eaves of the house, which was used to +store old trunks, old boxes, the disused spinning-wheel, and other lumber +of this description. Tom had been in the attic before, and he remembered +these doors, through one of which he now proposed to make his escape. + +When the clock struck twelve, he cautiously rose from the bed, and pulled +off his boots, which a proper respect for his host or the bed had not +prompted him to do before. The house was old, and the floors had a +tendency to creak beneath his tread. With the utmost care, he crawled on +his hands and knees to one of the doors of the lumber hole, which he +succeeded in opening without much noise. + +Making his way in among the old boxes, trunks, and spinning-wheels, he was +fully embarked in his difficult venture. The dust which he stirred up in +his progress produced an almost irresistible desire to sneeze, which Lord +Dundreary might have been happy to indulge, but which might have been +fatal to the execution of Tom Somers's purpose. He rubbed his nose, and +held his handkerchief over the intractable member, and succeeded in +overcoming its dangerous tendency. His movements were necessarily very +slow, for he was in constant dread lest some antiquated relic of the past +should tumble over, and thus disturb the slumbers of the family who +occupied the chambers below. + +But in spite of the perils and difficulties that environed his path, there +was something exciting and exhilarating in the undertaking. It was a real +adventure, and, as such, Tom enjoyed it. As he worked his way through the +labyrinth of antiquities, he could not but picture to himself the surprise +and chagrin of Squire Pemberton, when he should come up to the attic +chamber to wreak his vengeance upon him. He could see the magnate of +Pinchbrook start, compress his lips and clinch his fists, when he found +the bird had flown. + +"Better not crow till I get out of the woods," said he to himself, while +his imagination was still busy upon the agreeable picture. + +After a series of trials and difficulties which our space does not permit +us to describe in full, Tom emerged from the repository of antiquities, +and stood in the open space in front of the finished chamber. With one +boot in each hand, he felt his way to the stairs, and descended to the +entry over the front door. All obstacles now seemed to be overcome, for he +had nothing to do but go down stairs and walk out. + +It often happens, amid the uncertainties of this unstable world, that we +encounter the greatest trials and difficulties precisely where we expect +to find none. As Tom walked along the entry, with one hand on the rail +that protected the staircase to guide him, he struck his foot against the +pole upon which Fred Pemberton had suspended the flag out of the window. +It was very careless of the squire, when he took the flag in, to leave the +stick in that unsafe position, for one of his own family might have +stumbled against it, and broken a leg or an arm, or possibly a neck; and +if it might have been a "cause of offence" to one of the Pembertons, it +certainly laid a grievous burden upon the shoulders of poor Tom Somers. + +When the pole fell, it made a tremendous racket, as all poles will when +they fall just at the moment when they ought to stand up, and be decent +and orderly. This catastrophe had the effect to quicken the steps of the +young man. He reached the stairs, and had commenced a rapid descent, when +the door of the squire's room, which was on the lower floor, opened, and +Tom found himself flanked in that direction. + +"Who's there? What's that?" demanded the squire, in hurried, nervous +tones. + +Tom was so impolite as to make no reply to these pressing interrogatories, +but quickly retreated in the direction from which he had come. + +"Wife, light the lamp, quick," said the squire, in the hall below. + +Just then a door opened on the other side of the entry where Tom stood, +and he caught a faint glimpse of a figure robed in white. Though it was +the solemn hour of midnight, and Tom, I am sorry to say, had read the +Three Spaniards, and Mysteries of Udolpho, he rejected the suggestion that +the "sheeted form" might be a ghost. + +"Who's there?" called the squire again. + +A romantic little scream from the figure in white assured Tom that Miss +Susan was the enemy immediately on his front. Then he caught the glimmer +of the light below, which Mrs. Pemberton had procured, and the race seemed +to be up. Concealment was no longer practicable, and he seized upon the +happy suggestion that the window opening upon the portico over the front +door was available as a means of egress. + +Springing to the window, he raised it with a prompt and vigorous hand, and +before the squire could ascend the stairs, he was upon the roof of the +portico. Throwing his boots down, he grasped the gutter, and "hung off." +He was now on _terra firma_, and all his trials appeared to have reached a +happy termination; but here again he was doomed to disappointment. + +"Bow, wow, wow-er, woo, row!" barked and growled the squire's big bull +dog, when he came to realize that some unusual occurrences were +transpiring. + +The animal was a savage brute, and was kept chained in the barn during the +day, and turned loose when the squire made his last visit to the cattle +about nine in the evening. Tom was thoroughly alarmed when this new enemy +confronted him; but fortunately he had the self-possession to stand his +ground, and not attempt to run away, otherwise the dog would probably have +torn him in pieces. + +"Come here, Tige! Poor fellow! Come here! He's a good fellow! Don't you +know me, Tige?" said Tom, whose only hope seemed to be in conciliation and +compromise. + +If Tige knew him, he appeared to be very unwilling to acknowledge the +acquaintance under the present suspicious circumstances, and at this +unseemly hour. The brute barked, snarled, howled, and growled, and +manifested as strong an indisposition to compromise as a South Carolina +fire-eater. He placed himself in front of the hero of the night's +adventure, as resolute and as intractable as though he had known all the +facts in the case, and intended to carry out to the letter the wishes of +his master. + +Tom slowly retreated towards the garden fence, the dog still following him +up. He had tried coaxing and conciliation, and they had failed. As he +cautiously backed from the house, his feet struck against a heavy cart +stake, which seemed to suggest his next resort. He was well aware that any +quick movement on his part would cause the dog to spring upon him. Placing +his toe under the stake, he raised it with his foot, till he could reach +it with his hand, keeping his gaze fixed upon the eyes of the dog, which +glared like fiery orbs in the gloom of the hour. + +Tige saw the stick, and he appeared to have a wholesome respect for it--a +sentiment inspired by sundry beatings, intended to cure a love of mutton +on the hoof, or beef on the shelf. The brute retreated a few paces; but at +this moment Squire Pemberton appeared at the front door, with a lantern in +his hand. He understood the "situation" at a glance. + +"Take him, Tige! Stu' boy!" shouted the squire. + +The dog snarled an encouraging reply to this suggestion, and moved up +towards the fugitive. Tom's courage was equal to the occasion, and he +levelled a blow at the head of the bull dog, which, if it had hit him +fairly, must have smashed in his skull. As it was, the blow was a heavy +one, and Tige retreated; but the shouts of the squire rallied him, and he +rushed forward to the onslaught again. + +Tom, as we have before had occasion to suggest, was a master of strategy, +and instead of another stroke at the head of his savage foe, with only one +chance in ten of hitting the mark he commenced swinging it vigorously to +the right and left, as a mower does his scythe. His object was to hit the +legs of the dog--a plan which was not entirely original with him, for he +had seen it adopted with signal success by a fisherman at the Harbor. The +consequence of this change of tactics was soon apparent, for Tige got a +rap on the fore leg, which caused him to yelp with pain, and retire from +the field. While the dog moved off in good order in one direction, Tom +effected an equally admirable retreat in the other direction. + +On reaching the road, he pulled on his boots, which he had picked up after +the discomfiture of his canine antagonist. Squire Pemberton still stood at +the door trying to bring Tige to a sense of his duty in the trying +emergency; but the brute had more regard for his own shins than he had for +the mandate of his master, and the victor was permitted to bear away his +laurels without further opposition. + +When he reached his father's house, supposing the front door was locked, +he went to the kitchen window, where he had heard the patriotic remarks of +his mother. Tom told his story in substance as we have related it. + +"Do you mean what you have said, mother?" inquired he, when he had +finished his narrative. + +Mrs. Somers bit her lip in silence for a moment. + +"Certainly I do, Thomas," said she, desperately. + +It was half-past one when the boys retired, but it was another hour before +Tom's excited brain would permit him to sleep. His head was full of a big +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SIGNING THE PAPERS. + + +Thomas went to sleep at last, and, worn out by the fatigue and excitement +of the day, he slept long and soundly. His mother did not call him till +eight o'clock, and it was nine before he reached the store of his +employer, where the recital of the adventure of the preceding night proved +to be a sufficient excuse for his non-appearance at the usual hour. + +In the course of the week Captain Benson had procured the necessary +authority to raise a company for three years or for the war. When he +exhibited his papers, he found twenty persons ready to put down their +names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, and every day added to +the list of brave and self-denying men who were ready to go forward and +fight the battles of liberty and union. The excitement in Pinchbrook was +fanned by the news which each day brought of the zeal and madness of the +traitors. + +Thomas had made up his mind, even before his mother had been surprised +into giving her consent, that he should go to the war. At the first +opportunity, therefore, he wrote his name upon the paper, very much to the +astonishment of Captain Benson and his employer. + +"How old are you, Tom?" asked the captain. + +"I'm in my seventeenth year," replied the soldier boy. + +"You are not old enough." + +"I'm three months older than Sam Thompson; and you didn't even ask him how +old he was." + +"He is larger and heavier than you are!" + +"I can't help that. I'm older than he is, and I think I can do as much in +the way of fighting as he can." + +"I don't doubt that," added the captain, laughing. "Your affair with +Squire Pemberton shows that you have pluck enough for anything. I should +be very glad to have you go; but what does your father say?" + +"He hasn't said anything. He isn't at home. He went away before Sumter was +fired upon by the rebels." + +"True--I remember. What does your mother say?" + +"O, she is willing." + +"Are you sure, Tom?" + +"Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she can give her +consent, and she will sign it." + +Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to dinner, he +presented it to his mother for her signature. + +"I hope you won't back out, mother," said he, as she put on her +spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the contents of the document. + +"Back out of what, Thomas?" + +"I've signed the muster roll, and I belong to Captain Benson's company +now." + +"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, and gazing earnestly +into the face of the young man, to discover whether he was in earnest. + +"Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed the papers; but +Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so that there shall be no +mistake about it." + +The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the thought of +having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp and the march, the +skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and nothing but the most exalted +patriotism could induce a mother to give a son to his country. + +"I don't want to sign this paper, Thomas," said she, when she had finished +reading it. + +"Have you forgot what you said the other night, mother?" + +"No, I haven't forgot it, and I feel now just as I did then. If there is +any real need of your going, I am willing you should go." + +"Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President wasn't joking +when he called for seventy-five thousand men." + +"But there are enough to go without you." + +"That's just what everybody might say, and then there wouldn't be anybody +to go." + +"But you are young, and not very strong." + +"I'm old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a day to myself, I +don't think it's any great hardship to carry father's heavy fowling-piece +from sunrise to sunset; and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as +long as any of them." + +"You are only a boy." + +"I shall be a man soon enough." + +"When you have gone, John will want to go too." + +"No, mother, I don't want to go into the army," said John, with a sly wink +at his brother. "I shall never be a soldier if I can help it." + +"What am I going to do, if you all go off and leave me?" added Mrs. +Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear which was struggling for birth in +her fountain of sorrows. + +"I don't think you will want for anything, mother. I'm sure I wouldn't +leave you, if I thought you would. I don't get but two dollars and a half +a week in the store, and I shall have eleven dollars a month in the army, +and it won't cost me any thing for board or clothes. I will send every +dollar I get home to you." + +"You are a good boy, Thomas," replied Mrs. Somers, unable any longer to +restrain the tear. + +"I know you and John both will do every thing you can for me. If your +father was only at home, I should feel different about it." + +"He would believe in my fighting for my country, if he were here." + +"I know he would," said Mrs. Somers, as she took the pen which Thomas +handed her, and seated herself at the table. "If you are determined to go, +I suppose you will go, whether I am willing or not." + +"No, mother, I will not," added Thomas, decidedly. "I shouldn't have +signed the muster roll if you hadn't said you were willing. And if you say +now that you won't consent, I will take my name off the paper." + +"But you want to go--don't you?" + +"I do; there's no mistake about that: but I won't go if you are not +willing." + +Mrs. Somers wrote her name upon the paper. It was a slow and difficult +operation to her, and during the time she was thus occupied, the rest of +the family watched her in silent anxiety. Perhaps, if she had not +committed herself on the eventful night when she fully believed that +Thomas had run away and joined the army, she might have offered more and +stronger objections than she now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism +in her nature, which she had inherited from her father, who had fought at +Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and Germantown, and which had been exemplified in +the life of her brother; and this, more than any other consideration, +induced her to sign the paper. + +Thousands of loving and devoted mothers have given their sons to their +country in the same holy enthusiasm that inspired her. She was not a +solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both her sons had been +men, instead of boys, she would not have interposed a single objection to +their departure upon a mission so glorious as that to which Thomas had now +devoted himself. + +"There's my name, Thomas," said his mother, as she took off her +spectacles. "I've done it, and you have my free consent. You've always +been a good boy, and I hope you will always be a good soldier." + +"I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I turn my back to a +rebel, I hope you'll disown me." + +"Good, Tom!" exclaimed John, who had been deeply interested in the event +of the hour. + +"Well, Thomas, I'd rather face two rebels than that bull dog you fit with +t'other night," added gran'ther Greene. "You are as bold as a lion, +Thomas." + +"Do you think I can stand it, gran'ther?" added Tom, with a smile. + +"Stand it? Well, Thomas, it's a hard life to be a soldier, and I know +something about it. When we marched from--" + +"Dinner's ready," interposed Mrs. Somers, for gran'ther Greene had marched +that march so many times that every member of the family knew it by heart. + +"There's one good thing about it, Tom," said John: "you have got a +first-rate captain." + +"I'm thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for if there ever was a +Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man," added Mrs. Somers. + +"And all the company will be your own friends and neighbors," said +gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you. I know something +about this business. When we marched from--" + +"Have some more beans, brother?" asked Mrs. Somers. "You will be among +your friends, Thomas, as gran'ther says." + +"That's a great thing, I can tell you," added the veteran. "Soldiers +should stick together like brothers, and feel that they are fighting for +each other, as well as for the country. Then, when you're sick, you want +friends. When we marched from Sackett's Harbor, there was a young +feller--" + +"Have some more tea, brother?" + +"Part of a cup, Nancy," replied the old man, who never took offence even +when the choicest stories of his military experience were nipped in the +bud. + +After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed to him +like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt that he belonged +to his country now, and that the honor of that old flag, which had been +insulted by traitors, was committed to his keeping. He was taking up the +work where his grandfather had left it. He was going forth to fight for +his country, and the thought inspired him with a noble and generous +enthusiasm, before which all the aspirations of his youth vanished. + +As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a pitying +reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full of the great +event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even think of the +exciting incidents which had occurred there. He had neither seen nor heard +any thing of the squire since he had escaped from the attic chamber. + +Just beyond the squire's house he met Captain Barney, who was riding up to +the town hall. + +"What's this I hear of you, Tom?" demanded the captain, as he reined in +his horse. "They say you have joined the company." + +"Yes, sir. I have." + +"Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as a brigadier +general. What does your mother say?" + +"I have her written consent in my pocket." + +"All right. God bless you, my boy!" said the old salt, as he started his +horse. + +"Thank you, sir. There's only one thing that troubles me." + +"Eh? What's that, my boy?" demanded Captain Barney as he reined up the +horse again. + +"I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire Pemberton's the other +night." + +"Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn't want to keelhaul the old traitor +when I heard of it." + +"I don't care anything about the scrape, sir; only I'm afraid the squire +will bother my mother when I'm gone," said Thomas, with some diffidence. + +"If he does, he'll settle the matter with Jack Barney," replied the +captain, decidedly. + +"My father may never come back, you know, and if he does he will be a +beggar. He owes the squire a note, which will be due in June." + +"I'll pay it myself!" roared Captain Barney. "Go and fight for your +country, Tom, like a man. I'll call and see your mother once a week, or +every day in the week, if you say so. She shall not want for any thing as +long as I have a shot in the locker." + +"Thank you, Captain Barney; thank you, sir." + +"I'll take care of your mother, my lad, and I'll take care of the squire. +He shall not foreclose that mortgage, Tom. Don't bother your head about +any of those things. You're a good boy, Tom, and I'll keep every thing all +right at home." + +"Thank you, sir," repeated the soldier boy, as Captain Barney started his +horse again. + +The captain was a retired shipmaster, of ample means, and Tom knew that he +was not only able, but willing, to do all he had promised. His heart was +lighter; a load had been removed from his mind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE DEPARTURE. + + +At the time of which we write, recruiting officers were not very +particular in regard to the age of those whom they received into the +volunteer army. If the young man seemed to have the requisite physical +qualifications, it was of little consequence what his age was; and Tom +Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very good soldier. + +Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the young +recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary legal form, but +because he was acquainted with his father and mother, and would not +willingly have done any thing to displease them. The matter, therefore, +was disposed of to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, and Tom +actually commenced his career as a soldier boy. He immediately resigned +his situation in the store, for the company now numbered forty men, not +half a dozen of whom had any knowledge whatever of military drill. + +As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to lose the +time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into the service of +the United States, the town voted to pay each man fifteen dollars a month +for three months. This generous and patriotic action of the town rejoiced +the heart of Tom Somers, for his mother actually needed the pittance he +had earned at the store. Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband; +but the destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several +northern vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in +that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up between the +North and the South, and she not only feared that Captain Somers had lost +all his worldly possessions, but that he would hardly be able to escape +himself from the fiery furnace of secession and treason. + +To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She foresaw that +she and her family would be subjected to the pressure of want, or at least +be dependent upon the kindness of friends for support. She had freely +stated her fears to her children, and fully exhibited the insufficiency of +the family resources. The vote of the town was a perfect godsend to Tom, +and a fat legacy from a rich relative would not have kindled a stronger +feeling of gratitude in his soul. + +For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, and +evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The company +was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then attached to +the --th regiment, which had just been formed and ordered to Fort Warren. + +On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic citizens of +Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful farewell of his +mother, his brother and sisters, and a score of anxious friends. + +"Now don't let the rebels hit you in the backbone, Thomas," said gran'ther +Green, as he shook the hand of the soldier boy. + +"No, gran'ther; if I can't fight, I won't run away," replied Tom. + +"You've got good blood in your veins, my boy: don't disgrace it. I don't +know as you'll ever see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;" and the old +man turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his wrinkled +cheek. + +"Be a good boy, Thomas," added his mother. + +"I will, mother." + +"And remember what I've been telling you. I'm not half so much afraid of +your being killed by a bullet, as I am of your being ruined by bad men." + +"You needn't fear any thing of that kind, mother." + +"I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as well as from your +enemies. We shall see you again before you go off, I hope." + +"Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet." + +"Don't forget to read your Testament, Thomas," said Mrs. Somers. + +"I won't, mother," replied the soldier boy, as he again shook hands with +all the members of the family, kissed his mother and his sisters, and +hitching up his knapsack, took his place in the ranks. + +His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender scene he +had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his inclination to weep, +but he could no longer restrain the tears. Suddenly they came like a flood +bursting the gates that confined it, and he choked and sobbed like a +little girl. He leaned upon his musket, covering his face with his arm. + +"It's a hard case," said private Hapgood, who stood next to him in the +ranks. + +"I didn't think it would take me down like this," sobbed Tom. + +"Don't blubber, Tom. Let's go off game," added Ben Lethbridge, who stood +on the other side of him. + +"I can't help it, Ben." + +"Yes, you can--dry up! Soldiers don't cry, Tom." + +"Yes, they do, my boy," said Hapgood, who was a little old man, nearly ten +years beyond the period of exemption from military duty. "I don't blame +Tom for crying, and, in my opinion, he'll fight all the better for it." + +"Perhaps he will, old un; but I don't think much of a soldier that +blubbers like a baby. I hope he won't run away when he sees the rebels +coming," sneered Ben. + +"If he does, he'll have a chance to see how thick the heels of your boots +are," answered the old man. + +"What do you mean by that, old un?" demanded Ben. + +"Attention--company! Shoulder--arms! Forward--march!" said the captain; +and the discussion was prevented from proceeding any further. + +The band, which was at the head of the citizens' column, struck up an +inspiring march, and Tom dried his tears. The escort moved off, followed +by the company. They passed the little cottage of Captain Somers, and Tom +saw the whole family except John, who was in the escort, standing at the +front gate. The old soldier swung his hat, Tom's sisters and his mother +waved their handkerchiefs; but when they saw the soldier boy, they had to +use them for another purpose. Tom felt another upward pressure in the +region of the throat; but this time he choked down his rising emotions, +and saved himself from the ridicule of his more callous companion on the +left. + +In violation of military discipline, he turned his head to take one last, +fond look at the home he was leaving behind. It might be the last time he +should ever gaze on that loved spot, now a thousand times more dear than +ever before. Never had he realized the meaning of home; never before had +he felt how closely his heart's tendrils were entwined about that hallowed +place. Again, in spite of his firmness and fortitude, and in spite of the +sneers of Ben Lethbridge, he felt the hot tears sliding down his cheek. + +When he reached the brow of the hill which would soon hide the little +cottage from his view, perhaps forever, he gazed behind him again, to take +his last look at the familiar spot. His mother and sister still stood at +the front gate watching the receding column in which the son and the +brother was marching away to peril and perhaps death. + +"God bless my mother! God bless them all!" were the involuntary +ejaculations of the soldier boy, as he turned away from the hallowed +scene. + +But the memory of that blessed place, sanctified by the presence of those +loving and devoted ones, was shrined in the temple of his heart, ever to +go with him in camp and march, in the perils of battle and siege, to keep +him true to his God, true to himself, and true to those whom he had left +behind him. That last look at home and those that make it home, like the +last fond gaze we bestow on the loved and the lost, was treasured up in +the garner of the heart's choicest memories, to be recalled in the solemn +stillness of the midnight vigil, amid the horrors of the battle-field when +the angry strife of arms had ceased, and in the gloom of the soldier's +sick bed when no mother's hand was near to lave the fevered brow. + +The moment when he obtained his last view of the home of his childhood +seemed like the most eventful period of his existence. His heart grew big +in his bosom, and yet not big enough to contain all he felt. He wept +again, and his tears seemed to come from deeper down than his eyes. He did +not hear the inspiring strains of the band, or the cheers that greeted the +company as they went forth to do and die for their country's imperilled +cause. + +"Blubbering again, Tom?" sneered Ben Lethbridge. "I thought you was more +of a man than that, Tom Somers." + +"I can't help it, Ben," replied Tom, vainly struggling to subdue his +emotions. + +"Better go back, then. We don't want a great baby in the ranks." + +"It's nateral, Ben," said old Hapgood. "He'll get over it when he sees the +rebels." + +"Don't believe he will. I didn't think you were such a great calf, Tom." + +"Shet up, now, Ben," interposed Hapgood. "I'll bet my life he'll stand +fire as well as you will. I've been about in the world some, and I reckon +I've as good an idee of this business as you have. Tom's got a heart under +his ribs." + +"I'll bet he runs away at the first fire." + +"I'll bet he won't." + +"I know I won't!" exclaimed Tom, with energy, as he drew his coat sleeve +across his eyes. + +"It isn't the cock that crows the loudest that will fight the best," added +the old man. "I'll bet Tom will be able to tell you the latest news from +the front, where the battle's the hottest. I fit my way up to the city of +Mexico long er old Scott, and I've heard boys crow afore today." + +"Look here, old un! If you mean to call me a coward, why don't you say so, +right up and down?" growled Ben. + +"Time'll tell, my boy. You don't know what gunpowder smells like yet. If +you'd been with the fust Pennsylvany, where I was, you'd a-known sunthin +about war. Now, shet up, Ben; and don't you worry Tom any more." + +But Tom was no longer in a condition to be worried. Though still sad at +the thought of the home and friends he had left behind, he had reduced his +emotions to proper subjection, and before the column reached Boston, he +had even regained his wonted cheerfulness. The procession halted upon the +wharf, where the company was to embark on a steamer for Fort Warren. As +the boat which was to convey them to the fort had not yet arrived, the men +were permitted to mingle with their friends on the wharf, and, of course, +Tom immediately sought out his brother. He found him engaged in a spirited +conversation with Captain Benson. + +"What is it, Jack?" asked the soldier boy. + +"I want to join this company, and the captain won't let me," replied John. + +"You, Jack!" + +"Yes, I." + +"Did mother say so?" + +"No, but she won't care." + +"Did you ask her?" + +"No; I didn't think of going till after I started from home." + +"Don't think of it, Jack. It would be an awful blow to mother to have both +of us go." + +For half an hour Tom argued the matter with John; but the military +enthusiasm of the latter had been so aroused by the march and its +attendant circumstances, that he could not restrain his inclination. + +"If I don't join this company, I shall some other," said John. + +"I shall have to go home again, if you do; for I won't have mother left +alone. We haven't been mustered in yet. Besides, I thought you wanted to +go into the navy." + +"I do; but I'm bound to go somehow," replied John. + +But what neither Tom nor Captain Benson could do, was accomplished by +Captain Barney, who declared John should go home with him if he had to +take him by the collar. The ardent young patriot yielded as gracefully as +he could to this persuasion. + +The steamer having arrived, the soldiers shook hands with their friends +again, went on board, and, amid the hearty cheers of the citizens of +Pinchbrook, were borne down the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +COMPANY K. + + +Tom Somers felt that he was now a soldier indeed. While the company +remained in Pinchbrook, he had slept every night in his own bed, and taken +his meals in the kitchen of the little cottage. He fully realized that he +had bade a long farewell to all the comforts and luxuries of home. That +day, for the first time, he was to partake of soldiers' fare, and that +night, for the first time, he was to sleep upon a soldier's bed. These +thoughts did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he +had carefully considered, with the best information he could obtain, what +hardships and privations he would be called to endure. He had made up his +mind to bear all things without a murmur for the blessed land of his +birth, which now called upon her sons to defend her from the parricidal +blow of the traitor. + +Tom had not only made up his mind to bear all these things, but to bear +them patiently and cheerfully. He had a little theory of his own, that +rather more than half of the discomforts of this mortal life exist only in +the imagination. If he only _thought_ that every thing was all right, it +went a great way towards making it all right--a very comforting and +satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety down to +seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from ten to forty +degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his stomach when it was +empty, alleviated the toothache or the headache, and changed snarling +babies into new-fledged angels. I commend Tom's philosophy to the +attention and imitation of all my young friends, assured that nothing will +keep them so happy and comfortable as a cheerful and contented +disposition. + +"Tom Somers," said a voice near him, cutting short the consoling +meditation in which he was engaged. + +His name was pronounced in a low and cautious tone, but the voice sounded +familiar to him, and he turned to ascertain who had addressed him. He did +not discover any person who appeared to be the owner of the voice, and was +leaving the position he had taken on the forward deck of the steamer, when +his name was repeated, in the same low and cautious tone. + +"Who is it? Where are you?" said Tom, looking all about him, among the +groups of soldiers who were gathered on various parts of the deck, +discussing the present and the future. + +"Here, Tom," replied the voice, which sounded more familiar every time he +heard it. + +He turned his eye in the direction from which the sound proceeded, and +there, coiled up behind a heap of barrels and boxes, and concealed by a +sail-cloth which had been thrown over the goods to protect them from an +expected shower, he discovered Fred Pemberton. + +"What in the name of creation are you doing there, Fred?" exclaimed Tom, +laughing at the ludicrous attitude of the embryo secessionist. + +"Hush! Don't say a word, Tom. Sit down here where I can talk with you," +added Fred. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"I'll tell if you will keep quiet a moment. Is the company full?" + +"What company?" + +"Captain Benson's, of course." + +"No." + +"I want to join." + +"You!" ejaculated Tom. + +"Come, come, Tom, no blackguarding now. You and I used to be good +friends." + +"I've nothing against you, Fred--that is, if you're not a traitor." + +"I want to join the company." + +"Is your father willing?" + +"Of course he isn't; but that needn't make any difference." + +"But you don't believe in our cause, Fred. We don't want a traitor in the +ranks." + +"Hang the cause! I want to go with the company." + +"Hang the cause? Well, I reckon that's a good recommendation." + +"I'm all right on that." + +"Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, and swear to sustain the +flag of your country?" + +"Of course I am. I only followed the old man's lead; but I have got enough +of it. Do you think Captain Benson will take me into the company?" + +"Perhaps he will." + +"Ask him--will you? You needn't say I'm here, you know." + +"But what will your father say?" + +"I don't care what he says." + +Tom thought, if Fred didn't care, he needn't, and going aft, he found the +captain, and proposed to him the question. + +"Take him--yes. We'll teach him loyalty and patriotism, and before his +time is out, we will make him an abolitionist," replied Captain Benson. +"What will his father say?" + +"His father doesn't know anything about it. Fred ran away, and followed +the company into the city." + +"Squire Pemberton is a traitor, and I believe the army will be the best +school in the world for his son," added the captain. "It will be better +for him to be with us than to be at home. If it was the son of any other +man in Pinchbrook, I wouldn't take him without the consent of his father; +as it is, I feel perfectly justified in accepting him." + +Tom hastened to the forward deck to report the success of his mission. The +result was, that Fred came out of his hiding-place, and exhibited himself +to the astonished members of the Pinchbrook company. When he announced his +intention to go to the war, and, with a pardonable flourish, his desire to +serve his country, he was saluted with a volley of cheers. Captain Benson +soon appeared on the forward deck, and the name of the new recruit was +placed on the enlistment paper. + +Fred was seventeen years of age, and was taller and stouter than Tom +Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age or his physical +ability to endure the hardships of a campaign. + +The steamer arrived at Fort Warren, and the company landed. After waiting +a short time on the wharf, the color company of the --th regiment, to +which they were attached, came down and escorted them to the parade ground +within the fort. It was a desolate and gloomy-looking place to Tom, who +had always lived among green fields, and the beautiful surroundings of a +New England rural district. + +If the fort itself looked dreary, how much more so were the casemates in +which the company was quartered! But Tom's philosophy was proof against +the unpleasant impression, and his joke was as loud and hearty as that of +any of his companions. The men were divided off into messes, and they had +an abundance of work to do in bringing up the company's luggage, and +making their new habitation as comfortable and pleasant as the +circumstances would permit. + +The next day the Pinchbrook boys were designated as Company K, and placed +in the regimental line. The limits of this volume do not permit me to +detail the every-day life of the soldier boy while at Fort Warren, however +interesting and instructive it might be to our friends. A large portion of +the forenoon was devoted to squad and company drill, and of the afternoon +to battalion drill. The colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, +was an enthusiast in military matters, and had the reputation of being one +of the most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, +since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he was no +bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate when he found +that the colonel of the regiment was no taller and no heavier than +himself. And when he heard the high praise bestowed upon the colonel's +military skill and martial energy, he came to the conclusion that it does +not require a big man to make a good soldier. With a feeling of +satisfaction he recalled the fact that Napoleon Bonaparte, when he +commanded the army of Italy, was scarcely a bigger man than the colonel or +himself. + +The colonel was a strict disciplinarian, and he soon diffused his energy +throughout the regiment. It made rapid progress in its military education. +Tom was deeply interested in the details of his new profession, and used +his best endeavors to do his duty promptly and faithfully. This was not +the case with all the boys in the company from Pinchbrook, and I am sorry +to say that some of them, including the brave and chivalric Ben +Lethbridge, had to sit upon the stool of repentance in the guard room on +several occasions. + +Fred Pemberton was clothed in the uniform of the United States volunteers, +and we must do him the justice to say that he performed his duty to the +entire satisfaction of his officers. Fred was a good fellow, and barring +his treason, which he had derived from his father, was highly esteemed by +those who knew him. The only stain that had ever rested upon his character +was removed, and he and Tom were as good friends as ever they had been. +His motive in joining the army, however, could not be applauded. He +thought all his friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, +spiced with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, +and he did not like the idea of being left behind. To the sentiment of +patriotism, as developed in the soul of Tom Somers and many of his +companions, he was an entire stranger. He was going to the war to +participate in the adventures of the --th regiment, rather than to fight +for the flag which had been insulted and dishonored by treason. + +Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to see their +friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness the drills and +parades which were constantly succeeding each other. Among them came many +of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visit from his +whole family. His mother found him so comfortable and contented that she +returned with half the heavy burden on her soul removed. + +While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their friends +from home, there was one in the company who was in constant dread lest he +should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds which the steamers +daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did not wish to see his nearest +friends; but after he had been in the company some ten days, just as the +boys had been dismissed from the forenoon drill, he discovered at a +distance the patriarchal form of his father. + +"My pipe's out, Tom," said Fred, as he rushed into the casemate where a +group of his companions were resting from the fatigues of the morning. + +"What's the matter now, Fred?" + +"The old man has just come into the fort." + +"Has he?" + +"Yes--what shall I do?" + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through all right," +said Sergeant Porter. + +"What shall I do?" demanded Fred, who, whatever his views in regard to the +justice or injustice of coercion, did not wish to be taken from the +company. + +"Come with me," said the sergeant, as he led the way into an adjoining +casemate. "No; nobody else will come," added he, motioning back other +members of the mess who was disposed to follow. + +In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there was a pile +of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments had been packed. +The fugitive from his father's anxious search was directed to get into one +of these boxes, from which the sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; +his confederate put on the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful +supply of air, and other boxes were placed upon that containing the +runaway. + +Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and demanded his +son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. Sergeant Porter kept out +of the way, and not another man in the company knew anything about him. +The boys were very willing to assist the indignant father in his search, +but all their efforts were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate, +and every nook and corner upon the island, but without effect. + +"I want my son, sir," said the squire, angrily, to the captain. "I require +you to produce him." + +"I don't know where he is," replied Captain Benson. + +"You have concealed him, sir." + +"I have not." + +The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no satisfaction, and was +obliged to leave without accomplishing his purpose. As soon as he had +gone, Fred appeared, and the boys laughed for a week over the affair. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN WASHINGTON. + + +On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after being +conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here the "little +colonel" displayed his energy and military skill to much greater advantage +than when within the narrow confines of the fort. The men were not only +carefully and persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the +circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a campaign. + +Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier's pride in his new +situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was not always the +easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he bore his trials with +philosophical patience and fortitude, and made the most of whatever joys +the circumstances placed within his reach. + +Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had enlisted for the +war, and meant to take things as they came. It was not exactly agreeable +to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, rainy night; but grumbling +would not make it any the more agreeable, and only made the grumbler +discontented and unhappy. It did not look like "the pomp and circumstance +of war," and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would +have been better satisfied in their own houses in "the village by the +sea." But most of these men had left their happy homes under the +inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were going forth to +fight the battles of their imperilled country, and this reflection filled +them with a heroism which the petty trials and discomforts of the camp +could not impair. + +While the regiment was at Camp Cameron, the state colors and a standard, +procured by the liberality of its friends, were presented; and the +patriotic speeches delivered on this occasion made a deep impression upon +the mind and heart of the soldier boy. To him they were real--perhaps more +real than to those who uttered the burning words. He was in a situation to +feel the full force of the great sacrifice which the soldier makes for his +country. He devoted himself, heart and soul, to the cause; and what was +but an idle sentiment in the mind of the flowery speech-makers, was truth +and soberness to him who was to meet the foe at the cannon's mouth and at +the bayonet's point. + +"We are off on the 29th," said old Hapgood, one evening, as he entered the +barrack where Tom was writing a letter to his mother. + +"Good! I am glad to hear it. I was just telling my mother that I hoped we +should not have to stay much longer in this place," replied Tom. + +"I think we are having an easy time of it here," added the veteran. "When +you find out what hunger and fatigue mean, you will learn to be contented +with such a place as this." + +"I'm contented enough; but I want to get into the field, and have +something done." + +"Time enough, my boy. I used to feel just so, Tom, when I went to Mexico; +but after a while I got so I didn't care what we did or where we went." + +Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of the time +fixed for the departure of the regiment. The intelligence in this instance +proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the little colonel marched +his command into the city, where it was duly embarked on the cars for New +York. It was a day of excitement, for the streets of the city were +thronged with people, whose cheers and applause were the benison with +which the regiment went forth to do and to die for the nation. Tom was +delighted with this warm reception, but more by meeting his mother and his +brother and sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad +meeting. Mrs. Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son +go forth to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater +perils of the camp? + +It was a sad parting; and many a mother's heart was torn with anguish on +that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her bosom, for the last time, +as she gave him to his country. Cold, stern men, who had never wept +before, wept then--the flesh that was in their stony hearts yielded its +unwilling tribute to nature and affection. + +"All aboard!" shouted the officers, when the train was ready to depart. + +"God bless you, my boy!" sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she kissed her son. "Be +good and true, and don't forget to read your Testament." + +"Good by, mother," was all that Tom could say, as he grasped his musket, +which John had been holding for him, and rushed into the car. + +The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had gathered to +witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever before, the +soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered the service. He +listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was sad and silent. He +sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the anguish of the hour. On and +on dashed the train, and his thoughts still dwelt upon the home and the +mother he had left behind him. + +Our readers can better imagine than we can describe the feelings of the +soldier boy during that long night. The regiment arrived in New York at +half-past ten in the forenoon of the following day, and was escorted up +Broadway by the Sons of Massachusetts. At the Park, it was warmly welcomed +by the President of the Sons, and as the little colonel was a better +soldier than a speech-maker, the response was made by the surgeon. By this +time, Tom was able to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and the +flattering ovation bestowed upon the regiment was a source of personal +pride and satisfaction. The little colonel's command was declared to be +the best drilled and most soldierly body of men which had yet departed for +the battle-fields of the republic. + +The great city was full of wonders to the soldier boy, and during the few +hours he remained there, he was in a constant whirl of excitement. If the +mission before him had been less grand and sublime, he could have wished +to spend a few days in exploring the wonders of the great metropolis; but +the stupendous events that loomed up in the future, prophetic even to the +inexperienced eye of youth, engrossed all his thoughts. He partook of the +bountiful collation in the Park, and was content to march on to scenes +more thrilling and exciting than the tumult of the busy city. + +The regiment took a steamer, at half-past four for Elizabethport, and +thence proceeded by railroad to Washington, by the way of Harrisburg. Some +portions of the journey were performed under the most trying +circumstances. The men were crowded, like sheep, into unsuitable cars, so +that not only were they subjected to many needless discomforts, but their +very lives were endangered. On the way, two men were crowded out of a car, +and, for a time, were supposed to have been killed. + +On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an opportunity +to see the "city of magnificent distances," of which he had heard so much. +The regiment marched from the station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to +their camp ground in the rear of the White House. They were received with +enthusiasm by the people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had +been supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of +destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, gave the +politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of "shoddy." + +The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it passed up +the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his mansion. The boys +greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, which the President +acknowledged by a series of bows, which were not half so ungraceful as one +might have expected after reading the descriptions of him contained in the +newspapers. + +To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he could scarcely +believe that he was looking upon the chief magistrate of this great +nation. He was filled with boyish wonder and astonishment; but, after all, +he was forced to admit that the President, though a tall specimen of +humanity, looked very much like the rest of mankind--to borrow a phrase +from one of his illustrious predecessors. + +Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, and the +simple magnificence of the President. The tents were pitched, and the +weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a couple of days, however, our +soldier boy was "as good as new." + +"Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of the city," said +Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the regiment had become fairly +settled in its new quarters. + +"I should like to take a tramp. There are lots of congressmen here, and I +should like to know what they look like," replied Tom. "I haven't been +outside the lines since we came here." + +"I have; and I'm going again! Fred and I mean to have a good time to-day. +Will you go?" + +"Have you got a pass?" + +"A pass! What a stupid! What do you want of a pass? You can't get one. +They won't give any." + +"Then we can't go, of course." + +"Bah! What a great calf you are! Don't you want to cry again?" + +"Ben, you needn't say cry to me again as long as you live," added Tom. "If +you do, I'll give you something to cry for." + +Tom did not like the style of remark which the other had adopted. He was +angry, and, as he spoke, his fist involuntarily clinched, and his eye +looked fierce and determined. + +"Come, come, Tom; don't bristle up so. If you are a man, just show that +you are, and come along with us." + +"I say, Ben, I want to know who's a baby or a calf, you or I, before we +go, I won't stand any more of your lip." + +"Will you go with us?" demanded Ben, who was rather disposed to dodge the +issue. + +"What do you mean by calling me a calf and a baby? And this isn't the +first time you've done it." + +"Don't you know that every man in the regiment has been all over the city, +and without any pass? When I ask you to go, you begin to talk about a +pass." + +"I choose to obey orders," replied Tom. + +"O, you daresn't go with us." + +"Come along!" said Tom, who had not yet learned to bear the taunts of his +companion. + +"Get your pail." + +Tom got his pail, and was immediately joined by Fred and Ben, each of whom +was also supplied with a pail. There was no water to be had within the +camp ground, and the men were obliged to bring it in pails from the +hydrants in the street. A pail, therefore, was quite as good as a written +document to enable them to pass the guard. + +The party thus provided had no difficulty in passing the sentinels. At a +convenient place outside the line, they concealed the pails, and, for +three hours, roamed at will over the city. + +"Now, Tom, you wanted to see the congressmen?" said Ben, after they had +"done" the city pretty thoroughly. + +"Yes, but I have seen them at the Capitol." + +"But don't you want to get nearer to them, and hear them talk?" + +"Well, I should like to." + +"Come with us, then." + +Ben led the way down the avenue, and entered a building not far from the +railroad station. After passing through a long, narrow entry, they +ascended a flight of stairs, at the head of which the conductor gave two +raps. The door was opened by a negro, and they were invited to enter. At a +table in the middle of the room was seated a foppish-looking man who held +in his hand a silver box. As he turned it, Tom saw that it contained a +pack of cards. + +"Where are your congressmen?" asked the soldier boy, whose eyes had been +opened by the appearance of the cards. + +"They will be here pretty soon," replied Ben. + +The foppish man looked at his watch, and declared they would come in the +course of five or ten minutes. He then took the cards out of the box, and, +after shuffling them, returned them to their place. Fred placed a +"quarter" on the table; the gambler put another by its side, and drew out +a card from the silver case. Tom did not understand the game; but his +companion put the quarters in his pocket. + +"See that, Tom!" said he. "Got any money?" + +"If I have I shall keep it." + +"Put down a quarter, and make another." + +"No, sir! I'm no gambler!" replied Tom, with emphasis. + +"Quite respectable, I assure you," added the blackleg at the table. + +"I'm going," said Tom, decidedly. + +"Baby!" sneered Ben. "Afraid to play!" + +"I _won't_ play! I'm going." + +The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his expectation, +he was followed by Fred and Ben. + +"Baby is afraid of cards!" sneered Ben, as they passed through the long +entry. + +"Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you," replied Tom, as he planted a +heavy blow between the eyes of his companion. + +Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and there was a +prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but Fred Pemberton +interposed his good offices, and effected a compromise, which, like most +of the political compromises, was only the postponement of the conflict. + +"I told you not to call me 'baby,' again," said Tom, as they passed out of +the building. "I will convince you before I am done that I'm not a baby." + +Ben found it convenient to offer no reply to this plain statement of +facts, and the three soldiers made their way back to the camp, and, having +obtained their pails and filled them with water at the hydrants, they +passed the guard without a question. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ON TO RICHMOND. + + +It so happened that Ben Lethbridge, probably satisfied that it was not the +fist of a baby which had partially blackened both of his eyes, and +produced a heavy pain under his left ear, did not demand the satisfaction +which was needed to heal his wounded honor. The matter was duly discussed +in the tent of Tom's mess; but our soldier boy, while he professed to be +entirely satisfied, was willing to meet Ben at such time and place as he +desired, and finish up the affair. + +The other party was magnanimous, and declared that he too was satisfied; +and old Hapgood thought they had better proceed no further with the +affair, for both of them might be arrested for disorderly conduct. + +"I am satisfied, Ben; but if you ever call me a baby or a calf again, it +will all have to be settled over again," said Tom, as he laid aside his +musket, which he had been cleaning during the conversation. + +"I don't want to quarrel with you, Tom," replied Ben, "but I wish you +would be a little more like the rest of the fellows." + +"What do you mean by that? I am like the rest of the fellows." + +"You wouldn't play cards." + +"Yes, I will play cards, but I won't gamble; and there isn't many fellows +in the company that will." + +"That's so," added Hapgood. "I know all about that business. When I went +to Mexico, I lost my money as fast as I got it, playing cards. Don't +gamble, boys." + +"I won't, for one," said Tom, with emphasis. + +"Are you going to set up for a soldier-saint, too?" sneered Ben, turning +to the old man. + +"I'm no saint, but I've larned better than to gamble." + +"I think you'd better stop drinking too," added Ben. + +"Come, Ben, you are meaner than dirt," said Tom, indignantly. + +Old Hapgood was a confirmed toper. The people in Pinchbrook said he was a +good man, but, they used to add, with a shrug of the shoulders, "pity he +drinks." It was a sad pity, but he seemed to have no power over his +appetite. The allusion of Ben to his besetting sin was cruel and +mortifying, for the old man had certainly tried to reform, and since the +regiment left Boston, he had not tasted the intoxicating cup. He had +declared before the mess that he had stopped drinking; so his resolution +was known to all his companions, though none of them had much confidence +in his ability to carry it out. + +"I didn't speak to you, Tom Somers," said Ben, sharply. + +"You said a mean thing in my presence." + +"By and by we shall be having a prayer meeting in our tent every night." + +"If you are invited I hope you will come," added Tom, "for if prayers will +do any body any good, they won't hurt you." + +"If you will take care of yourself, and let me alone, it's all I ask of +you." + +"I'm agreed." + +This was about the last of the skirmishing between Tom and Ben. The latter +was a little disposed to be bully; and from the time the company left +Pinchbrook, he had been in the habit of calling Tom a baby, and other +opprobrious terms, till the subject of his sneers could endure them no +longer. Tom had come to the conclusion that he could obtain respectful +treatment only by the course he had adopted. Perhaps, if he had possessed +the requisite patience, he might have attained the same result by a less +repulsive and more noble policy. + +The regiment remained in Washington about a fortnight. The capital was no +longer considered to be in danger. A large body of troops had been massed +in and around the city, and the rebels' boast that they would soon capture +Washington was no longer heeded. Fear and anxiety had given place to hope +and expectation. "On to Richmond!" was the cry sounded by the newspapers, +and repeated by the people. The army of newly-fledged soldiers was burning +with eagerness to be led against the rebels. "On to Richmond!" shouted +citizens and soldiers, statesmen and politicians. Some cursed and some +deprecated the cautious slowness of the old general who had never been +defeated. + +"On to Richmond!" cried the boys in Tom's regiment, and none more +earnestly than he. + +"Don't hurry old Scott. He knows what he is about. I know something about +this business, for I've seen old Scott where the bullets flew thicker'n +snow flakes at Christmas," was the oft-repeated reply of Hapgood, the +veteran of Company K. + +The movement which had been so long desired and expected was made at last, +and the regiment struck its tents, and proceeded over Long Bridge into +Virginia. The first camp was at Shuter's Hill, near Alexandria. + +"Now we are in for it," said Tom Somers, when the mess gathered in their +tent after the camp was formed. "I hope we shall not remain here long." + +"Don't be in a hurry, my brave boy," said old Hapgood. "We may stop here a +month." + +"I hope not." + +"Don't hope anything about it, Tom. Take things as they come." + +But the impatience of the soldier boy was soon relieved; for at daylight +on the morning of the 16th of July, the regiment was routed out, the tents +were struck, and at nine o'clock they took up the line of march to the +southward. It was "on to Richmond," in earnest, now, and merrily marched +the men, who little knew what trials and sufferings, what scenes of blood +and death, lay in their path. + +The little colonel's command had been put in Franklin's brigade, which +formed a part of Heintzelman's division; but little did Tom or his +fellow-soldiers know of anything but their own regiment. The "sacred soil" +of Virginia seemed to be covered with Federal soldiers, and whichever way +he turned, columns of troops might be seen, all obedient to the one grand +impulse of the loyal nation--"On to Richmond." + +The great wagons, gun carriages, and caissons rolling slowly along, the +rattling drums, with here and there the inspiring strains of a band, the +general officers, with their staffs, were full of interest and excitement +to the soldier boy; and though the business before him was stern and +terrible, yet it seemed like some great pageant, moving grandly along to +celebrate, rather than win, a glorious triumph. + +The novelty of the movement, however, soon wore away, and it required only +a few hours to convince the inexperienced soldiers in our regiment that it +was no idle pageant in which they were engaged. The short intervals of +rest which were occasionally allowed were moments to be appreciated. All +day long they toiled upon their weary way, praying for the night to come, +with its coveted hours of repose. The night did come, but it brought no +rest to the weary and footsore soldiers. + +Tom was terribly fatigued. His knapsack, which had been light upon his +buoyant frame in the morning, now seemed to weigh two hundred pounds, +while his musket had grown proportionally heavy. Hour after hour, in the +darkness of that gloomy night, he trudged on, keeping his place in the +ranks with a resolution which neither the long hours nor the weary miles +could break down. + +"I can't stand this much longer," whined Ben Lethbridge. "I shall drop +pretty soon, and die by the roadside." + +"No, you won't," added Hapgood. "Stick to it a little while longer; never +say die." + +"I can't stand it." + +"Yes, you can. Only think you can, and you can," added the veteran. + +"What do they think we are made of? We can't march all day and all night. +I wish I was at home." + +"I wish I hadn't come," said Fred Pemberton. + +"Cheer up! cheer up, boys. Stick to it a little longer," said the veteran. + +It was three o'clock the next morning before they were permitted to halt, +when the boys rolled themselves up in their blankets, and dropped upon the +ground. It was positive enjoyment to Tom, and he felt happy; for rest was +happiness when the body was all worn out. A thought of the cottage and of +his mother crossed his mind, and he dropped asleep to dream of the joys of +home. + +Short and sweet was that blessed time of rest; for at four o'clock, after +only one brief hour of repose, the regiment was turned out again, and +resumed its weary march to the southward. But that short interval of rest +was a fountain of strength to Tom, and without a murmur he took his place +by the side of his grumbling companions. Ben and Fred were disgusted with +the army, and wanted to go back; but that was impossible. + +Again, for weary hours, they toiled upon the march. They passed Fairfax, +and encamped near the railroad station, where a full night's rest was +allowed them. By the advice of Hapgood, Tom went to a brook, and washed +his aching feet in cold water. The veteran campaigner gave him other +useful hints, which were of great service to him. That night he had as +good reason to bless the memory of the man who invented sleep as ever +Sancho Panza had, and every hour was fully improved. + +At six o'clock, the next morning, the regiment marched again. Tom's legs +were stiff, but he felt so much better than on the preceding day, that he +began to think that he could stand any thing. In the early part of the +afternoon his ears were saluted by a new sound--one which enabled him more +fully than before to realize the nature of the mission upon which he had +been sent. It was the roar of cannon. On that day was fought the battle of +Blackburn's Ford; and when the regiment reached its halting-place at +Centreville, the story of the fight was told by enthusiastic lips. +Massachusetts men had stood firm and resolute before the artillery and +musketry of the rebels, and every man who heard the story was proud that +he hailed from the Old Bay State, and panted for the time when he might +show himself worthy of his origin, and true to the traditions of the past. + +The regiment lay in camp the two following days, and the men had an +opportunity to recover in some measure from the fatigues of their first +severe march. Visions of glory and victory were beginning to dawn upon +them. They had listened to the cannon of the enemy, and they knew that the +rebels were not many miles distant in front of them. A few days, perhaps a +few hours, would elapse before the terrible conflict would commence. Some +of those manly forms must soon sleep in the soldier's grave; some of those +beating hearts must soon cease to beat forever; but still the brave and +the true longed for the hour that would enable them to "strike home" for +the nation's salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN. + + +"Tumble out! Tumble out!" shouted the sergeant, who was in the mess with +the soldiers we have introduced. "Reveille! Don't you hear it?" + +"But it isn't morning," growled Ben Lethbridge. + +"I haven't been asleep more than an hour or two," snarled Fred Pemberton. + +"Shut up your heads, and turn out!" said the sergeant. + +It was the morning of the eventful twenty-first of July, and it was only +two o'clock when the regiment was roused from its slumbers; but there was +no great hardship in this fact, for most of the men had been sleeping the +greater portion of the time during the preceding two days. Tom Somers was +ready to take his place in the line in a few moments. + +"Come, fellows, hurry up," said he to his tardy companions. "The time has +come, and, I tell you, there'll be music before many hours." + +"Where are we going, Tom? Have you any idea?" asked Fred. + +"Going down to Manassas Junction, I suppose. That's where the rebels are." + +"Do you suppose we shall get into a fight?" asked Ben. + +"I don't know; I hope so." + +"So do I," returned Ben, faintly; "but I don't like to be broke of my rest +in this way." + +Tom, full of excited anticipations in regard to the events of the day, +laughed heartily at this reply, and left the tent. The regiment was formed +in line, but there were two vacancies in the section to which he belonged. +Fred and Ben had answered to their names at roll call. On some pretence +they had asked permission to leave the line for a few moments, and that +was the last that had been seen of them. + +"Where do you suppose they are?" said Tom to Hapgood. + +"I don't know. I hain't got much confidence in Ben's pluck, and I +shouldn't wonder if he had run away." + +"But that is desertion." + +"That's just what you may call it; and I've seen men shot for it." + +The regiment remained in line several hours before the order came to move. +At daylight, while the men were still standing in the road, four soldiers, +attended by a staff officer, conducted the two missing men of Company K +into the presence of the regiment. + +"These men say they belong to your regiment," said the officer, saluting +the little colonel. + +Captain Benson immediately claimed them, and Fred and Ben were ordered +into the ranks. + +"Cowards--are you?" said the captain. "You shall take your places in the +ranks, and at the right time we will settle this case." + +"I enlisted without my father's consent, and you can't hold me if I don't +choose to stay," replied Fred Pemberton. + +"Next time you must ask your father before you come. It is too late to +repent now." + +"I'm going home." + +"No, you're not. Sergeant, if either of those men attempt to leave the +ranks again, shoot them!" said the captain. + +Fred and Ben took their places in the ranks amid the laughter and jeers of +the company. + +"Who's the baby now?" said Bob Dornton. + +"You have disgraced the company," added old Hapgood. "I didn't think you +would run away before the battle commenced." + +"I shall keep both eyes on you, my boys, and if you skulk again, I'll obey +orders--by the Lord Harry, I will!" said the sergeant, as he glanced at +the lock of his musket. "Company K isn't going to be laughed at for your +cowardice." + +At six o'clock the order came for the brigade to march. It now consisted +of only three regiments, for the time of one, composed of three months' +men, had expired while at Centreville; and though requested and importuned +to remain a few days longer, they basely withdrew, even while they were on +the very verge of the battlefield. This regiment left, and carried with it +the scorn and contempt of the loyal and true men, who were as ready to +fight the battles of their country on one day as on another. + +The men knew they were going to battle now, for the enemy was only a few +miles distant. The soldier boy's heart was full of hope. He knew not what +a battle was; he could form no adequate conception of the terrible scene +which was soon to open upon his view. He prayed and trusted that he might +be able to do his duty with courage and fidelity. To say that he had no +doubts and fears would be to say that he was not human. + +As the brigade toiled slowly along, he tried to picture the scene which +was before him, and thus make himself familiar with its terrors before he +was actually called to confront them. He endeavored to imagine the sounds +of screaming shells and whistling bullets, that the reality, when it came, +might not appall him. He thought of his companions dropping dead around +him, of his friends mangled by bayonets and cannon shot; he painted the +most terrible picture of a battle which his imagination could conjure up, +hoping in this manner to be prepared for the worst. + +The day was hot, and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon the +devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march. They were fatigued by +continued exertion, and some of the weary ones, when the sun approached +the meridian, began to hope the great battle would not take place on that +day. Tom Somers, nearly worn out by the tedious march, and half famished +after the scanty breakfast of hard bread he had eaten before daylight, +began to feel that he was in no condition to face the storm of bullets +which he had been imagining. + +No orders came to halt at noon, though the crowded roads several times +secured them a welcome rest: but on marched the weary soldiers, till the +roar of cannon broke upon their ears; and as they moved farther on, the +rattling volleys of musketry were heard, denoting that the battle had +already commenced. These notes of strife were full of inspiration to the +loyal and patriotic in the columns. A new life was breathed into them. +They were enthusiastic in the good cause, and their souls immediately +became so big that what had been body before seemed to become spirit now. +They forgot their empty stomachs and their weary limbs. The music of +battle, wild and terrible as it was to these untutored soldiers, charmed +away the weariness of the body, and, to the quickstep of thundering cannon +and crashing musketry, they pressed on with elastic tread to the horrors +before them. + +Tom felt that he had suddenly and miraculously been made over anew. He +could not explain the reason, but his legs had ceased to ache, his feet to +be sore, and his musket and his knapsack were deprived of their +superfluous weight. + +"God be with me in this battle!" he exclaimed to himself a dozen times. +"God give me strength and courage!" + +Animated by his trust in Him who will always sustain those who confide in +him, the soldier boy pressed on, determined not to disgrace the name he +bore. The terrible sounds became more and more distinct as the regiment +advanced, and in about two hours after the battle had opened, the brigade +arrived at the field of operations. One regiment was immediately detached +and sent off in one direction, while the other two were ordered to support +a battery on a hill, from which it was belching forth a furious storm of +shells upon the rebels. + +The little colonel's sword gleamed in the air, as he gave the order to +march on the double-quick to the position assigned to him. + +"Now, Tom, steady, and think of nothing but God and your country," said +old Hapgood, as the regiment commenced its rapid march. "I know something +about this business, and I can tell you we shall have hot work before we +get through with it." + +"Where are the rebels? I don't see any," asked Tom, who found that his +ideas of the manner in which a battle is fought were very much at fault. + +"You will see them very soon. They are in their breastworks. There! Look +down there!" exclaimed the veteran as the regiment reached a spot which +commanded a full view of the battle. + +Tom looked upon the fearful scene. The roar of the artillery and the crash +of the small arms were absolutely stunning. He saw men fall, and lie +motionless on the ground, where they were trampled upon by the horses, and +crushed beneath the wheels of cannon and caisson. But the cry was, that +the army of the Union had won the field, and it inspired him with new zeal +and new courage. + +Scarcely had the remnant of the brigade reached the right of the battery, +before they were ordered to charge down the valley, by Colonel Franklin, +the acting brigadier. They were executing the command with a dash and +vigor that would have been creditable to veterans, when they were ordered +to cross the ravine, and support the Eire Zouaves. The movement was made, +and Tom soon found himself in the thickest of the fight. Shot and shell +were flying in every direction, and the bullets hissed like hailstones +around him. + +In spite of all his preparations for this awful scene, his heart rose up +into his throat. His eyes were blinded by the volumes of rolling smoke, +and his mind confused by the rapid succession of incidents that were +transpiring around him. The pictures he had painted were sunlight and +golden compared with the dread reality. Dead and dying men strewed the +ground in every direction. Wounded horses were careering on a mad course +of destruction, trampling the wounded and the dead beneath their feet. The +hoarse shouts of the officers were heard above the roar of battle. The +scene mocked all the attempts which the soldier boy had made to imagine +its horrors. + +In front of the regiment were the famous Eire Zouaves, no longer guided +and controlled by the master genius of Ellsworth. They fought like tigers, +furiously, madly; but all discipline had ceased among them, and they +rushed wildly to the right and the left, totally heedless of their +officers. They fought like demons, and as Tom saw them shoot down, hew +down, or bayonet the hapless rebels who came within their reach, it seemed +to him as though they had lost their humanity, and been transformed into +fiends. + +As soon as the regiment reached its position, the order was given to fire. +Tom found this a happy relief; and when he had discharged his musket a few +times, all thoughts of the horrors of the scene forsook him. He no longer +saw the dead and the dying; he no longer heard the appalling roar of +battle. He had become a part of the scene, instead of an idle spectator. +He was sending the bolt of death into the midst of the enemies of his +country. + +"Bravo! Good boy, Tom," said old Hapgood, who seemed to be as much at ease +as when he had counselled patience and resignation in the quiet of the +tent. "Don't fire too high, Tom." + +"I've got the idea," replied the soldier boy. "I begin to feel quite at +home." + +"O, you'll do; and I knew you would from the first." + +The shouts of victory which had sounded over the field were full of +inspiration to the men; but at the moment when the laurels seemed to be +resting securely upon our banners, the rebel line moved forward with +irresistible fury. Tom, at one instant, as he cast his eye along the line, +found himself flanked on either side by his comrades; at the next there +was a wild, indescribable tramp and roar, and he found himself alone. The +regiment was scattered in every direction, and he did not see a single man +whom he knew. There was a moving mass of Federal soldiers all around him. +The Zouaves had been forced back, and the cry of victory had given place +to the ominous sounds which betokened a defeat, if not a rout. + +The rebels had been reënforced, and had hurled their fresh legions upon +our exhausted troops, who could no longer roll back the masses that +crowded upon them. The day was lost. + +Tom, bewildered by this sudden and disastrous result, moved back with the +crowds around him. Men had ceased to be brave and firm; they were fleeing +in mortal terror before the victorious battalions that surged against +them. + +"It's all up with us, my lad," said a panting Zouave. "Run for your life. +Come along with me." + +Tom followed the Zouave towards the woods, the storm of bullets still +raining destruction around them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AFTER THE BATTLE. + + +Tom Somers floated with the tide of humanity that was setting away from +the scene of disaster and defeat. The panic that prevailed was even more +fearful than the battle, for wounded and dying men were mercilessly +trodden down by the feet of the horses, and run over by the wheels of the +cannon and the baggage wagons. Though the battle was ended, the rebels +still poured storms of shot and shell into the retreating, panic-stricken +host. + +Tom did not know where to go, for there were panic and death on all sides +of him. The soldiers were flying in every direction, some of them into the +very arms of their remorseless enemies. But the woods seemed to promise +the most secure retreat from the fury of the Black Horse Cavalry, which +was now sweeping over the battle-field. The Zouave ran in this direction, +and our soldier boy followed him. Now that the excitement of the conflict +was over, the enthusiasm which had buoyed him up began to subside. The day +was lost; all hopes of glory had fled; and a total defeat and rout were +not calculated to add much strength to his over-tasked limbs. + +He was nearly used up, and it was hard work to run--very hard work; and +nothing but the instinct of self-preservation enabled him to keep the tall +and wiry form of the Zouave in sight. They reached the ravine, where the +water was about three feet deep. The shot, and shell, and bullets still +fell in showers around them, and occasionally one of the luckless +fugitives was struck down. They crossed the stream, and continued on their +flight. An officer on horseback dashed by them, and bade them run with all +their might, or they would be taken. + +"For Heaven's sake, get me some water!" said a rebel, who was wounded in +the leg, to a Zouave, who passed near him. + +"You are a rebel, but I will do that for you," replied the Zouave; and he +gave him a canteen filled with water. + +The rebel drank a long, deep draught, and then levelled his musket at the +head of his Samaritan enemy and fired. This transaction had occupied but a +moment, and Tom saw the whole. His blood froze with horror at the +unparalleled atrocity of the act. The Zouave, whom Tom had followed, +uttered a terrible oath, and snatching the musket from the hands of the +soldier boy, he rushed upon the soulless miscreant, and transfixed him +upon the bayonet. Uttering fierce curses all the time, he plunged the +bayonet again and again into the vitals of the rebel, till life was +extinct. + +"Boy, I used to be human once," said the Zouave, when he had executed this +summary justice upon the rebel; "but I'm not human now. I'm all devil." + +"What a wretch that rebel was!" exclaimed Tom, who seemed to breathe freer +now that retribution had overtaken the viper. + +"A wretch! Haven't you got any bigger word than that, boy? He was a fiend! +But we mustn't stop here." + +"I thought the rebels were human." + +"Human? That isn't the first time to-day I've seen such a thing as that +done. Come along, my boy; come along." + +Tom followed the Zouave again; but he was too much exhausted to run any +farther. Even the terrors of the Black Horse Cavalry could not inspire him +with strength and courage to continue his flight at any swifter pace than +a walk. + +"I can go no farther," said he, at last. + +"Yes, you can; pull up! pull up! You will be taken if you stop here." + +"I can't help it. I can go no farther. I am used up." + +"Pull up, pull up, my boy!" + +"I can't." + +"But I don't want to leave you here. They'll murder you--cut your throat, +like a dog." + +"I will hide myself in the bushes till I get a little more strength." + +"Try it a little longer. You are too good a fellow to be butchered like a +calf," added the generous Zouave. + +But it was no use to plead with him, for exhausted nature refused to +support him, and he dropped upon the ground like a log. + +"Poor fellow! I would carry you in my arms if I could." + +"Save yourself if you can," replied Tom, faintly. + +The kind-hearted fireman was sorry to leave him, but he knew that one who +wore his uniform could expect no mercy from the rebels. They had been too +terrible upon the battle-field to receive any consideration from those +whom they had so severely punished. He was, therefore, unwilling to trust +himself to the tender mercies of the cavalry, who were sweeping the fields +to pick up prisoners; and after asking Tom's name and regiment, he +reluctantly left him. + +Tom had eaten nothing since daylight in the morning, which, added to the +long march, and the intense excitement of his first battle-field, had +apparently reduced him to the last extremity. Then, for the first time, he +realized what it was to be a soldier. Then he thought of his happy +home--of his devoted mother. What must she not suffer when the telegraph +should flash over the wires the intelligence of the terrible disaster +which had overtaken the Union army! It would be many days, if not weeks or +months, before she could know whether he was dead or alive. What anguish +must she not endure! + +He had but a moment for thoughts like these before he heard the sweep of +the rebel cavalry, as they dashed down the road through the woods. He must +not remain where he was, or the record of his earthly career would soon be +closed. On his hands and knees he crawled away from the road, and rolled +himself up behind a rotten log, just in season to escape the observation +of the cavalrymen as they rode by the spot. + +Here and there in the woods were the extended forms of Federals and +rebels, who had dragged their wounded bodies away from the scene of mortal +strife to breathe their last in this holy sanctuary of nature, or to +escape from the death-dealing shot, and the mangling wheels that rumbled +over the dead and the dying. Close by the soldier boy's retreat lay one +who was moaning piteously for water. Tom had filled his canteen at a brook +on the way, and he crawled up to the sufferer to lave his dying thirst. On +reaching the wounded man, he found that he was a rebel, and the fate of +the Zouave who had done a similar kindness only a short time before +presented itself to his mind. + +"Water! Water! For the love of God, give me a drop of water," moaned the +dying soldier. + +Tom thought of the Zouave again, and had almost steeled his heart against +the piteous cry. He turned away. + +"Water! Water! If you are a Christian give me some water," groaned the +sufferer. + +Our soldier boy could no longer resist the appeal. He felt that he could +not be loved on earth or forgiven in heaven if he denied the petition of +the dying rebel; but before he granted it, he assured himself that the +sufferer had no dangerous weapon in his possession. The man was deadly +pale; one of his arms hung useless by his side; and he was covered with +blood. He was a terrible-looking object, and Tom felt sick and faint as he +gazed upon him. + +Placing his canteen at the lips of the poor wretch, he bade him drink. His +frame quivered as he clutched the canteen with his remaining hand. The +death damp was on his forehead; but his eye lighted up with new lustre as +he drank the grateful beverage. + +"God bless you! God bless you!" exclaimed he as he removed the canteen +from his lips. "You are a Yankee," he added, as he fixed his glazing eyes +upon Tom's uniform. "Are you wounded?" + +"No; I am worn out. I have eaten nothing since daylight, and not much +then. I am used up." + +"Put your hand in my haversack. There is something there," gasped the +dying man. + +Tom bent over him to comply with the invitation; but, with a thrill of +horror, he started back, as he listened to the death-rattle in the throat +of the rebel, and saw his eyes fixed and lustreless in death. It was an +awful scene to the inexperienced youth. Though he had seen hundreds fall +in the battle of that day, death had not seemed so ghastly and horrible to +him as now, when he stood face to face with the grim monster. For a few +moments he forgot his own toil-worn limbs, his craving hunger, and his +aching head. + +He gazed upon the silent form before him, which had ceased to suffer, and +he felt thankful that he had been able to mitigate even a single pang of +the dying rebel. But not long could he gaze, awe-struck, at the ghastly +spectacle before him, for he had a life to save. The words of the +sufferer--his last words--offering him the contents of his haversack +recurred to him; but Tom's sensibilities recoiled at the thought of eating +bread taken from the body of a dead man, and he turned away. + +"Why shouldn't I take it?" said he to himself. "It may save my life. With +rest and food, I may escape. Pooh! I'll not be a fool!" + +Bending over the dead man, he resolutely cut the haversack from his body, +and then returned to the log whose friendly shelter had screened him from +the eyes of the rebel horsemen. Seating himself upon the ground, he +commenced exploring the haversack. It contained two "ash-cakes," a slice +of bacon, and a small bottle. Tom's eyes glowed with delight as he gazed +upon this rich feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the +circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, he +began to eat. Ash-cake was a new institution to him. It was an Indian cake +baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the rebels at Manassas. +It tasted very much like his mother's johnny-cake, only he missed the +fresh butter with which he had been wont to cover the article at home. + +The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though each of +the latter was about the size of a saucer. It was a large meal, even for a +growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a new sinew into his frame. +While he was eating, he drew the cork from the bottle. It contained +whiskey. Tom had heard that there was virtue in whiskey; that it was +invigorating to a tired man, and he was tempted, under these extremely +trying circumstances, to experiment upon the beverage. He would certainly +have been excusable if he had done so; but our hero had a kind of horror +of the article, which would not let him even taste it. He was afraid that +he should acquire a habit which would go with him through life, and make +him what Hapgood and others whom he knew were--a torment to themselves, +and a nuisance to their fellow-beings. Putting the cork in the bottle, he +threw it upon the ground. + +With his renewed strength came renewed hope; but he did not deem it +prudent to wander about the woods at present: therefore he threw himself +on the ground under the protecting log to obtain the repose he so much +needed. + +He thought of home, and wondered whether he should ever see the cottage of +his parents again; and while he was thinking, overcome by the excitement +and fatigue of the day, he dropped asleep. It was strange that he could do +so, consciously environed by so many perils; but he had in a measure +become callous to danger, and he slept long and deep. + +When he awoke, it was dark and silent around him. The roar of battle had +ceased, and the calm of death seemed to have settled upon the scene of +strife. Tom's bones still ached; but he was wonderfully refreshed by the +nap he had taken. He had no idea of the time, and could not tell whether +he had slept one hour or six. He was strong enough to walk now, and the +first consideration was to escape from the vicinity of the rebel camps; +but he had no conception of where he was, or what direction would lead him +to the Federal lines. + +A kind Providence had watched over him thus far; had spared his life in +the fury of battle; had fed him in the wilderness, like Elijah of old; and +restored his wasted strength. He could only trust to Providence for +guidance, and, using his best judgment in choosing the direction, he +entered upon the difficult task of finding his way out of the woods. He +had walked an hour or more, when, suddenly, three men sprung up in the +path before him. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" demanded one of them. + +"Friend!" replied Tom; though he had a great many doubts in regard to the +truth of his assertion. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign!" + +But the soldier boy had no countersign to give. He had fallen upon a rebel +picket post, and was made a prisoner. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +TOM A PRISONER. + + +Tom could not exactly understand how he happened to be made a prisoner. He +had certainly moved with extreme caution, and he wondered that he had not +received some intimation of the presence of the enemy before it was too +late to retreat. But, as we have before hinted, Tom was a philosopher; and +he did not despair even under the present reverse of circumstances, though +he was greatly disconcerted. + +"Who are you?" demanded one of the rebel soldiers, when they had duly +possessed his body, which, however, was not a very chivalrous adventure, +for the prisoner was unarmed, his gun having been thrown away by the +friendly Zouave, after he had so terribly avenged his murdered companion. + +"I'm a soldier," replied Tom, greatly perplexed by the trials of his +difficult situation. + +As yet he did not know whether he had fallen into the hands of friend or +foe, for the night was cloudy and dark, and he could not see what uniform +the pickets wore. + +"What do you belong to?" demanded the spokesman of the picket trio. + +"I belong to the army," answered Tom, with admirable simplicity. + +Our soldier boy, as the reader already knows, had been well "brought up." +He had been taught to tell the truth at all times; and he did so on the +present occasion, very much to the confusion, no doubt, of the rebel +soldiers, who had not been brought up under the droppings of the sanctuary +in a New England village. + +"B'long to the army--do you?" repeated Secesh, who must have thought Tom a +very candid person. + +"Yes, sir, I belong to the army," added the prisoner. + +"I s'pose you won't mind telling us what army you belong to, 'cause it +mought make a difference in our calculations," added the spokesman. + +Tom did not know but that it might make some difference in his +calculations, and for this reason he was exceedingly unwilling to commit +himself before he ascertained upon which side his questioners belonged. + +"Can you tell me where I am?" asked Tom, resolved to use a little strategy +in obtaining the desired information. + +"May be I can," replied the picket. + +"Will you do so?" + +"Sartin, stranger--you are in the woods," added Secesh; whereat his +companions indulged in a wholesome chuckle, which assured Tom that they +were human, and his hopes rose accordingly. + +"Thank you," replied Tom, with infinite good nature. + +"You say you belong to the army, and I say you are in the woods," said the +soldier, repeating the double postulate, so that the essence of the joke +should by no possibility fail to penetrate the cerebellum of his auditor. + +Tom was perfectly willing to acknowledge that he was in the woods, both +actually and metaphorically, and he was very much disturbed to know how he +should get out of the woods--a problem which has puzzled wiser heads than +his, even in less perplexing emergencies. He was fearful that, if he +declared himself to be a Union soldier, he should share the fate of others +whom he had seen coolly bayoneted on that eventful day. + +"Now, stranger, s'pose you tell me what army you b'long to; then I can +tell you where you are," continued the soldier. + +"What do you belong to?" asked Tom, though he did not put the question +very confidently. + +"I belong to the army;" and the two other pickets honored the reply with +another chuckle. "You can't fool old Alabammy." + +There was no further need of fooling "Old Alabammy," for the worthy old +gentleman, symbolically represented by the rebel soldier, had kindly done +it himself; and Tom then realized that he was in the hands of the enemy. +It is true, the balance of the picket trio laughed heartily at the +unfortunate slip of the tongue made by their companion, but Tom was in no +condition to relish the joke, or he might perhaps have insinuated himself +into the good graces of the jolly Secesh by repeating Pat's mysterious +problem--"Tell me how many cheeses there are in the bag, and I'll give ye +the whole five;" for, though this is an old joke in the civilized parts of +the world, it is not at all probable that it had been perpetrated in the +benighted regions of Secessia. + +The announcement of the fact that he was in the hands of the foe, as we +have before intimated, left Tom in no condition to give or take a joke. +His heart was suddenly deprived of some portion of its ordinary gravity, +and rose up to the vicinity of his throat. He drew sundry deep and long +breaths, indicative of his alarm; for though Tom was a brave boy,--as +these pages have already demonstrated,--he had a terrible idea of the +tender mercies of the rebels. His first impulse was to break away from his +captors, and run the risk of being overtaken by a trio of musket balls; +for death from the quick action of a bullet seemed preferable to the fate +which his fears conjured up if he should be taken by the bloodthirsty +rebels. But the chances were too decidedly against him, and he reluctantly +brought his mind to the condition of philosophical submission. + +"Well, stranger, which army do you b'long to?" said the spokesman of the +picket trio, when he had fully recovered his self-possession. + +"I belong to the United States army," replied Tom, desperately. + +"That means the Yankee army, I s'pose." + +"Yes, sir; you call it by that name." + +"Then you are my prisoner." + +"I surrender because I can't help myself." + +"Hev you nary toothpick or bone-cracker in your pockets?" + +"Any what?" replied Tom, whose dictionary seemed to be at fault. + +"Nary pistol, knife, or any thing of that sort?" + +"Nothing but my jackknife." + +"Any plunder?" + +"We piled up our knapsacks and haversacks before we went into the fight. +Here is my canteen half full of water; I gave the other half to one of +your soldiers, when he was dying of his wounds." + +"Did ye?" + +"Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I am?" + +"You are inside the lines of our army, about three miles below +Centreville," replied one of the pickets. + +"What time is it?" + +"Nigh upon nine o'clock, I should say. One of you fellers must take this +prisoner to headquarters," he continued, speaking to his companions. + +Tom was very agreeably surprised to find that his captors did not propose +to hang, shoot, or bayonet him; and the Southern Confederacy rose a few +degrees in his estimation. Certainly the men who had taken him were not +fiends, and he began to hope that his situation as a prisoner would not be +so terrible as his fancy had pictured it. + +One of the men was deputed to conduct him to the officer of the guard; and +he walked along by the side of the soldier through the woods, in the +direction from which he had just come. + +"Can you tell me how the battle went at last?" asked Tom, as they pursued +their way through the forest. + +"We whipped you all to pieces. Your army hasn't done running yet. We shall +take Washington to-morrow, and Jeff Davis will be in the White House +before the week is out." + +"Have you taken many prisoners?" asked Tom, who could not dispute the +position of the rebel soldier. + +"About fifty thousand, I b'lieve," replied Secesh, with refreshing +confidence. + +Tom indulged in a low whistle, but his companion could not tell whether it +was an expression of regret or incredulity. If they had stood on an +equality, Tom would probably have suggested that the figures should be +interpreted "over the left"--an idiosyncrasy in language which he had +imported from Pinchbrook, but which may not be wholly unintelligible to +our young readers. + +From his conductor he obtained some particulars of the battle and its +result, which were afterwards more fully set forth in General Beauregard's +official report, and which would have read better on the pages of Sinbad +the Sailor than in the folios of a military despatch. But the Secesh +soldier's "facts and figures" were comforting to Tom, who still had a +stronger interest in the condition of the good cause, after the heavy blow +it had received, than he had in his own individual welfare. Like too heavy +a dose of poison, the magnitude of the stories refuted and defeated them. +The soldier boy listened in respectful silence, but he was utterly +incredulous. It was even possible that the Union army had won a victory, +after all, though he was not very sanguine on this point. + +He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment to which +his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with about twenty others, +who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his companions in misery, most of +whom, worn out by the fatigues of the day, were sleeping soundly upon the +ground. Only two or three of them were awake; but these were strangers to +him, and he was unable to obtain any information from them concerning any +of his friends in the regiment. + +It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; but there +was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor great coats, yet +this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy threw himself upon the +ground, but the nap he had taken under the side of the log set his eyes +wide open for a time. He could only think of home, his mother and sisters, +and John, by this time snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been +wont to dream of the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds +when he found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could +not help thinking that his situation might have been worse. + +Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing since +morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his companions +were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought of the anguish +which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the battle. When the +regiment should be gathered together again, he would be reported as +"missing," and this would be a terrible word to her, for it meant killed, +wounded, or a prisoner. If he could only assure her that he still lived +and was uninjured, he would have been happy--happy in spite of the +drenching rain--happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the +hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had faithfully +performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he settled himself in the +most comfortable place he could find on the ground, and thanked God that +he had been spared his life through the perils of that awful day, and more +fervently that he had been enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and +then, with the Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart, +he fell asleep. + +He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as thoroughly soaked +as though he had just come out of the river. There was no help for it, and +it was no use to grumble. After walking to and fro for half an hour, he +lay down again, and, between sleeping and waking, finished the night; +uncomfortably, it is true, and yet without any positive suffering. There +were hundreds, if not thousands, who were enduring the agony of fearful +wounds through that long night; who were lying alone and uncared for where +they had fallen in the deadly strife; who were dying every hour, away from +their homes and friends, and with no kind hand to minister to their +necessities, with no sweet voice of a loved one to smooth their passage +down to the dark, cold grave. + +Tom thought of these, for he had seen them in his path, and he felt that +he had no cause to complain--that he ought to be cheerful and happy. At +the dawn of the day he and his fellow-prisoners were marched to Sudley +Church, where they were to be confined until they could be sent to +Richmond. Here Tom found a captain belonging to his regiment; but neither +could give any information to the other in regard to their friends. + +"I shall not stay here long," said the captain, in a whisper, when they +had become better acquainted. "I intend to leave to-night." + +"Can't I go with you?" asked Tom. + +"You can go, but we had better not go together." + +Tom thought for a while, and determined upon an attempt to escape. During +the day, he carefully examined the premises, and decided upon his mode of +operations. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A PERPLEXING QUESTION. + + +Tom Somers, who had had some experience, in a small way, in the kind of +business now before him, was filled with hope when he had adopted his +plan. He was a resolute and energetic young man, and to resolve upon any +thing was almost equivalent to doing it. There were a great many +difficulties in the way of success, it is true; but, nothing daunted by +these, he determined to persevere. The church in which the prisoners were +confined was carefully guarded on the exterior, and the sentinels carried +loaded muskets in their hands--so that the affair before him was more +hazardous and trying than that of escaping from the attic chamber of +Squire Pemberton's house in Pinchbrook. + +If he succeeded in making his way out of the church and eluding the guard +which surrounded it, even then his trials would only have commenced; for +there were many miles of hostile country between him and Washington, +whither he supposed the Federal army had been driven. The captain who +intended to escape at the same time gave him some information which would +be of service to him in finding his way to the Potomac. He charged him +particularly to follow the railroad, which would conduct him to +Alexandria, in the vicinity of which he would probably find the regiment. + +At dark the prisoners disposed of themselves as well as they could for the +night. Tom saw the captain go through all the forms of preparing for a +comfortable lodging, and he did the same himself. For hours he lay +ruminating upon his purpose. When it was midnight, he thought it was time +for him to commence the enterprise. He worked himself along on the floor +till he reached the principal entrance. The door was open, as it had been +all day, to enable the guards to obtain an occasional view of the +prisoners. + +The sentinels were evidently in no condition to discharge their duties +with fidelity, for they had been marching and fighting for two or three +days, and were nearly exhausted. Leaning against the door, Tom discovered +a musket, which the careless guard had left there. On the floor in the +entry lay two rebel soldiers. They had stretched themselves across the +threshold of the door, so that no one could pass in or out of the church +without stepping over them. + +Tom carefully rose from his recumbent posture, and took possession of the +musket. Then, with the utmost prudence, he stepped over the bodies of the +sleeping soldiers; but with all his circumspection, he could not prevent +one of his shoes from squeaking a little, and it required only a particle +of noise to rouse the guard. + +"Who goes there?" demanded one of them, springing to his feet. + +"Is this the way you do your duty?" replied Tom, as sternly as though he +had been a brigadier general. + +"Who are you?" said the soldier, apparently impressed by the words and the +tones of him who reproved his neglect. + +"Who am I, you sleepy scum! I'll let you know who I am in about ten +minutes," added Tom, as he passed out at the front door of the church. + +"Give me back my gun--won't you?" pleaded the confused sentinel. + +"I'll give it back to you at the court-martial which will sit on your case +to-morrow." + +"Who goes there?" challenged one of the sentinels on the outside. + +"Who goes there!" added Tom, in a sneering tone. "Have you waked up? Where +were you five minutes ago, when I passed this post? There won't be a +prisoner left here by morning. The long roll wouldn't wake up such a +stupid set of fellows." + +"Stop, sir!" said the astonished sentinel. "You can't pass this line." + +"Can't I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while you were asleep." + +"I haven't been asleep." + +"Where have you been, then?" demanded Tom with terrible energy. + +"Been here, sir." + +"I'll court-martial the whole of you!" + +"Stop, sir, or I'll fire at you!" added the soldier, as Tom moved on. + +"Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I'll rid the army of one unfaithful +man on the spot!" said the soldier boy, as he raised the musket to his +shoulder. + +"Don't fire, you fool!" interposed one of the men whom Tom had roused from +his slumbers in the entry. "Don't you see he is an officer?" + +"I'll teach you how to perform your duty!" added Tom, as he walked away. + +The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no further +objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as coolly as though he +had just been regularly relieved from guard duty. He had walked but a +short distance before he discovered the camp of a regiment or brigade, +which, of course, it was necessary for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he +jumped over the fence into a field--his first object being to place a +respectful distance between himself and the enemy. + +The scene through which he had just passed, though he had preserved the +appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been exceedingly trying to +his nerves; and when the moment of pressing danger had passed, he found +his heart up in his throat, and his strength almost wasted by the +excitement. He felt as one feels when he has just escaped a peril which +menaced him with instant death. It was singular that the soldier had not +fired, but the fact that he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing +power in impudence. + +For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, but without +knowing where he was going--whether he was moving toward Richmond or +Washington. As the musket which he had taken from the church was not only +an encumbrance, but might betray him, he threw it away, though, thinking +some means of defence might be useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust +it in his belt. Thus relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a +road. As there was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed +this road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his +search--the railroad. + +But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been called upon +to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there were, unfortunately, +two ends--one of which lay within the Federal lines, and the other within +the rebel lines. If Tom had been an astronomer, which he was not, the +night was too cloudy to enable him to consult the stars; besides, some +railroads are so abominably crooked that the heavenly orbs would hardly +have been safe pilots. He did not know which was north, nor which was +south, and to go the wrong way would be to jump out of the frying pan into +the fire. + +Tom sat down by the side of the road, and tried to settle the difficult +question; but the more he thought, the more perplexed he became--which +shows the folly of attempting to reason when there are no premises to +reason from. He was, no doubt, an excellent logician; but bricks cannot be +made without straw. + +"Which way shall I go?" said Tom to himself, as he stood up and peered +first one way and then the other through the gloom of the night. + +But he could not see Washington in one direction, nor Richmond in the +other, and he had not a single landmark to guide him in coming to a +decision. + +"I'll toss up!" exclaimed he, desperately, as he took off his cap and +threw it up into the air. "Right side up, this way--wrong side, that way; +and may the fates or the angels turn it in the proper way." + +He stooped down to pick up the cap, and ascertain which way it had come +down. It came down right side up, and Tom immediately started off in the +direction indicated. Although he had no confidence in the arbitrament of +the cap, he felt relieved to find the question disposed of even in this +doubtful manner. + +He kept both eyes wide open as he advanced, for if he had taken the wrong +way a few miles of travel would bring him to the main camp of the rebels +in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. He pursued his lonely journey for +some time without impediment, and without discovering any camp, either +large or small. He gathered new confidence as he proceeded. After he had +walked two or three hours upon the railroad, he thought it was about time +for Fairfax station to heave in sight, if he had chosen the right way--or +for the rebel camps to appear if he had chosen the wrong way. With the +first place he was familiar, as his regiment had encamped a short distance +from it. + +He was sorely perplexed by the non-appearance of either of these expected +points. The country began to look wilder and less familiar as he +proceeded. The region before him looked rugged and mountainous, and the +dark outlines of several lofty peaks touched the sky in front of him. But +with the feeling that every step he advanced placed a wider space between +him and his captors at Sudley church, he continued on his way till the +gray streaks of daylight appeared behind him. + +This phenomenon promised to afford him a gleam of intelligence upon which +to found a correct solution of his course. Tom knew that, in the ordinary +course of events, the sun ought to rise in the east and set in the west. +If he was going to the north, the sun would rise on his right hand--if to +the south, on his left hand. The streaks of light grew more and more +distinct, and the clouds having rolled away, he satisfied himself where +the sun would appear. Contrary to both wings of his theory, the place was +neither on his right nor his left, for it was exactly behind him. But his +position might be upon a bend of the railroad whose direction did not +correspond with the general course of the road. For half an hour longer, +therefore, he pursued his way, carefully noting every curve, until he was +fully convinced that his course was nearer west than north. The sun rose +precisely as had been laid down in the programme, and precisely where he +expected it would rise. + +It was clear enough that he was not moving to the south; and, satisfied +that he was in no danger of stumbling upon Richmond, his courage +increased, and he plodded on till he discovered a small village--or what +would be called such in Virginia--though it contained only a few houses. +As he still wore the uniform of the United States army, he did not deem it +prudent to pass through this village; besides, he was terribly perplexed +to know what station it could be, and what had become of Fairfax. Though +he must have passed through the country before, it did not look natural to +him. + +Leaving the railroad, he took to the fields, intending to pass round the +village, or conceal himself in the woods till he could go through it in +safety. After walking diligently for so many hours, Tom was reminded that +he had a stomach. His rations on the preceding day had not been very +bountiful, and he was positively hungry. The organ which had reminded him +of its existence was beginning to be imperative in its demands, and a new +problem was presented for solution--one which had not before received the +attention which it deserved. + +In the fields and forest he found a few berries; but all he could find +made but a slight impression upon the neglected organ. If Tom was a +philosopher, in his humble way, he was reasonable enough to admit that a +man could not live without eating. At this point, therefore, the question +of rations became a serious and solemn problem; and the longer it remained +unsolved the more difficult and harassing it became. + +After he had rested all the forenoon in a secluded spot, without +interruption from man or beast, he decided to settle this question of +rations once for all. If impudence had enabled him to pass a line of rebel +sentries, it ought to furnish him with a dinner. Leaving his hiding place, +he walked till he discovered a small house, at which he determined to +apply for something to eat. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +DINNER AND DANGER. + + +The house at which Tom applied for food evidently did not belong to one of +the "first families," or, if it did, the owner's fortunes had become sadly +dilapidated. It was built of rough boards, with a huge stone chimney, +which was erected on the outside of the structure. The humblest fisherman +in Pinchbrook Harbor would have thought himself poorly accommodated in +such a rough and rickety mansion. + +If Tom's case had not been growing desperate, he would not have run the +risk of showing himself to any person on the "sacred soil" who was "to the +manor born;" but his stomach was becoming more and more imperative in its +demands, and he knocked at the front door with many misgivings, especially +as his exchequer contained less than a dollar of clear cash. + +The inmates were either very deaf or very much indisposed to see visitors; +and Tom, after he had knocked three times, began to think he had not run +any great risk in coming to this house. As nobody replied to his summons, +he took the liberty to open the door and enter. The establishment was even +more primitive in its interior than its exterior, and the soldier boy +could not help contrasting it with the neat houses of the poor in his +native town. + +The front door opened into a large room without the formality of an entry +or hall. In one corner of the apartment stood a bed. At one side was a +large fireplace, in which half a dozen sticks of green wood were hissing +and sizzling in a vain attempt to make the contents of an iron pot, which +hung over them, reach the boiling point. No person was to be seen or heard +on the premises, though the fire and the pot were suggestive of humanity +at no great distance from the spot. + +A door on the back side of the room was open, and Tom looked out in search +of the occupants of the house. In the garden he discovered the whole +family, consisting of a man and his wife, a girl of twelve, and a boy of +ten. The man was digging in the garden, and the rest of the troupe seemed +to be superintending the operation. The head of the family was altogether +the most interesting person to Tom, for he must either shake hands or +fight with him. He did not look like a giant in intellect, and he +certainly was not a giant in stature. With the bayonet still in his belt, +Tom was not afraid of him. + +"How are you, people?" said Tom, as he walked towards the family, who with +one accord suspended all operations, and gave their whole attention to the +stranger. + +"How are ye, yourself?" replied the man, rather gruffly. + +"Do you keep a hotel?" demanded Tom, who concealed the anxiety of his +heart under a broad grin. + +"I reckon I don't. What do you want here?" + +"I want something to eat," replied Tom, proceeding to business with +commendable straight-forwardness. + +"We hain't got nothin' here," said the man, sourly. "That ain't what ye +come fur, nuther." + +"Must have something to eat. I'm not very particular, but I must have +something." + +"You can't hev it 'bout yere, no how. That ain't what ye come fur, +nuther." + +"If you know what I came for better than I do, suppose you tell me what it +is," added Tom, who was a little mystified by the manner of the man. + +"You air one of them soger fellers, and you want me to 'list; but I tell +yer, ye can't do nothin' of the sort. I'll be dog derned if I'll go." + +"I don't want you to go," protested Tom. "I'm half starved and all I want +is something to eat." + +"Yer don't reelly mean so." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Where d'yer come from?" + +"From down below here. Have you seen any soldiers pass through this +place?" + +"I reckon I hev; but they hain't seen me; and I reckon they won't see me +very soon;" and the man chuckled at his own cleverness in keeping clear of +recruiting officers. + +"I don't want you, and if you will give me something to eat, you will get +rid of me very quick." + +"Betsey, you kin feed the feller, if yer like, and I'll go over and see +whar the hogs is." + +The man dropped his shovel, and began to move off towards the woods, +probably to see whether Tom would attempt to detain him. At the same time +"Betsey" led the way into the house, and the visitor paid no further +attention to the master. + +"We hain't got much to eat in the house," said the woman, as they entered +the room. "There's some biled pork and pertaters in the pot, and we've got +some bread, sech as 'tis." + +"It will do me very well. I'm hungry, and can eat any thing," replied Tom. + +The woman placed a tin plate on the table, and dished up the contents of +the kettle on the fire. She added some cold hoe cake to the dinner, and +Tom thought it was a feast fit for a king. He took a seat at the table, +and made himself entirely at home. The food was coarse, but it was good, +and the hungry soldier boy did ample justice to the viands. The boy and +girl who had followed him into the house, stood, one on each side of him, +watching him in speechless astonishment. + +"Where did yer come from?" asked the woman, when Tom had about half +finished his dinner. + +"From down below," replied Tom, rather indefinitely. + +"Don't b'long in these yere parts, I reckon?" + +"No, marm." + +"Where are ye gwine?" + +"Going to join my regiment." + +"Where is yer rigiment?" + +"That's more than I know, marm." + +"How long yer been travelling?" persisted the woman, who was perhaps +afraid that the guest would eat up the whole of the family's dinner, if +she did not make some kind of a feint to attract his attention. + +"Only a few days, marm." + +"Kin yer till me what all thet noise was about day 'fore yesterday?" + +"Yes, marm; it was a big battle." + +"Gracious me! Yer don't say so! Whar was it?" + +"Down below Centreville." + +"Which beat?" + +"The Confederates drove the Yankees off the field," answered Tom, +suspending business long enough to glance at the woman, and see how the +intelligence was received. + +"Yer don't! Then they won't want my old man." + +Tom was unable to determine whether his hostess was Union or "Secesh" from +her words or her looks. He could not inform her whether they would want +her old man or not. When he had eaten all he could, he proposed like an +honest youth to pay for what he had eaten; but Betsey had the true idea of +southern hospitality, and refused to receive money for the food eaten +beneath her roof. She had a loaf of coarse bread, however, in which she +permitted Tom to invest the sum of six cents. + +"I am very much obliged to you, marm; and I shall be glad to do as much +for you, any time," said Tom, as he went towards the front door. + +As he was about to open it, his ears were startled by an imperative knock +on the outside. He stepped back to one of the two windows on the front of +the house, where he discovered an officer and two "grayback" soldiers. The +ghost of his grandmother would not have been half so appalling a sight, +and he retreated to the back door with a very undignified haste. + +"Gracious me!" exclaimed the lady of the house. "Who kin thet be?" + +"An officer and two soldiers," replied Tom, hastily. + +"Then they are arter my old man!" said she, dropping into the only chair +the room contained. + +"Don't say I'm here, marm, and I'll help your husband, if they catch him. +Tell them he has gone off to be absent a week." + +"He'd be absent more'n thet if he knowed them fellers was arter him." + +The woman moved towards the front door, and Tom through the back door; but +as he was about to pass into the garden, he caught a glimpse of one of the +graybacks in the rear of the house. For a moment his case seemed to be +hopeless; but he retreated into the room again, just as the woman opened +the front door to admit the officer. He could not escape from the house, +and his only resource was to secure a hiding place within its walls. There +were only two which seemed to be available; one of these was the bed, and +the other the chimney. If any search was made, of course the soldiers +would explore the bed first; and the chimney seemed the most practicable. + +There was no time for consideration, for the woman had already opened the +door, and was answering the questions of the Confederate officer; so Tom +sprang into the fireplace, and, by the aid of the projecting stones, +climbed up to a secure position. The chimney was large enough to +accommodate half a dozen boys of Tom's size. The fire had gone out, and +though the stones were rather warm in the fireplace, he was not +uncomfortable. + +The fears of the lady of the house proved to be well grounded this time, +for the party had actually come in search of her "old man;" and what was +more, the officer announced his intention not to leave without him. + +"He's gone away fur a week, and he won't be hum before the fust of August, +no how," said the woman resolutely, and adopting Tom's suggestion to the +letter. + +"All nonsense, woman! He is about here, somewhere, and we will find him." + +"You may, if you kin." + +The officer then went out at the back door, as Tom judged by his +footsteps, and the woman asked one of the children what had become of the +other soldier man. The boy said he was up chimney. She then told them not +to tell the officer where he was. + +"What shell I do?" said she, placing herself before the fireplace. + +"Don't be alarmed. He will keep out of their way," replied Tom. + +"But the officer man said he was gwine to stay 'bout yere till he gits +hum," moaned the poor woman. + +"He will not do any such thing. Your husband has the woods before him, and +he won't let them catch him." + +"Deary me! I'm 'feared they will." + +"Where are they now?" + +"They're gone out to look for him." + +The officer and his men returned in a few moments, having satisfied +themselves that the proprietor of the place was not on the premises. + +"Now we'll search the house," said the officer; and Tom heard them walking +about in the room. + +Of course the militia man could not be found, and the officer used some +very unbecoming language to express his disapprobation of the skulker, as +he called him. + +"Woman, if you don't tell me where your husband is, I'll have you +arrested," said he, angrily. + +"I don't know myself. He's gone off over the mountains to git some things. +Thet's all I know about it, and if yer want to arrest me, yer kin." + +But the officer concluded that she would be a poor substitute for an able +bodied man, and he compromised the matter by leaving one of the privates, +instructing him not to let the woman or the children leave the house, and +to remain till the skulker returned. + +This was not very pleasant information for Tom who perceived that he was +likely to be shut up in the chimney for the rest of the day, and perhaps +be smoked or roasted out at supper time. Climbing up to the top of his +prison house, he looked over, and saw the officer and one private +disappear in the woods which lay between the house and the railroad. +Looking over the other way, he saw the coveted recruit approaching the +house from beyond the garden. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REBEL SOLDIER. + + +Tom Somers was not very well satisfied with his situation, for the soldier +who had been left in possession of the house was armed with a musket, and +the prospect of escaping before night was not very flattering. The +patriarch of the family, who had such a horror of recruiting officers, was +approaching, and in a few moments there would be an exciting scene in the +vicinity. + +Independent of his promise made to the woman to help her husband, if she +would not betray him, Tom deemed it his duty to prevent the so-called +Confederate States of America from obtaining even a single additional +recruit for the armies of rebellion and treason. Without having any +personal feeling in the matter, therefore, he was disposed to do all he +could to assist his host in "avoiding the draft." What would have been +treason in New England was loyalty in Virginia. + +The unfortunate subject of the Virginia militia law was unconsciously +approaching the trap which had been set for him. He had, no doubt, come to +the conclusion, by this time, that the hungry soldier boy was not a +recruiting officer, or even the corporal of a guard sent to apprehend him, +and he was returning with confidence to partake of his noonday meal. Tom, +from his perch at the top of the chimney, watched him as he ambled along +over the rough path with his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was +something rather exciting in the situation of affairs, and he soon found +himself deeply interested in the issue. + +The unhappy citizen owing service to the Confederate States climbed over +the zigzag fence that enclosed his garden, and continued to approach the +rude dwelling which the law had defined to be his castle. Tom did not dare +to speak in tones loud enough to be heard by the innocent victim of the +officer's conspiracy, for they would have betrayed his presence to the +enemy. Sitting upon the top stones of the chimney, he gesticulated +violently, hoping to attract his attention; but the man did not look up, +and consequently could not see the signals. + +He had approached within ten rods of the back door of the house, when Tom, +fearing his footsteps might attract the attention of the soldier, ventured +to give a low whistle. As this was not heeded, he repeated the signal when +the man was within two or three rods of the house; but even this was not +noticed, and throwing his head forward, so that the sound of his voice +should not descend the chimney, he spoke. + +"Halloo!" said he. + +The man suddenly stopped, and looked up. Tom made signals with his hands +for him to leave; but this mute language appeared not to be intelligible +to him. + +"Consarn yer picter, what are yer doin' up thar?" said the proprietor of +the castle, in tones which seemed to Tom as loud as the roar of the cannon +at Bull Run. + +"Hush! Hush!" replied Tom, gesticulating with all his might, and using all +his ingenuity to invent signs that would convey to the militiaman the idea +that he was in imminent danger. + +"You be scotched!" snarled the man. "What are yer doin'? What ails yer?" + +"They are after you!" added Tom, in a hoarse whisper. + +The fellow most provokingly refused to hear him, and Tom thought his skull +was amazingly thick, and his perceptions amazingly blunt. + +"Now you come down from thar," said he, as he picked up a couple of +stones. "You act like a monkey, and I s'pose yer be one. Now make tracks +down that chimley." + +But instead of doing this, Tom retreated into his shell, as a snail does +when the moment of peril arrives. The soldier in the house was not deaf; +and if he had been, he could hardly have helped hearing the stentorian +tones of his victim. Instead of going out the back door, like a sensible +man, he passed out at the front door, and in a moment more Tom heard his +voice just beneath him. + +"Halt!" shouted the soldier, as he brought his musket to his shoulder. +"Your name is Joe Burnap." + +"That's my name, but I don't want nothin' o' you," replied the embarrassed +militiaman, as he dropped the stones with which he had intended to assault +Tom's citadel. + +"I want something of you," replied the soldier. "You must go with me. +Advance, and give yourself up." + +"What fur?" asked poor Joe. + +"We want you for the army. You are an enrolled militiaman. You must go +with me." + +"Ill be dog derned if I do," answered Joe Burnap, desperately. + +"If you attempt to run away, I'll shoot you. You shall go with me, dead or +alive, and hang me if I care much which." + +Joe evidently did care. He did not want to go with the soldier; his +southern blood had not been fired by the wrongs of his country; and he was +equally averse to being shot in cold blood by this minion of the +Confederacy. His position was exceedingly embarrassing, for he could +neither run, fight, nor compromise. While matters were in this interesting +and critical condition, Tom ventured to raise his head over the top of the +chimney to obtain a better view of the belligerents. Joe stood where he +had last seen him, and the soldier was standing within three feet of the +foot of the chimney. + +"What ye going to do, Joe Burnap?" demanded the latter, after waiting a +reasonable time for the other to make up his mind. + +"What am I gwine to do?" repeated Joe, vacantly, as he glanced to the +right and the left, apparently in the hope of obtaining some suggestion +that would enable him to decide the momentous question. + +"You needn't look round, Joe; you've got to come or be shot. Just take +your choice between the two, and don't waste my time." + +"I s'pose I can't help myself," replied Joe. "I'll tell ye what I'll do. I +want to fix up things about hum a little, and I'll jine ye down to the Gap +to-morrow." + +"No you don't, Joe Burnap!" said the soldier, shaking his head. + +"Then I'll jine ye to-night," suggested the strategist. + +"My orders are not to return without you, and I shall obey them." + +Mrs. Burnap, who had followed the soldier out of the house, stood behind +him wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She protested with all a +woman's eloquence against the proceedings of the soldier; but her tears +and her homely rhetoric were equally unavailing. While the parties were +confronting each other, the soldier dropped his piece, and listened to the +arguments of Joe and his wife. When he turned for a moment to listen to +the appeals of the woman, her husband improved the opportunity to commence +a retreat. He moved off steadily for a few paces, when the enemy +discovered the retrograde march, and again brought the gun to his +shoulder. + +"None of that, Joe," said the soldier, sternly. "Now march back again, or +I'll shoot you;" and Tom heard the click of the hammer as he cocked the +piece. "I've fooled long enough with you, and we'll end this business +here. Come here, at once, or I'll put a bullet through your head." + +"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! For mercy's sake don't shoot," cried Mrs. +Burnap. + +"I'll give him one minute to obey the order; if he don't do it then, I'll +fire. That's all I've got to say." + +Tom saw by the soldier's manner that he intended to execute his threat. He +saw him brace up his nerves, and otherwise prepare himself for the bloody +deed. But Tom did not think that Joe had the stubbornness or the courage, +whichever it might be called, to run the risk of dodging the bullet. He +foresaw, too, that, if Joe gave himself up, his hiding place would be +exposed, and the soldier would have two prisoners to conduct back to his +officer, instead of one. It was therefore high time for him to do +something for his own protection, if not for that of his host. + +The necessity of defending himself, or of doing something to cover his +retreat in an emergency, had been anticipated by Tom, and he had made such +preparations as the circumstances would admit. His first suggestion was to +dart his bayonet down at the rebel soldier, as he had seen the fishermen +of Pinchbrook harpoon a horse mackerel; but the chances of hitting the +mark were too uncertain to permit him to risk the loss of his only weapon, +and he rejected the plan. He adopted the method, however, in a modified, +form, deciding to use the material of which the chimney was constructed, +instead of the bayonet. The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, +were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his hands ready +for operations. + +"Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man," repeated the soldier, who +evidently had some scruples about depriving the infant Confederacy of an +able-bodied recruit. + +Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted himself up +from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the soldier, fully +expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his brains. The best laid +calculations often miscarry, and Tom's did in part, for the missile, +instead of striking the soldier upon the head, hit him on the right arm. +The musket was discharged, either by the blow or by the act of its owner, +and fell out of his hands upon the ground. + +Now, a stone as big as a man's head, does not fall from the height of +fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human frame without +inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with this doctrine of +probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down upon the rebel, and which +struck him upon the right arm, entirely disabled that useful member. The +hero of this achievement was satisfied with the result, though it had not +realized his anticipations. Concluding that the time had arrived for an +effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the house, +descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the ground. + +The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the surprise +occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. Tom rushed up to him, +and secured the musket before he had time to regain his self-possession. + +"Who are you?" demanded the soldier, holding up the injured arm with his +left hand. + +"Your most obedient servant," replied Tom, facetiously, as he placed +himself in the attitude of "charge bayonets." "Have you any dangerous +weapons about your person?" + +"Yes, I have," replied the soldier, resolutely, as he retreated a few +steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand into the breast pocket of his +coat. + +"Hands down!" exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with the bayonet attached to +the musket. "Here, Joe Burnap!" + +"What d' yer want?" replied the proprietor of the house, who was as +completely "demoralized" by the scene as the rebel soldier himself. + +"Put your hand into this man's pocket, and take out his pistol. If he +resists, I'll punch him with this," added Tom, demonstrating the movement +by a few vigorous thrusts with the bayonet. + +With some hesitation Joe took a revolver from the pocket of the soldier, +and handed it to Tom. + +"Examine all his pockets. Take out everything he has in them," added Tom, +cocking the revolver, and pointing it at the head of the prisoner. + +Joe took from the pockets of the rebel a quantity of pistol cartridges, a +knife, some letters, and a wallet. + +"Who's this fur?" asked Joe, as he proceeded to open the wallet, and take +therefrom a roll of Confederate "shin-plasters." + +"Give it back to him." + +"But this is money." + +"Money!" sneered Tom. "A northern beggar wouldn't thank you for all he +could carry of it. Give it back to him, and every thing else except the +cartridges." + +Joe reluctantly restored the wallet, the letters, and the knife, to the +pockets from which he had taken them. Tom then directed him to secure the +cartridge box of the soldier. + +"You are my prisoner," said Tom; "but I believe in treating prisoners +well. You may go into the house, and if your arm is much hurt, Mrs. Burnap +may do what she can to help you." + +The prisoner sullenly attended the woman into the house, and Tom followed +as far as the front door. + +"Now, what am I gwine to do?" said Joe. "You've got me into a right smart +scrape." + +"I thought I had got you out of one," replied Tom. "Do you intend to +remain here?" + +"Sartin not, now. I must clear." + +"So must I; and we have no time to spare. Get what you can to eat, and +come along." + +In ten minutes more, Tom and Joe Burnap were travelling towards the +mountains. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THROUGH THE GAP. + + +Joe Burnap was perfectly familiar with the country, and Tom readily +accepted him as a guide; and, as they had a common object in view, neither +had good cause for mistrusting the other. They walked, without stopping to +rest, till the sun set behind the mountains towards which they were +travelling. + +"I reckon we needn't hurry now," said Joe, as he seated himself on a rock. + +"I don't think there is any danger of their catching us," replied Tom, as +he seated himself beside his fellow-traveller. "Can you tell me where we +are?" + +"I reckon I can. There ain't a foot of land in these yere parts that I +hain't had my foot on. I've toted plunder of all sorts through these woods +more'n ten thousand times." + +"Well, where are we?" asked Tom, whose doubts in regard to the locality +had not yet been solved. + +In the pressure of more exciting matters, he had not attempted to explain +why he did not come to Fairfax station while following the railroad. + +"If we keep on a little while longer, I reckon we shall come to +Thoroughfare Gap," answered Joe. + +"But where do you live? What town is your house in?" asked Tom, who had +never heard of Thoroughfare Gap before. + +"Haymarket is the nearest town to my house." + +"What railroad is that over there?" asked Tom, who was no nearer the +solution of the question than he had been in the beginning. + +"That's the Manassas Gap Railroad, I reckon," replied Joe, who seemed to +be astonished at the ignorance of his companion. + +"Just so," added Tom, who now, for the first time, comprehended where he +was. + +When he left Sudley church, he walked at random till he came to the +railroad; but he had struck the Manassas Gap Railroad instead of the main +line, and it had led him away from the great body of the rebels, though it +also conducted him away from Washington, where he desired to go. He was +perplexed at the discovery, and at once began to debate the question +whether it was advisable for him to proceed any farther in this direction. + +"I suppose you are a Union man--ain't you?" said Tom, after he had +considered his situation for some time. + +Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes from the +ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom. He stared at him for a +moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former attitude. + +"You don't want to fight for the south," added Tom; "so I suppose you +don't believe in the Southern Confederacy." + +"I don't want to fight for nuther of 'em," replied Joe, after a moment of +further consideration. "If they'll only let me alone, I don't keer which +beats." + +His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared to be +entirely impartial. The newspapers on either side would not have disturbed +him. Patriotism--love of country--had not found a resting place in his +soul. Tom had not, from the beginning, entertained a very high respect for +the man; but now he despised him, and thought that a rebel was a gentleman +compared with such a character. How a man could live in the United States, +and not feel an interest in the stirring events which were transpiring +around him, was beyond his comprehension. In one word, he so thoroughly +despised Joe Burnap, that he resolved, at the first convenient +opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the company of +such a person. + +"Now which side do you fight fur?" asked Joe, after a long period of +silence. + +"For the Union side," replied Tom, promptly. + +"What are yer doin' here, then?" + +"I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got away, and I want +to get to Washington." + +"I reckon this ain't the way to git thar," added Joe. + +"I doubt whether I can get there any other way." + +Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the world, and all +that the government owed him, for a good map of Virginia--or even for a +knowledge of geography which would have enabled him to find his way by the +safest route to Washington. But he had been a diligent scholar in school, +and had faithfully improved the limited opportunities which had been +afforded him. His mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had +studied in school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical +benefit to him. + +He had treasured up some information, derived from the newspapers, in +regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it passed through the +Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed the Shenandoah River: this +emptied into the Potomac, which would certainly conduct him to Washington. +In following these two rivers, he should have to describe nearly a circle, +which was not an encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and +in an enemy's country. + +If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with rebel +soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their lines without +being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route by the Shenandoah +appeared, he decided to adopt it. + +Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the bag which +he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily procure on leaving +home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed their walk for another +hour. + +"I reckon we'd better stop here," said Joe. "The Gap's only half a mile +from here, and it's too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar's +too many soldiers goin' that way." + +"What time will you go through?" asked Tom. + +"Not afore midnight." + +"Then I'll turn in and take a nap. I didn't sleep any last night." + +"I'm agreed," replied Joe, who seemed to be indifferent to every thing +while he could keep out of the rebel army. + +Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and went to +sleep. Exhausted by fatigue and the want of rest, he did not wake for many +hours. He came to his senses with a start, and jumped upon his feet. For a +moment, he could not think where he was; but then came the recollection +that he was in the country of his enemies--a wanderer and a fugitive. + +He looked about him in search of his travelling companion; but the fact +that he could not see him in the night was no argument that he was not +near him. He supposed Joe had chosen a place to sleep in the vicinity, and +thinking he might not wake in season to pass through the Gap before +daylight, he commenced a search for him. He beat about the place for half +an hour, calling his companion by name; but he could not see him, and no +sound responded to the call but the echoes of his own voice. + +The independent Virginia farmer had anticipated Tom's intention to part +company with him, and, by this time, perhaps, had passed through the Gap. +The soldier boy was not quite ready to dispense with the services of his +guide, inasmuch as he did not even know where the Gap was, or in what +direction he must travel to reach it. While he was debating his prospects, +an enterprising rooster, in the distance, sounded his morning call. This +assured him that he must be near some travelled road, and, taking the +direction from the fowl, he resumed his journey. + +A short walk brought him out of the woods, and, in the gray light of the +dawn, he discovered a house. As he did not care to make any new +acquaintances, he avoided the house, and continued his travels till he +arrived at a road. As it was too early in the morning for people to be +stirring, he ventured to follow the highway, and soon perceived an opening +in the mountains, which he doubted not was the Gap. + +At sunrise he arrived at another house, which suddenly came into view as +he rounded a bend in the road. Near it were several negroes engaged in +various occupations. As he passed the house, the negroes all suspended +operations, and stared at him till he was out of sight. He soon reached +the Gap; but he had advanced only a short distance before he discovered a +battery of light artillery stationed on a kind of bluff, and whose guns +commanded the approaches in every direction. + +Deeming it prudent to reconnoitre before he proceeded any farther, he also +ascertained that the Gap was picketed by rebel infantry. Of course it was +impossible to pass through under these circumstances, and he again took to +the woods. The scanty supply of food which he had purchased from Mrs. +Burnap was now produced, and he made an economical breakfast. Finding a +secluded place, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep. +Though he slept till the sun had passed the meridian, the day was a very +long one. + +When it was fairly dark, he resolved to attempt the passage of the Gap, +for he was so tired of inaction that peril and hardship seemed preferable +to doing nothing. Returning to the road, he pursued his way with due +diligence through the narrowing defile of the mountains, till he suddenly +came upon a sentinel, who challenged him. Before he started from his +hiding place, Tom had carefully loaded the revolver which he had taken +from the rebel soldier; and, as he walked along, he carried the weapon in +his hand, ready for any emergency that might require its use. + +The guard questioned him, and Tom replied that he had fought in the battle +down below, and had a furlough to go home and see his father, who was very +sick. + +"Where's your furlough?" demanded the soldier. + +"In my pocket." + +"Let me see it." + +"Here it is," replied Tom, producing an old letter which he happened to +have in his pocket. + +The sentinel took the paper, unfolded it, and turned it over two or three +times. It was too dark for him to read it if he had been able to do so, +for all the rebel soldiers are not gifted in this way. + +"I reckon this won't do," he added, after patiently considering the +matter. "Just you tote this paper up to the corporal thar, and if he says +it's all right, you kin go on." + +"But I can't stop to do all that. Here's my pass, and I want to go on. My +father may die before I get home." + +"What regiment do you b'long to?" asked the guard, who evidently did not +wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier unnecessarily. + +"The Second Virginia," replied Tom, at a venture. + +"Where does your father live?" continued the sentinel. + +"Just beyond the Gap, if he's living at all." + +"What town?" + +Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single place on the +route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to answer the question. + +"About five or six miles from here," he answered. + +"Is it Salem or White Plains?" demanded the soldier, whose cunning was +inferior to his honesty. + +"White Plains," added Tom, promptly accepting the suggestion. + +"What's the matter with your father?" + +"I don't know; he was taken suddenly." + +"Pears like your uniform ain't exactly our sort," added the soldier. + +"Mine was all used up, and I got one on the battle-field." + +"I wouldn't do that. It's mean to rob a dead man of his clothes." + +"Couldn't help it--I was almost naked," replied Tom, who perfectly agreed +with the rebel on this point. + +"You kin go on, Old Virginny," said the soldier, whose kindly sympathy for +Tom and his sick father was highly commendable. + +The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of which he +immediately availed himself. Tom did not yet realize the force of the +maxim that "all is fair in war," and his conscience gave a momentary +twinge as he thought of the deception he had practised upon the honest and +kind-hearted rebel. He was very thankful that he had not been compelled to +put a bullet through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the +man had not been obliged to do him a similar favor. + +The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the next +morning. He went through three or four small villages. After passing +through the Gap, he had taken the railroad, as less likely to lead him +through the more thickly settled parts of the country. Before him the +mountains of the Blue Ridge rose like an impassable wall, and when the day +dawned he was approaching Manassas Gap. He had walked twenty-five miles +during the night, and prudence, as well as fatigue, required him to seek a +place of rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWN THE SHENANDOAH. + + +In that wild mountain region, Tom had no difficulty in finding a secluded +spot, where there was no probability that he would be molested. He had +been in a state of constant excitement during the night, for the country +was full of soldiers. The mountaineers of Virginia were rushing to the +standard of rebellion. They were a wild, rude set of men, and they made +the night hideous with their debauchery. Tom succeeded in keeping out of +the way of the straggling parties which were roaming here and there; but +he was filled with dread and anxiety lest he should, at the next moment, +stumble upon a camp, or a squad of these marauders. + +The nook in the mountains which he had chosen as his resting place was a +cleft in the rocks, concealed by the overhanging branches of trees. Here +he made his bed, as the sun rose, and, worn out with fatigue and anxiety, +he dropped asleep. + +When he awoke, the sun was near the meridian. He rose and walked out a +short distance from his lodging place, and listened for any sounds which +might indicate the presence of an enemy. All was still; silence deep and +profound reigned through the solitudes of the mountains. Tom returned to +his place of concealment, and after eating the remainder of the food he +had brought with him, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to +sleep again. He had nothing else to do, and he needed all the rest he +could obtain. It was fortunate for him that he had self-possession enough +to sleep--to banish his nervous doubts and fears, and thus secure the +repose which was indispensable to the success of his arduous enterprise. + +It was after sundown when he finished his second nap. He had slept nearly +all day,--at least ten hours,--and he was entirely refreshed and restored. +He was rather stiff in some of his limbs when he got up; but he knew this +would wear off after a little exercise. He had no supper with which to +brace himself for the night's work; so he took a drink from the mountain +stream, and made his way back to the railroad. But it was too early then +to commence the passage of the Gap, and he sat for a couple of hours by +the side of the road, before he ventured to resume his journey. + +While he was passing through the narrow gorge in the mountains, he met +several persons, on foot and on horseback; but as he was armed with a +pistol, he did not turn out for them; but when a party of soldiers +approached, he sought a hiding place by the side of the road until they +were out of hearing. When he had passed through the Gap, he came to a road +crossing the track, and after debating the question thoroughly, he decided +to abandon the railroad, and pursued his course by the common highway +towards the North. + +Continuing his journey diligently for a time longer, he came to another +road, branching off to the left from the one he had chosen, which required +further consideration. But his conclusion was satisfactory, and he +continued on the same road, which soon brought him to a more thickly +settled country than that through which he had been travelling. + +By this time Tom's stomach began to be rebellious again, and the question +of rations began to assume a serious aspect. He was not suffering for +food, but it was so much more comfortable to travel upon a full stomach +than an empty one, that he could not pass a dwelling house without +thinking of the contents of the cellar and closets. It was perfectly +proper to forage on the enemy; but he could not eat raw chicken and geese, +or the problem of rations would have been effectually settled by a +demonstration on the hen-coops of the Shenandoah valley. + +He came to a halt before a large mansion, which had the appearance of +belonging to a wealthy person. Its larder and kitchen cupboards, he +doubted not, were plentifully supplied with the luxuries of the season; +and Tom thought he might as well obtain his provisions now, as wait till +he was driven to desperation by hunger. He entered the front gate of the +great house, and stepped upon the veranda in front of it. The windows +reached down to the floor. He tried one of them, and found that it was not +fastened. He carefully raised the sash and entered. + +Tom was determined to put himself upon his impudence on the present +occasion; but he satisfied himself that his revolver was in condition for +instant use before he proceeded any farther. Passing from the front room +to an apartment in the rear, he found a lamp and matches, and concluded +that he would have some light on the subject, which was duly obtained. +Leaving this room, he entered another, which proved to be the kitchen. A +patient search revealed to him the lurking place of a cold roast chicken, +some fried bacon, bread, and crackers. + +Placing these things on the table, he seated himself to partake of the +feast which the forethought of the occupants had provided for him. Tom +began to be entirely at home, for having thrown himself on his impudence +now; he did not permit any doubts or fears to disturb him; but the handle +of his pistol protruded from between the buttons of his coat. He ate till +he had satisfied himself, when he happened to think that the coffee pot he +had seen in the closet might contain some cold coffee; and he brought it +out. He was not disappointed, and even found sugar and milk. He poured out +a bowl of the beverage, and, having prepared it to his taste, was about to +conclude the feast in this genteel style, when he heard footsteps in the +adjoining entry. + +Tom determined not to be cheated out of his coffee, and instead of putting +himself in a flurry, he took the bowl in one hand and the pistol in the +other. The door opened, and a negro timidly entered the room. + +"Well, sar!" said the servant, as he edged along the side of the room. +"Hem! Well, sar!" + +Tom took no notice of him, but continued to drink his coffee as coolly as +though he had been in his mother's cottage at Pinchbrook. + +"Hem! Well, sar!" repeated the negro, who evidently wished to have the +interloper take some notice of him. + +But the soldier boy refused to descend from his dignity or his impudence. +He finished the bowl of coffee as deliberately as though the darkey had +been somewhere else. + +"Well, sar! Who's you, sar?" + +"Eh, Blackee?" + +"Who's you, sar?" + +"Good chicken! Good bread! Good bacon!" added Tom. "Are the folks at home, +Blackee?" + +"No, sar; nobody but de women folks, sar. Who's you, sar?" + +"It don't make much difference who I am. Where's your master?" + +"Gone to Richmond, sar. He's member ob Congress." + +"Then he's in poor business, Blackee," said Tom, as he took out his +handkerchief, and proceeded to transfer the remnants of his supper to its +capacious folds. + +"Better luff dem tings alone, sar." + +But Tom refused to "luff dem alone," and when he had placed them on the +handkerchief, he made a bundle of them. + +"Golly, sar! I'll tell my missus what's gwine on down here," added the +servant, as he moved towards the door. + +"See here, Blackee," interposed Tom, pointing his pistol at the negro; "if +you move, I'll put one of these balls through your skull." + +"De Lud sabe us, massa! Don't shoot dis nigger, massa." + +"Hold your tongue then, and mind what I say." + +"Yes, massa," whined the darkey, in the most abject tones. + +"Now come with me, Blackee, and if you open your mouth, one of these pills +shall go down your throat." + +Tom flourished his pistol before the negro, and led the way to the window +by which he had entered the house. Passing out upon the veranda, he +cautiously conducted the terrified servant to the road; and when they had +gone a short distance, he halted. + +"Now, Blackee, what town is this?" demanded Tom. + +"Leeds Manor, sar," replied the trembling negro. + +"How far is it to the Shenandoah River?" + +"Only two or tree miles, massa. Now let dis chile go home again." + +"Not yet." + +"Hab mercy on dis nigger dis time, and sabe him." + +"I won't hurt you, if you behave yourself." + +Tom questioned him for some time in regard to the river, and the towns +upon its banks; and when he had obtained all the information in regard to +the valley which the servant possessed, he resumed his journey, driving +the negro before him. + +"Spare dis chile, massa, for de sake ob de wife and chil'n," pleaded the +unwilling guide. + +"I tell you I won't hurt you if you behave yourself," replied Tom. "You'll +have the whole place down upon me in half an hour, if I let you go now." + +"No, massa; dis nigger won't say one word 'bout you, nor de tings you took +from de house--not one word, massa. Spare dis chile, and luff him go +home." + +But Tom compelled him to walk before him till they came to the river. The +place was called Seaburn's Ford. + +"Now, Blackee, if anybody wants me, tell them I've gone to Winchester," +said Tom, when he had ordered his escort to halt. + +"No, massa, I won't say one word," replied the servant. + +"If you do, I'll shoot you the very next time I see you--depend upon that. +You can go now." + +The negro was not slow to avail himself of this privilege, and ran off, +evidently expecting a bullet from the revolver would overtake him before +he had gone far, for he glanced fearfully over his shoulder, begging his +captor not to shoot him. + +Tom stood upon the bank of the Shenandoah. The negro had told him that he +was about thirty miles from Harper's Ferry, which he knew was in +possession of General Patterson's forces. Attached to a tree on the shore +was a small flat-bottomed boat, which attracted the attention of the +soldier boy. Tom was accustomed to boats, and the sight of this one +suggested a change of programme, for it would be much easier to float down +the stream, than to walk the thirty miles. This was a point which needed +no argument; and unfastening the painter of the boat, he jumped in, and +pushed off. Seating himself in the stern, with the paddle in his hand, he +kept her head with the current, and swept down the rapid stream like a +dreamy youth just starting upon the voyage of life. + +Like the pilgrim on the sea of time, Tom was not familiar with the +navigation of the Shenandoah, and he had neither chart nor compass to +assist him. The current was very swift, and once in a while the bateau +bumped upon a concealed rock, or bar of sand. Fortunately no serious +accident occurred to him, though he found that the labor of managing the +boat was scarcely less than that of walking. + +There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of missing the +road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers or inquisitive +civilians. His light bark rushed on its way down the stream, without +attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if any were abroad at +that unseemly hour of the night. The difficulties of the navigation were +overcome with more or less labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his +mind that he had done a good night's work; and choosing a secluded nook by +the side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the +return of darkness. + +The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, and he ate +his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he was not very +tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something better to do, he felt +compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the previous day, to dispose of +the weary hours in this agreeable manner. His pastime, however, was soon +interrupted by loud shouts and the tramp of men, not far from the spot +where he lay. A hurried examination of the surroundings assured him that +he had chosen a resting place near one of the fords of the river, over +which a rebel regiment was then passing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE PROBLEM OF RATIONS. + + +The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a few rods +distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and his boat. When +he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with terror; and, fully +believing that his hour had come, he dropped upon the ground, to wait, in +trembling anxiety, the passage of the troops. It was a regiment of +Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the most fantastic style with +hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They yelled and howled like so many +wildcats. + +From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a good view +of the men, as they waded across the river. He was fearful that some of +them might stray from the ranks, and stumble upon his place of refuge; but +a kind Providence put it into their heads to mind their own business, and +Tom gathered hope as the yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the +distance. + +"This is no place for me," said Tom to himself, when the sounds had died +away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. "A whole army of them may camp +near that ford, and drive me out of my hiding place." + +Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied no carriage +or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying the paddle with the +utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he found that the public +highway ran along the banks of the river, which exposed him to increased +risk of being seen. A couple of vehicles passed along the road while he +was in this exposed situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take +no notice of him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently +the boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable +place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the bateau. + +As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, ate his +dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so tranquil as he +had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains. Visions of rebel soldiers +haunted his dreams, and more than once he started up, and gazed wildly +around him; but these were only visions, and there was something more real +to disturb his slumbers. + +"Hi! Who are you?" exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who had penetrated the +thicket without disturbing the sleeper. + +Tom started up, and sprang to his feet. One of the tall mountaineers, whom +he had seen crossing the ford, stood before him; and the reality was even +more appalling than the vision. + +"Who mought you be?" demanded the tall soldier, with a good-natured grin +upon his greasy face. + +"Faith! I believe I've been asleep!" said Tom, rubbing his eyes, and +looking as innocent as a young lamb. + +"You may bet your life on thet, my boy," replied the rebel, laughing. "Hi! +Jarvey!" added he, apparently addressing a companion at no great distance +from the spot. + +Heavy footsteps announced the approach of Jarvey, who soon joined them. He +was not less than six feet three inches in height, and, with two such +customers as these, Tom had no hope except in successful strategy. He had +no doubt they had obtained information of him from the persons in the +vehicles, and had come to secure him. He fully expected to be marched off +to the rebel regiment, which could not be far off. + +"Who is he, Sid?" asked Jarvey, when he reached the spot. + +"Dunno. Say, who are ye, stranger?" + +"Who am I? Tom Somers, of course. Do you belong to that regiment that +stopped over yonder last night?" asked Tom, with a proper degree of +enthusiasm. "Don't you know me?" + +"Well, we don't." + +"Didn't you see me over there? That's a bully regiment of yours. I'd like +to join it." + +"Would you, though, sonny?" said Sid, laughing till his mouth opened wide +enough for a railroad train to pass in. + +"Wouldn't I, though!" replied Tom. "If there's any big fighting done, I'll +bet your boys do it." + +"Bet your life on thet," added Jarvey. "But why don't you jine a +regiment?" + +"Don't want to join any regiment that comes along. I want to go into a +fighting regiment, like yours." + +"Well, sonny, you ain't big enough to jine ours," said Sid, as he +compassionately eyed the young man's diminutive proportions. + +"The old man wouldn't let me go in when I wanted to, and I'm bound not to +go in any of your fancy regiments. I want to fight when I go." + +"You'll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing here?" + +"I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to sleep." + +"Where's your fish-line?" + +"In the boat." + +"What ye got in that handkerchief?" + +"My dinner," replied Tom. "Won't you take a bite?" + +"What ye got?" + +"A piece of cold chicken and some bread." + +"We don't mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men with this gear on in +these yere parts?" asked Jarvey, as he pointed to his uniform. + +"Yes, _sir_," replied Tom, vigorously. + +"Whar d'ye see 'em, sonny?" + +"They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while ago." + +"How many?" + +"Two," replied Tom, with promptness. + +"Where's the other?" asked Jarvey, turning to his companion. + +"He's in these yere woods, somewhar. We'll fotch 'em before night. You say +the two men crossed the ford--did ye, sonny?" + +"Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with them?" + +"They're mean trash, and want to run off. Now, sonny, 'spose you put us +over the river in your boat." + +"Yes, _sir_!" replied Tom, readily. + +The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by their great +weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of the river. + +"Thank'e, sonny," said Jarvey, as they jumped on shore. "If you were only +four foot higher, we'd like to take you into our regiment. You'll make a +right smart chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, sonny." + +"Good by," answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, indicative of his +satisfaction at being so well rid of his passengers. + +He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a prisoner to +this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his senses when he +found himself again safely floating down the rapid tide of the Shenandoah. +His impudence and his self-possession had saved him; but it was a mystery +to him that his uniform, or the absence of his fish-line, or the answers +he gave, had not betrayed him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen +a United States uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him +about his dress. + +Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he ventured to stop +again, for he could not hope to meet with many rebel soldiers who were so +innocent and inexperienced as these wildcats of the mountains had been. +When the darkness favored his movements, he again embarked upon his +voyage. Twice during the night his boat got aground, and once he was +pitched into the river by striking upon a rock; but he escaped these and +other perils of the navigation with nothing worse than a thorough ducking, +which was by no means a new experience to the soldier boy. In the morning, +well satisfied with his night's work, he laid up for the day in the safest +place he could find. + +On the second day of his voyage down the river, the old problem of rations +again presented itself for consideration, for the ham and chicken he had +procured at Leed's Manor were all gone. There were plenty of houses on the +banks of the river, but Tom had hoped to complete his cruise without the +necessity of again exposing himself to the peril of being captured while +foraging for the commissary department. But the question was as imperative +as it had been several times before, and twelve hours fasting gave him +only a faint hint of what his necessities might compel him to endure in +twenty-four or forty-eight hours. He did not consider it wise to postpone +the settlement of the problem till he was actually suffering for the want +of food. + +On the third night of his voyage, therefore, he hauled up the bateau at a +convenient place, and started off upon a foraging expedition, intending to +visit some farmer's kitchen, and help himself, as he had done on a former +occasion. Of course, Tom had no idea where he was; but he hoped and +believed that he should soon reach Harper's Ferry. + +After making his way through the woods for half a mile, he came to a +public road, which he followed till it brought him to a house. It was +evidently the abode of a thrifty farmer, for near it were half a dozen +negro houses. As the dwelling had no long windows in front, Tom was +obliged to approach the place by a flank and rear movement; but the back +door was locked. He tried the windows, and they were fastened. While he +was reconnoitring the premises, he heard heavy footsteps within. Returning +to the door, he knocked vigorously for admission. + +"Who's thar?" said a man, as he threw the door wide open. + +"A stranger, who wants something to eat," replied Tom, boldly. + +"Who are ye?" + +"My name is Tom Somers," added the soldier boy, as he stepped into the +house. "Can you tell me whether the Seventh Georgia Regiment is down this +way?" + +"I reckon 'tis; least wise I don't know. There's three rigiments about +five mile below yere." + +"I was told my regiment was down this way, and I'm trying to find it. I'm +half starved. Will you give me something to eat?" + +"Sartin, stranger; I'll do thet." + +The man, who was evidently the proprietor of the house, brought up the +remnant of a boiled ham, a loaf of white bread, some butter, and a pitcher +of milk. Tom ate till he was satisfied. The farmer, in deference to his +amazing appetite probably, suspended his questions till the guest began to +show some signs of satiety, when he pressed him again as vigorously as +though he had been born and brought up among the hills of New England. + +"Where d'ye come from?" said he. + +"From Manassas. I lost my regiment in the fight; and the next day I heard +they had been toted over this way, and I put after them right smart," +answered Tom, adopting as much of the Georgia vernacular as his knowledge +would permit. + +"Walk all the way?" + +"No; I came in the keers most of the way." + +"But you don't wear our colors," added the farmer, glancing at Tom's +clothes. + +"My clothes were all worn out, and I helped myself to the best suit I +could find on the field." + +"What regiment did ye say ye b'longed to?" queried the man, eying the +uniform again. + +"To the Seventh Georgia. Perhaps you can tell me where I shall find it." + +"I can't; but I reckon there's somebody here that can. I'll call him." + +Tom was not at all particular about obtaining this information. There was +evidently some military man in the house, who would expose him if he +remained any longer. + +"Who is it, father?" asked a person who had probably heard a part of the +conversation we have narrated; for the voice proceeded from a bed-room +adjoining the apartment in which Tom had eaten his supper. + +"A soldier b'longing to the Seventh Georgia," answered the farmer. "That's +my son; he's a captain in the cavalry, and he'll know all about it. He can +tell you where yer regiment is," added he, turning to Tom, who was edging +towards the door. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for my supper," said the fugitive, +nervously. "I reckon I'll be moving along." + +"Wait half a second, and my son will tell you just where to find your +regiment." + +"The Seventh Georgia?" said the captain of cavalry, entering the room at +this moment with nothing but his pants on. "There's no such regiment up +here, and hasn't been. I reckon you're a deserter." + +"No, _sir!_ I scorn the charge," replied Tom, with becoming indignation. +"I never desert my colors." + +"I suppose not," added the officer, glancing at his uniform; "but your +colors desert you." + +Tom failed to appreciate the wit of the reply, and backed off towards the +door, with one hand upon the stock of his revolver. + +"Hold on to him, father; don't let him go," said the officer, as he rushed +back into his chamber, evidently for his pistols or his sabre. + +"Hands off, or you are a dead man;" cried Tom, as he pointed his revolver +at the head of the farmer. + +In another instant, the captain of cavalry reappeared with a pistol in +each hand. A stunning report resounded through the house, and Tom heard a +bullet whistle by his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE PICKET GUARD. + + +It was sufficiently obvious to Tom that, on the present occasion, the +suspicions of his host were awakened. It is possible that, if he had +depended upon his impudence, he might have succeeded in deceiving the +Confederate officer; but his evident intention to retire from the contest +before an investigation could be had, proved him, in the estimation of the +captain, to be either a spy or a deserter, and shooting him was preferable +to losing him. + +The officer fired quick, and with little attention to the important matter +of a steady aim; and Tom had to thank his stars for the hasty shot, for, +though it went within a few inches of his head, "a miss was as good as a +mile," and the brains of our hero remained intact and complete. But he was +not willing to be the subject of any further experiments of this +description, and without waiting further to express his gratitude to the +host for the bountiful supper he had eaten, he threw open the door, and +dashed off at the top of his speed. + +The revolver he carried was a very good implement with which to bully a +negro, or an unarmed farmer; but Tom had more confidence in his legs than +in his skill as a marksman, and before the captain could transfer the +second pistol from his left to his right hand, he had passed out of the +house, and was concealed from his pursuers by the gloom of the night. He +felt that he had had a narrow escape, and he was not disposed to trifle +with destiny by loitering in the vicinity of the house. + +He had not proceeded far before he heard a hue and cry behind him; and if +the captain of cavalry had not stopped to put on his boots, it is more +than possible that our humble volume might have contained a chapter or two +upon prison life in Richmond. Undoubtedly it was quite proper for the +officer to put on his boots before he went out; a decent regard for his +individual sanitary condition, and a reasonable horror of ague and +rheumatism, would have induced him to do it, even at the risk of losing a +Federal prisoner, or a rebel deserter, as the case might be. At any rate, +if Tom had known the cause of the delay, he would freely have forgiven him +for wasting his time in healthful precautions. + +The fugitive retraced his steps to the river by the same route he had +taken in approaching the hospitable roof of the farmer. As nearly as he +could judge by the sounds that reached him from the distance, the officer +and his father were gathering up a force to hunt down the fugitive. Tom +jumped into the bateau, and pushed off. Keeping under the shadow of the +bank of the river, he plied his paddle vigorously, and by the time his +pursuers arrived at the river, he was a couple of miles from the spot. He +could hear a shout occasionally in the deep silence of the night, but with +the distance between him and the enemy, he felt entirely secure. The +danger had passed, and he floated leisurely on his voyage, buoyant as his +light bark, and hopeful as the dream of youth. + +Hour after hour, in the gloom of the solemn night, he was borne by the +swift tide towards the lines of the loyal army. The day was dawning, and +he was on the lookout for a suitable place to conceal himself, until the +friendly shades of night should again favor his movements. After the +experience of the former night near the ford, he was very cautious in the +selection of a hiding place. It is not always safe to be fastidious; for +while Tom was rejecting one location, and waiting for another to appear, +the river bore him into a tract of very open country, which was less +favorable than that through which he had just been passing. + +The prospect began to make him nervous; and while he was bitterly +regretting that he had not moored the boat before, he was startled to hear +a sharp, commanding voice on the bank at his left. + +"Who comes there? Halt!" + +Tom looked up, and discovered a grayback, standing on the shore, very +deliberately pointing his musket at him. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the picket; for at this point were stationed +the outposts of the rebel force in the Shenandoah valley. + +"Friend!" replied Tom. + +"Halt, then!" + +"I would, if I could," answered Tom, as hastily as possible. + +"Halt, or I'll fire!" + +"I tell you I can't halt," replied Tom, using his paddle vigorously, as +though he was trying to urge the bateau to the shore. "Don't fire! For +mercy's sake, don't fire." + +Tom appeared to be intensely frightened at the situation in which he was +placed, and redoubled his efforts apparently to gain the bank of the +stream; but the more he seemed to paddle one way, the more the boat went +the other way. However much Tom appeared to be terrified by the peril that +menaced him, it must be confessed that he was not wholly unmoved. + +"Stop your boat, quick!" said the soldier, who had partially dropped his +musket from its menacing position. + +"I can't stop it," responded Tom, apparently in an agony of terror. "I +would go ashore if I could." + +"What's the matter?" + +"The water runs so swift, I can't stop her; been trying this two hours." + +"You will be inside the Yankee lines in half an hour if you don't fetch +to," shouted the picket. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Tom, redoubling his efforts. + +But it was useless to struggle with the furious current, and Tom threw +himself into the bottom of the boat, as if in utter desperation. If +Niagara Falls, with their thundering roar and fearful abyss, had been +before him, his agony could not have been more intense, as judged from the +shore. + +By this time, the sentinel on the bank had been joined by his two +companions, and the three men forming the picket post stood gazing at him, +as he abandoned himself to the awful fate of being captured by the +blood-thirsty Yankees, to whose lines the relentless current of the +Shenandoah was bearing him. + +When Tom was first challenged by the grayback, the boat had been some +twenty rods above him; and it had now passed the spot where he stood, but +the rebels were still near enough to converse with him. Tom heard one of +them ask another who he was. Of course neither of them knew who he was, or +where he came from. + +"Try again!" shouted one of the pickets. "The Yankees will have you in a +few minutes." + +Tom did make another ineffectual effort to check the progress of the +bateau, and again abandoned the attempt in despair. The rebels followed +him on the bank, encouraging him with words of cheer, and with dire +prophecies of his fate if he fell into the hands of the cruel Yankees. + +"Can't you help me?" pleaded Tom, in accents of despair. "Throw me a rope! +Do something for me." + +Now, this was a suggestion that had not before occurred to the picket +guard, and Tom would have been infinitely wiser if he had not put the idea +of assisting him into their dull brains; for it is not at all probable +that they would have thought of such a thing themselves, for the south, +especially the poor white trash, are not largely endowed with inventive +genius. + +"Save me! Save me!" cried Tom, as he saw the rebels engaged in a hasty +consultation, the result of which was, that two of them started off upon +the run in a direction at right angles with the stream. + +"Try again! Stick to it!" shouted the picket left on the shore. + +"I can't do any more; I'm all tired out," replied Tom, throwing himself +for the fourth time in the bottom of the boat, the very picture of +despair. + +The picture was very much exaggerated and over-drawn; but as long as the +bullet from the rebel's musket did not come his way, Tom was satisfied +with his acting, and hopeful for the future. The man on the shore, full of +sympathy for the distressed and exhausted voyager, walked and ran so as to +keep up with the refractory barge, which seemed to be spitefully hurling +its agonized passenger into the Federal lines, where death and dungeons +lurked at every corner. + +While this exciting drama was in progress, the stream bore Tom to a sharp +bend in the river, where the current set in close to the shore. His +attentive guardian on the bank ran ahead, and stationed himself at this +point, ready to afford any assistance to the disconsolate navigator which +the circumstances might permit. + +"Now's your chance!" shouted he. "Gosh all whittaker! put in now, and do +your pootiest!" + +Tom adopted this friendly advice, and "put in" with all his might; but the +more he "put in," the more he put out--from the shore, whither the +inauspicious eddies were sweeping him. If Tom had not been born in +Pinchbrook, and had a home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated +accomplishment, he would probably have been borne into the arms of the +expectant rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which +that gentleman's musket contained. As it was, he had the skill to do what +he seemed not to be doing. Mr. Johnny Reb evidently did not suspect that +Tom was "playing 'possum," as the Tennessee sharpshooters would have +expressed it. The voyager's efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and +certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which ought +to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat. + +The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the waiting arms +of the sympathizing grayback. As it passed, he waded a short distance into +the water, and stretched forth his musket to the unhappy voyager. Tom +threw down his paddle, and sprang with desperate energy to obtain a hold +upon the gun. He even succeeded in grasping the end of the bayonet. For a +moment he pulled so hard that it was doubtful whether the bateau would be +hauled ashore, or Secesh drawn into the deep water. + +"Hold on tight, my boy! Pull for your life!" shouted the soldier, highly +excited by the probable success of his philanthropic efforts. + +"Save me! Save me!" groaned Tom, as he tugged, or seemed to do so, at the +bayonet. + +Then, while the united exertions of the saver and the saved, in +anticipation, were on the very point of being successful, the polished +steel of the bayonet unaccountably slipped through the fingers of Tom, and +the bateau was borne off towards the opposite shore. + +"Save me! Save me," cried Tom again, in tones more piteous than ever. + +"What d'ye let go fur?" said the grayback, indignantly, as his musket, +which he had held by the tip end of the stock, dropped into the water, +when Tom let go of the bayonet. + +The soldier indulged in a volley of peculiarly southern oaths, with which +we cannot disfigure our page, even in deference to the necessity of +painting a correct picture of the scene we have described. Tom had a vein +of humor in his composition, which has already displayed itself in some of +the rough experiences of his career; and when he saw the rebel soldier +deprived of all power to make war upon him, either offensive or defensive, +he could not resist the temptation to celebrate the signal strategical +victory he had obtained over the picket guard. This triumphal +demonstration was not very dignified, nor, under the circumstances, very +prudent or sensible. It consisted in placing the thumb of his right hand +upon the end of his nose, while he wiggled the four remaining digital +appendages of the same member in the most aggravating manner, whistling +Yankee Doodle as an accompaniment to the movement. + +If Secesh did not understand the case before, he did now; and fishing up +his musket, he emptied the water out of the barrel, and attempted to fire +it. Luckily for Tom, the gun would not go off, and he swept on his way +jubilant and joyous. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE END OF THE VOYAGE. + + +Tom Somers's voyage down the Shenandoah was, in many respects, a type of +human life. He experienced the various reverses, the trials and hardships, +which attend all sojourners here below. He triumphed over all obstacles, +and when he had completely outwitted the grayback who had labored so +diligently to save him from his impending fate, he was at the zenith of +prosperity. He had vanquished the last impediment, and the lines of the +Union army--the haven of peace to him--were only a short distance from the +scene of his victory. + +Prosperity makes men arrogant and reckless, and I am sorry to say that it +had the same effect upon Tom Somers. If he had been content modestly to +enjoy the victory he had achieved, it would have been wiser and safer for +him; but when Fortune was kind to him, he mocked her, and she turned +against him. + +When he had passed out of the reach of the rebel soldier, whose musket had +been rendered useless for the time being, Tom believed that he was safe, +and that he had fairly escaped from the last peril that menaced him on the +voyage. But he was mistaken; for as the current swept the bateau around +the bend of the river, he discovered, to his astonishment and chagrin, the +two secesh soldiers, who had left the picket post some time before, +standing at convenient distances from each other and from the shore, in +the water, ready to rescue him from the fate before him. The place they +had chosen was evidently a ford of the river, where they intended to check +the boat in its mad career down the stream. They were painfully persistent +in their kind intentions to save him from the horrible Yankees, and Tom +wished they had been less humane and less enthusiastic in his cause. + +As soon as Tom perceived this trap, he regretted his imprudence in +betraying himself to the soldier from whom he had just escaped. His sorrow +was not diminished, when, a few minutes later, he heard the shouts of the +third soldier, who, by hard running across the fields, had reached the +ford before him. + +"Shoot him! Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" bellowed the grayback on the shore. + +Tom was appalled at these words, and wondered how the soldier could have +found out that he was a Yankee; but when he recalled the fact that he had +entertained him with Yankee Doodle at their last meeting, the mystery +became less formidable. + +"Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" shouted Secesh on the bank of the stream. + +"We've left our guns on shore," replied Secesh in the water. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for that," said Tom to himself, as he +grasped his paddle, and set the boat over towards the right bank of the +river. + +No doubt the rebels in the water, when they saw with what facility the +boatman moved the bateau in the swift tide, as compared with his futile +efforts farther up the stream, were fully satisfied of the truth of their +companion's assertion. Tom decided to run the gauntlet between the right +bank and the soldier nearest to that shore. He paddled the bateau with all +his vigor, until he had obtained the desired position. + +The graybacks in the water, realizing that they were engaged on an errand +of peace and humanity, had left their muskets on shore. They were, +therefore, comparatively harmless; but the one on shore had reached the +ford, and picking up one of the muskets of his companions, without threat +or warning, fired. It was lucky for Tom that he was not a Tennessee +sharpshooter, nor a Texas ranger, for the shot passed harmlessly over him. +The soldier dropped the gun, and picked up the other, which he instantly +discharged, and with better aim than before, for the ball struck the +bateau, though not within four feet of where Tom stood. + +"Don't waste your powder, if you can't shoot better than that," shouted +one of the soldiers in the water. "You'll hit us next." + +"Stop him, then! Stop him!" replied the grayback on the shore. "Kill him +if you can." + +Tom was paddling with all his might to pass the ford before the soldier +nearest to him should reach a position in which he could intercept the +boat. The rebel was an enterprising fellow, and the soldier boy's chances +were growing amazingly small. Secesh had actually reached a place where he +could make a dash at the boat. There he stood with a long bowie-knife +between his teeth, and with both hands outstretched, ready to seize upon +the unfortunate bark. He looked grim and ferocious, and Tom saw that he +was thoroughly in earnest. + +It was a trying situation for a boy of Tom's years, and he would fain have +dodged the issue. That bowie-knife had a wicked look, though it was mild +and tame compared with the savage eye of the rebel who held it. As it was +a case of life and death, the fugitive braced himself up to meet the +shock. Taking his position in the stern of the boat, he held the paddle in +his left hand, while his right firmly grasped his revolver. It was either +"kill or be killed," and Tom was not so sentimental as to choose the +latter rather than the former, especially as his intended victim was a +secessionist and a rebel. + +"Keep off, or you are a dead man," shouted Tom, as he flourished his +pistol so that his assailant could obtain a fair view of its calibre, and +in the hope that the fellow would be willing to adopt a politician's +expedient, and compromise the matter by retiring out of range. + +"Tew kin play at that game. This yere tooth-pick will wipe you out," +coolly replied the fellow, as he made a spring at the boat. + +"Stand off!" screamed Tom, as he raised the pistol, and fired. + +It was a short range, and Tom would have been inexcusable if he had missed +his aim. The rebel struck his chest with his right hand, and the bowie +knife dropped from his teeth; but with his left hand he had grasped the +gunwale of the boat, and as he sunk down in the shallow water, he pulled +the bateau over on one side till the water poured in, and threatened to +swamp her. Fortunately the wounded man relaxed his hold, the boat righted, +and Tom commenced paddling again with all his strength and skill. + +The other soldier in the water, as soon as he discovered where Tom +intended to pass, hastened over to assist his associate. The shouts of +their companion on shore had fully fired their southern hearts, and both +of them were ten times as zealous to kill or capture a Yankee, as they had +been to save a Virginian. When the wounded man clutched the boat, the +other was not more than ten feet from him, but farther down the stream. +His associate fell, and he sprang forward to engage in the affray. + +"Stand off, or you are a dead man!" yelled Tom, with emphasis, as he plied +his paddle with renewed energy, for he saw that the man could not reach +him. + +The bateau passed them both, and Tom began to breathe easier. The second +rebel, finding he could not capture or kill the detested Yankee, went to +the assistance of his companion. The soldier boy suspended his exertions, +for the danger seemed to be over, and gazed with interest upon the scene +which was transpiring in the water just above him. He was anxious to know +whether he had killed the rebel or not. There was something awful in the +circumstances, for the soldier boy's sensibilities were too acute to +permit him to take a human life, though it was that of an enemy, without +producing a deep impression upon his mind. Perhaps, in the great battle in +which he had been a participant, he had killed several rebels; if he had +done so, he had not seen them fall. This was the first man he had +consciously killed or wounded, and the fact was solemn, if not appalling, +to the young soldier. + +As the rebel raised his companion from the water he seemed to be dead, and +Tom was forced to the conclusion that he had killed him. He had done the +deed in self-defence, and in the strict line of duty. He could not be +blamed even by his enemies for the act. He felt no exultation, and hoped +from the bottom of his heart that the man was prepared to meet his Maker, +into whose presence he had been so suddenly summoned. + +Tom had heard the boys in Pinchbrook talk lightly about killing rebels, +and he had talked so himself; but the reality was not so pleasant as it +had seemed at a distance. He was sorry for the poor fellow, and wished he +had not been obliged to kill him. It was terrible to him, even in battle, +to take a human life, to slay a being created in the image of God, and for +whom Christ lived and died. + +While he was indulging in these sad reflections, he heard a bullet whistle +near his head. The Secesh soldier on the shore had loaded up his +companions' muskets, and was doing his best to bring down the lucky +fugitive. His last shot was not a bad one, and Tom could not help +thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that he would not waste any fine +feelings over him. He did not like the sound of those whizzing bullets, +and as he had never boasted of his courage, he did not scorn to adopt +precautionary measures. The water was three inches deep in the bottom of +the bateau; but Tom deemed it prudent to lie down there until the current +should bear him out of the reach of the rebel bullets. + +He maintained this recumbent posture for half an hour or more, listening +to the balls that frequently whistled over his head. Once he ventured to +raise his head, and discovered, not one man, but a dozen, on the shore, +which accounted for the rapid firing he heard. When he looked up again, +his bateau had passed round a bend, and he was no longer exposed to the +fire of the enemy. + +From his heart Tom thanked God for his escape. He was religiously grateful +for the aid which Providence had rendered him, and when he thought how +near he had stood to the brink of destruction, he realized how narrow the +span between the Here and the Hereafter. And the moral of his reflections +was, that if he stood so near to the open gate of death, he ought always +to live wisely and well, and ever be prepared to pass the portals which +separate time from eternity. + +Tom's thoughts were sad and heavy. He could not banish from his mind the +face of the rebel, as he raised his hand to his breast, where he had +received his mortal wound. That countenance, full of hate and revenge, +haunted him for weeks afterwards, in the solitude of his tent, and on his +midnight vigils as a sentinel. + +As he sat in the boat, thinking of the events of the morning, and +listening to the mournful rippling of the waters, which, to his subdued +soul, sounded like the requiem of his victim, he was challenged from the +shore again. + +"Who comes there!" + +Tom jumped up, and saw a sentinel on the bank pointing his gun at him. He +surveyed the form with anxious interest; but this time he had nothing to +fear, for the soldier wore the blue uniform of the United States army. + +"Friend," replied he, as he grasped his paddle. + +"Come ashore, or I'll put a bullet through you," added the sentinel. + +"Don't do it!" said Tom, with energy. "Can't you see the colors I wear." + +"Come ashore, then." + +"I will." + +The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it was +astonishing to observe with what better success than when invited to land +by the grayback up the river. The guard assisted him in landing and +securing his boat. + +"Who are you?" demanded he, as he gazed at Tom's wet and soiled garments. + +"I was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and came back on my own hook." + +"Perhaps you were, but you can't pass these lines," said the soldier. + +Tom was sent to the Federal camp, and passed from one officer to another, +till he was finally introduced to General Banks, at Harper's Ferry. He was +questioned in regard to his own adventures, the country he had passed +through, and the troops of the enemy he had seen. When, to use his own +expression, he had been "pumped dry," he was permitted to rest a few days, +and then forwarded to his regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BUDD'S FERRY. + + +Though Tom Somers had been absent from the regiment only a fortnight, it +seemed to him as though a year had elapsed since the day of the battle +when he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his townsmen and friends. He +had been ordered to report to the provost marshal at Washington, where he +learned that his regiment was at Bladensburg, about six miles from the +city. Being provided with the necessary pass and "transportation," he soon +reached the camp. + +"Tom Somers! Tom Somers!" shouted several of his comrades, as soon as they +recognized him. + +"Three cheers for Tom Somers!" shouted Bob Dornton. + +The soldier boy was a favorite in the company, and his return was +sufficient to justify such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, were given +with tremendous enthusiasm. + +"Tom, I'm glad to see you!" said old Hapgood, with extended hand, while +his eyes filled with tears. "I was afeared we should never see you again." + +The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who was present. +His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to him, and he was +determined always to merit the good will of his companions in arms. + +"Now, fellows, tell us what the news is," said Tom, as he seated himself +on a camp stool before the tent of his mess. + +"There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the orderly," added one +of his friends. "I suppose you have got a bigger story to tell than any of +us, but you shall have a chance to read your letters first." + +These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given to him, and +the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, lest he should find +in them some bad news; but his mother and all the family were well. One of +them was written since the battle, and it was evidently penned with deep +solicitude for his fate, of which nothing had been heard. + +Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him that his +mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, for all the men +had written to their friends since the battle. The captain who had escaped +from Sudley church had reported him alive and well, but he had no +information in regard to his escape. + +"We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same as usual in +Pinchbrook," wrote one of his older sisters. "John is so bent upon going +to sea in the navy, that it is as much as mother can do to keep him at +home. He says the country wants him, and he wants to go; and what's more, +he must go. We haven't heard a word from father since he left home; but +Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in the +harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope that he is +safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy keeping. + +"Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went into the army. He +don't say a word about politics now." + +In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had advanced the +money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire Pemberton had not +said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His brother added that he was +determined to go into the navy, even if he had to run away. He could get +good wages, and he thought it was a pity that he should not do his share +towards supporting the family. + +Tom finished his letters, and was rejoiced to find that his friends at +home were all well and happy; and in a few days more, a letter from him +would gladden their hearts with the intelligence of his safe return to the +regiment. + +"All well--ain't they?" asked Hapgood, as Tom folded up the letters and +put them in his pocket; and the veteran could not fail to see, from the +happy expression of his countenance, that their contents were +satisfactory. + +"All well," replied Tom. "Where is Fred Pemberton? I haven't seen him +yet." + +"In the hospital: he's sick, or thinks he is," answered Hapgood. "Ben +Lethbridge is in the guard house. He attempted to run away while we were +coming over from Shuter's Hill." + +"Who were killed, and who were wounded? I haven't heard a word about the +affair, you know," asked Tom. + +"Sergeant Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner. Sergeant Brown was hit +by a shell, but not hurt much. The second lieutenant was wounded in the +foot, and--" + +A loud laugh from the men interrupted the statement. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Tom. + +"He resigned," added Bob Dornton, chuckling. + +"You said he was wounded?" + +"I didn't say so; the lieutenant said so himself, and hobbled about with a +big cane for a week; but as soon as his resignation was accepted, he threw +away his stick, and walked as well as ever he could." + +The boys all laughed heartily, and seemed to enjoy the joke prodigiously. +Tom thought it was a remarkable cure, though the remedy was one which no +decent man would be willing to adopt. + +"How's Captain Benson?" + +"He's better; he felt awful bad because he wasn't in that battle. The +colonel has gone home, sick. He has more pluck than body. He was +sun-struck, and dropped off his horse, like a dead man, on the field. It's +a great pity he hasn't twice or three times as much body; if he had, he'd +make a first-rate officer." + +It was now Tom's turn to relate his adventures; and he modestly told his +story. His auditors were deeply interested in his narrative, and when he +had finished, it was unanimously voted that Tom was a "trump;" which I +suppose means nothing more than that he was a smart fellow--a position +which no one who has read his adventures will be disposed to controvert. + +A long period of comparative inactivity for the regiment followed the +battle of Bull Run. General McClellan had been called from the scene of +his brilliant operations in Western Virginia, to command the army of the +Potomac, and he was engaged in the arduous task of organizing the vast +body of loyal troops that rushed forward to sustain the government in this +dark hour of peril. + +While at Bladensburg the --th regiment with three others were formed into +a brigade, the command of which was given to Hooker--a name then unknown +beyond the circle of his own friends. + +About the first of November the brigade was sent to Budd's Ferry, thirty +miles below Washington, on the Potomac, to watch the rebels in that +vicinity. The enemy had, by this time, closed the river against the +passage of vessels to the capital, by erecting batteries at various +places, the principal of which were at Evansport, Shipping Point, and +Cockpit Point. Budd's Ferry was a position in the vicinity of these works, +and the brigade was employed in picketing the river, to prevent the enemy +on the other side from approaching, and also to arrest the operations of +the viler traitors on this side, who were attempting to send supplies to +the rebels. + +It was not a very exciting life to which the boys of our regiment were +introduced on their arrival at Budd's Ferry, though the rebel batteries at +Shipping Point made a great deal of noise and smoke at times. As the +season advanced the weather began to grow colder, and the soldiers were +called to a new experience in military life; but as they were gradually +inured to the diminishing temperature, the hardship was less severe than +those who gather around their northern fireside may be disposed to +imagine. Tom continued to be a philosopher, which was better than an extra +blanket; and he got along very well. + +It was a dark, cold, and windy night, in December, when Tom found himself +doing picket duty near the mouth of Chickamoxon Creek. Nobody supposed +that any rebel sympathizer would be mad enough to attempt the passage of +the river on such a night as that, for the Potomac looked alive with the +angry waves that beat upon its broad bosom. Hapgood and Fred Pemberton +were with him, and the party did the best they could to keep themselves +comfortable, and at the same time discharge the duty assigned to them. + +"Here, lads," said old Hapgood, who, closely muffled in his great-coat, +was walking up and down the bank of the creek to keep the blood warm in +his veins. + +"What is it, Hapgood?" demanded Fred, who was coiled up on the lee side of +a tree, to protect him from the cold blast that swept down the creek. + +"Hush!" said Hapgood. "Don't make a noise; there's a boat coming. Down! +down! Don't let them see you." + +Tom and Fred crawled upon the ground to the verge of the creek, and placed +themselves by the side of the veteran. + +"I don't see any boat," said Tom. + +"I can see her plain enough, with my old eyes. Look up the creek." + +"Ay, ay! I see her." + +"So do I," added Fred. "What shall we do?" + +"Stop her, of course." replied Tom. + +"That's easy enough said, but not so easily done. We had better send word +up to the battery, and let them open upon her," suggested Fred. + +"Open upon the man in the moon!" replied Tom, contemptuously. "Don't you +see she is under sail, and driving down like sixty? We must board her!" + +Tom spoke in an emphatic whisper, and pointed to a small boat, which lay +upon the shore. The craft approaching was a small schooner apparently +about five tons burden. The secessionists of Baltimore or elsewhere had +chosen this dark and tempestuous night to send over a mail and such +supplies as could not be obtained, for love or money, on the other side of +the Potomac. Of course, they expected to run the risk of a few shots from +the Union pickets on the river; but on such a night, and in such a sea, +there was very little danger of their hitting the mark. + +Up the creek the water was comparatively smooth; but the little schooner +was driving furiously down the stream, with the wind on her quarter, and +the chances of making a safe and profitable run to the rebel line, those +on board, no doubt, believed were all in their favor. + +"We have no time to lose," said Hapgood, with energy, as he pushed off the +boat, which lay upon the beach. "Tumble in lively, and be sure your guns +are in good order." + +"Mine is all right," added Tom, as he examined the cap on his musket, and +then jumped into the boat. + +"So is mine," said Fred; "but I don't much like this business. Do you +know how many men there are in the schooner?" + +"Don't know, and don't care," replied Tom. + +"Of course they are armed. They have revolvers, I'll bet my month's pay." + +"If you don't want to go, stay on shore," answered Hapgood, petulantly. +"But don't make a noise about it." + +"Of course I'll go, but I think we are getting into a bad scrape." + +Tom and Hapgood held a hurried consultation, which ended in the former's +taking a position in the bow of the boat, while the other two took their +places at the oars. The muskets were laid across the thwarts, and the +rowers pulled out to the middle of the creek, just in season to intercept +the schooner. Of course they were seen by the men on board of her, who +attempted to avoid them. + +"Hallo!" said Tom, in a kind of confidential tone. "On board the schooner +there! Are you going over?" + +"Yes. What do you want?" answered one of the men on board the vessel. + +"We want to get over, and are afraid to go in this boat. Won't you take us +over?" + +"Who are you?" + +"Friends. We've got a mail bag." + +"Where did you get it?" + +"In Washington." + +By this time, the schooner had luffed up into the wind, and Tom directed +his companions to pull again. In a moment the boat was alongside the +schooner, and the soldier boy was about to jump upon her half-deck, when +the rebel crew, very naturally, ordered him to wait till they had +satisfied themselves in regard to his secession proclivities. + +There were five men in the schooner, all of whom were seated near the +stern. Tom did not heed the protest of the traitors, but sprang on board +the schooner, followed by his companions. + +"Now, tell us who you are before you come any farther," said one of the +men. + +"Massachusetts soldiers! Surrender, or you are a dead man," replied Tom, +pointing his gun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +IN THE HOSPITAL. + + +The night was very dark, so that the rebels in the boat could not +distinguish the uniform of those who had applied for a passage on the +schooner. Perhaps Tom Somers's experience in the Blue Ridge and on the +Shenandoah had improved his strategic ability, so that his words and his +manner seemed plausible. But as strategy and cunning always owe their +success to the comparative stupidity of the victims, Tom and his +companions gained the half-deck of the schooner more by the palpable +blundering of her crew than through the brilliancy of their own scheme. + +Tom did not stop, in the midst of the exciting enterprise, to determine +the particular reason of his success, as we, his humble biographer, have +done. He was on the enemy's ground, and confronting the enemy's forces, +and logic was as much out of place as rebellion in a free republican +country. He was closely followed by Hapgood, and at a later period by Fred +Pemberton. The nerves of the latter were not remarkably steady, and as he +stepped on board the schooner, he neglected to take the painter with him; +and the consequence was, that the boat went adrift. It is good generalship +to keep the line of retreat open; and Fred's neglect had deprived them of +all means of retiring from the scene of action. The only alternative was +to fight their way through, and find safety in success. + +To Tom's reply, that the party were Massachusetts soldiers, the rebel who +had acted as spokesman for the crew, uttered a volley of oaths, expressive +of his indignation and disgust at the sudden check which had been given to +their prosperous voyage. + +"Surrender!" repeated Tom, in energetic tones. + +Two of the rebels at the stern discharged their pistols in answer to the +summons--a piece of impudence which our Massachusetts soldiers could not +tolerate; and they returned the fire. The secessionists evidently carried +revolvers; and a turn of the barrel enabled them to fire a second volley, +which the soldiers were unable to do, for they had no time to load their +guns. + +"O!" groaned Fred, as he sunk down upon the half-deck. "I'm hit." + +"We can't stand this, Hapgood," said Tom, fiercely, as he leaped into the +midst of the party in the standing room. "Let's give them the bayonet." + +"Give it to 'em, Tom!" replied the veteran, as he placed himself by the +side of his young companion. + +"Will you surrender?" demanded Tom, as he thrust vigorously with his +bayonet. + +"We surrender," replied one of the men; but it was not the one who had +spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat upon the bottom of the +boat. + +"Give up your pistols, then," added Hapgood. "You look out for the boat, +Tom, and I will take care of these fellows." + +Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the spokesman of the +party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller of the boat, he soon +brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in the stern, he assumed the +management of the schooner, while Hapgood busied himself in taking the +pistols from the hands of the rebels, and exploring their pockets, in +search of other dangerous weapons. + +"How are you, Fred?" shouted Tom, when the pressing business of the moment +had been disposed of. "Are you much hurt?" + +"I'm afraid my time's most up," replied he, faintly. + +"Where are you hit?" + +"In the face; the ball went through my head, I suppose," he added, in +tones that were hardly audible, in the warring of the December blast. + +"Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. Have you got an +easy place?" + +"No, the water dashes over me." + +"Can't you move him aft, Hapgood?" + +"Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed," replied the veteran, who +had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and was securing the arms of the +prisoners behind them. + +"There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers apiece, and we can +have it all our own way, if they show fight." + +But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender care he +lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, and made him as +comfortable as the circumstances would permit. + +"Now, where are we, Hapgood?" asked Tom, who had been vainly peering ahead +to discover some familiar object by which to steer. I can't see the first +thing." + +"I don't know where we are," replied Hapgood. "I never was much of a +sailor, and I leave the navigating all to you." + +"I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we were," added Tom, who had +thus far been utterly unable to ascertain the "ship's position." + +During the brief struggle for the possession of the schooner, she had +drifted some distance, which had caused the new commander to lose his +bearings. The shore they had just left had disappeared, as though it had +been swallowed up by an earthquake. No lights were allowed on shore, where +they could be seen from the river, for they afforded so many targets to +the artillerymen in the rebel batteries. The more Tom tried to discover a +familiar object to steer by, the more it seemed as though the land and +everything else had been cut adrift, and emigrated to foreign parts. Those +who have been in a boat in a very dark night, or in a dense fog, will be +able to appreciate the bewilderment of the skipper of the captured +schooner. + +"Look out, Tom, that you don't run us into some of those rebel batteries," +said Hapgood, after he had watched the rapid progress of the boat for a +few moments. "A shot from a thirty-two pounder would be a pill we couldn't +swallow." + +"No danger of that, Hapgood," answered Tom, confidently. + +"I don't know about that, my boy," answered the veteran, in a tone heavy +with dire anxiety. + +"I know it. The schooner was running with the wind on her starboard +quarter when we boarded her. We are now close-hauled, and of course we +can't make the shore on the other side while we are on this tack." + +Well, I don't know much about it, Tom, but if you say its all right, I'm +satisfied; that' all. I'd trust you just as far as I would General +McClennon, and you know we all b'lieve in him." + +"What are you going to do with us?" asked one of the rebels, who began to +exhibit some interest in the fate of the schooner. + +"I suppose you will find good quarters in Fort McHenry," replied Tom. +"Where do you belong?" + +"In Baltimore." + +"What are you doing here, then?" + +"We go in for the South." + +"Go in, then!" added Tom, laughing. + +"You'll fetch up where all the rest of 'em do," said Hapgood. + +"How's that fellow that was hit?" asked Tom, pointing to the rebel who lay +in the middle of the standing room. + +"I guess it's all right with him," replied Hapgood, bending over the +silent form. "No; he isn't dead." + +"I have it!" shouted Tom, suddenly crowding the helm hard-a-lee. + +"What, Tom?" + +"I see where we are. We are running up the river. I see the land on the +weather bow." + +The schooner was put about, and after running with the wind amidships for +ten or fifteen minutes, Tom discovered the outline of Mrs. Budd's house, +which was directly under the guns of the Union battery. + +"Stand by the fore halliards, Hapgood," said Tom, as the boat came about +again. "Let go!" + +The foresail came down, and Tom sprang upon the pier, as the schooner came +up under its lee. In a moment the boat was made fast. By this time the +pickets appeared. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the soldier. + +"Friends!" replied Tom. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign." + +"Little Mac," whispered the soldier boy in the ear of the sentinel. + +"Who are you?" + +"Co. K." answered Tom. + +"What's the row? The long roll was beat just now, and the whole regiment +is in line. What was that firing?" + +"We have captured this boat, and five prisoners, one of them wounded, if +not dead." + +"Bully for you," replied the picket. + +They were soon joined by a squad of men, and Fred Pemberton and the +wounded rebel were conveyed to the hospital, while the four prisoners were +conducted to a secure place. Hapgood and Tom then hastened to the parade, +where the regiment was drawn up, and reported the events which had just +transpired. It was unanimously voted by officers and privates that the +picket guard had done "a big thing," and they were warmly and generously +commended for their skill and bravery. + +Hapgood and Tom requested permission to go to the hospital and see their +companion. They found that the surgeon had already dressed his wound. + +"Will he die?" asked Tom, full of solicitude for his friend. + +"Die! no; it's a mere scratch. The ball ploughed into his cheek a little +way," replied the surgeon. "It isn't a bad wound. He was more scared than +hurt." + +"I am glad it is no worse," said Captain Benson, who, with fatherly +solicitude for his men, had come to the hospital as soon as the company +was dismissed. "But what ails you, Tom? You look pale." + +"Nothing, captain." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I don't think I am badly hurt. I believe one of those pistol balls grazed +my side; but I hardly felt it." + +"Let me see," said the surgeon. + +The doctor opened Tom's coat, and his gray shirt was found to be saturated +with blood. + +"That's a worse wound than Pemberton's. Didn't you know it, Tom?" + +"Well, of course I knew it; but I didn't think it was any thing," replied +Tom, apologetically. "I knew it wouldn't do to drop down, or we should all +be in Dixie in half an hour." + +"You are my man for the present," said the doctor, as he proceeded to a +further examination of the wound. + +Tom was hit in the side by one of the pistol bullets. As I have not the +surgeon's report of the case, I cannot give a minute description of it; +but he comforted Hapgood and the captain with the assurance that, though +severe, it was not a dangerous wound. + +"Tom Somers, there's a sergeant's warrant in Company K for one of you +three men," said Captain Benson, when the patient was comfortably settled +upon his camp bed. "The colonel told me to give him the name of the most +deserving man in my company." + +"Give it to Tom," said Hapgood, promptly. "He led off in this matter, and +ef't hadn't been for him, we should all have been on t'other side of the +river, and p'raps on t'other side of Jordan, afore this time. And then, to +think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat like a +commodore, when the life-blood was runnin' out of him all the time! It +belongs to Tom." + +"Give it to Tom," added Fred, who lay near the patient. + +"No, Captain Benson," interposed Tom, faintly. "Hapgood is an old soldier, +and deserves it more than I do. Give it to him, and I shall be better +satisfied than if you give it to me." + +"Tom Somers!" exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of tears sliding down his +furrowed cheeks, "I won't stand nothin' of the sort! I'd jump into the +river and drownd myself before I'd take it, after what you've done." + +"You are both worthy of it," added Captain Benson. + +"Please give it to Hapgood," pleaded Tom. "He first proposed going out +after the little schooner." + +"Give it to Tom, cap'n. It'll help heal his wound," said Hapgood. + +"No; it would do me more good to have you receive it," protested Tom. + +"Well, here, I can't have this battle fought in the hospital," interposed +the surgeon. "They are good friends, captain, and whichever one you give +it to, the other will be suited. You had better settle the case at +head-quarters." + +"If you please, Captain Benson, I would like to have Hapgood stay with me +to-night, if he can be spared." + +The veteran was promptly detailed for hospital duty, and the captain +returned to his quarters to decide the momentous question in regard to the +sergeant's warrant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TOM IS SENTIMENTAL. + + +The little schooner which the picket guard had captured was loaded with +valuable supplies for the rebels, which of course were confiscated without +ceremony. The mail bag which was on board contained a great many letters +from traitors in Baltimore, some of whom were exposed by the capture of +their treasonable correspondence. + +Tom's wound proved to be more serious than even the surgeon had +anticipated; but the best care which it was possible to give in a military +hospital was bestowed upon him. Old Hapgood, in recognition of his +services on that eventful night, was permitted to be near the patient as +much as the interests of the service would permit; and the old man was +happy when seated by the rude couch of the soldier boy, ministering to his +necessities, or cheering him with bright hopes of the future. A strong +friendship had grown up between them, for Tom's kind heart and brave +conduct produced a deep impression upon the old man. + +"Here, Tom," said Captain Benson, as he approached the sufferer, a few +days after he entered the hospital, and laid a paper upon the bed. "Here's +a prescription which the colonel says you must take." + +"What is it?" asked Tom, with a faint smile. + +"A sergeant's warrant." + +"Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on!" exclaimed old Hapgood, +jumping up like a youth of sixteen, and swinging his cap above his head. + +"Shut up, there!" shouted the hospital steward. "Don't you know any better +than to make such a racket in this place?" + +"I beg pardon, Jameson. I forgot where I was," apologized the veteran. +"The news was so good I couldn't help it. Our Tom is a sergeant now!" + +"Not yet, Hapgood," replied Tom, feebly. "I can't accept it, Captain +Benson; it belongs to Hapgood, sir, and I shall feel a great deal better +if you put his name in place of mine." + +"Don't do it, cap'n!" interposed the old man, vehemently. "Tom shall be a +brigadier general if the war lasts one year more. I should feel like a +whipped kitten if that warrant was altered." + +"The matter has been fully and fairly considered at head-quarters, and +there is no such thing as altering the decision now; so, Tom, you can put +the stripes on your arm just as soon as you please." + +Hapgood insisted, the surgeon insisted, and the captain insisted; and Tom +was too sick to hold way with them in an argument, and his name was placed +upon the roster of the company as a sergeant. He was proud of the +distinction which had been conferred upon him, though he thought Hapgood, +as an older and abler soldier, was better entitled to the honor than +himself. + +It was six weeks before Tom was able to enter upon the actual enjoyment of +the well-merited promotion which he had won by his gallantry; but when he +appeared before the company with the chevron of the sergeant upon his arm, +he was lustily cheered by his comrades, and it was evident that the +appointment was a very popular one. Not even the grumblers, of whom there +is a full quota in every regiment, deemed it prudent to growl at the +decision of the officers. If any one ventured to suggest that he was too +young to be placed over older and stronger men, his friends replied, that +men in the army were measured by bravery and skill, not by years. + +If my young readers wish to know why Tom's appointment was so well +received by his companions in arms, I can only reply, that he had not only +been brave and cheerful in the midst of peril and hardship, but he was +kind and obliging to his comrades. He had always been willing to help +those that needed help, to sympathize with those in trouble, and generally +to do all he could to render those around him happy. + +Above all these considerations, Tom was a young man of high principle. He +had obeyed his mother's parting injunction, often repeated in the letters +which came to him from home, and had faithfully "read his Testament." +Without being a hypocrite or a canting saint, Tom carried about with him +the true elements of Christian character. + +Tom had fought a greater battle than that in which he had been engaged at +Bull Run a hundred times, in resisting the temptations which beset him +from within and without. True to God and true to himself, he had won the +victory. Though his lot was cast in the midst of men who swore, gambled, +and drank liquor, he had shunned these vices, and loved the sinner while +he hated the sin. Such a person could not fail to win the respect of his +companions. Though he had been jeered at and insulted for being sober, +honest, and pious, he had fought down and lived down all these vilifiers, +and won their esteem. + +It must be acknowledged that Tom's piety was of the robust type. He would +not allow any man to insult him; and after the chastisement he had given +Ben Lethbridge, not even those who were strong enough to whip him were +disposed to trespass upon his rights and dignity. Perhaps Tom's creed +needed a little revising; but he lived under martial law, which does not +take cognizance of insults and revilings. He was willing to be smitten on +the one cheek, and on the other also, for the good of his country, or even +his friends, but not to be wantonly insulted. + +The influence of Tom's principles was not confined to himself, for "a +little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." This was particularly true of +Hapgood, who, more through Tom's preaching and practice than from any +strength in his own character, had steadily maintained his purpose to +abstain from intoxicating drinks, though occasional opportunities were +presented for the indulgence of his darling vice. Tom and he read the +Testament and other good books which were sent to the regiment, and both +profited by them. + +When the soldier boy was discharged from the hospital, the surgeon gave +him a pair of woolen socks, from a case of them which had been sent by the +friends of the soldier in Boston and its vicinity. He was very much in +need of them, and from the depths of his heart he blessed the ladies who +had done this good work. He unrolled the socks, and proceeded to pull one +of them on. It was as good a fit as though his mother had knit it on +purpose for him. + +"God bless the lady that knit these socks!" exclaimed Tom, as he began to +draw on the other. + +"Amen!" replied Hapgood, who was watching the operation in full sympathy +with his protege. + +"Eh! what's this?" added Tom, for his foot had met with an obstruction in +its passage down the leg. + +He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took therefrom a +letter enclosed in an envelope. + +"See that, uncle?" said he, exhibiting the prize. + +"What is it, Tom? Open it quick," replied Hapgood. + +The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note enclosing a +photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of pleasure, which +would have caused the original of the miniature, the author of the note, +and the author of the socks, to blush up to her eyes if she had beheld the +expression of admiration which glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the +young sergeant. + +"By all that's lovely, isn't she a beauty!" exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as +he glanced from the picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder. + +"She's hahnsome, and no mistake," replied the veteran, with a grim smile. + +"Well, she is!" added Tom, whose eyes were riveted to the photograph. + +"Well, why don't you read the letter, Tom?" demanded the old soldier, +after the young man had gazed with blushing cheek upon the sweet face of +the author of his socks for full five minutes. + +"I guess I will," said Tom; but he did not; for the picture seemed to be +glory and beauty enough to satisfy him for the present. + +"Read the letter, Tom!" shouted the veteran, after he had waited as long +as the nature of the case seemed to require. + +The soldier boy carefully placed the photograph in the envelope, and +unfolded the letter. It was written in a beautiful hand, which looked as +soft and delicate as the fair fingers which had penned the lines. He +glanced at it as a whole, admired the penmanship, and the fairy-like +symmetry that make up the _tout-ensemble_ of the page, and was about to +dissolve into another rhapsody, when Hapgood, who was not half so +sentimental as the sergeant, became impatient to know the contents of the +missive. Tom read it aloud to the stoical veteran; and though we cannot +clothe its sweet words in the fairy chirography which transported our +hero, and made the letter a dream of bliss to him, we shall venture to +present it to our curious readers, stiffened and hardened into the dull, +cold forms of the printer's art. + + No.----, RUTLAND STREET, BOSTON, _Nov._ 5, 1861. + + MY DEAR SOLDIER:-- + + This is the first pair of socks I ever knit; and I send them to + you with my blessing upon the brave defenders of my country. I + hope they will keep your feet warm, and thus keep your heart warm + towards God and our blessed land. + + Grandma says I am a silly girl, and I suppose I am; but if you + feel half as much interest in me as I do in the person who will + wear the first pair of socks I ever knit, you will wish to know + how I look; therefore I send you my photograph. + + I very much desire to know whether my work has done any good; + whether my socks are ever worn in a battle; and most of all, I + desire to know how the noble fellow looks that wears them. + Therefore I beg you to answer my letter, and also to send me your + photograph, if you can conveniently. + + Now, my dear soldier, be brave and true, and, above all, do not + run away from the rebels with my socks on your feet. You may + retreat when your officers order you to retire; but if you are a + coward, and find yourself compelled to run away, please pull them + off before you do so, for I should die with mortification if I + thought I had knit a pair of socks for a Union soldier to run away + in. + + Truly yours, for our flag and our country. + + LILIAN ASHFORD. + +"Well, if that gal ain't a trump, then there ain't no snakes in Virginny!" +exclaimed Hapgood. "She's got the true grit, and no mistake." + +"That's so," replied the recipient of the gift, thoughtfully, as he bent +down, and began to pull off the sock which encased his left foot. + +"What are you doing?" demanded Hapgood, surprised at this new movement of +his companion. + +"I can't wear these socks yet, uncle," replied he. + +"Why not?" + +Don't she say she wants them worn in a battle?" + +"Tom, you are a little fool!" added the veteran, petulantly. "Are you +going with cold feet just to please a silly gal, whose head is as full of +moonshine as an egg is of meat. Put on the socks, and keep your feet warm. +If you don't, I'll write to her, and tell what a fool you are." + +Tom did put them on, but he could not help feeling that uncle Hapgood, as +he was familiarly called in the camp, did not understand and appreciate +his sentiments. The socks seemed to be too precious to be worn in the +vulgar mud of Maryland. To him there was something ethereal about them, +and it looked a little like profanation to put any thing emanating from +the fairy fingers of the original of that photograph, and the author of +that letter, upon his feet. + +"Now you act like a sensible fellow, as you are, Tom," said Hapgood, as +the sergeant put on his army brogans. + +"Well, uncle, one thing is certain: I never will run away from the rebels +with these socks on," added Tom, with a rich glow of enthusiasm. + +"If Gen'l McClennon don't stir his stumps pretty soon, you'll wear 'em out +afore you git a chance to run away." + +Tom, almost for the first time since he had been in the army, wanted to be +alone. With those socks on, it seemed just as though he was walking the +streets of the New Jerusalem, with heaven and stacks of silver-fringed and +golden-tinged clouds beneath his feet, buried up to the eyes in floods of +liquid moonshine. + +If "grandma" really thought that Lilian Ashford was a silly girl, and if +Lilian really supposed so herself, it must be added, in justification of +her conduct, that she had given the soldier boy a new incentive to do his +duty nobly, and kindled in his soul a holy aspiration to serve God and his +country with renewed zeal and fidelity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE CONFEDERATE DESERTER. + + +While Tom was in the hospital, he received a letter from his sister, +informing him that his brother John had actually entered the navy, and +with his mother's consent. The news from home was so favorable, that the +soldier boy was pleased to hear that Jack had realized his darling wish, +and that he was now in his element. + +Intelligence from home, accompanied with letters, papers, books, comforts, +and luxuries of various kinds, reached him every two or three weeks; and +when the news went back that Tom had been made a sergeant for gallant +conduct, there was a great sensation in Pinchbrook. The letters which +reached him after the receipt of this gratifying announcement contained +all the gossip of the place in regard to the important event. Of course, +Tom was delighted by these letters, and was more than ever determined to +be diligent and faithful in the discharge of his duties, and never to +disgrace the name he bore. He was confident his friends would never have +occasion to blush for his conduct--including the original of the +photograph, the author of the letter and of the socks. + +Tom recovered from the effects of his wound, as we have before intimated, +and took his place in the regimental line as a sergeant. January and +February passed away without any very stirring events; but in the month of +March came indications of activity. The rebels began to draw in their +lines, by abandoning various points, till the nation was startled by the +evacuation of their strongly fortified position at Manassas, and the forts +in front of Budd's Ferry were suddenly left for the occupation of the +Federal troops. + +Hooker's men crossed the Potomac, and Tom was once more on the sacred soil +of Virginia. Skirmishers were sent out in various directions, and though a +deserted camp, which had been hastily abandoned, was found, there were no +rebels to be seen. The Union boys were not disposed to leave their +investigations at this interesting point, and they pursued their way still +farther into the country. Somehow or other, Tom and his party did not +receive the order to return, and the enterprising young hero continued his +march in search of further adventures. It was altogether too tame for him +and the congenial spirits in his section to retire without seeing a live +rebel or two; and I am not sure, if their desire had not been gratified, +that they would not have penetrated to Fredericksburg, and captured that +citadel of rebellion in advance to General Augur, who visited the place in +April. + +As it was, they stumbled upon the pickets of a rebel force, and as soon as +their uniform was identified they had the honor of being fired upon, +though none of them had the honor of being killed in the midst of their +virtual disobedience of orders. But their appearance created a panic among +the Confederates, who had no means of knowing that they were not the +pioneers of a whole division of Union troops, for General McClellan had +removed the spell which bound the loyal army to its camps, and corps, +divisions, and brigades were pushing forward into the dominion of the +traitors. + +The alarm was given, and Tom saw that he was rushing into a bad scrape; +and as prudence is as much a requisite of the good soldier as bravery, he +ordered his men to fall back. Rebels are very much like ill-natured curs, +ever ready to pursue a retreating foe, or run away from an advancing one. +The Confederates chased them, and as the legs of the former seemed to be +in remarkably good condition, the sergeant came to the conclusion that it +would not be safe to run too fast. + +"Halt!" shouted he; and the men promptly obeyed the order. + +They discharged their muskets, and then made a demonstration towards the +enemy, who, obeying their instinct, ran away as fast as their legs would +carry them. Taking advantage of this movement on their part, Tom again +ordered a retreat. + +"They are after us again," said Hapgood. "I hope there ain't no cavalry +within hearing. If there is, we may take a journey to Richmond." + +"They have stopped to load their guns," replied Tom. "We will use our legs +now." + +"See that, Tom!" said Hapgood, suddenly. + +"What?" + +"There's one of them rushing towards us all alone." + +"He has thrown up his gun. The others are yelling to him to come back. +What does that mean?" + +"He is a deserter; he wants to get away from them. There he comes." + +"Yes, and there comes the rest of them--the whole rebel army--more than a +million of them," said Fred Pemberton. "It's time for us to be going." + +"See! They are firing at him. Forward!" added Tom, leading the way. + +The party rushed forward, for a short distance; but the dozen rebels had +been reënforced, and it was madness to rush into the very teeth of danger. +Tom ordered his men to halt and fire at will. The deserter, probably +finding that he was between two fires, turned aside from the direct course +he was pursuing, and sought shelter in the woods. The sergeant then +directed his men to retire, for whether the retreat of the runaway rebel +was covered or not, it was no longer safe to remain. + +Fortunately the Confederates were more in doubt than the Unionists; and +perhaps expecting to fall upon a larger body of the latter, they abandoned +the pursuit, and returned to their posts. Nothing was seen of the deserter +for some time, and Tom concluded that he had lost his way in the woods, or +had missed the direction taken by the Federal scouts. + +"He was a plucky fellow, any how," said one of the men, "to attempt to run +away in the very face of his companions." + +"Well, he timed it well, for he started just when their guns were all +empty," added another. + +"I'm not sorry he missed us," continued Hapgood. "I don't like a desarter, +no how. It goes right agin my grain." + +"But he was running from the wrong to the right side," replied Tom. + +"I don't keer if he was. Them colors on t'other side were his'n. He chose +'em for himself, and it's mean to run away from 'em. If a man's go'n to be +a rebel, let him be one, and stick to it." + +"You don't know any thing about it, uncle. Thousands of men have been +forced into the rebel army, and I don't blame them for getting out of it +the best way they can. I should do so." + +"That may be. Tom; that may be," added the veteran, taking off his cap and +rubbing his bald head, as though a new idea had penetrated it. "I didn't +think of that." + +"He's a brave man, whoever he is, and whatever he is." + +"He must want to get away from 'em pretty bad, or he wouldn't have run +that risk. I shouldn't wonder if they hit him." + +"Perhaps he is wounded, and gone into the woods there to die," suggested +Tom. + +"Halloo!" shouted some one in the rear of them. + +"There's your man," said Hapgood. + +"Halloo!" cried the same voice. + +"Halloo, yourself!" shouted Hapgood in reply to the hail. + +The party halted, and after waiting a few moments, the rebel deserter came +in sight. He was apparently a man of fifty; and no mendicant of St. Giles, +who followed begging as a profession, could have given himself a more +wretched and squalid appearance, if he had devoted a lifetime to the study +of making himself look miserable. He wore a long black and gray beard, +uncut and unkempt, and snarled, tangled, and knotted into the most +fantastic forms. His gray uniform, plentifully bedaubed with Virginia mud, +was torn in a hundred places, and hung in tatters upon his emaciated +frame. On his head was an old felt hat, in a terribly dilapidated +condition. He wore one boot and one shoe, which he had probably taken from +the common sewer of Richmond, or some other southern city; they were +ripped to such an extent that the "uppers" went flipperty-flap as he +walked, and had the general appearance of the open mouth of the mythic +dragon, with five bare toes in each to represent teeth. + +As he approached, the unthinking soldiers of the party indulged in screams +of laughter at the uncouth appearance of the whilom rebel; and certainly +the character in tableau or farce need not have spoken, to convulse any +audience that ever assembled in Christendom. Rip Van Winkle, with the +devastations and dilapidations of five-and-twenty years hanging about him, +did not present a more forlorn appearance than did this representative of +the Confederate army. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded the deserter, not at all delighted +with this reception. + +"I say, old fellow, how long since you escaped from the rag-bag?" jeered +one of the men. + +"What's the price of boots in Richmond now?" asked another. + +"Who's your barber?" + +"Silence, men!" interposed Tom, sternly, for he could not permit his boys +to make fun of the wretchedness of any human being. + +"We'll sell you out for paper stock," said Ben Lethbridge, who had just +returned from three months' service in the Rip-Raps for desertion. + +"Shut up, Ben!" added Tom. + +"Dry up, all of you!" said Corporal Snyder. + +"Who and what are you?" asked Tom, of the deserter. + +"I'm a Union man!" replied the stranger with emphasis; "and I didn't +expect to be treated in this way after all I've suffered." + +"They thought you were a rebel. You wear the colors of the rebel army," +answered the sergeant, willing to explain the rudeness of his men. + +"Well, I suppose I do look rather the worse for the wear," added the +grayback, glancing down at the tattered uniform he wore. "I joined the +rebel army, after I had tried every way in the world to get out of this +infernal country; but I never fired a gun at a Union man. Seems to me, +sergeant, I've seen you before somewhere. What's your name? Where did you +come from?" + +"Pinchbrook, Massachusetts; and most of us hail from the same place." + +"Creation!" exclaimed the deserter. "You don't say so!" + +"Your voice sounds familiar to me," added Tom; and for some reason his +chest was heaving violently beneath his suddenly accelerated respiration. + +As he spoke, he walked towards the dilapidated rebel, who had not ventured +to come within twenty feet of the party. + +"Did you say Pinchbrook?" demanded the stranger, who began to display a +great deal of emotion. + +"Pinchbrook, sir," added Tom; and so intensely was he excited, that the +words were gasped from his lips. + +"What's your name?" + +"Thomas Somers," replied the sergeant. + +"Tom!" screamed the deserter, rushing forward. + +"Father!" cried Tom, as he grasped the hand of the phantom Confederate. + +The soldiers of the party were transfixed with astonishment at this +unexpected scene, and they stood like statues gazing at the meeting of +father and son, till the final development of their relationship, when the +muscles of their faces relaxed, and the expression of wonder gave place to +joyous sympathy. + +"Captain Somers, of Pinchbrook!" shouted old Hapgood; and the men joined +with him in a roar of intense satisfaction, that made the woods ring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ON THE PENINSULA. + + +The scene between Captain Somers and his son was very affecting and very +exciting; and if the soldiers had all been uncles and first cousins of the +parties, they could not have manifested more interest on the joyous +occasion. The father wept, and the son wept; for each, amid the terrible +experience of these troublous times, had hardly expected to meet the +other. + +For several minutes they held each other by the hand, laughing and weeping +alternately, and neither being able to express the intense emotions which +agitated him. The men shouted and laughed in full sympathy with the +reunited sire and son. + +"I'm glad to see you, Tom," said Captain Somers, as he wiped away the +tears that were sliding down upon his grizzly beard. "I haven't cried +before for thirty years; I'm ashamed of it, Tom, but I can't help it." + +"I didn't expect to find you here, father, and clothed in the rebel +uniform; but I'm glad to see you in any uniform," replied the soldier boy. + +"So you're in the army, Tom," continued the father, gazing with +satisfaction at the neat appearance of the sergeant. + +"Yes, sir; I enlisted within a fortnight after we heard that the traitors +had bombarded Fort Sumter." + +"I see you've got three stripes on your arm." + +"Yes, Cap'n Somers," said Hapgood; "Tom was made a sergeant for gallant +conduct on the river in December; and he deserved his promotion too." + +"I'm glad to see you with that uniform on your back, Tom; and glad to hear +that you have behaved well." + +"I was in the battle of Bull Run, father, and was taken prisoner, but I +got away." + +"Well, Tom, we'll hear about that bimeby," said the old man, stopping and +looking nervously into the face of his son. "I want to ask a great many +questions, Tom, but I hardly dare to do it. You know I haven't heard a +word from home since I left, and it's almost a year now." + +"You needn't be afraid, father; the folks are all well. I have got a heap +of letters at the camp, and you shall read them all as soon as we get +there." + +"Is your mother well, Tom?" + +"First rate." + +"And John?" + +"Yes, sir; but he's gone into the navy. He was bound to be in the fight +any how." + +"John's a chip of the old block. He wanted to snuff the salt water afore +he was a week old. John's a good sailor, and he ought to have a good lay +wherever he goes," added the father. + +Captain Somers and Tom sat upon the ground for half an hour, until the +fugitive from the rebel army was in some degree rested after the hard run +he had had through the woods. The soldiers gathered around them, as much +interested as though they had been members of the Somers family. Tom's +father had a multitude of questions to ask about Pinchbrook and its +people, all of which were answered to his satisfaction. + +The sergeant thought it was time for the party to move on, and his father +declared that he was able to walk any distance which would bring him +nearer to the home of his wife and children. The order was given, and the +little band resumed its march. + +"How have you been all this time, father?" asked Tom, as he walked along +by the side of Captain Somers. + +"I've been pretty fairly most of the time. I'm tough and hardy, or I +should have been dead afore this time. We've been half starved and half +frozen in the camp; but I managed to live through it, hoping and expecting +to get away from those rascally rebels." + +"Where have you been all the time?" asked Tom. "Have you been in the rebel +army long?" + +"About four months; but I may as well begin at the beginning, and tell you +the whole story," added the captain. "I got to Norfolk all right, and was +there when the news came up that the rebels had taken Sumter. Every body +was mad, and I was as mad as the rest of them, though not exactly in the +same way. I let on a little with my tongue, and came pretty near being +tarred and feathered, and I think I should have been, if your uncle Wyman +hadn't interfered." + +"Did he settle with you, father?" + +"After a while he did. He had some fifteen thousand dollars in New York, +which had just been sent over from England, and as he was secesh, he was +terribly afeard the Lincoln government would confiscate it; so he settled +with me, and gave me a power of attorney to draw his money, pay myself, +and take care of what was over. I've got the papers safe in my waistbands +now." + +"Good! Glory, hallelujah!" shouted Tom. "We can pay off old Pemberton now, +for it goes against my grain to owe a dollar to a traitor. But if uncle +Wyman is a rebel, and I suppose he is, I hope the government will +confiscate what's over after you have paid yourself." + +"Well, I don't know. We will see about that bimeby. He used me fair, and I +don't wish him any harm; but I hate his principles. Well, just then, Tom, +when I had got my accounts squared, the rascals took my vessel, and sunk +it in the channel to keep the Union fleet out. My pipe was out then, and I +couldn't do any thing more. I hung round the city of Norfolk till I saw +there was no chance to get out in that direction; and then I left. I was +up near Bull Run--the rebels call it Manassas--when the battle was fought; +but our folks got licked so badly, that it was no use to try to get +through there. + +"I tried half a dozen times to crawl through, and had nearly starved to +death in the woods; but some rebel cavalry pickets spied me out, called me +a traitor, and sent me back. My money was all gone by this time, and I +went over to Norfolk again. Your uncle Wyman told me I had better keep +quiet where I was, for just as sure as his name was Somers, the North +would all fall to pieces in less than six months. He expected the rebel +army would be in New York afore long, and I should be a great deal better +off where I was. He tried to get a pass to send me through the rebel +lines, but he couldn't do it. + +"Things went on in this way till your uncle Wyman went to Charleston on +business, and I haven't seen him from that day to this. The rebels tried +to make me go into their navy, but I wouldn't do it, of course; but when I +couldn't do any other way, I went into the army, hoping I should be sent +to the front, and find a chance to get away. I've been watching ever +since, but I never happened to get within twenty miles of the Union +pickets before. But here I am, and I'm perfectly satisfied with the past, +though I've suffered a good deal in one way and another." + +By the time Captain Somers had finished his narrative, the party arrived +at the camp. Tom was reprimanded very gently for detaching himself from +the main body of the regiment; but when he reported the events of his +excursion, as he had safely returned with his command, nothing more was +said about his adventure. + +At the camp the Union refugee was provided with comfortable clothing; his +hair and beard were trimmed down to decent proportions, and he was +otherwise purged of the barbarisms of the rebel camp. But even then he did +not look like the stout, hearty, healthy Captain Somers who sailed from +Boston in the Gazelle nearly a year before. He was haggard and emaciated +from anxiety and semi-starvation. + +Captain Somers was warmly welcomed by the members of Company K, who came +from Pinchbrook; and when his physical wants had been satisfied, he was +sent to General Hooker, to communicate to him such intelligence as he +possessed in regard to the position and numbers of the rebel army. He +remained at the camp but two days, at the end of which time he was sent to +Washington, and from there hastened to his home in Pinchbrook. A letter +from Tom, announcing the joyful intelligence of his return, had preceded +him. + +In ten days after parting with his father, the sergeant received a full +and glowing account of the reception of Captain Somers, who became quite a +lion in Pinchbrook for the time being. He received his money as he passed +through New York, though not without the aid of a government order which +he had procured in Washington, and only the amount that was actually due +to him, for uncle Wyman's funds were then in process of being confiscated. + +The only drawback upon his father's happiness was the absence of John, who +had been drafted into a vessel bound to the South. He had not seen him for +a year, and another year would probably elapse before he could expect to +realize this pleasure. But the captain's patriotism had been intensified a +hundred fold by his bitter experience in Virginia; and while his twin sons +were gallantly serving their country in the army and the navy, he was +willing to sacrifice the yearnings of his paternal heart, and he hoped and +prayed that they might do their duty faithfully. + +Tom's regiment remained on the Potomac but a short time after the event we +have related. Sharper and sterner experience was before these tried +soldiers, and the first indications of active service were greeted with +joyous enthusiasm. Suddenly the camp was broken up, and the order to march +given. The men wondered and speculated upon their destination, and though +the prophets of the regiments gave them certain information in regard to +the direction they were to take, most of them were incredulous. One +declared they were going to Richmond by the way of Fredericksburg; +another, by the way of Manassas; and a third was positive, from hints he +had seen in the newspapers, that they were going down the valley of the +Shenandoah, to take the capital of Rebeldom on the flank and rear. + +While the prophets and wise men were speculating, the regiment marched on; +and to the astonishment of all, and to the utter confusion of the seers, +they were embarked in a transport--the steamer Napoleon--bound no one knew +where. One regiment and half of another belonging to the brigade were +huddled on board of this one steamer. Every foot of standing room was +occupied, and, of course, the boys were not very comfortably quartered; +but, as Tom expressed it, there was music ahead, and the brave hearts on +board were ready to stand any thing if they could only get a fight out of +the rebels. The mortification of their defeat at Bull Run still hung +heavily on their spirits, and they were panting for an opportunity to +retaliate upon the foe, and win the laurels they had lost upon that +disastrous field. + +The prophets, though their failure to foretell the coming event had cast +them into disgrace, were still ready to volunteer an opinion. They +declared that the transports were bound to North Carolina, to follow up +Burnside's successes; but most of the men were content to wait till the +future should develop itself. + +The troops were eager for active duty, and if they could get into the +field and strike a heavy blow at the rebellion, they did not care where it +was. They had unbounded confidence in the young general who was to +organize victory for them, and they were willing to obey orders, and leave +every thing to him. + +It "thundered all around" them. Roanoke, Pea Ridge, Newbern, Winchester, +Donelson, were a succession of Union victories, which inspired them with +zeal and courage to endure all hardships, and face any peril which might +be in their path. + +The transport descended the Potomac, and came to anchor in the bay, where +they lay one day; the steamer then continued on her course, and landed her +troops in Cheseman's Creek, an indentation of the peninsula between the +York and James Rivers. After lying in camp a few days, they marched again, +and Tom learned that the regiment was before Yorktown, which had been +strongly fortified by the rebels to resist the advance of the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. + + +What the army of the Potomac achieved and suffered before Yorktown, we +must leave for the historian. Our soldier boy was only one hero among +thousands who toiled in the soft mud of the early spring, who watched and +waited for the tremendous events which have now passed into history, and +whose actors will be honored and remembered by future generations. + +Tom Somers bore his full share of the trials and hardships of that +eventful period; and when McClellan's scientific engineering had driven +the rebels from their strong works without a struggle to retain them, he +moved forward with the gallant army. "On to Richmond!" again sounded along +the lines, and the soldiers toiled through mud and mire, hoping and +expecting to strike the final blow that would crush out the rebellion. + +Yorktown was evacuated. The rebels were fleeing from their frowning +batteries, and the order came for Hooker's division to join in the +pursuit. At noon the brigade--now under command of General Grover +commenced its forward movement. + +"Rather rough," said Hapgood, as the regiment struggled on through the +mire. "Rather soft, I think," replied Tom, laughing. + +"I hope we haven't got to march far through this mud," added Ben +Lethbridge. + +"That will depend upon how soon we come up with the rebels. If it rests +with Hooker, I tell you he will get a fight out of the rebs, if such a +thing is possible." + +After the regiment had marched five or six miles, the order came to halt; +and the intelligence passed along the column that the cavalry had come up +with the enemy, and were waiting the arrival of an infantry force to +assist in the attack. + +"Good!" shouted Tom. "We shall have a battle before night." + +"Perhaps not," added Hapgood. "It takes the cat a good while to catch the +mouse, even after she smells the critter." + +"Why don't we march? What are we stopping here for?" said Tom, +impatiently. + +"They say Smith's division has got in ahead of us. Keep cool, Tom; never +be in a hurry for a battle. Some of us that stand here now won't be alive +in twenty-four hours from now; for I don't believe the rebs are going to +let us have it all our own way," said the veteran. + +"Nor I," added Fred Pemberton. "I shall be killed in this fight." + +"How do you know, Fred?" demanded Hapgood, sternly. + +"Of course I don't know, but I feel it in my bones that I shall fall in +the first battle." + +"Your bones ain't no guide at all. I know something about this business, +and I've seen croakers afore to-day. Don't talk about being killed, or +even hit. Be ready to die, do your duty like a soldier, and leave all the +rest to your Maker," said the veteran, solemnly. + +"I don't have any such feeling as that. I know I shan't be killed," +laughed Ben. "The bullet hasn't been cast yet that will stop my wind." + +"Perhaps it has, my boy. It may be in some rebel soldier's cartridge box +over yonder, even now. I tell you, boys, you don't know any thing about +it. Just afore we went in at Cerry Gordy, a feller by my side said the +same thing you did, Ben; and he was the first man that went down. I tried +to pick him up, and do something for him, but he was stone dead. I tell +you, Ben, you don't know any thing about it. Leave it all to the +Almighty." + +"Pooh, uncle!" sneered Ben, trying to laugh down the solemn words of the +old man. "Don't you think we'd better have a prayer meetin' before we go +in?" + +"I think we should fight the better for it, for he who trusts in God don't +fear death." + +But it was evident that the words of Hapgood, especially the incident of +Cerro Gordo, had made a deep impression upon the mind of the thoughtless +young man. Though the division did not move for three hours, he was very +silent and sober. He seemed to feel that he had been tempting Providence +by his bold speech, and even expressed his regret to Tom for what he had +said. + +It was dark when the order to march was given. The night was exceedingly +gloomy, and the rain poured down upon the devoted army, as it moved +forward to do its great work. Hour after hour, in the deep darkness and +the pouring rain, the men struggled through the mire, expecting every +moment to be hurled upon the rebel battalions, or to meet the impetuous +onset of the foe. + +Between ten and eleven, when the men were nearly worn out by the +exhausting labors of the march, they were ordered to halt in the road, and +bivouac for the rest of the night. What a time and what a place for +repose! They could only wrap themselves up in their wet blankets, and +stretch themselves upon the ground, soaked with water, and with the rain +still pouring down upon them. But they slept, and enjoyed their rest, for +Nature was imperative in her demands. + +At daylight the march was resumed; for the intrepid Hooker, ever faithful +to the trust confided to him, was wholly in earnest. At half-past five the +column was halted in the woods. The rebel works before Williamsburg were +in sight, and General Hooker rode to the front to examine the position of +the enemy. + +In front of the rebel batteries, and on each side of the roads, the trees +had been felled, in order to give the guns in the field works full play +upon an approaching force. + +"Hurrah!" shouted some of the boys on the right of the column. "Our +brigade is to commence the attack." + +"How do you know?" growled Hapgood, who did not think a soldier ought to +know any thing about the plan of the battle. + +"We are ordered to move," replied Tom. "I suppose that's all they know +about it." + +The prophets on the right were correct this time, for the regiment was +soon sent to the right of the road, and ordered to deploy as skirmishers. +A battery was thrown forward in front of the felled timber; but before a +gun could be fired, two officers and two privates were seen to fall before +the unerring aim of the rebel sharpshooters, occupying the rifle pits +which dotted the cleared land in front of the forts. + +"That's a hot place," said Ben Lethbridge. + +"We shall all see hot work before the sun goes down to-night," replied +Tom. "But let us stand up to it like men." + +"That's the talk, Tom!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Have you got those socks on, my boy?" + +"I have, uncle; and I have the letter and the photograph in my pocket." + +"Good, Tom! After this day's work is over, you can write the lady a +letter, and tell her that her socks have been in a battle." + +"And that I didn't run away in them." + +The roar of the guns in Fort Magruder interrupted the conversation. The +gunners of the battery in front of them had been driven from their pieces; +but it was almost instantly manned by volunteers, and a destructive fire +poured into the works. Other batteries were brought up, and the fort was +soon silenced. The roar of battle sounded all along the line; the thunder +of cannon and the crash of musketry reverberated through the woods and +over the plain, assuring the impatient troops that they were engaged in no +trivial affair; that they were fighting a great battle, of which thousands +yet unborn would read upon the pages of history. + +Our regiment closed up its lines, and the gallant colonel gave the order +to move forward in the direction of the field works. On, on, steadily and +firmly marched the men of Massachusetts, through ditch and swamp, through +mud and mire, loading, firing, and charging, as the enemy presented +opportunity. The hot work of the day had commenced; for, from every bush, +tree, and covert, which could conceal a man, the rebels poured a deadly +fire into the ranks of the advancing Federals. + +Tom stood as firm as a rock. The doubts and fears which beset him in his +first battle had no existence on this day. So thoroughly had he schooled +his mind to the fearful ordeal of carnage, that he felt quite at home. He +was cool and determined, and continually encouraged those around him by +his cheering words as well as by his example. + +"Ben is down!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Poor fellow!" replied Tom, without taking his eye off the foe in front. + +"There goes Bob Dornton!" added Hapgood. + +"Stand up to it, my men!" said Tom, firmly, for he had no time then to +think of the fallen. + +"Forward!" shouted the impetuous colonel, who, if he had never been +popular with the men before, was rapidly establishing himself in their +good graces by his unflinching heroism. "Forward! double quick! march!" + +And on dashed the gallant regiment, mounting the enemy's lofty works, and +driving the foe before them like sheep, at the point of the bayonet. This +was the first experience of this exciting description which Tom had seen, +and he entered into the spirit of it with a hearty zeal. + +"Halt!" was the order, as a regiment filed out in front of them, with a +flag of truce flying on its front. "Steady--don't fire," repeated several +officers along the line. + +"What regiment are you?" shouted a person, as the flag came within +speaking distance. + +"What are you?" demanded an officer of the storming party. + +"We're the Alabama eighth!" + +"We are the Massachusetts --th," replied our men. + +"Then you are the villains we want!" returned the rebel, plentifully +interlarding the sentence with oaths. + +The flag of truce dropped, and the dastardly foe poured in a volley of +musketry, before which a dozen of our brave boys fell, either killed or +wounded. + +"Fire!" yelled the colonel; and the order was obeyed with a will. "Charge +bayonets! Forward--double quick--march!" + +The men, burning with indignation at the treachery of the rebel horde, +sprang forward to wreak their righteous vengeance upon the cowardly +traitors. So impetuous was the charge, that the rebel regiment broke, and +sought safety in flight. + +"Down with them!" hoarsely screamed Tom, as the line swayed forward, and +pursued the panic-stricken foe into the woods on the left. The even line +was broken, and the boys scattered to do their work to the best advantage. + +Tom's legs seemed to be in excellent condition, notwithstanding the +toilsome marches of the last twenty-four hours; and he dashed forward into +the woods followed by only a dozen choice spirits, whose enthusiasm was +equal to his own. A squad of flying rebels in front of them was the object +of their present anxiety, and they soon distanced their companions. + +The rebels, seeing by how small a force they were pursued, rallied and +formed line again. + +"Give it to them!" cried Tom, as he led his little force upon the rebels. + +"Hold on, Tom!" said Hapgood; "we have gone far enough. There's a rebel +regiment forming behind us." + +"Can't help it," said Tom, as he rushed forward, with the veteran by his +side. "Give it to them!" + +Tom and his men threw themselves upon the rebel squad, and a sharp fight +ensued, in which the parties fought with bayonets, clubbed muskets, and +even with the death grip upon each other's throats. The traitors could not +stand it, and fled again. + +The sergeant glanced behind him, and saw the rebel regiment formed ready +to charge upon his own. He was cut off from his friends, with the enemy on +his front and rear. Three of his men had fallen in the sharp encounter +with the rebels, and most of them were wounded or bruised, and all of them +out of breath. To add to the peril of the situation, the squad they had +been pursuing were rallying and being reënforced by their fugitive +companions. + +"Bad, Tom, bad," said Hapgood, who was puffing and blowing like a +porpoise, as he ominously shook his head. + +"Follow me!" said Tom, confidently, as he led the way in a direction at +right angles with the advance of the party. + +Our regiment had reformed again, and soon gave that in front of them +enough to do. The rebels in their rear caused the sergeant's squad no +little annoyance; but they continued on their course, loading and firing +as they retreated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +MORE OF THE BATTLE. + + +While Tom and his little command were working their way back to the Union +lines, followed up by the disorganized band of rebels, a series of most +unearthly yells swept over the field, for they had emerged from the woods. +It was the rallying cry of the Confederate regiment which had formed in +their rear. They were charging upon the Massachusetts --th; but they might +as well have charged upon the Rock of Gibraltar, for presently Tom was +delighted to see them retiring before the tremendous onslaught of his +friends. + +"Hurrah!" shouted he, forgetting the foe in his rear, and pressing forward +to that on his front, at the same time changing his course so as to +approach the right wing of the rebel regiment. + +"Don't be rash, Tom," said the old soldier, who never permitted the +sergeant to leave his side. + +"Follow me, boys!" roared Tom, breathless with excitement, as he started +off on the double quick towards the breaking lines of the enemy. + +"Here we are!" replied the gallant fellows behind him, pushing forward +with a zeal equal to that of their leader, from whom they derived their +inspiration. "Go in, sergeant, and we'll stand by you." + +But the bold soldier boy had discretion as well as gallantry; and he saw +that if he threw his little force upon the rebel line, the whole party +would be instantly annihilated. A covert of bushes fortunately lay on the +right flank of the retreating regiment, and Tom ordered his men to conceal +themselves behind it, until a favorable moment should arrive to take their +places in the lines. + +The men were glad enough to obtain a breathing spell; but, at such a +tremendous moment as that, idleness would have been treason, for such a +glorious opportunity to strike a heavy blow had not before occurred. + +"Load up, and fire at will," said Tom, as he charged his musket. "Don't +throw your lead away either." + +"We are a dead shot here if we are any where," added Hapgood, as he and +the rest of the party hastily loaded their muskets. + +Pop went Tom's piece first, and over went the rebel at the extreme right +of the rebel regiment. There was no such thing as missing the mark, for +they were on the flank of the Confederate line, which the united efforts +of the officers could hardly preserve. The men in the covert fired when +they were ready; and as they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not +to waste their lead, every shot told upon the rebels. + +The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of bushes, which +glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant's little command poured in +their volleys; but they were too closely pressed by the Federals in front +to attempt to dislodge them. The rebel privates were not long in +ascertaining what was so clear to their officers--that they were flanked, +and were being shot down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not +defend themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the +advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they realized +that the bolts of death were dropping among them from another direction, +they could no longer endure that awful suspense which takes possession of +the minds of men when they are suspended, as it were, between life and +death. + +Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line was just +abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men fall before the +deadly fire of his party. + +"Give it to them, boys! They shake!" shouted Tom, as he delivered his fire +again. "Pour in as fast as you can, but don't waste your powder." + +The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their fire was +sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the rebel ranks; +for the right of the line, probably supposing a company, if not a whole +regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed in the covert, suddenly broke +and fled with the utmost precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of +their officers to rally them. + +The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial panic, and +charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate hand-to-hand encounter +ensued, during which Tom and his companions emerged from their +concealment, and ran along the rear of the victorious line. They soon +satisfied themselves of what they had before believed--that the regiment +was their own; and they lost no time in finding the company to which they +belonged. They joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout +of the rebel force. + +The position of the enemy's lines did not permit them to follow the +advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon given to fall back. +At this juncture the regiment, which had been constantly engaged for +several hours, was relieved; and not too early in the day, for the men +were completely exhausted by the furious onslaughts they had made. + +"Who were those men in the bushes on the flank of the rebel regiment?" +demanded the colonel, as he reined up his jaded horse in front of Company +K. + +"Sergeant Somers and others," replied Captain Benson. + +"Somers again!" exclaimed the colonel. + +"Yes, sir. They pursued the regiment into the woods--the one that showed +the flag of truce--till they were separated from the rest of us." +"Forward, Sergeant Somers," added the colonel. + +Tom modestly stepped forward, and he would have blushed if his face had +not been so reddened by his previous exertions as to leave no room for a +deepening of its tint. + +"You did a big thing, Sergeant Somers. You broke that rebel line by your +steady fire. Sergeant Somers, I thank you and the men you commanded for +your good service." + +Tom bowed, and the regiment cheered. It was the proudest moment of his +life to be thanked on the field, while the guns were roaring and the +musketry rattling, for the good service he had rendered. It would form an +excellent paragraph for his letter to Lilian Ashford, especially as he had +more than once, in the perils of that exciting hour, thought of the socks +he wore, and of the letter and the photograph which nestled in his breast +pocket, and upon which his quick throbbing heart was beating the notes of +glory and victory. + +"We gave you up for lost," said Captain Benson, as Tom returned to the +line. + +"We are safe, thank God!" replied Tom, "though three of our number fell in +the woods, or on the field where we were chased by the rebels." + +"Sergeant Somers saved us," added uncle Hapgood. "If he hadn't been as +cool as cowcumber, and as stiff as the mainmast of a frigate, we should +have been taken, every one of us." + +"Bravo, Tom!" said the captain. + +"The men stood by me like heroes, or it would have been all up with the +whole of us. They are good fellows, and they deserve as much credit as I +do." + +The battle continued to rage with increasing fury, till the roar, and the +crash, and the sweep of armed legions beggared description. Regiments and +brigades advanced and fell back with the varying fortunes of the day, but +as yet there was nothing to indicate the final result. + +When the men of our regiment had recovered their breath, an order came for +them to proceed to the left. On their arrival at the position assigned to +them, they were immediately led to the front, where the batteries which +had been pouring a hot fire into the enemy were in imminent danger of +being surrounded. Indeed, the swoop of the rebel infantry upon the guns +had already been made, and the cannoneers had been driven from their +stations. With the colonel on the right, and the adjutant in command on +the left, the regiment charged upon the foe, as it had twice before +charged on that eventful day, with an enthusiasm bordering upon fury. + +The rebels had even spiked one of the guns, and they maintained their +position with an obstinacy which promised the annihilation of one or the +other of the contending forces. A desperate strife ensued, in which the +least perceptible advantage was gained by the Federals. But if they could +do no more, they held the enemy in check, till the gunners could charge +their pieces with grape and canister, which they poured into the rebels +with the most deadly effect. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Tom, as the rebels quaked before the withering storm of +shot belched forth by the guns of the battery. "They shake! Give it to +them!" + +"Steady, my men! steady," said Captain Benson. "The ammunition of the +battery is expended," he added, as the cannon ceased their work of +destruction. "We must hold these pieces, and every man must do his duty." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" replied Tom, vigorously, and the cry was repeated through +the company. + +As soon as the guns were thus rendered useless, the enemy swept down upon +the supports again, intent upon capturing the pieces. They advanced with +that terrific yell which is enough of itself to frighten a nervous man, +and with an impetuosity which nothing human could resist. Our regiment +recoiled under the shock; but it was forced back by the sheer stress of +numbers. + +"Rally men! Rally, my brave fellows!" shouted the adjutant, in command of +the left wing. + +"Stand stiff! Roll them back!" roared the colonel. + +"Steady, men!" added Captain Benson. + +"Now, give it to them!" screamed Tom, as he plunged his bayonet into the +vitals of the rebel in front of him, and pushed forward into the very +midst of the foe. + +The sergeant seemed suddenly to be endowed with the strength of a giant, +and he held his own till Hapgood sprang to his assistance. The rest of the +line, inspired by this daring conduct, rushed forward, and fell upon the +foe with a fury that could not be resisted. + +"Bravo! Bravo, Tom!" shouted the captain. "Go in, boys!" roared the +lieutenant. + +And the boys "went in," and forced back the rebel line, and held the guns +until another battery with a supply of ammunition arrived upon the ground +to relieve them. The enemy was again repulsed, and the guns were saved by +the unflinching heroism of our gallant Massachusetts regiment--another +paragraph for the letter to Lilian Ashford. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +GLORY AND VICTORY. + + +The battle now raged more fiercely than ever, and hotter and hotter became +the fire on every side. The shouts of the enemy indicated the arrival of +reënforcements. "Johnston!" "Long-street!" resounded over the field, and +roused the rebels to renewed activity. More certainly was the increase of +the enemy's force determined by the gradual falling back of the brigade at +the left of the road; but the men fought with desperate courage, and +yielded not a foot of ground without enriching it with their best blood. + +There were no signs of reënforcements for over exhausted troops, though a +whole corps was within hearing of the booming guns that were slaughtering +our outnumbered and exhausted brigades. On the field the aspect began to +be dark and unpromising, and Tom prayed with all his soul that he might be +spared the pain of beholding another defeat, another rout. + +Our regiment was ordered to the support of the yielding brigade on the +left. The woods were full of rebels, and the issue of the conflict in this +part of the field was almost hopeless. The enemy seemed to be inspired by +the slight advantage they had gained, and their yells were fiercer and +more diabolical than ever, as they gathered themselves up for a desperate +onslaught. + +The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to waver upon a +balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, and the Union force +fell back a little, but only a little, and doggedly resisted the advance +of the foe. It needed but little to restore the equilibrium, and our +regiment, after struggling through the mud with all attainable speed, +arrived upon the spot when the prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause. + +The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had all day +long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the physical exertion +required of them. But the battle was going against the North, and they +were ready again to make a desperate effort to redeem the field. + +"One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel," said General Hooker, as +the weary soldiers moved up to the endangered position. + +"You shall have it, general. My men are always ready, though they are +nearly used up." + +"Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out a few minutes +longer, all will be well with us." + +"We'll drive them back, general!" shouted the colonel. + +"Go in, then!" added the gallant Hooker, waving his sword to encourage the +soldiers. "Forward! You have no time to lose!" + +The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of the work +before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all day, and +Massachusetts would be proud of them. A ringing cheer was the reply to the +stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were given for the advance. + +On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated themselves +upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up their temporary +advantage. The point of attack was all in their favor, and their +exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe kindled up the expiring +enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose assistance they had come. The +shock was terrible--more fearful and destructive than any which our boys +had before experienced. + +"Steady, my men!" shouted Captain Benson. + +"Give it to them!" roared Tom, maddened to desperation by the awful strife +around him, and by seeing so many of our men fall by his side. + +"Stand up to it!" shouted the excited colonel. "They run!" + +At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of Company K +placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of them, taking +advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and actually broke through +the line, trampling some of our soldiers beneath their feet, and +transfixing them with their bayonets. + +A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole rebel +regiment began to press into the weak place. The breach was made by the +side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by the pressure of the +rebel battalion. + +"Close up!" yelled Tom. "Close up! Hail, Columbia! and give it to them!" + +Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after the capture +of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged its six barrels into +the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood and Fred Pemberton, who were +armed in like manner from the same source, imitated the example of the +sergeant. + +"Now give them the bayonet, boys!" screamed Tom, hoarsely, as he plunged +into the midst of the rebels. + +The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal energy, and +the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and wounded rebels, and +Federals, who had fallen in that sharp encounter. + +"Bravo!" shouted General Hooker, whose attention had been drawn to the +break in the line. "Bravo, sergeant! You shall have a commission! Forward, +my brave boys! Massachusetts sees you!" + +"Up and at them," cried Tom, as the rebels began to yield and break before +the tremendous charge of our regiment. + +The young sergeant's throat was raw with the shouting he had done, and his +limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of the day; but the words of +the commander of the division made him over new again, and his husky voice +still rang along the line, full of new courage and new energy to his +exhausted comrades. The rebels were driven back for the time, and fled +before the iron masses that crowded upon them. + +The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost decimated by +the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, were permitted to +breathe once more. + +"This is awful," said the veteran of Company K, panting from the violence +of his exertions. "I never saw any thing like this before." + +"Nor I," replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with exhaustion. + +"I know something about this business. I thought Cerry Gordy was +consid'able of a battle, but 'twas nothin' like this." + +"It's awful," sighed Tom, as he thought of the good fellows he had seen +fall upon the field. + +"Heaps of our boys have gone down!" + +"Attention--battalion!" came ringing with startling effect along the line, +in the familiar tones of the intrepid colonel. + +"If we win the day, we can afford to lose many. Victory or death!" shouted +Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience to the command. "More work for +us!" + +"How do you feel, Tom?" demanded the veteran, as they sprang into the +line. + +"All right," replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of spirits. + +"Are you sure, my boy?" continued the veteran, gazing with deep anxiety +into the face of the sergeant. + +"I'm first rate, uncle. I think I can stand it as long as any body else." + +"You have done wonders to-day, Tom. I'm proud of you, but I'm afeared you +are doing too much. If you are used up, it wouldn't be any disgrace for +you to go to the rear. After what you've done, nobody will say a word. +Don't kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear." + +"I go to the rear!" exclaimed Tom, with indignation. + +"If you are disabled, I mean, of course," apologized the veteran. + +"I'm not disabled. If I go to the rear with these socks on, it won't be +till after the breath has left my body." + +"Socks!" replied Hapgood, with a sneer. "I'm afeared that gal will be the +death of you." + +"I don't sulk in these socks," replied Tom, with a faint smile, as the +regiment moved off on the double quick to some new position of peril. + +"The rebels are flanking us!" shouted an officer in another command, as +our regiment hurried forward to the endangered point. + +"That's what we are wanted for," said Hapgood. + +The enemy had nearly accomplished their purpose when our gallant colonel +and his jaded force reached the left of the line, and in a few moments +more would have poured a flanking fire into our devoted battalions, which +were struggling with terrible energy to roll back the pressure in front of +them. + +The colonel had his men well in hand, and he manoeuvred them with +consummate skill, so as to bring them advantageously to the work they were +to perform. The regiment was hurled against the head of the flanking +column, and the boys rushed forward with that dash and spirit which had +characterized their conduct half a score of times before in various parts +of the field. + +Tom's muscles had become loose and soft after the long continued strain +upon them, and if his soul had not been ten times as big as his body, he +must have sunk under the exhaustion of the day. Another desperate +onslaught was required of the men of our regiment, and commanding all his +energies, Tom braced himself up once more for the fearful struggle. + +"How do you feel now, Tom?" demanded the anxious veteran, as he bit off +the cartridge, and rammed it home. + +"First rate, uncle!" replied Tom, as the regiment poured a withering +volley into the rebel line. + +"For Heaven's sake, Tom, don't kill yourself," added the old man, as they +loaded up again. "Your knees shake under you now." + +"Do you think I'm afraid, uncle?" demanded the sergeant with a grim smile. + +"No, no, Tom; of course I don't think any thing of the kind. I'm afeared +you'll bust a blood-vessel, or something of that sort." + +"If I do, I'll let you know, uncle." + +"Charge bayonets! Double quick--march!" rang along the line. + +"Have at them!" cried Tom, who was always the first to catch the orders of +the commanding officer. "Down with them! Give 'em Yankee Doodle, Hail, +Columbia, and the Red, White, and Blue." + +The advancing column, shaken by the furious fire of our regiment, recoiled +before the shock. Slowly the foe fell back, leaving heaps of their slain +upon the hotly-contested ground. Our boys halted, and poured in another +destructive volley. + +The Confederate officers rallied their men, and, maddened by the check +they had received, drove them forward to recover the lost ground. + +"Once more, boys! Give it to 'em again," cried Tom, as the order to +advance was repeated. + +His words were only representations of his actions; for, as he spoke, he +rushed on a little in front of his comrades, who, however, pressed forward +to keep up with him. He did not exceed the orders of his superior, but he +was one of the promptest to obey them. On dashed the regiment, and again +the rebel line recoiled, and soon broke in spite of the admirable efforts +of their officers to keep them steady. + +"Kearney! Kearney! Kearney is here!" shouted the weary heroes in various +parts of the field. + +"Down with them!" roared Tom, as the inspiring words rang in his ears. +"Down with them! Kearney has come, and the day is ours!" + +He had scarcely uttered the words, and sprung forward, before he was seen +to drop upon the ground, several paces in front of the line, though the +undaunted old Hapgood was close by his side. The enemy had fled; the +danger of being flanked was averted; and when Kearney's men dashed on the +field, the sad-hearted veteran, assisted by Fred Pemberton, bore the +silent form of the gallant sergeant to the rear. + +Kearney and Hancock rushed gallantly to the rescue of the exhausted +troops, and Hooker's division was ordered to the rear to act as a reserve. +The strife raged with unabated fury as those who had borne the brunt of +the battle slowly fell back to give place to the fresh legions. + +Poor Tom was tenderly carried by the wiry veteran and his friends to the +surgeon's quarters in the rear. There were tears in the eyes of the old +man as he laid the silent form of his _protégé_ upon the wet ground. There +he sat by his charge, sorrowful beyond expression, till tremendous shouts +rent the air. Tom opened his eyes. + +"Glory and Victory!" shouted he, in husky tones, as he sprang to his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +HONORABLE MENTION. + + +The surgeon examined Tom's wound, and found that he had been struck by a +bullet over the left temple. The flesh was torn off, and if the skull was +not fractured, it had received a tremendous hard shock. It was probably +done at the instant when he turned to rally the men of Company K, and the +ball glanced under the visor of his cap, close enough to scrape upon his +skull, but far enough off to save his brains. Half an inch closer, and the +bullet would have wound up Tom's earthly career. + +The shock had stunned him, and he had dropped like a dead man, while the +profusion of blood that came from the wound covered his face, and his +friends could not tell whether he was killed or not. He was a pitiable +object as he lay on the ground by the surgeon's quarters; but the veteran +soon assured himself that his young charge was not dead. + +Hapgood washed the gore from his face, and did what he could in his +unscientific manner; and probably the cold water had a salutary effect +upon the patient, for when Hancock and Kearney had completed their work, +and the cry of victory rang over the bloody field, he was sufficiently +revived to hear the inspiring tones of triumph. Leaping to his feet, faint +and sick as he was, he took up the cry, and shouted in unison with the +victors upon the field. + +But he had scarcely uttered the notes of glory and victory before his +strength deserted him, and he would have dropped upon the ground if he had +not been caught by Hapgood. He groaned heavily as he sank into the arms of +his friend, and yielded to the faintness and exhaustion of the moment. + +The surgeon said the wound was not a very bad one, but that the patient +was completely worn out by the excessive fatigues of march and battle. In +due time he was conveyed to the college building in Williamsburg, where +hundreds of his companions in arms were suffering and dying of their +wounds. He received every attention which the circumstances would permit. +Hapgood, by sundry vigorous applications at headquarters, was, in +consideration of his own and his _protégé's_ good conduct on the battle +field, permitted to remain with the patient over night. + +The sergeant's skull, as we have before intimated, was not very badly +damaged, as physical injuries were measured after the bloody battle of +that day. But his wound was not the only detriment he had experienced in +the trying ordeal of that terrible day. His constitution had not yet been +fully developed; his muscles were not hardened, and the fatigues of battle +and march had a more serious effect upon him than the ounce of lead which +had struck him on the forehead. + +The surgeon understood his case perfectly, and after dressing his wound, +he administered some simple restoratives, and ordered the patient to go to +sleep. On the night of the 3d of May, he had been on guard duty; on that +of the 4th, he had obtained but three hours' sleep; and thus deprived of +the rest which a growing boy needs, he had passed through the fearful +scenes of the battle, in which his energies, mental and physical, had been +tasked to their utmost. He was completely worn out, and in spite of the +surroundings of the hospital, he went to sleep, obeying to the letter the +orders of the surgeon. + +After twelve hours of almost uninterrupted slumber, Tom's condition was +very materially improved, and when the doctor went his morning round, our +sergeant buoyantly proposed to join his regiment forthwith. + +"Not yet, my boy," said the surgeon, kindly. "I shall not permit you to do +duty for at least thirty days to come," he added, as he felt the patient's +pulse. + +"I feel pretty well, sir," replied Tom. + +"No, you don't. Your regiment will remain here, I learn, for a few days, +and you must keep quiet, or you will have a fever." + +"I don't feel sick, and my head doesn't pain me a bit." + +"That may be, but you are not fit for duty. You did too much yesterday. +They say you behaved like a hero, on the field." + +"I tried to do my duty," replied Tom, his pale cheek suffused with a +blush. + +"Boys like you can't stand much of such work as that. We must fix you up +for the next battle; and you shall go into Richmond with the rest of the +boys." + +"Must I stay in here all the time?" + +"No, you may go where you please. I will give you a certificate which will +keep you safe from harm. You can walk about, and visit your regiment if +you wish." + +"Thank you, doctor." + +Hapgood had been compelled to leave the hospital before his patient waked, +and Tom had not yet learned any thing in regard to the casualties of the +battle. Armed with the surgeon's certificate, he left the hospital, and +walked to the place where the steward told him he would find his regiment. +Somewhat to his astonishment he found that he was very weak; and before he +had accomplished half the distance to the camp, he came to the conclusion +that he was in no condition to carry a knapsack and a musket on a long +march. But after resting himself for a short time, he succeeded in +reaching his friends. + +He was warmly received by his companions, and the veteran of the company +had nearly hugged him in his joy and admiration. + +"Honorable mention, Tom," said Hapgood. "You will be promoted as true as +you live." + +"O, I guess not," replied Tom, modestly. "I didn't do any more than any +body else. At any rate, you were close by my side, uncle." + +"Yes, but I followed, and you led. The commander of the division says you +shall be a lieutenant. He said so on the field, and the colonel said so +to-day." + +"I don't think I deserve it." + +"I do; and if you don't get a commission, then there ain't no justice left +in the land. I tell you, Tom, you shall be a brigadier if the war lasts +only one year more." + +"O, nonsense, uncle!" + +"Well, if you ain't, you ought to be." + +"I'm lucky to get out alive. Whom have we lost, uncle?" + +"A good many fine fellows." replied Hapgood, shaking his head, sadly. + +"Poor Ben dropped early in the day." + +"Yes, I was afraid he'd got most to the end of his chapter afore we went +in. Poor fellow! I'm sorry for him, and sorry for his folks." + +"Fred Pemberton said he should be killed, and Ben said he should not, you +remember." + +"Yes, and that shows how little we know about these things." + +"Bob Dornton was killed, too." + +"No, he's badly hurt, but the surgeon thinks he will git over it. The +cap'n was slightly wounded." And Hapgood mentioned the names of those in +the company who had been killed or wounded, or were missing. + +"It was an awful day," sighed Tom, when the old man had finished the list. +"There will be sad hearts in Pinchbrook when the news gets there." + +"So there will, Tom; but we gained the day. We did something handsome for +'Old Glory,' and I s'pose it's all right." + +"I would rather have been killed than lost the battle." + +"So would I; and betwixt you and me, Tom, you didn't come very fur from +losing your number in the mess," added the veteran, as he thrust his +little fingers into a bullet hole in the breast of Tom's coat. "That was +rather a close shave." + +"I felt that one, but I hadn't time to think about it then, for it was +just as we were repelling that flank movement," replied Tom, as he +unbuttoned his coat, and thrust his hand into his breast pocket. "Do you +suppose she will give me another?" he added, as he drew forth the envelope +which contained the letter and the photograph of the author of his socks. + +A minie ball had found its way through the envelope, grinding a furrow +through the picture, transversely, carrying away the chin and throat of +the young lady. The letter was mangled and minced up beyond restoration. +Tom had discovered the catastrophe when he waked up in the hospital, for +his last thought at night, and his first in the morning, had been the +beautiful Lilian Ashford. He was sad when he first beheld the wreck; but +when he thought what a glorious assurance this would be of his conduct on +the field, he was pleased with the idea; and while in his heart he thanked +the rebel marksman for not putting the bullet any nearer to the vital +organ beneath the envelope, he was not ungrateful for the splendid +testimonial he had given him of his position during the battle. + +"Of course she'll give you another. Won't she be proud of that picture +when she gets it back?" + +"If I had been a coward, I couldn't have run away with those socks on my +feet." + +Tom remained with the regiment several hours, and then, in obedience to +the surgeon's orders, returned to the hospital, where he wrote a letter to +his father, containing a short account of the battle, and another to +Lilian Ashford, setting forth the accident which had happened to the +picture, and begging her to send him another. + +I am afraid in this last letter Tom indulged in some moonshiny nonsense; +but we are willing to excuse him for saying that the thought of the +beautiful original of the photograph and the beautiful author of his socks +had inspired him with courage on the battle field, and enabled him +faithfully to perform his duty, to the honor and glory of the flag beneath +whose starry folds he had fought, bled, and conquered, and so forth. It +would not be unnatural in a young man of eighteen to express as much as +this, and, we are not sure that he said any more. + +The next day Tom was down with a slow fever, induced by fatigue and +over-exertion. He lay upon his cot for a fortnight, before he was able to +go out again; but he was frequently visited by Hapgood and other friends +in the regiment. About the middle of the month, the brigade moved on, and +Tom was sad at the thought of lying idle, while the glorious work of the +army was waiting for true and tried men. + +Tom received "honorable mention" in the report of the colonel, and his +recommendation, supported by that of the general of the division, brought +to the hospital his commission as second lieutenant. + +"Here's medicine for you," said the chaplain, as he handed the patient a +ponderous envelope. + +"What is it, sir?" + +"I don't know, but it has an official look." + +The sergeant opened it, and read the commission, duly signed by the +governor of Massachusetts, and countersigned and sealed in proper form. +Tom was astounded at the purport of the document. He could hardly believe +his senses; but it read all right, and dated from the day of the battle in +which he had distinguished himself. This was glory enough, and it took Tom +forty-eight hours thoroughly to digest the contents of the envelope. + +_Lieutenant Somers_! The words had a queer sound, and he could not realize +that he was a commissioned officer. But he came to a better understanding +of the subject the next day, when a letter from Lilian Ashford was placed +in his hands. It was actually addressed to "Lieutenant Thomas Somers." She +had read of his gallant conduct and of his promotion on the battle field +in the newspapers. She sent him two photographs of herself, and a sweet +little letter, begging him to return the photograph which had been damaged +by a rebel bullet. + +Of course Tom complied with this natural request; but, as the surgeon +thought his patient would improve faster at home than in the hospital, he +had procured a furlough of thirty days for him, and the lieutenant decided +to present the photograph in person. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS AND OTHERS. + + +Tom Somers had been absent from home nearly a year; and much as his heart +was in the work of putting down the rebellion, he was delighted with the +thought of visiting, even for a brief period, the loved ones who thought +of and prayed for him in the little cottage in Pinchbrook. I am not quite +sure that the well-merited promotion he had just received did not have +some influence upon him, for it would not have been unnatural for a young +man of eighteen, who had won his shoulder-straps by hard fighting on a +bloody field, to feel some pride in the laurels he had earned. Not that +Tom was proud or vain; but he was moved by a lofty and noble ambition. It +is quite likely he wondered what the people of Pinchbrook would say when +he appeared there with the straps upon his shoulders. + +Of course he thought what his father would say, what his mother would say, +and he could see the wrinkled face of gran'ther Greene expand into a +genial smile of commendation. It is quite possible that he had even more +interest in his reception at No ---- Rutland Street, when he should +present himself to the author and finisher of those marvellous socks, +which had wielded such an immense influence upon their wearer in camp and +on the field. Perhaps it was a weakness on the part of the soldier boy, +but we are compelled to record the fact that he had faithfully conned his +speech for that interesting occasion. He had supposed every thing she +would say, and carefully prepared a suitable reply to each remark, adorned +with all the graces of rhetoric within his reach. + +With the furlough in his pocket, Tom obtained his order for +transportation, and with a light heart, full of pleasant anticipations, +started for home. As he was still dressed in the faded and shattered +uniform of a non-commissioned officer, he did not attract any particular +notice on the way. He was enabled to pass through Baltimore, Philadelphia, +and New York, without being bored by a public reception, which some less +deserving heroes have not been permitted to escape. But the people did not +understand that Tom had a second lieutenant's commission in his pocket, +and he was too modest to proclaim the fact, which may be the reason why he +was suffered to pass through these great emporiums of trade without an +escort, or other demonstration of respect and admiration. + +Tom's heart jumped with strange emotions when he arrived at Boston, +perhaps because he was within a few miles of home; possibly because he was +in the city that contained Lilian Ashford, for boys will be silly in spite +of all the exertions of parents, guardians, and teachers, to make them +sober and sensible. Such absurdities as "the air she breathes," and other +rhapsodies of that sort, may have flitted through his mind; but we are +positive that Tom did not give voice to any such nonsense, for every body +in the city was a total stranger to him, so far as he knew. Besides, Tom +had no notion of appearing before the original of the photograph in the +rusty uniform he wore; and as he had to wait an hour for the Pinchbrook +train, he hastened to a tailor's to order a suit of clothes which would be +appropriate to his new dignity. + +He ordered them, was duly measured and had given the tailor his promise to +call for the garments at the expiration of five days, when the man of +shears disturbed the serene current of his meditations by suggesting that +the lieutenant should pay one half of the price of the suit in advance. + +"It is a custom we adopt in all our dealings with strangers," politely +added the tailor. + +"But I don't propose to take the uniform away until it is paid for," said +Tom, blushing with mortification; for it so happened that he had not money +enough to meet the demand of the tailor. + +"Certainly not," blandly replied Shears; "but we cannot make up the goods +with the risk of not disposing of them. They may not fit the next man who +wants such a suit." + +"I have not the money, sir;" and Tom felt that the confession was an awful +sacrifice of dignity on the part of an officer in the army of the Potomac, +who had fought gallantly for his country on the bloody fields of +Williamsburg and Bull Run. + +"I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the goods, but you +will see that our rule is a reasonable one." + +Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a suitable +return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he had endured for +him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the flattering request of +the tailor that he would call again. With his pride touched, he walked +down to the railroad station to await the departure of the train. He had +hardly entered the building before he discovered the familiar form of +Captain Barney, to whom he hastened to present himself. + +"Why, Tom, my hearty!" roared the old sea captain, as he grasped and wrung +his hand. "I'm glad to see you. Shiver my mainmast, but you've grown a +foot since you went away. But you don't look well, Tom." + +"I'm not very well, sir; but I'm improving very rapidly." + +"How's your wound?" + +"O, that's almost well." + +"Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you," said Captain Barney, as he led +the soldier boy to a seat. + +In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of Williamsburg, +and the old sailor had communicated all the news from Pinchbrook. + +"Tom, you're a lieutenant now, but you haven't got on your uniform," +continued Captain Barney. + +"No, sir," replied Tom, laughing. "I went into a store to order one, and +they wouldn't trust me." + +"Wouldn't trust _you_, Tom!" exclaimed the captain. "Show me the place, +and I'll smash in their deadlights." + +"I don't know as I blame them. I was a stranger to them." + +"But, Tom, you mustn't go home without a uniform. Come with me, and you +shall be fitted out at once. I'm proud of you, Tom. You are one of my +boys, and I want you to go into Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your +colors flying." + +"We haven't time now; the train leaves in a few moments." + +"There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, and don't know +you're coming; so they can afford to wait." + +Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted him to several stores before +he could find a ready-made uniform that would fit him; but at last they +found one which had been made to order for an officer who was too sick to +use it at present. It was an excellent fit, and the young lieutenant was +soon arrayed in the garments, with the symbolic straps on his shoulder. + +"Bravo, Tom! You look like a new man. There isn't a better looking officer +in the service." + +Very likely the subject of this remark thought so too, as he surveyed +himself in the full-length mirror. The old uniform, with two bullet-holes +in the breast of the coat, was done up in a bundle and sent to the express +office, to be forwarded to Pinchbrook. Captain Barney then walked with him +to a military furnishing store, where a cap, sword, belt, and sash, were +purchased. For some reason which he did not explain, the captain retained +the sword himself, but Tom was duly invested with the other accoutrements. + +Our hero felt "pretty good," as he walked down to the station with his +friend; but he looked splendidly in his new outfit, and we are willing to +excuse certain impressible young ladies, who cast an admiring glance at +him as he passed down the street. It was not Tom's fault that he was a +handsome young man; and he was not responsible for the conduct of those +who chose to look at him. + +With a heart beating with wild emotion, Tom stepped out of the cars at +Pinchbrook. Here he was compelled to undergo the penalty of greatness. His +friends cheered him, and shook his hand till his arm ached. + +Captain Barney's wagon was at the station, and before going to his own +home, he drove Tom to the little cottage of his father. I cannot describe +the emotions of the returned soldier when the horse stopped at the garden +gate. Leaping from the vehicle, he rushed into the house, and bolted into +the kitchen, even before the family had seen the horse at the front gate. + +"How d'ye do, mother?" cried Tom, as he threw himself pell-mell into the +arms of Mrs. Somers. + +"Why, Tom!" almost screamed she, as she returned his embrace. "How _do_ +you do?" + +"Pretty well, mother. How do you do, father?" + +"Glad to see you," replied Captain Somers, as he seized his son's hand. + +"Bless my soul, Tom!" squeaked gran'ther Greene, shaking in every fibre of +his frame from the combined influence of rhapsody and rheumatism. + +Tom threw both arms around Jenny's neck, and kissed her half a dozen times +with a concussion like that of a battery of light artillery. + +"Why, Tom! I never thought nothin' of seein' you!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers. +"I thought you was sick in the hospital." + +"I am better now, and home for thirty days." + +"And got your new rig on," added his father. + +"Captain Barney wouldn't let me come home without my shoulder-straps. I +met him in the city. He paid the bills." + +"I'll make it all right with him." + +"I'll pay for it by and by. You know I have over a hundred dollars a month +now." + +"Gracious me!" ejaculated Mrs. Somers, as she gazed with admiration upon +the new and elegant uniform which covered the fine form of her darling +boy. + +Presently Captain Barney came into the house, and for two hours Tom fought +his battles over again, to the great satisfaction of his partial auditors. +The day passed off amid the mutual rejoicings of the parties; and the +pleasure of the occasion was only marred by the thought, on the mother's +part, that her son must soon return to the scene of strife. + +The soldier boy--we beg his pardon; Lieutenant Somers--hardly went out of +the house until after dinner on the following day, when he took a walk +down to the harbor, where he was warmly greeted by all his friends. Even +Squire Pemberton seemed kindly disposed towards him, and asked him many +questions in regard to Fred. Before he went home, he was not a little +startled to receive an invitation to meet some of his friends in the town +hall in the evening, which it was impossible for him to decline. + +At the appointed hour, he appeared at the hall, which was filled with +people. The lieutenant did not know what to make of it, and trembled +before his friends as he had never done before the enemies of his country. +He was cheered lustily by the men, and the women waved their +handkerchiefs, as though he had been a general of division. But his +confusion reached the climax when Captain Barney led him upon the +platform, and Mr. Boltwood, a young lawyer resident in Pinchbrook, +proceeded to address him in highly complimentary terms, reviewing his +career at Bull Run, on the Shenandoah, on the Potomac, to its culmination +at Williamsburg, and concluded by presenting him the sword which the +captain had purchased, in behalf of his friends and admirers in his native +town. + +Fortunately for Tom, the speech was long, as he was enabled in some +measure to recover his self-possession. In trembling tones he thanked the +donors for their gift, and promised to use it in defence of his country as +long as a drop of blood was left in his veins--highly poetical, but it +required strong terms to express our hero's enthusiasm--whereat the men +and boys applauded most vehemently, and the ladies flourished their +cambrics with the most commendable zeal. Tom bowed--bowed again--and kept +bowing, just as he had seen General McClellan bow when he was cheered by +the troops. As the people would not stop applauding, Tom, his face all +aglow with joy and confusion, descended from the platform, and took his +seat by the side of his mother. + +The magnates of Pinchbrook then made speeches--except Squire +Pemberton--about the war, patriotism, gunpowder, and eleven-inch shot and +shells. Every body thought it was "a big thing," and went home to talk +about it for the next week. Tom's father, and mother, and sister, and +gran'ther Greene, said ever so many pretty things, and every body was as +happy as happy could be, except that John was not at home to share in the +festivities. Letters occasionally came from the sailor boy, and they went +to him from the soldier boy. + +Mrs. Somers was not a little surprised, the next day, to hear her son +announce his intention to take the first train for the city; but Tom could +not postpone his visit to No ---- Rutland Street any longer, for he was +afraid his uniform would lose its gloss, and the shoulder-straps their +dazzling brilliancy. + +Tom's courage had nearly forsaken him when he desperately rang the bell at +the home of Lilian Ashford; and he almost hoped the servant would inform +him that she was not at home. Lilian was at home, and quaking like a +condemned criminal before the gallows, he was ushered into the presence of +the author of his socks. + +Stammering out his name he drew from his pocket the battered photograph +and the shattered letter, and proceeded at once to business. Lilian +Ashford blushed, and Tom blushed--that is to say, they both blushed. When +he had presented his relics, he ventured to look in her face. The living +Lilian was even more beautiful than the Lilian of the photograph. + +"Dear me! So you are the soldier that wore the socks I knit," said Lilian; +and our hero thought it was the sweetest voice he ever heard. + +"I am, Miss Ashford, and I did not run away in them either." + +"I'm glad you did not," added she, with a musical laugh, which made Tom +think of the melody of the spheres, or some such nonsense. + +"I have to thank you for my promotion," said Tom, boldly. + +"Thank me!" exclaimed she, her fair blue eyes dilating with astonishment. + +"The socks inspired me with courage and fortitude," replied Tom, in exact +accordance with the programme he had laid down for the occasion. "I am +sure the thought of her who knit them, the beautiful letter, and the more +beautiful photograph, enabled me to do that which won my promotion." + +"Well, I declare!" shouted Lilian, in a kind of silvery scream. + +Bravo, Tom! you are getting along swimmingly. And he said sundry other +smart things which we have not room to record. He stayed half an hour, and +Lilian begged him to call again, and see her grandmother, who was out of +town that day. Of course he promised to come, promised to bring his +photograph, promised to write to her when he returned to the army--and I +don't know what he did not promise, and I hardly think he knew himself. + +But the brief dream ended, and Tom went home to Pinchbrook, after he had +sat for his picture. The careless fellow left Lilian's photograph on the +table in his chamber a few days after, and his mother wanted to know whose +it was; and the whole story came out, and Tom was laughed at, and Jenny +made fun of him, and Captain Barney told him he was a match for the finest +girl in the country. The lieutenant blushed like a boy, but rather enjoyed +the whole thing. + +A sad day came at last, and Tom went back to the army. He went full of +hope, and the blessing of the loved ones went with him. He was received +with enthusiasm by his old companions in arms, and Hapgood--then a +sergeant--still declared that he would be a brigadier in due time,--or, if +he was not, he ought to be. His subsequent career, if not always as +fortunate as that portion which we have recorded, was unstained by +cowardice or vice. + + + + +FINIS. + + + + * * * * * + + +Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our Publications + + +1. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army + A Story of the Great Rebellion + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: January 4, 2005 [EBook #14595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOLDIER BOY *** + + + + +Produced by Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>The Soldier Boy</h1> +<h3>or</h3> +<h2>Tom Somers in the Army</h2> +<h3>A Story of the Great Rebellion</h3> +<h4>by</h4> +<h2>Oliver Optic</h2> +<h4>Author of “Rich And Humble,” “All +Aboard,” “Little By Little,” Etc., Etc.</h4> +<h5>New York<br /> +Hurst & Company<br /> +Publishers</h5> +<hr /> +<p class="cen"><span class="sc">to</span><br /> +<span style="font-size:125%;">William Lee, Esq.</span></p> +<p class="cen"><span class="sc">this book<br /> +is respectfully dedicated<br /> +by his friend</span></p> +<p class="cen">William T. Adams.</p> +<hr /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<p>This volume is not altogether a military romance, though it +contains the adventures of one of those noble-hearted and patriotic +young men who went forth from homes of plenty and happiness to +fight the battles of our imperilled country. The incidents of the +story may be stirring and exciting; yet they are not only within +the bounds of probability, but have been more than paralleled in +the experience of hundreds of the gallant soldiers of the loyal +army.</p> +<p>The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a history, +though the writer has carefully consulted the +“authorities,” both loyal and rebel, and has taken down +the living words of enthusiastic participants in the stirring +scenes described in this volume. He has not attempted to give a +full picture of any battle, or other army operation, but simply of +those movements in which the hero took a part. The book is a +narrative of personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth +of a pure patriotism in the soul of the hero, and describing the +perils and privations, the battles and marches which he shared with +thousands of brave men in the army of the Potomac.</p> +<p>The author has endeavored to paint a picture of the true +soldier, one who loves his country, and fights for her because he +loves her; but, at the same time, one who is true to himself and +his God, while he is faithful to his patriotic impulses.</p> +<p>The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and I +hope it will not disappoint the reasonable expectation of those +partial friends whose smile is my joy, whose frown is my grief. +But, more than all, I trust this humble volume will have some small +influence in kindling and cherishing that genuine patriotism which +must ever be the salvation of our land, the foundation of our +national prosperity and happiness.</p> +<p>WILLIAM T. ADAMS.<br /> +DORCHESTER, Feb. 22, 1864.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents">CONTENTS.</a></h2> +<h3>CHAPTER</h3> +<ol style= +"list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:15%;font-variant:small-caps;"> +<li><a href="#Ch_1">The Battle of Pinchbrook</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_2">The Somers Family</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_3">Taming a Traitor</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_4">The Committee come out, and Tom goes +in</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_5">The Attic Chamber</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_6">The Way is Prepared</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_7">A Midnight Adventure</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_8">Signing the Papers</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_9">The Departure</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_10">Company K</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_11">In Washington</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_12">On to Richmond</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_13">The Battle of Bull Run</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_14">After the Battle</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_15">Tom a Prisoner</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_16">A Perplexing Question</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_17">Dinner and Danger</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_18">The Rebel Soldier</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_19">Through the Gap</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_20">Down the Shenandoah</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_21">The Problem of Rations</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_22">The Picket Guard</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_23">The End of the Voyage</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_24">Budd’s Ferry</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_25">In the Hospital</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_26">Tom is Sentimental</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_27">The Confederate Deserter</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_28">On the Peninsula</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_29">The Battle of Williamsburg</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_30">More of the Battle</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_31">Glory and Victory</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_32">“Honorable Mention”</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_33">Lieutenant Somers and Others</a></li> +</ol> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Soldier Boy;</h2> +<h4>or,</h4> +<h2>Tom Somers in the Army.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_1" name="Ch_1">Chapter I.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Pinchbrook.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered, mother!” shouted +Thomas Somers, as he rushed into the room where his mother was +quietly reading her Bible.</p> +<p>It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been circulated about +the usually quiet village of Pinchbrook Harbor. Men’s lips +were compressed, and their teeth shut tight together. They were +indignant, for traitors had fired upon the flag of the United +States. Men, women, and children were roused by the indignity +offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that struck the +walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to strike the souls of the +whole population of the North, and never was there such a great +awakening since the Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon +the rock of Plymouth.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered!” shouted the indignant +young patriot again, as his mother looked up from the blessed +volume.</p> +<p>“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as +she closed the Bible, and removed her spectacles.</p> +<p>“Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away at the +fort for two days, and at last we had to give in.”</p> +<p>“There’ll be terrible times afore long,” +replied the old lady, shaking her head with prophetic +earnestness.</p> +<p>“The President has called for seventy-five thousand +volunteers, and I tell you there’ll be music before +long!” continued the youth, so excited that he paced the room +with rapid strides.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Thomas?” asked a feeble +old gentleman, entering the room at this moment.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran’ther,” +repeated Thomas, at the top of his lungs, for the aged man was +quite deaf; “and the President has called for seventy-five +thousand men to go down and fight the traitors.”</p> +<p>“Sho!” exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing +with earnestness into the face of the boy.</p> +<p>“It’s a fact, gran’ther.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m too old to go,” muttered +gran’ther Greene; “but I wa’n’t +older’n you are when I shouldered my firelock in 1812. +I’m too old and stiff to go now.”</p> +<p>“How old were you, gran’ther, when you went to the +war?” asked Thomas, with more moderation than he had +exhibited before.</p> +<p>“Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am +now,” replied the patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously +into the old-fashioned high-back chair, by the side of the cooking +stove.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m sixteen, and I mean to go.”</p> +<p>“You, Thomas! You are crazy! You shan’t do any thing +of the kind,” interposed Mrs. Somers. “There’s +men enough to go to the war, without such boys as you +are.”</p> +<p>“You ain’t quite stout enough to make a soldier, +Thomas. You ain’t so big as I was, when I went off to York +state,” added gran’ther Greene.</p> +<p>“I should like to go any how,” said Thomas, as he +seated himself in a corner of the room, and began to think thoughts +big enough for a full-grown man.</p> +<p>“Fort Sumter has surrendered,” shouted John Somers, +rushing into the house as much excited as his brother had been.</p> +<p>“We’ve heard all about it, John,” replied his +mother.</p> +<p>“The President has called for seventy-five thousand men, +and in my opinion the rebels will get an awful licking before they +are a fortnight older. I should like to go and help do +it.”</p> +<p>The exciting news was discussed among the members of the Somers +family, as it was in thousands of other families, on that eventful +Sunday. Thomas and John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, +but Fort Sumter, and the terrible castigation which the rebels +would receive from the insulted and outraged North. They were loyal +even to enthusiasm; and when they retired to their chamber at +night, they ventured to express to each other their desire to join +the great army which was to avenge the insult offered to the flag +of the Union.</p> +<p>They were twin brothers, sixteen years of age; but they both +thought they were old enough and strong enough to be soldiers. +Their mother, however, had promptly disapproved of such +suggestions, and they had not deemed it prudent to discuss the idea +in her presence.</p> +<p>On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was fanned to a +fever heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a glow of patriotism. Men +neglected their usual occupations, and talked of the affairs of the +nation. Every person who could procure a flag hung it out at his +window, or hoisted it in his yard, or on his house. The governor +had called out a portion of the state militia, and already the +tramp of armed men was heard in the neighboring city of Boston.</p> +<p>Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the village, and during +the forenoon he mechanically performed the duties of his position; +but he could think of nothing but the exciting topic of the day. +His blood was boiling with indignation against those who had +trailed our hallowed flag in the dust. He wanted to do something to +redeem the honor of his country—something to wipe out the +traitors who had dared to conspire against her peace. On his way +home to dinner, he met Fred Pemberton, who lived only a short +distance from his own house.</p> +<p>“What do you think now, Fred?” said Thomas.</p> +<p>“What do I think? I think just as I always did—the +North is wrong, and the South is right,” replied Fred.</p> +<p>“Who fired upon Fort Sumter? That’s the +question,” said Thomas, his eyes flashing with +indignation.</p> +<p>“Why didn’t they give up the fort, then?”</p> +<p>“Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in before +the little State of South Carolina. Not by a two chalks!”</p> +<p>“I think the North has been teasing and vexing the South +till the Southerns can’t stand it any longer. There’ll +be war now.”</p> +<p>“I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!”</p> +<p>“I hope the South will beat!”</p> +<p>“Do you? Do you, Fred Pemberton?” demanded Tom, so +excited he could not stand still.</p> +<p>“Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we had let +their niggers alone, there wouldn’t have been any +trouble.”</p> +<p>“You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don’t you see this +isn’t a quarrel between the North and the South, but between +the government and the rebels?”</p> +<p>“I don’t see it. If the North had let the South +alone, there wouldn’t have been any fuss. I hope the North +will get whipped, and I know she will.”</p> +<p>“Fred, you are a traitor to your country!”</p> +<p>“No, I’m not!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I’d ride you on +a rail out of town.”</p> +<p>“No, you wouldn’t.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent fellow; +but you are a dirty, low-lived traitor.”</p> +<p>“Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers!” +retorted the young secessionist, angrily.</p> +<p>“A fellow that won’t stand by his country +ain’t fit to live. You are an out-and-out traitor.”</p> +<p>“Don’t call me that again, Tom Somers,” +replied Fred, doubling up his fist.</p> +<p>“I say you are a traitor.”</p> +<p>“Take that, then.”</p> +<p>Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow on the side of +his head. Perhaps it was fortunate for our young patriot that an +opportunity was thus afforded him to evaporate some of his +enthusiasm in the cause of his country, for there is no knowing +what might have been the consequence if it had remained longer pent +up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and a contest, on a +small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the treason of +the South commenced. How long it might have continued, or what +might have been the result, cannot now be considered; for the +approach of a chaise interrupted the battle, and the forces of +secession were reënforced by a full-grown man.</p> +<p>The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his whip in his +hand, and proceeded to lay it about the legs and body of the +representative of the Union side. This was more than Tom Somers +could stand, and he retreated in good order from the spot, till he +had placed himself out of the reach of the whip.</p> +<p>“What do you mean, you young scoundrel?” demanded +the gentleman who had interfered.</p> +<p>Tom looked at him, and discovered that it was Squire Pemberton, +the father of his late opponent.</p> +<p>“He hit me first,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“He called me a traitor,” added Fred. “I +won’t be called a traitor by him, or any other +fellow.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you +villain?”</p> +<p>“I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He said he +hoped the South would beat.”</p> +<p>“Suppose he did. I hope so too,” added Squire +Pemberton.</p> +<p>The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to settle the +question. If he hoped so, that was enough.</p> +<p>“Then you are a traitor, too. That’s all I’ve +got to say,” replied Tom, boldly.</p> +<p>“You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word to me!” +roared the squire, as he moved towards the blunt-spoken little +patriot.</p> +<p>For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to fall back; but +as he did so, he picked up a couple of good-sized stones.</p> +<p>“I said you were a traitor, and I say so again,” +said Tom.</p> +<p>“Two can play at that game,” added Fred, as he +picked up a stone and threw it at Tom.</p> +<p>The Union force returned the fire with the most determined +energy, until one of the missiles struck the horse attached to the +chaise. The animal, evidently having no sympathy with either party +in this miniature contest, and without considering how much damage +he might do the rebel cause, started off at a furious pace when the +stone struck him. He dashed down the hill at a fearful rate, and +bounded away over the plain that led to the Harbor.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton and his son had more interest in the fate of +the runaway horse than they had in the issue of the contest, and +both started at the top of their speed in pursuit. But they might +as well have chased a flash of lightning, or a locomotive going at +the rate of fifty miles an hour.</p> +<p>Tom Somers came down from the bank which he had ascended to +secure a good position. He had done rather more than he intended to +do; but on the whole he did not much regret it. He watched the +course of the spirited animal, as he dashed madly on to +destruction. The career of the horse was short; for in the act of +turning a corner, half a mile from the spot where Tom stood, he +upset the chaise, and was himself thrown down, and, being entangled +in the harness, was unable to rise before a stout man had him by +the head.</p> +<p>“I wish that chaise had been the southern +confederacy,” said Tom to himself, philosophically, when he +saw the catastrophe in the distance. “Well, it served you +right, old Secesh; and I’ll bet there ain’t many folks +in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to comfort the +mourners.”</p> +<p>With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his way home. At +dinner, he gave the family a faithful account of the +transaction.</p> +<p>“You didn’t do right, Thomas,” said his +mother.</p> +<p>“He hit me first.”</p> +<p>“You called him a traitor.”</p> +<p>“He is a traitor, and so is his father.”</p> +<p>“I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is of +meat,” added gran’ther Greene.</p> +<p>“You haven’t seen the last of it yet, Thomas,” +said the prudent mother.</p> +<p>“No matter, Tom; I’ll stand by you,” added +John.</p> +<p>After dinner, the two boys walked down to the Harbor +together.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_2" name="Ch_2">Chapter II.</a></h3> +<h2>The Somers Family.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance from Boston, with +which it is connected by railroad. If any of our young readers are +of a geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain the +exact locality of the place, we will save them any unnecessary +trouble, for it is not laid down on any map with which we are +familiar. We live in times of war, and probably our young friends +have already learned the meaning of “military +necessity.” Our story is essentially a military story, and +there are certain military secrets connected with it which might be +traced out if we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly +where Pinchbrook is situated.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to find out +certain persons connected with some irregular proceedings in and +around his house on the evening of Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to +the truth of history compels us to narrate these proceedings in our +humble volume; but we should exceedingly regret thereby to get any +of our friends into a scrape by informing the squire that they were +active participants in the scenes of that eventful night, or to say +any thing which would enable him, a lawyer, to trace out the +authors of the mischief through these pages. Therefore we cannot +say where Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which would enable our +readers to fix definitely its locality.</p> +<p>Pinchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, +engaged, as the school books would say, in agriculture, +manufactures, commerce, and the fisheries, which, rendered into +still plainer English, means that some of the people are farmers; +that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, are made; that +the inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, and +similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels owned in the +place, the principal part of which are fishermen.</p> +<p>We have not the agricultural and commercial statistics of the +place at hand; but the larger territorial part of the town was +devoted to the farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, +while the principal village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more +densely peopled, contained two stores, four churches, one wharf, a +blacksmith shop, and several shoe and bucket manufactories.</p> +<p>We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is rather a +singular name. The antiquarians have not yet had an opportunity to +determine its origin; but our private opinion is that the word is a +corruption of <em>Punch</em>-brook. Perhaps, at some remote period +in the history of the town, before the Sons of Temperance obtained +a foothold in the place, a villainous mixture, known to topers +under the general appellation of “punch,” may have been +largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged +person ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, +metaphorically, the punch was said to “flow in +streams.” Possibly, from “streams” came +“brooks,”—hence, +“Punchbrook,”—which, under the strange mutations +of time, has become “Pinchbrook.” But we are not +learned in these matters, and we hope that nothing we have said +will bias the minds of antiquarians, and prevent them from devoting +that attention to the origin of the word which its importance +demands.</p> +<p>The Somers family, which we have already partially introduced, +occupied a small cottage not quite a mile from Pinchbrook Harbor. +Captain Somers, the head of the family, had been, and was still, +for aught his wife and children knew, master of the schooner +Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he had heavily mortgaged his +house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire Pemberton. But his voyages +had not been uniformly successful, though the captain believed that +his earthly possessions, after discharging all his liabilities, +would amount to about five thousand dollars.</p> +<p>The mortgage note would become due in June, and Captain Somers +had been making a strong effort to realize upon his property, so as +to enable him to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers +had a brother who was familiarly known in the family as uncle +Wyman. He had spent his life, from the age of eighteen, in the +South, and at the time of which we write, he was a merchant in +Norfolk.</p> +<p>Captain Somers and his brother had been interested together in +certain mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the business +man, had the proceeds of these ventures in his own hands.</p> +<p>On the 10th of April, only two days before the bombardment of +Fort Sumter, Captain Somers had sailed in the Gazelle, with an +assorted cargo, for Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his +wife that he should not return without effecting a settlement with +Wyman, who had postponed it so many times, that the honest sailor +began to fear his brother did not mean to deal justly with him. +Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her departure from +Boston.</p> +<p>Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern +principles, while his brother, though not in the habit of saying +much about politics, was fully committed on the side of the +government, and was willing to sustain the President in the use of +all the coercion that might be necessary to enforce obedience to +the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the South had made +Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts +adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were +in the hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so +strong an advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the +declaration that he would not return without a settlement.</p> +<p>The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not +in a very prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house +depended entirely upon the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The +mortgage note which Squire Pemberton held would be due in June, and +as the creditor was not an indulgent man, there was a prospect that +even the little cottage and the little farm might be wrested from +them.</p> +<p>The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. +The two oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working +fishermen at the Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years +of age. The former had a place in one of the stores at the village, +and the latter occasionally went a fishing trip with his +brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been brought up to work, and +there was need enough now that they should contribute what they +could to the support of the family. The youngest child, Jane, was +but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs. Somers’s +brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a +pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for +twenty years; and was familiarly known in town as +“Gran’ther Green.”</p> +<p>Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the +Somers family, we are prepared to continue our story.</p> +<p>Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. +The latter had listened with interest and approbation to his +brother’s account of the “Battle of Pinchbrook,” +as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he thought Thomas might +need his assistance before he reached the store, for Fred and his +father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest where +they had left it.</p> +<p>We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero +of this volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully +indorsed the action of his brother.</p> +<p>“Fred is a traitor, and so is his father,” said he, +as they passed out at the front gate of the little cottage.</p> +<p>“That’s so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear +them talk,” replied Thomas. “And I couldn’t help +calling things by their right names.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you, Tom!” added John, as he turned +round, and glanced at the house to assure himself they were out of +the hearing of their mother. “Between you and me, Tom, there +will be music in Pinchbrook to-night.”</p> +<p>He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and +heavy with importance.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Thomas, his interest +excited by the words and manner of his brother.</p> +<p>“There is fun ahead.”</p> +<p>“Tell me what it’s all about.”</p> +<p>“You won’t say a word—will you?”</p> +<p>“Of course I won’t.”</p> +<p>“Not to mother, I mean, most of all.”</p> +<p>“Certainly not.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own +good.”</p> +<p>“I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff +Davis himself is no bigger traitor than he is.”</p> +<p>“Some of the people are going to make him a call +to-night.”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“What do you suppose? Can’t you see through a +millstone, Tom, when there is a hole in it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean.”</p> +<p>“You can come with us if you like, and then you will know +all about it,” added John, mysteriously.</p> +<p>“But what are you going to do?”</p> +<p>“We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his +house, or hang it out of his window.”</p> +<p>“Well, suppose he won’t.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll hang him where the flag ought to be. +We’ll pull the house down over his head.”</p> +<p>“I’m with you, Jack,” replied Thomas, with +enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“We won’t have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we +can’t cure him, we’ll ride him on a rail out of the +town.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know as you and I ought to get into this +scrape,” added Thomas, thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he +may get ugly.”</p> +<p>“Let him, if he likes. I’m not going to tolerate a +traitor because he has a mortgage on my father’s house. +Besides, that is a fair business transaction; the squire gets his +interest.”</p> +<p>“Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil +spirit.”</p> +<p>“Women are always timid,” said John, sagely.</p> +<p>“By George! there comes the very man himself!” +exclaimed Thomas, as he discovered a horse and chaise slowly +approaching.</p> +<p>“So it is; that old chaise looks rather the worse for the +wear. It looks as though it had been through the wars.”</p> +<p>The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard usage. One of +the shafts was broken, the dasher wrenched off, and the top stove +in. The horse was covered with mud, and limped badly from the +effects of his fall. The broken shaft and the harness were now +plentifully adorned with ropes and old straps. In fact, the +catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim which the chaise ever +might have had to be considered a “hahnsome +kerridge.”</p> +<p>“There’ll be fun nearer home, I reckon,” said +John, as he obtained his first view of the sour visage of the +squire.</p> +<p>“Can’t help it,” added Thomas.</p> +<p>“Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I intend to do so.”</p> +<p>“Don’t say a word about to-night, Tom.”</p> +<p>“Of course not.”</p> +<p>When the chaise had approached near enough to enable the squire +to recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the horse, +and got out of the vehicle, with the whip in his hand.</p> +<p>“Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to insult me +and my son, and destroy my property. Stay in the chaise, Fred, and +hold the horse,” he added to his son.</p> +<p>But there was not much need of holding the horse now, for he was +too lame to run fast or far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if +the squire had been a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash +of their eyes, that he was about to engage in an unsafe +operation.</p> +<p>“I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of your life, +you villain, you!” roared the squire, brandishing the +whip.</p> +<p>“No, you are not,” replied Thomas, coolly.</p> +<p>“If you drop the weight of that lash on my brother, +I’ll smash your head,” added John.</p> +<p>The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form of the young +sailor. Better thoughts, or at least wiser ones, came to his +aid.</p> +<p>“I can bring you to your senses in another way,” +said he, dropping his whip, and getting into the chaise again. +“You will hear from me before the week is out.”</p> +<p>“Let him go; don’t say a word, Tom,” added +John.</p> +<p>“He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by +that.”</p> +<p>“Let him prosecute and be hanged! I’ll bet by +to-morrow morning he will think better of it. At any rate, he will +find out what the people of Pinchbrook think of him.”</p> +<p>The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached the store, where +they found the group of idlers, that always frequent shops in the +country, busily engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas +had been the principal actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the +Pinchbrook Battle was saluted with a volley of applause, and his +conduct fully approved and commended, for a copperhead in that day +was an abomination to the people.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_3" name="Ch_3">Chapter III.</a></h3> +<h2>Taming a Traitor.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>With the exception of Squire Pemberton, Pinchbrook was a +thoroughly loyal town; and the people felt that it was a scandal +and a disgrace to have even a single traitor within its border. The +squire took no pains to conceal his treasonable sentiments, though +the whole town was in a blaze of patriotic excitement. On the +contrary, he had gone out of his way, and taken a great deal of +pains, to condemn the government and the people of the North.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had always been a +person of great influence in the place. He had occupied all the +principal official positions in town and county. He had come to +regard himself, as his townsmen were for the most part willing to +regard him, as the social and political oracle of the place. What +he thought in town meeting was generally the sense of his +fellow-citizens, and when he expressed himself in words, his word +was law.</p> +<p>When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins, with the +national flag trodden under the feet of traitors, with the +government insulted and threatened, Squire Pemberton ventured to +speak in tones of condemnation of the free North, the people of +Pinchbrook listened coldly, at first, to the sayings of their +oracle; and when he began to abuse the loyal spirit of the North, +some ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in the habit +of having men dissent, and it made him angry. His treason became +more treasonable, his condemnation more bitter. Plain, honest men, +to whatever party they might have belonged, were disgusted with the +great man of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express their +disapprobation of his course in very decided terms. Some were +disposed to be indulgent because the Squire had a sister in Georgia +who had married a planter. But there was not found a single person, +outside of his own family, who was mean enough to uphold him in his +treacherous denunciation of the government.</p> +<p>The squire was too self-sufficient and opinionated to be +influenced by the advice of friends or the warning of those who had +suddenly become his enemies. He had so often carried the town to +his own views, that, perhaps, he expected to manufacture a public +sentiment in Pinchbrook that would place the town on the side of +the rebels. All day Sunday, and all day Monday, he rode about the +Harbor preaching treason. He tried to convince the people that the +South had all the right, and the North all the wrong; but he had +never found them so obstinate and incredulous before.</p> +<p>Towards night one of the ministers ventured to suggest to him +that he was sowing the wind, and would reap the whirlwind. The good +man even hinted that he had roused a storm of indignation in the +town which he might find it difficult to allay.</p> +<p>The squire laughed at the minister, and told him he was not +afraid of any thing. He intended to speak his honest sentiments, as +every citizen had a right to do; and he would like to see any man, +or any body of men, who would dare to meddle with him.</p> +<p>“I am afraid you will see them, Squire Pemberton,” +added the minister.</p> +<p>“Let them come where they please and when they +please.”</p> +<p>“What will you do? What is your single arm against scores +of strong men?”</p> +<p>“Nothing, perhaps, but I don’t fear them. I am true +to my convictions; why need I fear?”</p> +<p>“I think your convictions, as you call them, are deluding +you. Do you think Benedict Arnold’s convictions, if he had +any, would have saved his neck from the halter?”</p> +<p>“Do you mean to compare me to Benedict Arnold, +sir?”</p> +<p>“I came to you, as a friend, to warn you of impending +danger; and, as your friend, I am compelled to say that I +don’t see much difference between your position and that of +Benedict Arnold.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean to insult me?”</p> +<p>“Not at all, sir. I was only expressing my honest +conviction. Instead of placing yourself on the side of your +government, on the side of law and order, you are going about +Pinchbrook Harbor denouncing the legitimate government of your +country, and pleading the cause of rebels and traitors.”</p> +<p>“Am I not at liberty to say what I please of the +government?”</p> +<p>“In ordinary times, you are. Just now, the country is in a +state of war, and he who is not for the flag is against it. You may +criticize the government as its friend, but not as its foe. When +armed men conspire against the peace of the land, he who pleads +their cause is a traitor—nay, sir, don’t be angry; +these are my convictions.”</p> +<p>“Political parsons have been the ruin of the +country,” sneered the squire. “That is my +conviction.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton, I beg you not to be rash. If you must +cherish these pernicious views, I entreat you, keep them to +yourself. You may think what you please, but the utterance of +treason makes a traitor.”</p> +<p>“I shall proclaim my views from the housetop,” +replied the squire, angrily, as he abruptly turned away from the +minister.</p> +<p>The squire continued obdurate to the last. Neither the +persuasions of his friends nor the threats of his enemies had any +effect in silencing his tongue; and as late as sundown on that day +of the Great Awakening he was pouring treachery and treason into +the ears of a neighbor who happened to pass his house. Half an hour +later in the day, there was a great gathering of men and boys at +the bridge on the outskirts of the village. They were singing Hail +Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner. Thomas and John Somers were +there.</p> +<p>Presently the assemblage began to move up the road which led to +Squire Pemberton’s house, singing patriotic songs as they +marched. It was a multitude of persons for Pinchbrook; and no doubt +the obnoxious oracle thought so when he saw the sea of heads that +surrounded his dwelling. If this was a mob, it was certainly a very +orderly mob, for the crowd thus far had done nothing worse than to +sing the national airs.</p> +<p>The arrangements had all been made before the multitude started +from the place of rendezvous. Three gentlemen, the principal of +whom was Captain Barney, had been appointed a committee to wait +upon the squire, and politely request him to display the American +flag on his premises.</p> +<p>In the road, in front of the house, a large fire had been +kindled, which threw a broad, bright glare on the house and the +surrounding grounds. It was as light as day in the vicinity when +the committee walked up to the front door of the house and rang the +bell. The squire answered the summons himself.</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton,” said Captain Barney, “your +fellow-citizens, about two hundred in number, have called upon you +with a simple and reasonable request.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded the squire.</p> +<p>“That you hoist the Stars and Stripes on your +house.”</p> +<p>“I won’t do it!” roared the victim, as he +slammed the door in the faces of the committee.</p> +<p>“That is insolence,” said Captain Barney, quietly. +“We will go in.”</p> +<p>The captain led the way; but the door had been locked upon them. +The shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt +yielded.</p> +<p>“What do you mean, you villains?” thundered the +squire, as he confronted the committee in the entry.</p> +<p>“You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces +before we had finished our story,” replied the immovable old +sea captain.</p> +<p>“How dare you break in my door?” growled the +squire.</p> +<p>“We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don’t +treat us respectfully.”</p> +<p>“A man’s house is his castle,” added the +squire, a little more moderately.</p> +<p>“That’s very good law, but there isn’t a house +in Pinchbrook that is big enough or strong enough to shield a +traitor from the indignation of his fellow-citizens. We do not +purpose to harm you or your property, if you behave like a +reasonable man.”</p> +<p>“You shall suffer for this outrage,” gasped the +squire, whose rage was increased by the cool and civil manner of +Captain Barney.</p> +<p>“When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that +your fellow-citizens wish you to display the national +flag.”</p> +<p>“I refuse to do it, sir.”</p> +<p>“Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up +their minds not to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits +of the town of Pinchbrook.”</p> +<p>“I am no traitor.”</p> +<p>“That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your +fellow-citizens assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your +patriotism.”</p> +<p>“I will not do it on compulsion.”</p> +<p>“Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable +measures.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that, sir?” asked the squire, +who was evidently alarmed by the threat. “Do you mean to +proceed to violence?”</p> +<p>“We do, Squire Pemberton,” answered Captain Barney, +decidedly.</p> +<p>“O my country!” sighed the victim, “has it +come to this? The laws will no longer protect her +citizens.”</p> +<p>“That’s very fine, sir. Do you expect the laws to +protect you while you are aiding and abetting those who are trying +to destroy them? Is there any law to protect a traitor in his +treason? But we waste time, Squire Pemberton. Will you display the +American flag?”</p> +<p>“Suppose I refuse?”</p> +<p>“We will pull your house down over your head. We will give +you a coat of tar and feathers, and remove you beyond the limits of +the town. If you ever come back, we will hang you to the nearest +tree.”</p> +<p>“Good Heaven! Is it possible that my fellow-citizens are +assassins—incendiaries!”</p> +<p>“Your answer, squire.”</p> +<p>“For mercy’s sake, husband, do what they ask,” +interposed his wife, who had been an anxious listener in the +adjoining room.</p> +<p>“I must do it,” groaned the squire, speaking the +truth almost for the first time in forty-eight hours. “Alas! +where is our boasted liberty of speech!”</p> +<p>“Fudge! squire,” replied Captain Barney, +contemptuously. “If your friend Jeff Davis should come to +Massachusetts to-morrow, to preach a crusade against the North, and +to raise an army to destroy the free institutions of the country, I +suppose you think it would be an outrage upon free speech to put +him down. We don’t think so. Up with the flag, +squire.”</p> +<p>“Fred, you may hang the flag out at the front window up +stairs,” said the squire to his son.</p> +<p>“All right, squire. Now a few words more, and we bid you +good night. You may <em>think</em> what you please, but if you +utter another word of treason in Pinchbrook during the term of your +natural life, the party outside will carry out the rest of the +programme.”</p> +<p>By this time Fred Pemberton had fastened the flag to one of his +mother’s clothes poles, and suspended it out of the window +over the porch. It was hailed with three tremendous cheers by the +multitude who were in waiting to discipline the squire, and +exorcise the evil spirit of treason and secession.</p> +<p>The work of the evening was finished, not wholly to the +satisfaction, perhaps, of a portion of the younger members of the +assemblage, who would gladly have joined in the work of pillage and +destruction, but much to the gratification of the older and +steadier portion of the crowd, who were averse to violent +proceedings.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_4" name="Ch_4">Chapter IV.</a></h3> +<h2>The Committee come out, and Tom goes in.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had +appointed to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the +house, engaged in bringing the traitor to terms, the younger +members of the assemblage were very impatient to know how matters +were progressing. Thomas Somers was particularly anxious to have +the affair brought to a crisis. In vain he and a few other of the +young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the interior of the +house, where the exciting interview was in progress.</p> +<p>Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough +disciplinarian. Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were +technically illegal; that in forcing himself into the house of the +squire he was breaking the law of the land; but it seemed to him to +be one of those cases where prompt action was necessary, and the +law was too tardy to be of any service. He was, however, determined +that the business should be done with as little violence as +possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the bridge to do no +needless injury to the property or the feelings of the squire or +his family.</p> +<p>When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the +door to prevent any of the people from following him. He had also +directed them not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until +he gave the signal. These directions proved a great hardship to the +boys in the crowd, and they were completely disgusted when they saw +the flag thrown loose from the front window.</p> +<p>The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, +about a hundred feet from the road. In front of it was a green +lawn, adorned with several large buttonwood trees. There was no +fence to enclose what was called the front yard. The crowd was +assembled on this lawn, and agreeably to the directions of the +leader, or chairman of the committee, none of them passed into the +yard in the rear and at the end of the house, which was separated +from the lawn by a picket fence.</p> +<p>Boys are instinctively curious to know what is going on, and the +“living room” of the squire, in which the exciting +conversation was taking place, was in the rear of the house. The +windows on the front were dark and uncommunicative. The boys were +restless and impatient; if there was to be any fun, they wanted to +see it. Thomas was as impatient as his fellows, and being more +enterprising than the others, he determined, while obeying the +instructions of Captain Barney in the spirit, to disobey them in +the letter.</p> +<p>He had been a sufferer to the extent of two great wales on the +calves of his legs by the treason of the squire, and no doubt he +thought he ought to be regarded as an exception to those who were +called on to observe the instructions of the chairman of the +committee. Leaving the group of inquiring minds near the front door +of the house, he walked down the driveway till he came to a rail +fence, through which he crawled, and entered the field adjoining +the garden of the squire. His fellow-citizens, men and boys, were +too intently watching the house to heed him, and no one noticed his +enterprising movement.</p> +<p>From the field, he entered the garden, and made his way to the +rear of the house. But even here, he was doomed to disappointment, +for Mrs. Pemberton had drawn her curtains. Our hero was not, +however, to be utterly defeated, and as the curtains had not been +fitted by an accomplished upholsterer, there were openings on +either side, through which he might command a full view of the +interior of the room.</p> +<p>Thomas proceeded slowly and cautiously to obtain a position +which would enable him to gratify his curiosity, and witness the +humiliation of the haughty squire. Beneath the window which, he had +chosen to look through, there was a cellar door, from which a pile +of seaweed, placed upon it to keep the frost out of the cellar, had +just been removed. The adventurous inquirer crept up the slippery +boards, and gained the coveted position. He could not only see the +committee and the squire, but he could hear all they said. He was +perfectly delighted with the manner in which the captain put the +question to the squire; and when the latter ordered Fred to hang +out the flag, he was a little disposed to imitate the masculine +occupants of the hen-house, a short distance from his perch; but +Tom, as we have before intimated, had a very tolerable idea of the +principles of strategy, and had the self-possession to hold his +tongue, and permit the triumphant scene within to pass without a +crow or a cheer.</p> +<p>The battle had been fought and the victory won; and though Tom +felt that he was one of the victors, he deemed it prudent, for +strategical reasons, to commence a retreat. The cellar doors, as we +have before hinted, were very slippery, having been thoroughly +soaked with moisture while covered with the seaweed. When the hero +of this unauthorized reconnoissance wheeled about to commence his +retreat, his feet incontinently slipped up upon the inclined +surface of the doors, and he came down heavily upon the rotten +boards. This, in itself, would have been but an inconsiderable +disaster, and he might still have withdrawn from the inconvenient +locality, if circumstances had not conspired against him, as +circumstances sometimes will, when they ought to be conciliatory +and accommodating. The force with which Tom fell upon the decayed +boards was too much for them, and the unlucky adventurer became +another victim to the treachery of rotten wood, which has hurled so +many thousands from time into eternity.</p> +<p>But Tom was not hurled so far as that on the present occasion, +though for all practical purposes, for the succeeding half hour, he +might as well have been a hundred fathoms under water, or beneath +the wreck of a twenty-ton locomotive at the bottom of the river. +That cellar door was a bad place to fall through, which may be +accounted for on the supposition that it was not made to fall +through. In his downward progress, Tom had unluckily struck his +head against the side of the house; and when he landed at the +bottom of the stairs, he was utterly oblivious to all distinctions +between treason and loyalty. Tom was not killed, I need not inform +the ingenious reader, or this would otherwise have been the last +chapter of the story; but the poor fellow did not know whether he +was dead or alive.</p> +<p>In fact, he had not sense enough left to consider the question +at all; for there he lay, in the gloom of the traitor’s dark +cellar, silent and motionless—a solemn warning to all our +young readers of the folly and wickedness of indulging an illegal +and sinful curiosity. It may seem cruel and inhuman in us to +forsake poor Tom in this sad plight; but we must, nevertheless, go +up stairs, in order that the sufferer may be duly and properly +relieved in due and proper season.</p> +<p>When the committee of three, appointed by the indignant +loyalists of Pinchbrook, had completed their mission in the house +of the squire, like sensible men they proposed to leave; and they +so expressed themselves, through their spokesman, to the unwilling +host. They put their hats on, and moved into the front entry, +whither they were followed by the discomfited traitor. They had +scarcely left the room before a tremendous crash greeted the ears +of that portion of the family which remained in the apartment. This +was the precise moment at which poor Tom Somers found himself on +the bottom of the cellar; or, to be entirely accurate, when he lost +himself on the bottom of the cellar.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton heard the crash, and she very naturally concluded +that the hour of retribution had actually come; that the terrible +mob had commenced the work of destruction. To her +“fear-amazed” mind it seemed as though the whole side +of the house had fallen in, and, for a moment, she confidently +expected the chimneys would presently go by the board, and the roof +come thundering down upon the devoted heads of her outraged family. +Perhaps, at that terrible moment, she wished her husband had been +like other women’s husbands, a true and loyal man, cheering +the old flag, and hurling harmless anathemas at the graceless +rebels.</p> +<p>But the chimney did not go by the board, nor the roof come +thundering down upon her head. There was not even a sound of +destruction to be heard, and the sides of the house seemed to be +firm and decided in their intention to maintain their perpendicular +position. A few minutes later, when the committee announced to the +multitude the success of their undertaking, and Fred had displayed +the flag from the window, peal upon peal of stunning huzzas saluted +her ears, and the awful peril of the preceding moments appeared to +be averted. The squire, having closed and barricaded the broken +door as well as he could, returned to the room, with curses deep +and bitter upon his lips. He was not in the habit of swearing, but +the magnitude of the occasion seemed to justify the innovation, and +he swore hugely, roundly, awfully. He paced the room, ground his +teeth, and stamped upon the floor.</p> +<p>“Father, did you hear that terrible racket just +now?” asked Mrs. Pemberton. “I thought the side of the +house had fallen in.”</p> +<p>“What racket?” demanded the squire, pausing in his +excited walk.</p> +<p>“I am sure they have broken something.”</p> +<p>“It sounded as though it was down cellar,” added +Susan, the daughter.</p> +<p>“What was it?” asked the father.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. It sounded like breaking boards. Do +go down cellar, and find out what it was.”</p> +<p>“The scoundrels!” roared the squire, as he rushed up +and down the room again with the fury of a madman. +“I’ll teach them to break into my house!”</p> +<p>“Be calm, father,” interposed Mrs. Pemberton, who, +like most New England mothers, called her husband by the title +which belonged exclusively to the children.</p> +<p>“Calm? How can I be calm? Don’t you hear the +ruffians shout and yell?”</p> +<p>“They are only cheering the flag.”</p> +<p>The squire muttered a malediction upon the flag, which would +probably have procured for him a coat of tar and feathers, if the +mob had heard it. Mrs. Pemberton was silent, for she had never seen +her husband so moved before. She permitted him to pace the room in +his frenzy till his anger had, in some measure, subsided.</p> +<p>“I wish you would go down cellar and find out what that +noise was,” said Mrs. Pemberton, as soon as she dared to +speak again. “Perhaps some of them are down there now. Who +knows but they will set the house afire.”</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton was startled by this suggestion, and, seizing +the lamp, he rushed down cellar to prevent so dire a calamity.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_5" name="Ch_5">Chapter V.</a></h3> +<h2>The Attic Chamber.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Squire Pemberton rushed down cellar. He was very much excited, +and forgot that he had been troubled with the rheumatism during the +preceding winter. When he opened the cellar door, he was +considerably relieved to find that no brilliant light saluted his +expectant gaze. It was as cold and dark in the cellar as it had +been when he sorted over the last of his Warren Russets, a few days +before.</p> +<p>It was certain, therefore, that the house was not on fire; and, +invigorated by this thought, he descended the stairs. A strong +current of fresh, cold air extinguished the light he carried. As +this was contrary to his usual experience when he went down cellar +in the evening after an apple or a mug of cider, it assured him +that there was a screw loose somewhere. Returning to the room +above, he procured a lantern, and proceeded to the cellar again to +renew his investigations.</p> +<p>The squire felt the cold blast of the April air, and immediately +made his way to the cellar door, holding the lantern up as high as +his head, to ascertain the nature of the mischief which the +fanatical abolitionists had perpetrated. He saw that the cellar +door was broken through. The rotten boards lay upon the steps, and +with another malediction upon the mob, he placed the lantern upon a +barrel, and proceeded to repair the damage. As he stepped forward, +he stumbled against the body of the enterprising hero of this +volume, who lay as calm and still as a sleeping child.</p> +<p>The squire started back, not a little alarmed at the sight of +the motionless body. He felt as though a terrible retribution had +fallen upon somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting +to destroy his property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the +cellar stairs by which he had descended, and stood there for a +moment, his tongue paralyzed, and his knees smiting each other, in +the agony of terror.</p> +<p>We do not know what he was afraid of, but we suppose that +instinctive dread which some people manifest in the presence of +death, had completely overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to +be afraid of, for a dead man is not half so likely to do a person +an injury as a living one. But in a few minutes Squire Pemberton in +some measure recovered his self-possession.</p> +<p>“There is a dead man down here!” he called up the +staircase, in quaking tones.</p> +<p>“Mercy on us!” exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton. “Who +is he?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied the squire.</p> +<p>“Look and see who it is, father,” added Mrs. +Pemberton. “Perhaps he isn’t dead.”</p> +<p>“Stone dead,” persisted the squire. “He fell +into the cellar and broke his neck.”</p> +<p>“Go and see who it is—will you?”</p> +<p>“Well, you come down and hold the light,” said the +squire, who was not quite willing to say that he was scared out of +his wits.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton descended the stairs, followed by Susan and Fred, +who had just returned from the front window, where he had exhibited +the flag, which the crowd outside were still cheering.</p> +<p>“Who can it be?” continued the old lady, as she +slowly and cautiously walked forward to the scene of the +catastrophe.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied the squire, in whom +the presence of his family had spurred up a semblance of courage; +for if a man ever is brave, it is in the presence of his wife and +children. “If it is one of the ruffians who came here to +destroy my house, I am glad he has lost his life in the attempt. It +is a righteous retribution upon him for his wickedness.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton took the lantern, and the squire, still excited +and terrified, bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. +The victim lay upon his face, and the squire had to turn him over +to obtain a view of his countenance.</p> +<p>“I declare it is one of the Somers boys!” exclaimed +Mrs. Pemberton, as her husband brought the face of Thomas to her +view.</p> +<p>“The young villain!” ejaculated the squire. +“It is lucky he was killed, or the house would have been in +flames before this time. He is a desperate young +scoundrel.”</p> +<p>“But he isn’t dead, father!” said Mrs. +Pemberton, as she knelt upon the cold ground, and felt the pulse of +the insensible boy. “He is only stunned.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry for it. If it had killed him, it would have +served him right,” added the squire, who had suddenly become +as bold as a lion—as bold as two lions.</p> +<p>“Come, father, let’s carry him up stairs, and put +him to bed.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I am going to do anything for this young +scoundrel!” exclaimed the squire, indignantly. “Why, he +stoned Fred and me to-day, and stoned the horse, and made him run +away and break the chaise all to pieces.”</p> +<p>“But we mustn’t leave him here in this situation. He +may die.”</p> +<p>“Let him die.”</p> +<p>“But what will folks say?”</p> +<p>The more humane wife evidently understood the weak point of the +squire, for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could +have induced him to set at defiance the public sentiment of +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Well, carry him up stairs then; but he never will get out +of my house till he has been severely punished for his +crimes.”</p> +<p>The squire and Fred took hold of the senseless form of poor Tom, +and carried it up stairs, where it was placed upon the sofa in the +sitting room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being “an +excellent hand in sickness,” and she immediately applied +herself to the duty of restoring the sufferer to consciousness.</p> +<p>“Don’t you think you had better go after the doctor, +father?” asked the good woman. “Some of his bones may +be broken, or he may be injured inwardly.”</p> +<p>“I shall not go for any doctor,” snarled the squire. +“Do you think I will trust myself out doors while that +howling mob is hanging round the house?”</p> +<p>“Fred can go,” suggested Susan.</p> +<p>“He can, but he shall not,” growled the squire, +throwing himself into his arm chair in the corner, with an +appearance of indifference and unconcern, which were far from +representing the actual state of his mind.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton said no more, but she and Susan went to work upon +the sufferer with camphor and hartshorn in good earnest, and in a +short time they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. +They continued the treatment for some time longer, with the most +satisfactory result, till Tom astonished them by jumping off the +sofa, and standing up in the middle of the room. He rubbed his +forehead, hunched up his left shoulder, and felt of his shins.</p> +<p>“Are you hurt, Thomas?” asked Mrs. Pemberton, with +more of tenderness in her tones than the squire deemed proper for +the occasion.</p> +<p>“No, marm, I guess not,” replied Tom. “My +shoulder feels a little stiff, and I think I barked one of my +shins; but I shall be as good as new by to-morrow.”</p> +<p>But there was an ugly bump on the side of his head, which he had +not yet discovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He +acknowledged the bump, but declared it was only a little sore and +would be all right by the next day.</p> +<p>“I feel pretty well,” continued Tom, “and I +guess I’ll go home now.”</p> +<p>“I think you won’t, young man,” interposed +Squire Pemberton.</p> +<p>Tom looked at him, and for the first time since he had come to +himself, he remembered in what manner he had received his injuries. +He immediately came to the conclusion that he had got into a bad +scrape. He was in the house of, and in the presence of, his great +enemy. The events of the day passed in rapid succession through his +mind, and he could not help thinking that he was destined to be the +first victim in Pinchbrook to the war spirit which had just been +awakened all over the country.</p> +<p>The squire thought he would not go home, which was as much as to +say he would not let him go home. Tom’s wits were a little +confused, after the hard knock he had received upon the head, and +all he could do was to stand and look at the oracle of Pinchbrook, +and wait for further developments.</p> +<p>“Young man,” said the squire, sternly, and in tones +that were intended to make a deep impression upon the mind of the +young man, “your time has come.”</p> +<p>The squire paused, and looked at the culprit to ascertain the +effect of the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be +perfectly cool, and was not annihilated by the suggestive remark of +the great man of Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“You have become a midnight marauder,” added the +squire, poetically.</p> +<p>“It isn’t seven o’clock yet,” said Tom +pointing to the great wooden clock in the corner of the room.</p> +<p>“You joined a mob to pillage and destroy the property of a +peaceable citizen. You broke in—”</p> +<p>“No, sir; the cellar door broke in,” interposed the +culprit.</p> +<p>“You broke into my house to set it afire!” continued +the squire, in a rage.</p> +<p>“No, sir, I did not. I only went round there to see the +fun,” replied Tom, pointing to the rear of the house; +“and the cellar door broke down and let me in. I did not mean +to do you or your house any harm; and I didn’t do any, except +breaking the cellar door, and I will have that mended.”</p> +<p>“Don’t tell me, you young villain! You meant to burn +my house.”</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t mean any thing of the kind,” +replied Tom, stoutly. “I was going off when the door broke +down. The boards were rotten, and I should think a man like you +ought to have better cellar doors than those are.”</p> +<p>The squire didn’t relish this criticism, especially from +the source whence it came. There was a want of humility on the part +of the culprit which the magnate of Pinchbrook thought would be +exceedingly becoming in a young man in his situation. The absence +of it made him more angry than before. He stormed and hurled +denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the mischief he had +done during the day, and alluded in strong terms to that which he +intended to perpetrate in the “dead watches of the +night”—which was the poetical rendering of half-past +six in the evening; for the squire was fond of effective +phrases.</p> +<p>Tom ventured to hint that a man who would not stand by his +country when her flag was insulted and “trailed in the +dust”—Tom had read the daily papers—ought to be +brought to his senses by such expedients as his fellow-citizens +might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the +squire’s wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon +the unlucky youth, which was that he should be taken to the +finished room in the attic, and confined there under bolts and bars +till the inquisitor should further declare and execute his +intentions.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pemberton and Susan remonstrated against this sentence, +prudently suggesting the consequences which might result from +detaining the boy. But the squire declared he should not go till he +had at least horsewhipped him; and if there was any justice left in +the land, he would send him to the county jail in the morning.</p> +<p>Tom wanted to resist the execution of his sentence, but he was +still weak from the effects of his fall, and he could not expect to +vanquish both the squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, +he permitted himself to be led to the attic chamber. The squire +thrust him into the room, and after carefully securing the door, +left our hero to meditate upon the reverse of fortune which had +overtaken him.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_6" name="Ch_6">Chapter VI.</a></h3> +<h2>The Way is Prepared.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Where do you suppose Thomas is?” said Mrs. Somers, +as she glanced at the clock, which indicated half-past nine.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied John. “He +can’t be a great ways off. I saw him in front of the +squire’s house when the committee went in.”</p> +<p>“The boy’s gone down to the Harbor again with the +rest of the folks, talking about the war,” added +gran’ther Greene, as he rose from his chair, and hobbled into +his chamber adjoining the kitchen.</p> +<p>At ten o’clock, the mother began to be a little uneasy; +and at eleven, even John had some fears that all was not well with +his brother. Neither of them was able to suggest anything that +could possibly have happened to the absentee. There had been no +battle fought, and so nobody could have been killed. There had been +no violence used in the transactions of the evening further than +breaking in the front door of Squire Pemberton, so that it was not +easy to believe that any accident had happened to him.</p> +<p>John had given a glowing account of the proceedings at the house +of the squire and the family had been much interested and excited +by the stirring narrative. His mother was perfectly satisfied, as +no one had been injured, and hoped the great man of Pinchbrook +would be brought to his senses. All these topics had been fully +discussed during the evening. John had informed his mother that +Captain Benson, who had formerly commanded the Pinchbrook Riflemen, +intended to raise a company for the war. He mentioned the names of +half a dozen young men who had expressed their desire to join. The +family had suggested that this and that man would go, and thus the +long evening passed away.</p> +<p>“I don’t see what has become of Thomas,” said +Mrs. Somers, when the clock struck eleven, as she rose from her +chair and looked out of the window.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t see, either,” replied John. +“I don’t believe there is anything going on at this +time of night.”</p> +<p>“I hope nothing has happened to him,” continued the +anxious mother, as she went to the door and looked out, hoping, +perhaps, to discover him in the gloom of the night, or to hear his +familiar step.</p> +<p>“What could have happened to him?” asked John, who +did not believe his brother was fool enough to fall overboard, or +permit any serious accident to happen to him.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I can’t see what has got the +boy. He always comes home before nine o’clock. Have you heard +him say anything that will give you an idea where he is?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t said anything to me.”</p> +<p>“Try, and see if you can’t think of +something,” persisted the anxious mother.</p> +<p>“He hasn’t talked of anything but the war since +yesterday morning.”</p> +<p>“What did he say?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, now,” answered John, musing. +“He said he should like to join the army, and go down and +fight the rebels.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers had heard as much from him, but she had given no +particular attention to his remarks on this subject, for they +seemed wild and visionary. John’s words, under the present +circumstances, appeared to be full of importance; and taking her +stocking, she seated herself before the stove, and resumed her +knitting. She was silent now, for her heart was heavy with the +premonitions of impending trouble.</p> +<p>“I will take a walk down to the Harbor, mother, and see if +I can find anything of him. There may be something going on there +that I don’t know about. He may be at the store, talking +about the war with Captain Barney and the rest of the +folks.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers offered no objection to this plan, and John put on +his cap, and left the house. The poor mother brooded upon her +trouble for another hour, and with every new moment, the trouble +seemed more real. The clock struck twelve before John returned; and +more than once during his absence, as she plied her needles, she +had wiped away a tear that hung among the furrows of her care-worn +cheek. She had been thinking of her husband, as well as of her son. +He was, or soon would be, in the midst of the traitors, and she +trembled for him. Uncle Wyman was a secessionist; and, beyond this, +she had not much confidence in his integrity, and if Captain Somers +came home at all, his property would all be swept away, and he +would be a beggar.</p> +<p>The events of that day were not calculated to conciliate Squire +Pemberton towards them, and the farm and the cottage would pass +away from them. All these things had been considered and +reconsidered by the devoted mother. Poverty and want seemed to +stare her in the face; and to add to all these troubles, Thomas did +not come home, and, as fond mothers will, she anticipated the +worst.</p> +<p>John entered the kitchen, and carelessly flung his cap upon the +table. Mrs. Somers looked at him, and waited patiently to hear any +intelligence he might bring. But John threw himself into a chair, +looking more gloomy than before he left the house. He did not +speak, and therefore he had no good news to tell.</p> +<p>“You didn’t see anything of him—did +you?” asked Mrs. Somers; but it was a useless question, for +she had already interpreted the meaning of his downcast looks.</p> +<p>“No, mother; there isn’t a man, woman, or child +stirring in the village; and I didn’t see a light in a single +house.”</p> +<p>“What do you suppose can have become of him?”</p> +<p>“I’m sure I don’t know. Tom is old enough and +smart enough to take care of himself.”</p> +<p>“It’s very strange.”</p> +<p>“So it is. I haven’t any idea what has become of +him.”</p> +<p>“Did you look around Squire Pemberton’s house, where +he was seen last?”</p> +<p>“I looked about on both sides of the road, going and +coming from the Harbor. I whistled all the way, and if he had been +any where round, he would have whistled back, as he always +does.”</p> +<p>“What do you <em>suppose</em> has become of him?” +demanded the poor mother, worried beyond expression at the +mysterious disappearance of her son.</p> +<p>“I can’t tell, mother.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think we had better call up the +neighbors, and have something done about it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied John, hardly less +anxious than his mother.</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose they would be able to find him if +we did,” added Mrs. Somers, wiping away the tears from her +face.</p> +<p>“I can’t think anything has happened to him, mother. +If he had been on the water, or anything of that kind, I should +feel worse about it.”</p> +<p>“If I only knew where he was, I shouldn’t feel so +bad about it,” said she; and her position, certainly, was a +reasonable one.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, sister?” called +gran’ther Greene, from his chamber. “Hasn’t that +boy got home yet?”</p> +<p>“No, he hasn’t come yet, and I am worried to death +about him,” replied Mrs. Somers, opening the door of her +brother’s room.</p> +<p>“What o’clock is it?”</p> +<p>“After twelve. Thomas never stayed out so late in his life +before. What do you suppose has become of him?”</p> +<p>“Law sake! I haven’t the leastest idea,” +answered the old man. “Thomas is a smart boy, and knows +enough to keep out of trouble.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I say,” added John, who had +unlimited confidence in his brother’s ability to take care of +himself.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what <em>I</em> think, John,” +said Mrs. Somers, throwing herself into her chair with an air of +desperation.</p> +<p>But she did not tell John what she thought: on the contrary, she +sat rocking herself in silence, as though her thought was too big +and too momentous for utterance.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you think, mother?” asked John, when +he had waited a reasonable time for her to express her opinion on +the exciting topic.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers rocked herself more violently than before, and made +no reply.</p> +<p>“What were you going to say?”</p> +<p>“I think the boy has gone off to Boston, and gone into the +army,” replied she, desperately, as though she had fully made +up her mind to commit herself to this belief.</p> +<p>“Do you think so, mother?”</p> +<p>“I feel almost sure of it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think so, mother. Tom wouldn’t have +gone off without saying something to me about it.”</p> +<p>“If he wouldn’t say it to me, he wouldn’t be +likely to say it to you, John. It don’t look a bit like +Thomas to go off and leave his mother in this way,” moaned +the poor woman, wiping away a deluge of tears that now poured from +her eyes.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he has done any such thing, +mother,” protested John.</p> +<p>“I feel almost certain about it, now. If the boy wanted to +go, and couldn’t stay at home, he ought to have told me +so.”</p> +<p>“He did say he wanted to go.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t think he really meant it. I want my boys +to love their country, and be ready to fight for it. Much as I +should hate to part with them, if they are needed, they may go; but +I don’t like to have them run away and leave me in this mean +way. I shouldn’t feel half so bad if I knew Thomas was in the +army now, as I do to think he ran away from home, just as though he +had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he +wouldn’t be a son of mine if he wasn’t ready to go and +fight for his country, and die for her too, if there was any need +of it. I didn’t think Thomas would serve me in this +way.”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he has.”</p> +<p>“I know he’s gone. I like his spunk, but if he had +only come to me and said he <em>must</em> go, I wouldn’t have +said a word; but to go off without bidding us good +by—it’s too bad, and I didn’t think Thomas would +do such a thing.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the +highest state of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not +adequate to the duty required of them, and nothing less than the +whole floor of the kitchen was sufficient for the proper venting of +her emotion.</p> +<p>“Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him +leave to go, even if he had teased you for a month?” asked +John.</p> +<p>“Certainly I should,” replied his mother, stopping +short in the middle of the floor. “I’m ready and +willing to have my boys fight for their country, but I don’t +want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a hen-roost, +and without even saying good by to me.”</p> +<p>“If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him +go?” demanded John, earnestly.</p> +<p>“Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don’t think there +is any need of boys like him going, when there are men enough to do +the fighting.”</p> +<p>“You told Tom he shouldn’t go.”</p> +<p>“Well, I didn’t think he really meant it. If he +had—What’s that, John?” asked she, suddenly, as a +noise at the window attracted her attention.</p> +<p>“Only the cat, mother.”</p> +<p>“If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was +need of your going, I wouldn’t have kept either of you at +home. I would go to the poorhouse first. My father and my brother +both fought for their country, and my sons shall when their country +wants them.”</p> +<p>“Then you are willing Tom should go?”</p> +<p>“I am, but not to have him sneak off like a +sheep-stealer.”</p> +<p>“Three cheers for you, mother!” shouted Thomas, as +he threw up the window at which he had been standing for some ten +minutes listening to this interesting conversation.</p> +<p>“Where have you been, Thomas?” exclaimed the +delighted mother.</p> +<p>“Open the door, Jack, and let me in, and I will tell you +all about it,” replied the absentee.</p> +<p>“Come in; the door isn’t locked,” said +John.</p> +<p>He came in; and what he had to tell will interest the reader as +well as his mother and his brother.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_7" name="Ch_7">Chapter VII.</a></h3> +<h2>A Midnight Adventure.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers was an enterprising young man, as our readers have +already discovered; and when the door of the finished room in the +attic of Squire Pemberton’s house was fastened upon him, he +was not at all disposed to submit to the fate which appeared to be +in store for him. The idea of becoming a victim to the +squire’s malice was not to be entertained, and he threw +himself upon the bed to devise some means by which he might make +his escape.</p> +<p>The prospect was not encouraging, for there was only one window +in the chamber, and the distance to the ground was suggestive of +broken limbs, if not of a broken neck. Tom had read the Life of +Baron Trenck, and of Stephen Burroughs, but the experience of +neither of these worthies seemed to be available on the present +occasion.</p> +<p>As the family had not yet retired, it would not be safe to +commence operations for some hours. The stale, commonplace method +of tying the sheets and blankets together, and thus forming a rope +by which he could descend to the ground, occurred to him; but he +had not much confidence in the project. He lay quietly on the bed +till he heard the clocks on the churches at the Harbor strike +twelve. It was time then, if ever, for the family to be asleep, and +he decided to attempt an escape by another means which had been +suggested to him. If it failed, he could then resort to the +old-fashioned way of going down on the rope made of sheets and +blankets.</p> +<p>The apartment in which Tom was confined was not what people in +the country call an “upright chamber.” The sides of the +room were about four feet in height; and a section of the apartment +would have formed one half of an irregular octagon. In each side of +the chamber there was a small door, opening into the space near the +eaves of the house, which was used to store old trunks, old boxes, +the disused spinning-wheel, and other lumber of this description. +Tom had been in the attic before, and he remembered these doors, +through one of which he now proposed to make his escape.</p> +<p>When the clock struck twelve, he cautiously rose from the bed, +and pulled off his boots, which a proper respect for his host or +the bed had not prompted him to do before. The house was old, and +the floors had a tendency to creak beneath his tread. With the +utmost care, he crawled on his hands and knees to one of the doors +of the lumber hole, which he succeeded in opening without much +noise.</p> +<p>Making his way in among the old boxes, trunks, and +spinning-wheels, he was fully embarked in his difficult venture. +The dust which he stirred up in his progress produced an almost +irresistible desire to sneeze, which Lord Dundreary might have been +happy to indulge, but which might have been fatal to the execution +of Tom Somers’s purpose. He rubbed his nose, and held his +handkerchief over the intractable member, and succeeded in +overcoming its dangerous tendency. His movements were necessarily +very slow, for he was in constant dread lest some antiquated relic +of the past should tumble over, and thus disturb the slumbers of +the family who occupied the chambers below.</p> +<p>But in spite of the perils and difficulties that environed his +path, there was something exciting and exhilarating in the +undertaking. It was a real adventure, and, as such, Tom enjoyed it. +As he worked his way through the labyrinth of antiquities, he could +not but picture to himself the surprise and chagrin of Squire +Pemberton, when he should come up to the attic chamber to wreak his +vengeance upon him. He could see the magnate of Pinchbrook start, +compress his lips and clinch his fists, when he found the bird had +flown.</p> +<p>“Better not crow till I get out of the woods,” said +he to himself, while his imagination was still busy upon the +agreeable picture.</p> +<p>After a series of trials and difficulties which our space does +not permit us to describe in full, Tom emerged from the repository +of antiquities, and stood in the open space in front of the +finished chamber. With one boot in each hand, he felt his way to +the stairs, and descended to the entry over the front door. All +obstacles now seemed to be overcome, for he had nothing to do but +go down stairs and walk out.</p> +<p>It often happens, amid the uncertainties of this unstable world, +that we encounter the greatest trials and difficulties precisely +where we expect to find none. As Tom walked along the entry, with +one hand on the rail that protected the staircase to guide him, he +struck his foot against the pole upon which Fred Pemberton had +suspended the flag out of the window. It was very careless of the +squire, when he took the flag in, to leave the stick in that unsafe +position, for one of his own family might have stumbled against it, +and broken a leg or an arm, or possibly a neck; and if it might +have been a “cause of offence” to one of the +Pembertons, it certainly laid a grievous burden upon the shoulders +of poor Tom Somers.</p> +<p>When the pole fell, it made a tremendous racket, as all poles +will when they fall just at the moment when they ought to stand up, +and be decent and orderly. This catastrophe had the effect to +quicken the steps of the young man. He reached the stairs, and had +commenced a rapid descent, when the door of the squire’s +room, which was on the lower floor, opened, and Tom found himself +flanked in that direction.</p> +<p>“Who’s there? What’s that?” demanded the +squire, in hurried, nervous tones.</p> +<p>Tom was so impolite as to make no reply to these pressing +interrogatories, but quickly retreated in the direction from which +he had come.</p> +<p>“Wife, light the lamp, quick,” said the squire, in +the hall below.</p> +<p>Just then a door opened on the other side of the entry where Tom +stood, and he caught a faint glimpse of a figure robed in white. +Though it was the solemn hour of midnight, and Tom, I am sorry to +say, had read the Three Spaniards, and Mysteries of Udolpho, he +rejected the suggestion that the “sheeted form” might +be a ghost.</p> +<p>“Who’s there?” called the squire again.</p> +<p>A romantic little scream from the figure in white assured Tom +that Miss Susan was the enemy immediately on his front. Then he +caught the glimmer of the light below, which Mrs. Pemberton had +procured, and the race seemed to be up. Concealment was no longer +practicable, and he seized upon the happy suggestion that the +window opening upon the portico over the front door was available +as a means of egress.</p> +<p>Springing to the window, he raised it with a prompt and vigorous +hand, and before the squire could ascend the stairs, he was upon +the roof of the portico. Throwing his boots down, he grasped the +gutter, and “hung off.” He was now on <em>terra +firma</em>, and all his trials appeared to have reached a happy +termination; but here again he was doomed to disappointment.</p> +<p>“Bow, wow, wow-er, woo, row!” barked and growled the +squire’s big bull dog, when he came to realize that some +unusual occurrences were transpiring.</p> +<p>The animal was a savage brute, and was kept chained in the barn +during the day, and turned loose when the squire made his last +visit to the cattle about nine in the evening. Tom was thoroughly +alarmed when this new enemy confronted him; but fortunately he had +the self-possession to stand his ground, and not attempt to run +away, otherwise the dog would probably have torn him in pieces.</p> +<p>“Come here, Tige! Poor fellow! Come here! He’s a +good fellow! Don’t you know me, Tige?” said Tom, whose +only hope seemed to be in conciliation and compromise.</p> +<p>If Tige knew him, he appeared to be very unwilling to +acknowledge the acquaintance under the present suspicious +circumstances, and at this unseemly hour. The brute barked, +snarled, howled, and growled, and manifested as strong an +indisposition to compromise as a South Carolina fire-eater. He +placed himself in front of the hero of the night’s adventure, +as resolute and as intractable as though he had known all the facts +in the case, and intended to carry out to the letter the wishes of +his master.</p> +<p>Tom slowly retreated towards the garden fence, the dog still +following him up. He had tried coaxing and conciliation, and they +had failed. As he cautiously backed from the house, his feet struck +against a heavy cart stake, which seemed to suggest his next +resort. He was well aware that any quick movement on his part would +cause the dog to spring upon him. Placing his toe under the stake, +he raised it with his foot, till he could reach it with his hand, +keeping his gaze fixed upon the eyes of the dog, which glared like +fiery orbs in the gloom of the hour.</p> +<p>Tige saw the stick, and he appeared to have a wholesome respect +for it—a sentiment inspired by sundry beatings, intended to +cure a love of mutton on the hoof, or beef on the shelf. The brute +retreated a few paces; but at this moment Squire Pemberton appeared +at the front door, with a lantern in his hand. He understood the +“situation” at a glance.</p> +<p>“Take him, Tige! Stu’ boy!” shouted the +squire.</p> +<p>The dog snarled an encouraging reply to this suggestion, and +moved up towards the fugitive. Tom’s courage was equal to the +occasion, and he levelled a blow at the head of the bull dog, +which, if it had hit him fairly, must have smashed in his skull. As +it was, the blow was a heavy one, and Tige retreated; but the +shouts of the squire rallied him, and he rushed forward to the +onslaught again.</p> +<p>Tom, as we have before had occasion to suggest, was a master of +strategy, and instead of another stroke at the head of his savage +foe, with only one chance in ten of hitting the mark he commenced +swinging it vigorously to the right and left, as a mower does his +scythe. His object was to hit the legs of the dog—a plan +which was not entirely original with him, for he had seen it +adopted with signal success by a fisherman at the Harbor. The +consequence of this change of tactics was soon apparent, for Tige +got a rap on the fore leg, which caused him to yelp with pain, and +retire from the field. While the dog moved off in good order in one +direction, Tom effected an equally admirable retreat in the other +direction.</p> +<p>On reaching the road, he pulled on his boots, which he had +picked up after the discomfiture of his canine antagonist. Squire +Pemberton still stood at the door trying to bring Tige to a sense +of his duty in the trying emergency; but the brute had more regard +for his own shins than he had for the mandate of his master, and +the victor was permitted to bear away his laurels without further +opposition.</p> +<p>When he reached his father’s house, supposing the front +door was locked, he went to the kitchen window, where he had heard +the patriotic remarks of his mother. Tom told his story in +substance as we have related it.</p> +<p>“Do you mean what you have said, mother?” inquired +he, when he had finished his narrative.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers bit her lip in silence for a moment.</p> +<p>“Certainly I do, Thomas,” said she, desperately.</p> +<p>It was half-past one when the boys retired, but it was another +hour before Tom’s excited brain would permit him to sleep. +His head was full of a big thought.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_8" name="Ch_8">Chapter VIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Signing the Papers.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Thomas went to sleep at last, and, worn out by the fatigue and +excitement of the day, he slept long and soundly. His mother did +not call him till eight o’clock, and it was nine before he +reached the store of his employer, where the recital of the +adventure of the preceding night proved to be a sufficient excuse +for his non-appearance at the usual hour.</p> +<p>In the course of the week Captain Benson had procured the +necessary authority to raise a company for three years or for the +war. When he exhibited his papers, he found twenty persons ready to +put down their names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, +and every day added to the list of brave and self-denying men who +were ready to go forward and fight the battles of liberty and +union. The excitement in Pinchbrook was fanned by the news which +each day brought of the zeal and madness of the traitors.</p> +<p>Thomas had made up his mind, even before his mother had been +surprised into giving her consent, that he should go to the war. At +the first opportunity, therefore, he wrote his name upon the paper, +very much to the astonishment of Captain Benson and his +employer.</p> +<p>“How old are you, Tom?” asked the captain.</p> +<p>“I’m in my seventeenth year,” replied the +soldier boy.</p> +<p>“You are not old enough.”</p> +<p>“I’m three months older than Sam Thompson; and you +didn’t even ask him how old he was.”</p> +<p>“He is larger and heavier than you are!”</p> +<p>“I can’t help that. I’m older than he is, and +I think I can do as much in the way of fighting as he +can.”</p> +<p>“I don’t doubt that,” added the captain, +laughing. “Your affair with Squire Pemberton shows that you +have pluck enough for anything. I should be very glad to have you +go; but what does your father say?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t said anything. He isn’t at home. He +went away before Sumter was fired upon by the rebels.”</p> +<p>“True—I remember. What does your mother +say?”</p> +<p>“O, she is willing.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she +can give her consent, and she will sign it.”</p> +<p>Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to +dinner, he presented it to his mother for her signature.</p> +<p>“I hope you won’t back out, mother,” said he, +as she put on her spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the +contents of the document.</p> +<p>“Back out of what, Thomas?”</p> +<p>“I’ve signed the muster roll, and I belong to +Captain Benson’s company now.”</p> +<p>“You!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, +and gazing earnestly into the face of the young man, to discover +whether he was in earnest.</p> +<p>“Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed +the papers; but Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so +that there shall be no mistake about it.”</p> +<p>The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the +thought of having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp +and the march, the skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and +nothing but the most exalted patriotism could induce a mother to +give a son to his country.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to sign this paper, Thomas,” +said she, when she had finished reading it.</p> +<p>“Have you forgot what you said the other night, +mother?”</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t forgot it, and I feel now just as I +did then. If there is any real need of your going, I am willing you +should go.”</p> +<p>“Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President +wasn’t joking when he called for seventy-five thousand +men.”</p> +<p>“But there are enough to go without you.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what everybody might say, and then +there wouldn’t be anybody to go.”</p> +<p>“But you are young, and not very strong.”</p> +<p>“I’m old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a +day to myself, I don’t think it’s any great hardship to +carry father’s heavy fowling-piece from sunrise to sunset; +and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as long as any of +them.”</p> +<p>“You are only a boy.”</p> +<p>“I shall be a man soon enough.”</p> +<p>“When you have gone, John will want to go too.”</p> +<p>“No, mother, I don’t want to go into the +army,” said John, with a sly wink at his brother. “I +shall never be a soldier if I can help it.”</p> +<p>“What am I going to do, if you all go off and leave +me?” added Mrs. Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear which +was struggling for birth in her fountain of sorrows.</p> +<p>“I don’t think you will want for anything, mother. +I’m sure I wouldn’t leave you, if I thought you would. +I don’t get but two dollars and a half a week in the store, +and I shall have eleven dollars a month in the army, and it +won’t cost me any thing for board or clothes. I will send +every dollar I get home to you.”</p> +<p>“You are a good boy, Thomas,” replied Mrs. Somers, +unable any longer to restrain the tear.</p> +<p>“I know you and John both will do every thing you can for +me. If your father was only at home, I should feel different about +it.”</p> +<p>“He would believe in my fighting for my country, if he +were here.”</p> +<p>“I know he would,” said Mrs. Somers, as she took the +pen which Thomas handed her, and seated herself at the table. +“If you are determined to go, I suppose you will go, whether +I am willing or not.”</p> +<p>“No, mother, I will not,” added Thomas, decidedly. +“I shouldn’t have signed the muster roll if you +hadn’t said you were willing. And if you say now that you +won’t consent, I will take my name off the paper.”</p> +<p>“But you want to go—don’t you?”</p> +<p>“I do; there’s no mistake about that: but I +won’t go if you are not willing.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers wrote her name upon the paper. It was a slow and +difficult operation to her, and during the time she was thus +occupied, the rest of the family watched her in silent anxiety. +Perhaps, if she had not committed herself on the eventful night +when she fully believed that Thomas had run away and joined the +army, she might have offered more and stronger objections than she +now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism in her nature, which +she had inherited from her father, who had fought at Bunker Hill, +Brandywine, and Germantown, and which had been exemplified in the +life of her brother; and this, more than any other consideration, +induced her to sign the paper.</p> +<p>Thousands of loving and devoted mothers have given their sons to +their country in the same holy enthusiasm that inspired her. She +was not a solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both +her sons had been men, instead of boys, she would not have +interposed a single objection to their departure upon a mission so +glorious as that to which Thomas had now devoted himself.</p> +<p>“There’s my name, Thomas,” said his mother, as +she took off her spectacles. “I’ve done it, and you +have my free consent. You’ve always been a good boy, and I +hope you will always be a good soldier.”</p> +<p>“I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I +turn my back to a rebel, I hope you’ll disown me.”</p> +<p>“Good, Tom!” exclaimed John, who had been deeply +interested in the event of the hour.</p> +<p>“Well, Thomas, I’d rather face two rebels than that +bull dog you fit with t’other night,” added +gran’ther Greene. “You are as bold as a lion, +Thomas.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I can stand it, gran’ther?” +added Tom, with a smile.</p> +<p>“Stand it? Well, Thomas, it’s a hard life to be a +soldier, and I know something about it. When we marched +from—”</p> +<p>“Dinner’s ready,” interposed Mrs. Somers, for +gran’ther Greene had marched that march so many times that +every member of the family knew it by heart.</p> +<p>“There’s one good thing about it, Tom,” said +John: “you have got a first-rate captain.”</p> +<p>“I’m thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for +if there ever was a Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man,” +added Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“And all the company will be your own friends and +neighbors,” said gran’ther Greene; “and +that’s something, I can tell you. I know something about this +business. When we marched from—”</p> +<p>“Have some more beans, brother?” asked Mrs. Somers. +“You will be among your friends, Thomas, as gran’ther +says.”</p> +<p>“That’s a great thing, I can tell you,” added +the veteran. “Soldiers should stick together like brothers, +and feel that they are fighting for each other, as well as for the +country. Then, when you’re sick, you want friends. When we +marched from Sackett’s Harbor, there was a young +feller—”</p> +<p>“Have some more tea, brother?”</p> +<p>“Part of a cup, Nancy,” replied the old man, who +never took offence even when the choicest stories of his military +experience were nipped in the bud.</p> +<p>After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed +to him like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt +that he belonged to his country now, and that the honor of that old +flag, which had been insulted by traitors, was committed to his +keeping. He was taking up the work where his grandfather had left +it. He was going forth to fight for his country, and the thought +inspired him with a noble and generous enthusiasm, before which all +the aspirations of his youth vanished.</p> +<p>As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a +pitying reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full +of the great event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even +think of the exciting incidents which had occurred there. He had +neither seen nor heard any thing of the squire since he had escaped +from the attic chamber.</p> +<p>Just beyond the squire’s house he met Captain Barney, who +was riding up to the town hall.</p> +<p>“What’s this I hear of you, Tom?” demanded the +captain, as he reined in his horse. “They say you have joined +the company.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. I have.”</p> +<p>“Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as +a brigadier general. What does your mother say?”</p> +<p>“I have her written consent in my pocket.”</p> +<p>“All right. God bless you, my boy!” said the old +salt, as he started his horse.</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. There’s only one thing that +troubles me.”</p> +<p>“Eh? What’s that, my boy?” demanded Captain +Barney as he reined up the horse again.</p> +<p>“I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire +Pemberton’s the other night.”</p> +<p>“Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn’t want to +keelhaul the old traitor when I heard of it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t care anything about the scrape, sir; only +I’m afraid the squire will bother my mother when I’m +gone,” said Thomas, with some diffidence.</p> +<p>“If he does, he’ll settle the matter with Jack +Barney,” replied the captain, decidedly.</p> +<p>“My father may never come back, you know, and if he does +he will be a beggar. He owes the squire a note, which will be due +in June.”</p> +<p>“I’ll pay it myself!” roared Captain Barney. +“Go and fight for your country, Tom, like a man. I’ll +call and see your mother once a week, or every day in the week, if +you say so. She shall not want for any thing as long as I have a +shot in the locker.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Captain Barney; thank you, sir.”</p> +<p>“I’ll take care of your mother, my lad, and +I’ll take care of the squire. He shall not foreclose that +mortgage, Tom. Don’t bother your head about any of those +things. You’re a good boy, Tom, and I’ll keep every +thing all right at home.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir,” repeated the soldier boy, as +Captain Barney started his horse again.</p> +<p>The captain was a retired shipmaster, of ample means, and Tom +knew that he was not only able, but willing, to do all he had +promised. His heart was lighter; a load had been removed from his +mind.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_9" name="Ch_9">Chapter IX.</a></h3> +<h2>The Departure.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>At the time of which we write, recruiting officers were not very +particular in regard to the age of those whom they received into +the volunteer army. If the young man seemed to have the requisite +physical qualifications, it was of little consequence what his age +was; and Tom Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very +good soldier.</p> +<p>Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the +young recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary +legal form, but because he was acquainted with his father and +mother, and would not willingly have done any thing to displease +them. The matter, therefore, was disposed of to the satisfaction of +all the parties concerned, and Tom actually commenced his career as +a soldier boy. He immediately resigned his situation in the store, +for the company now numbered forty men, not half a dozen of whom +had any knowledge whatever of military drill.</p> +<p>As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to +lose the time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into +the service of the United States, the town voted to pay each man +fifteen dollars a month for three months. This generous and +patriotic action of the town rejoiced the heart of Tom Somers, for +his mother actually needed the pittance he had earned at the store. +Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband; but the destruction +of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several northern +vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in +that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up +between the North and the South, and she not only feared that +Captain Somers had lost all his worldly possessions, but that he +would hardly be able to escape himself from the fiery furnace of +secession and treason.</p> +<p>To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She +foresaw that she and her family would be subjected to the pressure +of want, or at least be dependent upon the kindness of friends for +support. She had freely stated her fears to her children, and fully +exhibited the insufficiency of the family resources. The vote of +the town was a perfect godsend to Tom, and a fat legacy from a rich +relative would not have kindled a stronger feeling of gratitude in +his soul.</p> +<p>For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, +and evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The +company was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then +attached to the —th regiment, which had just been formed and +ordered to Fort Warren.</p> +<p>On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic +citizens of Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful +farewell of his mother, his brother and sisters, and a score of +anxious friends.</p> +<p>“Now don’t let the rebels hit you in the backbone, +Thomas,” said gran’ther Green, as he shook the hand of +the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“No, gran’ther; if I can’t fight, I +won’t run away,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“You’ve got good blood in your veins, my boy: +don’t disgrace it. I don’t know as you’ll ever +see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;” and the old man +turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his +wrinkled cheek.</p> +<p>“Be a good boy, Thomas,” added his mother.</p> +<p>“I will, mother.”</p> +<p>“And remember what I’ve been telling you. I’m +not half so much afraid of your being killed by a bullet, as I am +of your being ruined by bad men.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t fear any thing of that kind, +mother.”</p> +<p>“I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as +well as from your enemies. We shall see you again before you go +off, I hope.”</p> +<p>“Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet.”</p> +<p>“Don’t forget to read your Testament, Thomas,” +said Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“I won’t, mother,” replied the soldier boy, as +he again shook hands with all the members of the family, kissed his +mother and his sisters, and hitching up his knapsack, took his +place in the ranks.</p> +<p>His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender +scene he had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his +inclination to weep, but he could no longer restrain the tears. +Suddenly they came like a flood bursting the gates that confined +it, and he choked and sobbed like a little girl. He leaned upon his +musket, covering his face with his arm.</p> +<p>“It’s a hard case,” said private Hapgood, who +stood next to him in the ranks.</p> +<p>“I didn’t think it would take me down like +this,” sobbed Tom.</p> +<p>“Don’t blubber, Tom. Let’s go off game,” +added Ben Lethbridge, who stood on the other side of him.</p> +<p>“I can’t help it, Ben.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you can—dry up! Soldiers don’t cry, +Tom.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they do, my boy,” said Hapgood, who was a +little old man, nearly ten years beyond the period of exemption +from military duty. “I don’t blame Tom for crying, and, +in my opinion, he’ll fight all the better for it.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he will, old un; but I don’t think much of +a soldier that blubbers like a baby. I hope he won’t run away +when he sees the rebels coming,” sneered Ben.</p> +<p>“If he does, he’ll have a chance to see how thick +the heels of your boots are,” answered the old man.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that, old un?” demanded +Ben.</p> +<p>“Attention—company! Shoulder—arms! +Forward—march!” said the captain; and the discussion +was prevented from proceeding any further.</p> +<p>The band, which was at the head of the citizens’ column, +struck up an inspiring march, and Tom dried his tears. The escort +moved off, followed by the company. They passed the little cottage +of Captain Somers, and Tom saw the whole family except John, who +was in the escort, standing at the front gate. The old soldier +swung his hat, Tom’s sisters and his mother waved their +handkerchiefs; but when they saw the soldier boy, they had to use +them for another purpose. Tom felt another upward pressure in the +region of the throat; but this time he choked down his rising +emotions, and saved himself from the ridicule of his more callous +companion on the left.</p> +<p>In violation of military discipline, he turned his head to take +one last, fond look at the home he was leaving behind. It might be +the last time he should ever gaze on that loved spot, now a +thousand times more dear than ever before. Never had he realized +the meaning of home; never before had he felt how closely his +heart’s tendrils were entwined about that hallowed place. +Again, in spite of his firmness and fortitude, and in spite of the +sneers of Ben Lethbridge, he felt the hot tears sliding down his +cheek.</p> +<p>When he reached the brow of the hill which would soon hide the +little cottage from his view, perhaps forever, he gazed behind him +again, to take his last look at the familiar spot. His mother and +sister still stood at the front gate watching the receding column +in which the son and the brother was marching away to peril and +perhaps death.</p> +<p>“God bless my mother! God bless them all!” were the +involuntary ejaculations of the soldier boy, as he turned away from +the hallowed scene.</p> +<p>But the memory of that blessed place, sanctified by the presence +of those loving and devoted ones, was shrined in the temple of his +heart, ever to go with him in camp and march, in the perils of +battle and siege, to keep him true to his God, true to himself, and +true to those whom he had left behind him. That last look at home +and those that make it home, like the last fond gaze we bestow on +the loved and the lost, was treasured up in the garner of the +heart’s choicest memories, to be recalled in the solemn +stillness of the midnight vigil, amid the horrors of the +battle-field when the angry strife of arms had ceased, and in the +gloom of the soldier’s sick bed when no mother’s hand +was near to lave the fevered brow.</p> +<p>The moment when he obtained his last view of the home of his +childhood seemed like the most eventful period of his existence. +His heart grew big in his bosom, and yet not big enough to contain +all he felt. He wept again, and his tears seemed to come from +deeper down than his eyes. He did not hear the inspiring strains of +the band, or the cheers that greeted the company as they went forth +to do and die for their country’s imperilled cause.</p> +<p>“Blubbering again, Tom?” sneered Ben Lethbridge. +“I thought you was more of a man than that, Tom +Somers.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help it, Ben,” replied Tom, vainly +struggling to subdue his emotions.</p> +<p>“Better go back, then. We don’t want a great baby in +the ranks.”</p> +<p>“It’s nateral, Ben,” said old Hapgood. +“He’ll get over it when he sees the rebels.”</p> +<p>“Don’t believe he will. I didn’t think you +were such a great calf, Tom.”</p> +<p>“Shet up, now, Ben,” interposed Hapgood. +“I’ll bet my life he’ll stand fire as well as you +will. I’ve been about in the world some, and I reckon +I’ve as good an idee of this business as you have. +Tom’s got a heart under his ribs.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet he runs away at the first fire.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet he won’t.”</p> +<p>“I know I won’t!” exclaimed Tom, with energy, +as he drew his coat sleeve across his eyes.</p> +<p>“It isn’t the cock that crows the loudest that will +fight the best,” added the old man. “I’ll bet Tom +will be able to tell you the latest news from the front, where the +battle’s the hottest. I fit my way up to the city of Mexico +long er old Scott, and I’ve heard boys crow afore +today.”</p> +<p>“Look here, old un! If you mean to call me a coward, why +don’t you say so, right up and down?” growled Ben.</p> +<p>“Time’ll tell, my boy. You don’t know what +gunpowder smells like yet. If you’d been with the fust +Pennsylvany, where I was, you’d a-known sunthin about war. +Now, shet up, Ben; and don’t you worry Tom any +more.”</p> +<p>But Tom was no longer in a condition to be worried. Though still +sad at the thought of the home and friends he had left behind, he +had reduced his emotions to proper subjection, and before the +column reached Boston, he had even regained his wonted +cheerfulness. The procession halted upon the wharf, where the +company was to embark on a steamer for Fort Warren. As the boat +which was to convey them to the fort had not yet arrived, the men +were permitted to mingle with their friends on the wharf, and, of +course, Tom immediately sought out his brother. He found him +engaged in a spirited conversation with Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“What is it, Jack?” asked the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“I want to join this company, and the captain won’t +let me,” replied John.</p> +<p>“You, Jack!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I.”</p> +<p>“Did mother say so?”</p> +<p>“No, but she won’t care.”</p> +<p>“Did you ask her?”</p> +<p>“No; I didn’t think of going till after I started +from home.”</p> +<p>“Don’t think of it, Jack. It would be an awful blow +to mother to have both of us go.”</p> +<p>For half an hour Tom argued the matter with John; but the +military enthusiasm of the latter had been so aroused by the march +and its attendant circumstances, that he could not restrain his +inclination.</p> +<p>“If I don’t join this company, I shall some +other,” said John.</p> +<p>“I shall have to go home again, if you do; for I +won’t have mother left alone. We haven’t been mustered +in yet. Besides, I thought you wanted to go into the +navy.”</p> +<p>“I do; but I’m bound to go somehow,” replied +John.</p> +<p>But what neither Tom nor Captain Benson could do, was +accomplished by Captain Barney, who declared John should go home +with him if he had to take him by the collar. The ardent young +patriot yielded as gracefully as he could to this persuasion.</p> +<p>The steamer having arrived, the soldiers shook hands with their +friends again, went on board, and, amid the hearty cheers of the +citizens of Pinchbrook, were borne down the bay.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_10" name="Ch_10">Chapter X.</a></h3> +<h2>Company K.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers felt that he was now a soldier indeed. While the +company remained in Pinchbrook, he had slept every night in his own +bed, and taken his meals in the kitchen of the little cottage. He +fully realized that he had bade a long farewell to all the comforts +and luxuries of home. That day, for the first time, he was to +partake of soldiers’ fare, and that night, for the first +time, he was to sleep upon a soldier’s bed. These thoughts +did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he +had carefully considered, with the best information he could +obtain, what hardships and privations he would be called to endure. +He had made up his mind to bear all things without a murmur for the +blessed land of his birth, which now called upon her sons to defend +her from the parricidal blow of the traitor.</p> +<p>Tom had not only made up his mind to bear all these things, but +to bear them patiently and cheerfully. He had a little theory of +his own, that rather more than half of the discomforts of this +mortal life exist only in the imagination. If he only +<em>thought</em> that every thing was all right, it went a great +way towards making it all right—a very comforting and +satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety +down to seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from +ten to forty degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his +stomach when it was empty, alleviated the toothache or the +headache, and changed snarling babies into new-fledged angels. I +commend Tom’s philosophy to the attention and imitation of +all my young friends, assured that nothing will keep them so happy +and comfortable as a cheerful and contented disposition.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers,” said a voice near him, cutting short +the consoling meditation in which he was engaged.</p> +<p>His name was pronounced in a low and cautious tone, but the +voice sounded familiar to him, and he turned to ascertain who had +addressed him. He did not discover any person who appeared to be +the owner of the voice, and was leaving the position he had taken +on the forward deck of the steamer, when his name was repeated, in +the same low and cautious tone.</p> +<p>“Who is it? Where are you?” said Tom, looking all +about him, among the groups of soldiers who were gathered on +various parts of the deck, discussing the present and the +future.</p> +<p>“Here, Tom,” replied the voice, which sounded more +familiar every time he heard it.</p> +<p>He turned his eye in the direction from which the sound +proceeded, and there, coiled up behind a heap of barrels and boxes, +and concealed by a sail-cloth which had been thrown over the goods +to protect them from an expected shower, he discovered Fred +Pemberton.</p> +<p>“What in the name of creation are you doing there, +Fred?” exclaimed Tom, laughing at the ludicrous attitude of +the embryo secessionist.</p> +<p>“Hush! Don’t say a word, Tom. Sit down here where I +can talk with you,” added Fred.</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell if you will keep quiet a moment. Is the +company full?”</p> +<p>“What company?”</p> +<p>“Captain Benson’s, of course.”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“I want to join.”</p> +<p>“You!” ejaculated Tom.</p> +<p>“Come, come, Tom, no blackguarding now. You and I used to +be good friends.”</p> +<p>“I’ve nothing against you, Fred—that is, if +you’re not a traitor.”</p> +<p>“I want to join the company.”</p> +<p>“Is your father willing?”</p> +<p>“Of course he isn’t; but that needn’t make any +difference.”</p> +<p>“But you don’t believe in our cause, Fred. We +don’t want a traitor in the ranks.”</p> +<p>“Hang the cause! I want to go with the company.”</p> +<p>“Hang the cause? Well, I reckon that’s a good +recommendation.”</p> +<p>“I’m all right on that.”</p> +<p>“Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, and swear +to sustain the flag of your country?”</p> +<p>“Of course I am. I only followed the old man’s lead; +but I have got enough of it. Do you think Captain Benson will take +me into the company?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he will.”</p> +<p>“Ask him—will you? You needn’t say I’m +here, you know.”</p> +<p>“But what will your father say?”</p> +<p>“I don’t care what he says.”</p> +<p>Tom thought, if Fred didn’t care, he needn’t, and +going aft, he found the captain, and proposed to him the +question.</p> +<p>“Take him—yes. We’ll teach him loyalty and +patriotism, and before his time is out, we will make him an +abolitionist,” replied Captain Benson. “What will his +father say?”</p> +<p>“His father doesn’t know anything about it. Fred ran +away, and followed the company into the city.”</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton is a traitor, and I believe the army +will be the best school in the world for his son,” added the +captain. “It will be better for him to be with us than to be +at home. If it was the son of any other man in Pinchbrook, I +wouldn’t take him without the consent of his father; as it +is, I feel perfectly justified in accepting him.”</p> +<p>Tom hastened to the forward deck to report the success of his +mission. The result was, that Fred came out of his hiding-place, +and exhibited himself to the astonished members of the Pinchbrook +company. When he announced his intention to go to the war, and, +with a pardonable flourish, his desire to serve his country, he was +saluted with a volley of cheers. Captain Benson soon appeared on +the forward deck, and the name of the new recruit was placed on the +enlistment paper.</p> +<p>Fred was seventeen years of age, and was taller and stouter than +Tom Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age or his +physical ability to endure the hardships of a campaign.</p> +<p>The steamer arrived at Fort Warren, and the company landed. +After waiting a short time on the wharf, the color company of the +—th regiment, to which they were attached, came down and +escorted them to the parade ground within the fort. It was a +desolate and gloomy-looking place to Tom, who had always lived +among green fields, and the beautiful surroundings of a New England +rural district.</p> +<p>If the fort itself looked dreary, how much more so were the +casemates in which the company was quartered! But Tom’s +philosophy was proof against the unpleasant impression, and his +joke was as loud and hearty as that of any of his companions. The +men were divided off into messes, and they had an abundance of work +to do in bringing up the company’s luggage, and making their +new habitation as comfortable and pleasant as the circumstances +would permit.</p> +<p>The next day the Pinchbrook boys were designated as Company K, +and placed in the regimental line. The limits of this volume do not +permit me to detail the every-day life of the soldier boy while at +Fort Warren, however interesting and instructive it might be to our +friends. A large portion of the forenoon was devoted to squad and +company drill, and of the afternoon to battalion drill. The +colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, was an enthusiast +in military matters, and had the reputation of being one of the +most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, +since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he +was no bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate +when he found that the colonel of the regiment was no taller and no +heavier than himself. And when he heard the high praise bestowed +upon the colonel’s military skill and martial energy, he came +to the conclusion that it does not require a big man to make a good +soldier. With a feeling of satisfaction he recalled the fact that +Napoleon Bonaparte, when he commanded the army of Italy, was +scarcely a bigger man than the colonel or himself.</p> +<p>The colonel was a strict disciplinarian, and he soon diffused +his energy throughout the regiment. It made rapid progress in its +military education. Tom was deeply interested in the details of his +new profession, and used his best endeavors to do his duty promptly +and faithfully. This was not the case with all the boys in the +company from Pinchbrook, and I am sorry to say that some of them, +including the brave and chivalric Ben Lethbridge, had to sit upon +the stool of repentance in the guard room on several occasions.</p> +<p>Fred Pemberton was clothed in the uniform of the United States +volunteers, and we must do him the justice to say that he performed +his duty to the entire satisfaction of his officers. Fred was a +good fellow, and barring his treason, which he had derived from his +father, was highly esteemed by those who knew him. The only stain +that had ever rested upon his character was removed, and he and Tom +were as good friends as ever they had been. His motive in joining +the army, however, could not be applauded. He thought all his +friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, spiced +with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, +and he did not like the idea of being left behind. To the sentiment +of patriotism, as developed in the soul of Tom Somers and many of +his companions, he was an entire stranger. He was going to the war +to participate in the adventures of the —th regiment, rather +than to fight for the flag which had been insulted and dishonored +by treason.</p> +<p>Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to +see their friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness +the drills and parades which were constantly succeeding each other. +Among them came many of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was +delighted by a visit from his whole family. His mother found him so +comfortable and contented that she returned with half the heavy +burden on her soul removed.</p> +<p>While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their +friends from home, there was one in the company who was in constant +dread lest he should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds +which the steamers daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did +not wish to see his nearest friends; but after he had been in the +company some ten days, just as the boys had been dismissed from the +forenoon drill, he discovered at a distance the patriarchal form of +his father.</p> +<p>“My pipe’s out, Tom,” said Fred, as he rushed +into the casemate where a group of his companions were resting from +the fatigues of the morning.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter now, Fred?”</p> +<p>“The old man has just come into the fort.”</p> +<p>“Has he?”</p> +<p>“Yes—what shall I do?”</p> +<p>“Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through +all right,” said Sergeant Porter.</p> +<p>“What shall I do?” demanded Fred, who, whatever his +views in regard to the justice or injustice of coercion, did not +wish to be taken from the company.</p> +<p>“Come with me,” said the sergeant, as he led the way +into an adjoining casemate. “No; nobody else will +come,” added he, motioning back other members of the mess who +was disposed to follow.</p> +<p>In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there +was a pile of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments +had been packed. The fugitive from his father’s anxious +search was directed to get into one of these boxes, from which the +sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; his confederate put on +the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful supply of air, +and other boxes were placed upon that containing the runaway.</p> +<p>Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and +demanded his son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. +Sergeant Porter kept out of the way, and not another man in the +company knew anything about him. The boys were very willing to +assist the indignant father in his search, but all their efforts +were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate, and every nook +and corner upon the island, but without effect.</p> +<p>“I want my son, sir,” said the squire, angrily, to +the captain. “I require you to produce him.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where he is,” replied Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“You have concealed him, sir.”</p> +<p>“I have not.”</p> +<p>The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no +satisfaction, and was obliged to leave without accomplishing his +purpose. As soon as he had gone, Fred appeared, and the boys +laughed for a week over the affair.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_11" name="Ch_11">Chapter XI.</a></h3> +<h2>In Washington.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after +being conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here +the “little colonel” displayed his energy and military +skill to much greater advantage than when within the narrow +confines of the fort. The men were not only carefully and +persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the +circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a +campaign.</p> +<p>Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier’s pride in +his new situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was +not always the easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he +bore his trials with philosophical patience and fortitude, and made +the most of whatever joys the circumstances placed within his +reach.</p> +<p>Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had +enlisted for the war, and meant to take things as they came. It was +not exactly agreeable to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, +rainy night; but grumbling would not make it any the more +agreeable, and only made the grumbler discontented and unhappy. It +did not look like “the pomp and circumstance of war,” +and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would have +been better satisfied in their own houses in “the village by +the sea.” But most of these men had left their happy homes +under the inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were +going forth to fight the battles of their imperilled country, and +this reflection filled them with a heroism which the petty trials +and discomforts of the camp could not impair.</p> +<p>While the regiment was at Camp Cameron, the state colors and a +standard, procured by the liberality of its friends, were +presented; and the patriotic speeches delivered on this occasion +made a deep impression upon the mind and heart of the soldier boy. +To him they were real—perhaps more real than to those who +uttered the burning words. He was in a situation to feel the full +force of the great sacrifice which the soldier makes for his +country. He devoted himself, heart and soul, to the cause; and what +was but an idle sentiment in the mind of the flowery speech-makers, +was truth and soberness to him who was to meet the foe at the +cannon’s mouth and at the bayonet’s point.</p> +<p>“We are off on the 29th,” said old Hapgood, one +evening, as he entered the barrack where Tom was writing a letter +to his mother.</p> +<p>“Good! I am glad to hear it. I was just telling my mother +that I hoped we should not have to stay much longer in this +place,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“I think we are having an easy time of it here,” +added the veteran. “When you find out what hunger and fatigue +mean, you will learn to be contented with such a place as +this.”</p> +<p>“I’m contented enough; but I want to get into the +field, and have something done.”</p> +<p>“Time enough, my boy. I used to feel just so, Tom, when I +went to Mexico; but after a while I got so I didn’t care what +we did or where we went.”</p> +<p>Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of +the time fixed for the departure of the regiment. The intelligence +in this instance proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the +little colonel marched his command into the city, where it was duly +embarked on the cars for New York. It was a day of excitement, for +the streets of the city were thronged with people, whose cheers and +applause were the benison with which the regiment went forth to do +and to die for the nation. Tom was delighted with this warm +reception, but more by meeting his mother and his brother and +sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad meeting. Mrs. +Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son go forth +to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater perils +of the camp?</p> +<p>It was a sad parting; and many a mother’s heart was torn +with anguish on that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her +bosom, for the last time, as she gave him to his country. Cold, +stern men, who had never wept before, wept then—the flesh +that was in their stony hearts yielded its unwilling tribute to +nature and affection.</p> +<p>“All aboard!” shouted the officers, when the train +was ready to depart.</p> +<p>“God bless you, my boy!” sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she +kissed her son. “Be good and true, and don’t forget to +read your Testament.”</p> +<p>“Good by, mother,” was all that Tom could say, as he +grasped his musket, which John had been holding for him, and rushed +into the car.</p> +<p>The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had +gathered to witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever +before, the soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered +the service. He listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was +sad and silent. He sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the +anguish of the hour. On and on dashed the train, and his thoughts +still dwelt upon the home and the mother he had left behind +him.</p> +<p>Our readers can better imagine than we can describe the feelings +of the soldier boy during that long night. The regiment arrived in +New York at half-past ten in the forenoon of the following day, and +was escorted up Broadway by the Sons of Massachusetts. At the Park, +it was warmly welcomed by the President of the Sons, and as the +little colonel was a better soldier than a speech-maker, the +response was made by the surgeon. By this time, Tom was able to +enter into the spirit of the occasion, and the flattering ovation +bestowed upon the regiment was a source of personal pride and +satisfaction. The little colonel’s command was declared to be +the best drilled and most soldierly body of men which had yet +departed for the battle-fields of the republic.</p> +<p>The great city was full of wonders to the soldier boy, and +during the few hours he remained there, he was in a constant whirl +of excitement. If the mission before him had been less grand and +sublime, he could have wished to spend a few days in exploring the +wonders of the great metropolis; but the stupendous events that +loomed up in the future, prophetic even to the inexperienced eye of +youth, engrossed all his thoughts. He partook of the bountiful +collation in the Park, and was content to march on to scenes more +thrilling and exciting than the tumult of the busy city.</p> +<p>The regiment took a steamer, at half-past four for +Elizabethport, and thence proceeded by railroad to Washington, by +the way of Harrisburg. Some portions of the journey were performed +under the most trying circumstances. The men were crowded, like +sheep, into unsuitable cars, so that not only were they subjected +to many needless discomforts, but their very lives were endangered. +On the way, two men were crowded out of a car, and, for a time, +were supposed to have been killed.</p> +<p>On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an +opportunity to see the “city of magnificent distances,” +of which he had heard so much. The regiment marched from the +station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to their camp ground in the +rear of the White House. They were received with enthusiasm by the +people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had been +supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of +destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, +gave the politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of +“shoddy.”</p> +<p>The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it +passed up the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his +mansion. The boys greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, +which the President acknowledged by a series of bows, which were +not half so ungraceful as one might have expected after reading the +descriptions of him contained in the newspapers.</p> +<p>To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he +could scarcely believe that he was looking upon the chief +magistrate of this great nation. He was filled with boyish wonder +and astonishment; but, after all, he was forced to admit that the +President, though a tall specimen of humanity, looked very much +like the rest of mankind—to borrow a phrase from one of his +illustrious predecessors.</p> +<p>Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, +and the simple magnificence of the President. The tents were +pitched, and the weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a +couple of days, however, our soldier boy was “as good as +new.”</p> +<p>“Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of +the city,” said Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the +regiment had become fairly settled in its new quarters.</p> +<p>“I should like to take a tramp. There are lots of +congressmen here, and I should like to know what they look +like,” replied Tom. “I haven’t been outside the +lines since we came here.”</p> +<p>“I have; and I’m going again! Fred and I mean to +have a good time to-day. Will you go?”</p> +<p>“Have you got a pass?”</p> +<p>“A pass! What a stupid! What do you want of a pass? You +can’t get one. They won’t give any.”</p> +<p>“Then we can’t go, of course.”</p> +<p>“Bah! What a great calf you are! Don’t you want to +cry again?”</p> +<p>“Ben, you needn’t say cry to me again as long as you +live,” added Tom. “If you do, I’ll give you +something to cry for.”</p> +<p>Tom did not like the style of remark which the other had +adopted. He was angry, and, as he spoke, his fist involuntarily +clinched, and his eye looked fierce and determined.</p> +<p>“Come, come, Tom; don’t bristle up so. If you are a +man, just show that you are, and come along with us.”</p> +<p>“I say, Ben, I want to know who’s a baby or a calf, +you or I, before we go, I won’t stand any more of your +lip.”</p> +<p>“Will you go with us?” demanded Ben, who was rather +disposed to dodge the issue.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by calling me a calf and a baby? And +this isn’t the first time you’ve done it.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you know that every man in the regiment has +been all over the city, and without any pass? When I ask you to go, +you begin to talk about a pass.”</p> +<p>“I choose to obey orders,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“O, you daresn’t go with us.”</p> +<p>“Come along!” said Tom, who had not yet learned to +bear the taunts of his companion.</p> +<p>“Get your pail.”</p> +<p>Tom got his pail, and was immediately joined by Fred and Ben, +each of whom was also supplied with a pail. There was no water to +be had within the camp ground, and the men were obliged to bring it +in pails from the hydrants in the street. A pail, therefore, was +quite as good as a written document to enable them to pass the +guard.</p> +<p>The party thus provided had no difficulty in passing the +sentinels. At a convenient place outside the line, they concealed +the pails, and, for three hours, roamed at will over the city.</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, you wanted to see the congressmen?” said +Ben, after they had “done” the city pretty +thoroughly.</p> +<p>“Yes, but I have seen them at the Capitol.”</p> +<p>“But don’t you want to get nearer to them, and hear +them talk?”</p> +<p>“Well, I should like to.”</p> +<p>“Come with us, then.”</p> +<p>Ben led the way down the avenue, and entered a building not far +from the railroad station. After passing through a long, narrow +entry, they ascended a flight of stairs, at the head of which the +conductor gave two raps. The door was opened by a negro, and they +were invited to enter. At a table in the middle of the room was +seated a foppish-looking man who held in his hand a silver box. As +he turned it, Tom saw that it contained a pack of cards.</p> +<p>“Where are your congressmen?” asked the soldier boy, +whose eyes had been opened by the appearance of the cards.</p> +<p>“They will be here pretty soon,” replied Ben.</p> +<p>The foppish man looked at his watch, and declared they would +come in the course of five or ten minutes. He then took the cards +out of the box, and, after shuffling them, returned them to their +place. Fred placed a “quarter” on the table; the +gambler put another by its side, and drew out a card from the +silver case. Tom did not understand the game; but his companion put +the quarters in his pocket.</p> +<p>“See that, Tom!” said he. “Got any +money?”</p> +<p>“If I have I shall keep it.”</p> +<p>“Put down a quarter, and make another.”</p> +<p>“No, sir! I’m no gambler!” replied Tom, with +emphasis.</p> +<p>“Quite respectable, I assure you,” added the +blackleg at the table.</p> +<p>“I’m going,” said Tom, decidedly.</p> +<p>“Baby!” sneered Ben. “Afraid to +play!”</p> +<p>“I <em>won’t</em> play! I’m going.”</p> +<p>The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his +expectation, he was followed by Fred and Ben.</p> +<p>“Baby is afraid of cards!” sneered Ben, as they +passed through the long entry.</p> +<p>“Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you,” replied +Tom, as he planted a heavy blow between the eyes of his +companion.</p> +<p>Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and +there was a prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but +Fred Pemberton interposed his good offices, and effected a +compromise, which, like most of the political compromises, was only +the postponement of the conflict.</p> +<p>“I told you not to call me ‘baby,’ +again,” said Tom, as they passed out of the building. +“I will convince you before I am done that I’m not a +baby.”</p> +<p>Ben found it convenient to offer no reply to this plain +statement of facts, and the three soldiers made their way back to +the camp, and, having obtained their pails and filled them with +water at the hydrants, they passed the guard without a +question.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_12" name="Ch_12">Chapter XII.</a></h3> +<h2>On to Richmond.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It so happened that Ben Lethbridge, probably satisfied that it +was not the fist of a baby which had partially blackened both of +his eyes, and produced a heavy pain under his left ear, did not +demand the satisfaction which was needed to heal his wounded honor. +The matter was duly discussed in the tent of Tom’s mess; but +our soldier boy, while he professed to be entirely satisfied, was +willing to meet Ben at such time and place as he desired, and +finish up the affair.</p> +<p>The other party was magnanimous, and declared that he too was +satisfied; and old Hapgood thought they had better proceed no +further with the affair, for both of them might be arrested for +disorderly conduct.</p> +<p>“I am satisfied, Ben; but if you ever call me a baby or a +calf again, it will all have to be settled over again,” said +Tom, as he laid aside his musket, which he had been cleaning during +the conversation.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to quarrel with you, Tom,” +replied Ben, “but I wish you would be a little more like the +rest of the fellows.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that? I am like the rest of the +fellows.”</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t play cards.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I will play cards, but I won’t gamble; and +there isn’t many fellows in the company that will.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” added Hapgood. “I know all +about that business. When I went to Mexico, I lost my money as fast +as I got it, playing cards. Don’t gamble, boys.”</p> +<p>“I won’t, for one,” said Tom, with +emphasis.</p> +<p>“Are you going to set up for a soldier-saint, too?” +sneered Ben, turning to the old man.</p> +<p>“I’m no saint, but I’ve larned better than to +gamble.”</p> +<p>“I think you’d better stop drinking too,” +added Ben.</p> +<p>“Come, Ben, you are meaner than dirt,” said Tom, +indignantly.</p> +<p>Old Hapgood was a confirmed toper. The people in Pinchbrook said +he was a good man, but, they used to add, with a shrug of the +shoulders, “pity he drinks.” It was a sad pity, but he +seemed to have no power over his appetite. The allusion of Ben to +his besetting sin was cruel and mortifying, for the old man had +certainly tried to reform, and since the regiment left Boston, he +had not tasted the intoxicating cup. He had declared before the +mess that he had stopped drinking; so his resolution was known to +all his companions, though none of them had much confidence in his +ability to carry it out.</p> +<p>“I didn’t speak to you, Tom Somers,” said Ben, +sharply.</p> +<p>“You said a mean thing in my presence.”</p> +<p>“By and by we shall be having a prayer meeting in our tent +every night.”</p> +<p>“If you are invited I hope you will come,” added +Tom, “for if prayers will do any body any good, they +won’t hurt you.”</p> +<p>“If you will take care of yourself, and let me alone, +it’s all I ask of you.”</p> +<p>“I’m agreed.”</p> +<p>This was about the last of the skirmishing between Tom and Ben. +The latter was a little disposed to be bully; and from the time the +company left Pinchbrook, he had been in the habit of calling Tom a +baby, and other opprobrious terms, till the subject of his sneers +could endure them no longer. Tom had come to the conclusion that he +could obtain respectful treatment only by the course he had +adopted. Perhaps, if he had possessed the requisite patience, he +might have attained the same result by a less repulsive and more +noble policy.</p> +<p>The regiment remained in Washington about a fortnight. The +capital was no longer considered to be in danger. A large body of +troops had been massed in and around the city, and the +rebels’ boast that they would soon capture Washington was no +longer heeded. Fear and anxiety had given place to hope and +expectation. “On to Richmond!” was the cry sounded by +the newspapers, and repeated by the people. The army of +newly-fledged soldiers was burning with eagerness to be led against +the rebels. “On to Richmond!” shouted citizens and +soldiers, statesmen and politicians. Some cursed and some +deprecated the cautious slowness of the old general who had never +been defeated.</p> +<p>“On to Richmond!” cried the boys in Tom’s +regiment, and none more earnestly than he.</p> +<p>“Don’t hurry old Scott. He knows what he is about. I +know something about this business, for I’ve seen old Scott +where the bullets flew thicker’n snow flakes at +Christmas,” was the oft-repeated reply of Hapgood, the +veteran of Company K.</p> +<p>The movement which had been so long desired and expected was +made at last, and the regiment struck its tents, and proceeded over +Long Bridge into Virginia. The first camp was at Shuter’s +Hill, near Alexandria.</p> +<p>“Now we are in for it,” said Tom Somers, when the +mess gathered in their tent after the camp was formed. “I +hope we shall not remain here long.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be in a hurry, my brave boy,” said old +Hapgood. “We may stop here a month.”</p> +<p>“I hope not.”</p> +<p>“Don’t hope anything about it, Tom. Take things as +they come.”</p> +<p>But the impatience of the soldier boy was soon relieved; for at +daylight on the morning of the 16th of July, the regiment was +routed out, the tents were struck, and at nine o’clock they +took up the line of march to the southward. It was “on to +Richmond,” in earnest, now, and merrily marched the men, who +little knew what trials and sufferings, what scenes of blood and +death, lay in their path.</p> +<p>The little colonel’s command had been put in +Franklin’s brigade, which formed a part of +Heintzelman’s division; but little did Tom or his +fellow-soldiers know of anything but their own regiment. The +“sacred soil” of Virginia seemed to be covered with +Federal soldiers, and whichever way he turned, columns of troops +might be seen, all obedient to the one grand impulse of the loyal +nation—“On to Richmond.”</p> +<p>The great wagons, gun carriages, and caissons rolling slowly +along, the rattling drums, with here and there the inspiring +strains of a band, the general officers, with their staffs, were +full of interest and excitement to the soldier boy; and though the +business before him was stern and terrible, yet it seemed like some +great pageant, moving grandly along to celebrate, rather than win, +a glorious triumph.</p> +<p>The novelty of the movement, however, soon wore away, and it +required only a few hours to convince the inexperienced soldiers in +our regiment that it was no idle pageant in which they were +engaged. The short intervals of rest which were occasionally +allowed were moments to be appreciated. All day long they toiled +upon their weary way, praying for the night to come, with its +coveted hours of repose. The night did come, but it brought no rest +to the weary and footsore soldiers.</p> +<p>Tom was terribly fatigued. His knapsack, which had been light +upon his buoyant frame in the morning, now seemed to weigh two +hundred pounds, while his musket had grown proportionally heavy. +Hour after hour, in the darkness of that gloomy night, he trudged +on, keeping his place in the ranks with a resolution which neither +the long hours nor the weary miles could break down.</p> +<p>“I can’t stand this much longer,” whined Ben +Lethbridge. “I shall drop pretty soon, and die by the +roadside.”</p> +<p>“No, you won’t,” added Hapgood. “Stick +to it a little while longer; never say die.”</p> +<p>“I can’t stand it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you can. Only think you can, and you can,” +added the veteran.</p> +<p>“What do they think we are made of? We can’t march +all day and all night. I wish I was at home.”</p> +<p>“I wish I hadn’t come,” said Fred +Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Cheer up! cheer up, boys. Stick to it a little +longer,” said the veteran.</p> +<p>It was three o’clock the next morning before they were +permitted to halt, when the boys rolled themselves up in their +blankets, and dropped upon the ground. It was positive enjoyment to +Tom, and he felt happy; for rest was happiness when the body was +all worn out. A thought of the cottage and of his mother crossed +his mind, and he dropped asleep to dream of the joys of home.</p> +<p>Short and sweet was that blessed time of rest; for at four +o’clock, after only one brief hour of repose, the regiment +was turned out again, and resumed its weary march to the southward. +But that short interval of rest was a fountain of strength to Tom, +and without a murmur he took his place by the side of his grumbling +companions. Ben and Fred were disgusted with the army, and wanted +to go back; but that was impossible.</p> +<p>Again, for weary hours, they toiled upon the march. They passed +Fairfax, and encamped near the railroad station, where a full +night’s rest was allowed them. By the advice of Hapgood, Tom +went to a brook, and washed his aching feet in cold water. The +veteran campaigner gave him other useful hints, which were of great +service to him. That night he had as good reason to bless the +memory of the man who invented sleep as ever Sancho Panza had, and +every hour was fully improved.</p> +<p>At six o’clock, the next morning, the regiment marched +again. Tom’s legs were stiff, but he felt so much better than +on the preceding day, that he began to think that he could stand +any thing. In the early part of the afternoon his ears were saluted +by a new sound—one which enabled him more fully than before +to realize the nature of the mission upon which he had been sent. +It was the roar of cannon. On that day was fought the battle of +Blackburn’s Ford; and when the regiment reached its +halting-place at Centreville, the story of the fight was told by +enthusiastic lips. Massachusetts men had stood firm and resolute +before the artillery and musketry of the rebels, and every man who +heard the story was proud that he hailed from the Old Bay State, +and panted for the time when he might show himself worthy of his +origin, and true to the traditions of the past.</p> +<p>The regiment lay in camp the two following days, and the men had +an opportunity to recover in some measure from the fatigues of +their first severe march. Visions of glory and victory were +beginning to dawn upon them. They had listened to the cannon of the +enemy, and they knew that the rebels were not many miles distant in +front of them. A few days, perhaps a few hours, would elapse before +the terrible conflict would commence. Some of those manly forms +must soon sleep in the soldier’s grave; some of those beating +hearts must soon cease to beat forever; but still the brave and the +true longed for the hour that would enable them to “strike +home” for the nation’s salvation.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_13" name="Ch_13">Chapter XIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Bull Run.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Tumble out! Tumble out!” shouted the sergeant, who +was in the mess with the soldiers we have introduced. +“Reveille! Don’t you hear it?”</p> +<p>“But it isn’t morning,” growled Ben +Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“I haven’t been asleep more than an hour or +two,” snarled Fred Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Shut up your heads, and turn out!” said the +sergeant.</p> +<p>It was the morning of the eventful twenty-first of July, and it +was only two o’clock when the regiment was roused from its +slumbers; but there was no great hardship in this fact, for most of +the men had been sleeping the greater portion of the time during +the preceding two days. Tom Somers was ready to take his place in +the line in a few moments.</p> +<p>“Come, fellows, hurry up,” said he to his tardy +companions. “The time has come, and, I tell you, +there’ll be music before many hours.”</p> +<p>“Where are we going, Tom? Have you any idea?” asked +Fred.</p> +<p>“Going down to Manassas Junction, I suppose. That’s +where the rebels are.”</p> +<p>“Do you suppose we shall get into a fight?” asked +Ben.</p> +<p>“I don’t know; I hope so.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” returned Ben, faintly; “but I +don’t like to be broke of my rest in this way.”</p> +<p>Tom, full of excited anticipations in regard to the events of +the day, laughed heartily at this reply, and left the tent. The +regiment was formed in line, but there were two vacancies in the +section to which he belonged. Fred and Ben had answered to their +names at roll call. On some pretence they had asked permission to +leave the line for a few moments, and that was the last that had +been seen of them.</p> +<p>“Where do you suppose they are?” said Tom to +Hapgood.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I hain’t got much confidence in +Ben’s pluck, and I shouldn’t wonder if he had run +away.”</p> +<p>“But that is desertion.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what you may call it; and I’ve +seen men shot for it.”</p> +<p>The regiment remained in line several hours before the order +came to move. At daylight, while the men were still standing in the +road, four soldiers, attended by a staff officer, conducted the two +missing men of Company K into the presence of the regiment.</p> +<p>“These men say they belong to your regiment,” said +the officer, saluting the little colonel.</p> +<p>Captain Benson immediately claimed them, and Fred and Ben were +ordered into the ranks.</p> +<p>“Cowards—are you?” said the captain. +“You shall take your places in the ranks, and at the right +time we will settle this case.”</p> +<p>“I enlisted without my father’s consent, and you +can’t hold me if I don’t choose to stay,” replied +Fred Pemberton.</p> +<p>“Next time you must ask your father before you come. It is +too late to repent now.”</p> +<p>“I’m going home.”</p> +<p>“No, you’re not. Sergeant, if either of those men +attempt to leave the ranks again, shoot them!” said the +captain.</p> +<p>Fred and Ben took their places in the ranks amid the laughter +and jeers of the company.</p> +<p>“Who’s the baby now?” said Bob Dornton.</p> +<p>“You have disgraced the company,” added old Hapgood. +“I didn’t think you would run away before the battle +commenced.”</p> +<p>“I shall keep both eyes on you, my boys, and if you skulk +again, I’ll obey orders—by the Lord Harry, I +will!” said the sergeant, as he glanced at the lock of his +musket. “Company K isn’t going to be laughed at for +your cowardice.”</p> +<p>At six o’clock the order came for the brigade to march. It +now consisted of only three regiments, for the time of one, +composed of three months’ men, had expired while at +Centreville; and though requested and importuned to remain a few +days longer, they basely withdrew, even while they were on the very +verge of the battlefield. This regiment left, and carried with it +the scorn and contempt of the loyal and true men, who were as ready +to fight the battles of their country on one day as on another.</p> +<p>The men knew they were going to battle now, for the enemy was +only a few miles distant. The soldier boy’s heart was full of +hope. He knew not what a battle was; he could form no adequate +conception of the terrible scene which was soon to open upon his +view. He prayed and trusted that he might be able to do his duty +with courage and fidelity. To say that he had no doubts and fears +would be to say that he was not human.</p> +<p>As the brigade toiled slowly along, he tried to picture the +scene which was before him, and thus make himself familiar with its +terrors before he was actually called to confront them. He +endeavored to imagine the sounds of screaming shells and whistling +bullets, that the reality, when it came, might not appall him. He +thought of his companions dropping dead around him, of his friends +mangled by bayonets and cannon shot; he painted the most terrible +picture of a battle which his imagination could conjure up, hoping +in this manner to be prepared for the worst.</p> +<p>The day was hot, and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon +the devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march. They were +fatigued by continued exertion, and some of the weary ones, when +the sun approached the meridian, began to hope the great battle +would not take place on that day. Tom Somers, nearly worn out by +the tedious march, and half famished after the scanty breakfast of +hard bread he had eaten before daylight, began to feel that he was +in no condition to face the storm of bullets which he had been +imagining.</p> +<p>No orders came to halt at noon, though the crowded roads several +times secured them a welcome rest: but on marched the weary +soldiers, till the roar of cannon broke upon their ears; and as +they moved farther on, the rattling volleys of musketry were heard, +denoting that the battle had already commenced. These notes of +strife were full of inspiration to the loyal and patriotic in the +columns. A new life was breathed into them. They were enthusiastic +in the good cause, and their souls immediately became so big that +what had been body before seemed to become spirit now. They forgot +their empty stomachs and their weary limbs. The music of battle, +wild and terrible as it was to these untutored soldiers, charmed +away the weariness of the body, and, to the quickstep of thundering +cannon and crashing musketry, they pressed on with elastic tread to +the horrors before them.</p> +<p>Tom felt that he had suddenly and miraculously been made over +anew. He could not explain the reason, but his legs had ceased to +ache, his feet to be sore, and his musket and his knapsack were +deprived of their superfluous weight.</p> +<p>“God be with me in this battle!” he exclaimed to +himself a dozen times. “God give me strength and +courage!”</p> +<p>Animated by his trust in Him who will always sustain those who +confide in him, the soldier boy pressed on, determined not to +disgrace the name he bore. The terrible sounds became more and more +distinct as the regiment advanced, and in about two hours after the +battle had opened, the brigade arrived at the field of operations. +One regiment was immediately detached and sent off in one +direction, while the other two were ordered to support a battery on +a hill, from which it was belching forth a furious storm of shells +upon the rebels.</p> +<p>The little colonel’s sword gleamed in the air, as he gave +the order to march on the double-quick to the position assigned to +him.</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, steady, and think of nothing but God and your +country,” said old Hapgood, as the regiment commenced its +rapid march. “I know something about this business, and I can +tell you we shall have hot work before we get through with +it.”</p> +<p>“Where are the rebels? I don’t see any,” asked +Tom, who found that his ideas of the manner in which a battle is +fought were very much at fault.</p> +<p>“You will see them very soon. They are in their +breastworks. There! Look down there!” exclaimed the veteran +as the regiment reached a spot which commanded a full view of the +battle.</p> +<p>Tom looked upon the fearful scene. The roar of the artillery and +the crash of the small arms were absolutely stunning. He saw men +fall, and lie motionless on the ground, where they were trampled +upon by the horses, and crushed beneath the wheels of cannon and +caisson. But the cry was, that the army of the Union had won the +field, and it inspired him with new zeal and new courage.</p> +<p>Scarcely had the remnant of the brigade reached the right of the +battery, before they were ordered to charge down the valley, by +Colonel Franklin, the acting brigadier. They were executing the +command with a dash and vigor that would have been creditable to +veterans, when they were ordered to cross the ravine, and support +the Eire Zouaves. The movement was made, and Tom soon found himself +in the thickest of the fight. Shot and shell were flying in every +direction, and the bullets hissed like hailstones around him.</p> +<p>In spite of all his preparations for this awful scene, his heart +rose up into his throat. His eyes were blinded by the volumes of +rolling smoke, and his mind confused by the rapid succession of +incidents that were transpiring around him. The pictures he had +painted were sunlight and golden compared with the dread reality. +Dead and dying men strewed the ground in every direction. Wounded +horses were careering on a mad course of destruction, trampling the +wounded and the dead beneath their feet. The hoarse shouts of the +officers were heard above the roar of battle. The scene mocked all +the attempts which the soldier boy had made to imagine its +horrors.</p> +<p>In front of the regiment were the famous Eire Zouaves, no longer +guided and controlled by the master genius of Ellsworth. They +fought like tigers, furiously, madly; but all discipline had ceased +among them, and they rushed wildly to the right and the left, +totally heedless of their officers. They fought like demons, and as +Tom saw them shoot down, hew down, or bayonet the hapless rebels +who came within their reach, it seemed to him as though they had +lost their humanity, and been transformed into fiends.</p> +<p>As soon as the regiment reached its position, the order was +given to fire. Tom found this a happy relief; and when he had +discharged his musket a few times, all thoughts of the horrors of +the scene forsook him. He no longer saw the dead and the dying; he +no longer heard the appalling roar of battle. He had become a part +of the scene, instead of an idle spectator. He was sending the bolt +of death into the midst of the enemies of his country.</p> +<p>“Bravo! Good boy, Tom,” said old Hapgood, who seemed +to be as much at ease as when he had counselled patience and +resignation in the quiet of the tent. “Don’t fire too +high, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I’ve got the idea,” replied the soldier boy. +“I begin to feel quite at home.”</p> +<p>“O, you’ll do; and I knew you would from the +first.”</p> +<p>The shouts of victory which had sounded over the field were full +of inspiration to the men; but at the moment when the laurels +seemed to be resting securely upon our banners, the rebel line +moved forward with irresistible fury. Tom, at one instant, as he +cast his eye along the line, found himself flanked on either side +by his comrades; at the next there was a wild, indescribable tramp +and roar, and he found himself alone. The regiment was scattered in +every direction, and he did not see a single man whom he knew. +There was a moving mass of Federal soldiers all around him. The +Zouaves had been forced back, and the cry of victory had given +place to the ominous sounds which betokened a defeat, if not a +rout.</p> +<p>The rebels had been reënforced, and had hurled their fresh +legions upon our exhausted troops, who could no longer roll back +the masses that crowded upon them. The day was lost.</p> +<p>Tom, bewildered by this sudden and disastrous result, moved back +with the crowds around him. Men had ceased to be brave and firm; +they were fleeing in mortal terror before the victorious battalions +that surged against them.</p> +<p>“It’s all up with us, my lad,” said a panting +Zouave. “Run for your life. Come along with me.”</p> +<p>Tom followed the Zouave towards the woods, the storm of bullets +still raining destruction around them.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_14" name="Ch_14">Chapter XIV.</a></h3> +<h2>After the Battle.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers floated with the tide of humanity that was setting +away from the scene of disaster and defeat. The panic that +prevailed was even more fearful than the battle, for wounded and +dying men were mercilessly trodden down by the feet of the horses, +and run over by the wheels of the cannon and the baggage wagons. +Though the battle was ended, the rebels still poured storms of shot +and shell into the retreating, panic-stricken host.</p> +<p>Tom did not know where to go, for there were panic and death on +all sides of him. The soldiers were flying in every direction, some +of them into the very arms of their remorseless enemies. But the +woods seemed to promise the most secure retreat from the fury of +the Black Horse Cavalry, which was now sweeping over the +battle-field. The Zouave ran in this direction, and our soldier boy +followed him. Now that the excitement of the conflict was over, the +enthusiasm which had buoyed him up began to subside. The day was +lost; all hopes of glory had fled; and a total defeat and rout were +not calculated to add much strength to his over-tasked limbs.</p> +<p>He was nearly used up, and it was hard work to run—very +hard work; and nothing but the instinct of self-preservation +enabled him to keep the tall and wiry form of the Zouave in sight. +They reached the ravine, where the water was about three feet deep. +The shot, and shell, and bullets still fell in showers around them, +and occasionally one of the luckless fugitives was struck down. +They crossed the stream, and continued on their flight. An officer +on horseback dashed by them, and bade them run with all their +might, or they would be taken.</p> +<p>“For Heaven’s sake, get me some water!” said a +rebel, who was wounded in the leg, to a Zouave, who passed near +him.</p> +<p>“You are a rebel, but I will do that for you,” +replied the Zouave; and he gave him a canteen filled with +water.</p> +<p>The rebel drank a long, deep draught, and then levelled his +musket at the head of his Samaritan enemy and fired. This +transaction had occupied but a moment, and Tom saw the whole. His +blood froze with horror at the unparalleled atrocity of the act. +The Zouave, whom Tom had followed, uttered a terrible oath, and +snatching the musket from the hands of the soldier boy, he rushed +upon the soulless miscreant, and transfixed him upon the bayonet. +Uttering fierce curses all the time, he plunged the bayonet again +and again into the vitals of the rebel, till life was extinct.</p> +<p>“Boy, I used to be human once,” said the Zouave, +when he had executed this summary justice upon the rebel; +“but I’m not human now. I’m all devil.”</p> +<p>“What a wretch that rebel was!” exclaimed Tom, who +seemed to breathe freer now that retribution had overtaken the +viper.</p> +<p>“A wretch! Haven’t you got any bigger word than +that, boy? He was a fiend! But we mustn’t stop +here.”</p> +<p>“I thought the rebels were human.”</p> +<p>“Human? That isn’t the first time to-day I’ve +seen such a thing as that done. Come along, my boy; come +along.”</p> +<p>Tom followed the Zouave again; but he was too much exhausted to +run any farther. Even the terrors of the Black Horse Cavalry could +not inspire him with strength and courage to continue his flight at +any swifter pace than a walk.</p> +<p>“I can go no farther,” said he, at last.</p> +<p>“Yes, you can; pull up! pull up! You will be taken if you +stop here.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help it. I can go no farther. I am used +up.”</p> +<p>“Pull up, pull up, my boy!”</p> +<p>“I can’t.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t want to leave you here. They’ll +murder you—cut your throat, like a dog.”</p> +<p>“I will hide myself in the bushes till I get a little more +strength.”</p> +<p>“Try it a little longer. You are too good a fellow to be +butchered like a calf,” added the generous Zouave.</p> +<p>But it was no use to plead with him, for exhausted nature +refused to support him, and he dropped upon the ground like a +log.</p> +<p>“Poor fellow! I would carry you in my arms if I +could.”</p> +<p>“Save yourself if you can,” replied Tom, +faintly.</p> +<p>The kind-hearted fireman was sorry to leave him, but he knew +that one who wore his uniform could expect no mercy from the +rebels. They had been too terrible upon the battle-field to receive +any consideration from those whom they had so severely punished. He +was, therefore, unwilling to trust himself to the tender mercies of +the cavalry, who were sweeping the fields to pick up prisoners; and +after asking Tom’s name and regiment, he reluctantly left +him.</p> +<p>Tom had eaten nothing since daylight in the morning, which, +added to the long march, and the intense excitement of his first +battle-field, had apparently reduced him to the last extremity. +Then, for the first time, he realized what it was to be a soldier. +Then he thought of his happy home—of his devoted mother. What +must she not suffer when the telegraph should flash over the wires +the intelligence of the terrible disaster which had overtaken the +Union army! It would be many days, if not weeks or months, before +she could know whether he was dead or alive. What anguish must she +not endure!</p> +<p>He had but a moment for thoughts like these before he heard the +sweep of the rebel cavalry, as they dashed down the road through +the woods. He must not remain where he was, or the record of his +earthly career would soon be closed. On his hands and knees he +crawled away from the road, and rolled himself up behind a rotten +log, just in season to escape the observation of the cavalrymen as +they rode by the spot.</p> +<p>Here and there in the woods were the extended forms of Federals +and rebels, who had dragged their wounded bodies away from the +scene of mortal strife to breathe their last in this holy sanctuary +of nature, or to escape from the death-dealing shot, and the +mangling wheels that rumbled over the dead and the dying. Close by +the soldier boy’s retreat lay one who was moaning piteously +for water. Tom had filled his canteen at a brook on the way, and he +crawled up to the sufferer to lave his dying thirst. On reaching +the wounded man, he found that he was a rebel, and the fate of the +Zouave who had done a similar kindness only a short time before +presented itself to his mind.</p> +<p>“Water! Water! For the love of God, give me a drop of +water,” moaned the dying soldier.</p> +<p>Tom thought of the Zouave again, and had almost steeled his +heart against the piteous cry. He turned away.</p> +<p>“Water! Water! If you are a Christian give me some +water,” groaned the sufferer.</p> +<p>Our soldier boy could no longer resist the appeal. He felt that +he could not be loved on earth or forgiven in heaven if he denied +the petition of the dying rebel; but before he granted it, he +assured himself that the sufferer had no dangerous weapon in his +possession. The man was deadly pale; one of his arms hung useless +by his side; and he was covered with blood. He was a +terrible-looking object, and Tom felt sick and faint as he gazed +upon him.</p> +<p>Placing his canteen at the lips of the poor wretch, he bade him +drink. His frame quivered as he clutched the canteen with his +remaining hand. The death damp was on his forehead; but his eye +lighted up with new lustre as he drank the grateful beverage.</p> +<p>“God bless you! God bless you!” exclaimed he as he +removed the canteen from his lips. “You are a Yankee,” +he added, as he fixed his glazing eyes upon Tom’s uniform. +“Are you wounded?”</p> +<p>“No; I am worn out. I have eaten nothing since daylight, +and not much then. I am used up.”</p> +<p>“Put your hand in my haversack. There is something +there,” gasped the dying man.</p> +<p>Tom bent over him to comply with the invitation; but, with a +thrill of horror, he started back, as he listened to the +death-rattle in the throat of the rebel, and saw his eyes fixed and +lustreless in death. It was an awful scene to the inexperienced +youth. Though he had seen hundreds fall in the battle of that day, +death had not seemed so ghastly and horrible to him as now, when he +stood face to face with the grim monster. For a few moments he +forgot his own toil-worn limbs, his craving hunger, and his aching +head.</p> +<p>He gazed upon the silent form before him, which had ceased to +suffer, and he felt thankful that he had been able to mitigate even +a single pang of the dying rebel. But not long could he gaze, +awe-struck, at the ghastly spectacle before him, for he had a life +to save. The words of the sufferer—his last +words—offering him the contents of his haversack recurred to +him; but Tom’s sensibilities recoiled at the thought of +eating bread taken from the body of a dead man, and he turned +away.</p> +<p>“Why shouldn’t I take it?” said he to himself. +“It may save my life. With rest and food, I may escape. Pooh! +I’ll not be a fool!”</p> +<p>Bending over the dead man, he resolutely cut the haversack from +his body, and then returned to the log whose friendly shelter had +screened him from the eyes of the rebel horsemen. Seating himself +upon the ground, he commenced exploring the haversack. It contained +two “ash-cakes,” a slice of bacon, and a small bottle. +Tom’s eyes glowed with delight as he gazed upon this rich +feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the +circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, +he began to eat. Ash-cake was a new institution to him. It was an +Indian cake baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the +rebels at Manassas. It tasted very much like his mother’s +johnny-cake, only he missed the fresh butter with which he had been +wont to cover the article at home.</p> +<p>The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though +each of the latter was about the size of a saucer. It was a large +meal, even for a growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a +new sinew into his frame. While he was eating, he drew the cork +from the bottle. It contained whiskey. Tom had heard that there was +virtue in whiskey; that it was invigorating to a tired man, and he +was tempted, under these extremely trying circumstances, to +experiment upon the beverage. He would certainly have been +excusable if he had done so; but our hero had a kind of horror of +the article, which would not let him even taste it. He was afraid +that he should acquire a habit which would go with him through +life, and make him what Hapgood and others whom he knew +were—a torment to themselves, and a nuisance to their +fellow-beings. Putting the cork in the bottle, he threw it upon the +ground.</p> +<p>With his renewed strength came renewed hope; but he did not deem +it prudent to wander about the woods at present: therefore he threw +himself on the ground under the protecting log to obtain the repose +he so much needed.</p> +<p>He thought of home, and wondered whether he should ever see the +cottage of his parents again; and while he was thinking, overcome +by the excitement and fatigue of the day, he dropped asleep. It was +strange that he could do so, consciously environed by so many +perils; but he had in a measure become callous to danger, and he +slept long and deep.</p> +<p>When he awoke, it was dark and silent around him. The roar of +battle had ceased, and the calm of death seemed to have settled +upon the scene of strife. Tom’s bones still ached; but he was +wonderfully refreshed by the nap he had taken. He had no idea of +the time, and could not tell whether he had slept one hour or six. +He was strong enough to walk now, and the first consideration was +to escape from the vicinity of the rebel camps; but he had no +conception of where he was, or what direction would lead him to the +Federal lines.</p> +<p>A kind Providence had watched over him thus far; had spared his +life in the fury of battle; had fed him in the wilderness, like +Elijah of old; and restored his wasted strength. He could only +trust to Providence for guidance, and, using his best judgment in +choosing the direction, he entered upon the difficult task of +finding his way out of the woods. He had walked an hour or more, +when, suddenly, three men sprung up in the path before him.</p> +<p>“Halt! Who comes there?” demanded one of them.</p> +<p>“Friend!” replied Tom; though he had a great many +doubts in regard to the truth of his assertion.</p> +<p>“Advance, friend, and give the countersign!”</p> +<p>But the soldier boy had no countersign to give. He had fallen +upon a rebel picket post, and was made a prisoner.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_15" name="Ch_15">Chapter XV.</a></h3> +<h2>Tom a Prisoner.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom could not exactly understand how he happened to be made a +prisoner. He had certainly moved with extreme caution, and he +wondered that he had not received some intimation of the presence +of the enemy before it was too late to retreat. But, as we have +before hinted, Tom was a philosopher; and he did not despair even +under the present reverse of circumstances, though he was greatly +disconcerted.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded one of the rebel soldiers, +when they had duly possessed his body, which, however, was not a +very chivalrous adventure, for the prisoner was unarmed, his gun +having been thrown away by the friendly Zouave, after he had so +terribly avenged his murdered companion.</p> +<p>“I’m a soldier,” replied Tom, greatly +perplexed by the trials of his difficult situation.</p> +<p>As yet he did not know whether he had fallen into the hands of +friend or foe, for the night was cloudy and dark, and he could not +see what uniform the pickets wore.</p> +<p>“What do you belong to?” demanded the spokesman of +the picket trio.</p> +<p>“I belong to the army,” answered Tom, with admirable +simplicity.</p> +<p>Our soldier boy, as the reader already knows, had been well +“brought up.” He had been taught to tell the truth at +all times; and he did so on the present occasion, very much to the +confusion, no doubt, of the rebel soldiers, who had not been +brought up under the droppings of the sanctuary in a New England +village.</p> +<p>“B’long to the army—do you?” repeated +Secesh, who must have thought Tom a very candid person.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, I belong to the army,” added the +prisoner.</p> +<p>“I s’pose you won’t mind telling us what army +you belong to, ’cause it mought make a difference in our +calculations,” added the spokesman.</p> +<p>Tom did not know but that it might make some difference in his +calculations, and for this reason he was exceedingly unwilling to +commit himself before he ascertained upon which side his +questioners belonged.</p> +<p>“Can you tell me where I am?” asked Tom, resolved to +use a little strategy in obtaining the desired information.</p> +<p>“May be I can,” replied the picket.</p> +<p>“Will you do so?”</p> +<p>“Sartin, stranger—you are in the woods,” added +Secesh; whereat his companions indulged in a wholesome chuckle, +which assured Tom that they were human, and his hopes rose +accordingly.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” replied Tom, with infinite good +nature.</p> +<p>“You say you belong to the army, and I say you are in the +woods,” said the soldier, repeating the double postulate, so +that the essence of the joke should by no possibility fail to +penetrate the cerebellum of his auditor.</p> +<p>Tom was perfectly willing to acknowledge that he was in the +woods, both actually and metaphorically, and he was very much +disturbed to know how he should get out of the woods—a +problem which has puzzled wiser heads than his, even in less +perplexing emergencies. He was fearful that, if he declared himself +to be a Union soldier, he should share the fate of others whom he +had seen coolly bayoneted on that eventful day.</p> +<p>“Now, stranger, s’pose you tell me what army you +b’long to; then I can tell you where you are,” +continued the soldier.</p> +<p>“What do you belong to?” asked Tom, though he did +not put the question very confidently.</p> +<p>“I belong to the army;” and the two other pickets +honored the reply with another chuckle. “You can’t fool +old Alabammy.”</p> +<p>There was no further need of fooling “Old Alabammy,” +for the worthy old gentleman, symbolically represented by the rebel +soldier, had kindly done it himself; and Tom then realized that he +was in the hands of the enemy. It is true, the balance of the +picket trio laughed heartily at the unfortunate slip of the tongue +made by their companion, but Tom was in no condition to relish the +joke, or he might perhaps have insinuated himself into the good +graces of the jolly Secesh by repeating Pat’s mysterious +problem—“Tell me how many cheeses there are in the bag, +and I’ll give ye the whole five;” for, though this is +an old joke in the civilized parts of the world, it is not at all +probable that it had been perpetrated in the benighted regions of +Secessia.</p> +<p>The announcement of the fact that he was in the hands of the +foe, as we have before intimated, left Tom in no condition to give +or take a joke. His heart was suddenly deprived of some portion of +its ordinary gravity, and rose up to the vicinity of his throat. He +drew sundry deep and long breaths, indicative of his alarm; for +though Tom was a brave boy,—as these pages have already +demonstrated,—he had a terrible idea of the tender mercies of +the rebels. His first impulse was to break away from his captors, +and run the risk of being overtaken by a trio of musket balls; for +death from the quick action of a bullet seemed preferable to the +fate which his fears conjured up if he should be taken by the +bloodthirsty rebels. But the chances were too decidedly against +him, and he reluctantly brought his mind to the condition of +philosophical submission.</p> +<p>“Well, stranger, which army do you b’long to?” +said the spokesman of the picket trio, when he had fully recovered +his self-possession.</p> +<p>“I belong to the United States army,” replied Tom, +desperately.</p> +<p>“That means the Yankee army, I s’pose.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; you call it by that name.”</p> +<p>“Then you are my prisoner.”</p> +<p>“I surrender because I can’t help myself.”</p> +<p>“Hev you nary toothpick or bone-cracker in your +pockets?”</p> +<p>“Any what?” replied Tom, whose dictionary seemed to +be at fault.</p> +<p>“Nary pistol, knife, or any thing of that sort?”</p> +<p>“Nothing but my jackknife.”</p> +<p>“Any plunder?”</p> +<p>“We piled up our knapsacks and haversacks before we went +into the fight. Here is my canteen half full of water; I gave the +other half to one of your soldiers, when he was dying of his +wounds.”</p> +<p>“Did ye?”</p> +<p>“Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I +am?”</p> +<p>“You are inside the lines of our army, about three miles +below Centreville,” replied one of the pickets.</p> +<p>“What time is it?”</p> +<p>“Nigh upon nine o’clock, I should say. One of you +fellers must take this prisoner to headquarters,” he +continued, speaking to his companions.</p> +<p>Tom was very agreeably surprised to find that his captors did +not propose to hang, shoot, or bayonet him; and the Southern +Confederacy rose a few degrees in his estimation. Certainly the men +who had taken him were not fiends, and he began to hope that his +situation as a prisoner would not be so terrible as his fancy had +pictured it.</p> +<p>One of the men was deputed to conduct him to the officer of the +guard; and he walked along by the side of the soldier through the +woods, in the direction from which he had just come.</p> +<p>“Can you tell me how the battle went at last?” asked +Tom, as they pursued their way through the forest.</p> +<p>“We whipped you all to pieces. Your army hasn’t done +running yet. We shall take Washington to-morrow, and Jeff Davis +will be in the White House before the week is out.”</p> +<p>“Have you taken many prisoners?” asked Tom, who +could not dispute the position of the rebel soldier.</p> +<p>“About fifty thousand, I b’lieve,” replied +Secesh, with refreshing confidence.</p> +<p>Tom indulged in a low whistle, but his companion could not tell +whether it was an expression of regret or incredulity. If they had +stood on an equality, Tom would probably have suggested that the +figures should be interpreted “over the left”—an +idiosyncrasy in language which he had imported from Pinchbrook, but +which may not be wholly unintelligible to our young readers.</p> +<p>From his conductor he obtained some particulars of the battle +and its result, which were afterwards more fully set forth in +General Beauregard’s official report, and which would have +read better on the pages of Sinbad the Sailor than in the folios of +a military despatch. But the Secesh soldier’s “facts +and figures” were comforting to Tom, who still had a stronger +interest in the condition of the good cause, after the heavy blow +it had received, than he had in his own individual welfare. Like +too heavy a dose of poison, the magnitude of the stories refuted +and defeated them. The soldier boy listened in respectful silence, +but he was utterly incredulous. It was even possible that the Union +army had won a victory, after all, though he was not very sanguine +on this point.</p> +<p>He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment +to which his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with +about twenty others, who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his +companions in misery, most of whom, worn out by the fatigues of the +day, were sleeping soundly upon the ground. Only two or three of +them were awake; but these were strangers to him, and he was unable +to obtain any information from them concerning any of his friends +in the regiment.</p> +<p>It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; +but there was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor +great coats, yet this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy +threw himself upon the ground, but the nap he had taken under the +side of the log set his eyes wide open for a time. He could only +think of home, his mother and sisters, and John, by this time +snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been wont to dream of +the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds when he +found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could +not help thinking that his situation might have been worse.</p> +<p>Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing +since morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his +companions were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought +of the anguish which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the +battle. When the regiment should be gathered together again, he +would be reported as “missing,” and this would be a +terrible word to her, for it meant killed, wounded, or a prisoner. +If he could only assure her that he still lived and was uninjured, +he would have been happy—happy in spite of the drenching +rain—happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the +hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had +faithfully performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he +settled himself in the most comfortable place he could find on the +ground, and thanked God that he had been spared his life through +the perils of that awful day, and more fervently that he had been +enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and then, with the +Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart, he fell +asleep.</p> +<p>He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as +thoroughly soaked as though he had just come out of the river. +There was no help for it, and it was no use to grumble. After +walking to and fro for half an hour, he lay down again, and, +between sleeping and waking, finished the night; uncomfortably, it +is true, and yet without any positive suffering. There were +hundreds, if not thousands, who were enduring the agony of fearful +wounds through that long night; who were lying alone and uncared +for where they had fallen in the deadly strife; who were dying +every hour, away from their homes and friends, and with no kind +hand to minister to their necessities, with no sweet voice of a +loved one to smooth their passage down to the dark, cold grave.</p> +<p>Tom thought of these, for he had seen them in his path, and he +felt that he had no cause to complain—that he ought to be +cheerful and happy. At the dawn of the day he and his +fellow-prisoners were marched to Sudley Church, where they were to +be confined until they could be sent to Richmond. Here Tom found a +captain belonging to his regiment; but neither could give any +information to the other in regard to their friends.</p> +<p>“I shall not stay here long,” said the captain, in a +whisper, when they had become better acquainted. “I intend to +leave to-night.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I go with you?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“You can go, but we had better not go together.”</p> +<p>Tom thought for a while, and determined upon an attempt to +escape. During the day, he carefully examined the premises, and +decided upon his mode of operations.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_16" name="Ch_16">Chapter XVI.</a></h3> +<h2>A Perplexing Question.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers, who had had some experience, in a small way, in the +kind of business now before him, was filled with hope when he had +adopted his plan. He was a resolute and energetic young man, and to +resolve upon any thing was almost equivalent to doing it. There +were a great many difficulties in the way of success, it is true; +but, nothing daunted by these, he determined to persevere. The +church in which the prisoners were confined was carefully guarded +on the exterior, and the sentinels carried loaded muskets in their +hands—so that the affair before him was more hazardous and +trying than that of escaping from the attic chamber of Squire +Pemberton’s house in Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>If he succeeded in making his way out of the church and eluding +the guard which surrounded it, even then his trials would only have +commenced; for there were many miles of hostile country between him +and Washington, whither he supposed the Federal army had been +driven. The captain who intended to escape at the same time gave +him some information which would be of service to him in finding +his way to the Potomac. He charged him particularly to follow the +railroad, which would conduct him to Alexandria, in the vicinity of +which he would probably find the regiment.</p> +<p>At dark the prisoners disposed of themselves as well as they +could for the night. Tom saw the captain go through all the forms +of preparing for a comfortable lodging, and he did the same +himself. For hours he lay ruminating upon his purpose. When it was +midnight, he thought it was time for him to commence the +enterprise. He worked himself along on the floor till he reached +the principal entrance. The door was open, as it had been all day, +to enable the guards to obtain an occasional view of the +prisoners.</p> +<p>The sentinels were evidently in no condition to discharge their +duties with fidelity, for they had been marching and fighting for +two or three days, and were nearly exhausted. Leaning against the +door, Tom discovered a musket, which the careless guard had left +there. On the floor in the entry lay two rebel soldiers. They had +stretched themselves across the threshold of the door, so that no +one could pass in or out of the church without stepping over +them.</p> +<p>Tom carefully rose from his recumbent posture, and took +possession of the musket. Then, with the utmost prudence, he +stepped over the bodies of the sleeping soldiers; but with all his +circumspection, he could not prevent one of his shoes from +squeaking a little, and it required only a particle of noise to +rouse the guard.</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” demanded one of them, springing to +his feet.</p> +<p>“Is this the way you do your duty?” replied Tom, as +sternly as though he had been a brigadier general.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” said the soldier, apparently +impressed by the words and the tones of him who reproved his +neglect.</p> +<p>“Who am I, you sleepy scum! I’ll let you know who I +am in about ten minutes,” added Tom, as he passed out at the +front door of the church.</p> +<p>“Give me back my gun—won’t you?” pleaded +the confused sentinel.</p> +<p>“I’ll give it back to you at the court-martial which +will sit on your case to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” challenged one of the sentinels on +the outside.</p> +<p>“Who goes there!” added Tom, in a sneering tone. +“Have you waked up? Where were you five minutes ago, when I +passed this post? There won’t be a prisoner left here by +morning. The long roll wouldn’t wake up such a stupid set of +fellows.”</p> +<p>“Stop, sir!” said the astonished sentinel. +“You can’t pass this line.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while +you were asleep.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t been asleep.”</p> +<p>“Where have you been, then?” demanded Tom with +terrible energy.</p> +<p>“Been here, sir.”</p> +<p>“I’ll court-martial the whole of you!”</p> +<p>“Stop, sir, or I’ll fire at you!” added the +soldier, as Tom moved on.</p> +<p>“Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I’ll rid the +army of one unfaithful man on the spot!” said the soldier +boy, as he raised the musket to his shoulder.</p> +<p>“Don’t fire, you fool!” interposed one of the +men whom Tom had roused from his slumbers in the entry. +“Don’t you see he is an officer?”</p> +<p>“I’ll teach you how to perform your duty!” +added Tom, as he walked away.</p> +<p>The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no +further objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as +coolly as though he had just been regularly relieved from guard +duty. He had walked but a short distance before he discovered the +camp of a regiment or brigade, which, of course, it was necessary +for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he jumped over the fence into a +field—his first object being to place a respectful distance +between himself and the enemy.</p> +<p>The scene through which he had just passed, though he had +preserved the appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been +exceedingly trying to his nerves; and when the moment of pressing +danger had passed, he found his heart up in his throat, and his +strength almost wasted by the excitement. He felt as one feels when +he has just escaped a peril which menaced him with instant death. +It was singular that the soldier had not fired, but the fact that +he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing power in +impudence.</p> +<p>For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, +but without knowing where he was going—whether he was moving +toward Richmond or Washington. As the musket which he had taken +from the church was not only an encumbrance, but might betray him, +he threw it away, though, thinking some means of defence might be +useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust it in his belt. Thus +relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a road. As there +was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed this +road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his +search—the railroad.</p> +<p>But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been +called upon to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there +were, unfortunately, two ends—one of which lay within the +Federal lines, and the other within the rebel lines. If Tom had +been an astronomer, which he was not, the night was too cloudy to +enable him to consult the stars; besides, some railroads are so +abominably crooked that the heavenly orbs would hardly have been +safe pilots. He did not know which was north, nor which was south, +and to go the wrong way would be to jump out of the frying pan into +the fire.</p> +<p>Tom sat down by the side of the road, and tried to settle the +difficult question; but the more he thought, the more perplexed he +became—which shows the folly of attempting to reason when +there are no premises to reason from. He was, no doubt, an +excellent logician; but bricks cannot be made without straw.</p> +<p>“Which way shall I go?” said Tom to himself, as he +stood up and peered first one way and then the other through the +gloom of the night.</p> +<p>But he could not see Washington in one direction, nor Richmond +in the other, and he had not a single landmark to guide him in +coming to a decision.</p> +<p>“I’ll toss up!” exclaimed he, desperately, as +he took off his cap and threw it up into the air. “Right side +up, this way—wrong side, that way; and may the fates or the +angels turn it in the proper way.”</p> +<p>He stooped down to pick up the cap, and ascertain which way it +had come down. It came down right side up, and Tom immediately +started off in the direction indicated. Although he had no +confidence in the arbitrament of the cap, he felt relieved to find +the question disposed of even in this doubtful manner.</p> +<p>He kept both eyes wide open as he advanced, for if he had taken +the wrong way a few miles of travel would bring him to the main +camp of the rebels in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. He pursued +his lonely journey for some time without impediment, and without +discovering any camp, either large or small. He gathered new +confidence as he proceeded. After he had walked two or three hours +upon the railroad, he thought it was about time for Fairfax station +to heave in sight, if he had chosen the right way—or for the +rebel camps to appear if he had chosen the wrong way. With the +first place he was familiar, as his regiment had encamped a short +distance from it.</p> +<p>He was sorely perplexed by the non-appearance of either of these +expected points. The country began to look wilder and less familiar +as he proceeded. The region before him looked rugged and +mountainous, and the dark outlines of several lofty peaks touched +the sky in front of him. But with the feeling that every step he +advanced placed a wider space between him and his captors at Sudley +church, he continued on his way till the gray streaks of daylight +appeared behind him.</p> +<p>This phenomenon promised to afford him a gleam of intelligence +upon which to found a correct solution of his course. Tom knew +that, in the ordinary course of events, the sun ought to rise in +the east and set in the west. If he was going to the north, the sun +would rise on his right hand—if to the south, on his left +hand. The streaks of light grew more and more distinct, and the +clouds having rolled away, he satisfied himself where the sun would +appear. Contrary to both wings of his theory, the place was neither +on his right nor his left, for it was exactly behind him. But his +position might be upon a bend of the railroad whose direction did +not correspond with the general course of the road. For half an +hour longer, therefore, he pursued his way, carefully noting every +curve, until he was fully convinced that his course was nearer west +than north. The sun rose precisely as had been laid down in the +programme, and precisely where he expected it would rise.</p> +<p>It was clear enough that he was not moving to the south; and, +satisfied that he was in no danger of stumbling upon Richmond, his +courage increased, and he plodded on till he discovered a small +village—or what would be called such in Virginia—though +it contained only a few houses. As he still wore the uniform of the +United States army, he did not deem it prudent to pass through this +village; besides, he was terribly perplexed to know what station it +could be, and what had become of Fairfax. Though he must have +passed through the country before, it did not look natural to +him.</p> +<p>Leaving the railroad, he took to the fields, intending to pass +round the village, or conceal himself in the woods till he could go +through it in safety. After walking diligently for so many hours, +Tom was reminded that he had a stomach. His rations on the +preceding day had not been very bountiful, and he was positively +hungry. The organ which had reminded him of its existence was +beginning to be imperative in its demands, and a new problem was +presented for solution—one which had not before received the +attention which it deserved.</p> +<p>In the fields and forest he found a few berries; but all he +could find made but a slight impression upon the neglected organ. +If Tom was a philosopher, in his humble way, he was reasonable +enough to admit that a man could not live without eating. At this +point, therefore, the question of rations became a serious and +solemn problem; and the longer it remained unsolved the more +difficult and harassing it became.</p> +<p>After he had rested all the forenoon in a secluded spot, without +interruption from man or beast, he decided to settle this question +of rations once for all. If impudence had enabled him to pass a +line of rebel sentries, it ought to furnish him with a dinner. +Leaving his hiding place, he walked till he discovered a small +house, at which he determined to apply for something to eat.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_17" name="Ch_17">Chapter XVII.</a></h3> +<h2>Dinner and Danger.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The house at which Tom applied for food evidently did not belong +to one of the “first families,” or, if it did, the +owner’s fortunes had become sadly dilapidated. It was built +of rough boards, with a huge stone chimney, which was erected on +the outside of the structure. The humblest fisherman in Pinchbrook +Harbor would have thought himself poorly accommodated in such a +rough and rickety mansion.</p> +<p>If Tom’s case had not been growing desperate, he would not +have run the risk of showing himself to any person on the +“sacred soil” who was “to the manor born;” +but his stomach was becoming more and more imperative in its +demands, and he knocked at the front door with many misgivings, +especially as his exchequer contained less than a dollar of clear +cash.</p> +<p>The inmates were either very deaf or very much indisposed to see +visitors; and Tom, after he had knocked three times, began to think +he had not run any great risk in coming to this house. As nobody +replied to his summons, he took the liberty to open the door and +enter. The establishment was even more primitive in its interior +than its exterior, and the soldier boy could not help contrasting +it with the neat houses of the poor in his native town.</p> +<p>The front door opened into a large room without the formality of +an entry or hall. In one corner of the apartment stood a bed. At +one side was a large fireplace, in which half a dozen sticks of +green wood were hissing and sizzling in a vain attempt to make the +contents of an iron pot, which hung over them, reach the boiling +point. No person was to be seen or heard on the premises, though +the fire and the pot were suggestive of humanity at no great +distance from the spot.</p> +<p>A door on the back side of the room was open, and Tom looked out +in search of the occupants of the house. In the garden he +discovered the whole family, consisting of a man and his wife, a +girl of twelve, and a boy of ten. The man was digging in the +garden, and the rest of the troupe seemed to be superintending the +operation. The head of the family was altogether the most +interesting person to Tom, for he must either shake hands or fight +with him. He did not look like a giant in intellect, and he +certainly was not a giant in stature. With the bayonet still in his +belt, Tom was not afraid of him.</p> +<p>“How are you, people?” said Tom, as he walked +towards the family, who with one accord suspended all operations, +and gave their whole attention to the stranger.</p> +<p>“How are ye, yourself?” replied the man, rather +gruffly.</p> +<p>“Do you keep a hotel?” demanded Tom, who concealed +the anxiety of his heart under a broad grin.</p> +<p>“I reckon I don’t. What do you want here?”</p> +<p>“I want something to eat,” replied Tom, proceeding +to business with commendable straight-forwardness.</p> +<p>“We hain’t got nothin’ here,” said the +man, sourly. “That ain’t what ye come fur, +nuther.”</p> +<p>“Must have something to eat. I’m not very +particular, but I must have something.”</p> +<p>“You can’t hev it ’bout yere, no how. That +ain’t what ye come fur, nuther.”</p> +<p>“If you know what I came for better than I do, suppose you +tell me what it is,” added Tom, who was a little mystified by +the manner of the man.</p> +<p>“You air one of them soger fellers, and you want me to +’list; but I tell yer, ye can’t do nothin’ of the +sort. I’ll be dog derned if I’ll go.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want you to go,” protested Tom. +“I’m half starved and all I want is something to +eat.”</p> +<p>“Yer don’t reelly mean so.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I do.”</p> +<p>“Where d’yer come from?”</p> +<p>“From down below here. Have you seen any soldiers pass +through this place?”</p> +<p>“I reckon I hev; but they hain’t seen me; and I +reckon they won’t see me very soon;” and the man +chuckled at his own cleverness in keeping clear of recruiting +officers.</p> +<p>“I don’t want you, and if you will give me something +to eat, you will get rid of me very quick.”</p> +<p>“Betsey, you kin feed the feller, if yer like, and +I’ll go over and see whar the hogs is.”</p> +<p>The man dropped his shovel, and began to move off towards the +woods, probably to see whether Tom would attempt to detain him. At +the same time “Betsey” led the way into the house, and +the visitor paid no further attention to the master.</p> +<p>“We hain’t got much to eat in the house,” said +the woman, as they entered the room. “There’s some +biled pork and pertaters in the pot, and we’ve got some +bread, sech as ’tis.”</p> +<p>“It will do me very well. I’m hungry, and can eat +any thing,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>The woman placed a tin plate on the table, and dished up the +contents of the kettle on the fire. She added some cold hoe cake to +the dinner, and Tom thought it was a feast fit for a king. He took +a seat at the table, and made himself entirely at home. The food +was coarse, but it was good, and the hungry soldier boy did ample +justice to the viands. The boy and girl who had followed him into +the house, stood, one on each side of him, watching him in +speechless astonishment.</p> +<p>“Where did yer come from?” asked the woman, when Tom +had about half finished his dinner.</p> +<p>“From down below,” replied Tom, rather +indefinitely.</p> +<p>“Don’t b’long in these yere parts, I +reckon?”</p> +<p>“No, marm.”</p> +<p>“Where are ye gwine?”</p> +<p>“Going to join my regiment.”</p> +<p>“Where is yer rigiment?”</p> +<p>“That’s more than I know, marm.”</p> +<p>“How long yer been travelling?” persisted the woman, +who was perhaps afraid that the guest would eat up the whole of the +family’s dinner, if she did not make some kind of a feint to +attract his attention.</p> +<p>“Only a few days, marm.”</p> +<p>“Kin yer till me what all thet noise was about day +’fore yesterday?”</p> +<p>“Yes, marm; it was a big battle.”</p> +<p>“Gracious me! Yer don’t say so! Whar was +it?”</p> +<p>“Down below Centreville.”</p> +<p>“Which beat?”</p> +<p>“The Confederates drove the Yankees off the field,” +answered Tom, suspending business long enough to glance at the +woman, and see how the intelligence was received.</p> +<p>“Yer don’t! Then they won’t want my old +man.”</p> +<p>Tom was unable to determine whether his hostess was Union or +“Secesh” from her words or her looks. He could not +inform her whether they would want her old man or not. When he had +eaten all he could, he proposed like an honest youth to pay for +what he had eaten; but Betsey had the true idea of southern +hospitality, and refused to receive money for the food eaten +beneath her roof. She had a loaf of coarse bread, however, in which +she permitted Tom to invest the sum of six cents.</p> +<p>“I am very much obliged to you, marm; and I shall be glad +to do as much for you, any time,” said Tom, as he went +towards the front door.</p> +<p>As he was about to open it, his ears were startled by an +imperative knock on the outside. He stepped back to one of the two +windows on the front of the house, where he discovered an officer +and two “grayback” soldiers. The ghost of his +grandmother would not have been half so appalling a sight, and he +retreated to the back door with a very undignified haste.</p> +<p>“Gracious me!” exclaimed the lady of the house. +“Who kin thet be?”</p> +<p>“An officer and two soldiers,” replied Tom, +hastily.</p> +<p>“Then they are arter my old man!” said she, dropping +into the only chair the room contained.</p> +<p>“Don’t say I’m here, marm, and I’ll help +your husband, if they catch him. Tell them he has gone off to be +absent a week.”</p> +<p>“He’d be absent more’n thet if he knowed them +fellers was arter him.”</p> +<p>The woman moved towards the front door, and Tom through the back +door; but as he was about to pass into the garden, he caught a +glimpse of one of the graybacks in the rear of the house. For a +moment his case seemed to be hopeless; but he retreated into the +room again, just as the woman opened the front door to admit the +officer. He could not escape from the house, and his only resource +was to secure a hiding place within its walls. There were only two +which seemed to be available; one of these was the bed, and the +other the chimney. If any search was made, of course the soldiers +would explore the bed first; and the chimney seemed the most +practicable.</p> +<p>There was no time for consideration, for the woman had already +opened the door, and was answering the questions of the Confederate +officer; so Tom sprang into the fireplace, and, by the aid of the +projecting stones, climbed up to a secure position. The chimney was +large enough to accommodate half a dozen boys of Tom’s size. +The fire had gone out, and though the stones were rather warm in +the fireplace, he was not uncomfortable.</p> +<p>The fears of the lady of the house proved to be well grounded +this time, for the party had actually come in search of her +“old man;” and what was more, the officer announced his +intention not to leave without him.</p> +<p>“He’s gone away fur a week, and he won’t be +hum before the fust of August, no how,” said the woman +resolutely, and adopting Tom’s suggestion to the letter.</p> +<p>“All nonsense, woman! He is about here, somewhere, and we +will find him.”</p> +<p>“You may, if you kin.”</p> +<p>The officer then went out at the back door, as Tom judged by his +footsteps, and the woman asked one of the children what had become +of the other soldier man. The boy said he was up chimney. She then +told them not to tell the officer where he was.</p> +<p>“What shell I do?” said she, placing herself before +the fireplace.</p> +<p>“Don’t be alarmed. He will keep out of their +way,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“But the officer man said he was gwine to stay ’bout +yere till he gits hum,” moaned the poor woman.</p> +<p>“He will not do any such thing. Your husband has the woods +before him, and he won’t let them catch him.”</p> +<p>“Deary me! I’m ’feared they will.”</p> +<p>“Where are they now?”</p> +<p>“They’re gone out to look for him.”</p> +<p>The officer and his men returned in a few moments, having +satisfied themselves that the proprietor of the place was not on +the premises.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll search the house,” said the +officer; and Tom heard them walking about in the room.</p> +<p>Of course the militia man could not be found, and the officer +used some very unbecoming language to express his disapprobation of +the skulker, as he called him.</p> +<p>“Woman, if you don’t tell me where your husband is, +I’ll have you arrested,” said he, angrily.</p> +<p>“I don’t know myself. He’s gone off over the +mountains to git some things. Thet’s all I know about it, and +if yer want to arrest me, yer kin.”</p> +<p>But the officer concluded that she would be a poor substitute +for an able bodied man, and he compromised the matter by leaving +one of the privates, instructing him not to let the woman or the +children leave the house, and to remain till the skulker +returned.</p> +<p>This was not very pleasant information for Tom who perceived +that he was likely to be shut up in the chimney for the rest of the +day, and perhaps be smoked or roasted out at supper time. Climbing +up to the top of his prison house, he looked over, and saw the +officer and one private disappear in the woods which lay between +the house and the railroad. Looking over the other way, he saw the +coveted recruit approaching the house from beyond the garden.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_18" name="Ch_18">Chapter XVIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Rebel Soldier.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers was not very well satisfied with his situation, for +the soldier who had been left in possession of the house was armed +with a musket, and the prospect of escaping before night was not +very flattering. The patriarch of the family, who had such a horror +of recruiting officers, was approaching, and in a few moments there +would be an exciting scene in the vicinity.</p> +<p>Independent of his promise made to the woman to help her +husband, if she would not betray him, Tom deemed it his duty to +prevent the so-called Confederate States of America from obtaining +even a single additional recruit for the armies of rebellion and +treason. Without having any personal feeling in the matter, +therefore, he was disposed to do all he could to assist his host in +“avoiding the draft.” What would have been treason in +New England was loyalty in Virginia.</p> +<p>The unfortunate subject of the Virginia militia law was +unconsciously approaching the trap which had been set for him. He +had, no doubt, come to the conclusion, by this time, that the +hungry soldier boy was not a recruiting officer, or even the +corporal of a guard sent to apprehend him, and he was returning +with confidence to partake of his noonday meal. Tom, from his perch +at the top of the chimney, watched him as he ambled along over the +rough path with his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was something +rather exciting in the situation of affairs, and he soon found +himself deeply interested in the issue.</p> +<p>The unhappy citizen owing service to the Confederate States +climbed over the zigzag fence that enclosed his garden, and +continued to approach the rude dwelling which the law had defined +to be his castle. Tom did not dare to speak in tones loud enough to +be heard by the innocent victim of the officer’s conspiracy, +for they would have betrayed his presence to the enemy. Sitting +upon the top stones of the chimney, he gesticulated violently, +hoping to attract his attention; but the man did not look up, and +consequently could not see the signals.</p> +<p>He had approached within ten rods of the back door of the house, +when Tom, fearing his footsteps might attract the attention of the +soldier, ventured to give a low whistle. As this was not heeded, he +repeated the signal when the man was within two or three rods of +the house; but even this was not noticed, and throwing his head +forward, so that the sound of his voice should not descend the +chimney, he spoke.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” said he.</p> +<p>The man suddenly stopped, and looked up. Tom made signals with +his hands for him to leave; but this mute language appeared not to +be intelligible to him.</p> +<p>“Consarn yer picter, what are yer doin’ up +thar?” said the proprietor of the castle, in tones which +seemed to Tom as loud as the roar of the cannon at Bull Run.</p> +<p>“Hush! Hush!” replied Tom, gesticulating with all +his might, and using all his ingenuity to invent signs that would +convey to the militiaman the idea that he was in imminent +danger.</p> +<p>“You be scotched!” snarled the man. “What are +yer doin’? What ails yer?”</p> +<p>“They are after you!” added Tom, in a hoarse +whisper.</p> +<p>The fellow most provokingly refused to hear him, and Tom thought +his skull was amazingly thick, and his perceptions amazingly +blunt.</p> +<p>“Now you come down from thar,” said he, as he picked +up a couple of stones. “You act like a monkey, and I +s’pose yer be one. Now make tracks down that +chimley.”</p> +<p>But instead of doing this, Tom retreated into his shell, as a +snail does when the moment of peril arrives. The soldier in the +house was not deaf; and if he had been, he could hardly have helped +hearing the stentorian tones of his victim. Instead of going out +the back door, like a sensible man, he passed out at the front +door, and in a moment more Tom heard his voice just beneath +him.</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted the soldier, as he brought his +musket to his shoulder. “Your name is Joe Burnap.”</p> +<p>“That’s my name, but I don’t want +nothin’ o’ you,” replied the embarrassed +militiaman, as he dropped the stones with which he had intended to +assault Tom’s citadel.</p> +<p>“I want something of you,” replied the soldier. +“You must go with me. Advance, and give yourself +up.”</p> +<p>“What fur?” asked poor Joe.</p> +<p>“We want you for the army. You are an enrolled militiaman. +You must go with me.”</p> +<p>“Ill be dog derned if I do,” answered Joe Burnap, +desperately.</p> +<p>“If you attempt to run away, I’ll shoot you. You +shall go with me, dead or alive, and hang me if I care much +which.”</p> +<p>Joe evidently did care. He did not want to go with the soldier; +his southern blood had not been fired by the wrongs of his country; +and he was equally averse to being shot in cold blood by this +minion of the Confederacy. His position was exceedingly +embarrassing, for he could neither run, fight, nor compromise. +While matters were in this interesting and critical condition, Tom +ventured to raise his head over the top of the chimney to obtain a +better view of the belligerents. Joe stood where he had last seen +him, and the soldier was standing within three feet of the foot of +the chimney.</p> +<p>“What ye going to do, Joe Burnap?” demanded the +latter, after waiting a reasonable time for the other to make up +his mind.</p> +<p>“What am I gwine to do?” repeated Joe, vacantly, as +he glanced to the right and the left, apparently in the hope of +obtaining some suggestion that would enable him to decide the +momentous question.</p> +<p>“You needn’t look round, Joe; you’ve got to +come or be shot. Just take your choice between the two, and +don’t waste my time.”</p> +<p>“I s’pose I can’t help myself,” replied +Joe. “I’ll tell ye what I’ll do. I want to fix up +things about hum a little, and I’ll jine ye down to the Gap +to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“No you don’t, Joe Burnap!” said the soldier, +shaking his head.</p> +<p>“Then I’ll jine ye to-night,” suggested the +strategist.</p> +<p>“My orders are not to return without you, and I shall obey +them.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Burnap, who had followed the soldier out of the house, +stood behind him wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She +protested with all a woman’s eloquence against the +proceedings of the soldier; but her tears and her homely rhetoric +were equally unavailing. While the parties were confronting each +other, the soldier dropped his piece, and listened to the arguments +of Joe and his wife. When he turned for a moment to listen to the +appeals of the woman, her husband improved the opportunity to +commence a retreat. He moved off steadily for a few paces, when the +enemy discovered the retrograde march, and again brought the gun to +his shoulder.</p> +<p>“None of that, Joe,” said the soldier, sternly. +“Now march back again, or I’ll shoot you;” and +Tom heard the click of the hammer as he cocked the piece. +“I’ve fooled long enough with you, and we’ll end +this business here. Come here, at once, or I’ll put a bullet +through your head.”</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! For mercy’s +sake don’t shoot,” cried Mrs. Burnap.</p> +<p>“I’ll give him one minute to obey the order; if he +don’t do it then, I’ll fire. That’s all +I’ve got to say.”</p> +<p>Tom saw by the soldier’s manner that he intended to +execute his threat. He saw him brace up his nerves, and otherwise +prepare himself for the bloody deed. But Tom did not think that Joe +had the stubbornness or the courage, whichever it might be called, +to run the risk of dodging the bullet. He foresaw, too, that, if +Joe gave himself up, his hiding place would be exposed, and the +soldier would have two prisoners to conduct back to his officer, +instead of one. It was therefore high time for him to do something +for his own protection, if not for that of his host.</p> +<p>The necessity of defending himself, or of doing something to +cover his retreat in an emergency, had been anticipated by Tom, and +he had made such preparations as the circumstances would admit. His +first suggestion was to dart his bayonet down at the rebel soldier, +as he had seen the fishermen of Pinchbrook harpoon a horse +mackerel; but the chances of hitting the mark were too uncertain to +permit him to risk the loss of his only weapon, and he rejected the +plan. He adopted the method, however, in a modified, form, deciding +to use the material of which the chimney was constructed, instead +of the bayonet. The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, +were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his +hands ready for operations.</p> +<p>“Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man,” +repeated the soldier, who evidently had some scruples about +depriving the infant Confederacy of an able-bodied recruit.</p> +<p>Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted +himself up from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the +soldier, fully expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his +brains. The best laid calculations often miscarry, and Tom’s +did in part, for the missile, instead of striking the soldier upon +the head, hit him on the right arm. The musket was discharged, +either by the blow or by the act of its owner, and fell out of his +hands upon the ground.</p> +<p>Now, a stone as big as a man’s head, does not fall from +the height of fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human +frame without inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with +this doctrine of probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down +upon the rebel, and which struck him upon the right arm, entirely +disabled that useful member. The hero of this achievement was +satisfied with the result, though it had not realized his +anticipations. Concluding that the time had arrived for an +effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the +house, descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the +ground.</p> +<p>The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the +surprise occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. Tom +rushed up to him, and secured the musket before he had time to +regain his self-possession.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded the soldier, holding up the +injured arm with his left hand.</p> +<p>“Your most obedient servant,” replied Tom, +facetiously, as he placed himself in the attitude of “charge +bayonets.” “Have you any dangerous weapons about your +person?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I have,” replied the soldier, resolutely, as +he retreated a few steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand +into the breast pocket of his coat.</p> +<p>“Hands down!” exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with +the bayonet attached to the musket. “Here, Joe +Burnap!”</p> +<p>“What d’ yer want?” replied the proprietor of +the house, who was as completely “demoralized” by the +scene as the rebel soldier himself.</p> +<p>“Put your hand into this man’s pocket, and take out +his pistol. If he resists, I’ll punch him with this,” +added Tom, demonstrating the movement by a few vigorous thrusts +with the bayonet.</p> +<p>With some hesitation Joe took a revolver from the pocket of the +soldier, and handed it to Tom.</p> +<p>“Examine all his pockets. Take out everything he has in +them,” added Tom, cocking the revolver, and pointing it at +the head of the prisoner.</p> +<p>Joe took from the pockets of the rebel a quantity of pistol +cartridges, a knife, some letters, and a wallet.</p> +<p>“Who’s this fur?” asked Joe, as he proceeded +to open the wallet, and take therefrom a roll of Confederate +“shin-plasters.”</p> +<p>“Give it back to him.”</p> +<p>“But this is money.”</p> +<p>“Money!” sneered Tom. “A northern beggar +wouldn’t thank you for all he could carry of it. Give it back +to him, and every thing else except the cartridges.”</p> +<p>Joe reluctantly restored the wallet, the letters, and the knife, +to the pockets from which he had taken them. Tom then directed him +to secure the cartridge box of the soldier.</p> +<p>“You are my prisoner,” said Tom; “but I +believe in treating prisoners well. You may go into the house, and +if your arm is much hurt, Mrs. Burnap may do what she can to help +you.”</p> +<p>The prisoner sullenly attended the woman into the house, and Tom +followed as far as the front door.</p> +<p>“Now, what am I gwine to do?” said Joe. +“You’ve got me into a right smart scrape.”</p> +<p>“I thought I had got you out of one,” replied Tom. +“Do you intend to remain here?”</p> +<p>“Sartin not, now. I must clear.”</p> +<p>“So must I; and we have no time to spare. Get what you can +to eat, and come along.”</p> +<p>In ten minutes more, Tom and Joe Burnap were travelling towards +the mountains.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_19" name="Ch_19">Chapter XIX.</a></h3> +<h2>Through the Gap.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Joe Burnap was perfectly familiar with the country, and Tom +readily accepted him as a guide; and, as they had a common object +in view, neither had good cause for mistrusting the other. They +walked, without stopping to rest, till the sun set behind the +mountains towards which they were travelling.</p> +<p>“I reckon we needn’t hurry now,” said Joe, as +he seated himself on a rock.</p> +<p>“I don’t think there is any danger of their catching +us,” replied Tom, as he seated himself beside his +fellow-traveller. “Can you tell me where we are?”</p> +<p>“I reckon I can. There ain’t a foot of land in these +yere parts that I hain’t had my foot on. I’ve toted +plunder of all sorts through these woods more’n ten thousand +times.”</p> +<p>“Well, where are we?” asked Tom, whose doubts in +regard to the locality had not yet been solved.</p> +<p>In the pressure of more exciting matters, he had not attempted +to explain why he did not come to Fairfax station while following +the railroad.</p> +<p>“If we keep on a little while longer, I reckon we shall +come to Thoroughfare Gap,” answered Joe.</p> +<p>“But where do you live? What town is your house in?” +asked Tom, who had never heard of Thoroughfare Gap before.</p> +<p>“Haymarket is the nearest town to my house.”</p> +<p>“What railroad is that over there?” asked Tom, who +was no nearer the solution of the question than he had been in the +beginning.</p> +<p>“That’s the Manassas Gap Railroad, I reckon,” +replied Joe, who seemed to be astonished at the ignorance of his +companion.</p> +<p>“Just so,” added Tom, who now, for the first time, +comprehended where he was.</p> +<p>When he left Sudley church, he walked at random till he came to +the railroad; but he had struck the Manassas Gap Railroad instead +of the main line, and it had led him away from the great body of +the rebels, though it also conducted him away from Washington, +where he desired to go. He was perplexed at the discovery, and at +once began to debate the question whether it was advisable for him +to proceed any farther in this direction.</p> +<p>“I suppose you are a Union man—ain’t +you?” said Tom, after he had considered his situation for +some time.</p> +<p>Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes +from the ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom. He stared at +him for a moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former +attitude.</p> +<p>“You don’t want to fight for the south,” added +Tom; “so I suppose you don’t believe in the Southern +Confederacy.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to fight for nuther of +’em,” replied Joe, after a moment of further +consideration. “If they’ll only let me alone, I +don’t keer which beats.”</p> +<p>His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared +to be entirely impartial. The newspapers on either side would not +have disturbed him. Patriotism—love of country—had not +found a resting place in his soul. Tom had not, from the beginning, +entertained a very high respect for the man; but now he despised +him, and thought that a rebel was a gentleman compared with such a +character. How a man could live in the United States, and not feel +an interest in the stirring events which were transpiring around +him, was beyond his comprehension. In one word, he so thoroughly +despised Joe Burnap, that he resolved, at the first convenient +opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the +company of such a person.</p> +<p>“Now which side do you fight fur?” asked Joe, after +a long period of silence.</p> +<p>“For the Union side,” replied Tom, promptly.</p> +<p>“What are yer doin’ here, then?”</p> +<p>“I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got +away, and I want to get to Washington.”</p> +<p>“I reckon this ain’t the way to git thar,” +added Joe.</p> +<p>“I doubt whether I can get there any other way.”</p> +<p>Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the +world, and all that the government owed him, for a good map of +Virginia—or even for a knowledge of geography which would +have enabled him to find his way by the safest route to Washington. +But he had been a diligent scholar in school, and had faithfully +improved the limited opportunities which had been afforded him. His +mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had studied in +school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical +benefit to him.</p> +<p>He had treasured up some information, derived from the +newspapers, in regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it +passed through the Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed +the Shenandoah River: this emptied into the Potomac, which would +certainly conduct him to Washington. In following these two rivers, +he should have to describe nearly a circle, which was not an +encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and in an +enemy’s country.</p> +<p>If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with +rebel soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their +lines without being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route +by the Shenandoah appeared, he decided to adopt it.</p> +<p>Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the +bag which he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily +procure on leaving home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed +their walk for another hour.</p> +<p>“I reckon we’d better stop here,” said Joe. +“The Gap’s only half a mile from here, and it’s +too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar’s too many +soldiers goin’ that way.”</p> +<p>“What time will you go through?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Not afore midnight.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll turn in and take a nap. I didn’t +sleep any last night.”</p> +<p>“I’m agreed,” replied Joe, who seemed to be +indifferent to every thing while he could keep out of the rebel +army.</p> +<p>Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and +went to sleep. Exhausted by fatigue and the want of rest, he did +not wake for many hours. He came to his senses with a start, and +jumped upon his feet. For a moment, he could not think where he +was; but then came the recollection that he was in the country of +his enemies—a wanderer and a fugitive.</p> +<p>He looked about him in search of his travelling companion; but +the fact that he could not see him in the night was no argument +that he was not near him. He supposed Joe had chosen a place to +sleep in the vicinity, and thinking he might not wake in season to +pass through the Gap before daylight, he commenced a search for +him. He beat about the place for half an hour, calling his +companion by name; but he could not see him, and no sound responded +to the call but the echoes of his own voice.</p> +<p>The independent Virginia farmer had anticipated Tom’s +intention to part company with him, and, by this time, perhaps, had +passed through the Gap. The soldier boy was not quite ready to +dispense with the services of his guide, inasmuch as he did not +even know where the Gap was, or in what direction he must travel to +reach it. While he was debating his prospects, an enterprising +rooster, in the distance, sounded his morning call. This assured +him that he must be near some travelled road, and, taking the +direction from the fowl, he resumed his journey.</p> +<p>A short walk brought him out of the woods, and, in the gray +light of the dawn, he discovered a house. As he did not care to +make any new acquaintances, he avoided the house, and continued his +travels till he arrived at a road. As it was too early in the +morning for people to be stirring, he ventured to follow the +highway, and soon perceived an opening in the mountains, which he +doubted not was the Gap.</p> +<p>At sunrise he arrived at another house, which suddenly came into +view as he rounded a bend in the road. Near it were several negroes +engaged in various occupations. As he passed the house, the negroes +all suspended operations, and stared at him till he was out of +sight. He soon reached the Gap; but he had advanced only a short +distance before he discovered a battery of light artillery +stationed on a kind of bluff, and whose guns commanded the +approaches in every direction.</p> +<p>Deeming it prudent to reconnoitre before he proceeded any +farther, he also ascertained that the Gap was picketed by rebel +infantry. Of course it was impossible to pass through under these +circumstances, and he again took to the woods. The scanty supply of +food which he had purchased from Mrs. Burnap was now produced, and +he made an economical breakfast. Finding a secluded place, he +stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep. Though he +slept till the sun had passed the meridian, the day was a very long +one.</p> +<p>When it was fairly dark, he resolved to attempt the passage of +the Gap, for he was so tired of inaction that peril and hardship +seemed preferable to doing nothing. Returning to the road, he +pursued his way with due diligence through the narrowing defile of +the mountains, till he suddenly came upon a sentinel, who +challenged him. Before he started from his hiding place, Tom had +carefully loaded the revolver which he had taken from the rebel +soldier; and, as he walked along, he carried the weapon in his +hand, ready for any emergency that might require its use.</p> +<p>The guard questioned him, and Tom replied that he had fought in +the battle down below, and had a furlough to go home and see his +father, who was very sick.</p> +<p>“Where’s your furlough?” demanded the +soldier.</p> +<p>“In my pocket.”</p> +<p>“Let me see it.”</p> +<p>“Here it is,” replied Tom, producing an old letter +which he happened to have in his pocket.</p> +<p>The sentinel took the paper, unfolded it, and turned it over two +or three times. It was too dark for him to read it if he had been +able to do so, for all the rebel soldiers are not gifted in this +way.</p> +<p>“I reckon this won’t do,” he added, after +patiently considering the matter. “Just you tote this paper +up to the corporal thar, and if he says it’s all right, you +kin go on.”</p> +<p>“But I can’t stop to do all that. Here’s my +pass, and I want to go on. My father may die before I get +home.”</p> +<p>“What regiment do you b’long to?” asked the +guard, who evidently did not wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier +unnecessarily.</p> +<p>“The Second Virginia,” replied Tom, at a +venture.</p> +<p>“Where does your father live?” continued the +sentinel.</p> +<p>“Just beyond the Gap, if he’s living at +all.”</p> +<p>“What town?”</p> +<p>Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single +place on the route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to +answer the question.</p> +<p>“About five or six miles from here,” he +answered.</p> +<p>“Is it Salem or White Plains?” demanded the soldier, +whose cunning was inferior to his honesty.</p> +<p>“White Plains,” added Tom, promptly accepting the +suggestion.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with your father?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know; he was taken suddenly.”</p> +<p>“Pears like your uniform ain’t exactly our +sort,” added the soldier.</p> +<p>“Mine was all used up, and I got one on the +battle-field.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t do that. It’s mean to rob a dead +man of his clothes.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t help it—I was almost naked,” +replied Tom, who perfectly agreed with the rebel on this point.</p> +<p>“You kin go on, Old Virginny,” said the soldier, +whose kindly sympathy for Tom and his sick father was highly +commendable.</p> +<p>The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of +which he immediately availed himself. Tom did not yet realize the +force of the maxim that “all is fair in war,” and his +conscience gave a momentary twinge as he thought of the deception +he had practised upon the honest and kind-hearted rebel. He was +very thankful that he had not been compelled to put a bullet +through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the man had +not been obliged to do him a similar favor.</p> +<p>The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the +next morning. He went through three or four small villages. After +passing through the Gap, he had taken the railroad, as less likely +to lead him through the more thickly settled parts of the country. +Before him the mountains of the Blue Ridge rose like an impassable +wall, and when the day dawned he was approaching Manassas Gap. He +had walked twenty-five miles during the night, and prudence, as +well as fatigue, required him to seek a place of rest.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_20" name="Ch_20">Chapter XX.</a></h3> +<h2>Down the Shenandoah.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>In that wild mountain region, Tom had no difficulty in finding a +secluded spot, where there was no probability that he would be +molested. He had been in a state of constant excitement during the +night, for the country was full of soldiers. The mountaineers of +Virginia were rushing to the standard of rebellion. They were a +wild, rude set of men, and they made the night hideous with their +debauchery. Tom succeeded in keeping out of the way of the +straggling parties which were roaming here and there; but he was +filled with dread and anxiety lest he should, at the next moment, +stumble upon a camp, or a squad of these marauders.</p> +<p>The nook in the mountains which he had chosen as his resting +place was a cleft in the rocks, concealed by the overhanging +branches of trees. Here he made his bed, as the sun rose, and, worn +out with fatigue and anxiety, he dropped asleep.</p> +<p>When he awoke, the sun was near the meridian. He rose and walked +out a short distance from his lodging place, and listened for any +sounds which might indicate the presence of an enemy. All was +still; silence deep and profound reigned through the solitudes of +the mountains. Tom returned to his place of concealment, and after +eating the remainder of the food he had brought with him, he +stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep again. He had +nothing else to do, and he needed all the rest he could obtain. It +was fortunate for him that he had self-possession enough to +sleep—to banish his nervous doubts and fears, and thus secure +the repose which was indispensable to the success of his arduous +enterprise.</p> +<p>It was after sundown when he finished his second nap. He had +slept nearly all day,—at least ten hours,—and he was +entirely refreshed and restored. He was rather stiff in some of his +limbs when he got up; but he knew this would wear off after a +little exercise. He had no supper with which to brace himself for +the night’s work; so he took a drink from the mountain +stream, and made his way back to the railroad. But it was too early +then to commence the passage of the Gap, and he sat for a couple of +hours by the side of the road, before he ventured to resume his +journey.</p> +<p>While he was passing through the narrow gorge in the mountains, +he met several persons, on foot and on horseback; but as he was +armed with a pistol, he did not turn out for them; but when a party +of soldiers approached, he sought a hiding place by the side of the +road until they were out of hearing. When he had passed through the +Gap, he came to a road crossing the track, and after debating the +question thoroughly, he decided to abandon the railroad, and +pursued his course by the common highway towards the North.</p> +<p>Continuing his journey diligently for a time longer, he came to +another road, branching off to the left from the one he had chosen, +which required further consideration. But his conclusion was +satisfactory, and he continued on the same road, which soon brought +him to a more thickly settled country than that through which he +had been travelling.</p> +<p>By this time Tom’s stomach began to be rebellious again, +and the question of rations began to assume a serious aspect. He +was not suffering for food, but it was so much more comfortable to +travel upon a full stomach than an empty one, that he could not +pass a dwelling house without thinking of the contents of the +cellar and closets. It was perfectly proper to forage on the enemy; +but he could not eat raw chicken and geese, or the problem of +rations would have been effectually settled by a demonstration on +the hen-coops of the Shenandoah valley.</p> +<p>He came to a halt before a large mansion, which had the +appearance of belonging to a wealthy person. Its larder and kitchen +cupboards, he doubted not, were plentifully supplied with the +luxuries of the season; and Tom thought he might as well obtain his +provisions now, as wait till he was driven to desperation by +hunger. He entered the front gate of the great house, and stepped +upon the veranda in front of it. The windows reached down to the +floor. He tried one of them, and found that it was not fastened. He +carefully raised the sash and entered.</p> +<p>Tom was determined to put himself upon his impudence on the +present occasion; but he satisfied himself that his revolver was in +condition for instant use before he proceeded any farther. Passing +from the front room to an apartment in the rear, he found a lamp +and matches, and concluded that he would have some light on the +subject, which was duly obtained. Leaving this room, he entered +another, which proved to be the kitchen. A patient search revealed +to him the lurking place of a cold roast chicken, some fried bacon, +bread, and crackers.</p> +<p>Placing these things on the table, he seated himself to partake +of the feast which the forethought of the occupants had provided +for him. Tom began to be entirely at home, for having thrown +himself on his impudence now; he did not permit any doubts or fears +to disturb him; but the handle of his pistol protruded from between +the buttons of his coat. He ate till he had satisfied himself, when +he happened to think that the coffee pot he had seen in the closet +might contain some cold coffee; and he brought it out. He was not +disappointed, and even found sugar and milk. He poured out a bowl +of the beverage, and, having prepared it to his taste, was about to +conclude the feast in this genteel style, when he heard footsteps +in the adjoining entry.</p> +<p>Tom determined not to be cheated out of his coffee, and instead +of putting himself in a flurry, he took the bowl in one hand and +the pistol in the other. The door opened, and a negro timidly +entered the room.</p> +<p>“Well, sar!” said the servant, as he edged along the +side of the room. “Hem! Well, sar!”</p> +<p>Tom took no notice of him, but continued to drink his coffee as +coolly as though he had been in his mother’s cottage at +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Hem! Well, sar!” repeated the negro, who evidently +wished to have the interloper take some notice of him.</p> +<p>But the soldier boy refused to descend from his dignity or his +impudence. He finished the bowl of coffee as deliberately as though +the darkey had been somewhere else.</p> +<p>“Well, sar! Who’s you, sar?”</p> +<p>“Eh, Blackee?”</p> +<p>“Who’s you, sar?”</p> +<p>“Good chicken! Good bread! Good bacon!” added Tom. +“Are the folks at home, Blackee?”</p> +<p>“No, sar; nobody but de women folks, sar. Who’s you, +sar?”</p> +<p>“It don’t make much difference who I am. +Where’s your master?”</p> +<p>“Gone to Richmond, sar. He’s member ob +Congress.”</p> +<p>“Then he’s in poor business, Blackee,” said +Tom, as he took out his handkerchief, and proceeded to transfer the +remnants of his supper to its capacious folds.</p> +<p>“Better luff dem tings alone, sar.”</p> +<p>But Tom refused to “luff dem alone,” and when he had +placed them on the handkerchief, he made a bundle of them.</p> +<p>“Golly, sar! I’ll tell my missus what’s gwine +on down here,” added the servant, as he moved towards the +door.</p> +<p>“See here, Blackee,” interposed Tom, pointing his +pistol at the negro; “if you move, I’ll put one of +these balls through your skull.”</p> +<p>“De Lud sabe us, massa! Don’t shoot dis nigger, +massa.”</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue then, and mind what I say.”</p> +<p>“Yes, massa,” whined the darkey, in the most abject +tones.</p> +<p>“Now come with me, Blackee, and if you open your mouth, +one of these pills shall go down your throat.”</p> +<p>Tom flourished his pistol before the negro, and led the way to +the window by which he had entered the house. Passing out upon the +veranda, he cautiously conducted the terrified servant to the road; +and when they had gone a short distance, he halted.</p> +<p>“Now, Blackee, what town is this?” demanded Tom.</p> +<p>“Leeds Manor, sar,” replied the trembling negro.</p> +<p>“How far is it to the Shenandoah River?”</p> +<p>“Only two or tree miles, massa. Now let dis chile go home +again.”</p> +<p>“Not yet.”</p> +<p>“Hab mercy on dis nigger dis time, and sabe +him.”</p> +<p>“I won’t hurt you, if you behave +yourself.”</p> +<p>Tom questioned him for some time in regard to the river, and the +towns upon its banks; and when he had obtained all the information +in regard to the valley which the servant possessed, he resumed his +journey, driving the negro before him.</p> +<p>“Spare dis chile, massa, for de sake ob de wife and +chil’n,” pleaded the unwilling guide.</p> +<p>“I tell you I won’t hurt you if you behave +yourself,” replied Tom. “You’ll have the whole +place down upon me in half an hour, if I let you go now.”</p> +<p>“No, massa; dis nigger won’t say one word +’bout you, nor de tings you took from de house—not one +word, massa. Spare dis chile, and luff him go home.”</p> +<p>But Tom compelled him to walk before him till they came to the +river. The place was called Seaburn’s Ford.</p> +<p>“Now, Blackee, if anybody wants me, tell them I’ve +gone to Winchester,” said Tom, when he had ordered his escort +to halt.</p> +<p>“No, massa, I won’t say one word,” replied the +servant.</p> +<p>“If you do, I’ll shoot you the very next time I see +you—depend upon that. You can go now.”</p> +<p>The negro was not slow to avail himself of this privilege, and +ran off, evidently expecting a bullet from the revolver would +overtake him before he had gone far, for he glanced fearfully over +his shoulder, begging his captor not to shoot him.</p> +<p>Tom stood upon the bank of the Shenandoah. The negro had told +him that he was about thirty miles from Harper’s Ferry, which +he knew was in possession of General Patterson’s forces. +Attached to a tree on the shore was a small flat-bottomed boat, +which attracted the attention of the soldier boy. Tom was +accustomed to boats, and the sight of this one suggested a change +of programme, for it would be much easier to float down the stream, +than to walk the thirty miles. This was a point which needed no +argument; and unfastening the painter of the boat, he jumped in, +and pushed off. Seating himself in the stern, with the paddle in +his hand, he kept her head with the current, and swept down the +rapid stream like a dreamy youth just starting upon the voyage of +life.</p> +<p>Like the pilgrim on the sea of time, Tom was not familiar with +the navigation of the Shenandoah, and he had neither chart nor +compass to assist him. The current was very swift, and once in a +while the bateau bumped upon a concealed rock, or bar of sand. +Fortunately no serious accident occurred to him, though he found +that the labor of managing the boat was scarcely less than that of +walking.</p> +<p>There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of +missing the road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers +or inquisitive civilians. His light bark rushed on its way down the +stream, without attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if +any were abroad at that unseemly hour of the night. The +difficulties of the navigation were overcome with more or less +labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his mind that he had +done a good night’s work; and choosing a secluded nook by the +side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the +return of darkness.</p> +<p>The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, +and he ate his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he +was not very tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something +better to do, he felt compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the +previous day, to dispose of the weary hours in this agreeable +manner. His pastime, however, was soon interrupted by loud shouts +and the tramp of men, not far from the spot where he lay. A hurried +examination of the surroundings assured him that he had chosen a +resting place near one of the fords of the river, over which a +rebel regiment was then passing.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_21" name="Ch_21">Chapter XXI.</a></h3> +<h2>The Problem of Rations.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a +few rods distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and +his boat. When he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with +terror; and, fully believing that his hour had come, he dropped +upon the ground, to wait, in trembling anxiety, the passage of the +troops. It was a regiment of Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the +most fantastic style with hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They +yelled and howled like so many wildcats.</p> +<p>From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a +good view of the men, as they waded across the river. He was +fearful that some of them might stray from the ranks, and stumble +upon his place of refuge; but a kind Providence put it into their +heads to mind their own business, and Tom gathered hope as the +yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the distance.</p> +<p>“This is no place for me,” said Tom to himself, when +the sounds had died away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. +“A whole army of them may camp near that ford, and drive me +out of my hiding place.”</p> +<p>Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied +no carriage or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying +the paddle with the utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he +found that the public highway ran along the banks of the river, +which exposed him to increased risk of being seen. A couple of +vehicles passed along the road while he was in this exposed +situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take no notice of +him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently the +boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable +place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the +bateau.</p> +<p>As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, +ate his dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so +tranquil as he had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains. +Visions of rebel soldiers haunted his dreams, and more than once he +started up, and gazed wildly around him; but these were only +visions, and there was something more real to disturb his +slumbers.</p> +<p>“Hi! Who are you?” exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who +had penetrated the thicket without disturbing the sleeper.</p> +<p>Tom started up, and sprang to his feet. One of the tall +mountaineers, whom he had seen crossing the ford, stood before him; +and the reality was even more appalling than the vision.</p> +<p>“Who mought you be?” demanded the tall soldier, with +a good-natured grin upon his greasy face.</p> +<p>“Faith! I believe I’ve been asleep!” said Tom, +rubbing his eyes, and looking as innocent as a young lamb.</p> +<p>“You may bet your life on thet, my boy,” replied the +rebel, laughing. “Hi! Jarvey!” added he, apparently +addressing a companion at no great distance from the spot.</p> +<p>Heavy footsteps announced the approach of Jarvey, who soon +joined them. He was not less than six feet three inches in height, +and, with two such customers as these, Tom had no hope except in +successful strategy. He had no doubt they had obtained information +of him from the persons in the vehicles, and had come to secure +him. He fully expected to be marched off to the rebel regiment, +which could not be far off.</p> +<p>“Who is he, Sid?” asked Jarvey, when he reached the +spot.</p> +<p>“Dunno. Say, who are ye, stranger?”</p> +<p>“Who am I? Tom Somers, of course. Do you belong to that +regiment that stopped over yonder last night?” asked Tom, +with a proper degree of enthusiasm. “Don’t you know +me?”</p> +<p>“Well, we don’t.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you see me over there? That’s a bully +regiment of yours. I’d like to join it.”</p> +<p>“Would you, though, sonny?” said Sid, laughing till +his mouth opened wide enough for a railroad train to pass in.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t I, though!” replied Tom. “If +there’s any big fighting done, I’ll bet your boys do +it.”</p> +<p>“Bet your life on thet,” added Jarvey. “But +why don’t you jine a regiment?”</p> +<p>“Don’t want to join any regiment that comes along. I +want to go into a fighting regiment, like yours.”</p> +<p>“Well, sonny, you ain’t big enough to jine +ours,” said Sid, as he compassionately eyed the young +man’s diminutive proportions.</p> +<p>“The old man wouldn’t let me go in when I wanted to, +and I’m bound not to go in any of your fancy regiments. I +want to fight when I go.”</p> +<p>“You’ll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing +here?”</p> +<p>“I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to +sleep.”</p> +<p>“Where’s your fish-line?”</p> +<p>“In the boat.”</p> +<p>“What ye got in that handkerchief?”</p> +<p>“My dinner,” replied Tom. “Won’t you +take a bite?”</p> +<p>“What ye got?”</p> +<p>“A piece of cold chicken and some bread.”</p> +<p>“We don’t mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men +with this gear on in these yere parts?” asked Jarvey, as he +pointed to his uniform.</p> +<p>“Yes, <em>sir</em>,” replied Tom, vigorously.</p> +<p>“Whar d’ye see ’em, sonny?”</p> +<p>“They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while +ago.”</p> +<p>“How many?”</p> +<p>“Two,” replied Tom, with promptness.</p> +<p>“Where’s the other?” asked Jarvey, turning to +his companion.</p> +<p>“He’s in these yere woods, somewhar. We’ll +fotch ’em before night. You say the two men crossed the +ford—did ye, sonny?”</p> +<p>“Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with +them?”</p> +<p>“They’re mean trash, and want to run off. Now, +sonny, ’spose you put us over the river in your +boat.”</p> +<p>“Yes, <em>sir</em>!” replied Tom, readily.</p> +<p>The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by +their great weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of +the river.</p> +<p>“Thank’e, sonny,” said Jarvey, as they jumped +on shore. “If you were only four foot higher, we’d like +to take you into our regiment. You’ll make a right smart +chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, +sonny.”</p> +<p>“Good by,” answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, +indicative of his satisfaction at being so well rid of his +passengers.</p> +<p>He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a +prisoner to this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his +senses when he found himself again safely floating down the rapid +tide of the Shenandoah. His impudence and his self-possession had +saved him; but it was a mystery to him that his uniform, or the +absence of his fish-line, or the answers he gave, had not betrayed +him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen a United States +uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him about his +dress.</p> +<p>Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he +ventured to stop again, for he could not hope to meet with many +rebel soldiers who were so innocent and inexperienced as these +wildcats of the mountains had been. When the darkness favored his +movements, he again embarked upon his voyage. Twice during the +night his boat got aground, and once he was pitched into the river +by striking upon a rock; but he escaped these and other perils of +the navigation with nothing worse than a thorough ducking, which +was by no means a new experience to the soldier boy. In the +morning, well satisfied with his night’s work, he laid up for +the day in the safest place he could find.</p> +<p>On the second day of his voyage down the river, the old problem +of rations again presented itself for consideration, for the ham +and chicken he had procured at Leed’s Manor were all gone. +There were plenty of houses on the banks of the river, but Tom had +hoped to complete his cruise without the necessity of again +exposing himself to the peril of being captured while foraging for +the commissary department. But the question was as imperative as it +had been several times before, and twelve hours fasting gave him +only a faint hint of what his necessities might compel him to +endure in twenty-four or forty-eight hours. He did not consider it +wise to postpone the settlement of the problem till he was actually +suffering for the want of food.</p> +<p>On the third night of his voyage, therefore, he hauled up the +bateau at a convenient place, and started off upon a foraging +expedition, intending to visit some farmer’s kitchen, and +help himself, as he had done on a former occasion. Of course, Tom +had no idea where he was; but he hoped and believed that he should +soon reach Harper’s Ferry.</p> +<p>After making his way through the woods for half a mile, he came +to a public road, which he followed till it brought him to a house. +It was evidently the abode of a thrifty farmer, for near it were +half a dozen negro houses. As the dwelling had no long windows in +front, Tom was obliged to approach the place by a flank and rear +movement; but the back door was locked. He tried the windows, and +they were fastened. While he was reconnoitring the premises, he +heard heavy footsteps within. Returning to the door, he knocked +vigorously for admission.</p> +<p>“Who’s thar?” said a man, as he threw the door +wide open.</p> +<p>“A stranger, who wants something to eat,” replied +Tom, boldly.</p> +<p>“Who are ye?”</p> +<p>“My name is Tom Somers,” added the soldier boy, as +he stepped into the house. “Can you tell me whether the +Seventh Georgia Regiment is down this way?”</p> +<p>“I reckon ’tis; least wise I don’t know. +There’s three rigiments about five mile below +yere.”</p> +<p>“I was told my regiment was down this way, and I’m +trying to find it. I’m half starved. Will you give me +something to eat?”</p> +<p>“Sartin, stranger; I’ll do thet.”</p> +<p>The man, who was evidently the proprietor of the house, brought +up the remnant of a boiled ham, a loaf of white bread, some butter, +and a pitcher of milk. Tom ate till he was satisfied. The farmer, +in deference to his amazing appetite probably, suspended his +questions till the guest began to show some signs of satiety, when +he pressed him again as vigorously as though he had been born and +brought up among the hills of New England.</p> +<p>“Where d’ye come from?” said he.</p> +<p>“From Manassas. I lost my regiment in the fight; and the +next day I heard they had been toted over this way, and I put after +them right smart,” answered Tom, adopting as much of the +Georgia vernacular as his knowledge would permit.</p> +<p>“Walk all the way?”</p> +<p>“No; I came in the keers most of the way.”</p> +<p>“But you don’t wear our colors,” added the +farmer, glancing at Tom’s clothes.</p> +<p>“My clothes were all worn out, and I helped myself to the +best suit I could find on the field.”</p> +<p>“What regiment did ye say ye b’longed to?” +queried the man, eying the uniform again.</p> +<p>“To the Seventh Georgia. Perhaps you can tell me where I +shall find it.”</p> +<p>“I can’t; but I reckon there’s somebody here +that can. I’ll call him.”</p> +<p>Tom was not at all particular about obtaining this information. +There was evidently some military man in the house, who would +expose him if he remained any longer.</p> +<p>“Who is it, father?” asked a person who had probably +heard a part of the conversation we have narrated; for the voice +proceeded from a bed-room adjoining the apartment in which Tom had +eaten his supper.</p> +<p>“A soldier b’longing to the Seventh Georgia,” +answered the farmer. “That’s my son; he’s a +captain in the cavalry, and he’ll know all about it. He can +tell you where yer regiment is,” added he, turning to Tom, +who was edging towards the door.</p> +<p>“I’m very much obliged to you for my supper,” +said the fugitive, nervously. “I reckon I’ll be moving +along.”</p> +<p>“Wait half a second, and my son will tell you just where +to find your regiment.”</p> +<p>“The Seventh Georgia?” said the captain of cavalry, +entering the room at this moment with nothing but his pants on. +“There’s no such regiment up here, and hasn’t +been. I reckon you’re a deserter.”</p> +<p>“No, <em>sir!</em> I scorn the charge,” replied Tom, +with becoming indignation. “I never desert my +colors.”</p> +<p>“I suppose not,” added the officer, glancing at his +uniform; “but your colors desert you.”</p> +<p>Tom failed to appreciate the wit of the reply, and backed off +towards the door, with one hand upon the stock of his revolver.</p> +<p>“Hold on to him, father; don’t let him go,” +said the officer, as he rushed back into his chamber, evidently for +his pistols or his sabre.</p> +<p>“Hands off, or you are a dead man;” cried Tom, as he +pointed his revolver at the head of the farmer.</p> +<p>In another instant, the captain of cavalry reappeared with a +pistol in each hand. A stunning report resounded through the house, +and Tom heard a bullet whistle by his head.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_22" name="Ch_22">Chapter XXII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Picket Guard.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It was sufficiently obvious to Tom that, on the present +occasion, the suspicions of his host were awakened. It is possible +that, if he had depended upon his impudence, he might have +succeeded in deceiving the Confederate officer; but his evident +intention to retire from the contest before an investigation could +be had, proved him, in the estimation of the captain, to be either +a spy or a deserter, and shooting him was preferable to losing +him.</p> +<p>The officer fired quick, and with little attention to the +important matter of a steady aim; and Tom had to thank his stars +for the hasty shot, for, though it went within a few inches of his +head, “a miss was as good as a mile,” and the brains of +our hero remained intact and complete. But he was not willing to be +the subject of any further experiments of this description, and +without waiting further to express his gratitude to the host for +the bountiful supper he had eaten, he threw open the door, and +dashed off at the top of his speed.</p> +<p>The revolver he carried was a very good implement with which to +bully a negro, or an unarmed farmer; but Tom had more confidence in +his legs than in his skill as a marksman, and before the captain +could transfer the second pistol from his left to his right hand, +he had passed out of the house, and was concealed from his pursuers +by the gloom of the night. He felt that he had had a narrow escape, +and he was not disposed to trifle with destiny by loitering in the +vicinity of the house.</p> +<p>He had not proceeded far before he heard a hue and cry behind +him; and if the captain of cavalry had not stopped to put on his +boots, it is more than possible that our humble volume might have +contained a chapter or two upon prison life in Richmond. +Undoubtedly it was quite proper for the officer to put on his boots +before he went out; a decent regard for his individual sanitary +condition, and a reasonable horror of ague and rheumatism, would +have induced him to do it, even at the risk of losing a Federal +prisoner, or a rebel deserter, as the case might be. At any rate, +if Tom had known the cause of the delay, he would freely have +forgiven him for wasting his time in healthful precautions.</p> +<p>The fugitive retraced his steps to the river by the same route +he had taken in approaching the hospitable roof of the farmer. As +nearly as he could judge by the sounds that reached him from the +distance, the officer and his father were gathering up a force to +hunt down the fugitive. Tom jumped into the bateau, and pushed off. +Keeping under the shadow of the bank of the river, he plied his +paddle vigorously, and by the time his pursuers arrived at the +river, he was a couple of miles from the spot. He could hear a +shout occasionally in the deep silence of the night, but with the +distance between him and the enemy, he felt entirely secure. The +danger had passed, and he floated leisurely on his voyage, buoyant +as his light bark, and hopeful as the dream of youth.</p> +<p>Hour after hour, in the gloom of the solemn night, he was borne +by the swift tide towards the lines of the loyal army. The day was +dawning, and he was on the lookout for a suitable place to conceal +himself, until the friendly shades of night should again favor his +movements. After the experience of the former night near the ford, +he was very cautious in the selection of a hiding place. It is not +always safe to be fastidious; for while Tom was rejecting one +location, and waiting for another to appear, the river bore him +into a tract of very open country, which was less favorable than +that through which he had just been passing.</p> +<p>The prospect began to make him nervous; and while he was +bitterly regretting that he had not moored the boat before, he was +startled to hear a sharp, commanding voice on the bank at his +left.</p> +<p>“Who comes there? Halt!”</p> +<p>Tom looked up, and discovered a grayback, standing on the shore, +very deliberately pointing his musket at him.</p> +<p>“Who comes there?” demanded the picket; for at this +point were stationed the outposts of the rebel force in the +Shenandoah valley.</p> +<p>“Friend!” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“Halt, then!”</p> +<p>“I would, if I could,” answered Tom, as hastily as +possible.</p> +<p>“Halt, or I’ll fire!”</p> +<p>“I tell you I can’t halt,” replied Tom, using +his paddle vigorously, as though he was trying to urge the bateau +to the shore. “Don’t fire! For mercy’s sake, +don’t fire.”</p> +<p>Tom appeared to be intensely frightened at the situation in +which he was placed, and redoubled his efforts apparently to gain +the bank of the stream; but the more he seemed to paddle one way, +the more the boat went the other way. However much Tom appeared to +be terrified by the peril that menaced him, it must be confessed +that he was not wholly unmoved.</p> +<p>“Stop your boat, quick!” said the soldier, who had +partially dropped his musket from its menacing position.</p> +<p>“I can’t stop it,” responded Tom, apparently +in an agony of terror. “I would go ashore if I +could.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“The water runs so swift, I can’t stop her; been +trying this two hours.”</p> +<p>“You will be inside the Yankee lines in half an hour if +you don’t fetch to,” shouted the picket.</p> +<p>“Gracious!” exclaimed Tom, redoubling his +efforts.</p> +<p>But it was useless to struggle with the furious current, and Tom +threw himself into the bottom of the boat, as if in utter +desperation. If Niagara Falls, with their thundering roar and +fearful abyss, had been before him, his agony could not have been +more intense, as judged from the shore.</p> +<p>By this time, the sentinel on the bank had been joined by his +two companions, and the three men forming the picket post stood +gazing at him, as he abandoned himself to the awful fate of being +captured by the blood-thirsty Yankees, to whose lines the +relentless current of the Shenandoah was bearing him.</p> +<p>When Tom was first challenged by the grayback, the boat had been +some twenty rods above him; and it had now passed the spot where he +stood, but the rebels were still near enough to converse with him. +Tom heard one of them ask another who he was. Of course neither of +them knew who he was, or where he came from.</p> +<p>“Try again!” shouted one of the pickets. “The +Yankees will have you in a few minutes.”</p> +<p>Tom did make another ineffectual effort to check the progress of +the bateau, and again abandoned the attempt in despair. The rebels +followed him on the bank, encouraging him with words of cheer, and +with dire prophecies of his fate if he fell into the hands of the +cruel Yankees.</p> +<p>“Can’t you help me?” pleaded Tom, in accents +of despair. “Throw me a rope! Do something for me.”</p> +<p>Now, this was a suggestion that had not before occurred to the +picket guard, and Tom would have been infinitely wiser if he had +not put the idea of assisting him into their dull brains; for it is +not at all probable that they would have thought of such a thing +themselves, for the south, especially the poor white trash, are not +largely endowed with inventive genius.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me!” cried Tom, as he saw the rebels +engaged in a hasty consultation, the result of which was, that two +of them started off upon the run in a direction at right angles +with the stream.</p> +<p>“Try again! Stick to it!” shouted the picket left on +the shore.</p> +<p>“I can’t do any more; I’m all tired +out,” replied Tom, throwing himself for the fourth time in +the bottom of the boat, the very picture of despair.</p> +<p>The picture was very much exaggerated and over-drawn; but as +long as the bullet from the rebel’s musket did not come his +way, Tom was satisfied with his acting, and hopeful for the future. +The man on the shore, full of sympathy for the distressed and +exhausted voyager, walked and ran so as to keep up with the +refractory barge, which seemed to be spitefully hurling its +agonized passenger into the Federal lines, where death and dungeons +lurked at every corner.</p> +<p>While this exciting drama was in progress, the stream bore Tom +to a sharp bend in the river, where the current set in close to the +shore. His attentive guardian on the bank ran ahead, and stationed +himself at this point, ready to afford any assistance to the +disconsolate navigator which the circumstances might permit.</p> +<p>“Now’s your chance!” shouted he. “Gosh +all whittaker! put in now, and do your pootiest!”</p> +<p>Tom adopted this friendly advice, and “put in” with +all his might; but the more he “put in,” the more he +put out—from the shore, whither the inauspicious eddies were +sweeping him. If Tom had not been born in Pinchbrook, and had a +home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated accomplishment, he +would probably have been borne into the arms of the expectant +rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which that +gentleman’s musket contained. As it was, he had the skill to +do what he seemed not to be doing. Mr. Johnny Reb evidently did not +suspect that Tom was “playing ’possum,” as the +Tennessee sharpshooters would have expressed it. The +voyager’s efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and +certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which +ought to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat.</p> +<p>The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the +waiting arms of the sympathizing grayback. As it passed, he waded a +short distance into the water, and stretched forth his musket to +the unhappy voyager. Tom threw down his paddle, and sprang with +desperate energy to obtain a hold upon the gun. He even succeeded +in grasping the end of the bayonet. For a moment he pulled so hard +that it was doubtful whether the bateau would be hauled ashore, or +Secesh drawn into the deep water.</p> +<p>“Hold on tight, my boy! Pull for your life!” shouted +the soldier, highly excited by the probable success of his +philanthropic efforts.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me!” groaned Tom, as he tugged, or +seemed to do so, at the bayonet.</p> +<p>Then, while the united exertions of the saver and the saved, in +anticipation, were on the very point of being successful, the +polished steel of the bayonet unaccountably slipped through the +fingers of Tom, and the bateau was borne off towards the opposite +shore.</p> +<p>“Save me! Save me,” cried Tom again, in tones more +piteous than ever.</p> +<p>“What d’ye let go fur?” said the grayback, +indignantly, as his musket, which he had held by the tip end of the +stock, dropped into the water, when Tom let go of the bayonet.</p> +<p>The soldier indulged in a volley of peculiarly southern oaths, +with which we cannot disfigure our page, even in deference to the +necessity of painting a correct picture of the scene we have +described. Tom had a vein of humor in his composition, which has +already displayed itself in some of the rough experiences of his +career; and when he saw the rebel soldier deprived of all power to +make war upon him, either offensive or defensive, he could not +resist the temptation to celebrate the signal strategical victory +he had obtained over the picket guard. This triumphal demonstration +was not very dignified, nor, under the circumstances, very prudent +or sensible. It consisted in placing the thumb of his right hand +upon the end of his nose, while he wiggled the four remaining +digital appendages of the same member in the most aggravating +manner, whistling Yankee Doodle as an accompaniment to the +movement.</p> +<p>If Secesh did not understand the case before, he did now; and +fishing up his musket, he emptied the water out of the barrel, and +attempted to fire it. Luckily for Tom, the gun would not go off, +and he swept on his way jubilant and joyous.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_23" name="Ch_23">Chapter XXIII.</a></h3> +<h2>The End of the Voyage.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Somers’s voyage down the Shenandoah was, in many +respects, a type of human life. He experienced the various +reverses, the trials and hardships, which attend all sojourners +here below. He triumphed over all obstacles, and when he had +completely outwitted the grayback who had labored so diligently to +save him from his impending fate, he was at the zenith of +prosperity. He had vanquished the last impediment, and the lines of +the Union army—the haven of peace to him—were only a +short distance from the scene of his victory.</p> +<p>Prosperity makes men arrogant and reckless, and I am sorry to +say that it had the same effect upon Tom Somers. If he had been +content modestly to enjoy the victory he had achieved, it would +have been wiser and safer for him; but when Fortune was kind to +him, he mocked her, and she turned against him.</p> +<p>When he had passed out of the reach of the rebel soldier, whose +musket had been rendered useless for the time being, Tom believed +that he was safe, and that he had fairly escaped from the last +peril that menaced him on the voyage. But he was mistaken; for as +the current swept the bateau around the bend of the river, he +discovered, to his astonishment and chagrin, the two secesh +soldiers, who had left the picket post some time before, standing +at convenient distances from each other and from the shore, in the +water, ready to rescue him from the fate before him. The place they +had chosen was evidently a ford of the river, where they intended +to check the boat in its mad career down the stream. They were +painfully persistent in their kind intentions to save him from the +horrible Yankees, and Tom wished they had been less humane and less +enthusiastic in his cause.</p> +<p>As soon as Tom perceived this trap, he regretted his imprudence +in betraying himself to the soldier from whom he had just escaped. +His sorrow was not diminished, when, a few minutes later, he heard +the shouts of the third soldier, who, by hard running across the +fields, had reached the ford before him.</p> +<p>“Shoot him! Shoot him! He’s a Yankee!” +bellowed the grayback on the shore.</p> +<p>Tom was appalled at these words, and wondered how the soldier +could have found out that he was a Yankee; but when he recalled the +fact that he had entertained him with Yankee Doodle at their last +meeting, the mystery became less formidable.</p> +<p>“Shoot him! He’s a Yankee!” shouted Secesh on +the bank of the stream.</p> +<p>“We’ve left our guns on shore,” replied Secesh +in the water.</p> +<p>“I’m very much obliged to you for that,” said +Tom to himself, as he grasped his paddle, and set the boat over +towards the right bank of the river.</p> +<p>No doubt the rebels in the water, when they saw with what +facility the boatman moved the bateau in the swift tide, as +compared with his futile efforts farther up the stream, were fully +satisfied of the truth of their companion’s assertion. Tom +decided to run the gauntlet between the right bank and the soldier +nearest to that shore. He paddled the bateau with all his vigor, +until he had obtained the desired position.</p> +<p>The graybacks in the water, realizing that they were engaged on +an errand of peace and humanity, had left their muskets on shore. +They were, therefore, comparatively harmless; but the one on shore +had reached the ford, and picking up one of the muskets of his +companions, without threat or warning, fired. It was lucky for Tom +that he was not a Tennessee sharpshooter, nor a Texas ranger, for +the shot passed harmlessly over him. The soldier dropped the gun, +and picked up the other, which he instantly discharged, and with +better aim than before, for the ball struck the bateau, though not +within four feet of where Tom stood.</p> +<p>“Don’t waste your powder, if you can’t shoot +better than that,” shouted one of the soldiers in the water. +“You’ll hit us next.”</p> +<p>“Stop him, then! Stop him!” replied the grayback on +the shore. “Kill him if you can.”</p> +<p>Tom was paddling with all his might to pass the ford before the +soldier nearest to him should reach a position in which he could +intercept the boat. The rebel was an enterprising fellow, and the +soldier boy’s chances were growing amazingly small. Secesh +had actually reached a place where he could make a dash at the +boat. There he stood with a long bowie-knife between his teeth, and +with both hands outstretched, ready to seize upon the unfortunate +bark. He looked grim and ferocious, and Tom saw that he was +thoroughly in earnest.</p> +<p>It was a trying situation for a boy of Tom’s years, and he +would fain have dodged the issue. That bowie-knife had a wicked +look, though it was mild and tame compared with the savage eye of +the rebel who held it. As it was a case of life and death, the +fugitive braced himself up to meet the shock. Taking his position +in the stern of the boat, he held the paddle in his left hand, +while his right firmly grasped his revolver. It was either +“kill or be killed,” and Tom was not so sentimental as +to choose the latter rather than the former, especially as his +intended victim was a secessionist and a rebel.</p> +<p>“Keep off, or you are a dead man,” shouted Tom, as +he flourished his pistol so that his assailant could obtain a fair +view of its calibre, and in the hope that the fellow would be +willing to adopt a politician’s expedient, and compromise the +matter by retiring out of range.</p> +<p>“Tew kin play at that game. This yere tooth-pick will wipe +you out,” coolly replied the fellow, as he made a spring at +the boat.</p> +<p>“Stand off!” screamed Tom, as he raised the pistol, +and fired.</p> +<p>It was a short range, and Tom would have been inexcusable if he +had missed his aim. The rebel struck his chest with his right hand, +and the bowie knife dropped from his teeth; but with his left hand +he had grasped the gunwale of the boat, and as he sunk down in the +shallow water, he pulled the bateau over on one side till the water +poured in, and threatened to swamp her. Fortunately the wounded man +relaxed his hold, the boat righted, and Tom commenced paddling +again with all his strength and skill.</p> +<p>The other soldier in the water, as soon as he discovered where +Tom intended to pass, hastened over to assist his associate. The +shouts of their companion on shore had fully fired their southern +hearts, and both of them were ten times as zealous to kill or +capture a Yankee, as they had been to save a Virginian. When the +wounded man clutched the boat, the other was not more than ten feet +from him, but farther down the stream. His associate fell, and he +sprang forward to engage in the affray.</p> +<p>“Stand off, or you are a dead man!” yelled Tom, with +emphasis, as he plied his paddle with renewed energy, for he saw +that the man could not reach him.</p> +<p>The bateau passed them both, and Tom began to breathe easier. +The second rebel, finding he could not capture or kill the detested +Yankee, went to the assistance of his companion. The soldier boy +suspended his exertions, for the danger seemed to be over, and +gazed with interest upon the scene which was transpiring in the +water just above him. He was anxious to know whether he had killed +the rebel or not. There was something awful in the circumstances, +for the soldier boy’s sensibilities were too acute to permit +him to take a human life, though it was that of an enemy, without +producing a deep impression upon his mind. Perhaps, in the great +battle in which he had been a participant, he had killed several +rebels; if he had done so, he had not seen them fall. This was the +first man he had consciously killed or wounded, and the fact was +solemn, if not appalling, to the young soldier.</p> +<p>As the rebel raised his companion from the water he seemed to be +dead, and Tom was forced to the conclusion that he had killed him. +He had done the deed in self-defence, and in the strict line of +duty. He could not be blamed even by his enemies for the act. He +felt no exultation, and hoped from the bottom of his heart that the +man was prepared to meet his Maker, into whose presence he had been +so suddenly summoned.</p> +<p>Tom had heard the boys in Pinchbrook talk lightly about killing +rebels, and he had talked so himself; but the reality was not so +pleasant as it had seemed at a distance. He was sorry for the poor +fellow, and wished he had not been obliged to kill him. It was +terrible to him, even in battle, to take a human life, to slay a +being created in the image of God, and for whom Christ lived and +died.</p> +<p>While he was indulging in these sad reflections, he heard a +bullet whistle near his head. The Secesh soldier on the shore had +loaded up his companions’ muskets, and was doing his best to +bring down the lucky fugitive. His last shot was not a bad one, and +Tom could not help thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that +he would not waste any fine feelings over him. He did not like the +sound of those whizzing bullets, and as he had never boasted of his +courage, he did not scorn to adopt precautionary measures. The +water was three inches deep in the bottom of the bateau; but Tom +deemed it prudent to lie down there until the current should bear +him out of the reach of the rebel bullets.</p> +<p>He maintained this recumbent posture for half an hour or more, +listening to the balls that frequently whistled over his head. Once +he ventured to raise his head, and discovered, not one man, but a +dozen, on the shore, which accounted for the rapid firing he heard. +When he looked up again, his bateau had passed round a bend, and he +was no longer exposed to the fire of the enemy.</p> +<p>From his heart Tom thanked God for his escape. He was +religiously grateful for the aid which Providence had rendered him, +and when he thought how near he had stood to the brink of +destruction, he realized how narrow the span between the Here and +the Hereafter. And the moral of his reflections was, that if he +stood so near to the open gate of death, he ought always to live +wisely and well, and ever be prepared to pass the portals which +separate time from eternity.</p> +<p>Tom’s thoughts were sad and heavy. He could not banish +from his mind the face of the rebel, as he raised his hand to his +breast, where he had received his mortal wound. That countenance, +full of hate and revenge, haunted him for weeks afterwards, in the +solitude of his tent, and on his midnight vigils as a sentinel.</p> +<p>As he sat in the boat, thinking of the events of the morning, +and listening to the mournful rippling of the waters, which, to his +subdued soul, sounded like the requiem of his victim, he was +challenged from the shore again.</p> +<p>“Who comes there!”</p> +<p>Tom jumped up, and saw a sentinel on the bank pointing his gun +at him. He surveyed the form with anxious interest; but this time +he had nothing to fear, for the soldier wore the blue uniform of +the United States army.</p> +<p>“Friend,” replied he, as he grasped his paddle.</p> +<p>“Come ashore, or I’ll put a bullet through +you,” added the sentinel.</p> +<p>“Don’t do it!” said Tom, with energy. +“Can’t you see the colors I wear.”</p> +<p>“Come ashore, then.”</p> +<p>“I will.”</p> +<p>The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it +was astonishing to observe with what better success than when +invited to land by the grayback up the river. The guard assisted +him in landing and securing his boat.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded he, as he gazed at +Tom’s wet and soiled garments.</p> +<p>“I was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and came back on my own +hook.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you were, but you can’t pass these +lines,” said the soldier.</p> +<p>Tom was sent to the Federal camp, and passed from one officer to +another, till he was finally introduced to General Banks, at +Harper’s Ferry. He was questioned in regard to his own +adventures, the country he had passed through, and the troops of +the enemy he had seen. When, to use his own expression, he had been +“pumped dry,” he was permitted to rest a few days, and +then forwarded to his regiment.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_24" name="Ch_24">Chapter XXIV.</a></h3> +<h2>Budd’s Ferry.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Though Tom Somers had been absent from the regiment only a +fortnight, it seemed to him as though a year had elapsed since the +day of the battle when he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his +townsmen and friends. He had been ordered to report to the provost +marshal at Washington, where he learned that his regiment was at +Bladensburg, about six miles from the city. Being provided with the +necessary pass and “transportation,” he soon reached +the camp.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers! Tom Somers!” shouted several of his +comrades, as soon as they recognized him.</p> +<p>“Three cheers for Tom Somers!” shouted Bob +Dornton.</p> +<p>The soldier boy was a favorite in the company, and his return +was sufficient to justify such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, +were given with tremendous enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“Tom, I’m glad to see you!” said old Hapgood, +with extended hand, while his eyes filled with tears. “I was +afeared we should never see you again.”</p> +<p>The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who +was present. His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to +him, and he was determined always to merit the good will of his +companions in arms.</p> +<p>“Now, fellows, tell us what the news is,” said Tom, +as he seated himself on a camp stool before the tent of his +mess.</p> +<p>“There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the +orderly,” added one of his friends. “I suppose you have +got a bigger story to tell than any of us, but you shall have a +chance to read your letters first.”</p> +<p>These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given +to him, and the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, +lest he should find in them some bad news; but his mother and all +the family were well. One of them was written since the battle, and +it was evidently penned with deep solicitude for his fate, of which +nothing had been heard.</p> +<p>Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him +that his mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, +for all the men had written to their friends since the battle. The +captain who had escaped from Sudley church had reported him alive +and well, but he had no information in regard to his escape.</p> +<p>“We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same +as usual in Pinchbrook,” wrote one of his older sisters. +“John is so bent upon going to sea in the navy, that it is as +much as mother can do to keep him at home. He says the country +wants him, and he wants to go; and what’s more, he must go. +We haven’t heard a word from father since he left home; but +Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in +the harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope +that he is safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy +keeping.</p> +<p>“Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went +into the army. He don’t say a word about politics +now.”</p> +<p>In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had +advanced the money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire +Pemberton had not said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His +brother added that he was determined to go into the navy, even if +he had to run away. He could get good wages, and he thought it was +a pity that he should not do his share towards supporting the +family.</p> +<p>Tom finished his letters, and was rejoiced to find that his +friends at home were all well and happy; and in a few days more, a +letter from him would gladden their hearts with the intelligence of +his safe return to the regiment.</p> +<p>“All well—ain’t they?” asked Hapgood, as +Tom folded up the letters and put them in his pocket; and the +veteran could not fail to see, from the happy expression of his +countenance, that their contents were satisfactory.</p> +<p>“All well,” replied Tom. “Where is Fred +Pemberton? I haven’t seen him yet.”</p> +<p>“In the hospital: he’s sick, or thinks he is,” +answered Hapgood. “Ben Lethbridge is in the guard house. He +attempted to run away while we were coming over from Shuter’s +Hill.”</p> +<p>“Who were killed, and who were wounded? I haven’t +heard a word about the affair, you know,” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Sergeant Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner. +Sergeant Brown was hit by a shell, but not hurt much. The second +lieutenant was wounded in the foot, and—”</p> +<p>A loud laugh from the men interrupted the statement.</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at?” demanded Tom.</p> +<p>“He resigned,” added Bob Dornton, chuckling.</p> +<p>“You said he was wounded?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t say so; the lieutenant said so himself, +and hobbled about with a big cane for a week; but as soon as his +resignation was accepted, he threw away his stick, and walked as +well as ever he could.”</p> +<p>The boys all laughed heartily, and seemed to enjoy the joke +prodigiously. Tom thought it was a remarkable cure, though the +remedy was one which no decent man would be willing to adopt.</p> +<p>“How’s Captain Benson?”</p> +<p>“He’s better; he felt awful bad because he +wasn’t in that battle. The colonel has gone home, sick. He +has more pluck than body. He was sun-struck, and dropped off his +horse, like a dead man, on the field. It’s a great pity he +hasn’t twice or three times as much body; if he had, +he’d make a first-rate officer.”</p> +<p>It was now Tom’s turn to relate his adventures; and he +modestly told his story. His auditors were deeply interested in his +narrative, and when he had finished, it was unanimously voted that +Tom was a “trump;” which I suppose means nothing more +than that he was a smart fellow—a position which no one who +has read his adventures will be disposed to controvert.</p> +<p>A long period of comparative inactivity for the regiment +followed the battle of Bull Run. General McClellan had been called +from the scene of his brilliant operations in Western Virginia, to +command the army of the Potomac, and he was engaged in the arduous +task of organizing the vast body of loyal troops that rushed +forward to sustain the government in this dark hour of peril.</p> +<p>While at Bladensburg the —th regiment with three others +were formed into a brigade, the command of which was given to +Hooker—a name then unknown beyond the circle of his own +friends.</p> +<p>About the first of November the brigade was sent to Budd’s +Ferry, thirty miles below Washington, on the Potomac, to watch the +rebels in that vicinity. The enemy had, by this time, closed the +river against the passage of vessels to the capital, by erecting +batteries at various places, the principal of which were at +Evansport, Shipping Point, and Cockpit Point. Budd’s Ferry +was a position in the vicinity of these works, and the brigade was +employed in picketing the river, to prevent the enemy on the other +side from approaching, and also to arrest the operations of the +viler traitors on this side, who were attempting to send supplies +to the rebels.</p> +<p>It was not a very exciting life to which the boys of our +regiment were introduced on their arrival at Budd’s Ferry, +though the rebel batteries at Shipping Point made a great deal of +noise and smoke at times. As the season advanced the weather began +to grow colder, and the soldiers were called to a new experience in +military life; but as they were gradually inured to the diminishing +temperature, the hardship was less severe than those who gather +around their northern fireside may be disposed to imagine. Tom +continued to be a philosopher, which was better than an extra +blanket; and he got along very well.</p> +<p>It was a dark, cold, and windy night, in December, when Tom +found himself doing picket duty near the mouth of Chickamoxon +Creek. Nobody supposed that any rebel sympathizer would be mad +enough to attempt the passage of the river on such a night as that, +for the Potomac looked alive with the angry waves that beat upon +its broad bosom. Hapgood and Fred Pemberton were with him, and the +party did the best they could to keep themselves comfortable, and +at the same time discharge the duty assigned to them.</p> +<p>“Here, lads,” said old Hapgood, who, closely muffled +in his great-coat, was walking up and down the bank of the creek to +keep the blood warm in his veins.</p> +<p>“What is it, Hapgood?” demanded Fred, who was coiled +up on the lee side of a tree, to protect him from the cold blast +that swept down the creek.</p> +<p>“Hush!” said Hapgood. “Don’t make a +noise; there’s a boat coming. Down! down! Don’t let +them see you.”</p> +<p>Tom and Fred crawled upon the ground to the verge of the creek, +and placed themselves by the side of the veteran.</p> +<p>“I don’t see any boat,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“I can see her plain enough, with my old eyes. Look up the +creek.”</p> +<p>“Ay, ay! I see her.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” added Fred. “What shall we +do?”</p> +<p>“Stop her, of course.” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“That’s easy enough said, but not so easily done. We +had better send word up to the battery, and let them open upon +her,” suggested Fred.</p> +<p>“Open upon the man in the moon!” replied Tom, +contemptuously. “Don’t you see she is under sail, and +driving down like sixty? We must board her!”</p> +<p>Tom spoke in an emphatic whisper, and pointed to a small boat, +which lay upon the shore. The craft approaching was a small +schooner apparently about five tons burden. The secessionists of +Baltimore or elsewhere had chosen this dark and tempestuous night +to send over a mail and such supplies as could not be obtained, for +love or money, on the other side of the Potomac. Of course, they +expected to run the risk of a few shots from the Union pickets on +the river; but on such a night, and in such a sea, there was very +little danger of their hitting the mark.</p> +<p>Up the creek the water was comparatively smooth; but the little +schooner was driving furiously down the stream, with the wind on +her quarter, and the chances of making a safe and profitable run to +the rebel line, those on board, no doubt, believed were all in +their favor.</p> +<p>“We have no time to lose,” said Hapgood, with +energy, as he pushed off the boat, which lay upon the beach. +“Tumble in lively, and be sure your guns are in good +order.”</p> +<p>“Mine is all right,” added Tom, as he examined the +cap on his musket, and then jumped into the boat.</p> +<p>“So is mine,” said Fred; “but I don’t +much like this business. Do you know how many men there are in the +schooner?”</p> +<p>“Don’t know, and don’t care,” replied +Tom.</p> +<p>“Of course they are armed. They have revolvers, I’ll +bet my month’s pay.”</p> +<p>“If you don’t want to go, stay on shore,” +answered Hapgood, petulantly. “But don’t make a noise +about it.”</p> +<p>“Of course I’ll go, but I think we are getting into +a bad scrape.”</p> +<p>Tom and Hapgood held a hurried consultation, which ended in the +former’s taking a position in the bow of the boat, while the +other two took their places at the oars. The muskets were laid +across the thwarts, and the rowers pulled out to the middle of the +creek, just in season to intercept the schooner. Of course they +were seen by the men on board of her, who attempted to avoid +them.</p> +<p>“Hallo!” said Tom, in a kind of confidential tone. +“On board the schooner there! Are you going over?”</p> +<p>“Yes. What do you want?” answered one of the men on +board the vessel.</p> +<p>“We want to get over, and are afraid to go in this boat. +Won’t you take us over?”</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“Friends. We’ve got a mail bag.”</p> +<p>“Where did you get it?”</p> +<p>“In Washington.”</p> +<p>By this time, the schooner had luffed up into the wind, and Tom +directed his companions to pull again. In a moment the boat was +alongside the schooner, and the soldier boy was about to jump upon +her half-deck, when the rebel crew, very naturally, ordered him to +wait till they had satisfied themselves in regard to his secession +proclivities.</p> +<p>There were five men in the schooner, all of whom were seated +near the stern. Tom did not heed the protest of the traitors, but +sprang on board the schooner, followed by his companions.</p> +<p>“Now, tell us who you are before you come any +farther,” said one of the men.</p> +<p>“Massachusetts soldiers! Surrender, or you are a dead +man,” replied Tom, pointing his gun.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_25" name="Ch_25">Chapter XXV.</a></h3> +<h2>In the Hospital.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The night was very dark, so that the rebels in the boat could +not distinguish the uniform of those who had applied for a passage +on the schooner. Perhaps Tom Somers’s experience in the Blue +Ridge and on the Shenandoah had improved his strategic ability, so +that his words and his manner seemed plausible. But as strategy and +cunning always owe their success to the comparative stupidity of +the victims, Tom and his companions gained the half-deck of the +schooner more by the palpable blundering of her crew than through +the brilliancy of their own scheme.</p> +<p>Tom did not stop, in the midst of the exciting enterprise, to +determine the particular reason of his success, as we, his humble +biographer, have done. He was on the enemy’s ground, and +confronting the enemy’s forces, and logic was as much out of +place as rebellion in a free republican country. He was closely +followed by Hapgood, and at a later period by Fred Pemberton. The +nerves of the latter were not remarkably steady, and as he stepped +on board the schooner, he neglected to take the painter with him; +and the consequence was, that the boat went adrift. It is good +generalship to keep the line of retreat open; and Fred’s +neglect had deprived them of all means of retiring from the scene +of action. The only alternative was to fight their way through, and +find safety in success.</p> +<p>To Tom’s reply, that the party were Massachusetts +soldiers, the rebel who had acted as spokesman for the crew, +uttered a volley of oaths, expressive of his indignation and +disgust at the sudden check which had been given to their +prosperous voyage.</p> +<p>“Surrender!” repeated Tom, in energetic tones.</p> +<p>Two of the rebels at the stern discharged their pistols in +answer to the summons—a piece of impudence which our +Massachusetts soldiers could not tolerate; and they returned the +fire. The secessionists evidently carried revolvers; and a turn of +the barrel enabled them to fire a second volley, which the soldiers +were unable to do, for they had no time to load their guns.</p> +<p>“O!” groaned Fred, as he sunk down upon the +half-deck. “I’m hit.”</p> +<p>“We can’t stand this, Hapgood,” said Tom, +fiercely, as he leaped into the midst of the party in the standing +room. “Let’s give them the bayonet.”</p> +<p>“Give it to ’em, Tom!” replied the veteran, as +he placed himself by the side of his young companion.</p> +<p>“Will you surrender?” demanded Tom, as he thrust +vigorously with his bayonet.</p> +<p>“We surrender,” replied one of the men; but it was +not the one who had spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat +upon the bottom of the boat.</p> +<p>“Give up your pistols, then,” added Hapgood. +“You look out for the boat, Tom, and I will take care of +these fellows.”</p> +<p>Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the +spokesman of the party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller +of the boat, he soon brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in +the stern, he assumed the management of the schooner, while Hapgood +busied himself in taking the pistols from the hands of the rebels, +and exploring their pockets, in search of other dangerous +weapons.</p> +<p>“How are you, Fred?” shouted Tom, when the pressing +business of the moment had been disposed of. “Are you much +hurt?”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid my time’s most up,” replied +he, faintly.</p> +<p>“Where are you hit?”</p> +<p>“In the face; the ball went through my head, I +suppose,” he added, in tones that were hardly audible, in the +warring of the December blast.</p> +<p>“Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. +Have you got an easy place?”</p> +<p>“No, the water dashes over me.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you move him aft, Hapgood?”</p> +<p>“Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed,” +replied the veteran, who had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and +was securing the arms of the prisoners behind them.</p> +<p>“There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers +apiece, and we can have it all our own way, if they show +fight.”</p> +<p>But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender +care he lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, +and made him as comfortable as the circumstances would permit.</p> +<p>“Now, where are we, Hapgood?” asked Tom, who had +been vainly peering ahead to discover some familiar object by which +to steer. I can’t see the first thing.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where we are,” replied Hapgood. +“I never was much of a sailor, and I leave the navigating all +to you.”</p> +<p>“I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we +were,” added Tom, who had thus far been utterly unable to +ascertain the “ship’s position.”</p> +<p>During the brief struggle for the possession of the schooner, +she had drifted some distance, which had caused the new commander +to lose his bearings. The shore they had just left had disappeared, +as though it had been swallowed up by an earthquake. No lights were +allowed on shore, where they could be seen from the river, for they +afforded so many targets to the artillerymen in the rebel +batteries. The more Tom tried to discover a familiar object to +steer by, the more it seemed as though the land and everything else +had been cut adrift, and emigrated to foreign parts. Those who have +been in a boat in a very dark night, or in a dense fog, will be +able to appreciate the bewilderment of the skipper of the captured +schooner.</p> +<p>“Look out, Tom, that you don’t run us into some of +those rebel batteries,” said Hapgood, after he had watched +the rapid progress of the boat for a few moments. “A shot +from a thirty-two pounder would be a pill we couldn’t +swallow.”</p> +<p>“No danger of that, Hapgood,” answered Tom, +confidently.</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that, my boy,” answered +the veteran, in a tone heavy with dire anxiety.</p> +<p>“I know it. The schooner was running with the wind on her +starboard quarter when we boarded her. We are now close-hauled, and +of course we can’t make the shore on the other side while we +are on this tack.”</p> +<p>Well, I don’t know much about it, Tom, but if you say its +all right, I’m satisfied; that’ all. I’d trust +you just as far as I would General McClennon, and you know we all +b’lieve in him.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with us?” asked one of the +rebels, who began to exhibit some interest in the fate of the +schooner.</p> +<p>“I suppose you will find good quarters in Fort +McHenry,” replied Tom. “Where do you belong?”</p> +<p>“In Baltimore.”</p> +<p>“What are you doing here, then?”</p> +<p>“We go in for the South.”</p> +<p>“Go in, then!” added Tom, laughing.</p> +<p>“You’ll fetch up where all the rest of ’em +do,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“How’s that fellow that was hit?” asked Tom, +pointing to the rebel who lay in the middle of the standing +room.</p> +<p>“I guess it’s all right with him,” replied +Hapgood, bending over the silent form. “No; he isn’t +dead.”</p> +<p>“I have it!” shouted Tom, suddenly crowding the helm +hard-a-lee.</p> +<p>“What, Tom?”</p> +<p>“I see where we are. We are running up the river. I see +the land on the weather bow.”</p> +<p>The schooner was put about, and after running with the wind +amidships for ten or fifteen minutes, Tom discovered the outline of +Mrs. Budd’s house, which was directly under the guns of the +Union battery.</p> +<p>“Stand by the fore halliards, Hapgood,” said Tom, as +the boat came about again. “Let go!”</p> +<p>The foresail came down, and Tom sprang upon the pier, as the +schooner came up under its lee. In a moment the boat was made fast. +By this time the pickets appeared.</p> +<p>“Who comes there?” demanded the soldier.</p> +<p>“Friends!” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“Advance, friend, and give the countersign.”</p> +<p>“Little Mac,” whispered the soldier boy in the ear +of the sentinel.</p> +<p>“Who are you?”</p> +<p>“Co. K.” answered Tom.</p> +<p>“What’s the row? The long roll was beat just now, +and the whole regiment is in line. What was that firing?”</p> +<p>“We have captured this boat, and five prisoners, one of +them wounded, if not dead.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you,” replied the picket.</p> +<p>They were soon joined by a squad of men, and Fred Pemberton and +the wounded rebel were conveyed to the hospital, while the four +prisoners were conducted to a secure place. Hapgood and Tom then +hastened to the parade, where the regiment was drawn up, and +reported the events which had just transpired. It was unanimously +voted by officers and privates that the picket guard had done +“a big thing,” and they were warmly and generously +commended for their skill and bravery.</p> +<p>Hapgood and Tom requested permission to go to the hospital and +see their companion. They found that the surgeon had already +dressed his wound.</p> +<p>“Will he die?” asked Tom, full of solicitude for his +friend.</p> +<p>“Die! no; it’s a mere scratch. The ball ploughed +into his cheek a little way,” replied the surgeon. “It +isn’t a bad wound. He was more scared than hurt.”</p> +<p>“I am glad it is no worse,” said Captain Benson, +who, with fatherly solicitude for his men, had come to the hospital +as soon as the company was dismissed. “But what ails you, +Tom? You look pale.”</p> +<p>“Nothing, captain.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think I am badly hurt. I believe one of +those pistol balls grazed my side; but I hardly felt it.”</p> +<p>“Let me see,” said the surgeon.</p> +<p>The doctor opened Tom’s coat, and his gray shirt was found +to be saturated with blood.</p> +<p>“That’s a worse wound than Pemberton’s. +Didn’t you know it, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Well, of course I knew it; but I didn’t think it +was any thing,” replied Tom, apologetically. “I knew it +wouldn’t do to drop down, or we should all be in Dixie in +half an hour.”</p> +<p>“You are my man for the present,” said the doctor, +as he proceeded to a further examination of the wound.</p> +<p>Tom was hit in the side by one of the pistol bullets. As I have +not the surgeon’s report of the case, I cannot give a minute +description of it; but he comforted Hapgood and the captain with +the assurance that, though severe, it was not a dangerous +wound.</p> +<p>“Tom Somers, there’s a sergeant’s warrant in +Company K for one of you three men,” said Captain Benson, +when the patient was comfortably settled upon his camp bed. +“The colonel told me to give him the name of the most +deserving man in my company.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom,” said Hapgood, promptly. “He +led off in this matter, and ef’t hadn’t been for him, +we should all have been on t’other side of the river, and +p’raps on t’other side of Jordan, afore this time. And +then, to think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat +like a commodore, when the life-blood was runnin’ out of him +all the time! It belongs to Tom.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom,” added Fred, who lay near the +patient.</p> +<p>“No, Captain Benson,” interposed Tom, faintly. +“Hapgood is an old soldier, and deserves it more than I do. +Give it to him, and I shall be better satisfied than if you give it +to me.”</p> +<p>“Tom Somers!” exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of +tears sliding down his furrowed cheeks, “I won’t stand +nothin’ of the sort! I’d jump into the river and drownd +myself before I’d take it, after what you’ve +done.”</p> +<p>“You are both worthy of it,” added Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“Please give it to Hapgood,” pleaded Tom. “He +first proposed going out after the little schooner.”</p> +<p>“Give it to Tom, cap’n. It’ll help heal his +wound,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“No; it would do me more good to have you receive +it,” protested Tom.</p> +<p>“Well, here, I can’t have this battle fought in the +hospital,” interposed the surgeon. “They are good +friends, captain, and whichever one you give it to, the other will +be suited. You had better settle the case at +head-quarters.”</p> +<p>“If you please, Captain Benson, I would like to have +Hapgood stay with me to-night, if he can be spared.”</p> +<p>The veteran was promptly detailed for hospital duty, and the +captain returned to his quarters to decide the momentous question +in regard to the sergeant’s warrant.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_26" name="Ch_26">Chapter XXVI.</a></h3> +<h2>Tom is Sentimental.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The little schooner which the picket guard had captured was +loaded with valuable supplies for the rebels, which of course were +confiscated without ceremony. The mail bag which was on board +contained a great many letters from traitors in Baltimore, some of +whom were exposed by the capture of their treasonable +correspondence.</p> +<p>Tom’s wound proved to be more serious than even the +surgeon had anticipated; but the best care which it was possible to +give in a military hospital was bestowed upon him. Old Hapgood, in +recognition of his services on that eventful night, was permitted +to be near the patient as much as the interests of the service +would permit; and the old man was happy when seated by the rude +couch of the soldier boy, ministering to his necessities, or +cheering him with bright hopes of the future. A strong friendship +had grown up between them, for Tom’s kind heart and brave +conduct produced a deep impression upon the old man.</p> +<p>“Here, Tom,” said Captain Benson, as he approached +the sufferer, a few days after he entered the hospital, and laid a +paper upon the bed. “Here’s a prescription which the +colonel says you must take.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Tom, with a faint smile.</p> +<p>“A sergeant’s warrant.”</p> +<p>“Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on!” +exclaimed old Hapgood, jumping up like a youth of sixteen, and +swinging his cap above his head.</p> +<p>“Shut up, there!” shouted the hospital steward. +“Don’t you know any better than to make such a racket +in this place?”</p> +<p>“I beg pardon, Jameson. I forgot where I was,” +apologized the veteran. “The news was so good I +couldn’t help it. Our Tom is a sergeant now!”</p> +<p>“Not yet, Hapgood,” replied Tom, feebly. “I +can’t accept it, Captain Benson; it belongs to Hapgood, sir, +and I shall feel a great deal better if you put his name in place +of mine.”</p> +<p>“Don’t do it, cap’n!” interposed the old +man, vehemently. “Tom shall be a brigadier general if the war +lasts one year more. I should feel like a whipped kitten if that +warrant was altered.”</p> +<p>“The matter has been fully and fairly considered at +head-quarters, and there is no such thing as altering the decision +now; so, Tom, you can put the stripes on your arm just as soon as +you please.”</p> +<p>Hapgood insisted, the surgeon insisted, and the captain +insisted; and Tom was too sick to hold way with them in an +argument, and his name was placed upon the roster of the company as +a sergeant. He was proud of the distinction which had been +conferred upon him, though he thought Hapgood, as an older and +abler soldier, was better entitled to the honor than himself.</p> +<p>It was six weeks before Tom was able to enter upon the actual +enjoyment of the well-merited promotion which he had won by his +gallantry; but when he appeared before the company with the chevron +of the sergeant upon his arm, he was lustily cheered by his +comrades, and it was evident that the appointment was a very +popular one. Not even the grumblers, of whom there is a full quota +in every regiment, deemed it prudent to growl at the decision of +the officers. If any one ventured to suggest that he was too young +to be placed over older and stronger men, his friends replied, that +men in the army were measured by bravery and skill, not by +years.</p> +<p>If my young readers wish to know why Tom’s appointment was +so well received by his companions in arms, I can only reply, that +he had not only been brave and cheerful in the midst of peril and +hardship, but he was kind and obliging to his comrades. He had +always been willing to help those that needed help, to sympathize +with those in trouble, and generally to do all he could to render +those around him happy.</p> +<p>Above all these considerations, Tom was a young man of high +principle. He had obeyed his mother’s parting injunction, +often repeated in the letters which came to him from home, and had +faithfully “read his Testament.” Without being a +hypocrite or a canting saint, Tom carried about with him the true +elements of Christian character.</p> +<p>Tom had fought a greater battle than that in which he had been +engaged at Bull Run a hundred times, in resisting the temptations +which beset him from within and without. True to God and true to +himself, he had won the victory. Though his lot was cast in the +midst of men who swore, gambled, and drank liquor, he had shunned +these vices, and loved the sinner while he hated the sin. Such a +person could not fail to win the respect of his companions. Though +he had been jeered at and insulted for being sober, honest, and +pious, he had fought down and lived down all these vilifiers, and +won their esteem.</p> +<p>It must be acknowledged that Tom’s piety was of the robust +type. He would not allow any man to insult him; and after the +chastisement he had given Ben Lethbridge, not even those who were +strong enough to whip him were disposed to trespass upon his rights +and dignity. Perhaps Tom’s creed needed a little revising; +but he lived under martial law, which does not take cognizance of +insults and revilings. He was willing to be smitten on the one +cheek, and on the other also, for the good of his country, or even +his friends, but not to be wantonly insulted.</p> +<p>The influence of Tom’s principles was not confined to +himself, for “a little leaven leaveneth the whole +lump.” This was particularly true of Hapgood, who, more +through Tom’s preaching and practice than from any strength +in his own character, had steadily maintained his purpose to +abstain from intoxicating drinks, though occasional opportunities +were presented for the indulgence of his darling vice. Tom and he +read the Testament and other good books which were sent to the +regiment, and both profited by them.</p> +<p>When the soldier boy was discharged from the hospital, the +surgeon gave him a pair of woolen socks, from a case of them which +had been sent by the friends of the soldier in Boston and its +vicinity. He was very much in need of them, and from the depths of +his heart he blessed the ladies who had done this good work. He +unrolled the socks, and proceeded to pull one of them on. It was as +good a fit as though his mother had knit it on purpose for him.</p> +<p>“God bless the lady that knit these socks!” +exclaimed Tom, as he began to draw on the other.</p> +<p>“Amen!” replied Hapgood, who was watching the +operation in full sympathy with his protege.</p> +<p>“Eh! what’s this?” added Tom, for his foot had +met with an obstruction in its passage down the leg.</p> +<p>He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took +therefrom a letter enclosed in an envelope.</p> +<p>“See that, uncle?” said he, exhibiting the +prize.</p> +<p>“What is it, Tom? Open it quick,” replied +Hapgood.</p> +<p>The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note +enclosing a photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of +pleasure, which would have caused the original of the miniature, +the author of the note, and the author of the socks, to blush up to +her eyes if she had beheld the expression of admiration which +glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the young sergeant.</p> +<p>“By all that’s lovely, isn’t she a +beauty!” exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as he glanced from the +picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder.</p> +<p>“She’s hahnsome, and no mistake,” replied the +veteran, with a grim smile.</p> +<p>“Well, she is!” added Tom, whose eyes were riveted +to the photograph.</p> +<p>“Well, why don’t you read the letter, Tom?” +demanded the old soldier, after the young man had gazed with +blushing cheek upon the sweet face of the author of his socks for +full five minutes.</p> +<p>“I guess I will,” said Tom; but he did not; for the +picture seemed to be glory and beauty enough to satisfy him for the +present.</p> +<p>“Read the letter, Tom!” shouted the veteran, after +he had waited as long as the nature of the case seemed to +require.</p> +<p>The soldier boy carefully placed the photograph in the envelope, +and unfolded the letter. It was written in a beautiful hand, which +looked as soft and delicate as the fair fingers which had penned +the lines. He glanced at it as a whole, admired the penmanship, and +the fairy-like symmetry that make up the <em>tout-ensemble</em> of +the page, and was about to dissolve into another rhapsody, when +Hapgood, who was not half so sentimental as the sergeant, became +impatient to know the contents of the missive. Tom read it aloud to +the stoical veteran; and though we cannot clothe its sweet words in +the fairy chirography which transported our hero, and made the +letter a dream of bliss to him, we shall venture to present it to +our curious readers, stiffened and hardened into the dull, cold +forms of the printer’s art.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>No.——, RUTLAND STREET, BOSTON, <em>Nov.</em> 5, +1861.</p> +<p>MY DEAR SOLDIER:—</p> +<p>This is the first pair of socks I ever knit; and I send them to +you with my blessing upon the brave defenders of my country. I hope +they will keep your feet warm, and thus keep your heart warm +towards God and our blessed land.</p> +<p>Grandma says I am a silly girl, and I suppose I am; but if you +feel half as much interest in me as I do in the person who will +wear the first pair of socks I ever knit, you will wish to know how +I look; therefore I send you my photograph.</p> +<p>I very much desire to know whether my work has done any good; +whether my socks are ever worn in a battle; and most of all, I +desire to know how the noble fellow looks that wears them. +Therefore I beg you to answer my letter, and also to send me your +photograph, if you can conveniently.</p> +<p>Now, my dear soldier, be brave and true, and, above all, do not +run away from the rebels with my socks on your feet. You may +retreat when your officers order you to retire; but if you are a +coward, and find yourself compelled to run away, please pull them +off before you do so, for I should die with mortification if I +thought I had knit a pair of socks for a Union soldier to run away +in.</p> +<p class="rgt">Truly yours, for our flag and our country.<br /> +LILIAN ASHFORD.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>“Well, if that gal ain’t a trump, then there +ain’t no snakes in Virginny!” exclaimed Hapgood. +“She’s got the true grit, and no mistake.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” replied the recipient of the +gift, thoughtfully, as he bent down, and began to pull off the sock +which encased his left foot.</p> +<p>“What are you doing?” demanded Hapgood, surprised at +this new movement of his companion.</p> +<p>“I can’t wear these socks yet, uncle,” replied +he.</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>Don’t she say she wants them worn in a battle?”</p> +<p>“Tom, you are a little fool!” added the veteran, +petulantly. “Are you going with cold feet just to please a +silly gal, whose head is as full of moonshine as an egg is of meat. +Put on the socks, and keep your feet warm. If you don’t, +I’ll write to her, and tell what a fool you are.”</p> +<p>Tom did put them on, but he could not help feeling that uncle +Hapgood, as he was familiarly called in the camp, did not +understand and appreciate his sentiments. The socks seemed to be +too precious to be worn in the vulgar mud of Maryland. To him there +was something ethereal about them, and it looked a little like +profanation to put any thing emanating from the fairy fingers of +the original of that photograph, and the author of that letter, +upon his feet.</p> +<p>“Now you act like a sensible fellow, as you are, +Tom,” said Hapgood, as the sergeant put on his army +brogans.</p> +<p>“Well, uncle, one thing is certain: I never will run away +from the rebels with these socks on,” added Tom, with a rich +glow of enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“If Gen’l McClennon don’t stir his stumps +pretty soon, you’ll wear ’em out afore you git a chance +to run away.”</p> +<p>Tom, almost for the first time since he had been in the army, +wanted to be alone. With those socks on, it seemed just as though +he was walking the streets of the New Jerusalem, with heaven and +stacks of silver-fringed and golden-tinged clouds beneath his feet, +buried up to the eyes in floods of liquid moonshine.</p> +<p>If “grandma” really thought that Lilian Ashford was +a silly girl, and if Lilian really supposed so herself, it must be +added, in justification of her conduct, that she had given the +soldier boy a new incentive to do his duty nobly, and kindled in +his soul a holy aspiration to serve God and his country with +renewed zeal and fidelity.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_27" name="Ch_27">Chapter XXVII.</a></h3> +<h2>The Confederate Deserter.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom was in the hospital, he received a letter from his +sister, informing him that his brother John had actually entered +the navy, and with his mother’s consent. The news from home +was so favorable, that the soldier boy was pleased to hear that +Jack had realized his darling wish, and that he was now in his +element.</p> +<p>Intelligence from home, accompanied with letters, papers, books, +comforts, and luxuries of various kinds, reached him every two or +three weeks; and when the news went back that Tom had been made a +sergeant for gallant conduct, there was a great sensation in +Pinchbrook. The letters which reached him after the receipt of this +gratifying announcement contained all the gossip of the place in +regard to the important event. Of course, Tom was delighted by +these letters, and was more than ever determined to be diligent and +faithful in the discharge of his duties, and never to disgrace the +name he bore. He was confident his friends would never have +occasion to blush for his conduct—including the original of +the photograph, the author of the letter and of the socks.</p> +<p>Tom recovered from the effects of his wound, as we have before +intimated, and took his place in the regimental line as a sergeant. +January and February passed away without any very stirring events; +but in the month of March came indications of activity. The rebels +began to draw in their lines, by abandoning various points, till +the nation was startled by the evacuation of their strongly +fortified position at Manassas, and the forts in front of +Budd’s Ferry were suddenly left for the occupation of the +Federal troops.</p> +<p>Hooker’s men crossed the Potomac, and Tom was once more on +the sacred soil of Virginia. Skirmishers were sent out in various +directions, and though a deserted camp, which had been hastily +abandoned, was found, there were no rebels to be seen. The Union +boys were not disposed to leave their investigations at this +interesting point, and they pursued their way still farther into +the country. Somehow or other, Tom and his party did not receive +the order to return, and the enterprising young hero continued his +march in search of further adventures. It was altogether too tame +for him and the congenial spirits in his section to retire without +seeing a live rebel or two; and I am not sure, if their desire had +not been gratified, that they would not have penetrated to +Fredericksburg, and captured that citadel of rebellion in advance +to General Augur, who visited the place in April.</p> +<p>As it was, they stumbled upon the pickets of a rebel force, and +as soon as their uniform was identified they had the honor of being +fired upon, though none of them had the honor of being killed in +the midst of their virtual disobedience of orders. But their +appearance created a panic among the Confederates, who had no means +of knowing that they were not the pioneers of a whole division of +Union troops, for General McClellan had removed the spell which +bound the loyal army to its camps, and corps, divisions, and +brigades were pushing forward into the dominion of the +traitors.</p> +<p>The alarm was given, and Tom saw that he was rushing into a bad +scrape; and as prudence is as much a requisite of the good soldier +as bravery, he ordered his men to fall back. Rebels are very much +like ill-natured curs, ever ready to pursue a retreating foe, or +run away from an advancing one. The Confederates chased them, and +as the legs of the former seemed to be in remarkably good +condition, the sergeant came to the conclusion that it would not be +safe to run too fast.</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted he; and the men promptly obeyed the +order.</p> +<p>They discharged their muskets, and then made a demonstration +towards the enemy, who, obeying their instinct, ran away as fast as +their legs would carry them. Taking advantage of this movement on +their part, Tom again ordered a retreat.</p> +<p>“They are after us again,” said Hapgood. “I +hope there ain’t no cavalry within hearing. If there is, we +may take a journey to Richmond.”</p> +<p>“They have stopped to load their guns,” replied Tom. +“We will use our legs now.”</p> +<p>“See that, Tom!” said Hapgood, suddenly.</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“There’s one of them rushing towards us all +alone.”</p> +<p>“He has thrown up his gun. The others are yelling to him +to come back. What does that mean?”</p> +<p>“He is a deserter; he wants to get away from them. There +he comes.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and there comes the rest of them—the whole +rebel army—more than a million of them,” said Fred +Pemberton. “It’s time for us to be going.”</p> +<p>“See! They are firing at him. Forward!” added Tom, +leading the way.</p> +<p>The party rushed forward, for a short distance; but the dozen +rebels had been reënforced, and it was madness to rush into +the very teeth of danger. Tom ordered his men to halt and fire at +will. The deserter, probably finding that he was between two fires, +turned aside from the direct course he was pursuing, and sought +shelter in the woods. The sergeant then directed his men to retire, +for whether the retreat of the runaway rebel was covered or not, it +was no longer safe to remain.</p> +<p>Fortunately the Confederates were more in doubt than the +Unionists; and perhaps expecting to fall upon a larger body of the +latter, they abandoned the pursuit, and returned to their posts. +Nothing was seen of the deserter for some time, and Tom concluded +that he had lost his way in the woods, or had missed the direction +taken by the Federal scouts.</p> +<p>“He was a plucky fellow, any how,” said one of the +men, “to attempt to run away in the very face of his +companions.”</p> +<p>“Well, he timed it well, for he started just when their +guns were all empty,” added another.</p> +<p>“I’m not sorry he missed us,” continued +Hapgood. “I don’t like a desarter, no how. It goes +right agin my grain.”</p> +<p>“But he was running from the wrong to the right +side,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“I don’t keer if he was. Them colors on +t’other side were his’n. He chose ’em for +himself, and it’s mean to run away from ’em. If a +man’s go’n to be a rebel, let him be one, and stick to +it.”</p> +<p>“You don’t know any thing about it, uncle. Thousands +of men have been forced into the rebel army, and I don’t +blame them for getting out of it the best way they can. I should do +so.”</p> +<p>“That may be. Tom; that may be,” added the veteran, +taking off his cap and rubbing his bald head, as though a new idea +had penetrated it. “I didn’t think of that.”</p> +<p>“He’s a brave man, whoever he is, and whatever he +is.”</p> +<p>“He must want to get away from ’em pretty bad, or he +wouldn’t have run that risk. I shouldn’t wonder if they +hit him.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he is wounded, and gone into the woods there to +die,” suggested Tom.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” shouted some one in the rear of them.</p> +<p>“There’s your man,” said Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Halloo!” cried the same voice.</p> +<p>“Halloo, yourself!” shouted Hapgood in reply to the +hail.</p> +<p>The party halted, and after waiting a few moments, the rebel +deserter came in sight. He was apparently a man of fifty; and no +mendicant of St. Giles, who followed begging as a profession, could +have given himself a more wretched and squalid appearance, if he +had devoted a lifetime to the study of making himself look +miserable. He wore a long black and gray beard, uncut and unkempt, +and snarled, tangled, and knotted into the most fantastic forms. +His gray uniform, plentifully bedaubed with Virginia mud, was torn +in a hundred places, and hung in tatters upon his emaciated frame. +On his head was an old felt hat, in a terribly dilapidated +condition. He wore one boot and one shoe, which he had probably +taken from the common sewer of Richmond, or some other southern +city; they were ripped to such an extent that the +“uppers” went flipperty-flap as he walked, and had the +general appearance of the open mouth of the mythic dragon, with +five bare toes in each to represent teeth.</p> +<p>As he approached, the unthinking soldiers of the party indulged +in screams of laughter at the uncouth appearance of the whilom +rebel; and certainly the character in tableau or farce need not +have spoken, to convulse any audience that ever assembled in +Christendom. Rip Van Winkle, with the devastations and +dilapidations of five-and-twenty years hanging about him, did not +present a more forlorn appearance than did this representative of +the Confederate army.</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at?” demanded the deserter, +not at all delighted with this reception.</p> +<p>“I say, old fellow, how long since you escaped from the +rag-bag?” jeered one of the men.</p> +<p>“What’s the price of boots in Richmond now?” +asked another.</p> +<p>“Who’s your barber?”</p> +<p>“Silence, men!” interposed Tom, sternly, for he +could not permit his boys to make fun of the wretchedness of any +human being.</p> +<p>“We’ll sell you out for paper stock,” said Ben +Lethbridge, who had just returned from three months’ service +in the Rip-Raps for desertion.</p> +<p>“Shut up, Ben!” added Tom.</p> +<p>“Dry up, all of you!” said Corporal Snyder.</p> +<p>“Who and what are you?” asked Tom, of the +deserter.</p> +<p>“I’m a Union man!” replied the stranger with +emphasis; “and I didn’t expect to be treated in this +way after all I’ve suffered.”</p> +<p>“They thought you were a rebel. You wear the colors of the +rebel army,” answered the sergeant, willing to explain the +rudeness of his men.</p> +<p>“Well, I suppose I do look rather the worse for the +wear,” added the grayback, glancing down at the tattered +uniform he wore. “I joined the rebel army, after I had tried +every way in the world to get out of this infernal country; but I +never fired a gun at a Union man. Seems to me, sergeant, I’ve +seen you before somewhere. What’s your name? Where did you +come from?”</p> +<p>“Pinchbrook, Massachusetts; and most of us hail from the +same place.”</p> +<p>“Creation!” exclaimed the deserter. “You +don’t say so!”</p> +<p>“Your voice sounds familiar to me,” added Tom; and +for some reason his chest was heaving violently beneath his +suddenly accelerated respiration.</p> +<p>As he spoke, he walked towards the dilapidated rebel, who had +not ventured to come within twenty feet of the party.</p> +<p>“Did you say Pinchbrook?” demanded the stranger, who +began to display a great deal of emotion.</p> +<p>“Pinchbrook, sir,” added Tom; and so intensely was +he excited, that the words were gasped from his lips.</p> +<p>“What’s your name?”</p> +<p>“Thomas Somers,” replied the sergeant.</p> +<p>“Tom!” screamed the deserter, rushing forward.</p> +<p>“Father!” cried Tom, as he grasped the hand of the +phantom Confederate.</p> +<p>The soldiers of the party were transfixed with astonishment at +this unexpected scene, and they stood like statues gazing at the +meeting of father and son, till the final development of their +relationship, when the muscles of their faces relaxed, and the +expression of wonder gave place to joyous sympathy.</p> +<p>“Captain Somers, of Pinchbrook!” shouted old +Hapgood; and the men joined with him in a roar of intense +satisfaction, that made the woods ring.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_28" name="Ch_28">Chapter XXVIII.</a></h3> +<h2>On the Peninsula.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The scene between Captain Somers and his son was very affecting +and very exciting; and if the soldiers had all been uncles and +first cousins of the parties, they could not have manifested more +interest on the joyous occasion. The father wept, and the son wept; +for each, amid the terrible experience of these troublous times, +had hardly expected to meet the other.</p> +<p>For several minutes they held each other by the hand, laughing +and weeping alternately, and neither being able to express the +intense emotions which agitated him. The men shouted and laughed in +full sympathy with the reunited sire and son.</p> +<p>“I’m glad to see you, Tom,” said Captain +Somers, as he wiped away the tears that were sliding down upon his +grizzly beard. “I haven’t cried before for thirty +years; I’m ashamed of it, Tom, but I can’t help +it.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t expect to find you here, father, and +clothed in the rebel uniform; but I’m glad to see you in any +uniform,” replied the soldier boy.</p> +<p>“So you’re in the army, Tom,” continued the +father, gazing with satisfaction at the neat appearance of the +sergeant.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I enlisted within a fortnight after we heard +that the traitors had bombarded Fort Sumter.”</p> +<p>“I see you’ve got three stripes on your +arm.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Cap’n Somers,” said Hapgood; “Tom +was made a sergeant for gallant conduct on the river in December; +and he deserved his promotion too.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad to see you with that uniform on your back, +Tom; and glad to hear that you have behaved well.”</p> +<p>“I was in the battle of Bull Run, father, and was taken +prisoner, but I got away.”</p> +<p>“Well, Tom, we’ll hear about that bimeby,” +said the old man, stopping and looking nervously into the face of +his son. “I want to ask a great many questions, Tom, but I +hardly dare to do it. You know I haven’t heard a word from +home since I left, and it’s almost a year now.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t be afraid, father; the folks are all +well. I have got a heap of letters at the camp, and you shall read +them all as soon as we get there.”</p> +<p>“Is your mother well, Tom?”</p> +<p>“First rate.”</p> +<p>“And John?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; but he’s gone into the navy. He was bound +to be in the fight any how.”</p> +<p>“John’s a chip of the old block. He wanted to snuff +the salt water afore he was a week old. John’s a good sailor, +and he ought to have a good lay wherever he goes,” added the +father.</p> +<p>Captain Somers and Tom sat upon the ground for half an hour, +until the fugitive from the rebel army was in some degree rested +after the hard run he had had through the woods. The soldiers +gathered around them, as much interested as though they had been +members of the Somers family. Tom’s father had a multitude of +questions to ask about Pinchbrook and its people, all of which were +answered to his satisfaction.</p> +<p>The sergeant thought it was time for the party to move on, and +his father declared that he was able to walk any distance which +would bring him nearer to the home of his wife and children. The +order was given, and the little band resumed its march.</p> +<p>“How have you been all this time, father?” asked +Tom, as he walked along by the side of Captain Somers.</p> +<p>“I’ve been pretty fairly most of the time. I’m +tough and hardy, or I should have been dead afore this time. +We’ve been half starved and half frozen in the camp; but I +managed to live through it, hoping and expecting to get away from +those rascally rebels.”</p> +<p>“Where have you been all the time?” asked Tom. +“Have you been in the rebel army long?”</p> +<p>“About four months; but I may as well begin at the +beginning, and tell you the whole story,” added the captain. +“I got to Norfolk all right, and was there when the news came +up that the rebels had taken Sumter. Every body was mad, and I was +as mad as the rest of them, though not exactly in the same way. I +let on a little with my tongue, and came pretty near being tarred +and feathered, and I think I should have been, if your uncle Wyman +hadn’t interfered.”</p> +<p>“Did he settle with you, father?”</p> +<p>“After a while he did. He had some fifteen thousand +dollars in New York, which had just been sent over from England, +and as he was secesh, he was terribly afeard the Lincoln government +would confiscate it; so he settled with me, and gave me a power of +attorney to draw his money, pay myself, and take care of what was +over. I’ve got the papers safe in my waistbands +now.”</p> +<p>“Good! Glory, hallelujah!” shouted Tom. “We +can pay off old Pemberton now, for it goes against my grain to owe +a dollar to a traitor. But if uncle Wyman is a rebel, and I suppose +he is, I hope the government will confiscate what’s over +after you have paid yourself.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know. We will see about that bimeby. +He used me fair, and I don’t wish him any harm; but I hate +his principles. Well, just then, Tom, when I had got my accounts +squared, the rascals took my vessel, and sunk it in the channel to +keep the Union fleet out. My pipe was out then, and I +couldn’t do any thing more. I hung round the city of Norfolk +till I saw there was no chance to get out in that direction; and +then I left. I was up near Bull Run—the rebels call it +Manassas—when the battle was fought; but our folks got licked +so badly, that it was no use to try to get through there.</p> +<p>“I tried half a dozen times to crawl through, and had +nearly starved to death in the woods; but some rebel cavalry +pickets spied me out, called me a traitor, and sent me back. My +money was all gone by this time, and I went over to Norfolk again. +Your uncle Wyman told me I had better keep quiet where I was, for +just as sure as his name was Somers, the North would all fall to +pieces in less than six months. He expected the rebel army would be +in New York afore long, and I should be a great deal better off +where I was. He tried to get a pass to send me through the rebel +lines, but he couldn’t do it.</p> +<p>“Things went on in this way till your uncle Wyman went to +Charleston on business, and I haven’t seen him from that day +to this. The rebels tried to make me go into their navy, but I +wouldn’t do it, of course; but when I couldn’t do any +other way, I went into the army, hoping I should be sent to the +front, and find a chance to get away. I’ve been watching ever +since, but I never happened to get within twenty miles of the Union +pickets before. But here I am, and I’m perfectly satisfied +with the past, though I’ve suffered a good deal in one way +and another.”</p> +<p>By the time Captain Somers had finished his narrative, the party +arrived at the camp. Tom was reprimanded very gently for detaching +himself from the main body of the regiment; but when he reported +the events of his excursion, as he had safely returned with his +command, nothing more was said about his adventure.</p> +<p>At the camp the Union refugee was provided with comfortable +clothing; his hair and beard were trimmed down to decent +proportions, and he was otherwise purged of the barbarisms of the +rebel camp. But even then he did not look like the stout, hearty, +healthy Captain Somers who sailed from Boston in the Gazelle nearly +a year before. He was haggard and emaciated from anxiety and +semi-starvation.</p> +<p>Captain Somers was warmly welcomed by the members of Company K, +who came from Pinchbrook; and when his physical wants had been +satisfied, he was sent to General Hooker, to communicate to him +such intelligence as he possessed in regard to the position and +numbers of the rebel army. He remained at the camp but two days, at +the end of which time he was sent to Washington, and from there +hastened to his home in Pinchbrook. A letter from Tom, announcing +the joyful intelligence of his return, had preceded him.</p> +<p>In ten days after parting with his father, the sergeant received +a full and glowing account of the reception of Captain Somers, who +became quite a lion in Pinchbrook for the time being. He received +his money as he passed through New York, though not without the aid +of a government order which he had procured in Washington, and only +the amount that was actually due to him, for uncle Wyman’s +funds were then in process of being confiscated.</p> +<p>The only drawback upon his father’s happiness was the +absence of John, who had been drafted into a vessel bound to the +South. He had not seen him for a year, and another year would +probably elapse before he could expect to realize this pleasure. +But the captain’s patriotism had been intensified a hundred +fold by his bitter experience in Virginia; and while his twin sons +were gallantly serving their country in the army and the navy, he +was willing to sacrifice the yearnings of his paternal heart, and +he hoped and prayed that they might do their duty faithfully.</p> +<p>Tom’s regiment remained on the Potomac but a short time +after the event we have related. Sharper and sterner experience was +before these tried soldiers, and the first indications of active +service were greeted with joyous enthusiasm. Suddenly the camp was +broken up, and the order to march given. The men wondered and +speculated upon their destination, and though the prophets of the +regiments gave them certain information in regard to the direction +they were to take, most of them were incredulous. One declared they +were going to Richmond by the way of Fredericksburg; another, by +the way of Manassas; and a third was positive, from hints he had +seen in the newspapers, that they were going down the valley of the +Shenandoah, to take the capital of Rebeldom on the flank and +rear.</p> +<p>While the prophets and wise men were speculating, the regiment +marched on; and to the astonishment of all, and to the utter +confusion of the seers, they were embarked in a transport—the +steamer Napoleon—bound no one knew where. One regiment and +half of another belonging to the brigade were huddled on board of +this one steamer. Every foot of standing room was occupied, and, of +course, the boys were not very comfortably quartered; but, as Tom +expressed it, there was music ahead, and the brave hearts on board +were ready to stand any thing if they could only get a fight out of +the rebels. The mortification of their defeat at Bull Run still +hung heavily on their spirits, and they were panting for an +opportunity to retaliate upon the foe, and win the laurels they had +lost upon that disastrous field.</p> +<p>The prophets, though their failure to foretell the coming event +had cast them into disgrace, were still ready to volunteer an +opinion. They declared that the transports were bound to North +Carolina, to follow up Burnside’s successes; but most of the +men were content to wait till the future should develop itself.</p> +<p>The troops were eager for active duty, and if they could get +into the field and strike a heavy blow at the rebellion, they did +not care where it was. They had unbounded confidence in the young +general who was to organize victory for them, and they were willing +to obey orders, and leave every thing to him.</p> +<p>It “thundered all around” them. Roanoke, Pea Ridge, +Newbern, Winchester, Donelson, were a succession of Union +victories, which inspired them with zeal and courage to endure all +hardships, and face any peril which might be in their path.</p> +<p>The transport descended the Potomac, and came to anchor in the +bay, where they lay one day; the steamer then continued on her +course, and landed her troops in Cheseman’s Creek, an +indentation of the peninsula between the York and James Rivers. +After lying in camp a few days, they marched again, and Tom learned +that the regiment was before Yorktown, which had been strongly +fortified by the rebels to resist the advance of the Union +army.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_29" name="Ch_29">Chapter XXIX.</a></h3> +<h2>The Battle of Williamsburg.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>What the army of the Potomac achieved and suffered before +Yorktown, we must leave for the historian. Our soldier boy was only +one hero among thousands who toiled in the soft mud of the early +spring, who watched and waited for the tremendous events which have +now passed into history, and whose actors will be honored and +remembered by future generations.</p> +<p>Tom Somers bore his full share of the trials and hardships of +that eventful period; and when McClellan’s scientific +engineering had driven the rebels from their strong works without a +struggle to retain them, he moved forward with the gallant army. +“On to Richmond!” again sounded along the lines, and +the soldiers toiled through mud and mire, hoping and expecting to +strike the final blow that would crush out the rebellion.</p> +<p>Yorktown was evacuated. The rebels were fleeing from their +frowning batteries, and the order came for Hooker’s division +to join in the pursuit. At noon the brigade—now under command +of General Grover commenced its forward movement.</p> +<p>“Rather rough,” said Hapgood, as the regiment +struggled on through the mire. “Rather soft, I think,” +replied Tom, laughing.</p> +<p>“I hope we haven’t got to march far through this +mud,” added Ben Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“That will depend upon how soon we come up with the +rebels. If it rests with Hooker, I tell you he will get a fight out +of the rebs, if such a thing is possible.”</p> +<p>After the regiment had marched five or six miles, the order came +to halt; and the intelligence passed along the column that the +cavalry had come up with the enemy, and were waiting the arrival of +an infantry force to assist in the attack.</p> +<p>“Good!” shouted Tom. “We shall have a battle +before night.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” added Hapgood. “It takes the +cat a good while to catch the mouse, even after she smells the +critter.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t we march? What are we stopping here +for?” said Tom, impatiently.</p> +<p>“They say Smith’s division has got in ahead of us. +Keep cool, Tom; never be in a hurry for a battle. Some of us that +stand here now won’t be alive in twenty-four hours from now; +for I don’t believe the rebs are going to let us have it all +our own way,” said the veteran.</p> +<p>“Nor I,” added Fred Pemberton. “I shall be +killed in this fight.”</p> +<p>“How do you know, Fred?” demanded Hapgood, +sternly.</p> +<p>“Of course I don’t know, but I feel it in my bones +that I shall fall in the first battle.”</p> +<p>“Your bones ain’t no guide at all. I know something +about this business, and I’ve seen croakers afore to-day. +Don’t talk about being killed, or even hit. Be ready to die, +do your duty like a soldier, and leave all the rest to your +Maker,” said the veteran, solemnly.</p> +<p>“I don’t have any such feeling as that. I know I +shan’t be killed,” laughed Ben. “The bullet +hasn’t been cast yet that will stop my wind.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps it has, my boy. It may be in some rebel +soldier’s cartridge box over yonder, even now. I tell you, +boys, you don’t know any thing about it. Just afore we went +in at Cerry Gordy, a feller by my side said the same thing you did, +Ben; and he was the first man that went down. I tried to pick him +up, and do something for him, but he was stone dead. I tell you, +Ben, you don’t know any thing about it. Leave it all to the +Almighty.”</p> +<p>“Pooh, uncle!” sneered Ben, trying to laugh down the +solemn words of the old man. “Don’t you think +we’d better have a prayer meetin’ before we go +in?”</p> +<p>“I think we should fight the better for it, for he who +trusts in God don’t fear death.”</p> +<p>But it was evident that the words of Hapgood, especially the +incident of Cerro Gordo, had made a deep impression upon the mind +of the thoughtless young man. Though the division did not move for +three hours, he was very silent and sober. He seemed to feel that +he had been tempting Providence by his bold speech, and even +expressed his regret to Tom for what he had said.</p> +<p>It was dark when the order to march was given. The night was +exceedingly gloomy, and the rain poured down upon the devoted army, +as it moved forward to do its great work. Hour after hour, in the +deep darkness and the pouring rain, the men struggled through the +mire, expecting every moment to be hurled upon the rebel +battalions, or to meet the impetuous onset of the foe.</p> +<p>Between ten and eleven, when the men were nearly worn out by the +exhausting labors of the march, they were ordered to halt in the +road, and bivouac for the rest of the night. What a time and what a +place for repose! They could only wrap themselves up in their wet +blankets, and stretch themselves upon the ground, soaked with +water, and with the rain still pouring down upon them. But they +slept, and enjoyed their rest, for Nature was imperative in her +demands.</p> +<p>At daylight the march was resumed; for the intrepid Hooker, ever +faithful to the trust confided to him, was wholly in earnest. At +half-past five the column was halted in the woods. The rebel works +before Williamsburg were in sight, and General Hooker rode to the +front to examine the position of the enemy.</p> +<p>In front of the rebel batteries, and on each side of the roads, +the trees had been felled, in order to give the guns in the field +works full play upon an approaching force.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted some of the boys on the right of +the column. “Our brigade is to commence the +attack.”</p> +<p>“How do you know?” growled Hapgood, who did not +think a soldier ought to know any thing about the plan of the +battle.</p> +<p>“We are ordered to move,” replied Tom. “I +suppose that’s all they know about it.”</p> +<p>The prophets on the right were correct this time, for the +regiment was soon sent to the right of the road, and ordered to +deploy as skirmishers. A battery was thrown forward in front of the +felled timber; but before a gun could be fired, two officers and +two privates were seen to fall before the unerring aim of the rebel +sharpshooters, occupying the rifle pits which dotted the cleared +land in front of the forts.</p> +<p>“That’s a hot place,” said Ben Lethbridge.</p> +<p>“We shall all see hot work before the sun goes down +to-night,” replied Tom. “But let us stand up to it like +men.”</p> +<p>“That’s the talk, Tom!” exclaimed Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Have you got those socks on, my boy?”</p> +<p>“I have, uncle; and I have the letter and the photograph +in my pocket.”</p> +<p>“Good, Tom! After this day’s work is over, you can +write the lady a letter, and tell her that her socks have been in a +battle.”</p> +<p>“And that I didn’t run away in them.”</p> +<p>The roar of the guns in Fort Magruder interrupted the +conversation. The gunners of the battery in front of them had been +driven from their pieces; but it was almost instantly manned by +volunteers, and a destructive fire poured into the works. Other +batteries were brought up, and the fort was soon silenced. The roar +of battle sounded all along the line; the thunder of cannon and the +crash of musketry reverberated through the woods and over the +plain, assuring the impatient troops that they were engaged in no +trivial affair; that they were fighting a great battle, of which +thousands yet unborn would read upon the pages of history.</p> +<p>Our regiment closed up its lines, and the gallant colonel gave +the order to move forward in the direction of the field works. On, +on, steadily and firmly marched the men of Massachusetts, through +ditch and swamp, through mud and mire, loading, firing, and +charging, as the enemy presented opportunity. The hot work of the +day had commenced; for, from every bush, tree, and covert, which +could conceal a man, the rebels poured a deadly fire into the ranks +of the advancing Federals.</p> +<p>Tom stood as firm as a rock. The doubts and fears which beset +him in his first battle had no existence on this day. So thoroughly +had he schooled his mind to the fearful ordeal of carnage, that he +felt quite at home. He was cool and determined, and continually +encouraged those around him by his cheering words as well as by his +example.</p> +<p>“Ben is down!” exclaimed Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Poor fellow!” replied Tom, without taking his eye +off the foe in front.</p> +<p>“There goes Bob Dornton!” added Hapgood.</p> +<p>“Stand up to it, my men!” said Tom, firmly, for he +had no time then to think of the fallen.</p> +<p>“Forward!” shouted the impetuous colonel, who, if he +had never been popular with the men before, was rapidly +establishing himself in their good graces by his unflinching +heroism. “Forward! double quick! march!”</p> +<p>And on dashed the gallant regiment, mounting the enemy’s +lofty works, and driving the foe before them like sheep, at the +point of the bayonet. This was the first experience of this +exciting description which Tom had seen, and he entered into the +spirit of it with a hearty zeal.</p> +<p>“Halt!” was the order, as a regiment filed out in +front of them, with a flag of truce flying on its front. +“Steady—don’t fire,” repeated several +officers along the line.</p> +<p>“What regiment are you?” shouted a person, as the +flag came within speaking distance.</p> +<p>“What are you?” demanded an officer of the storming +party.</p> +<p>“We’re the Alabama eighth!”</p> +<p>“We are the Massachusetts —th,” replied our +men.</p> +<p>“Then you are the villains we want!” returned the +rebel, plentifully interlarding the sentence with oaths.</p> +<p>The flag of truce dropped, and the dastardly foe poured in a +volley of musketry, before which a dozen of our brave boys fell, +either killed or wounded.</p> +<p>“Fire!” yelled the colonel; and the order was obeyed +with a will. “Charge bayonets! Forward—double +quick—march!”</p> +<p>The men, burning with indignation at the treachery of the rebel +horde, sprang forward to wreak their righteous vengeance upon the +cowardly traitors. So impetuous was the charge, that the rebel +regiment broke, and sought safety in flight.</p> +<p>“Down with them!” hoarsely screamed Tom, as the line +swayed forward, and pursued the panic-stricken foe into the woods +on the left. The even line was broken, and the boys scattered to do +their work to the best advantage.</p> +<p>Tom’s legs seemed to be in excellent condition, +notwithstanding the toilsome marches of the last twenty-four hours; +and he dashed forward into the woods followed by only a dozen +choice spirits, whose enthusiasm was equal to his own. A squad of +flying rebels in front of them was the object of their present +anxiety, and they soon distanced their companions.</p> +<p>The rebels, seeing by how small a force they were pursued, +rallied and formed line again.</p> +<p>“Give it to them!” cried Tom, as he led his little +force upon the rebels.</p> +<p>“Hold on, Tom!” said Hapgood; “we have gone +far enough. There’s a rebel regiment forming behind +us.”</p> +<p>“Can’t help it,” said Tom, as he rushed +forward, with the veteran by his side. “Give it to +them!”</p> +<p>Tom and his men threw themselves upon the rebel squad, and a +sharp fight ensued, in which the parties fought with bayonets, +clubbed muskets, and even with the death grip upon each +other’s throats. The traitors could not stand it, and fled +again.</p> +<p>The sergeant glanced behind him, and saw the rebel regiment +formed ready to charge upon his own. He was cut off from his +friends, with the enemy on his front and rear. Three of his men had +fallen in the sharp encounter with the rebels, and most of them +were wounded or bruised, and all of them out of breath. To add to +the peril of the situation, the squad they had been pursuing were +rallying and being reënforced by their fugitive +companions.</p> +<p>“Bad, Tom, bad,” said Hapgood, who was puffing and +blowing like a porpoise, as he ominously shook his head.</p> +<p>“Follow me!” said Tom, confidently, as he led the +way in a direction at right angles with the advance of the +party.</p> +<p>Our regiment had reformed again, and soon gave that in front of +them enough to do. The rebels in their rear caused the +sergeant’s squad no little annoyance; but they continued on +their course, loading and firing as they retreated.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_30" name="Ch_30">Chapter XXX.</a></h3> +<h2>More of the Battle.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom and his little command were working their way back to +the Union lines, followed up by the disorganized band of rebels, a +series of most unearthly yells swept over the field, for they had +emerged from the woods. It was the rallying cry of the Confederate +regiment which had formed in their rear. They were charging upon +the Massachusetts —th; but they might as well have charged +upon the Rock of Gibraltar, for presently Tom was delighted to see +them retiring before the tremendous onslaught of his friends.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted he, forgetting the foe in his +rear, and pressing forward to that on his front, at the same time +changing his course so as to approach the right wing of the rebel +regiment.</p> +<p>“Don’t be rash, Tom,” said the old soldier, +who never permitted the sergeant to leave his side.</p> +<p>“Follow me, boys!” roared Tom, breathless with +excitement, as he started off on the double quick towards the +breaking lines of the enemy.</p> +<p>“Here we are!” replied the gallant fellows behind +him, pushing forward with a zeal equal to that of their leader, +from whom they derived their inspiration. “Go in, sergeant, +and we’ll stand by you.”</p> +<p>But the bold soldier boy had discretion as well as gallantry; +and he saw that if he threw his little force upon the rebel line, +the whole party would be instantly annihilated. A covert of bushes +fortunately lay on the right flank of the retreating regiment, and +Tom ordered his men to conceal themselves behind it, until a +favorable moment should arrive to take their places in the +lines.</p> +<p>The men were glad enough to obtain a breathing spell; but, at +such a tremendous moment as that, idleness would have been treason, +for such a glorious opportunity to strike a heavy blow had not +before occurred.</p> +<p>“Load up, and fire at will,” said Tom, as he charged +his musket. “Don’t throw your lead away +either.”</p> +<p>“We are a dead shot here if we are any where,” added +Hapgood, as he and the rest of the party hastily loaded their +muskets.</p> +<p>Pop went Tom’s piece first, and over went the rebel at the +extreme right of the rebel regiment. There was no such thing as +missing the mark, for they were on the flank of the Confederate +line, which the united efforts of the officers could hardly +preserve. The men in the covert fired when they were ready; and as +they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not to waste their +lead, every shot told upon the rebels.</p> +<p>The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of +bushes, which glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant’s +little command poured in their volleys; but they were too closely +pressed by the Federals in front to attempt to dislodge them. The +rebel privates were not long in ascertaining what was so clear to +their officers—that they were flanked, and were being shot +down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not defend +themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the +advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they +realized that the bolts of death were dropping among them from +another direction, they could no longer endure that awful suspense +which takes possession of the minds of men when they are suspended, +as it were, between life and death.</p> +<p>Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line +was just abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men +fall before the deadly fire of his party.</p> +<p>“Give it to them, boys! They shake!” shouted Tom, as +he delivered his fire again. “Pour in as fast as you can, but +don’t waste your powder.”</p> +<p>The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their +fire was sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the +rebel ranks; for the right of the line, probably supposing a +company, if not a whole regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed +in the covert, suddenly broke and fled with the utmost +precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of their officers to +rally them.</p> +<p>The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial +panic, and charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate +hand-to-hand encounter ensued, during which Tom and his companions +emerged from their concealment, and ran along the rear of the +victorious line. They soon satisfied themselves of what they had +before believed—that the regiment was their own; and they +lost no time in finding the company to which they belonged. They +joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout of the +rebel force.</p> +<p>The position of the enemy’s lines did not permit them to +follow the advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon +given to fall back. At this juncture the regiment, which had been +constantly engaged for several hours, was relieved; and not too +early in the day, for the men were completely exhausted by the +furious onslaughts they had made.</p> +<p>“Who were those men in the bushes on the flank of the +rebel regiment?” demanded the colonel, as he reined up his +jaded horse in front of Company K.</p> +<p>“Sergeant Somers and others,” replied Captain +Benson.</p> +<p>“Somers again!” exclaimed the colonel.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. They pursued the regiment into the +woods—the one that showed the flag of truce—till they +were separated from the rest of us.” “Forward, Sergeant +Somers,” added the colonel.</p> +<p>Tom modestly stepped forward, and he would have blushed if his +face had not been so reddened by his previous exertions as to leave +no room for a deepening of its tint.</p> +<p>“You did a big thing, Sergeant Somers. You broke that +rebel line by your steady fire. Sergeant Somers, I thank you and +the men you commanded for your good service.”</p> +<p>Tom bowed, and the regiment cheered. It was the proudest moment +of his life to be thanked on the field, while the guns were roaring +and the musketry rattling, for the good service he had rendered. It +would form an excellent paragraph for his letter to Lilian Ashford, +especially as he had more than once, in the perils of that exciting +hour, thought of the socks he wore, and of the letter and the +photograph which nestled in his breast pocket, and upon which his +quick throbbing heart was beating the notes of glory and +victory.</p> +<p>“We gave you up for lost,” said Captain Benson, as +Tom returned to the line.</p> +<p>“We are safe, thank God!” replied Tom, “though +three of our number fell in the woods, or on the field where we +were chased by the rebels.”</p> +<p>“Sergeant Somers saved us,” added uncle Hapgood. +“If he hadn’t been as cool as cowcumber, and as stiff +as the mainmast of a frigate, we should have been taken, every one +of us.”</p> +<p>“Bravo, Tom!” said the captain.</p> +<p>“The men stood by me like heroes, or it would have been +all up with the whole of us. They are good fellows, and they +deserve as much credit as I do.”</p> +<p>The battle continued to rage with increasing fury, till the +roar, and the crash, and the sweep of armed legions beggared +description. Regiments and brigades advanced and fell back with the +varying fortunes of the day, but as yet there was nothing to +indicate the final result.</p> +<p>When the men of our regiment had recovered their breath, an +order came for them to proceed to the left. On their arrival at the +position assigned to them, they were immediately led to the front, +where the batteries which had been pouring a hot fire into the +enemy were in imminent danger of being surrounded. Indeed, the +swoop of the rebel infantry upon the guns had already been made, +and the cannoneers had been driven from their stations. With the +colonel on the right, and the adjutant in command on the left, the +regiment charged upon the foe, as it had twice before charged on +that eventful day, with an enthusiasm bordering upon fury.</p> +<p>The rebels had even spiked one of the guns, and they maintained +their position with an obstinacy which promised the annihilation of +one or the other of the contending forces. A desperate strife +ensued, in which the least perceptible advantage was gained by the +Federals. But if they could do no more, they held the enemy in +check, till the gunners could charge their pieces with grape and +canister, which they poured into the rebels with the most deadly +effect.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted Tom, as the rebels quaked before +the withering storm of shot belched forth by the guns of the +battery. “They shake! Give it to them!”</p> +<p>“Steady, my men! steady,” said Captain Benson. +“The ammunition of the battery is expended,” he added, +as the cannon ceased their work of destruction. “We must hold +these pieces, and every man must do his duty.”</p> +<p>“Ay, ay, sir!” replied Tom, vigorously, and the cry +was repeated through the company.</p> +<p>As soon as the guns were thus rendered useless, the enemy swept +down upon the supports again, intent upon capturing the pieces. +They advanced with that terrific yell which is enough of itself to +frighten a nervous man, and with an impetuosity which nothing human +could resist. Our regiment recoiled under the shock; but it was +forced back by the sheer stress of numbers.</p> +<p>“Rally men! Rally, my brave fellows!” shouted the +adjutant, in command of the left wing.</p> +<p>“Stand stiff! Roll them back!” roared the +colonel.</p> +<p>“Steady, men!” added Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“Now, give it to them!” screamed Tom, as he plunged +his bayonet into the vitals of the rebel in front of him, and +pushed forward into the very midst of the foe.</p> +<p>The sergeant seemed suddenly to be endowed with the strength of +a giant, and he held his own till Hapgood sprang to his assistance. +The rest of the line, inspired by this daring conduct, rushed +forward, and fell upon the foe with a fury that could not be +resisted.</p> +<p>“Bravo! Bravo, Tom!” shouted the captain. “Go +in, boys!” roared the lieutenant.</p> +<p>And the boys “went in,” and forced back the rebel +line, and held the guns until another battery with a supply of +ammunition arrived upon the ground to relieve them. The enemy was +again repulsed, and the guns were saved by the unflinching heroism +of our gallant Massachusetts regiment—another paragraph for +the letter to Lilian Ashford.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_31" name="Ch_31">Chapter XXXI.</a></h3> +<h2>Glory and Victory.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The battle now raged more fiercely than ever, and hotter and +hotter became the fire on every side. The shouts of the enemy +indicated the arrival of reënforcements. +“Johnston!” “Long-street!” resounded over +the field, and roused the rebels to renewed activity. More +certainly was the increase of the enemy’s force determined by +the gradual falling back of the brigade at the left of the road; +but the men fought with desperate courage, and yielded not a foot +of ground without enriching it with their best blood.</p> +<p>There were no signs of reënforcements for over exhausted +troops, though a whole corps was within hearing of the booming guns +that were slaughtering our outnumbered and exhausted brigades. On +the field the aspect began to be dark and unpromising, and Tom +prayed with all his soul that he might be spared the pain of +beholding another defeat, another rout.</p> +<p>Our regiment was ordered to the support of the yielding brigade +on the left. The woods were full of rebels, and the issue of the +conflict in this part of the field was almost hopeless. The enemy +seemed to be inspired by the slight advantage they had gained, and +their yells were fiercer and more diabolical than ever, as they +gathered themselves up for a desperate onslaught.</p> +<p>The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to +waver upon a balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, +and the Union force fell back a little, but only a little, and +doggedly resisted the advance of the foe. It needed but little to +restore the equilibrium, and our regiment, after struggling through +the mud with all attainable speed, arrived upon the spot when the +prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause.</p> +<p>The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had +all day long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the +physical exertion required of them. But the battle was going +against the North, and they were ready again to make a desperate +effort to redeem the field.</p> +<p>“One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel,” +said General Hooker, as the weary soldiers moved up to the +endangered position.</p> +<p>“You shall have it, general. My men are always ready, +though they are nearly used up.”</p> +<p>“Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out +a few minutes longer, all will be well with us.”</p> +<p>“We’ll drive them back, general!” shouted the +colonel.</p> +<p>“Go in, then!” added the gallant Hooker, waving his +sword to encourage the soldiers. “Forward! You have no time +to lose!”</p> +<p>The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of +the work before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all +day, and Massachusetts would be proud of them. A ringing cheer was +the reply to the stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were +given for the advance.</p> +<p>On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated +themselves upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up +their temporary advantage. The point of attack was all in their +favor, and their exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe +kindled up the expiring enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose +assistance they had come. The shock was terrible—more fearful +and destructive than any which our boys had before experienced.</p> +<p>“Steady, my men!” shouted Captain Benson.</p> +<p>“Give it to them!” roared Tom, maddened to +desperation by the awful strife around him, and by seeing so many +of our men fall by his side.</p> +<p>“Stand up to it!” shouted the excited colonel. +“They run!”</p> +<p>At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of +Company K placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of +them, taking advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and +actually broke through the line, trampling some of our soldiers +beneath their feet, and transfixing them with their bayonets.</p> +<p>A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole +rebel regiment began to press into the weak place. The breach was +made by the side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by +the pressure of the rebel battalion.</p> +<p>“Close up!” yelled Tom. “Close up! Hail, +Columbia! and give it to them!”</p> +<p>Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after +the capture of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged +its six barrels into the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood +and Fred Pemberton, who were armed in like manner from the same +source, imitated the example of the sergeant.</p> +<p>“Now give them the bayonet, boys!” screamed Tom, +hoarsely, as he plunged into the midst of the rebels.</p> +<p>The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal +energy, and the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and +wounded rebels, and Federals, who had fallen in that sharp +encounter.</p> +<p>“Bravo!” shouted General Hooker, whose attention had +been drawn to the break in the line. “Bravo, sergeant! You +shall have a commission! Forward, my brave boys! Massachusetts sees +you!”</p> +<p>“Up and at them,” cried Tom, as the rebels began to +yield and break before the tremendous charge of our regiment.</p> +<p>The young sergeant’s throat was raw with the shouting he +had done, and his limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of +the day; but the words of the commander of the division made him +over new again, and his husky voice still rang along the line, full +of new courage and new energy to his exhausted comrades. The rebels +were driven back for the time, and fled before the iron masses that +crowded upon them.</p> +<p>The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost +decimated by the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, +were permitted to breathe once more.</p> +<p>“This is awful,” said the veteran of Company K, +panting from the violence of his exertions. “I never saw any +thing like this before.”</p> +<p>“Nor I,” replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with +exhaustion.</p> +<p>“I know something about this business. I thought Cerry +Gordy was consid’able of a battle, but ’twas +nothin’ like this.”</p> +<p>“It’s awful,” sighed Tom, as he thought of the +good fellows he had seen fall upon the field.</p> +<p>“Heaps of our boys have gone down!”</p> +<p>“Attention—battalion!” came ringing with +startling effect along the line, in the familiar tones of the +intrepid colonel.</p> +<p>“If we win the day, we can afford to lose many. Victory or +death!” shouted Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience +to the command. “More work for us!”</p> +<p>“How do you feel, Tom?” demanded the veteran, as +they sprang into the line.</p> +<p>“All right,” replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of +spirits.</p> +<p>“Are you sure, my boy?” continued the veteran, +gazing with deep anxiety into the face of the sergeant.</p> +<p>“I’m first rate, uncle. I think I can stand it as +long as any body else.”</p> +<p>“You have done wonders to-day, Tom. I’m proud of +you, but I’m afeared you are doing too much. If you are used +up, it wouldn’t be any disgrace for you to go to the rear. +After what you’ve done, nobody will say a word. Don’t +kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear.”</p> +<p>“I go to the rear!” exclaimed Tom, with +indignation.</p> +<p>“If you are disabled, I mean, of course,” apologized +the veteran.</p> +<p>“I’m not disabled. If I go to the rear with these +socks on, it won’t be till after the breath has left my +body.”</p> +<p>“Socks!” replied Hapgood, with a sneer. +“I’m afeared that gal will be the death of +you.”</p> +<p>“I don’t sulk in these socks,” replied Tom, +with a faint smile, as the regiment moved off on the double quick +to some new position of peril.</p> +<p>“The rebels are flanking us!” shouted an officer in +another command, as our regiment hurried forward to the endangered +point.</p> +<p>“That’s what we are wanted for,” said +Hapgood.</p> +<p>The enemy had nearly accomplished their purpose when our gallant +colonel and his jaded force reached the left of the line, and in a +few moments more would have poured a flanking fire into our devoted +battalions, which were struggling with terrible energy to roll back +the pressure in front of them.</p> +<p>The colonel had his men well in hand, and he manoeuvred them +with consummate skill, so as to bring them advantageously to the +work they were to perform. The regiment was hurled against the head +of the flanking column, and the boys rushed forward with that dash +and spirit which had characterized their conduct half a score of +times before in various parts of the field.</p> +<p>Tom’s muscles had become loose and soft after the long +continued strain upon them, and if his soul had not been ten times +as big as his body, he must have sunk under the exhaustion of the +day. Another desperate onslaught was required of the men of our +regiment, and commanding all his energies, Tom braced himself up +once more for the fearful struggle.</p> +<p>“How do you feel now, Tom?” demanded the anxious +veteran, as he bit off the cartridge, and rammed it home.</p> +<p>“First rate, uncle!” replied Tom, as the regiment +poured a withering volley into the rebel line.</p> +<p>“For Heaven’s sake, Tom, don’t kill +yourself,” added the old man, as they loaded up again. +“Your knees shake under you now.”</p> +<p>“Do you think I’m afraid, uncle?” demanded the +sergeant with a grim smile.</p> +<p>“No, no, Tom; of course I don’t think any thing of +the kind. I’m afeared you’ll bust a blood-vessel, or +something of that sort.”</p> +<p>“If I do, I’ll let you know, uncle.”</p> +<p>“Charge bayonets! Double quick—march!” rang +along the line.</p> +<p>“Have at them!” cried Tom, who was always the first +to catch the orders of the commanding officer. “Down with +them! Give ’em Yankee Doodle, Hail, Columbia, and the Red, +White, and Blue.”</p> +<p>The advancing column, shaken by the furious fire of our +regiment, recoiled before the shock. Slowly the foe fell back, +leaving heaps of their slain upon the hotly-contested ground. Our +boys halted, and poured in another destructive volley.</p> +<p>The Confederate officers rallied their men, and, maddened by the +check they had received, drove them forward to recover the lost +ground.</p> +<p>“Once more, boys! Give it to ’em again,” cried +Tom, as the order to advance was repeated.</p> +<p>His words were only representations of his actions; for, as he +spoke, he rushed on a little in front of his comrades, who, +however, pressed forward to keep up with him. He did not exceed the +orders of his superior, but he was one of the promptest to obey +them. On dashed the regiment, and again the rebel line recoiled, +and soon broke in spite of the admirable efforts of their officers +to keep them steady.</p> +<p>“Kearney! Kearney! Kearney is here!” shouted the +weary heroes in various parts of the field.</p> +<p>“Down with them!” roared Tom, as the inspiring words +rang in his ears. “Down with them! Kearney has come, and the +day is ours!”</p> +<p>He had scarcely uttered the words, and sprung forward, before he +was seen to drop upon the ground, several paces in front of the +line, though the undaunted old Hapgood was close by his side. The +enemy had fled; the danger of being flanked was averted; and when +Kearney’s men dashed on the field, the sad-hearted veteran, +assisted by Fred Pemberton, bore the silent form of the gallant +sergeant to the rear.</p> +<p>Kearney and Hancock rushed gallantly to the rescue of the +exhausted troops, and Hooker’s division was ordered to the +rear to act as a reserve. The strife raged with unabated fury as +those who had borne the brunt of the battle slowly fell back to +give place to the fresh legions.</p> +<p>Poor Tom was tenderly carried by the wiry veteran and his +friends to the surgeon’s quarters in the rear. There were +tears in the eyes of the old man as he laid the silent form of his +<em>protégé</em> upon the wet ground. There he sat by +his charge, sorrowful beyond expression, till tremendous shouts +rent the air. Tom opened his eyes.</p> +<p>“Glory and Victory!” shouted he, in husky tones, as +he sprang to his feet.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_32" name="Ch_32">Chapter XXXII.</a></h3> +<h2>Honorable Mention.</h2> +<p>The surgeon examined Tom’s wound, and found that he had +been struck by a bullet over the left temple. The flesh was torn +off, and if the skull was not fractured, it had received a +tremendous hard shock. It was probably done at the instant when he +turned to rally the men of Company K, and the ball glanced under +the visor of his cap, close enough to scrape upon his skull, but +far enough off to save his brains. Half an inch closer, and the +bullet would have wound up Tom’s earthly career.</p> +<p>The shock had stunned him, and he had dropped like a dead man, +while the profusion of blood that came from the wound covered his +face, and his friends could not tell whether he was killed or not. +He was a pitiable object as he lay on the ground by the +surgeon’s quarters; but the veteran soon assured himself that +his young charge was not dead.</p> +<p>Hapgood washed the gore from his face, and did what he could in +his unscientific manner; and probably the cold water had a salutary +effect upon the patient, for when Hancock and Kearney had completed +their work, and the cry of victory rang over the bloody field, he +was sufficiently revived to hear the inspiring tones of triumph. +Leaping to his feet, faint and sick as he was, he took up the cry, +and shouted in unison with the victors upon the field.</p> +<p>But he had scarcely uttered the notes of glory and victory +before his strength deserted him, and he would have dropped upon +the ground if he had not been caught by Hapgood. He groaned heavily +as he sank into the arms of his friend, and yielded to the +faintness and exhaustion of the moment.</p> +<p>The surgeon said the wound was not a very bad one, but that the +patient was completely worn out by the excessive fatigues of march +and battle. In due time he was conveyed to the college building in +Williamsburg, where hundreds of his companions in arms were +suffering and dying of their wounds. He received every attention +which the circumstances would permit. Hapgood, by sundry vigorous +applications at headquarters, was, in consideration of his own and +his <em>protégé’s</em> good conduct on the +battle field, permitted to remain with the patient over night.</p> +<p>The sergeant’s skull, as we have before intimated, was not +very badly damaged, as physical injuries were measured after the +bloody battle of that day. But his wound was not the only detriment +he had experienced in the trying ordeal of that terrible day. His +constitution had not yet been fully developed; his muscles were not +hardened, and the fatigues of battle and march had a more serious +effect upon him than the ounce of lead which had struck him on the +forehead.</p> +<p>The surgeon understood his case perfectly, and after dressing +his wound, he administered some simple restoratives, and ordered +the patient to go to sleep. On the night of the 3d of May, he had +been on guard duty; on that of the 4th, he had obtained but three +hours’ sleep; and thus deprived of the rest which a growing +boy needs, he had passed through the fearful scenes of the battle, +in which his energies, mental and physical, had been tasked to +their utmost. He was completely worn out, and in spite of the +surroundings of the hospital, he went to sleep, obeying to the +letter the orders of the surgeon.</p> +<p>After twelve hours of almost uninterrupted slumber, Tom’s +condition was very materially improved, and when the doctor went +his morning round, our sergeant buoyantly proposed to join his +regiment forthwith.</p> +<p>“Not yet, my boy,” said the surgeon, kindly. +“I shall not permit you to do duty for at least thirty days +to come,” he added, as he felt the patient’s pulse.</p> +<p>“I feel pretty well, sir,” replied Tom.</p> +<p>“No, you don’t. Your regiment will remain here, I +learn, for a few days, and you must keep quiet, or you will have a +fever.”</p> +<p>“I don’t feel sick, and my head doesn’t pain +me a bit.”</p> +<p>“That may be, but you are not fit for duty. You did too +much yesterday. They say you behaved like a hero, on the +field.”</p> +<p>“I tried to do my duty,” replied Tom, his pale cheek +suffused with a blush.</p> +<p>“Boys like you can’t stand much of such work as +that. We must fix you up for the next battle; and you shall go into +Richmond with the rest of the boys.”</p> +<p>“Must I stay in here all the time?”</p> +<p>“No, you may go where you please. I will give you a +certificate which will keep you safe from harm. You can walk about, +and visit your regiment if you wish.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, doctor.”</p> +<p>Hapgood had been compelled to leave the hospital before his +patient waked, and Tom had not yet learned any thing in regard to +the casualties of the battle. Armed with the surgeon’s +certificate, he left the hospital, and walked to the place where +the steward told him he would find his regiment. Somewhat to his +astonishment he found that he was very weak; and before he had +accomplished half the distance to the camp, he came to the +conclusion that he was in no condition to carry a knapsack and a +musket on a long march. But after resting himself for a short time, +he succeeded in reaching his friends.</p> +<p>He was warmly received by his companions, and the veteran of the +company had nearly hugged him in his joy and admiration.</p> +<p>“Honorable mention, Tom,” said Hapgood. “You +will be promoted as true as you live.”</p> +<p>“O, I guess not,” replied Tom, modestly. “I +didn’t do any more than any body else. At any rate, you were +close by my side, uncle.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but I followed, and you led. The commander of the +division says you shall be a lieutenant. He said so on the field, +and the colonel said so to-day.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think I deserve it.”</p> +<p>“I do; and if you don’t get a commission, then there +ain’t no justice left in the land. I tell you, Tom, you shall +be a brigadier if the war lasts only one year more.”</p> +<p>“O, nonsense, uncle!”</p> +<p>“Well, if you ain’t, you ought to be.”</p> +<p>“I’m lucky to get out alive. Whom have we lost, +uncle?”</p> +<p>“A good many fine fellows.” replied Hapgood, shaking +his head, sadly.</p> +<p>“Poor Ben dropped early in the day.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I was afraid he’d got most to the end of his +chapter afore we went in. Poor fellow! I’m sorry for him, and +sorry for his folks.”</p> +<p>“Fred Pemberton said he should be killed, and Ben said he +should not, you remember.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and that shows how little we know about these +things.”</p> +<p>“Bob Dornton was killed, too.”</p> +<p>“No, he’s badly hurt, but the surgeon thinks he will +git over it. The cap’n was slightly wounded.” And +Hapgood mentioned the names of those in the company who had been +killed or wounded, or were missing.</p> +<p>“It was an awful day,” sighed Tom, when the old man +had finished the list. “There will be sad hearts in +Pinchbrook when the news gets there.”</p> +<p>“So there will, Tom; but we gained the day. We did +something handsome for ‘Old Glory,’ and I s’pose +it’s all right.”</p> +<p>“I would rather have been killed than lost the +battle.”</p> +<p>“So would I; and betwixt you and me, Tom, you didn’t +come very fur from losing your number in the mess,” added the +veteran, as he thrust his little fingers into a bullet hole in the +breast of Tom’s coat. “That was rather a close +shave.”</p> +<p>“I felt that one, but I hadn’t time to think about +it then, for it was just as we were repelling that flank +movement,” replied Tom, as he unbuttoned his coat, and thrust +his hand into his breast pocket. “Do you suppose she will +give me another?” he added, as he drew forth the envelope +which contained the letter and the photograph of the author of his +socks.</p> +<p>A minie ball had found its way through the envelope, grinding a +furrow through the picture, transversely, carrying away the chin +and throat of the young lady. The letter was mangled and minced up +beyond restoration. Tom had discovered the catastrophe when he +waked up in the hospital, for his last thought at night, and his +first in the morning, had been the beautiful Lilian Ashford. He was +sad when he first beheld the wreck; but when he thought what a +glorious assurance this would be of his conduct on the field, he +was pleased with the idea; and while in his heart he thanked the +rebel marksman for not putting the bullet any nearer to the vital +organ beneath the envelope, he was not ungrateful for the splendid +testimonial he had given him of his position during the battle.</p> +<p>“Of course she’ll give you another. Won’t she +be proud of that picture when she gets it back?”</p> +<p>“If I had been a coward, I couldn’t have run away +with those socks on my feet.”</p> +<p>Tom remained with the regiment several hours, and then, in +obedience to the surgeon’s orders, returned to the hospital, +where he wrote a letter to his father, containing a short account +of the battle, and another to Lilian Ashford, setting forth the +accident which had happened to the picture, and begging her to send +him another.</p> +<p>I am afraid in this last letter Tom indulged in some moonshiny +nonsense; but we are willing to excuse him for saying that the +thought of the beautiful original of the photograph and the +beautiful author of his socks had inspired him with courage on the +battle field, and enabled him faithfully to perform his duty, to +the honor and glory of the flag beneath whose starry folds he had +fought, bled, and conquered, and so forth. It would not be +unnatural in a young man of eighteen to express as much as this, +and, we are not sure that he said any more.</p> +<p>The next day Tom was down with a slow fever, induced by fatigue +and over-exertion. He lay upon his cot for a fortnight, before he +was able to go out again; but he was frequently visited by Hapgood +and other friends in the regiment. About the middle of the month, +the brigade moved on, and Tom was sad at the thought of lying idle, +while the glorious work of the army was waiting for true and tried +men.</p> +<p>Tom received “honorable mention” in the report of +the colonel, and his recommendation, supported by that of the +general of the division, brought to the hospital his commission as +second lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Here’s medicine for you,” said the chaplain, +as he handed the patient a ponderous envelope.</p> +<p>“What is it, sir?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, but it has an official +look.”</p> +<p>The sergeant opened it, and read the commission, duly signed by +the governor of Massachusetts, and countersigned and sealed in +proper form. Tom was astounded at the purport of the document. He +could hardly believe his senses; but it read all right, and dated +from the day of the battle in which he had distinguished himself. +This was glory enough, and it took Tom forty-eight hours thoroughly +to digest the contents of the envelope.</p> +<p><em>Lieutenant Somers</em>! The words had a queer sound, and he +could not realize that he was a commissioned officer. But he came +to a better understanding of the subject the next day, when a +letter from Lilian Ashford was placed in his hands. It was actually +addressed to “Lieutenant Thomas Somers.” She had read +of his gallant conduct and of his promotion on the battle field in +the newspapers. She sent him two photographs of herself, and a +sweet little letter, begging him to return the photograph which had +been damaged by a rebel bullet.</p> +<p>Of course Tom complied with this natural request; but, as the +surgeon thought his patient would improve faster at home than in +the hospital, he had procured a furlough of thirty days for him, +and the lieutenant decided to present the photograph in person.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_33" name="Ch_33">Chapter XXXIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Lieutenant Somers and Others.</h2> +<p>Tom Somers had been absent from home nearly a year; and much as +his heart was in the work of putting down the rebellion, he was +delighted with the thought of visiting, even for a brief period, +the loved ones who thought of and prayed for him in the little +cottage in Pinchbrook. I am not quite sure that the well-merited +promotion he had just received did not have some influence upon +him, for it would not have been unnatural for a young man of +eighteen, who had won his shoulder-straps by hard fighting on a +bloody field, to feel some pride in the laurels he had earned. Not +that Tom was proud or vain; but he was moved by a lofty and noble +ambition. It is quite likely he wondered what the people of +Pinchbrook would say when he appeared there with the straps upon +his shoulders.</p> +<p>Of course he thought what his father would say, what his mother +would say, and he could see the wrinkled face of gran’ther +Greene expand into a genial smile of commendation. It is quite +possible that he had even more interest in his reception at No +—— Rutland Street, when he should present himself to +the author and finisher of those marvellous socks, which had +wielded such an immense influence upon their wearer in camp and on +the field. Perhaps it was a weakness on the part of the soldier +boy, but we are compelled to record the fact that he had faithfully +conned his speech for that interesting occasion. He had supposed +every thing she would say, and carefully prepared a suitable reply +to each remark, adorned with all the graces of rhetoric within his +reach.</p> +<p>With the furlough in his pocket, Tom obtained his order for +transportation, and with a light heart, full of pleasant +anticipations, started for home. As he was still dressed in the +faded and shattered uniform of a non-commissioned officer, he did +not attract any particular notice on the way. He was enabled to +pass through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, without being +bored by a public reception, which some less deserving heroes have +not been permitted to escape. But the people did not understand +that Tom had a second lieutenant’s commission in his pocket, +and he was too modest to proclaim the fact, which may be the reason +why he was suffered to pass through these great emporiums of trade +without an escort, or other demonstration of respect and +admiration.</p> +<p>Tom’s heart jumped with strange emotions when he arrived +at Boston, perhaps because he was within a few miles of home; +possibly because he was in the city that contained Lilian Ashford, +for boys will be silly in spite of all the exertions of parents, +guardians, and teachers, to make them sober and sensible. Such +absurdities as “the air she breathes,” and other +rhapsodies of that sort, may have flitted through his mind; but we +are positive that Tom did not give voice to any such nonsense, for +every body in the city was a total stranger to him, so far as he +knew. Besides, Tom had no notion of appearing before the original +of the photograph in the rusty uniform he wore; and as he had to +wait an hour for the Pinchbrook train, he hastened to a +tailor’s to order a suit of clothes which would be +appropriate to his new dignity.</p> +<p>He ordered them, was duly measured and had given the tailor his +promise to call for the garments at the expiration of five days, +when the man of shears disturbed the serene current of his +meditations by suggesting that the lieutenant should pay one half +of the price of the suit in advance.</p> +<p>“It is a custom we adopt in all our dealings with +strangers,” politely added the tailor.</p> +<p>“But I don’t propose to take the uniform away until +it is paid for,” said Tom, blushing with mortification; for +it so happened that he had not money enough to meet the demand of +the tailor.</p> +<p>“Certainly not,” blandly replied Shears; “but +we cannot make up the goods with the risk of not disposing of them. +They may not fit the next man who wants such a suit.”</p> +<p>“I have not the money, sir;” and Tom felt that the +confession was an awful sacrifice of dignity on the part of an +officer in the army of the Potomac, who had fought gallantly for +his country on the bloody fields of Williamsburg and Bull Run.</p> +<p>“I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the +goods, but you will see that our rule is a reasonable +one.”</p> +<p>Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a +suitable return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he +had endured for him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the +flattering request of the tailor that he would call again. With his +pride touched, he walked down to the railroad station to await the +departure of the train. He had hardly entered the building before +he discovered the familiar form of Captain Barney, to whom he +hastened to present himself.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom, my hearty!” roared the old sea captain, +as he grasped and wrung his hand. “I’m glad to see you. +Shiver my mainmast, but you’ve grown a foot since you went +away. But you don’t look well, Tom.”</p> +<p>“I’m not very well, sir; but I’m improving +very rapidly.”</p> +<p>“How’s your wound?”</p> +<p>“O, that’s almost well.”</p> +<p>“Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you,” said +Captain Barney, as he led the soldier boy to a seat.</p> +<p>In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of +Williamsburg, and the old sailor had communicated all the news from +Pinchbrook.</p> +<p>“Tom, you’re a lieutenant now, but you haven’t +got on your uniform,” continued Captain Barney.</p> +<p>“No, sir,” replied Tom, laughing. “I went into +a store to order one, and they wouldn’t trust me.”</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t trust <em>you</em>, Tom!” exclaimed +the captain. “Show me the place, and I’ll smash in +their deadlights.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know as I blame them. I was a stranger to +them.”</p> +<p>“But, Tom, you mustn’t go home without a uniform. +Come with me, and you shall be fitted out at once. I’m proud +of you, Tom. You are one of my boys, and I want you to go into +Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your colors flying.”</p> +<p>“We haven’t time now; the train leaves in a few +moments.”</p> +<p>“There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, +and don’t know you’re coming; so they can afford to +wait.”</p> +<p>Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted him to several +stores before he could find a ready-made uniform that would fit +him; but at last they found one which had been made to order for an +officer who was too sick to use it at present. It was an excellent +fit, and the young lieutenant was soon arrayed in the garments, +with the symbolic straps on his shoulder.</p> +<p>“Bravo, Tom! You look like a new man. There isn’t a +better looking officer in the service.”</p> +<p>Very likely the subject of this remark thought so too, as he +surveyed himself in the full-length mirror. The old uniform, with +two bullet-holes in the breast of the coat, was done up in a bundle +and sent to the express office, to be forwarded to Pinchbrook. +Captain Barney then walked with him to a military furnishing store, +where a cap, sword, belt, and sash, were purchased. For some reason +which he did not explain, the captain retained the sword himself, +but Tom was duly invested with the other accoutrements.</p> +<p>Our hero felt “pretty good,” as he walked down to +the station with his friend; but he looked splendidly in his new +outfit, and we are willing to excuse certain impressible young +ladies, who cast an admiring glance at him as he passed down the +street. It was not Tom’s fault that he was a handsome young +man; and he was not responsible for the conduct of those who chose +to look at him.</p> +<p>With a heart beating with wild emotion, Tom stepped out of the +cars at Pinchbrook. Here he was compelled to undergo the penalty of +greatness. His friends cheered him, and shook his hand till his arm +ached.</p> +<p>Captain Barney’s wagon was at the station, and before +going to his own home, he drove Tom to the little cottage of his +father. I cannot describe the emotions of the returned soldier when +the horse stopped at the garden gate. Leaping from the vehicle, he +rushed into the house, and bolted into the kitchen, even before the +family had seen the horse at the front gate.</p> +<p>“How d’ye do, mother?” cried Tom, as he threw +himself pell-mell into the arms of Mrs. Somers.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom!” almost screamed she, as she returned his +embrace. “How <em>do</em> you do?”</p> +<p>“Pretty well, mother. How do you do, father?”</p> +<p>“Glad to see you,” replied Captain Somers, as he +seized his son’s hand.</p> +<p>“Bless my soul, Tom!” squeaked gran’ther +Greene, shaking in every fibre of his frame from the combined +influence of rhapsody and rheumatism.</p> +<p>Tom threw both arms around Jenny’s neck, and kissed her +half a dozen times with a concussion like that of a battery of +light artillery.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom! I never thought nothin’ of seein’ +you!” exclaimed Mrs. Somers. “I thought you was sick in +the hospital.”</p> +<p>“I am better now, and home for thirty days.”</p> +<p>“And got your new rig on,” added his father.</p> +<p>“Captain Barney wouldn’t let me come home without my +shoulder-straps. I met him in the city. He paid the +bills.”</p> +<p>“I’ll make it all right with him.”</p> +<p>“I’ll pay for it by and by. You know I have over a +hundred dollars a month now.”</p> +<p>“Gracious me!” ejaculated Mrs. Somers, as she gazed +with admiration upon the new and elegant uniform which covered the +fine form of her darling boy.</p> +<p>Presently Captain Barney came into the house, and for two hours +Tom fought his battles over again, to the great satisfaction of his +partial auditors. The day passed off amid the mutual rejoicings of +the parties; and the pleasure of the occasion was only marred by +the thought, on the mother’s part, that her son must soon +return to the scene of strife.</p> +<p>The soldier boy—we beg his pardon; Lieutenant +Somers—hardly went out of the house until after dinner on the +following day, when he took a walk down to the harbor, where he was +warmly greeted by all his friends. Even Squire Pemberton seemed +kindly disposed towards him, and asked him many questions in regard +to Fred. Before he went home, he was not a little startled to +receive an invitation to meet some of his friends in the town hall +in the evening, which it was impossible for him to decline.</p> +<p>At the appointed hour, he appeared at the hall, which was filled +with people. The lieutenant did not know what to make of it, and +trembled before his friends as he had never done before the enemies +of his country. He was cheered lustily by the men, and the women +waved their handkerchiefs, as though he had been a general of +division. But his confusion reached the climax when Captain Barney +led him upon the platform, and Mr. Boltwood, a young lawyer +resident in Pinchbrook, proceeded to address him in highly +complimentary terms, reviewing his career at Bull Run, on the +Shenandoah, on the Potomac, to its culmination at Williamsburg, and +concluded by presenting him the sword which the captain had +purchased, in behalf of his friends and admirers in his native +town.</p> +<p>Fortunately for Tom, the speech was long, as he was enabled in +some measure to recover his self-possession. In trembling tones he +thanked the donors for their gift, and promised to use it in +defence of his country as long as a drop of blood was left in his +veins—highly poetical, but it required strong terms to +express our hero’s enthusiasm—whereat the men and boys +applauded most vehemently, and the ladies flourished their cambrics +with the most commendable zeal. Tom bowed—bowed +again—and kept bowing, just as he had seen General McClellan +bow when he was cheered by the troops. As the people would not stop +applauding, Tom, his face all aglow with joy and confusion, +descended from the platform, and took his seat by the side of his +mother.</p> +<p>The magnates of Pinchbrook then made speeches—except +Squire Pemberton—about the war, patriotism, gunpowder, and +eleven-inch shot and shells. Every body thought it was “a big +thing,” and went home to talk about it for the next week. +Tom’s father, and mother, and sister, and gran’ther +Greene, said ever so many pretty things, and every body was as +happy as happy could be, except that John was not at home to share +in the festivities. Letters occasionally came from the sailor boy, +and they went to him from the soldier boy.</p> +<p>Mrs. Somers was not a little surprised, the next day, to hear +her son announce his intention to take the first train for the +city; but Tom could not postpone his visit to No —— +Rutland Street any longer, for he was afraid his uniform would lose +its gloss, and the shoulder-straps their dazzling brilliancy.</p> +<p>Tom’s courage had nearly forsaken him when he desperately +rang the bell at the home of Lilian Ashford; and he almost hoped +the servant would inform him that she was not at home. Lilian was +at home, and quaking like a condemned criminal before the gallows, +he was ushered into the presence of the author of his socks.</p> +<p>Stammering out his name he drew from his pocket the battered +photograph and the shattered letter, and proceeded at once to +business. Lilian Ashford blushed, and Tom blushed—that is to +say, they both blushed. When he had presented his relics, he +ventured to look in her face. The living Lilian was even more +beautiful than the Lilian of the photograph.</p> +<p>“Dear me! So you are the soldier that wore the socks I +knit,” said Lilian; and our hero thought it was the sweetest +voice he ever heard.</p> +<p>“I am, Miss Ashford, and I did not run away in them +either.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad you did not,” added she, with a +musical laugh, which made Tom think of the melody of the spheres, +or some such nonsense.</p> +<p>“I have to thank you for my promotion,” said Tom, +boldly.</p> +<p>“Thank me!” exclaimed she, her fair blue eyes +dilating with astonishment.</p> +<p>“The socks inspired me with courage and fortitude,” +replied Tom, in exact accordance with the programme he had laid +down for the occasion. “I am sure the thought of her who knit +them, the beautiful letter, and the more beautiful photograph, +enabled me to do that which won my promotion.”</p> +<p>“Well, I declare!” shouted Lilian, in a kind of +silvery scream.</p> +<p>Bravo, Tom! you are getting along swimmingly. And he said sundry +other smart things which we have not room to record. He stayed half +an hour, and Lilian begged him to call again, and see her +grandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course he promised to +come, promised to bring his photograph, promised to write to her +when he returned to the army—and I don’t know what he +did not promise, and I hardly think he knew himself.</p> +<p>But the brief dream ended, and Tom went home to Pinchbrook, +after he had sat for his picture. The careless fellow left +Lilian’s photograph on the table in his chamber a few days +after, and his mother wanted to know whose it was; and the whole +story came out, and Tom was laughed at, and Jenny made fun of him, +and Captain Barney told him he was a match for the finest girl in +the country. The lieutenant blushed like a boy, but rather enjoyed +the whole thing.</p> +<p>A sad day came at last, and Tom went back to the army. He went +full of hope, and the blessing of the loved ones went with him. He +was received with enthusiasm by his old companions in arms, and +Hapgood—then a sergeant—still declared that he would be +a brigadier in due time,—or, if he was not, he ought to be. +His subsequent career, if not always as fortunate as that portion +which we have recorded, was unstained by cowardice or vice.</p> +<h2>FINIS.</h2> +<hr class="full" /> +<h3>Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our +Publications</h3> +<ol> +<li> +<p>You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the +best standard books published, at prices less than offered by +others.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will find listed in our catalogue books on every topic: +Poetry, Fiction, Romance, Travel, Adventure, Humor, Science, +History, Religion, Biography, Drama, etc., besides Dictionaries and +Manuals, Bibles, Recitation and Hand Books, Sets, Octavos, +Presentation Books and Juvenile and Nursery Literature in immense +variety.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will be able to purchase books at prices within your reach; +as low as 10 cents for paper covered books, to $5.00 for books +bound in cloth or leather, adaptable for gift and presentation +purposes, to suit the tastes of the most critical.</p> +</li> +<li> +<p>You will save considerable money by taking advantage of our +SPECIAL DISCOUNTS, which we offer to those whose purchases are +large enough to warrant us in making a reduction.</p> +</li> +</ol> +<p class="cen"><em>A postal to us will place it in your +hands</em></p> +<p class="cen">HURST & CO., <em>Publishers</em>,<br /> +395, 397, 399 Broadway, New York.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<h3>The Famous Alger Books</h3> +<h4>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</h4> +<h4>The Boy’s Writer</h4> +<p>A series of books known to all boys; books that are good and +wholesome, with enough “ginger” in them to suit the +tastes of the younger generation. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army + A Story of the Great Rebellion + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: January 4, 2005 [EBook #14595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOLDIER BOY *** + + + + +Produced by Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE SOLDIER BOY + +OR + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY + +A Story of the Great Rebellion + + +BY + + +OLIVER OPTIC + + + +AUTHOR OF "RICH AND HUMBLE," "ALL ABOARD," "LITTLE BY LITTLE," ETC., ETC. + + +NEW YORK +HURST & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + + + + +TO + +William Lee, Esq. + +THIS BOOK + +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED + +BY HIS FRIEND + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This volume is not altogether a military romance, though it contains the +adventures of one of those noble-hearted and patriotic young men who went +forth from homes of plenty and happiness to fight the battles of our +imperilled country. The incidents of the story may be stirring and +exciting; yet they are not only within the bounds of probability, but have +been more than paralleled in the experience of hundreds of the gallant +soldiers of the loyal army. + +The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a history, though the +writer has carefully consulted the "authorities," both loyal and rebel, +and has taken down the living words of enthusiastic participants in the +stirring scenes described in this volume. He has not attempted to give a +full picture of any battle, or other army operation, but simply of those +movements in which the hero took a part. The book is a narrative of +personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth of a pure patriotism +in the soul of the hero, and describing the perils and privations, the +battles and marches which he shared with thousands of brave men in the +army of the Potomac. + +The author has endeavored to paint a picture of the true soldier, one who +loves his country, and fights for her because he loves her; but, at the +same time, one who is true to himself and his God, while he is faithful to +his patriotic impulses. + +The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and I hope it will +not disappoint the reasonable expectation of those partial friends whose +smile is my joy, whose frown is my grief. But, more than all, I trust this +humble volume will have some small influence in kindling and cherishing +that genuine patriotism which must ever be the salvation of our land, the +foundation of our national prosperity and happiness. + +WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + +DORCHESTER, Feb. 22, 1864. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER + + I. The Battle of Pinchbrook + II. The Somers Family + III. Taming a Traitor + IV. The Committee come out, and Tom goes in + V. The Attic Chamber + VI. The Way is Prepared + VII. A Midnight Adventure + VIII. Signing the Papers + IX. The Departure + X. Company K + XI. In Washington + XII. On to Richmond + XIII. The Battle of Bull Run + XIV. After the Battle + XV. Tom a Prisoner + XVI. A Perplexing Question + XVII. Dinner and Danger + XVIII. The Rebel Soldier + XIX. Through the Gap + XX. Down the Shenandoah + XXI. The Problem of Rations + XXII. The Picket Guard + XXIII. The End of the Voyage + XXIV. Budd's Ferry + XXV. In the Hospital + XXVI. Tom is Sentimental + XXVII. The Confederate Deserter + XXVIII. On the Peninsula + XXIX. The Battle of Williamsburg + XXX. More of the Battle + XXXI. Glory and Victory + XXXII. "Honorable Mention" + XXXIII. Lieutenant Somers and Others + + + + +THE SOLDIER BOY; + +OR, + +TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BATTLE OF PINCHBROOK. + + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, mother!" shouted Thomas Somers, as he rushed +into the room where his mother was quietly reading her Bible. + +It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been circulated about the usually +quiet village of Pinchbrook Harbor. Men's lips were compressed, and their +teeth shut tight together. They were indignant, for traitors had fired +upon the flag of the United States. Men, women, and children were roused +by the indignity offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that +struck the walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to strike the souls of +the whole population of the North, and never was there such a great +awakening since the Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon the rock +of Plymouth. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered!" shouted the indignant young patriot again, +as his mother looked up from the blessed volume. + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as she closed the Bible, and +removed her spectacles. + +"Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away at the fort for two days, +and at last we had to give in." + +"There'll be terrible times afore long," replied the old lady, shaking her +head with prophetic earnestness. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and I tell +you there'll be music before long!" continued the youth, so excited that +he paced the room with rapid strides. + +"What's the matter, Thomas?" asked a feeble old gentleman, entering the +room at this moment. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran'ther," repeated Thomas, at the top of +his lungs, for the aged man was quite deaf; "and the President has called +for seventy-five thousand men to go down and fight the traitors." + +"Sho!" exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing with earnestness into +the face of the boy. + +"It's a fact, gran'ther." + +"Well, I'm too old to go," muttered gran'ther Greene; "but I wa'n't +older'n you are when I shouldered my firelock in 1812. I'm too old and +stiff to go now." + +"How old were you, gran'ther, when you went to the war?" asked Thomas, +with more moderation than he had exhibited before. + +"Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am now," replied the +patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously into the old-fashioned high-back +chair, by the side of the cooking stove. + +"Well, I'm sixteen, and I mean to go." + +"You, Thomas! You are crazy! You shan't do any thing of the kind," +interposed Mrs. Somers. "There's men enough to go to the war, without such +boys as you are." + +"You ain't quite stout enough to make a soldier, Thomas. You ain't so big +as I was, when I went off to York state," added gran'ther Greene. + +"I should like to go any how," said Thomas, as he seated himself in a +corner of the room, and began to think thoughts big enough for a +full-grown man. + +"Fort Sumter has surrendered," shouted John Somers, rushing into the house +as much excited as his brother had been. + +"We've heard all about it, John," replied his mother. + +"The President has called for seventy-five thousand men, and in my opinion +the rebels will get an awful licking before they are a fortnight older. I +should like to go and help do it." + +The exciting news was discussed among the members of the Somers family, as +it was in thousands of other families, on that eventful Sunday. Thomas and +John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, but Fort Sumter, and the +terrible castigation which the rebels would receive from the insulted and +outraged North. They were loyal even to enthusiasm; and when they retired +to their chamber at night, they ventured to express to each other their +desire to join the great army which was to avenge the insult offered to +the flag of the Union. + +They were twin brothers, sixteen years of age; but they both thought they +were old enough and strong enough to be soldiers. Their mother, however, +had promptly disapproved of such suggestions, and they had not deemed it +prudent to discuss the idea in her presence. + +On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was fanned to a fever +heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a glow of patriotism. Men neglected their +usual occupations, and talked of the affairs of the nation. Every person +who could procure a flag hung it out at his window, or hoisted it in his +yard, or on his house. The governor had called out a portion of the state +militia, and already the tramp of armed men was heard in the neighboring +city of Boston. + +Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the village, and during the +forenoon he mechanically performed the duties of his position; but he +could think of nothing but the exciting topic of the day. His blood was +boiling with indignation against those who had trailed our hallowed flag +in the dust. He wanted to do something to redeem the honor of his +country--something to wipe out the traitors who had dared to conspire +against her peace. On his way home to dinner, he met Fred Pemberton, who +lived only a short distance from his own house. + +"What do you think now, Fred?" said Thomas. + +"What do I think? I think just as I always did--the North is wrong, and +the South is right," replied Fred. + +"Who fired upon Fort Sumter? That's the question," said Thomas, his eyes +flashing with indignation. + +"Why didn't they give up the fort, then?" + +"Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in before the little State +of South Carolina. Not by a two chalks!" + +"I think the North has been teasing and vexing the South till the +Southerns can't stand it any longer. There'll be war now." + +"I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!" + +"I hope the South will beat!" + +"Do you? Do you, Fred Pemberton?" demanded Tom, so excited he could not +stand still. + +"Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we had let their niggers +alone, there wouldn't have been any trouble." + +"You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don't you see this isn't a quarrel +between the North and the South, but between the government and the +rebels?" + +"I don't see it. If the North had let the South alone, there wouldn't have +been any fuss. I hope the North will get whipped, and I know she will." + +"Fred, you are a traitor to your country!" + +"No, I'm not!" + +"Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I'd ride you on a rail out of town." + +"No, you wouldn't." + +"Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent fellow; but you are a +dirty, low-lived traitor." + +"Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers!" retorted the young +secessionist, angrily. + +"A fellow that won't stand by his country ain't fit to live. You are an +out-and-out traitor." + +"Don't call me that again, Tom Somers," replied Fred, doubling up his +fist. + +"I say you are a traitor." + +"Take that, then." + +Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow on the side of his head. +Perhaps it was fortunate for our young patriot that an opportunity was +thus afforded him to evaporate some of his enthusiasm in the cause of his +country, for there is no knowing what might have been the consequence if +it had remained longer pent up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and +a contest, on a small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the +treason of the South commenced. How long it might have continued, or what +might have been the result, cannot now be considered; for the approach of +a chaise interrupted the battle, and the forces of secession were +reenforced by a full-grown man. + +The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his whip in his hand, and +proceeded to lay it about the legs and body of the representative of the +Union side. This was more than Tom Somers could stand, and he retreated in +good order from the spot, till he had placed himself out of the reach of +the whip. + +"What do you mean, you young scoundrel?" demanded the gentleman who had +interfered. + +Tom looked at him, and discovered that it was Squire Pemberton, the father +of his late opponent. + +"He hit me first," said Tom. + +"He called me a traitor," added Fred. "I won't be called a traitor by him, +or any other fellow." + +"What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you villain?" + +"I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He said he hoped the South +would beat." + +"Suppose he did. I hope so too," added Squire Pemberton. + +The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to settle the question. If +he hoped so, that was enough. + +"Then you are a traitor, too. That's all I've got to say," replied Tom, +boldly. + +"You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word to me!" roared the squire, as +he moved towards the blunt-spoken little patriot. + +For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to fall back; but as he did +so, he picked up a couple of good-sized stones. + +"I said you were a traitor, and I say so again," said Tom. + +"Two can play at that game," added Fred, as he picked up a stone and threw +it at Tom. + +The Union force returned the fire with the most determined energy, until +one of the missiles struck the horse attached to the chaise. The animal, +evidently having no sympathy with either party in this miniature contest, +and without considering how much damage he might do the rebel cause, +started off at a furious pace when the stone struck him. He dashed down +the hill at a fearful rate, and bounded away over the plain that led to +the Harbor. + +Squire Pemberton and his son had more interest in the fate of the runaway +horse than they had in the issue of the contest, and both started at the +top of their speed in pursuit. But they might as well have chased a flash +of lightning, or a locomotive going at the rate of fifty miles an hour. + +Tom Somers came down from the bank which he had ascended to secure a good +position. He had done rather more than he intended to do; but on the whole +he did not much regret it. He watched the course of the spirited animal, +as he dashed madly on to destruction. The career of the horse was short; +for in the act of turning a corner, half a mile from the spot where Tom +stood, he upset the chaise, and was himself thrown down, and, being +entangled in the harness, was unable to rise before a stout man had him by +the head. + +"I wish that chaise had been the southern confederacy," said Tom to +himself, philosophically, when he saw the catastrophe in the distance. +"Well, it served you right, old Secesh; and I'll bet there ain't many +folks in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to comfort the mourners." + +With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his way home. At dinner, +he gave the family a faithful account of the transaction. + +"You didn't do right, Thomas," said his mother. + +"He hit me first." + +"You called him a traitor." + +"He is a traitor, and so is his father." + +"I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is of meat," added +gran'ther Greene. + +"You haven't seen the last of it yet, Thomas," said the prudent mother. + +"No matter, Tom; I'll stand by you," added John. + +After dinner, the two boys walked down to the Harbor together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SOMERS FAMILY. + + +The town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance from Boston, with which it +is connected by railroad. If any of our young readers are of a +geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain the exact +locality of the place, we will save them any unnecessary trouble, for it +is not laid down on any map with which we are familiar. We live in times +of war, and probably our young friends have already learned the meaning of +"military necessity." Our story is essentially a military story, and there +are certain military secrets connected with it which might be traced out +if we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly where Pinchbrook is +situated. + +Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to find out certain +persons connected with some irregular proceedings in and around his house +on the evening of Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to the truth of history +compels us to narrate these proceedings in our humble volume; but we +should exceedingly regret thereby to get any of our friends into a scrape +by informing the squire that they were active participants in the scenes +of that eventful night, or to say any thing which would enable him, a +lawyer, to trace out the authors of the mischief through these pages. +Therefore we cannot say where Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which +would enable our readers to fix definitely its locality. + +Pinchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, engaged, as the +school books would say, in agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and the +fisheries, which, rendered into still plainer English, means that some of +the people are farmers; that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, +are made; that the inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, +and similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels owned in the +place, the principal part of which are fishermen. + +We have not the agricultural and commercial statistics of the place at +hand; but the larger territorial part of the town was devoted to the +farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, while the principal +village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more densely peopled, contained two +stores, four churches, one wharf, a blacksmith shop, and several shoe and +bucket manufactories. + +We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is rather a singular name. +The antiquarians have not yet had an opportunity to determine its origin; +but our private opinion is that the word is a corruption of _Punch_-brook. +Perhaps, at some remote period in the history of the town, before the Sons +of Temperance obtained a foothold in the place, a villainous mixture, +known to topers under the general appellation of "punch," may have been +largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged person +ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, +metaphorically, the punch was said to "flow in streams." Possibly, from +"streams" came "brooks,"--hence, "Punchbrook,"--which, under the strange +mutations of time, has become "Pinchbrook." But we are not learned in +these matters, and we hope that nothing we have said will bias the minds +of antiquarians, and prevent them from devoting that attention to the +origin of the word which its importance demands. + +The Somers family, which we have already partially introduced, occupied a +small cottage not quite a mile from Pinchbrook Harbor. Captain Somers, the +head of the family, had been, and was still, for aught his wife and +children knew, master of the schooner Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he +had heavily mortgaged his house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire +Pemberton. But his voyages had not been uniformly successful, though the +captain believed that his earthly possessions, after discharging all his +liabilities, would amount to about five thousand dollars. + +The mortgage note would become due in June, and Captain Somers had been +making a strong effort to realize upon his property, so as to enable him +to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers had a brother who +was familiarly known in the family as uncle Wyman. He had spent his life, +from the age of eighteen, in the South, and at the time of which we write, +he was a merchant in Norfolk. + +Captain Somers and his brother had been interested together in certain +mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the business man, had the +proceeds of these ventures in his own hands. + +On the 10th of April, only two days before the bombardment of Fort Sumter, +Captain Somers had sailed in the Gazelle, with an assorted cargo, for +Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his wife that he should not +return without effecting a settlement with Wyman, who had postponed it so +many times, that the honest sailor began to fear his brother did not mean +to deal justly with him. Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her +departure from Boston. + +Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern principles, while +his brother, though not in the habit of saying much about politics, was +fully committed on the side of the government, and was willing to sustain +the President in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to +enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the +South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts +adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were in the +hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so strong an +advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the declaration that +he would not return without a settlement. + +The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not in a very +prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house depended entirely upon +the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton +held would be due in June, and as the creditor was not an indulgent man, +there was a prospect that even the little cottage and the little farm +might be wrested from them. + +The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. The two +oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the +Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age. The former had a +place in one of the stores at the village, and the latter occasionally +went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been +brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should +contribute what they could to the support of the family. The youngest +child, Jane, was but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs. +Somers's brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a +pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for twenty +years; and was familiarly known in town as "Gran'ther Green." + +Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the Somers +family, we are prepared to continue our story. + +Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. The +latter had listened with interest and approbation to his brother's account +of the "Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he +thought Thomas might need his assistance before he reached the store, for +Fred and his father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest +where they had left it. + +We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero of this +volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully indorsed the action of +his brother. + +"Fred is a traitor, and so is his father," said he, as they passed out at +the front gate of the little cottage. + +"That's so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear them talk," replied +Thomas. "And I couldn't help calling things by their right names." + +"Bully for you, Tom!" added John, as he turned round, and glanced at the +house to assure himself they were out of the hearing of their mother. +"Between you and me, Tom, there will be music in Pinchbrook to-night." + +He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and heavy with +importance. + +"What do you mean?" asked Thomas, his interest excited by the words +and manner of his brother. + +"There is fun ahead." + +"Tell me what it's all about." + +"You won't say a word--will you?" + +"Of course I won't." + +"Not to mother, I mean, most of all." + +"Certainly not." + +"Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own good." + +"I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff Davis himself is +no bigger traitor than he is." + +"Some of the people are going to make him a call to-night." + +"What for?" + +"What do you suppose? Can't you see through a millstone, Tom, when there +is a hole in it?" + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"You can come with us if you like, and then you will know all about it," +added John, mysteriously. + +"But what are you going to do?" + +"We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his house, or hang it +out of his window." + +"Well, suppose he won't." + +"Then we'll hang him where the flag ought to be. We'll pull the house down +over his head." + +"I'm with you, Jack," replied Thomas, with enthusiasm. + +"We won't have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we can't cure him, we'll ride +him on a rail out of the town." + +"I don't know as you and I ought to get into this scrape," added Thomas, +thoughtfully. + +"Why not?" + +"You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he may get ugly." + +"Let him, if he likes. I'm not going to tolerate a traitor because he has +a mortgage on my father's house. Besides, that is a fair business +transaction; the squire gets his interest." + +"Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil spirit." + +"Women are always timid," said John, sagely. + +"By George! there comes the very man himself!" exclaimed Thomas, as he +discovered a horse and chaise slowly approaching. + +"So it is; that old chaise looks rather the worse for the wear. It looks +as though it had been through the wars." + +The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard usage. One of the shafts +was broken, the dasher wrenched off, and the top stove in. The horse was +covered with mud, and limped badly from the effects of his fall. The +broken shaft and the harness were now plentifully adorned with ropes and +old straps. In fact, the catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim which +the chaise ever might have had to be considered a "hahnsome kerridge." + +"There'll be fun nearer home, I reckon," said John, as he obtained his +first view of the sour visage of the squire. + +"Can't help it," added Thomas. + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom." + +"I intend to do so." + +"Don't say a word about to-night, Tom." + +"Of course not." + +When the chaise had approached near enough to enable the squire to +recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the horse, and got out +of the vehicle, with the whip in his hand. + +"Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to insult me and my son, and +destroy my property. Stay in the chaise, Fred, and hold the horse," he +added to his son. + +But there was not much need of holding the horse now, for he was too lame +to run fast or far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if the squire had +been a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash of their eyes, that he +was about to engage in an unsafe operation. + +"I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of your life, you villain, +you!" roared the squire, brandishing the whip. + +"No, you are not," replied Thomas, coolly. + +"If you drop the weight of that lash on my brother, I'll smash your head," +added John. + +The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form of the young sailor. +Better thoughts, or at least wiser ones, came to his aid. + +"I can bring you to your senses in another way," said he, dropping his +whip, and getting into the chaise again. "You will hear from me before the +week is out." + +"Let him go; don't say a word, Tom," added John. + +"He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by that." + +"Let him prosecute and be hanged! I'll bet by to-morrow morning he will +think better of it. At any rate, he will find out what the people of +Pinchbrook think of him." + +The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached the store, where they found +the group of idlers, that always frequent shops in the country, busily +engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas had been the principal +actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the Pinchbrook Battle was saluted +with a volley of applause, and his conduct fully approved and commended, +for a copperhead in that day was an abomination to the people. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TAMING A TRAITOR. + + +With the exception of Squire Pemberton, Pinchbrook was a thoroughly loyal +town; and the people felt that it was a scandal and a disgrace to have +even a single traitor within its border. The squire took no pains to +conceal his treasonable sentiments, though the whole town was in a blaze +of patriotic excitement. On the contrary, he had gone out of his way, and +taken a great deal of pains, to condemn the government and the people of +the North. + +Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had always been a person of +great influence in the place. He had occupied all the principal official +positions in town and county. He had come to regard himself, as his +townsmen were for the most part willing to regard him, as the social and +political oracle of the place. What he thought in town meeting was +generally the sense of his fellow-citizens, and when he expressed himself +in words, his word was law. + +When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins, with the national flag +trodden under the feet of traitors, with the government insulted and +threatened, Squire Pemberton ventured to speak in tones of condemnation of +the free North, the people of Pinchbrook listened coldly, at first, to the +sayings of their oracle; and when he began to abuse the loyal spirit of +the North, some ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in the +habit of having men dissent, and it made him angry. His treason became +more treasonable, his condemnation more bitter. Plain, honest men, to +whatever party they might have belonged, were disgusted with the great man +of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express their disapprobation +of his course in very decided terms. Some were disposed to be indulgent +because the Squire had a sister in Georgia who had married a planter. But +there was not found a single person, outside of his own family, who was +mean enough to uphold him in his treacherous denunciation of the +government. + +The squire was too self-sufficient and opinionated to be influenced by the +advice of friends or the warning of those who had suddenly become his +enemies. He had so often carried the town to his own views, that, perhaps, +he expected to manufacture a public sentiment in Pinchbrook that would +place the town on the side of the rebels. All day Sunday, and all day +Monday, he rode about the Harbor preaching treason. He tried to convince +the people that the South had all the right, and the North all the wrong; +but he had never found them so obstinate and incredulous before. + +Towards night one of the ministers ventured to suggest to him that he was +sowing the wind, and would reap the whirlwind. The good man even hinted +that he had roused a storm of indignation in the town which he might find +it difficult to allay. + +The squire laughed at the minister, and told him he was not afraid of any +thing. He intended to speak his honest sentiments, as every citizen had a +right to do; and he would like to see any man, or any body of men, who +would dare to meddle with him. + +"I am afraid you will see them, Squire Pemberton," added the minister. + +"Let them come where they please and when they please." + +"What will you do? What is your single arm against scores of strong men?" + +"Nothing, perhaps, but I don't fear them. I am true to my convictions; why +need I fear?" + +"I think your convictions, as you call them, are deluding you. Do you +think Benedict Arnold's convictions, if he had any, would have saved his +neck from the halter?" + +"Do you mean to compare me to Benedict Arnold, sir?" + +"I came to you, as a friend, to warn you of impending danger; and, as your +friend, I am compelled to say that I don't see much difference between +your position and that of Benedict Arnold." + +"Do you mean to insult me?" + +"Not at all, sir. I was only expressing my honest conviction. Instead of +placing yourself on the side of your government, on the side of law and +order, you are going about Pinchbrook Harbor denouncing the legitimate +government of your country, and pleading the cause of rebels and +traitors." + +"Am I not at liberty to say what I please of the government?" + +"In ordinary times, you are. Just now, the country is in a state of war, +and he who is not for the flag is against it. You may criticize the +government as its friend, but not as its foe. When armed men conspire +against the peace of the land, he who pleads their cause is a +traitor--nay, sir, don't be angry; these are my convictions." + +"Political parsons have been the ruin of the country," sneered the squire. +"That is my conviction." + +"Squire Pemberton, I beg you not to be rash. If you must cherish these +pernicious views, I entreat you, keep them to yourself. You may think what +you please, but the utterance of treason makes a traitor." + +"I shall proclaim my views from the housetop," replied the squire, +angrily, as he abruptly turned away from the minister. + +The squire continued obdurate to the last. Neither the persuasions of his +friends nor the threats of his enemies had any effect in silencing his +tongue; and as late as sundown on that day of the Great Awakening he was +pouring treachery and treason into the ears of a neighbor who happened to +pass his house. Half an hour later in the day, there was a great gathering +of men and boys at the bridge on the outskirts of the village. They were +singing Hail Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner. Thomas and John Somers +were there. + +Presently the assemblage began to move up the road which led to Squire +Pemberton's house, singing patriotic songs as they marched. It was a +multitude of persons for Pinchbrook; and no doubt the obnoxious oracle +thought so when he saw the sea of heads that surrounded his dwelling. If +this was a mob, it was certainly a very orderly mob, for the crowd thus +far had done nothing worse than to sing the national airs. + +The arrangements had all been made before the multitude started from the +place of rendezvous. Three gentlemen, the principal of whom was Captain +Barney, had been appointed a committee to wait upon the squire, and +politely request him to display the American flag on his premises. + +In the road, in front of the house, a large fire had been kindled, which +threw a broad, bright glare on the house and the surrounding grounds. It +was as light as day in the vicinity when the committee walked up to the +front door of the house and rang the bell. The squire answered the summons +himself. + +"Squire Pemberton," said Captain Barney, "your fellow-citizens, about two +hundred in number, have called upon you with a simple and reasonable +request." + +"What is it?" demanded the squire. + +"That you hoist the Stars and Stripes on your house." + +"I won't do it!" roared the victim, as he slammed the door in the faces of +the committee. + +"That is insolence," said Captain Barney, quietly. "We will go in." + +The captain led the way; but the door had been locked upon them. The +shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt yielded. + +"What do you mean, you villains?" thundered the squire, as he confronted +the committee in the entry. + +"You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces before we had +finished our story," replied the immovable old sea captain. + +"How dare you break in my door?" growled the squire. + +"We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don't treat us respectfully." + +"A man's house is his castle," added the squire, a little more moderately. + +"That's very good law, but there isn't a house in Pinchbrook that is big +enough or strong enough to shield a traitor from the indignation of his +fellow-citizens. We do not purpose to harm you or your property, if you +behave like a reasonable man." + +"You shall suffer for this outrage," gasped the squire, whose rage was +increased by the cool and civil manner of Captain Barney. + +"When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that your +fellow-citizens wish you to display the national flag." + +"I refuse to do it, sir." + +"Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up their minds not +to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits of the town of +Pinchbrook." + +"I am no traitor." + +"That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your fellow-citizens +assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your patriotism." + +"I will not do it on compulsion." + +"Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable measures." + +"What do you mean by that, sir?" asked the squire, who was evidently +alarmed by the threat. "Do you mean to proceed to violence?" + +"We do, Squire Pemberton," answered Captain Barney, decidedly. + +"O my country!" sighed the victim, "has it come to this? The laws will no +longer protect her citizens." + +"That's very fine, sir. Do you expect the laws to protect you while you +are aiding and abetting those who are trying to destroy them? Is there any +law to protect a traitor in his treason? But we waste time, Squire +Pemberton. Will you display the American flag?" + +"Suppose I refuse?" + +"We will pull your house down over your head. We will give you a coat of +tar and feathers, and remove you beyond the limits of the town. If you +ever come back, we will hang you to the nearest tree." + +"Good Heaven! Is it possible that my fellow-citizens are +assassins--incendiaries!" + +"Your answer, squire." + +"For mercy's sake, husband, do what they ask," interposed his wife, who +had been an anxious listener in the adjoining room. + +"I must do it," groaned the squire, speaking the truth almost for the +first time in forty-eight hours. "Alas! where is our boasted liberty of +speech!" + +"Fudge! squire," replied Captain Barney, contemptuously. "If your friend +Jeff Davis should come to Massachusetts to-morrow, to preach a crusade +against the North, and to raise an army to destroy the free institutions +of the country, I suppose you think it would be an outrage upon free +speech to put him down. We don't think so. Up with the flag, squire." + +"Fred, you may hang the flag out at the front window up stairs," said the +squire to his son. + +"All right, squire. Now a few words more, and we bid you good night. You +may _think_ what you please, but if you utter another word of treason in +Pinchbrook during the term of your natural life, the party outside will +carry out the rest of the programme." + +By this time Fred Pemberton had fastened the flag to one of his mother's +clothes poles, and suspended it out of the window over the porch. It was +hailed with three tremendous cheers by the multitude who were in waiting +to discipline the squire, and exorcise the evil spirit of treason and +secession. + +The work of the evening was finished, not wholly to the satisfaction, +perhaps, of a portion of the younger members of the assemblage, who would +gladly have joined in the work of pillage and destruction, but much to the +gratification of the older and steadier portion of the crowd, who were +averse to violent proceedings. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COMMITTEE COME OUT, AND TOM GOES IN. + + +While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had appointed +to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the house, engaged in +bringing the traitor to terms, the younger members of the assemblage were +very impatient to know how matters were progressing. Thomas Somers was +particularly anxious to have the affair brought to a crisis. In vain he +and a few other of the young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the +interior of the house, where the exciting interview was in progress. + +Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough disciplinarian. +Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were technically illegal; +that in forcing himself into the house of the squire he was breaking the +law of the land; but it seemed to him to be one of those cases where +prompt action was necessary, and the law was too tardy to be of any +service. He was, however, determined that the business should be done with +as little violence as possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the +bridge to do no needless injury to the property or the feelings of the +squire or his family. + +When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the door to +prevent any of the people from following him. He had also directed them +not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until he gave the signal. +These directions proved a great hardship to the boys in the crowd, and +they were completely disgusted when they saw the flag thrown loose from +the front window. + +The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, about a +hundred feet from the road. In front of it was a green lawn, adorned with +several large buttonwood trees. There was no fence to enclose what was +called the front yard. The crowd was assembled on this lawn, and agreeably +to the directions of the leader, or chairman of the committee, none of +them passed into the yard in the rear and at the end of the house, which +was separated from the lawn by a picket fence. + +Boys are instinctively curious to know what is going on, and the "living +room" of the squire, in which the exciting conversation was taking place, +was in the rear of the house. The windows on the front were dark and +uncommunicative. The boys were restless and impatient; if there was to be +any fun, they wanted to see it. Thomas was as impatient as his fellows, +and being more enterprising than the others, he determined, while obeying +the instructions of Captain Barney in the spirit, to disobey them in the +letter. + +He had been a sufferer to the extent of two great wales on the calves of +his legs by the treason of the squire, and no doubt he thought he ought to +be regarded as an exception to those who were called on to observe the +instructions of the chairman of the committee. Leaving the group of +inquiring minds near the front door of the house, he walked down the +driveway till he came to a rail fence, through which he crawled, and +entered the field adjoining the garden of the squire. His fellow-citizens, +men and boys, were too intently watching the house to heed him, and no one +noticed his enterprising movement. + +From the field, he entered the garden, and made his way to the rear of the +house. But even here, he was doomed to disappointment, for Mrs. Pemberton +had drawn her curtains. Our hero was not, however, to be utterly defeated, +and as the curtains had not been fitted by an accomplished upholsterer, +there were openings on either side, through which he might command a full +view of the interior of the room. + +Thomas proceeded slowly and cautiously to obtain a position which would +enable him to gratify his curiosity, and witness the humiliation of the +haughty squire. Beneath the window which, he had chosen to look through, +there was a cellar door, from which a pile of seaweed, placed upon it to +keep the frost out of the cellar, had just been removed. The adventurous +inquirer crept up the slippery boards, and gained the coveted position. He +could not only see the committee and the squire, but he could hear all +they said. He was perfectly delighted with the manner in which the captain +put the question to the squire; and when the latter ordered Fred to hang +out the flag, he was a little disposed to imitate the masculine occupants +of the hen-house, a short distance from his perch; but Tom, as we have +before intimated, had a very tolerable idea of the principles of strategy, +and had the self-possession to hold his tongue, and permit the triumphant +scene within to pass without a crow or a cheer. + +The battle had been fought and the victory won; and though Tom felt that +he was one of the victors, he deemed it prudent, for strategical reasons, +to commence a retreat. The cellar doors, as we have before hinted, were +very slippery, having been thoroughly soaked with moisture while covered +with the seaweed. When the hero of this unauthorized reconnoissance +wheeled about to commence his retreat, his feet incontinently slipped up +upon the inclined surface of the doors, and he came down heavily upon the +rotten boards. This, in itself, would have been but an inconsiderable +disaster, and he might still have withdrawn from the inconvenient +locality, if circumstances had not conspired against him, as circumstances +sometimes will, when they ought to be conciliatory and accommodating. The +force with which Tom fell upon the decayed boards was too much for them, +and the unlucky adventurer became another victim to the treachery of +rotten wood, which has hurled so many thousands from time into eternity. + +But Tom was not hurled so far as that on the present occasion, though for +all practical purposes, for the succeeding half hour, he might as well +have been a hundred fathoms under water, or beneath the wreck of a +twenty-ton locomotive at the bottom of the river. That cellar door was a +bad place to fall through, which may be accounted for on the supposition +that it was not made to fall through. In his downward progress, Tom had +unluckily struck his head against the side of the house; and when he +landed at the bottom of the stairs, he was utterly oblivious to all +distinctions between treason and loyalty. Tom was not killed, I need not +inform the ingenious reader, or this would otherwise have been the last +chapter of the story; but the poor fellow did not know whether he was dead +or alive. + +In fact, he had not sense enough left to consider the question at all; for +there he lay, in the gloom of the traitor's dark cellar, silent and +motionless--a solemn warning to all our young readers of the folly and +wickedness of indulging an illegal and sinful curiosity. It may seem cruel +and inhuman in us to forsake poor Tom in this sad plight; but we must, +nevertheless, go up stairs, in order that the sufferer may be duly and +properly relieved in due and proper season. + +When the committee of three, appointed by the indignant loyalists of +Pinchbrook, had completed their mission in the house of the squire, like +sensible men they proposed to leave; and they so expressed themselves, +through their spokesman, to the unwilling host. They put their hats on, +and moved into the front entry, whither they were followed by the +discomfited traitor. They had scarcely left the room before a tremendous +crash greeted the ears of that portion of the family which remained in the +apartment. This was the precise moment at which poor Tom Somers found +himself on the bottom of the cellar; or, to be entirely accurate, when he +lost himself on the bottom of the cellar. + +Mrs. Pemberton heard the crash, and she very naturally concluded that the +hour of retribution had actually come; that the terrible mob had commenced +the work of destruction. To her "fear-amazed" mind it seemed as though the +whole side of the house had fallen in, and, for a moment, she confidently +expected the chimneys would presently go by the board, and the roof come +thundering down upon the devoted heads of her outraged family. Perhaps, at +that terrible moment, she wished her husband had been like other women's +husbands, a true and loyal man, cheering the old flag, and hurling +harmless anathemas at the graceless rebels. + +But the chimney did not go by the board, nor the roof come thundering down +upon her head. There was not even a sound of destruction to be heard, and +the sides of the house seemed to be firm and decided in their intention to +maintain their perpendicular position. A few minutes later, when the +committee announced to the multitude the success of their undertaking, and +Fred had displayed the flag from the window, peal upon peal of stunning +huzzas saluted her ears, and the awful peril of the preceding moments +appeared to be averted. The squire, having closed and barricaded the +broken door as well as he could, returned to the room, with curses deep +and bitter upon his lips. He was not in the habit of swearing, but the +magnitude of the occasion seemed to justify the innovation, and he swore +hugely, roundly, awfully. He paced the room, ground his teeth, and stamped +upon the floor. + +"Father, did you hear that terrible racket just now?" asked Mrs. +Pemberton. "I thought the side of the house had fallen in." + +"What racket?" demanded the squire, pausing in his excited walk. + +"I am sure they have broken something." + +"It sounded as though it was down cellar," added Susan, the daughter. + +"What was it?" asked the father. + +"I don't know. It sounded like breaking boards. Do go down cellar, and +find out what it was." + +"The scoundrels!" roared the squire, as he rushed up and down the room +again with the fury of a madman. "I'll teach them to break into my house!" + +"Be calm, father," interposed Mrs. Pemberton, who, like most New England +mothers, called her husband by the title which belonged exclusively to the +children. + +"Calm? How can I be calm? Don't you hear the ruffians shout and yell?" + +"They are only cheering the flag." + +The squire muttered a malediction upon the flag, which would probably have +procured for him a coat of tar and feathers, if the mob had heard it. Mrs. +Pemberton was silent, for she had never seen her husband so moved before. +She permitted him to pace the room in his frenzy till his anger had, in +some measure, subsided. + +"I wish you would go down cellar and find out what that noise was," said +Mrs. Pemberton, as soon as she dared to speak again. "Perhaps some of them +are down there now. Who knows but they will set the house afire." + +Squire Pemberton was startled by this suggestion, and, seizing the lamp, +he rushed down cellar to prevent so dire a calamity. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ATTIC CHAMBER. + + +Squire Pemberton rushed down cellar. He was very much excited, and forgot +that he had been troubled with the rheumatism during the preceding winter. +When he opened the cellar door, he was considerably relieved to find that +no brilliant light saluted his expectant gaze. It was as cold and dark in +the cellar as it had been when he sorted over the last of his Warren +Russets, a few days before. + +It was certain, therefore, that the house was not on fire; and, +invigorated by this thought, he descended the stairs. A strong current of +fresh, cold air extinguished the light he carried. As this was contrary to +his usual experience when he went down cellar in the evening after an +apple or a mug of cider, it assured him that there was a screw loose +somewhere. Returning to the room above, he procured a lantern, and +proceeded to the cellar again to renew his investigations. + +The squire felt the cold blast of the April air, and immediately made his +way to the cellar door, holding the lantern up as high as his head, to +ascertain the nature of the mischief which the fanatical abolitionists had +perpetrated. He saw that the cellar door was broken through. The rotten +boards lay upon the steps, and with another malediction upon the mob, he +placed the lantern upon a barrel, and proceeded to repair the damage. As +he stepped forward, he stumbled against the body of the enterprising hero +of this volume, who lay as calm and still as a sleeping child. + +The squire started back, not a little alarmed at the sight of the +motionless body. He felt as though a terrible retribution had fallen upon +somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting to destroy his +property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the cellar stairs by which +he had descended, and stood there for a moment, his tongue paralyzed, and +his knees smiting each other, in the agony of terror. + +We do not know what he was afraid of, but we suppose that instinctive +dread which some people manifest in the presence of death, had completely +overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to be afraid of, for a dead man +is not half so likely to do a person an injury as a living one. But in a +few minutes Squire Pemberton in some measure recovered his +self-possession. + +"There is a dead man down here!" he called up the staircase, in quaking +tones. + +"Mercy on us!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton. "Who is he?" + +"I don't know," replied the squire. + +"Look and see who it is, father," added Mrs. Pemberton. "Perhaps he isn't +dead." + +"Stone dead," persisted the squire. "He fell into the cellar and broke his +neck." + +"Go and see who it is--will you?" + +"Well, you come down and hold the light," said the squire, who was not +quite willing to say that he was scared out of his wits. + +Mrs. Pemberton descended the stairs, followed by Susan and Fred, who had +just returned from the front window, where he had exhibited the flag, +which the crowd outside were still cheering. + +"Who can it be?" continued the old lady, as she slowly and cautiously +walked forward to the scene of the catastrophe. + +"I don't know," replied the squire, in whom the presence of his family had +spurred up a semblance of courage; for if a man ever is brave, it is in +the presence of his wife and children. "If it is one of the ruffians who +came here to destroy my house, I am glad he has lost his life in the +attempt. It is a righteous retribution upon him for his wickedness." + +Mrs. Pemberton took the lantern, and the squire, still excited and +terrified, bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. The victim +lay upon his face, and the squire had to turn him over to obtain a view of +his countenance. + +"I declare it is one of the Somers boys!" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton, as her +husband brought the face of Thomas to her view. + +"The young villain!" ejaculated the squire. "It is lucky he was killed, or +the house would have been in flames before this time. He is a desperate +young scoundrel." + +"But he isn't dead, father!" said Mrs. Pemberton, as she knelt upon the +cold ground, and felt the pulse of the insensible boy. "He is only +stunned." + +"I am sorry for it. If it had killed him, it would have served him right," +added the squire, who had suddenly become as bold as a lion--as bold as +two lions. + +"Come, father, let's carry him up stairs, and put him to bed." + +"Do you think I am going to do anything for this young scoundrel!" +exclaimed the squire, indignantly. "Why, he stoned Fred and me to-day, and +stoned the horse, and made him run away and break the chaise all to +pieces." + +"But we mustn't leave him here in this situation. He may die." + +"Let him die." + +"But what will folks say?" + +The more humane wife evidently understood the weak point of the squire, +for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could have induced +him to set at defiance the public sentiment of Pinchbrook. + +"Well, carry him up stairs then; but he never will get out of my house +till he has been severely punished for his crimes." + +The squire and Fred took hold of the senseless form of poor Tom, and +carried it up stairs, where it was placed upon the sofa in the sitting +room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being "an excellent hand in +sickness," and she immediately applied herself to the duty of restoring +the sufferer to consciousness. + +"Don't you think you had better go after the doctor, father?" asked the +good woman. "Some of his bones may be broken, or he may be injured +inwardly." + +"I shall not go for any doctor," snarled the squire. "Do you think I will +trust myself out doors while that howling mob is hanging round the house?" + +"Fred can go," suggested Susan. + +"He can, but he shall not," growled the squire, throwing himself into his +arm chair in the corner, with an appearance of indifference and unconcern, +which were far from representing the actual state of his mind. + +Mrs. Pemberton said no more, but she and Susan went to work upon the +sufferer with camphor and hartshorn in good earnest, and in a short time +they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. They continued the +treatment for some time longer, with the most satisfactory result, till +Tom astonished them by jumping off the sofa, and standing up in the middle +of the room. He rubbed his forehead, hunched up his left shoulder, and +felt of his shins. + +"Are you hurt, Thomas?" asked Mrs. Pemberton, with more of tenderness in +her tones than the squire deemed proper for the occasion. + +"No, marm, I guess not," replied Tom. "My shoulder feels a little stiff, +and I think I barked one of my shins; but I shall be as good as new by +to-morrow." + +But there was an ugly bump on the side of his head, which he had not yet +discovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He acknowledged the bump, +but declared it was only a little sore and would be all right by the next +day. + +"I feel pretty well," continued Tom, "and I guess I'll go home now." + +"I think you won't, young man," interposed Squire Pemberton. + +Tom looked at him, and for the first time since he had come to himself, he +remembered in what manner he had received his injuries. He immediately +came to the conclusion that he had got into a bad scrape. He was in the +house of, and in the presence of, his great enemy. The events of the day +passed in rapid succession through his mind, and he could not help +thinking that he was destined to be the first victim in Pinchbrook to the +war spirit which had just been awakened all over the country. + +The squire thought he would not go home, which was as much as to say he +would not let him go home. Tom's wits were a little confused, after the +hard knock he had received upon the head, and all he could do was to stand +and look at the oracle of Pinchbrook, and wait for further developments. + +"Young man," said the squire, sternly, and in tones that were intended to +make a deep impression upon the mind of the young man, "your time has +come." + +The squire paused, and looked at the culprit to ascertain the effect of +the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be perfectly cool, and was +not annihilated by the suggestive remark of the great man of Pinchbrook. + +"You have become a midnight marauder," added the squire, poetically. + +"It isn't seven o'clock yet," said Tom pointing to the great wooden clock +in the corner of the room. + +"You joined a mob to pillage and destroy the property of a peaceable +citizen. You broke in--" + +"No, sir; the cellar door broke in," interposed the culprit. + +"You broke into my house to set it afire!" continued the squire, in a +rage. + +"No, sir, I did not. I only went round there to see the fun," replied Tom, +pointing to the rear of the house; "and the cellar door broke down and let +me in. I did not mean to do you or your house any harm; and I didn't do +any, except breaking the cellar door, and I will have that mended." + +"Don't tell me, you young villain! You meant to burn my house." + +"No, I didn't mean any thing of the kind," replied Tom, stoutly. "I was +going off when the door broke down. The boards were rotten, and I should +think a man like you ought to have better cellar doors than those are." + +The squire didn't relish this criticism, especially from the source whence +it came. There was a want of humility on the part of the culprit which the +magnate of Pinchbrook thought would be exceedingly becoming in a young man +in his situation. The absence of it made him more angry than before. He +stormed and hurled denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the +mischief he had done during the day, and alluded in strong terms to that +which he intended to perpetrate in the "dead watches of the night"--which +was the poetical rendering of half-past six in the evening; for the squire +was fond of effective phrases. + +Tom ventured to hint that a man who would not stand by his country when +her flag was insulted and "trailed in the dust"--Tom had read the daily +papers--ought to be brought to his senses by such expedients as his +fellow-citizens might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the +squire's wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon the unlucky +youth, which was that he should be taken to the finished room in the +attic, and confined there under bolts and bars till the inquisitor should +further declare and execute his intentions. + +Mrs. Pemberton and Susan remonstrated against this sentence, prudently +suggesting the consequences which might result from detaining the boy. But +the squire declared he should not go till he had at least horsewhipped +him; and if there was any justice left in the land, he would send him to +the county jail in the morning. + +Tom wanted to resist the execution of his sentence, but he was still weak +from the effects of his fall, and he could not expect to vanquish both the +squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, he permitted himself to +be led to the attic chamber. The squire thrust him into the room, and +after carefully securing the door, left our hero to meditate upon the +reverse of fortune which had overtaken him. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAY IS PREPARED. + + +"Where do you suppose Thomas is?" said Mrs. Somers, as she glanced at the +clock, which indicated half-past nine. + +"I don't know," replied John. "He can't be a great ways off. I saw him in +front of the squire's house when the committee went in." + +"The boy's gone down to the Harbor again with the rest of the folks, +talking about the war," added gran'ther Greene, as he rose from his chair, +and hobbled into his chamber adjoining the kitchen. + +At ten o'clock, the mother began to be a little uneasy; and at eleven, +even John had some fears that all was not well with his brother. Neither +of them was able to suggest anything that could possibly have happened to +the absentee. There had been no battle fought, and so nobody could have +been killed. There had been no violence used in the transactions of the +evening further than breaking in the front door of Squire Pemberton, so +that it was not easy to believe that any accident had happened to him. + +John had given a glowing account of the proceedings at the house of the +squire and the family had been much interested and excited by the stirring +narrative. His mother was perfectly satisfied, as no one had been injured, +and hoped the great man of Pinchbrook would be brought to his senses. All +these topics had been fully discussed during the evening. John had +informed his mother that Captain Benson, who had formerly commanded the +Pinchbrook Riflemen, intended to raise a company for the war. He mentioned +the names of half a dozen young men who had expressed their desire to +join. The family had suggested that this and that man would go, and thus +the long evening passed away. + +"I don't see what has become of Thomas," said Mrs. Somers, when the clock +struck eleven, as she rose from her chair and looked out of the window. + +"Well, I don't see, either," replied John. "I don't believe there is +anything going on at this time of night." + +"I hope nothing has happened to him," continued the anxious mother, as she +went to the door and looked out, hoping, perhaps, to discover him in the +gloom of the night, or to hear his familiar step. + +"What could have happened to him?" asked John, who did not believe his +brother was fool enough to fall overboard, or permit any serious accident +to happen to him. + +"I don't know. I can't see what has got the boy. He always comes home +before nine o'clock. Have you heard him say anything that will give you an +idea where he is?" + +"He hasn't said anything to me." + +"Try, and see if you can't think of something," persisted the anxious +mother. + +"He hasn't talked of anything but the war since yesterday morning." + +"What did he say?" + +"I don't know, now," answered John, musing. "He said he should like to +join the army, and go down and fight the rebels." + +Mrs. Somers had heard as much from him, but she had given no particular +attention to his remarks on this subject, for they seemed wild and +visionary. John's words, under the present circumstances, appeared to be +full of importance; and taking her stocking, she seated herself before the +stove, and resumed her knitting. She was silent now, for her heart was +heavy with the premonitions of impending trouble. + +"I will take a walk down to the Harbor, mother, and see if I can find +anything of him. There may be something going on there that I don't know +about. He may be at the store, talking about the war with Captain Barney +and the rest of the folks." + +Mrs. Somers offered no objection to this plan, and John put on his cap, +and left the house. The poor mother brooded upon her trouble for another +hour, and with every new moment, the trouble seemed more real. The clock +struck twelve before John returned; and more than once during his absence, +as she plied her needles, she had wiped away a tear that hung among the +furrows of her care-worn cheek. She had been thinking of her husband, as +well as of her son. He was, or soon would be, in the midst of the +traitors, and she trembled for him. Uncle Wyman was a secessionist; and, +beyond this, she had not much confidence in his integrity, and if Captain +Somers came home at all, his property would all be swept away, and he +would be a beggar. + +The events of that day were not calculated to conciliate Squire Pemberton +towards them, and the farm and the cottage would pass away from them. All +these things had been considered and reconsidered by the devoted mother. +Poverty and want seemed to stare her in the face; and to add to all these +troubles, Thomas did not come home, and, as fond mothers will, she +anticipated the worst. + +John entered the kitchen, and carelessly flung his cap upon the table. +Mrs. Somers looked at him, and waited patiently to hear any intelligence +he might bring. But John threw himself into a chair, looking more gloomy +than before he left the house. He did not speak, and therefore he had no +good news to tell. + +"You didn't see anything of him--did you?" asked Mrs. Somers; but it was a +useless question, for she had already interpreted the meaning of his +downcast looks. + +"No, mother; there isn't a man, woman, or child stirring in the village; +and I didn't see a light in a single house." + +"What do you suppose can have become of him?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Tom is old enough and smart enough to take care of +himself." + +"It's very strange." + +"So it is. I haven't any idea what has become of him." + +"Did you look around Squire Pemberton's house, where he was seen last?" + +"I looked about on both sides of the road, going and coming from the +Harbor. I whistled all the way, and if he had been any where round, he +would have whistled back, as he always does." + +"What do you _suppose_ has become of him?" demanded the poor mother, +worried beyond expression at the mysterious disappearance of her son. + +"I can't tell, mother." + +"Don't you think we had better call up the neighbors, and have something +done about it?" + +"I don't know," replied John, hardly less anxious than his mother. + +"I don't suppose they would be able to find him if we did," added Mrs. +Somers, wiping away the tears from her face. + +"I can't think anything has happened to him, mother. If he had been on the +water, or anything of that kind, I should feel worse about it." + +"If I only knew where he was, I shouldn't feel so bad about it," said she; +and her position, certainly, was a reasonable one. + +"What's the matter, sister?" called gran'ther Greene, from his chamber. +"Hasn't that boy got home yet?" + +"No, he hasn't come yet, and I am worried to death about him," replied +Mrs. Somers, opening the door of her brother's room. + +"What o'clock is it?" + +"After twelve. Thomas never stayed out so late in his life before. What do +you suppose has become of him?" + +"Law sake! I haven't the leastest idea," answered the old man. "Thomas is +a smart boy, and knows enough to keep out of trouble." + +"That's what I say," added John, who had unlimited confidence in his +brother's ability to take care of himself. + +"I'll tell you what _I_ think, John," said Mrs. Somers, throwing herself +into her chair with an air of desperation. + +But she did not tell John what she thought: on the contrary, she sat +rocking herself in silence, as though her thought was too big and too +momentous for utterance. + +"Well, what do you think, mother?" asked John, when he had waited a +reasonable time for her to express her opinion on the exciting topic. + +Mrs. Somers rocked herself more violently than before, and made no reply. + +"What were you going to say?" + +"I think the boy has gone off to Boston, and gone into the army," replied +she, desperately, as though she had fully made up her mind to commit +herself to this belief. + +"Do you think so, mother?" + +"I feel almost sure of it." + +"I don't think so, mother. Tom wouldn't have gone off without saying +something to me about it." + +"If he wouldn't say it to me, he wouldn't be likely to say it to you, +John. It don't look a bit like Thomas to go off and leave his mother in +this way," moaned the poor woman, wiping away a deluge of tears that now +poured from her eyes. + +"I don't believe he has done any such thing, mother," protested John. + +"I feel almost certain about it, now. If the boy wanted to go, and +couldn't stay at home, he ought to have told me so." + +"He did say he wanted to go." + +"I didn't think he really meant it. I want my boys to love their country, +and be ready to fight for it. Much as I should hate to part with them, if +they are needed, they may go; but I don't like to have them run away and +leave me in this mean way. I shouldn't feel half so bad if I knew Thomas +was in the army now, as I do to think he ran away from home, just as +though he had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he +wouldn't be a son of mine if he wasn't ready to go and fight for his +country, and die for her too, if there was any need of it. I didn't think +Thomas would serve me in this way." + +"I don't believe he has." + +"I know he's gone. I like his spunk, but if he had only come to me and +said he _must_ go, I wouldn't have said a word; but to go off without +bidding us good by--it's too bad, and I didn't think Thomas would do such +a thing." + +Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the highest state +of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not adequate to the duty +required of them, and nothing less than the whole floor of the kitchen was +sufficient for the proper venting of her emotion. + +"Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him leave to go, +even if he had teased you for a month?" asked John. + +"Certainly I should," replied his mother, stopping short in the middle of +the floor. "I'm ready and willing to have my boys fight for their country, +but I don't want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a +hen-roost, and without even saying good by to me." + +"If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him go?" demanded +John, earnestly. + +"Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don't think there is any need of boys +like him going, when there are men enough to do the fighting." + +"You told Tom he shouldn't go." + +"Well, I didn't think he really meant it. If he had--What's that, John?" +asked she, suddenly, as a noise at the window attracted her attention. + +"Only the cat, mother." + +"If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was need of your +going, I wouldn't have kept either of you at home. I would go to the +poorhouse first. My father and my brother both fought for their country, +and my sons shall when their country wants them." + +"Then you are willing Tom should go?" + +"I am, but not to have him sneak off like a sheep-stealer." + +"Three cheers for you, mother!" shouted Thomas, as he threw up the window +at which he had been standing for some ten minutes listening to this +interesting conversation. + +"Where have you been, Thomas?" exclaimed the delighted mother. + +"Open the door, Jack, and let me in, and I will tell you all about it," +replied the absentee. + +"Come in; the door isn't locked," said John. + +He came in; and what he had to tell will interest the reader as well as +his mother and his brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE. + + +Tom Somers was an enterprising young man, as our readers have already +discovered; and when the door of the finished room in the attic of Squire +Pemberton's house was fastened upon him, he was not at all disposed to +submit to the fate which appeared to be in store for him. The idea of +becoming a victim to the squire's malice was not to be entertained, and he +threw himself upon the bed to devise some means by which he might make his +escape. + +The prospect was not encouraging, for there was only one window in the +chamber, and the distance to the ground was suggestive of broken limbs, if +not of a broken neck. Tom had read the Life of Baron Trenck, and of +Stephen Burroughs, but the experience of neither of these worthies seemed +to be available on the present occasion. + +As the family had not yet retired, it would not be safe to commence +operations for some hours. The stale, commonplace method of tying the +sheets and blankets together, and thus forming a rope by which he could +descend to the ground, occurred to him; but he had not much confidence in +the project. He lay quietly on the bed till he heard the clocks on the +churches at the Harbor strike twelve. It was time then, if ever, for the +family to be asleep, and he decided to attempt an escape by another means +which had been suggested to him. If it failed, he could then resort to the +old-fashioned way of going down on the rope made of sheets and blankets. + +The apartment in which Tom was confined was not what people in the country +call an "upright chamber." The sides of the room were about four feet in +height; and a section of the apartment would have formed one half of an +irregular octagon. In each side of the chamber there was a small door, +opening into the space near the eaves of the house, which was used to +store old trunks, old boxes, the disused spinning-wheel, and other lumber +of this description. Tom had been in the attic before, and he remembered +these doors, through one of which he now proposed to make his escape. + +When the clock struck twelve, he cautiously rose from the bed, and pulled +off his boots, which a proper respect for his host or the bed had not +prompted him to do before. The house was old, and the floors had a +tendency to creak beneath his tread. With the utmost care, he crawled on +his hands and knees to one of the doors of the lumber hole, which he +succeeded in opening without much noise. + +Making his way in among the old boxes, trunks, and spinning-wheels, he was +fully embarked in his difficult venture. The dust which he stirred up in +his progress produced an almost irresistible desire to sneeze, which Lord +Dundreary might have been happy to indulge, but which might have been +fatal to the execution of Tom Somers's purpose. He rubbed his nose, and +held his handkerchief over the intractable member, and succeeded in +overcoming its dangerous tendency. His movements were necessarily very +slow, for he was in constant dread lest some antiquated relic of the past +should tumble over, and thus disturb the slumbers of the family who +occupied the chambers below. + +But in spite of the perils and difficulties that environed his path, there +was something exciting and exhilarating in the undertaking. It was a real +adventure, and, as such, Tom enjoyed it. As he worked his way through the +labyrinth of antiquities, he could not but picture to himself the surprise +and chagrin of Squire Pemberton, when he should come up to the attic +chamber to wreak his vengeance upon him. He could see the magnate of +Pinchbrook start, compress his lips and clinch his fists, when he found +the bird had flown. + +"Better not crow till I get out of the woods," said he to himself, while +his imagination was still busy upon the agreeable picture. + +After a series of trials and difficulties which our space does not permit +us to describe in full, Tom emerged from the repository of antiquities, +and stood in the open space in front of the finished chamber. With one +boot in each hand, he felt his way to the stairs, and descended to the +entry over the front door. All obstacles now seemed to be overcome, for he +had nothing to do but go down stairs and walk out. + +It often happens, amid the uncertainties of this unstable world, that we +encounter the greatest trials and difficulties precisely where we expect +to find none. As Tom walked along the entry, with one hand on the rail +that protected the staircase to guide him, he struck his foot against the +pole upon which Fred Pemberton had suspended the flag out of the window. +It was very careless of the squire, when he took the flag in, to leave the +stick in that unsafe position, for one of his own family might have +stumbled against it, and broken a leg or an arm, or possibly a neck; and +if it might have been a "cause of offence" to one of the Pembertons, it +certainly laid a grievous burden upon the shoulders of poor Tom Somers. + +When the pole fell, it made a tremendous racket, as all poles will when +they fall just at the moment when they ought to stand up, and be decent +and orderly. This catastrophe had the effect to quicken the steps of the +young man. He reached the stairs, and had commenced a rapid descent, when +the door of the squire's room, which was on the lower floor, opened, and +Tom found himself flanked in that direction. + +"Who's there? What's that?" demanded the squire, in hurried, nervous +tones. + +Tom was so impolite as to make no reply to these pressing interrogatories, +but quickly retreated in the direction from which he had come. + +"Wife, light the lamp, quick," said the squire, in the hall below. + +Just then a door opened on the other side of the entry where Tom stood, +and he caught a faint glimpse of a figure robed in white. Though it was +the solemn hour of midnight, and Tom, I am sorry to say, had read the +Three Spaniards, and Mysteries of Udolpho, he rejected the suggestion that +the "sheeted form" might be a ghost. + +"Who's there?" called the squire again. + +A romantic little scream from the figure in white assured Tom that Miss +Susan was the enemy immediately on his front. Then he caught the glimmer +of the light below, which Mrs. Pemberton had procured, and the race seemed +to be up. Concealment was no longer practicable, and he seized upon the +happy suggestion that the window opening upon the portico over the front +door was available as a means of egress. + +Springing to the window, he raised it with a prompt and vigorous hand, and +before the squire could ascend the stairs, he was upon the roof of the +portico. Throwing his boots down, he grasped the gutter, and "hung off." +He was now on _terra firma_, and all his trials appeared to have reached a +happy termination; but here again he was doomed to disappointment. + +"Bow, wow, wow-er, woo, row!" barked and growled the squire's big bull +dog, when he came to realize that some unusual occurrences were +transpiring. + +The animal was a savage brute, and was kept chained in the barn during the +day, and turned loose when the squire made his last visit to the cattle +about nine in the evening. Tom was thoroughly alarmed when this new enemy +confronted him; but fortunately he had the self-possession to stand his +ground, and not attempt to run away, otherwise the dog would probably have +torn him in pieces. + +"Come here, Tige! Poor fellow! Come here! He's a good fellow! Don't you +know me, Tige?" said Tom, whose only hope seemed to be in conciliation and +compromise. + +If Tige knew him, he appeared to be very unwilling to acknowledge the +acquaintance under the present suspicious circumstances, and at this +unseemly hour. The brute barked, snarled, howled, and growled, and +manifested as strong an indisposition to compromise as a South Carolina +fire-eater. He placed himself in front of the hero of the night's +adventure, as resolute and as intractable as though he had known all the +facts in the case, and intended to carry out to the letter the wishes of +his master. + +Tom slowly retreated towards the garden fence, the dog still following him +up. He had tried coaxing and conciliation, and they had failed. As he +cautiously backed from the house, his feet struck against a heavy cart +stake, which seemed to suggest his next resort. He was well aware that any +quick movement on his part would cause the dog to spring upon him. Placing +his toe under the stake, he raised it with his foot, till he could reach +it with his hand, keeping his gaze fixed upon the eyes of the dog, which +glared like fiery orbs in the gloom of the hour. + +Tige saw the stick, and he appeared to have a wholesome respect for it--a +sentiment inspired by sundry beatings, intended to cure a love of mutton +on the hoof, or beef on the shelf. The brute retreated a few paces; but at +this moment Squire Pemberton appeared at the front door, with a lantern in +his hand. He understood the "situation" at a glance. + +"Take him, Tige! Stu' boy!" shouted the squire. + +The dog snarled an encouraging reply to this suggestion, and moved up +towards the fugitive. Tom's courage was equal to the occasion, and he +levelled a blow at the head of the bull dog, which, if it had hit him +fairly, must have smashed in his skull. As it was, the blow was a heavy +one, and Tige retreated; but the shouts of the squire rallied him, and he +rushed forward to the onslaught again. + +Tom, as we have before had occasion to suggest, was a master of strategy, +and instead of another stroke at the head of his savage foe, with only one +chance in ten of hitting the mark he commenced swinging it vigorously to +the right and left, as a mower does his scythe. His object was to hit the +legs of the dog--a plan which was not entirely original with him, for he +had seen it adopted with signal success by a fisherman at the Harbor. The +consequence of this change of tactics was soon apparent, for Tige got a +rap on the fore leg, which caused him to yelp with pain, and retire from +the field. While the dog moved off in good order in one direction, Tom +effected an equally admirable retreat in the other direction. + +On reaching the road, he pulled on his boots, which he had picked up after +the discomfiture of his canine antagonist. Squire Pemberton still stood at +the door trying to bring Tige to a sense of his duty in the trying +emergency; but the brute had more regard for his own shins than he had for +the mandate of his master, and the victor was permitted to bear away his +laurels without further opposition. + +When he reached his father's house, supposing the front door was locked, +he went to the kitchen window, where he had heard the patriotic remarks of +his mother. Tom told his story in substance as we have related it. + +"Do you mean what you have said, mother?" inquired he, when he had +finished his narrative. + +Mrs. Somers bit her lip in silence for a moment. + +"Certainly I do, Thomas," said she, desperately. + +It was half-past one when the boys retired, but it was another hour before +Tom's excited brain would permit him to sleep. His head was full of a big +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SIGNING THE PAPERS. + + +Thomas went to sleep at last, and, worn out by the fatigue and excitement +of the day, he slept long and soundly. His mother did not call him till +eight o'clock, and it was nine before he reached the store of his +employer, where the recital of the adventure of the preceding night proved +to be a sufficient excuse for his non-appearance at the usual hour. + +In the course of the week Captain Benson had procured the necessary +authority to raise a company for three years or for the war. When he +exhibited his papers, he found twenty persons ready to put down their +names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, and every day added to +the list of brave and self-denying men who were ready to go forward and +fight the battles of liberty and union. The excitement in Pinchbrook was +fanned by the news which each day brought of the zeal and madness of the +traitors. + +Thomas had made up his mind, even before his mother had been surprised +into giving her consent, that he should go to the war. At the first +opportunity, therefore, he wrote his name upon the paper, very much to the +astonishment of Captain Benson and his employer. + +"How old are you, Tom?" asked the captain. + +"I'm in my seventeenth year," replied the soldier boy. + +"You are not old enough." + +"I'm three months older than Sam Thompson; and you didn't even ask him how +old he was." + +"He is larger and heavier than you are!" + +"I can't help that. I'm older than he is, and I think I can do as much in +the way of fighting as he can." + +"I don't doubt that," added the captain, laughing. "Your affair with +Squire Pemberton shows that you have pluck enough for anything. I should +be very glad to have you go; but what does your father say?" + +"He hasn't said anything. He isn't at home. He went away before Sumter was +fired upon by the rebels." + +"True--I remember. What does your mother say?" + +"O, she is willing." + +"Are you sure, Tom?" + +"Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she can give her +consent, and she will sign it." + +Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to dinner, he +presented it to his mother for her signature. + +"I hope you won't back out, mother," said he, as she put on her +spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the contents of the document. + +"Back out of what, Thomas?" + +"I've signed the muster roll, and I belong to Captain Benson's company +now." + +"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, and gazing earnestly +into the face of the young man, to discover whether he was in earnest. + +"Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed the papers; but +Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so that there shall be no +mistake about it." + +The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the thought of +having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp and the march, the +skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and nothing but the most exalted +patriotism could induce a mother to give a son to his country. + +"I don't want to sign this paper, Thomas," said she, when she had finished +reading it. + +"Have you forgot what you said the other night, mother?" + +"No, I haven't forgot it, and I feel now just as I did then. If there is +any real need of your going, I am willing you should go." + +"Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President wasn't joking +when he called for seventy-five thousand men." + +"But there are enough to go without you." + +"That's just what everybody might say, and then there wouldn't be anybody +to go." + +"But you are young, and not very strong." + +"I'm old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a day to myself, I +don't think it's any great hardship to carry father's heavy fowling-piece +from sunrise to sunset; and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as +long as any of them." + +"You are only a boy." + +"I shall be a man soon enough." + +"When you have gone, John will want to go too." + +"No, mother, I don't want to go into the army," said John, with a sly wink +at his brother. "I shall never be a soldier if I can help it." + +"What am I going to do, if you all go off and leave me?" added Mrs. +Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear which was struggling for birth in +her fountain of sorrows. + +"I don't think you will want for anything, mother. I'm sure I wouldn't +leave you, if I thought you would. I don't get but two dollars and a half +a week in the store, and I shall have eleven dollars a month in the army, +and it won't cost me any thing for board or clothes. I will send every +dollar I get home to you." + +"You are a good boy, Thomas," replied Mrs. Somers, unable any longer to +restrain the tear. + +"I know you and John both will do every thing you can for me. If your +father was only at home, I should feel different about it." + +"He would believe in my fighting for my country, if he were here." + +"I know he would," said Mrs. Somers, as she took the pen which Thomas +handed her, and seated herself at the table. "If you are determined to go, +I suppose you will go, whether I am willing or not." + +"No, mother, I will not," added Thomas, decidedly. "I shouldn't have +signed the muster roll if you hadn't said you were willing. And if you say +now that you won't consent, I will take my name off the paper." + +"But you want to go--don't you?" + +"I do; there's no mistake about that: but I won't go if you are not +willing." + +Mrs. Somers wrote her name upon the paper. It was a slow and difficult +operation to her, and during the time she was thus occupied, the rest of +the family watched her in silent anxiety. Perhaps, if she had not +committed herself on the eventful night when she fully believed that +Thomas had run away and joined the army, she might have offered more and +stronger objections than she now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism +in her nature, which she had inherited from her father, who had fought at +Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and Germantown, and which had been exemplified in +the life of her brother; and this, more than any other consideration, +induced her to sign the paper. + +Thousands of loving and devoted mothers have given their sons to their +country in the same holy enthusiasm that inspired her. She was not a +solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both her sons had been +men, instead of boys, she would not have interposed a single objection to +their departure upon a mission so glorious as that to which Thomas had now +devoted himself. + +"There's my name, Thomas," said his mother, as she took off her +spectacles. "I've done it, and you have my free consent. You've always +been a good boy, and I hope you will always be a good soldier." + +"I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I turn my back to a +rebel, I hope you'll disown me." + +"Good, Tom!" exclaimed John, who had been deeply interested in the event +of the hour. + +"Well, Thomas, I'd rather face two rebels than that bull dog you fit with +t'other night," added gran'ther Greene. "You are as bold as a lion, +Thomas." + +"Do you think I can stand it, gran'ther?" added Tom, with a smile. + +"Stand it? Well, Thomas, it's a hard life to be a soldier, and I know +something about it. When we marched from--" + +"Dinner's ready," interposed Mrs. Somers, for gran'ther Greene had marched +that march so many times that every member of the family knew it by heart. + +"There's one good thing about it, Tom," said John: "you have got a +first-rate captain." + +"I'm thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for if there ever was a +Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man," added Mrs. Somers. + +"And all the company will be your own friends and neighbors," said +gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you. I know something +about this business. When we marched from--" + +"Have some more beans, brother?" asked Mrs. Somers. "You will be among +your friends, Thomas, as gran'ther says." + +"That's a great thing, I can tell you," added the veteran. "Soldiers +should stick together like brothers, and feel that they are fighting for +each other, as well as for the country. Then, when you're sick, you want +friends. When we marched from Sackett's Harbor, there was a young +feller--" + +"Have some more tea, brother?" + +"Part of a cup, Nancy," replied the old man, who never took offence even +when the choicest stories of his military experience were nipped in the +bud. + +After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed to him +like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt that he belonged +to his country now, and that the honor of that old flag, which had been +insulted by traitors, was committed to his keeping. He was taking up the +work where his grandfather had left it. He was going forth to fight for +his country, and the thought inspired him with a noble and generous +enthusiasm, before which all the aspirations of his youth vanished. + +As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a pitying +reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full of the great +event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even think of the +exciting incidents which had occurred there. He had neither seen nor heard +any thing of the squire since he had escaped from the attic chamber. + +Just beyond the squire's house he met Captain Barney, who was riding up to +the town hall. + +"What's this I hear of you, Tom?" demanded the captain, as he reined in +his horse. "They say you have joined the company." + +"Yes, sir. I have." + +"Bravo! my boy. Good on your head! You ought to go out as a brigadier +general. What does your mother say?" + +"I have her written consent in my pocket." + +"All right. God bless you, my boy!" said the old salt, as he started his +horse. + +"Thank you, sir. There's only one thing that troubles me." + +"Eh? What's that, my boy?" demanded Captain Barney as he reined up the +horse again. + +"I suppose you have heard of my scrape at Squire Pemberton's the other +night." + +"Yes; and shiver my timbers if I didn't want to keelhaul the old traitor +when I heard of it." + +"I don't care anything about the scrape, sir; only I'm afraid the squire +will bother my mother when I'm gone," said Thomas, with some diffidence. + +"If he does, he'll settle the matter with Jack Barney," replied the +captain, decidedly. + +"My father may never come back, you know, and if he does he will be a +beggar. He owes the squire a note, which will be due in June." + +"I'll pay it myself!" roared Captain Barney. "Go and fight for your +country, Tom, like a man. I'll call and see your mother once a week, or +every day in the week, if you say so. She shall not want for any thing as +long as I have a shot in the locker." + +"Thank you, Captain Barney; thank you, sir." + +"I'll take care of your mother, my lad, and I'll take care of the squire. +He shall not foreclose that mortgage, Tom. Don't bother your head about +any of those things. You're a good boy, Tom, and I'll keep every thing all +right at home." + +"Thank you, sir," repeated the soldier boy, as Captain Barney started his +horse again. + +The captain was a retired shipmaster, of ample means, and Tom knew that he +was not only able, but willing, to do all he had promised. His heart was +lighter; a load had been removed from his mind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE DEPARTURE. + + +At the time of which we write, recruiting officers were not very +particular in regard to the age of those whom they received into the +volunteer army. If the young man seemed to have the requisite physical +qualifications, it was of little consequence what his age was; and Tom +Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very good soldier. + +Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the young +recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary legal form, but +because he was acquainted with his father and mother, and would not +willingly have done any thing to displease them. The matter, therefore, +was disposed of to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, and Tom +actually commenced his career as a soldier boy. He immediately resigned +his situation in the store, for the company now numbered forty men, not +half a dozen of whom had any knowledge whatever of military drill. + +As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to lose the +time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into the service of +the United States, the town voted to pay each man fifteen dollars a month +for three months. This generous and patriotic action of the town rejoiced +the heart of Tom Somers, for his mother actually needed the pittance he +had earned at the store. Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband; +but the destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several +northern vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in +that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up between the +North and the South, and she not only feared that Captain Somers had lost +all his worldly possessions, but that he would hardly be able to escape +himself from the fiery furnace of secession and treason. + +To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She foresaw that +she and her family would be subjected to the pressure of want, or at least +be dependent upon the kindness of friends for support. She had freely +stated her fears to her children, and fully exhibited the insufficiency of +the family resources. The vote of the town was a perfect godsend to Tom, +and a fat legacy from a rich relative would not have kindled a stronger +feeling of gratitude in his soul. + +For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, and +evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The company +was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then attached to +the --th regiment, which had just been formed and ordered to Fort Warren. + +On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic citizens of +Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful farewell of his +mother, his brother and sisters, and a score of anxious friends. + +"Now don't let the rebels hit you in the backbone, Thomas," said gran'ther +Green, as he shook the hand of the soldier boy. + +"No, gran'ther; if I can't fight, I won't run away," replied Tom. + +"You've got good blood in your veins, my boy: don't disgrace it. I don't +know as you'll ever see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;" and the old +man turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his wrinkled +cheek. + +"Be a good boy, Thomas," added his mother. + +"I will, mother." + +"And remember what I've been telling you. I'm not half so much afraid of +your being killed by a bullet, as I am of your being ruined by bad men." + +"You needn't fear any thing of that kind, mother." + +"I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as well as from your +enemies. We shall see you again before you go off, I hope." + +"Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet." + +"Don't forget to read your Testament, Thomas," said Mrs. Somers. + +"I won't, mother," replied the soldier boy, as he again shook hands with +all the members of the family, kissed his mother and his sisters, and +hitching up his knapsack, took his place in the ranks. + +His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender scene he +had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his inclination to weep, +but he could no longer restrain the tears. Suddenly they came like a flood +bursting the gates that confined it, and he choked and sobbed like a +little girl. He leaned upon his musket, covering his face with his arm. + +"It's a hard case," said private Hapgood, who stood next to him in the +ranks. + +"I didn't think it would take me down like this," sobbed Tom. + +"Don't blubber, Tom. Let's go off game," added Ben Lethbridge, who stood +on the other side of him. + +"I can't help it, Ben." + +"Yes, you can--dry up! Soldiers don't cry, Tom." + +"Yes, they do, my boy," said Hapgood, who was a little old man, nearly ten +years beyond the period of exemption from military duty. "I don't blame +Tom for crying, and, in my opinion, he'll fight all the better for it." + +"Perhaps he will, old un; but I don't think much of a soldier that +blubbers like a baby. I hope he won't run away when he sees the rebels +coming," sneered Ben. + +"If he does, he'll have a chance to see how thick the heels of your boots +are," answered the old man. + +"What do you mean by that, old un?" demanded Ben. + +"Attention--company! Shoulder--arms! Forward--march!" said the captain; +and the discussion was prevented from proceeding any further. + +The band, which was at the head of the citizens' column, struck up an +inspiring march, and Tom dried his tears. The escort moved off, followed +by the company. They passed the little cottage of Captain Somers, and Tom +saw the whole family except John, who was in the escort, standing at the +front gate. The old soldier swung his hat, Tom's sisters and his mother +waved their handkerchiefs; but when they saw the soldier boy, they had to +use them for another purpose. Tom felt another upward pressure in the +region of the throat; but this time he choked down his rising emotions, +and saved himself from the ridicule of his more callous companion on the +left. + +In violation of military discipline, he turned his head to take one last, +fond look at the home he was leaving behind. It might be the last time he +should ever gaze on that loved spot, now a thousand times more dear than +ever before. Never had he realized the meaning of home; never before had +he felt how closely his heart's tendrils were entwined about that hallowed +place. Again, in spite of his firmness and fortitude, and in spite of the +sneers of Ben Lethbridge, he felt the hot tears sliding down his cheek. + +When he reached the brow of the hill which would soon hide the little +cottage from his view, perhaps forever, he gazed behind him again, to take +his last look at the familiar spot. His mother and sister still stood at +the front gate watching the receding column in which the son and the +brother was marching away to peril and perhaps death. + +"God bless my mother! God bless them all!" were the involuntary +ejaculations of the soldier boy, as he turned away from the hallowed +scene. + +But the memory of that blessed place, sanctified by the presence of those +loving and devoted ones, was shrined in the temple of his heart, ever to +go with him in camp and march, in the perils of battle and siege, to keep +him true to his God, true to himself, and true to those whom he had left +behind him. That last look at home and those that make it home, like the +last fond gaze we bestow on the loved and the lost, was treasured up in +the garner of the heart's choicest memories, to be recalled in the solemn +stillness of the midnight vigil, amid the horrors of the battle-field when +the angry strife of arms had ceased, and in the gloom of the soldier's +sick bed when no mother's hand was near to lave the fevered brow. + +The moment when he obtained his last view of the home of his childhood +seemed like the most eventful period of his existence. His heart grew big +in his bosom, and yet not big enough to contain all he felt. He wept +again, and his tears seemed to come from deeper down than his eyes. He did +not hear the inspiring strains of the band, or the cheers that greeted the +company as they went forth to do and die for their country's imperilled +cause. + +"Blubbering again, Tom?" sneered Ben Lethbridge. "I thought you was more +of a man than that, Tom Somers." + +"I can't help it, Ben," replied Tom, vainly struggling to subdue his +emotions. + +"Better go back, then. We don't want a great baby in the ranks." + +"It's nateral, Ben," said old Hapgood. "He'll get over it when he sees the +rebels." + +"Don't believe he will. I didn't think you were such a great calf, Tom." + +"Shet up, now, Ben," interposed Hapgood. "I'll bet my life he'll stand +fire as well as you will. I've been about in the world some, and I reckon +I've as good an idee of this business as you have. Tom's got a heart under +his ribs." + +"I'll bet he runs away at the first fire." + +"I'll bet he won't." + +"I know I won't!" exclaimed Tom, with energy, as he drew his coat sleeve +across his eyes. + +"It isn't the cock that crows the loudest that will fight the best," added +the old man. "I'll bet Tom will be able to tell you the latest news from +the front, where the battle's the hottest. I fit my way up to the city of +Mexico long er old Scott, and I've heard boys crow afore today." + +"Look here, old un! If you mean to call me a coward, why don't you say so, +right up and down?" growled Ben. + +"Time'll tell, my boy. You don't know what gunpowder smells like yet. If +you'd been with the fust Pennsylvany, where I was, you'd a-known sunthin +about war. Now, shet up, Ben; and don't you worry Tom any more." + +But Tom was no longer in a condition to be worried. Though still sad at +the thought of the home and friends he had left behind, he had reduced his +emotions to proper subjection, and before the column reached Boston, he +had even regained his wonted cheerfulness. The procession halted upon the +wharf, where the company was to embark on a steamer for Fort Warren. As +the boat which was to convey them to the fort had not yet arrived, the men +were permitted to mingle with their friends on the wharf, and, of course, +Tom immediately sought out his brother. He found him engaged in a spirited +conversation with Captain Benson. + +"What is it, Jack?" asked the soldier boy. + +"I want to join this company, and the captain won't let me," replied John. + +"You, Jack!" + +"Yes, I." + +"Did mother say so?" + +"No, but she won't care." + +"Did you ask her?" + +"No; I didn't think of going till after I started from home." + +"Don't think of it, Jack. It would be an awful blow to mother to have both +of us go." + +For half an hour Tom argued the matter with John; but the military +enthusiasm of the latter had been so aroused by the march and its +attendant circumstances, that he could not restrain his inclination. + +"If I don't join this company, I shall some other," said John. + +"I shall have to go home again, if you do; for I won't have mother left +alone. We haven't been mustered in yet. Besides, I thought you wanted to +go into the navy." + +"I do; but I'm bound to go somehow," replied John. + +But what neither Tom nor Captain Benson could do, was accomplished by +Captain Barney, who declared John should go home with him if he had to +take him by the collar. The ardent young patriot yielded as gracefully as +he could to this persuasion. + +The steamer having arrived, the soldiers shook hands with their friends +again, went on board, and, amid the hearty cheers of the citizens of +Pinchbrook, were borne down the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +COMPANY K. + + +Tom Somers felt that he was now a soldier indeed. While the company +remained in Pinchbrook, he had slept every night in his own bed, and taken +his meals in the kitchen of the little cottage. He fully realized that he +had bade a long farewell to all the comforts and luxuries of home. That +day, for the first time, he was to partake of soldiers' fare, and that +night, for the first time, he was to sleep upon a soldier's bed. These +thoughts did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he +had carefully considered, with the best information he could obtain, what +hardships and privations he would be called to endure. He had made up his +mind to bear all things without a murmur for the blessed land of his +birth, which now called upon her sons to defend her from the parricidal +blow of the traitor. + +Tom had not only made up his mind to bear all these things, but to bear +them patiently and cheerfully. He had a little theory of his own, that +rather more than half of the discomforts of this mortal life exist only in +the imagination. If he only _thought_ that every thing was all right, it +went a great way towards making it all right--a very comforting and +satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety down to +seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from ten to forty +degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his stomach when it was +empty, alleviated the toothache or the headache, and changed snarling +babies into new-fledged angels. I commend Tom's philosophy to the +attention and imitation of all my young friends, assured that nothing will +keep them so happy and comfortable as a cheerful and contented +disposition. + +"Tom Somers," said a voice near him, cutting short the consoling +meditation in which he was engaged. + +His name was pronounced in a low and cautious tone, but the voice sounded +familiar to him, and he turned to ascertain who had addressed him. He did +not discover any person who appeared to be the owner of the voice, and was +leaving the position he had taken on the forward deck of the steamer, when +his name was repeated, in the same low and cautious tone. + +"Who is it? Where are you?" said Tom, looking all about him, among the +groups of soldiers who were gathered on various parts of the deck, +discussing the present and the future. + +"Here, Tom," replied the voice, which sounded more familiar every time he +heard it. + +He turned his eye in the direction from which the sound proceeded, and +there, coiled up behind a heap of barrels and boxes, and concealed by a +sail-cloth which had been thrown over the goods to protect them from an +expected shower, he discovered Fred Pemberton. + +"What in the name of creation are you doing there, Fred?" exclaimed Tom, +laughing at the ludicrous attitude of the embryo secessionist. + +"Hush! Don't say a word, Tom. Sit down here where I can talk with you," +added Fred. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"I'll tell if you will keep quiet a moment. Is the company full?" + +"What company?" + +"Captain Benson's, of course." + +"No." + +"I want to join." + +"You!" ejaculated Tom. + +"Come, come, Tom, no blackguarding now. You and I used to be good +friends." + +"I've nothing against you, Fred--that is, if you're not a traitor." + +"I want to join the company." + +"Is your father willing?" + +"Of course he isn't; but that needn't make any difference." + +"But you don't believe in our cause, Fred. We don't want a traitor in the +ranks." + +"Hang the cause! I want to go with the company." + +"Hang the cause? Well, I reckon that's a good recommendation." + +"I'm all right on that." + +"Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance, and swear to sustain the +flag of your country?" + +"Of course I am. I only followed the old man's lead; but I have got enough +of it. Do you think Captain Benson will take me into the company?" + +"Perhaps he will." + +"Ask him--will you? You needn't say I'm here, you know." + +"But what will your father say?" + +"I don't care what he says." + +Tom thought, if Fred didn't care, he needn't, and going aft, he found the +captain, and proposed to him the question. + +"Take him--yes. We'll teach him loyalty and patriotism, and before his +time is out, we will make him an abolitionist," replied Captain Benson. +"What will his father say?" + +"His father doesn't know anything about it. Fred ran away, and followed +the company into the city." + +"Squire Pemberton is a traitor, and I believe the army will be the best +school in the world for his son," added the captain. "It will be better +for him to be with us than to be at home. If it was the son of any other +man in Pinchbrook, I wouldn't take him without the consent of his father; +as it is, I feel perfectly justified in accepting him." + +Tom hastened to the forward deck to report the success of his mission. The +result was, that Fred came out of his hiding-place, and exhibited himself +to the astonished members of the Pinchbrook company. When he announced his +intention to go to the war, and, with a pardonable flourish, his desire to +serve his country, he was saluted with a volley of cheers. Captain Benson +soon appeared on the forward deck, and the name of the new recruit was +placed on the enlistment paper. + +Fred was seventeen years of age, and was taller and stouter than Tom +Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age or his physical +ability to endure the hardships of a campaign. + +The steamer arrived at Fort Warren, and the company landed. After waiting +a short time on the wharf, the color company of the --th regiment, to +which they were attached, came down and escorted them to the parade ground +within the fort. It was a desolate and gloomy-looking place to Tom, who +had always lived among green fields, and the beautiful surroundings of a +New England rural district. + +If the fort itself looked dreary, how much more so were the casemates in +which the company was quartered! But Tom's philosophy was proof against +the unpleasant impression, and his joke was as loud and hearty as that of +any of his companions. The men were divided off into messes, and they had +an abundance of work to do in bringing up the company's luggage, and +making their new habitation as comfortable and pleasant as the +circumstances would permit. + +The next day the Pinchbrook boys were designated as Company K, and placed +in the regimental line. The limits of this volume do not permit me to +detail the every-day life of the soldier boy while at Fort Warren, however +interesting and instructive it might be to our friends. A large portion of +the forenoon was devoted to squad and company drill, and of the afternoon +to battalion drill. The colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, +was an enthusiast in military matters, and had the reputation of being one +of the most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, +since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he was no +bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate when he found +that the colonel of the regiment was no taller and no heavier than +himself. And when he heard the high praise bestowed upon the colonel's +military skill and martial energy, he came to the conclusion that it does +not require a big man to make a good soldier. With a feeling of +satisfaction he recalled the fact that Napoleon Bonaparte, when he +commanded the army of Italy, was scarcely a bigger man than the colonel or +himself. + +The colonel was a strict disciplinarian, and he soon diffused his energy +throughout the regiment. It made rapid progress in its military education. +Tom was deeply interested in the details of his new profession, and used +his best endeavors to do his duty promptly and faithfully. This was not +the case with all the boys in the company from Pinchbrook, and I am sorry +to say that some of them, including the brave and chivalric Ben +Lethbridge, had to sit upon the stool of repentance in the guard room on +several occasions. + +Fred Pemberton was clothed in the uniform of the United States volunteers, +and we must do him the justice to say that he performed his duty to the +entire satisfaction of his officers. Fred was a good fellow, and barring +his treason, which he had derived from his father, was highly esteemed by +those who knew him. The only stain that had ever rested upon his character +was removed, and he and Tom were as good friends as ever they had been. +His motive in joining the army, however, could not be applauded. He +thought all his friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, +spiced with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, +and he did not like the idea of being left behind. To the sentiment of +patriotism, as developed in the soul of Tom Somers and many of his +companions, he was an entire stranger. He was going to the war to +participate in the adventures of the --th regiment, rather than to fight +for the flag which had been insulted and dishonored by treason. + +Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to see their +friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness the drills and +parades which were constantly succeeding each other. Among them came many +of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visit from his +whole family. His mother found him so comfortable and contented that she +returned with half the heavy burden on her soul removed. + +While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their friends +from home, there was one in the company who was in constant dread lest he +should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds which the steamers +daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did not wish to see his nearest +friends; but after he had been in the company some ten days, just as the +boys had been dismissed from the forenoon drill, he discovered at a +distance the patriarchal form of his father. + +"My pipe's out, Tom," said Fred, as he rushed into the casemate where a +group of his companions were resting from the fatigues of the morning. + +"What's the matter now, Fred?" + +"The old man has just come into the fort." + +"Has he?" + +"Yes--what shall I do?" + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through all right," +said Sergeant Porter. + +"What shall I do?" demanded Fred, who, whatever his views in regard to the +justice or injustice of coercion, did not wish to be taken from the +company. + +"Come with me," said the sergeant, as he led the way into an adjoining +casemate. "No; nobody else will come," added he, motioning back other +members of the mess who was disposed to follow. + +In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there was a pile +of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments had been packed. +The fugitive from his father's anxious search was directed to get into one +of these boxes, from which the sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; +his confederate put on the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful +supply of air, and other boxes were placed upon that containing the +runaway. + +Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and demanded his +son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. Sergeant Porter kept out +of the way, and not another man in the company knew anything about him. +The boys were very willing to assist the indignant father in his search, +but all their efforts were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate, +and every nook and corner upon the island, but without effect. + +"I want my son, sir," said the squire, angrily, to the captain. "I require +you to produce him." + +"I don't know where he is," replied Captain Benson. + +"You have concealed him, sir." + +"I have not." + +The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no satisfaction, and was +obliged to leave without accomplishing his purpose. As soon as he had +gone, Fred appeared, and the boys laughed for a week over the affair. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN WASHINGTON. + + +On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after being +conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here the "little +colonel" displayed his energy and military skill to much greater advantage +than when within the narrow confines of the fort. The men were not only +carefully and persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the +circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a campaign. + +Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier's pride in his new +situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was not always the +easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he bore his trials with +philosophical patience and fortitude, and made the most of whatever joys +the circumstances placed within his reach. + +Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had enlisted for the +war, and meant to take things as they came. It was not exactly agreeable +to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, rainy night; but grumbling +would not make it any the more agreeable, and only made the grumbler +discontented and unhappy. It did not look like "the pomp and circumstance +of war," and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would +have been better satisfied in their own houses in "the village by the +sea." But most of these men had left their happy homes under the +inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were going forth to +fight the battles of their imperilled country, and this reflection filled +them with a heroism which the petty trials and discomforts of the camp +could not impair. + +While the regiment was at Camp Cameron, the state colors and a standard, +procured by the liberality of its friends, were presented; and the +patriotic speeches delivered on this occasion made a deep impression upon +the mind and heart of the soldier boy. To him they were real--perhaps more +real than to those who uttered the burning words. He was in a situation to +feel the full force of the great sacrifice which the soldier makes for his +country. He devoted himself, heart and soul, to the cause; and what was +but an idle sentiment in the mind of the flowery speech-makers, was truth +and soberness to him who was to meet the foe at the cannon's mouth and at +the bayonet's point. + +"We are off on the 29th," said old Hapgood, one evening, as he entered the +barrack where Tom was writing a letter to his mother. + +"Good! I am glad to hear it. I was just telling my mother that I hoped we +should not have to stay much longer in this place," replied Tom. + +"I think we are having an easy time of it here," added the veteran. "When +you find out what hunger and fatigue mean, you will learn to be contented +with such a place as this." + +"I'm contented enough; but I want to get into the field, and have +something done." + +"Time enough, my boy. I used to feel just so, Tom, when I went to Mexico; +but after a while I got so I didn't care what we did or where we went." + +Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of the time +fixed for the departure of the regiment. The intelligence in this instance +proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the little colonel marched +his command into the city, where it was duly embarked on the cars for New +York. It was a day of excitement, for the streets of the city were +thronged with people, whose cheers and applause were the benison with +which the regiment went forth to do and to die for the nation. Tom was +delighted with this warm reception, but more by meeting his mother and his +brother and sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad +meeting. Mrs. Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son +go forth to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater +perils of the camp? + +It was a sad parting; and many a mother's heart was torn with anguish on +that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her bosom, for the last time, +as she gave him to his country. Cold, stern men, who had never wept +before, wept then--the flesh that was in their stony hearts yielded its +unwilling tribute to nature and affection. + +"All aboard!" shouted the officers, when the train was ready to depart. + +"God bless you, my boy!" sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she kissed her son. "Be +good and true, and don't forget to read your Testament." + +"Good by, mother," was all that Tom could say, as he grasped his musket, +which John had been holding for him, and rushed into the car. + +The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had gathered to +witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever before, the +soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered the service. He +listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was sad and silent. He +sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the anguish of the hour. On and +on dashed the train, and his thoughts still dwelt upon the home and the +mother he had left behind him. + +Our readers can better imagine than we can describe the feelings of the +soldier boy during that long night. The regiment arrived in New York at +half-past ten in the forenoon of the following day, and was escorted up +Broadway by the Sons of Massachusetts. At the Park, it was warmly welcomed +by the President of the Sons, and as the little colonel was a better +soldier than a speech-maker, the response was made by the surgeon. By this +time, Tom was able to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and the +flattering ovation bestowed upon the regiment was a source of personal +pride and satisfaction. The little colonel's command was declared to be +the best drilled and most soldierly body of men which had yet departed for +the battle-fields of the republic. + +The great city was full of wonders to the soldier boy, and during the few +hours he remained there, he was in a constant whirl of excitement. If the +mission before him had been less grand and sublime, he could have wished +to spend a few days in exploring the wonders of the great metropolis; but +the stupendous events that loomed up in the future, prophetic even to the +inexperienced eye of youth, engrossed all his thoughts. He partook of the +bountiful collation in the Park, and was content to march on to scenes +more thrilling and exciting than the tumult of the busy city. + +The regiment took a steamer, at half-past four for Elizabethport, and +thence proceeded by railroad to Washington, by the way of Harrisburg. Some +portions of the journey were performed under the most trying +circumstances. The men were crowded, like sheep, into unsuitable cars, so +that not only were they subjected to many needless discomforts, but their +very lives were endangered. On the way, two men were crowded out of a car, +and, for a time, were supposed to have been killed. + +On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an opportunity +to see the "city of magnificent distances," of which he had heard so much. +The regiment marched from the station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to +their camp ground in the rear of the White House. They were received with +enthusiasm by the people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had +been supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of +destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, gave the +politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of "shoddy." + +The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it passed up +the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his mansion. The boys +greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, which the President +acknowledged by a series of bows, which were not half so ungraceful as one +might have expected after reading the descriptions of him contained in the +newspapers. + +To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he could scarcely +believe that he was looking upon the chief magistrate of this great +nation. He was filled with boyish wonder and astonishment; but, after all, +he was forced to admit that the President, though a tall specimen of +humanity, looked very much like the rest of mankind--to borrow a phrase +from one of his illustrious predecessors. + +Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, and the +simple magnificence of the President. The tents were pitched, and the +weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a couple of days, however, our +soldier boy was "as good as new." + +"Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of the city," said +Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the regiment had become fairly +settled in its new quarters. + +"I should like to take a tramp. There are lots of congressmen here, and I +should like to know what they look like," replied Tom. "I haven't been +outside the lines since we came here." + +"I have; and I'm going again! Fred and I mean to have a good time to-day. +Will you go?" + +"Have you got a pass?" + +"A pass! What a stupid! What do you want of a pass? You can't get one. +They won't give any." + +"Then we can't go, of course." + +"Bah! What a great calf you are! Don't you want to cry again?" + +"Ben, you needn't say cry to me again as long as you live," added Tom. "If +you do, I'll give you something to cry for." + +Tom did not like the style of remark which the other had adopted. He was +angry, and, as he spoke, his fist involuntarily clinched, and his eye +looked fierce and determined. + +"Come, come, Tom; don't bristle up so. If you are a man, just show that +you are, and come along with us." + +"I say, Ben, I want to know who's a baby or a calf, you or I, before we +go, I won't stand any more of your lip." + +"Will you go with us?" demanded Ben, who was rather disposed to dodge the +issue. + +"What do you mean by calling me a calf and a baby? And this isn't the +first time you've done it." + +"Don't you know that every man in the regiment has been all over the city, +and without any pass? When I ask you to go, you begin to talk about a +pass." + +"I choose to obey orders," replied Tom. + +"O, you daresn't go with us." + +"Come along!" said Tom, who had not yet learned to bear the taunts of his +companion. + +"Get your pail." + +Tom got his pail, and was immediately joined by Fred and Ben, each of whom +was also supplied with a pail. There was no water to be had within the +camp ground, and the men were obliged to bring it in pails from the +hydrants in the street. A pail, therefore, was quite as good as a written +document to enable them to pass the guard. + +The party thus provided had no difficulty in passing the sentinels. At a +convenient place outside the line, they concealed the pails, and, for +three hours, roamed at will over the city. + +"Now, Tom, you wanted to see the congressmen?" said Ben, after they had +"done" the city pretty thoroughly. + +"Yes, but I have seen them at the Capitol." + +"But don't you want to get nearer to them, and hear them talk?" + +"Well, I should like to." + +"Come with us, then." + +Ben led the way down the avenue, and entered a building not far from the +railroad station. After passing through a long, narrow entry, they +ascended a flight of stairs, at the head of which the conductor gave two +raps. The door was opened by a negro, and they were invited to enter. At a +table in the middle of the room was seated a foppish-looking man who held +in his hand a silver box. As he turned it, Tom saw that it contained a +pack of cards. + +"Where are your congressmen?" asked the soldier boy, whose eyes had been +opened by the appearance of the cards. + +"They will be here pretty soon," replied Ben. + +The foppish man looked at his watch, and declared they would come in the +course of five or ten minutes. He then took the cards out of the box, and, +after shuffling them, returned them to their place. Fred placed a +"quarter" on the table; the gambler put another by its side, and drew out +a card from the silver case. Tom did not understand the game; but his +companion put the quarters in his pocket. + +"See that, Tom!" said he. "Got any money?" + +"If I have I shall keep it." + +"Put down a quarter, and make another." + +"No, sir! I'm no gambler!" replied Tom, with emphasis. + +"Quite respectable, I assure you," added the blackleg at the table. + +"I'm going," said Tom, decidedly. + +"Baby!" sneered Ben. "Afraid to play!" + +"I _won't_ play! I'm going." + +The negro opened the door, and he passed out. Contrary to his expectation, +he was followed by Fred and Ben. + +"Baby is afraid of cards!" sneered Ben, as they passed through the long +entry. + +"Afraid of cards, but not afraid of you," replied Tom, as he planted a +heavy blow between the eyes of his companion. + +Ben Lethbridge returned the blow, and it cost him another, and there was a +prospect of quite a lively skirmish in the entry; but Fred Pemberton +interposed his good offices, and effected a compromise, which, like most +of the political compromises, was only the postponement of the conflict. + +"I told you not to call me 'baby,' again," said Tom, as they passed out of +the building. "I will convince you before I am done that I'm not a baby." + +Ben found it convenient to offer no reply to this plain statement of +facts, and the three soldiers made their way back to the camp, and, having +obtained their pails and filled them with water at the hydrants, they +passed the guard without a question. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ON TO RICHMOND. + + +It so happened that Ben Lethbridge, probably satisfied that it was not the +fist of a baby which had partially blackened both of his eyes, and +produced a heavy pain under his left ear, did not demand the satisfaction +which was needed to heal his wounded honor. The matter was duly discussed +in the tent of Tom's mess; but our soldier boy, while he professed to be +entirely satisfied, was willing to meet Ben at such time and place as he +desired, and finish up the affair. + +The other party was magnanimous, and declared that he too was satisfied; +and old Hapgood thought they had better proceed no further with the +affair, for both of them might be arrested for disorderly conduct. + +"I am satisfied, Ben; but if you ever call me a baby or a calf again, it +will all have to be settled over again," said Tom, as he laid aside his +musket, which he had been cleaning during the conversation. + +"I don't want to quarrel with you, Tom," replied Ben, "but I wish you +would be a little more like the rest of the fellows." + +"What do you mean by that? I am like the rest of the fellows." + +"You wouldn't play cards." + +"Yes, I will play cards, but I won't gamble; and there isn't many fellows +in the company that will." + +"That's so," added Hapgood. "I know all about that business. When I went +to Mexico, I lost my money as fast as I got it, playing cards. Don't +gamble, boys." + +"I won't, for one," said Tom, with emphasis. + +"Are you going to set up for a soldier-saint, too?" sneered Ben, turning +to the old man. + +"I'm no saint, but I've larned better than to gamble." + +"I think you'd better stop drinking too," added Ben. + +"Come, Ben, you are meaner than dirt," said Tom, indignantly. + +Old Hapgood was a confirmed toper. The people in Pinchbrook said he was a +good man, but, they used to add, with a shrug of the shoulders, "pity he +drinks." It was a sad pity, but he seemed to have no power over his +appetite. The allusion of Ben to his besetting sin was cruel and +mortifying, for the old man had certainly tried to reform, and since the +regiment left Boston, he had not tasted the intoxicating cup. He had +declared before the mess that he had stopped drinking; so his resolution +was known to all his companions, though none of them had much confidence +in his ability to carry it out. + +"I didn't speak to you, Tom Somers," said Ben, sharply. + +"You said a mean thing in my presence." + +"By and by we shall be having a prayer meeting in our tent every night." + +"If you are invited I hope you will come," added Tom, "for if prayers will +do any body any good, they won't hurt you." + +"If you will take care of yourself, and let me alone, it's all I ask of +you." + +"I'm agreed." + +This was about the last of the skirmishing between Tom and Ben. The latter +was a little disposed to be bully; and from the time the company left +Pinchbrook, he had been in the habit of calling Tom a baby, and other +opprobrious terms, till the subject of his sneers could endure them no +longer. Tom had come to the conclusion that he could obtain respectful +treatment only by the course he had adopted. Perhaps, if he had possessed +the requisite patience, he might have attained the same result by a less +repulsive and more noble policy. + +The regiment remained in Washington about a fortnight. The capital was no +longer considered to be in danger. A large body of troops had been massed +in and around the city, and the rebels' boast that they would soon capture +Washington was no longer heeded. Fear and anxiety had given place to hope +and expectation. "On to Richmond!" was the cry sounded by the newspapers, +and repeated by the people. The army of newly-fledged soldiers was burning +with eagerness to be led against the rebels. "On to Richmond!" shouted +citizens and soldiers, statesmen and politicians. Some cursed and some +deprecated the cautious slowness of the old general who had never been +defeated. + +"On to Richmond!" cried the boys in Tom's regiment, and none more +earnestly than he. + +"Don't hurry old Scott. He knows what he is about. I know something about +this business, for I've seen old Scott where the bullets flew thicker'n +snow flakes at Christmas," was the oft-repeated reply of Hapgood, the +veteran of Company K. + +The movement which had been so long desired and expected was made at last, +and the regiment struck its tents, and proceeded over Long Bridge into +Virginia. The first camp was at Shuter's Hill, near Alexandria. + +"Now we are in for it," said Tom Somers, when the mess gathered in their +tent after the camp was formed. "I hope we shall not remain here long." + +"Don't be in a hurry, my brave boy," said old Hapgood. "We may stop here a +month." + +"I hope not." + +"Don't hope anything about it, Tom. Take things as they come." + +But the impatience of the soldier boy was soon relieved; for at daylight +on the morning of the 16th of July, the regiment was routed out, the tents +were struck, and at nine o'clock they took up the line of march to the +southward. It was "on to Richmond," in earnest, now, and merrily marched +the men, who little knew what trials and sufferings, what scenes of blood +and death, lay in their path. + +The little colonel's command had been put in Franklin's brigade, which +formed a part of Heintzelman's division; but little did Tom or his +fellow-soldiers know of anything but their own regiment. The "sacred soil" +of Virginia seemed to be covered with Federal soldiers, and whichever way +he turned, columns of troops might be seen, all obedient to the one grand +impulse of the loyal nation--"On to Richmond." + +The great wagons, gun carriages, and caissons rolling slowly along, the +rattling drums, with here and there the inspiring strains of a band, the +general officers, with their staffs, were full of interest and excitement +to the soldier boy; and though the business before him was stern and +terrible, yet it seemed like some great pageant, moving grandly along to +celebrate, rather than win, a glorious triumph. + +The novelty of the movement, however, soon wore away, and it required only +a few hours to convince the inexperienced soldiers in our regiment that it +was no idle pageant in which they were engaged. The short intervals of +rest which were occasionally allowed were moments to be appreciated. All +day long they toiled upon their weary way, praying for the night to come, +with its coveted hours of repose. The night did come, but it brought no +rest to the weary and footsore soldiers. + +Tom was terribly fatigued. His knapsack, which had been light upon his +buoyant frame in the morning, now seemed to weigh two hundred pounds, +while his musket had grown proportionally heavy. Hour after hour, in the +darkness of that gloomy night, he trudged on, keeping his place in the +ranks with a resolution which neither the long hours nor the weary miles +could break down. + +"I can't stand this much longer," whined Ben Lethbridge. "I shall drop +pretty soon, and die by the roadside." + +"No, you won't," added Hapgood. "Stick to it a little while longer; never +say die." + +"I can't stand it." + +"Yes, you can. Only think you can, and you can," added the veteran. + +"What do they think we are made of? We can't march all day and all night. +I wish I was at home." + +"I wish I hadn't come," said Fred Pemberton. + +"Cheer up! cheer up, boys. Stick to it a little longer," said the veteran. + +It was three o'clock the next morning before they were permitted to halt, +when the boys rolled themselves up in their blankets, and dropped upon the +ground. It was positive enjoyment to Tom, and he felt happy; for rest was +happiness when the body was all worn out. A thought of the cottage and of +his mother crossed his mind, and he dropped asleep to dream of the joys of +home. + +Short and sweet was that blessed time of rest; for at four o'clock, after +only one brief hour of repose, the regiment was turned out again, and +resumed its weary march to the southward. But that short interval of rest +was a fountain of strength to Tom, and without a murmur he took his place +by the side of his grumbling companions. Ben and Fred were disgusted with +the army, and wanted to go back; but that was impossible. + +Again, for weary hours, they toiled upon the march. They passed Fairfax, +and encamped near the railroad station, where a full night's rest was +allowed them. By the advice of Hapgood, Tom went to a brook, and washed +his aching feet in cold water. The veteran campaigner gave him other +useful hints, which were of great service to him. That night he had as +good reason to bless the memory of the man who invented sleep as ever +Sancho Panza had, and every hour was fully improved. + +At six o'clock, the next morning, the regiment marched again. Tom's legs +were stiff, but he felt so much better than on the preceding day, that he +began to think that he could stand any thing. In the early part of the +afternoon his ears were saluted by a new sound--one which enabled him more +fully than before to realize the nature of the mission upon which he had +been sent. It was the roar of cannon. On that day was fought the battle of +Blackburn's Ford; and when the regiment reached its halting-place at +Centreville, the story of the fight was told by enthusiastic lips. +Massachusetts men had stood firm and resolute before the artillery and +musketry of the rebels, and every man who heard the story was proud that +he hailed from the Old Bay State, and panted for the time when he might +show himself worthy of his origin, and true to the traditions of the past. + +The regiment lay in camp the two following days, and the men had an +opportunity to recover in some measure from the fatigues of their first +severe march. Visions of glory and victory were beginning to dawn upon +them. They had listened to the cannon of the enemy, and they knew that the +rebels were not many miles distant in front of them. A few days, perhaps a +few hours, would elapse before the terrible conflict would commence. Some +of those manly forms must soon sleep in the soldier's grave; some of those +beating hearts must soon cease to beat forever; but still the brave and +the true longed for the hour that would enable them to "strike home" for +the nation's salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN. + + +"Tumble out! Tumble out!" shouted the sergeant, who was in the mess with +the soldiers we have introduced. "Reveille! Don't you hear it?" + +"But it isn't morning," growled Ben Lethbridge. + +"I haven't been asleep more than an hour or two," snarled Fred Pemberton. + +"Shut up your heads, and turn out!" said the sergeant. + +It was the morning of the eventful twenty-first of July, and it was only +two o'clock when the regiment was roused from its slumbers; but there was +no great hardship in this fact, for most of the men had been sleeping the +greater portion of the time during the preceding two days. Tom Somers was +ready to take his place in the line in a few moments. + +"Come, fellows, hurry up," said he to his tardy companions. "The time has +come, and, I tell you, there'll be music before many hours." + +"Where are we going, Tom? Have you any idea?" asked Fred. + +"Going down to Manassas Junction, I suppose. That's where the rebels are." + +"Do you suppose we shall get into a fight?" asked Ben. + +"I don't know; I hope so." + +"So do I," returned Ben, faintly; "but I don't like to be broke of my rest +in this way." + +Tom, full of excited anticipations in regard to the events of the day, +laughed heartily at this reply, and left the tent. The regiment was formed +in line, but there were two vacancies in the section to which he belonged. +Fred and Ben had answered to their names at roll call. On some pretence +they had asked permission to leave the line for a few moments, and that +was the last that had been seen of them. + +"Where do you suppose they are?" said Tom to Hapgood. + +"I don't know. I hain't got much confidence in Ben's pluck, and I +shouldn't wonder if he had run away." + +"But that is desertion." + +"That's just what you may call it; and I've seen men shot for it." + +The regiment remained in line several hours before the order came to move. +At daylight, while the men were still standing in the road, four soldiers, +attended by a staff officer, conducted the two missing men of Company K +into the presence of the regiment. + +"These men say they belong to your regiment," said the officer, saluting +the little colonel. + +Captain Benson immediately claimed them, and Fred and Ben were ordered +into the ranks. + +"Cowards--are you?" said the captain. "You shall take your places in the +ranks, and at the right time we will settle this case." + +"I enlisted without my father's consent, and you can't hold me if I don't +choose to stay," replied Fred Pemberton. + +"Next time you must ask your father before you come. It is too late to +repent now." + +"I'm going home." + +"No, you're not. Sergeant, if either of those men attempt to leave the +ranks again, shoot them!" said the captain. + +Fred and Ben took their places in the ranks amid the laughter and jeers of +the company. + +"Who's the baby now?" said Bob Dornton. + +"You have disgraced the company," added old Hapgood. "I didn't think you +would run away before the battle commenced." + +"I shall keep both eyes on you, my boys, and if you skulk again, I'll obey +orders--by the Lord Harry, I will!" said the sergeant, as he glanced at +the lock of his musket. "Company K isn't going to be laughed at for your +cowardice." + +At six o'clock the order came for the brigade to march. It now consisted +of only three regiments, for the time of one, composed of three months' +men, had expired while at Centreville; and though requested and importuned +to remain a few days longer, they basely withdrew, even while they were on +the very verge of the battlefield. This regiment left, and carried with it +the scorn and contempt of the loyal and true men, who were as ready to +fight the battles of their country on one day as on another. + +The men knew they were going to battle now, for the enemy was only a few +miles distant. The soldier boy's heart was full of hope. He knew not what +a battle was; he could form no adequate conception of the terrible scene +which was soon to open upon his view. He prayed and trusted that he might +be able to do his duty with courage and fidelity. To say that he had no +doubts and fears would be to say that he was not human. + +As the brigade toiled slowly along, he tried to picture the scene which +was before him, and thus make himself familiar with its terrors before he +was actually called to confront them. He endeavored to imagine the sounds +of screaming shells and whistling bullets, that the reality, when it came, +might not appall him. He thought of his companions dropping dead around +him, of his friends mangled by bayonets and cannon shot; he painted the +most terrible picture of a battle which his imagination could conjure up, +hoping in this manner to be prepared for the worst. + +The day was hot, and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon the +devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march. They were fatigued by +continued exertion, and some of the weary ones, when the sun approached +the meridian, began to hope the great battle would not take place on that +day. Tom Somers, nearly worn out by the tedious march, and half famished +after the scanty breakfast of hard bread he had eaten before daylight, +began to feel that he was in no condition to face the storm of bullets +which he had been imagining. + +No orders came to halt at noon, though the crowded roads several times +secured them a welcome rest: but on marched the weary soldiers, till the +roar of cannon broke upon their ears; and as they moved farther on, the +rattling volleys of musketry were heard, denoting that the battle had +already commenced. These notes of strife were full of inspiration to the +loyal and patriotic in the columns. A new life was breathed into them. +They were enthusiastic in the good cause, and their souls immediately +became so big that what had been body before seemed to become spirit now. +They forgot their empty stomachs and their weary limbs. The music of +battle, wild and terrible as it was to these untutored soldiers, charmed +away the weariness of the body, and, to the quickstep of thundering cannon +and crashing musketry, they pressed on with elastic tread to the horrors +before them. + +Tom felt that he had suddenly and miraculously been made over anew. He +could not explain the reason, but his legs had ceased to ache, his feet to +be sore, and his musket and his knapsack were deprived of their +superfluous weight. + +"God be with me in this battle!" he exclaimed to himself a dozen times. +"God give me strength and courage!" + +Animated by his trust in Him who will always sustain those who confide in +him, the soldier boy pressed on, determined not to disgrace the name he +bore. The terrible sounds became more and more distinct as the regiment +advanced, and in about two hours after the battle had opened, the brigade +arrived at the field of operations. One regiment was immediately detached +and sent off in one direction, while the other two were ordered to support +a battery on a hill, from which it was belching forth a furious storm of +shells upon the rebels. + +The little colonel's sword gleamed in the air, as he gave the order to +march on the double-quick to the position assigned to him. + +"Now, Tom, steady, and think of nothing but God and your country," said +old Hapgood, as the regiment commenced its rapid march. "I know something +about this business, and I can tell you we shall have hot work before we +get through with it." + +"Where are the rebels? I don't see any," asked Tom, who found that his +ideas of the manner in which a battle is fought were very much at fault. + +"You will see them very soon. They are in their breastworks. There! Look +down there!" exclaimed the veteran as the regiment reached a spot which +commanded a full view of the battle. + +Tom looked upon the fearful scene. The roar of the artillery and the crash +of the small arms were absolutely stunning. He saw men fall, and lie +motionless on the ground, where they were trampled upon by the horses, and +crushed beneath the wheels of cannon and caisson. But the cry was, that +the army of the Union had won the field, and it inspired him with new zeal +and new courage. + +Scarcely had the remnant of the brigade reached the right of the battery, +before they were ordered to charge down the valley, by Colonel Franklin, +the acting brigadier. They were executing the command with a dash and +vigor that would have been creditable to veterans, when they were ordered +to cross the ravine, and support the Eire Zouaves. The movement was made, +and Tom soon found himself in the thickest of the fight. Shot and shell +were flying in every direction, and the bullets hissed like hailstones +around him. + +In spite of all his preparations for this awful scene, his heart rose up +into his throat. His eyes were blinded by the volumes of rolling smoke, +and his mind confused by the rapid succession of incidents that were +transpiring around him. The pictures he had painted were sunlight and +golden compared with the dread reality. Dead and dying men strewed the +ground in every direction. Wounded horses were careering on a mad course +of destruction, trampling the wounded and the dead beneath their feet. The +hoarse shouts of the officers were heard above the roar of battle. The +scene mocked all the attempts which the soldier boy had made to imagine +its horrors. + +In front of the regiment were the famous Eire Zouaves, no longer guided +and controlled by the master genius of Ellsworth. They fought like tigers, +furiously, madly; but all discipline had ceased among them, and they +rushed wildly to the right and the left, totally heedless of their +officers. They fought like demons, and as Tom saw them shoot down, hew +down, or bayonet the hapless rebels who came within their reach, it seemed +to him as though they had lost their humanity, and been transformed into +fiends. + +As soon as the regiment reached its position, the order was given to fire. +Tom found this a happy relief; and when he had discharged his musket a few +times, all thoughts of the horrors of the scene forsook him. He no longer +saw the dead and the dying; he no longer heard the appalling roar of +battle. He had become a part of the scene, instead of an idle spectator. +He was sending the bolt of death into the midst of the enemies of his +country. + +"Bravo! Good boy, Tom," said old Hapgood, who seemed to be as much at ease +as when he had counselled patience and resignation in the quiet of the +tent. "Don't fire too high, Tom." + +"I've got the idea," replied the soldier boy. "I begin to feel quite at +home." + +"O, you'll do; and I knew you would from the first." + +The shouts of victory which had sounded over the field were full of +inspiration to the men; but at the moment when the laurels seemed to be +resting securely upon our banners, the rebel line moved forward with +irresistible fury. Tom, at one instant, as he cast his eye along the line, +found himself flanked on either side by his comrades; at the next there +was a wild, indescribable tramp and roar, and he found himself alone. The +regiment was scattered in every direction, and he did not see a single man +whom he knew. There was a moving mass of Federal soldiers all around him. +The Zouaves had been forced back, and the cry of victory had given place +to the ominous sounds which betokened a defeat, if not a rout. + +The rebels had been reenforced, and had hurled their fresh legions upon +our exhausted troops, who could no longer roll back the masses that +crowded upon them. The day was lost. + +Tom, bewildered by this sudden and disastrous result, moved back with the +crowds around him. Men had ceased to be brave and firm; they were fleeing +in mortal terror before the victorious battalions that surged against +them. + +"It's all up with us, my lad," said a panting Zouave. "Run for your life. +Come along with me." + +Tom followed the Zouave towards the woods, the storm of bullets still +raining destruction around them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +AFTER THE BATTLE. + + +Tom Somers floated with the tide of humanity that was setting away from +the scene of disaster and defeat. The panic that prevailed was even more +fearful than the battle, for wounded and dying men were mercilessly +trodden down by the feet of the horses, and run over by the wheels of the +cannon and the baggage wagons. Though the battle was ended, the rebels +still poured storms of shot and shell into the retreating, panic-stricken +host. + +Tom did not know where to go, for there were panic and death on all sides +of him. The soldiers were flying in every direction, some of them into the +very arms of their remorseless enemies. But the woods seemed to promise +the most secure retreat from the fury of the Black Horse Cavalry, which +was now sweeping over the battle-field. The Zouave ran in this direction, +and our soldier boy followed him. Now that the excitement of the conflict +was over, the enthusiasm which had buoyed him up began to subside. The day +was lost; all hopes of glory had fled; and a total defeat and rout were +not calculated to add much strength to his over-tasked limbs. + +He was nearly used up, and it was hard work to run--very hard work; and +nothing but the instinct of self-preservation enabled him to keep the tall +and wiry form of the Zouave in sight. They reached the ravine, where the +water was about three feet deep. The shot, and shell, and bullets still +fell in showers around them, and occasionally one of the luckless +fugitives was struck down. They crossed the stream, and continued on their +flight. An officer on horseback dashed by them, and bade them run with all +their might, or they would be taken. + +"For Heaven's sake, get me some water!" said a rebel, who was wounded in +the leg, to a Zouave, who passed near him. + +"You are a rebel, but I will do that for you," replied the Zouave; and he +gave him a canteen filled with water. + +The rebel drank a long, deep draught, and then levelled his musket at the +head of his Samaritan enemy and fired. This transaction had occupied but a +moment, and Tom saw the whole. His blood froze with horror at the +unparalleled atrocity of the act. The Zouave, whom Tom had followed, +uttered a terrible oath, and snatching the musket from the hands of the +soldier boy, he rushed upon the soulless miscreant, and transfixed him +upon the bayonet. Uttering fierce curses all the time, he plunged the +bayonet again and again into the vitals of the rebel, till life was +extinct. + +"Boy, I used to be human once," said the Zouave, when he had executed this +summary justice upon the rebel; "but I'm not human now. I'm all devil." + +"What a wretch that rebel was!" exclaimed Tom, who seemed to breathe freer +now that retribution had overtaken the viper. + +"A wretch! Haven't you got any bigger word than that, boy? He was a fiend! +But we mustn't stop here." + +"I thought the rebels were human." + +"Human? That isn't the first time to-day I've seen such a thing as that +done. Come along, my boy; come along." + +Tom followed the Zouave again; but he was too much exhausted to run any +farther. Even the terrors of the Black Horse Cavalry could not inspire him +with strength and courage to continue his flight at any swifter pace than +a walk. + +"I can go no farther," said he, at last. + +"Yes, you can; pull up! pull up! You will be taken if you stop here." + +"I can't help it. I can go no farther. I am used up." + +"Pull up, pull up, my boy!" + +"I can't." + +"But I don't want to leave you here. They'll murder you--cut your throat, +like a dog." + +"I will hide myself in the bushes till I get a little more strength." + +"Try it a little longer. You are too good a fellow to be butchered like a +calf," added the generous Zouave. + +But it was no use to plead with him, for exhausted nature refused to +support him, and he dropped upon the ground like a log. + +"Poor fellow! I would carry you in my arms if I could." + +"Save yourself if you can," replied Tom, faintly. + +The kind-hearted fireman was sorry to leave him, but he knew that one who +wore his uniform could expect no mercy from the rebels. They had been too +terrible upon the battle-field to receive any consideration from those +whom they had so severely punished. He was, therefore, unwilling to trust +himself to the tender mercies of the cavalry, who were sweeping the fields +to pick up prisoners; and after asking Tom's name and regiment, he +reluctantly left him. + +Tom had eaten nothing since daylight in the morning, which, added to the +long march, and the intense excitement of his first battle-field, had +apparently reduced him to the last extremity. Then, for the first time, he +realized what it was to be a soldier. Then he thought of his happy +home--of his devoted mother. What must she not suffer when the telegraph +should flash over the wires the intelligence of the terrible disaster +which had overtaken the Union army! It would be many days, if not weeks or +months, before she could know whether he was dead or alive. What anguish +must she not endure! + +He had but a moment for thoughts like these before he heard the sweep of +the rebel cavalry, as they dashed down the road through the woods. He must +not remain where he was, or the record of his earthly career would soon be +closed. On his hands and knees he crawled away from the road, and rolled +himself up behind a rotten log, just in season to escape the observation +of the cavalrymen as they rode by the spot. + +Here and there in the woods were the extended forms of Federals and +rebels, who had dragged their wounded bodies away from the scene of mortal +strife to breathe their last in this holy sanctuary of nature, or to +escape from the death-dealing shot, and the mangling wheels that rumbled +over the dead and the dying. Close by the soldier boy's retreat lay one +who was moaning piteously for water. Tom had filled his canteen at a brook +on the way, and he crawled up to the sufferer to lave his dying thirst. On +reaching the wounded man, he found that he was a rebel, and the fate of +the Zouave who had done a similar kindness only a short time before +presented itself to his mind. + +"Water! Water! For the love of God, give me a drop of water," moaned the +dying soldier. + +Tom thought of the Zouave again, and had almost steeled his heart against +the piteous cry. He turned away. + +"Water! Water! If you are a Christian give me some water," groaned the +sufferer. + +Our soldier boy could no longer resist the appeal. He felt that he could +not be loved on earth or forgiven in heaven if he denied the petition of +the dying rebel; but before he granted it, he assured himself that the +sufferer had no dangerous weapon in his possession. The man was deadly +pale; one of his arms hung useless by his side; and he was covered with +blood. He was a terrible-looking object, and Tom felt sick and faint as he +gazed upon him. + +Placing his canteen at the lips of the poor wretch, he bade him drink. His +frame quivered as he clutched the canteen with his remaining hand. The +death damp was on his forehead; but his eye lighted up with new lustre as +he drank the grateful beverage. + +"God bless you! God bless you!" exclaimed he as he removed the canteen +from his lips. "You are a Yankee," he added, as he fixed his glazing eyes +upon Tom's uniform. "Are you wounded?" + +"No; I am worn out. I have eaten nothing since daylight, and not much +then. I am used up." + +"Put your hand in my haversack. There is something there," gasped the +dying man. + +Tom bent over him to comply with the invitation; but, with a thrill of +horror, he started back, as he listened to the death-rattle in the throat +of the rebel, and saw his eyes fixed and lustreless in death. It was an +awful scene to the inexperienced youth. Though he had seen hundreds fall +in the battle of that day, death had not seemed so ghastly and horrible to +him as now, when he stood face to face with the grim monster. For a few +moments he forgot his own toil-worn limbs, his craving hunger, and his +aching head. + +He gazed upon the silent form before him, which had ceased to suffer, and +he felt thankful that he had been able to mitigate even a single pang of +the dying rebel. But not long could he gaze, awe-struck, at the ghastly +spectacle before him, for he had a life to save. The words of the +sufferer--his last words--offering him the contents of his haversack +recurred to him; but Tom's sensibilities recoiled at the thought of eating +bread taken from the body of a dead man, and he turned away. + +"Why shouldn't I take it?" said he to himself. "It may save my life. With +rest and food, I may escape. Pooh! I'll not be a fool!" + +Bending over the dead man, he resolutely cut the haversack from his body, +and then returned to the log whose friendly shelter had screened him from +the eyes of the rebel horsemen. Seating himself upon the ground, he +commenced exploring the haversack. It contained two "ash-cakes," a slice +of bacon, and a small bottle. Tom's eyes glowed with delight as he gazed +upon this rich feast, and, without waiting to say grace or consider the +circumstances under which he obtained the materials for his feast, he +began to eat. Ash-cake was a new institution to him. It was an Indian cake +baked in the ashes, probably at the camp-fires of the rebels at Manassas. +It tasted very much like his mother's johnny-cake, only he missed the +fresh butter with which he had been wont to cover the article at home. + +The soldier boy ate the bacon, and ate both of the cakes, though each of +the latter was about the size of a saucer. It was a large meal, even for a +growing boy; but every mouthful seemed to put a new sinew into his frame. +While he was eating, he drew the cork from the bottle. It contained +whiskey. Tom had heard that there was virtue in whiskey; that it was +invigorating to a tired man, and he was tempted, under these extremely +trying circumstances, to experiment upon the beverage. He would certainly +have been excusable if he had done so; but our hero had a kind of horror +of the article, which would not let him even taste it. He was afraid that +he should acquire a habit which would go with him through life, and make +him what Hapgood and others whom he knew were--a torment to themselves, +and a nuisance to their fellow-beings. Putting the cork in the bottle, he +threw it upon the ground. + +With his renewed strength came renewed hope; but he did not deem it +prudent to wander about the woods at present: therefore he threw himself +on the ground under the protecting log to obtain the repose he so much +needed. + +He thought of home, and wondered whether he should ever see the cottage of +his parents again; and while he was thinking, overcome by the excitement +and fatigue of the day, he dropped asleep. It was strange that he could do +so, consciously environed by so many perils; but he had in a measure +become callous to danger, and he slept long and deep. + +When he awoke, it was dark and silent around him. The roar of battle had +ceased, and the calm of death seemed to have settled upon the scene of +strife. Tom's bones still ached; but he was wonderfully refreshed by the +nap he had taken. He had no idea of the time, and could not tell whether +he had slept one hour or six. He was strong enough to walk now, and the +first consideration was to escape from the vicinity of the rebel camps; +but he had no conception of where he was, or what direction would lead him +to the Federal lines. + +A kind Providence had watched over him thus far; had spared his life in +the fury of battle; had fed him in the wilderness, like Elijah of old; and +restored his wasted strength. He could only trust to Providence for +guidance, and, using his best judgment in choosing the direction, he +entered upon the difficult task of finding his way out of the woods. He +had walked an hour or more, when, suddenly, three men sprung up in the +path before him. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" demanded one of them. + +"Friend!" replied Tom; though he had a great many doubts in regard to the +truth of his assertion. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign!" + +But the soldier boy had no countersign to give. He had fallen upon a rebel +picket post, and was made a prisoner. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +TOM A PRISONER. + + +Tom could not exactly understand how he happened to be made a prisoner. He +had certainly moved with extreme caution, and he wondered that he had not +received some intimation of the presence of the enemy before it was too +late to retreat. But, as we have before hinted, Tom was a philosopher; and +he did not despair even under the present reverse of circumstances, though +he was greatly disconcerted. + +"Who are you?" demanded one of the rebel soldiers, when they had duly +possessed his body, which, however, was not a very chivalrous adventure, +for the prisoner was unarmed, his gun having been thrown away by the +friendly Zouave, after he had so terribly avenged his murdered companion. + +"I'm a soldier," replied Tom, greatly perplexed by the trials of his +difficult situation. + +As yet he did not know whether he had fallen into the hands of friend or +foe, for the night was cloudy and dark, and he could not see what uniform +the pickets wore. + +"What do you belong to?" demanded the spokesman of the picket trio. + +"I belong to the army," answered Tom, with admirable simplicity. + +Our soldier boy, as the reader already knows, had been well "brought up." +He had been taught to tell the truth at all times; and he did so on the +present occasion, very much to the confusion, no doubt, of the rebel +soldiers, who had not been brought up under the droppings of the sanctuary +in a New England village. + +"B'long to the army--do you?" repeated Secesh, who must have thought Tom a +very candid person. + +"Yes, sir, I belong to the army," added the prisoner. + +"I s'pose you won't mind telling us what army you belong to, 'cause it +mought make a difference in our calculations," added the spokesman. + +Tom did not know but that it might make some difference in his +calculations, and for this reason he was exceedingly unwilling to commit +himself before he ascertained upon which side his questioners belonged. + +"Can you tell me where I am?" asked Tom, resolved to use a little strategy +in obtaining the desired information. + +"May be I can," replied the picket. + +"Will you do so?" + +"Sartin, stranger--you are in the woods," added Secesh; whereat his +companions indulged in a wholesome chuckle, which assured Tom that they +were human, and his hopes rose accordingly. + +"Thank you," replied Tom, with infinite good nature. + +"You say you belong to the army, and I say you are in the woods," said the +soldier, repeating the double postulate, so that the essence of the joke +should by no possibility fail to penetrate the cerebellum of his auditor. + +Tom was perfectly willing to acknowledge that he was in the woods, both +actually and metaphorically, and he was very much disturbed to know how he +should get out of the woods--a problem which has puzzled wiser heads than +his, even in less perplexing emergencies. He was fearful that, if he +declared himself to be a Union soldier, he should share the fate of others +whom he had seen coolly bayoneted on that eventful day. + +"Now, stranger, s'pose you tell me what army you b'long to; then I can +tell you where you are," continued the soldier. + +"What do you belong to?" asked Tom, though he did not put the question +very confidently. + +"I belong to the army;" and the two other pickets honored the reply with +another chuckle. "You can't fool old Alabammy." + +There was no further need of fooling "Old Alabammy," for the worthy old +gentleman, symbolically represented by the rebel soldier, had kindly done +it himself; and Tom then realized that he was in the hands of the enemy. +It is true, the balance of the picket trio laughed heartily at the +unfortunate slip of the tongue made by their companion, but Tom was in no +condition to relish the joke, or he might perhaps have insinuated himself +into the good graces of the jolly Secesh by repeating Pat's mysterious +problem--"Tell me how many cheeses there are in the bag, and I'll give ye +the whole five;" for, though this is an old joke in the civilized parts of +the world, it is not at all probable that it had been perpetrated in the +benighted regions of Secessia. + +The announcement of the fact that he was in the hands of the foe, as we +have before intimated, left Tom in no condition to give or take a joke. +His heart was suddenly deprived of some portion of its ordinary gravity, +and rose up to the vicinity of his throat. He drew sundry deep and long +breaths, indicative of his alarm; for though Tom was a brave boy,--as +these pages have already demonstrated,--he had a terrible idea of the +tender mercies of the rebels. His first impulse was to break away from his +captors, and run the risk of being overtaken by a trio of musket balls; +for death from the quick action of a bullet seemed preferable to the fate +which his fears conjured up if he should be taken by the bloodthirsty +rebels. But the chances were too decidedly against him, and he reluctantly +brought his mind to the condition of philosophical submission. + +"Well, stranger, which army do you b'long to?" said the spokesman of the +picket trio, when he had fully recovered his self-possession. + +"I belong to the United States army," replied Tom, desperately. + +"That means the Yankee army, I s'pose." + +"Yes, sir; you call it by that name." + +"Then you are my prisoner." + +"I surrender because I can't help myself." + +"Hev you nary toothpick or bone-cracker in your pockets?" + +"Any what?" replied Tom, whose dictionary seemed to be at fault. + +"Nary pistol, knife, or any thing of that sort?" + +"Nothing but my jackknife." + +"Any plunder?" + +"We piled up our knapsacks and haversacks before we went into the fight. +Here is my canteen half full of water; I gave the other half to one of +your soldiers, when he was dying of his wounds." + +"Did ye?" + +"Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I am?" + +"You are inside the lines of our army, about three miles below +Centreville," replied one of the pickets. + +"What time is it?" + +"Nigh upon nine o'clock, I should say. One of you fellers must take this +prisoner to headquarters," he continued, speaking to his companions. + +Tom was very agreeably surprised to find that his captors did not propose +to hang, shoot, or bayonet him; and the Southern Confederacy rose a few +degrees in his estimation. Certainly the men who had taken him were not +fiends, and he began to hope that his situation as a prisoner would not be +so terrible as his fancy had pictured it. + +One of the men was deputed to conduct him to the officer of the guard; and +he walked along by the side of the soldier through the woods, in the +direction from which he had just come. + +"Can you tell me how the battle went at last?" asked Tom, as they pursued +their way through the forest. + +"We whipped you all to pieces. Your army hasn't done running yet. We shall +take Washington to-morrow, and Jeff Davis will be in the White House +before the week is out." + +"Have you taken many prisoners?" asked Tom, who could not dispute the +position of the rebel soldier. + +"About fifty thousand, I b'lieve," replied Secesh, with refreshing +confidence. + +Tom indulged in a low whistle, but his companion could not tell whether it +was an expression of regret or incredulity. If they had stood on an +equality, Tom would probably have suggested that the figures should be +interpreted "over the left"--an idiosyncrasy in language which he had +imported from Pinchbrook, but which may not be wholly unintelligible to +our young readers. + +From his conductor he obtained some particulars of the battle and its +result, which were afterwards more fully set forth in General Beauregard's +official report, and which would have read better on the pages of Sinbad +the Sailor than in the folios of a military despatch. But the Secesh +soldier's "facts and figures" were comforting to Tom, who still had a +stronger interest in the condition of the good cause, after the heavy blow +it had received, than he had in his own individual welfare. Like too heavy +a dose of poison, the magnitude of the stories refuted and defeated them. +The soldier boy listened in respectful silence, but he was utterly +incredulous. It was even possible that the Union army had won a victory, +after all, though he was not very sanguine on this point. + +He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment to which +his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with about twenty others, +who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his companions in misery, most of +whom, worn out by the fatigues of the day, were sleeping soundly upon the +ground. Only two or three of them were awake; but these were strangers to +him, and he was unable to obtain any information from them concerning any +of his friends in the regiment. + +It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; but there +was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor great coats, yet +this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy threw himself upon the +ground, but the nap he had taken under the side of the log set his eyes +wide open for a time. He could only think of home, his mother and sisters, +and John, by this time snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been +wont to dream of the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds +when he found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could +not help thinking that his situation might have been worse. + +Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing since +morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his companions +were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought of the anguish +which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the battle. When the +regiment should be gathered together again, he would be reported as +"missing," and this would be a terrible word to her, for it meant killed, +wounded, or a prisoner. If he could only assure her that he still lived +and was uninjured, he would have been happy--happy in spite of the +drenching rain--happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the +hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had faithfully +performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he settled himself in the +most comfortable place he could find on the ground, and thanked God that +he had been spared his life through the perils of that awful day, and more +fervently that he had been enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and +then, with the Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart, +he fell asleep. + +He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as thoroughly soaked +as though he had just come out of the river. There was no help for it, and +it was no use to grumble. After walking to and fro for half an hour, he +lay down again, and, between sleeping and waking, finished the night; +uncomfortably, it is true, and yet without any positive suffering. There +were hundreds, if not thousands, who were enduring the agony of fearful +wounds through that long night; who were lying alone and uncared for where +they had fallen in the deadly strife; who were dying every hour, away from +their homes and friends, and with no kind hand to minister to their +necessities, with no sweet voice of a loved one to smooth their passage +down to the dark, cold grave. + +Tom thought of these, for he had seen them in his path, and he felt that +he had no cause to complain--that he ought to be cheerful and happy. At +the dawn of the day he and his fellow-prisoners were marched to Sudley +Church, where they were to be confined until they could be sent to +Richmond. Here Tom found a captain belonging to his regiment; but neither +could give any information to the other in regard to their friends. + +"I shall not stay here long," said the captain, in a whisper, when they +had become better acquainted. "I intend to leave to-night." + +"Can't I go with you?" asked Tom. + +"You can go, but we had better not go together." + +Tom thought for a while, and determined upon an attempt to escape. During +the day, he carefully examined the premises, and decided upon his mode of +operations. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A PERPLEXING QUESTION. + + +Tom Somers, who had had some experience, in a small way, in the kind of +business now before him, was filled with hope when he had adopted his +plan. He was a resolute and energetic young man, and to resolve upon any +thing was almost equivalent to doing it. There were a great many +difficulties in the way of success, it is true; but, nothing daunted by +these, he determined to persevere. The church in which the prisoners were +confined was carefully guarded on the exterior, and the sentinels carried +loaded muskets in their hands--so that the affair before him was more +hazardous and trying than that of escaping from the attic chamber of +Squire Pemberton's house in Pinchbrook. + +If he succeeded in making his way out of the church and eluding the guard +which surrounded it, even then his trials would only have commenced; for +there were many miles of hostile country between him and Washington, +whither he supposed the Federal army had been driven. The captain who +intended to escape at the same time gave him some information which would +be of service to him in finding his way to the Potomac. He charged him +particularly to follow the railroad, which would conduct him to +Alexandria, in the vicinity of which he would probably find the regiment. + +At dark the prisoners disposed of themselves as well as they could for the +night. Tom saw the captain go through all the forms of preparing for a +comfortable lodging, and he did the same himself. For hours he lay +ruminating upon his purpose. When it was midnight, he thought it was time +for him to commence the enterprise. He worked himself along on the floor +till he reached the principal entrance. The door was open, as it had been +all day, to enable the guards to obtain an occasional view of the +prisoners. + +The sentinels were evidently in no condition to discharge their duties +with fidelity, for they had been marching and fighting for two or three +days, and were nearly exhausted. Leaning against the door, Tom discovered +a musket, which the careless guard had left there. On the floor in the +entry lay two rebel soldiers. They had stretched themselves across the +threshold of the door, so that no one could pass in or out of the church +without stepping over them. + +Tom carefully rose from his recumbent posture, and took possession of the +musket. Then, with the utmost prudence, he stepped over the bodies of the +sleeping soldiers; but with all his circumspection, he could not prevent +one of his shoes from squeaking a little, and it required only a particle +of noise to rouse the guard. + +"Who goes there?" demanded one of them, springing to his feet. + +"Is this the way you do your duty?" replied Tom, as sternly as though he +had been a brigadier general. + +"Who are you?" said the soldier, apparently impressed by the words and the +tones of him who reproved his neglect. + +"Who am I, you sleepy scum! I'll let you know who I am in about ten +minutes," added Tom, as he passed out at the front door of the church. + +"Give me back my gun--won't you?" pleaded the confused sentinel. + +"I'll give it back to you at the court-martial which will sit on your case +to-morrow." + +"Who goes there?" challenged one of the sentinels on the outside. + +"Who goes there!" added Tom, in a sneering tone. "Have you waked up? Where +were you five minutes ago, when I passed this post? There won't be a +prisoner left here by morning. The long roll wouldn't wake up such a +stupid set of fellows." + +"Stop, sir!" said the astonished sentinel. "You can't pass this line." + +"Can't I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while you were asleep." + +"I haven't been asleep." + +"Where have you been, then?" demanded Tom with terrible energy. + +"Been here, sir." + +"I'll court-martial the whole of you!" + +"Stop, sir, or I'll fire at you!" added the soldier, as Tom moved on. + +"Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I'll rid the army of one unfaithful +man on the spot!" said the soldier boy, as he raised the musket to his +shoulder. + +"Don't fire, you fool!" interposed one of the men whom Tom had roused from +his slumbers in the entry. "Don't you see he is an officer?" + +"I'll teach you how to perform your duty!" added Tom, as he walked away. + +The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no further +objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as coolly as though he +had just been regularly relieved from guard duty. He had walked but a +short distance before he discovered the camp of a regiment or brigade, +which, of course, it was necessary for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he +jumped over the fence into a field--his first object being to place a +respectful distance between himself and the enemy. + +The scene through which he had just passed, though he had preserved the +appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been exceedingly trying to +his nerves; and when the moment of pressing danger had passed, he found +his heart up in his throat, and his strength almost wasted by the +excitement. He felt as one feels when he has just escaped a peril which +menaced him with instant death. It was singular that the soldier had not +fired, but the fact that he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing +power in impudence. + +For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, but without +knowing where he was going--whether he was moving toward Richmond or +Washington. As the musket which he had taken from the church was not only +an encumbrance, but might betray him, he threw it away, though, thinking +some means of defence might be useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust +it in his belt. Thus relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a +road. As there was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed +this road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his +search--the railroad. + +But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been called upon +to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there were, unfortunately, +two ends--one of which lay within the Federal lines, and the other within +the rebel lines. If Tom had been an astronomer, which he was not, the +night was too cloudy to enable him to consult the stars; besides, some +railroads are so abominably crooked that the heavenly orbs would hardly +have been safe pilots. He did not know which was north, nor which was +south, and to go the wrong way would be to jump out of the frying pan into +the fire. + +Tom sat down by the side of the road, and tried to settle the difficult +question; but the more he thought, the more perplexed he became--which +shows the folly of attempting to reason when there are no premises to +reason from. He was, no doubt, an excellent logician; but bricks cannot be +made without straw. + +"Which way shall I go?" said Tom to himself, as he stood up and peered +first one way and then the other through the gloom of the night. + +But he could not see Washington in one direction, nor Richmond in the +other, and he had not a single landmark to guide him in coming to a +decision. + +"I'll toss up!" exclaimed he, desperately, as he took off his cap and +threw it up into the air. "Right side up, this way--wrong side, that way; +and may the fates or the angels turn it in the proper way." + +He stooped down to pick up the cap, and ascertain which way it had come +down. It came down right side up, and Tom immediately started off in the +direction indicated. Although he had no confidence in the arbitrament of +the cap, he felt relieved to find the question disposed of even in this +doubtful manner. + +He kept both eyes wide open as he advanced, for if he had taken the wrong +way a few miles of travel would bring him to the main camp of the rebels +in the vicinity of Manassas Junction. He pursued his lonely journey for +some time without impediment, and without discovering any camp, either +large or small. He gathered new confidence as he proceeded. After he had +walked two or three hours upon the railroad, he thought it was about time +for Fairfax station to heave in sight, if he had chosen the right way--or +for the rebel camps to appear if he had chosen the wrong way. With the +first place he was familiar, as his regiment had encamped a short distance +from it. + +He was sorely perplexed by the non-appearance of either of these expected +points. The country began to look wilder and less familiar as he +proceeded. The region before him looked rugged and mountainous, and the +dark outlines of several lofty peaks touched the sky in front of him. But +with the feeling that every step he advanced placed a wider space between +him and his captors at Sudley church, he continued on his way till the +gray streaks of daylight appeared behind him. + +This phenomenon promised to afford him a gleam of intelligence upon which +to found a correct solution of his course. Tom knew that, in the ordinary +course of events, the sun ought to rise in the east and set in the west. +If he was going to the north, the sun would rise on his right hand--if to +the south, on his left hand. The streaks of light grew more and more +distinct, and the clouds having rolled away, he satisfied himself where +the sun would appear. Contrary to both wings of his theory, the place was +neither on his right nor his left, for it was exactly behind him. But his +position might be upon a bend of the railroad whose direction did not +correspond with the general course of the road. For half an hour longer, +therefore, he pursued his way, carefully noting every curve, until he was +fully convinced that his course was nearer west than north. The sun rose +precisely as had been laid down in the programme, and precisely where he +expected it would rise. + +It was clear enough that he was not moving to the south; and, satisfied +that he was in no danger of stumbling upon Richmond, his courage +increased, and he plodded on till he discovered a small village--or what +would be called such in Virginia--though it contained only a few houses. +As he still wore the uniform of the United States army, he did not deem it +prudent to pass through this village; besides, he was terribly perplexed +to know what station it could be, and what had become of Fairfax. Though +he must have passed through the country before, it did not look natural to +him. + +Leaving the railroad, he took to the fields, intending to pass round the +village, or conceal himself in the woods till he could go through it in +safety. After walking diligently for so many hours, Tom was reminded that +he had a stomach. His rations on the preceding day had not been very +bountiful, and he was positively hungry. The organ which had reminded him +of its existence was beginning to be imperative in its demands, and a new +problem was presented for solution--one which had not before received the +attention which it deserved. + +In the fields and forest he found a few berries; but all he could find +made but a slight impression upon the neglected organ. If Tom was a +philosopher, in his humble way, he was reasonable enough to admit that a +man could not live without eating. At this point, therefore, the question +of rations became a serious and solemn problem; and the longer it remained +unsolved the more difficult and harassing it became. + +After he had rested all the forenoon in a secluded spot, without +interruption from man or beast, he decided to settle this question of +rations once for all. If impudence had enabled him to pass a line of rebel +sentries, it ought to furnish him with a dinner. Leaving his hiding place, +he walked till he discovered a small house, at which he determined to +apply for something to eat. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +DINNER AND DANGER. + + +The house at which Tom applied for food evidently did not belong to one of +the "first families," or, if it did, the owner's fortunes had become sadly +dilapidated. It was built of rough boards, with a huge stone chimney, +which was erected on the outside of the structure. The humblest fisherman +in Pinchbrook Harbor would have thought himself poorly accommodated in +such a rough and rickety mansion. + +If Tom's case had not been growing desperate, he would not have run the +risk of showing himself to any person on the "sacred soil" who was "to the +manor born;" but his stomach was becoming more and more imperative in its +demands, and he knocked at the front door with many misgivings, especially +as his exchequer contained less than a dollar of clear cash. + +The inmates were either very deaf or very much indisposed to see visitors; +and Tom, after he had knocked three times, began to think he had not run +any great risk in coming to this house. As nobody replied to his summons, +he took the liberty to open the door and enter. The establishment was even +more primitive in its interior than its exterior, and the soldier boy +could not help contrasting it with the neat houses of the poor in his +native town. + +The front door opened into a large room without the formality of an entry +or hall. In one corner of the apartment stood a bed. At one side was a +large fireplace, in which half a dozen sticks of green wood were hissing +and sizzling in a vain attempt to make the contents of an iron pot, which +hung over them, reach the boiling point. No person was to be seen or heard +on the premises, though the fire and the pot were suggestive of humanity +at no great distance from the spot. + +A door on the back side of the room was open, and Tom looked out in search +of the occupants of the house. In the garden he discovered the whole +family, consisting of a man and his wife, a girl of twelve, and a boy of +ten. The man was digging in the garden, and the rest of the troupe seemed +to be superintending the operation. The head of the family was altogether +the most interesting person to Tom, for he must either shake hands or +fight with him. He did not look like a giant in intellect, and he +certainly was not a giant in stature. With the bayonet still in his belt, +Tom was not afraid of him. + +"How are you, people?" said Tom, as he walked towards the family, who with +one accord suspended all operations, and gave their whole attention to the +stranger. + +"How are ye, yourself?" replied the man, rather gruffly. + +"Do you keep a hotel?" demanded Tom, who concealed the anxiety of his +heart under a broad grin. + +"I reckon I don't. What do you want here?" + +"I want something to eat," replied Tom, proceeding to business with +commendable straight-forwardness. + +"We hain't got nothin' here," said the man, sourly. "That ain't what ye +come fur, nuther." + +"Must have something to eat. I'm not very particular, but I must have +something." + +"You can't hev it 'bout yere, no how. That ain't what ye come fur, +nuther." + +"If you know what I came for better than I do, suppose you tell me what it +is," added Tom, who was a little mystified by the manner of the man. + +"You air one of them soger fellers, and you want me to 'list; but I tell +yer, ye can't do nothin' of the sort. I'll be dog derned if I'll go." + +"I don't want you to go," protested Tom. "I'm half starved and all I want +is something to eat." + +"Yer don't reelly mean so." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Where d'yer come from?" + +"From down below here. Have you seen any soldiers pass through this +place?" + +"I reckon I hev; but they hain't seen me; and I reckon they won't see me +very soon;" and the man chuckled at his own cleverness in keeping clear of +recruiting officers. + +"I don't want you, and if you will give me something to eat, you will get +rid of me very quick." + +"Betsey, you kin feed the feller, if yer like, and I'll go over and see +whar the hogs is." + +The man dropped his shovel, and began to move off towards the woods, +probably to see whether Tom would attempt to detain him. At the same time +"Betsey" led the way into the house, and the visitor paid no further +attention to the master. + +"We hain't got much to eat in the house," said the woman, as they entered +the room. "There's some biled pork and pertaters in the pot, and we've got +some bread, sech as 'tis." + +"It will do me very well. I'm hungry, and can eat any thing," replied Tom. + +The woman placed a tin plate on the table, and dished up the contents of +the kettle on the fire. She added some cold hoe cake to the dinner, and +Tom thought it was a feast fit for a king. He took a seat at the table, +and made himself entirely at home. The food was coarse, but it was good, +and the hungry soldier boy did ample justice to the viands. The boy and +girl who had followed him into the house, stood, one on each side of him, +watching him in speechless astonishment. + +"Where did yer come from?" asked the woman, when Tom had about half +finished his dinner. + +"From down below," replied Tom, rather indefinitely. + +"Don't b'long in these yere parts, I reckon?" + +"No, marm." + +"Where are ye gwine?" + +"Going to join my regiment." + +"Where is yer rigiment?" + +"That's more than I know, marm." + +"How long yer been travelling?" persisted the woman, who was perhaps +afraid that the guest would eat up the whole of the family's dinner, if +she did not make some kind of a feint to attract his attention. + +"Only a few days, marm." + +"Kin yer till me what all thet noise was about day 'fore yesterday?" + +"Yes, marm; it was a big battle." + +"Gracious me! Yer don't say so! Whar was it?" + +"Down below Centreville." + +"Which beat?" + +"The Confederates drove the Yankees off the field," answered Tom, +suspending business long enough to glance at the woman, and see how the +intelligence was received. + +"Yer don't! Then they won't want my old man." + +Tom was unable to determine whether his hostess was Union or "Secesh" from +her words or her looks. He could not inform her whether they would want +her old man or not. When he had eaten all he could, he proposed like an +honest youth to pay for what he had eaten; but Betsey had the true idea of +southern hospitality, and refused to receive money for the food eaten +beneath her roof. She had a loaf of coarse bread, however, in which she +permitted Tom to invest the sum of six cents. + +"I am very much obliged to you, marm; and I shall be glad to do as much +for you, any time," said Tom, as he went towards the front door. + +As he was about to open it, his ears were startled by an imperative knock +on the outside. He stepped back to one of the two windows on the front of +the house, where he discovered an officer and two "grayback" soldiers. The +ghost of his grandmother would not have been half so appalling a sight, +and he retreated to the back door with a very undignified haste. + +"Gracious me!" exclaimed the lady of the house. "Who kin thet be?" + +"An officer and two soldiers," replied Tom, hastily. + +"Then they are arter my old man!" said she, dropping into the only chair +the room contained. + +"Don't say I'm here, marm, and I'll help your husband, if they catch him. +Tell them he has gone off to be absent a week." + +"He'd be absent more'n thet if he knowed them fellers was arter him." + +The woman moved towards the front door, and Tom through the back door; but +as he was about to pass into the garden, he caught a glimpse of one of the +graybacks in the rear of the house. For a moment his case seemed to be +hopeless; but he retreated into the room again, just as the woman opened +the front door to admit the officer. He could not escape from the house, +and his only resource was to secure a hiding place within its walls. There +were only two which seemed to be available; one of these was the bed, and +the other the chimney. If any search was made, of course the soldiers +would explore the bed first; and the chimney seemed the most practicable. + +There was no time for consideration, for the woman had already opened the +door, and was answering the questions of the Confederate officer; so Tom +sprang into the fireplace, and, by the aid of the projecting stones, +climbed up to a secure position. The chimney was large enough to +accommodate half a dozen boys of Tom's size. The fire had gone out, and +though the stones were rather warm in the fireplace, he was not +uncomfortable. + +The fears of the lady of the house proved to be well grounded this time, +for the party had actually come in search of her "old man;" and what was +more, the officer announced his intention not to leave without him. + +"He's gone away fur a week, and he won't be hum before the fust of August, +no how," said the woman resolutely, and adopting Tom's suggestion to the +letter. + +"All nonsense, woman! He is about here, somewhere, and we will find him." + +"You may, if you kin." + +The officer then went out at the back door, as Tom judged by his +footsteps, and the woman asked one of the children what had become of the +other soldier man. The boy said he was up chimney. She then told them not +to tell the officer where he was. + +"What shell I do?" said she, placing herself before the fireplace. + +"Don't be alarmed. He will keep out of their way," replied Tom. + +"But the officer man said he was gwine to stay 'bout yere till he gits +hum," moaned the poor woman. + +"He will not do any such thing. Your husband has the woods before him, and +he won't let them catch him." + +"Deary me! I'm 'feared they will." + +"Where are they now?" + +"They're gone out to look for him." + +The officer and his men returned in a few moments, having satisfied +themselves that the proprietor of the place was not on the premises. + +"Now we'll search the house," said the officer; and Tom heard them walking +about in the room. + +Of course the militia man could not be found, and the officer used some +very unbecoming language to express his disapprobation of the skulker, as +he called him. + +"Woman, if you don't tell me where your husband is, I'll have you +arrested," said he, angrily. + +"I don't know myself. He's gone off over the mountains to git some things. +Thet's all I know about it, and if yer want to arrest me, yer kin." + +But the officer concluded that she would be a poor substitute for an able +bodied man, and he compromised the matter by leaving one of the privates, +instructing him not to let the woman or the children leave the house, and +to remain till the skulker returned. + +This was not very pleasant information for Tom who perceived that he was +likely to be shut up in the chimney for the rest of the day, and perhaps +be smoked or roasted out at supper time. Climbing up to the top of his +prison house, he looked over, and saw the officer and one private +disappear in the woods which lay between the house and the railroad. +Looking over the other way, he saw the coveted recruit approaching the +house from beyond the garden. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REBEL SOLDIER. + + +Tom Somers was not very well satisfied with his situation, for the soldier +who had been left in possession of the house was armed with a musket, and +the prospect of escaping before night was not very flattering. The +patriarch of the family, who had such a horror of recruiting officers, was +approaching, and in a few moments there would be an exciting scene in the +vicinity. + +Independent of his promise made to the woman to help her husband, if she +would not betray him, Tom deemed it his duty to prevent the so-called +Confederate States of America from obtaining even a single additional +recruit for the armies of rebellion and treason. Without having any +personal feeling in the matter, therefore, he was disposed to do all he +could to assist his host in "avoiding the draft." What would have been +treason in New England was loyalty in Virginia. + +The unfortunate subject of the Virginia militia law was unconsciously +approaching the trap which had been set for him. He had, no doubt, come to +the conclusion, by this time, that the hungry soldier boy was not a +recruiting officer, or even the corporal of a guard sent to apprehend him, +and he was returning with confidence to partake of his noonday meal. Tom, +from his perch at the top of the chimney, watched him as he ambled along +over the rough path with his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was +something rather exciting in the situation of affairs, and he soon found +himself deeply interested in the issue. + +The unhappy citizen owing service to the Confederate States climbed over +the zigzag fence that enclosed his garden, and continued to approach the +rude dwelling which the law had defined to be his castle. Tom did not dare +to speak in tones loud enough to be heard by the innocent victim of the +officer's conspiracy, for they would have betrayed his presence to the +enemy. Sitting upon the top stones of the chimney, he gesticulated +violently, hoping to attract his attention; but the man did not look up, +and consequently could not see the signals. + +He had approached within ten rods of the back door of the house, when Tom, +fearing his footsteps might attract the attention of the soldier, ventured +to give a low whistle. As this was not heeded, he repeated the signal when +the man was within two or three rods of the house; but even this was not +noticed, and throwing his head forward, so that the sound of his voice +should not descend the chimney, he spoke. + +"Halloo!" said he. + +The man suddenly stopped, and looked up. Tom made signals with his hands +for him to leave; but this mute language appeared not to be intelligible +to him. + +"Consarn yer picter, what are yer doin' up thar?" said the proprietor of +the castle, in tones which seemed to Tom as loud as the roar of the cannon +at Bull Run. + +"Hush! Hush!" replied Tom, gesticulating with all his might, and using all +his ingenuity to invent signs that would convey to the militiaman the idea +that he was in imminent danger. + +"You be scotched!" snarled the man. "What are yer doin'? What ails yer?" + +"They are after you!" added Tom, in a hoarse whisper. + +The fellow most provokingly refused to hear him, and Tom thought his skull +was amazingly thick, and his perceptions amazingly blunt. + +"Now you come down from thar," said he, as he picked up a couple of +stones. "You act like a monkey, and I s'pose yer be one. Now make tracks +down that chimley." + +But instead of doing this, Tom retreated into his shell, as a snail does +when the moment of peril arrives. The soldier in the house was not deaf; +and if he had been, he could hardly have helped hearing the stentorian +tones of his victim. Instead of going out the back door, like a sensible +man, he passed out at the front door, and in a moment more Tom heard his +voice just beneath him. + +"Halt!" shouted the soldier, as he brought his musket to his shoulder. +"Your name is Joe Burnap." + +"That's my name, but I don't want nothin' o' you," replied the embarrassed +militiaman, as he dropped the stones with which he had intended to assault +Tom's citadel. + +"I want something of you," replied the soldier. "You must go with me. +Advance, and give yourself up." + +"What fur?" asked poor Joe. + +"We want you for the army. You are an enrolled militiaman. You must go +with me." + +"Ill be dog derned if I do," answered Joe Burnap, desperately. + +"If you attempt to run away, I'll shoot you. You shall go with me, dead or +alive, and hang me if I care much which." + +Joe evidently did care. He did not want to go with the soldier; his +southern blood had not been fired by the wrongs of his country; and he was +equally averse to being shot in cold blood by this minion of the +Confederacy. His position was exceedingly embarrassing, for he could +neither run, fight, nor compromise. While matters were in this interesting +and critical condition, Tom ventured to raise his head over the top of the +chimney to obtain a better view of the belligerents. Joe stood where he +had last seen him, and the soldier was standing within three feet of the +foot of the chimney. + +"What ye going to do, Joe Burnap?" demanded the latter, after waiting a +reasonable time for the other to make up his mind. + +"What am I gwine to do?" repeated Joe, vacantly, as he glanced to the +right and the left, apparently in the hope of obtaining some suggestion +that would enable him to decide the momentous question. + +"You needn't look round, Joe; you've got to come or be shot. Just take +your choice between the two, and don't waste my time." + +"I s'pose I can't help myself," replied Joe. "I'll tell ye what I'll do. I +want to fix up things about hum a little, and I'll jine ye down to the Gap +to-morrow." + +"No you don't, Joe Burnap!" said the soldier, shaking his head. + +"Then I'll jine ye to-night," suggested the strategist. + +"My orders are not to return without you, and I shall obey them." + +Mrs. Burnap, who had followed the soldier out of the house, stood behind +him wringing her hands in an agony of grief. She protested with all a +woman's eloquence against the proceedings of the soldier; but her tears +and her homely rhetoric were equally unavailing. While the parties were +confronting each other, the soldier dropped his piece, and listened to the +arguments of Joe and his wife. When he turned for a moment to listen to +the appeals of the woman, her husband improved the opportunity to commence +a retreat. He moved off steadily for a few paces, when the enemy +discovered the retrograde march, and again brought the gun to his +shoulder. + +"None of that, Joe," said the soldier, sternly. "Now march back again, or +I'll shoot you;" and Tom heard the click of the hammer as he cocked the +piece. "I've fooled long enough with you, and we'll end this business +here. Come here, at once, or I'll put a bullet through your head." + +"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! For mercy's sake don't shoot," cried Mrs. +Burnap. + +"I'll give him one minute to obey the order; if he don't do it then, I'll +fire. That's all I've got to say." + +Tom saw by the soldier's manner that he intended to execute his threat. He +saw him brace up his nerves, and otherwise prepare himself for the bloody +deed. But Tom did not think that Joe had the stubbornness or the courage, +whichever it might be called, to run the risk of dodging the bullet. He +foresaw, too, that, if Joe gave himself up, his hiding place would be +exposed, and the soldier would have two prisoners to conduct back to his +officer, instead of one. It was therefore high time for him to do +something for his own protection, if not for that of his host. + +The necessity of defending himself, or of doing something to cover his +retreat in an emergency, had been anticipated by Tom, and he had made such +preparations as the circumstances would admit. His first suggestion was to +dart his bayonet down at the rebel soldier, as he had seen the fishermen +of Pinchbrook harpoon a horse mackerel; but the chances of hitting the +mark were too uncertain to permit him to risk the loss of his only weapon, +and he rejected the plan. He adopted the method, however, in a modified, +form, deciding to use the material of which the chimney was constructed, +instead of the bayonet. The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, +were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his hands ready +for operations. + +"Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man," repeated the soldier, who +evidently had some scruples about depriving the infant Confederacy of an +able-bodied recruit. + +Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted himself up +from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the soldier, fully +expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his brains. The best laid +calculations often miscarry, and Tom's did in part, for the missile, +instead of striking the soldier upon the head, hit him on the right arm. +The musket was discharged, either by the blow or by the act of its owner, +and fell out of his hands upon the ground. + +Now, a stone as big as a man's head, does not fall from the height of +fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human frame without +inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with this doctrine of +probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down upon the rebel, and which +struck him upon the right arm, entirely disabled that useful member. The +hero of this achievement was satisfied with the result, though it had not +realized his anticipations. Concluding that the time had arrived for an +effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the house, +descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the ground. + +The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the surprise +occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. Tom rushed up to him, +and secured the musket before he had time to regain his self-possession. + +"Who are you?" demanded the soldier, holding up the injured arm with his +left hand. + +"Your most obedient servant," replied Tom, facetiously, as he placed +himself in the attitude of "charge bayonets." "Have you any dangerous +weapons about your person?" + +"Yes, I have," replied the soldier, resolutely, as he retreated a few +steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand into the breast pocket of his +coat. + +"Hands down!" exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with the bayonet attached to +the musket. "Here, Joe Burnap!" + +"What d' yer want?" replied the proprietor of the house, who was as +completely "demoralized" by the scene as the rebel soldier himself. + +"Put your hand into this man's pocket, and take out his pistol. If he +resists, I'll punch him with this," added Tom, demonstrating the movement +by a few vigorous thrusts with the bayonet. + +With some hesitation Joe took a revolver from the pocket of the soldier, +and handed it to Tom. + +"Examine all his pockets. Take out everything he has in them," added Tom, +cocking the revolver, and pointing it at the head of the prisoner. + +Joe took from the pockets of the rebel a quantity of pistol cartridges, a +knife, some letters, and a wallet. + +"Who's this fur?" asked Joe, as he proceeded to open the wallet, and take +therefrom a roll of Confederate "shin-plasters." + +"Give it back to him." + +"But this is money." + +"Money!" sneered Tom. "A northern beggar wouldn't thank you for all he +could carry of it. Give it back to him, and every thing else except the +cartridges." + +Joe reluctantly restored the wallet, the letters, and the knife, to the +pockets from which he had taken them. Tom then directed him to secure the +cartridge box of the soldier. + +"You are my prisoner," said Tom; "but I believe in treating prisoners +well. You may go into the house, and if your arm is much hurt, Mrs. Burnap +may do what she can to help you." + +The prisoner sullenly attended the woman into the house, and Tom followed +as far as the front door. + +"Now, what am I gwine to do?" said Joe. "You've got me into a right smart +scrape." + +"I thought I had got you out of one," replied Tom. "Do you intend to +remain here?" + +"Sartin not, now. I must clear." + +"So must I; and we have no time to spare. Get what you can to eat, and +come along." + +In ten minutes more, Tom and Joe Burnap were travelling towards the +mountains. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THROUGH THE GAP. + + +Joe Burnap was perfectly familiar with the country, and Tom readily +accepted him as a guide; and, as they had a common object in view, neither +had good cause for mistrusting the other. They walked, without stopping to +rest, till the sun set behind the mountains towards which they were +travelling. + +"I reckon we needn't hurry now," said Joe, as he seated himself on a rock. + +"I don't think there is any danger of their catching us," replied Tom, as +he seated himself beside his fellow-traveller. "Can you tell me where we +are?" + +"I reckon I can. There ain't a foot of land in these yere parts that I +hain't had my foot on. I've toted plunder of all sorts through these woods +more'n ten thousand times." + +"Well, where are we?" asked Tom, whose doubts in regard to the locality +had not yet been solved. + +In the pressure of more exciting matters, he had not attempted to explain +why he did not come to Fairfax station while following the railroad. + +"If we keep on a little while longer, I reckon we shall come to +Thoroughfare Gap," answered Joe. + +"But where do you live? What town is your house in?" asked Tom, who had +never heard of Thoroughfare Gap before. + +"Haymarket is the nearest town to my house." + +"What railroad is that over there?" asked Tom, who was no nearer the +solution of the question than he had been in the beginning. + +"That's the Manassas Gap Railroad, I reckon," replied Joe, who seemed to +be astonished at the ignorance of his companion. + +"Just so," added Tom, who now, for the first time, comprehended where he +was. + +When he left Sudley church, he walked at random till he came to the +railroad; but he had struck the Manassas Gap Railroad instead of the main +line, and it had led him away from the great body of the rebels, though it +also conducted him away from Washington, where he desired to go. He was +perplexed at the discovery, and at once began to debate the question +whether it was advisable for him to proceed any farther in this direction. + +"I suppose you are a Union man--ain't you?" said Tom, after he had +considered his situation for some time. + +Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes from the +ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom. He stared at him for a +moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former attitude. + +"You don't want to fight for the south," added Tom; "so I suppose you +don't believe in the Southern Confederacy." + +"I don't want to fight for nuther of 'em," replied Joe, after a moment of +further consideration. "If they'll only let me alone, I don't keer which +beats." + +His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared to be +entirely impartial. The newspapers on either side would not have disturbed +him. Patriotism--love of country--had not found a resting place in his +soul. Tom had not, from the beginning, entertained a very high respect for +the man; but now he despised him, and thought that a rebel was a gentleman +compared with such a character. How a man could live in the United States, +and not feel an interest in the stirring events which were transpiring +around him, was beyond his comprehension. In one word, he so thoroughly +despised Joe Burnap, that he resolved, at the first convenient +opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the company of +such a person. + +"Now which side do you fight fur?" asked Joe, after a long period of +silence. + +"For the Union side," replied Tom, promptly. + +"What are yer doin' here, then?" + +"I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got away, and I want +to get to Washington." + +"I reckon this ain't the way to git thar," added Joe. + +"I doubt whether I can get there any other way." + +Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the world, and all +that the government owed him, for a good map of Virginia--or even for a +knowledge of geography which would have enabled him to find his way by the +safest route to Washington. But he had been a diligent scholar in school, +and had faithfully improved the limited opportunities which had been +afforded him. His mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had +studied in school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical +benefit to him. + +He had treasured up some information, derived from the newspapers, in +regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it passed through the +Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed the Shenandoah River: this +emptied into the Potomac, which would certainly conduct him to Washington. +In following these two rivers, he should have to describe nearly a circle, +which was not an encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and +in an enemy's country. + +If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with rebel +soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their lines without +being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route by the Shenandoah +appeared, he decided to adopt it. + +Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the bag which +he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily procure on leaving +home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed their walk for another +hour. + +"I reckon we'd better stop here," said Joe. "The Gap's only half a mile +from here, and it's too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar's +too many soldiers goin' that way." + +"What time will you go through?" asked Tom. + +"Not afore midnight." + +"Then I'll turn in and take a nap. I didn't sleep any last night." + +"I'm agreed," replied Joe, who seemed to be indifferent to every thing +while he could keep out of the rebel army. + +Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and went to +sleep. Exhausted by fatigue and the want of rest, he did not wake for many +hours. He came to his senses with a start, and jumped upon his feet. For a +moment, he could not think where he was; but then came the recollection +that he was in the country of his enemies--a wanderer and a fugitive. + +He looked about him in search of his travelling companion; but the fact +that he could not see him in the night was no argument that he was not +near him. He supposed Joe had chosen a place to sleep in the vicinity, and +thinking he might not wake in season to pass through the Gap before +daylight, he commenced a search for him. He beat about the place for half +an hour, calling his companion by name; but he could not see him, and no +sound responded to the call but the echoes of his own voice. + +The independent Virginia farmer had anticipated Tom's intention to part +company with him, and, by this time, perhaps, had passed through the Gap. +The soldier boy was not quite ready to dispense with the services of his +guide, inasmuch as he did not even know where the Gap was, or in what +direction he must travel to reach it. While he was debating his prospects, +an enterprising rooster, in the distance, sounded his morning call. This +assured him that he must be near some travelled road, and, taking the +direction from the fowl, he resumed his journey. + +A short walk brought him out of the woods, and, in the gray light of the +dawn, he discovered a house. As he did not care to make any new +acquaintances, he avoided the house, and continued his travels till he +arrived at a road. As it was too early in the morning for people to be +stirring, he ventured to follow the highway, and soon perceived an opening +in the mountains, which he doubted not was the Gap. + +At sunrise he arrived at another house, which suddenly came into view as +he rounded a bend in the road. Near it were several negroes engaged in +various occupations. As he passed the house, the negroes all suspended +operations, and stared at him till he was out of sight. He soon reached +the Gap; but he had advanced only a short distance before he discovered a +battery of light artillery stationed on a kind of bluff, and whose guns +commanded the approaches in every direction. + +Deeming it prudent to reconnoitre before he proceeded any farther, he also +ascertained that the Gap was picketed by rebel infantry. Of course it was +impossible to pass through under these circumstances, and he again took to +the woods. The scanty supply of food which he had purchased from Mrs. +Burnap was now produced, and he made an economical breakfast. Finding a +secluded place, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to sleep. +Though he slept till the sun had passed the meridian, the day was a very +long one. + +When it was fairly dark, he resolved to attempt the passage of the Gap, +for he was so tired of inaction that peril and hardship seemed preferable +to doing nothing. Returning to the road, he pursued his way with due +diligence through the narrowing defile of the mountains, till he suddenly +came upon a sentinel, who challenged him. Before he started from his +hiding place, Tom had carefully loaded the revolver which he had taken +from the rebel soldier; and, as he walked along, he carried the weapon in +his hand, ready for any emergency that might require its use. + +The guard questioned him, and Tom replied that he had fought in the battle +down below, and had a furlough to go home and see his father, who was very +sick. + +"Where's your furlough?" demanded the soldier. + +"In my pocket." + +"Let me see it." + +"Here it is," replied Tom, producing an old letter which he happened to +have in his pocket. + +The sentinel took the paper, unfolded it, and turned it over two or three +times. It was too dark for him to read it if he had been able to do so, +for all the rebel soldiers are not gifted in this way. + +"I reckon this won't do," he added, after patiently considering the +matter. "Just you tote this paper up to the corporal thar, and if he says +it's all right, you kin go on." + +"But I can't stop to do all that. Here's my pass, and I want to go on. My +father may die before I get home." + +"What regiment do you b'long to?" asked the guard, who evidently did not +wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier unnecessarily. + +"The Second Virginia," replied Tom, at a venture. + +"Where does your father live?" continued the sentinel. + +"Just beyond the Gap, if he's living at all." + +"What town?" + +Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single place on the +route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to answer the question. + +"About five or six miles from here," he answered. + +"Is it Salem or White Plains?" demanded the soldier, whose cunning was +inferior to his honesty. + +"White Plains," added Tom, promptly accepting the suggestion. + +"What's the matter with your father?" + +"I don't know; he was taken suddenly." + +"Pears like your uniform ain't exactly our sort," added the soldier. + +"Mine was all used up, and I got one on the battle-field." + +"I wouldn't do that. It's mean to rob a dead man of his clothes." + +"Couldn't help it--I was almost naked," replied Tom, who perfectly agreed +with the rebel on this point. + +"You kin go on, Old Virginny," said the soldier, whose kindly sympathy for +Tom and his sick father was highly commendable. + +The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of which he +immediately availed himself. Tom did not yet realize the force of the +maxim that "all is fair in war," and his conscience gave a momentary +twinge as he thought of the deception he had practised upon the honest and +kind-hearted rebel. He was very thankful that he had not been compelled to +put a bullet through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the +man had not been obliged to do him a similar favor. + +The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the next +morning. He went through three or four small villages. After passing +through the Gap, he had taken the railroad, as less likely to lead him +through the more thickly settled parts of the country. Before him the +mountains of the Blue Ridge rose like an impassable wall, and when the day +dawned he was approaching Manassas Gap. He had walked twenty-five miles +during the night, and prudence, as well as fatigue, required him to seek a +place of rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DOWN THE SHENANDOAH. + + +In that wild mountain region, Tom had no difficulty in finding a secluded +spot, where there was no probability that he would be molested. He had +been in a state of constant excitement during the night, for the country +was full of soldiers. The mountaineers of Virginia were rushing to the +standard of rebellion. They were a wild, rude set of men, and they made +the night hideous with their debauchery. Tom succeeded in keeping out of +the way of the straggling parties which were roaming here and there; but +he was filled with dread and anxiety lest he should, at the next moment, +stumble upon a camp, or a squad of these marauders. + +The nook in the mountains which he had chosen as his resting place was a +cleft in the rocks, concealed by the overhanging branches of trees. Here +he made his bed, as the sun rose, and, worn out with fatigue and anxiety, +he dropped asleep. + +When he awoke, the sun was near the meridian. He rose and walked out a +short distance from his lodging place, and listened for any sounds which +might indicate the presence of an enemy. All was still; silence deep and +profound reigned through the solitudes of the mountains. Tom returned to +his place of concealment, and after eating the remainder of the food he +had brought with him, he stretched himself upon the ground, and went to +sleep again. He had nothing else to do, and he needed all the rest he +could obtain. It was fortunate for him that he had self-possession enough +to sleep--to banish his nervous doubts and fears, and thus secure the +repose which was indispensable to the success of his arduous enterprise. + +It was after sundown when he finished his second nap. He had slept nearly +all day,--at least ten hours,--and he was entirely refreshed and restored. +He was rather stiff in some of his limbs when he got up; but he knew this +would wear off after a little exercise. He had no supper with which to +brace himself for the night's work; so he took a drink from the mountain +stream, and made his way back to the railroad. But it was too early then +to commence the passage of the Gap, and he sat for a couple of hours by +the side of the road, before he ventured to resume his journey. + +While he was passing through the narrow gorge in the mountains, he met +several persons, on foot and on horseback; but as he was armed with a +pistol, he did not turn out for them; but when a party of soldiers +approached, he sought a hiding place by the side of the road until they +were out of hearing. When he had passed through the Gap, he came to a road +crossing the track, and after debating the question thoroughly, he decided +to abandon the railroad, and pursued his course by the common highway +towards the North. + +Continuing his journey diligently for a time longer, he came to another +road, branching off to the left from the one he had chosen, which required +further consideration. But his conclusion was satisfactory, and he +continued on the same road, which soon brought him to a more thickly +settled country than that through which he had been travelling. + +By this time Tom's stomach began to be rebellious again, and the question +of rations began to assume a serious aspect. He was not suffering for +food, but it was so much more comfortable to travel upon a full stomach +than an empty one, that he could not pass a dwelling house without +thinking of the contents of the cellar and closets. It was perfectly +proper to forage on the enemy; but he could not eat raw chicken and geese, +or the problem of rations would have been effectually settled by a +demonstration on the hen-coops of the Shenandoah valley. + +He came to a halt before a large mansion, which had the appearance of +belonging to a wealthy person. Its larder and kitchen cupboards, he +doubted not, were plentifully supplied with the luxuries of the season; +and Tom thought he might as well obtain his provisions now, as wait till +he was driven to desperation by hunger. He entered the front gate of the +great house, and stepped upon the veranda in front of it. The windows +reached down to the floor. He tried one of them, and found that it was not +fastened. He carefully raised the sash and entered. + +Tom was determined to put himself upon his impudence on the present +occasion; but he satisfied himself that his revolver was in condition for +instant use before he proceeded any farther. Passing from the front room +to an apartment in the rear, he found a lamp and matches, and concluded +that he would have some light on the subject, which was duly obtained. +Leaving this room, he entered another, which proved to be the kitchen. A +patient search revealed to him the lurking place of a cold roast chicken, +some fried bacon, bread, and crackers. + +Placing these things on the table, he seated himself to partake of the +feast which the forethought of the occupants had provided for him. Tom +began to be entirely at home, for having thrown himself on his impudence +now; he did not permit any doubts or fears to disturb him; but the handle +of his pistol protruded from between the buttons of his coat. He ate till +he had satisfied himself, when he happened to think that the coffee pot he +had seen in the closet might contain some cold coffee; and he brought it +out. He was not disappointed, and even found sugar and milk. He poured out +a bowl of the beverage, and, having prepared it to his taste, was about to +conclude the feast in this genteel style, when he heard footsteps in the +adjoining entry. + +Tom determined not to be cheated out of his coffee, and instead of putting +himself in a flurry, he took the bowl in one hand and the pistol in the +other. The door opened, and a negro timidly entered the room. + +"Well, sar!" said the servant, as he edged along the side of the room. +"Hem! Well, sar!" + +Tom took no notice of him, but continued to drink his coffee as coolly as +though he had been in his mother's cottage at Pinchbrook. + +"Hem! Well, sar!" repeated the negro, who evidently wished to have the +interloper take some notice of him. + +But the soldier boy refused to descend from his dignity or his impudence. +He finished the bowl of coffee as deliberately as though the darkey had +been somewhere else. + +"Well, sar! Who's you, sar?" + +"Eh, Blackee?" + +"Who's you, sar?" + +"Good chicken! Good bread! Good bacon!" added Tom. "Are the folks at home, +Blackee?" + +"No, sar; nobody but de women folks, sar. Who's you, sar?" + +"It don't make much difference who I am. Where's your master?" + +"Gone to Richmond, sar. He's member ob Congress." + +"Then he's in poor business, Blackee," said Tom, as he took out his +handkerchief, and proceeded to transfer the remnants of his supper to its +capacious folds. + +"Better luff dem tings alone, sar." + +But Tom refused to "luff dem alone," and when he had placed them on the +handkerchief, he made a bundle of them. + +"Golly, sar! I'll tell my missus what's gwine on down here," added the +servant, as he moved towards the door. + +"See here, Blackee," interposed Tom, pointing his pistol at the negro; "if +you move, I'll put one of these balls through your skull." + +"De Lud sabe us, massa! Don't shoot dis nigger, massa." + +"Hold your tongue then, and mind what I say." + +"Yes, massa," whined the darkey, in the most abject tones. + +"Now come with me, Blackee, and if you open your mouth, one of these pills +shall go down your throat." + +Tom flourished his pistol before the negro, and led the way to the window +by which he had entered the house. Passing out upon the veranda, he +cautiously conducted the terrified servant to the road; and when they had +gone a short distance, he halted. + +"Now, Blackee, what town is this?" demanded Tom. + +"Leeds Manor, sar," replied the trembling negro. + +"How far is it to the Shenandoah River?" + +"Only two or tree miles, massa. Now let dis chile go home again." + +"Not yet." + +"Hab mercy on dis nigger dis time, and sabe him." + +"I won't hurt you, if you behave yourself." + +Tom questioned him for some time in regard to the river, and the towns +upon its banks; and when he had obtained all the information in regard to +the valley which the servant possessed, he resumed his journey, driving +the negro before him. + +"Spare dis chile, massa, for de sake ob de wife and chil'n," pleaded the +unwilling guide. + +"I tell you I won't hurt you if you behave yourself," replied Tom. "You'll +have the whole place down upon me in half an hour, if I let you go now." + +"No, massa; dis nigger won't say one word 'bout you, nor de tings you took +from de house--not one word, massa. Spare dis chile, and luff him go +home." + +But Tom compelled him to walk before him till they came to the river. The +place was called Seaburn's Ford. + +"Now, Blackee, if anybody wants me, tell them I've gone to Winchester," +said Tom, when he had ordered his escort to halt. + +"No, massa, I won't say one word," replied the servant. + +"If you do, I'll shoot you the very next time I see you--depend upon that. +You can go now." + +The negro was not slow to avail himself of this privilege, and ran off, +evidently expecting a bullet from the revolver would overtake him before +he had gone far, for he glanced fearfully over his shoulder, begging his +captor not to shoot him. + +Tom stood upon the bank of the Shenandoah. The negro had told him that he +was about thirty miles from Harper's Ferry, which he knew was in +possession of General Patterson's forces. Attached to a tree on the shore +was a small flat-bottomed boat, which attracted the attention of the +soldier boy. Tom was accustomed to boats, and the sight of this one +suggested a change of programme, for it would be much easier to float down +the stream, than to walk the thirty miles. This was a point which needed +no argument; and unfastening the painter of the boat, he jumped in, and +pushed off. Seating himself in the stern, with the paddle in his hand, he +kept her head with the current, and swept down the rapid stream like a +dreamy youth just starting upon the voyage of life. + +Like the pilgrim on the sea of time, Tom was not familiar with the +navigation of the Shenandoah, and he had neither chart nor compass to +assist him. The current was very swift, and once in a while the bateau +bumped upon a concealed rock, or bar of sand. Fortunately no serious +accident occurred to him, though he found that the labor of managing the +boat was scarcely less than that of walking. + +There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of missing the +road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers or inquisitive +civilians. His light bark rushed on its way down the stream, without +attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if any were abroad at +that unseemly hour of the night. The difficulties of the navigation were +overcome with more or less labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his +mind that he had done a good night's work; and choosing a secluded nook by +the side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the +return of darkness. + +The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, and he ate +his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he was not very +tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something better to do, he felt +compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the previous day, to dispose of +the weary hours in this agreeable manner. His pastime, however, was soon +interrupted by loud shouts and the tramp of men, not far from the spot +where he lay. A hurried examination of the surroundings assured him that +he had chosen a resting place near one of the fords of the river, over +which a rebel regiment was then passing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE PROBLEM OF RATIONS. + + +The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a few rods +distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and his boat. When +he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with terror; and, fully +believing that his hour had come, he dropped upon the ground, to wait, in +trembling anxiety, the passage of the troops. It was a regiment of +Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the most fantastic style with +hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They yelled and howled like so many +wildcats. + +From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a good view +of the men, as they waded across the river. He was fearful that some of +them might stray from the ranks, and stumble upon his place of refuge; but +a kind Providence put it into their heads to mind their own business, and +Tom gathered hope as the yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the +distance. + +"This is no place for me," said Tom to himself, when the sounds had died +away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. "A whole army of them may camp +near that ford, and drive me out of my hiding place." + +Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied no carriage +or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying the paddle with the +utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he found that the public +highway ran along the banks of the river, which exposed him to increased +risk of being seen. A couple of vehicles passed along the road while he +was in this exposed situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take +no notice of him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently +the boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable +place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the bateau. + +As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, ate his +dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so tranquil as he +had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains. Visions of rebel soldiers +haunted his dreams, and more than once he started up, and gazed wildly +around him; but these were only visions, and there was something more real +to disturb his slumbers. + +"Hi! Who are you?" exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who had penetrated the +thicket without disturbing the sleeper. + +Tom started up, and sprang to his feet. One of the tall mountaineers, whom +he had seen crossing the ford, stood before him; and the reality was even +more appalling than the vision. + +"Who mought you be?" demanded the tall soldier, with a good-natured grin +upon his greasy face. + +"Faith! I believe I've been asleep!" said Tom, rubbing his eyes, and +looking as innocent as a young lamb. + +"You may bet your life on thet, my boy," replied the rebel, laughing. "Hi! +Jarvey!" added he, apparently addressing a companion at no great distance +from the spot. + +Heavy footsteps announced the approach of Jarvey, who soon joined them. He +was not less than six feet three inches in height, and, with two such +customers as these, Tom had no hope except in successful strategy. He had +no doubt they had obtained information of him from the persons in the +vehicles, and had come to secure him. He fully expected to be marched off +to the rebel regiment, which could not be far off. + +"Who is he, Sid?" asked Jarvey, when he reached the spot. + +"Dunno. Say, who are ye, stranger?" + +"Who am I? Tom Somers, of course. Do you belong to that regiment that +stopped over yonder last night?" asked Tom, with a proper degree of +enthusiasm. "Don't you know me?" + +"Well, we don't." + +"Didn't you see me over there? That's a bully regiment of yours. I'd like +to join it." + +"Would you, though, sonny?" said Sid, laughing till his mouth opened wide +enough for a railroad train to pass in. + +"Wouldn't I, though!" replied Tom. "If there's any big fighting done, I'll +bet your boys do it." + +"Bet your life on thet," added Jarvey. "But why don't you jine a +regiment?" + +"Don't want to join any regiment that comes along. I want to go into a +fighting regiment, like yours." + +"Well, sonny, you ain't big enough to jine ours," said Sid, as he +compassionately eyed the young man's diminutive proportions. + +"The old man wouldn't let me go in when I wanted to, and I'm bound not to +go in any of your fancy regiments. I want to fight when I go." + +"You'll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing here?" + +"I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to sleep." + +"Where's your fish-line?" + +"In the boat." + +"What ye got in that handkerchief?" + +"My dinner," replied Tom. "Won't you take a bite?" + +"What ye got?" + +"A piece of cold chicken and some bread." + +"We don't mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men with this gear on in +these yere parts?" asked Jarvey, as he pointed to his uniform. + +"Yes, _sir_," replied Tom, vigorously. + +"Whar d'ye see 'em, sonny?" + +"They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while ago." + +"How many?" + +"Two," replied Tom, with promptness. + +"Where's the other?" asked Jarvey, turning to his companion. + +"He's in these yere woods, somewhar. We'll fotch 'em before night. You say +the two men crossed the ford--did ye, sonny?" + +"Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with them?" + +"They're mean trash, and want to run off. Now, sonny, 'spose you put us +over the river in your boat." + +"Yes, _sir_!" replied Tom, readily. + +The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by their great +weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of the river. + +"Thank'e, sonny," said Jarvey, as they jumped on shore. "If you were only +four foot higher, we'd like to take you into our regiment. You'll make a +right smart chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, sonny." + +"Good by," answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, indicative of his +satisfaction at being so well rid of his passengers. + +He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a prisoner to +this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his senses when he +found himself again safely floating down the rapid tide of the Shenandoah. +His impudence and his self-possession had saved him; but it was a mystery +to him that his uniform, or the absence of his fish-line, or the answers +he gave, had not betrayed him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen +a United States uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him +about his dress. + +Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he ventured to stop +again, for he could not hope to meet with many rebel soldiers who were so +innocent and inexperienced as these wildcats of the mountains had been. +When the darkness favored his movements, he again embarked upon his +voyage. Twice during the night his boat got aground, and once he was +pitched into the river by striking upon a rock; but he escaped these and +other perils of the navigation with nothing worse than a thorough ducking, +which was by no means a new experience to the soldier boy. In the morning, +well satisfied with his night's work, he laid up for the day in the safest +place he could find. + +On the second day of his voyage down the river, the old problem of rations +again presented itself for consideration, for the ham and chicken he had +procured at Leed's Manor were all gone. There were plenty of houses on the +banks of the river, but Tom had hoped to complete his cruise without the +necessity of again exposing himself to the peril of being captured while +foraging for the commissary department. But the question was as imperative +as it had been several times before, and twelve hours fasting gave him +only a faint hint of what his necessities might compel him to endure in +twenty-four or forty-eight hours. He did not consider it wise to postpone +the settlement of the problem till he was actually suffering for the want +of food. + +On the third night of his voyage, therefore, he hauled up the bateau at a +convenient place, and started off upon a foraging expedition, intending to +visit some farmer's kitchen, and help himself, as he had done on a former +occasion. Of course, Tom had no idea where he was; but he hoped and +believed that he should soon reach Harper's Ferry. + +After making his way through the woods for half a mile, he came to a +public road, which he followed till it brought him to a house. It was +evidently the abode of a thrifty farmer, for near it were half a dozen +negro houses. As the dwelling had no long windows in front, Tom was +obliged to approach the place by a flank and rear movement; but the back +door was locked. He tried the windows, and they were fastened. While he +was reconnoitring the premises, he heard heavy footsteps within. Returning +to the door, he knocked vigorously for admission. + +"Who's thar?" said a man, as he threw the door wide open. + +"A stranger, who wants something to eat," replied Tom, boldly. + +"Who are ye?" + +"My name is Tom Somers," added the soldier boy, as he stepped into the +house. "Can you tell me whether the Seventh Georgia Regiment is down this +way?" + +"I reckon 'tis; least wise I don't know. There's three rigiments about +five mile below yere." + +"I was told my regiment was down this way, and I'm trying to find it. I'm +half starved. Will you give me something to eat?" + +"Sartin, stranger; I'll do thet." + +The man, who was evidently the proprietor of the house, brought up the +remnant of a boiled ham, a loaf of white bread, some butter, and a pitcher +of milk. Tom ate till he was satisfied. The farmer, in deference to his +amazing appetite probably, suspended his questions till the guest began to +show some signs of satiety, when he pressed him again as vigorously as +though he had been born and brought up among the hills of New England. + +"Where d'ye come from?" said he. + +"From Manassas. I lost my regiment in the fight; and the next day I heard +they had been toted over this way, and I put after them right smart," +answered Tom, adopting as much of the Georgia vernacular as his knowledge +would permit. + +"Walk all the way?" + +"No; I came in the keers most of the way." + +"But you don't wear our colors," added the farmer, glancing at Tom's +clothes. + +"My clothes were all worn out, and I helped myself to the best suit I +could find on the field." + +"What regiment did ye say ye b'longed to?" queried the man, eying the +uniform again. + +"To the Seventh Georgia. Perhaps you can tell me where I shall find it." + +"I can't; but I reckon there's somebody here that can. I'll call him." + +Tom was not at all particular about obtaining this information. There was +evidently some military man in the house, who would expose him if he +remained any longer. + +"Who is it, father?" asked a person who had probably heard a part of the +conversation we have narrated; for the voice proceeded from a bed-room +adjoining the apartment in which Tom had eaten his supper. + +"A soldier b'longing to the Seventh Georgia," answered the farmer. "That's +my son; he's a captain in the cavalry, and he'll know all about it. He can +tell you where yer regiment is," added he, turning to Tom, who was edging +towards the door. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for my supper," said the fugitive, +nervously. "I reckon I'll be moving along." + +"Wait half a second, and my son will tell you just where to find your +regiment." + +"The Seventh Georgia?" said the captain of cavalry, entering the room at +this moment with nothing but his pants on. "There's no such regiment up +here, and hasn't been. I reckon you're a deserter." + +"No, _sir!_ I scorn the charge," replied Tom, with becoming indignation. +"I never desert my colors." + +"I suppose not," added the officer, glancing at his uniform; "but your +colors desert you." + +Tom failed to appreciate the wit of the reply, and backed off towards the +door, with one hand upon the stock of his revolver. + +"Hold on to him, father; don't let him go," said the officer, as he rushed +back into his chamber, evidently for his pistols or his sabre. + +"Hands off, or you are a dead man;" cried Tom, as he pointed his revolver +at the head of the farmer. + +In another instant, the captain of cavalry reappeared with a pistol in +each hand. A stunning report resounded through the house, and Tom heard a +bullet whistle by his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE PICKET GUARD. + + +It was sufficiently obvious to Tom that, on the present occasion, the +suspicions of his host were awakened. It is possible that, if he had +depended upon his impudence, he might have succeeded in deceiving the +Confederate officer; but his evident intention to retire from the contest +before an investigation could be had, proved him, in the estimation of the +captain, to be either a spy or a deserter, and shooting him was preferable +to losing him. + +The officer fired quick, and with little attention to the important matter +of a steady aim; and Tom had to thank his stars for the hasty shot, for, +though it went within a few inches of his head, "a miss was as good as a +mile," and the brains of our hero remained intact and complete. But he was +not willing to be the subject of any further experiments of this +description, and without waiting further to express his gratitude to the +host for the bountiful supper he had eaten, he threw open the door, and +dashed off at the top of his speed. + +The revolver he carried was a very good implement with which to bully a +negro, or an unarmed farmer; but Tom had more confidence in his legs than +in his skill as a marksman, and before the captain could transfer the +second pistol from his left to his right hand, he had passed out of the +house, and was concealed from his pursuers by the gloom of the night. He +felt that he had had a narrow escape, and he was not disposed to trifle +with destiny by loitering in the vicinity of the house. + +He had not proceeded far before he heard a hue and cry behind him; and if +the captain of cavalry had not stopped to put on his boots, it is more +than possible that our humble volume might have contained a chapter or two +upon prison life in Richmond. Undoubtedly it was quite proper for the +officer to put on his boots before he went out; a decent regard for his +individual sanitary condition, and a reasonable horror of ague and +rheumatism, would have induced him to do it, even at the risk of losing a +Federal prisoner, or a rebel deserter, as the case might be. At any rate, +if Tom had known the cause of the delay, he would freely have forgiven him +for wasting his time in healthful precautions. + +The fugitive retraced his steps to the river by the same route he had +taken in approaching the hospitable roof of the farmer. As nearly as he +could judge by the sounds that reached him from the distance, the officer +and his father were gathering up a force to hunt down the fugitive. Tom +jumped into the bateau, and pushed off. Keeping under the shadow of the +bank of the river, he plied his paddle vigorously, and by the time his +pursuers arrived at the river, he was a couple of miles from the spot. He +could hear a shout occasionally in the deep silence of the night, but with +the distance between him and the enemy, he felt entirely secure. The +danger had passed, and he floated leisurely on his voyage, buoyant as his +light bark, and hopeful as the dream of youth. + +Hour after hour, in the gloom of the solemn night, he was borne by the +swift tide towards the lines of the loyal army. The day was dawning, and +he was on the lookout for a suitable place to conceal himself, until the +friendly shades of night should again favor his movements. After the +experience of the former night near the ford, he was very cautious in the +selection of a hiding place. It is not always safe to be fastidious; for +while Tom was rejecting one location, and waiting for another to appear, +the river bore him into a tract of very open country, which was less +favorable than that through which he had just been passing. + +The prospect began to make him nervous; and while he was bitterly +regretting that he had not moored the boat before, he was startled to hear +a sharp, commanding voice on the bank at his left. + +"Who comes there? Halt!" + +Tom looked up, and discovered a grayback, standing on the shore, very +deliberately pointing his musket at him. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the picket; for at this point were stationed +the outposts of the rebel force in the Shenandoah valley. + +"Friend!" replied Tom. + +"Halt, then!" + +"I would, if I could," answered Tom, as hastily as possible. + +"Halt, or I'll fire!" + +"I tell you I can't halt," replied Tom, using his paddle vigorously, as +though he was trying to urge the bateau to the shore. "Don't fire! For +mercy's sake, don't fire." + +Tom appeared to be intensely frightened at the situation in which he was +placed, and redoubled his efforts apparently to gain the bank of the +stream; but the more he seemed to paddle one way, the more the boat went +the other way. However much Tom appeared to be terrified by the peril that +menaced him, it must be confessed that he was not wholly unmoved. + +"Stop your boat, quick!" said the soldier, who had partially dropped his +musket from its menacing position. + +"I can't stop it," responded Tom, apparently in an agony of terror. "I +would go ashore if I could." + +"What's the matter?" + +"The water runs so swift, I can't stop her; been trying this two hours." + +"You will be inside the Yankee lines in half an hour if you don't fetch +to," shouted the picket. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Tom, redoubling his efforts. + +But it was useless to struggle with the furious current, and Tom threw +himself into the bottom of the boat, as if in utter desperation. If +Niagara Falls, with their thundering roar and fearful abyss, had been +before him, his agony could not have been more intense, as judged from the +shore. + +By this time, the sentinel on the bank had been joined by his two +companions, and the three men forming the picket post stood gazing at him, +as he abandoned himself to the awful fate of being captured by the +blood-thirsty Yankees, to whose lines the relentless current of the +Shenandoah was bearing him. + +When Tom was first challenged by the grayback, the boat had been some +twenty rods above him; and it had now passed the spot where he stood, but +the rebels were still near enough to converse with him. Tom heard one of +them ask another who he was. Of course neither of them knew who he was, or +where he came from. + +"Try again!" shouted one of the pickets. "The Yankees will have you in a +few minutes." + +Tom did make another ineffectual effort to check the progress of the +bateau, and again abandoned the attempt in despair. The rebels followed +him on the bank, encouraging him with words of cheer, and with dire +prophecies of his fate if he fell into the hands of the cruel Yankees. + +"Can't you help me?" pleaded Tom, in accents of despair. "Throw me a rope! +Do something for me." + +Now, this was a suggestion that had not before occurred to the picket +guard, and Tom would have been infinitely wiser if he had not put the idea +of assisting him into their dull brains; for it is not at all probable +that they would have thought of such a thing themselves, for the south, +especially the poor white trash, are not largely endowed with inventive +genius. + +"Save me! Save me!" cried Tom, as he saw the rebels engaged in a hasty +consultation, the result of which was, that two of them started off upon +the run in a direction at right angles with the stream. + +"Try again! Stick to it!" shouted the picket left on the shore. + +"I can't do any more; I'm all tired out," replied Tom, throwing himself +for the fourth time in the bottom of the boat, the very picture of +despair. + +The picture was very much exaggerated and over-drawn; but as long as the +bullet from the rebel's musket did not come his way, Tom was satisfied +with his acting, and hopeful for the future. The man on the shore, full of +sympathy for the distressed and exhausted voyager, walked and ran so as to +keep up with the refractory barge, which seemed to be spitefully hurling +its agonized passenger into the Federal lines, where death and dungeons +lurked at every corner. + +While this exciting drama was in progress, the stream bore Tom to a sharp +bend in the river, where the current set in close to the shore. His +attentive guardian on the bank ran ahead, and stationed himself at this +point, ready to afford any assistance to the disconsolate navigator which +the circumstances might permit. + +"Now's your chance!" shouted he. "Gosh all whittaker! put in now, and do +your pootiest!" + +Tom adopted this friendly advice, and "put in" with all his might; but the +more he "put in," the more he put out--from the shore, whither the +inauspicious eddies were sweeping him. If Tom had not been born in +Pinchbrook, and had a home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated +accomplishment, he would probably have been borne into the arms of the +expectant rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which +that gentleman's musket contained. As it was, he had the skill to do what +he seemed not to be doing. Mr. Johnny Reb evidently did not suspect that +Tom was "playing 'possum," as the Tennessee sharpshooters would have +expressed it. The voyager's efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and +certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which ought +to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat. + +The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the waiting arms +of the sympathizing grayback. As it passed, he waded a short distance into +the water, and stretched forth his musket to the unhappy voyager. Tom +threw down his paddle, and sprang with desperate energy to obtain a hold +upon the gun. He even succeeded in grasping the end of the bayonet. For a +moment he pulled so hard that it was doubtful whether the bateau would be +hauled ashore, or Secesh drawn into the deep water. + +"Hold on tight, my boy! Pull for your life!" shouted the soldier, highly +excited by the probable success of his philanthropic efforts. + +"Save me! Save me!" groaned Tom, as he tugged, or seemed to do so, at the +bayonet. + +Then, while the united exertions of the saver and the saved, in +anticipation, were on the very point of being successful, the polished +steel of the bayonet unaccountably slipped through the fingers of Tom, and +the bateau was borne off towards the opposite shore. + +"Save me! Save me," cried Tom again, in tones more piteous than ever. + +"What d'ye let go fur?" said the grayback, indignantly, as his musket, +which he had held by the tip end of the stock, dropped into the water, +when Tom let go of the bayonet. + +The soldier indulged in a volley of peculiarly southern oaths, with which +we cannot disfigure our page, even in deference to the necessity of +painting a correct picture of the scene we have described. Tom had a vein +of humor in his composition, which has already displayed itself in some of +the rough experiences of his career; and when he saw the rebel soldier +deprived of all power to make war upon him, either offensive or defensive, +he could not resist the temptation to celebrate the signal strategical +victory he had obtained over the picket guard. This triumphal +demonstration was not very dignified, nor, under the circumstances, very +prudent or sensible. It consisted in placing the thumb of his right hand +upon the end of his nose, while he wiggled the four remaining digital +appendages of the same member in the most aggravating manner, whistling +Yankee Doodle as an accompaniment to the movement. + +If Secesh did not understand the case before, he did now; and fishing up +his musket, he emptied the water out of the barrel, and attempted to fire +it. Luckily for Tom, the gun would not go off, and he swept on his way +jubilant and joyous. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE END OF THE VOYAGE. + + +Tom Somers's voyage down the Shenandoah was, in many respects, a type of +human life. He experienced the various reverses, the trials and hardships, +which attend all sojourners here below. He triumphed over all obstacles, +and when he had completely outwitted the grayback who had labored so +diligently to save him from his impending fate, he was at the zenith of +prosperity. He had vanquished the last impediment, and the lines of the +Union army--the haven of peace to him--were only a short distance from the +scene of his victory. + +Prosperity makes men arrogant and reckless, and I am sorry to say that it +had the same effect upon Tom Somers. If he had been content modestly to +enjoy the victory he had achieved, it would have been wiser and safer for +him; but when Fortune was kind to him, he mocked her, and she turned +against him. + +When he had passed out of the reach of the rebel soldier, whose musket had +been rendered useless for the time being, Tom believed that he was safe, +and that he had fairly escaped from the last peril that menaced him on the +voyage. But he was mistaken; for as the current swept the bateau around +the bend of the river, he discovered, to his astonishment and chagrin, the +two secesh soldiers, who had left the picket post some time before, +standing at convenient distances from each other and from the shore, in +the water, ready to rescue him from the fate before him. The place they +had chosen was evidently a ford of the river, where they intended to check +the boat in its mad career down the stream. They were painfully persistent +in their kind intentions to save him from the horrible Yankees, and Tom +wished they had been less humane and less enthusiastic in his cause. + +As soon as Tom perceived this trap, he regretted his imprudence in +betraying himself to the soldier from whom he had just escaped. His sorrow +was not diminished, when, a few minutes later, he heard the shouts of the +third soldier, who, by hard running across the fields, had reached the +ford before him. + +"Shoot him! Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" bellowed the grayback on the shore. + +Tom was appalled at these words, and wondered how the soldier could have +found out that he was a Yankee; but when he recalled the fact that he had +entertained him with Yankee Doodle at their last meeting, the mystery +became less formidable. + +"Shoot him! He's a Yankee!" shouted Secesh on the bank of the stream. + +"We've left our guns on shore," replied Secesh in the water. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for that," said Tom to himself, as he +grasped his paddle, and set the boat over towards the right bank of the +river. + +No doubt the rebels in the water, when they saw with what facility the +boatman moved the bateau in the swift tide, as compared with his futile +efforts farther up the stream, were fully satisfied of the truth of their +companion's assertion. Tom decided to run the gauntlet between the right +bank and the soldier nearest to that shore. He paddled the bateau with all +his vigor, until he had obtained the desired position. + +The graybacks in the water, realizing that they were engaged on an errand +of peace and humanity, had left their muskets on shore. They were, +therefore, comparatively harmless; but the one on shore had reached the +ford, and picking up one of the muskets of his companions, without threat +or warning, fired. It was lucky for Tom that he was not a Tennessee +sharpshooter, nor a Texas ranger, for the shot passed harmlessly over him. +The soldier dropped the gun, and picked up the other, which he instantly +discharged, and with better aim than before, for the ball struck the +bateau, though not within four feet of where Tom stood. + +"Don't waste your powder, if you can't shoot better than that," shouted +one of the soldiers in the water. "You'll hit us next." + +"Stop him, then! Stop him!" replied the grayback on the shore. "Kill him +if you can." + +Tom was paddling with all his might to pass the ford before the soldier +nearest to him should reach a position in which he could intercept the +boat. The rebel was an enterprising fellow, and the soldier boy's chances +were growing amazingly small. Secesh had actually reached a place where he +could make a dash at the boat. There he stood with a long bowie-knife +between his teeth, and with both hands outstretched, ready to seize upon +the unfortunate bark. He looked grim and ferocious, and Tom saw that he +was thoroughly in earnest. + +It was a trying situation for a boy of Tom's years, and he would fain have +dodged the issue. That bowie-knife had a wicked look, though it was mild +and tame compared with the savage eye of the rebel who held it. As it was +a case of life and death, the fugitive braced himself up to meet the +shock. Taking his position in the stern of the boat, he held the paddle in +his left hand, while his right firmly grasped his revolver. It was either +"kill or be killed," and Tom was not so sentimental as to choose the +latter rather than the former, especially as his intended victim was a +secessionist and a rebel. + +"Keep off, or you are a dead man," shouted Tom, as he flourished his +pistol so that his assailant could obtain a fair view of its calibre, and +in the hope that the fellow would be willing to adopt a politician's +expedient, and compromise the matter by retiring out of range. + +"Tew kin play at that game. This yere tooth-pick will wipe you out," +coolly replied the fellow, as he made a spring at the boat. + +"Stand off!" screamed Tom, as he raised the pistol, and fired. + +It was a short range, and Tom would have been inexcusable if he had missed +his aim. The rebel struck his chest with his right hand, and the bowie +knife dropped from his teeth; but with his left hand he had grasped the +gunwale of the boat, and as he sunk down in the shallow water, he pulled +the bateau over on one side till the water poured in, and threatened to +swamp her. Fortunately the wounded man relaxed his hold, the boat righted, +and Tom commenced paddling again with all his strength and skill. + +The other soldier in the water, as soon as he discovered where Tom +intended to pass, hastened over to assist his associate. The shouts of +their companion on shore had fully fired their southern hearts, and both +of them were ten times as zealous to kill or capture a Yankee, as they had +been to save a Virginian. When the wounded man clutched the boat, the +other was not more than ten feet from him, but farther down the stream. +His associate fell, and he sprang forward to engage in the affray. + +"Stand off, or you are a dead man!" yelled Tom, with emphasis, as he plied +his paddle with renewed energy, for he saw that the man could not reach +him. + +The bateau passed them both, and Tom began to breathe easier. The second +rebel, finding he could not capture or kill the detested Yankee, went to +the assistance of his companion. The soldier boy suspended his exertions, +for the danger seemed to be over, and gazed with interest upon the scene +which was transpiring in the water just above him. He was anxious to know +whether he had killed the rebel or not. There was something awful in the +circumstances, for the soldier boy's sensibilities were too acute to +permit him to take a human life, though it was that of an enemy, without +producing a deep impression upon his mind. Perhaps, in the great battle in +which he had been a participant, he had killed several rebels; if he had +done so, he had not seen them fall. This was the first man he had +consciously killed or wounded, and the fact was solemn, if not appalling, +to the young soldier. + +As the rebel raised his companion from the water he seemed to be dead, and +Tom was forced to the conclusion that he had killed him. He had done the +deed in self-defence, and in the strict line of duty. He could not be +blamed even by his enemies for the act. He felt no exultation, and hoped +from the bottom of his heart that the man was prepared to meet his Maker, +into whose presence he had been so suddenly summoned. + +Tom had heard the boys in Pinchbrook talk lightly about killing rebels, +and he had talked so himself; but the reality was not so pleasant as it +had seemed at a distance. He was sorry for the poor fellow, and wished he +had not been obliged to kill him. It was terrible to him, even in battle, +to take a human life, to slay a being created in the image of God, and for +whom Christ lived and died. + +While he was indulging in these sad reflections, he heard a bullet whistle +near his head. The Secesh soldier on the shore had loaded up his +companions' muskets, and was doing his best to bring down the lucky +fugitive. His last shot was not a bad one, and Tom could not help +thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that he would not waste any fine +feelings over him. He did not like the sound of those whizzing bullets, +and as he had never boasted of his courage, he did not scorn to adopt +precautionary measures. The water was three inches deep in the bottom of +the bateau; but Tom deemed it prudent to lie down there until the current +should bear him out of the reach of the rebel bullets. + +He maintained this recumbent posture for half an hour or more, listening +to the balls that frequently whistled over his head. Once he ventured to +raise his head, and discovered, not one man, but a dozen, on the shore, +which accounted for the rapid firing he heard. When he looked up again, +his bateau had passed round a bend, and he was no longer exposed to the +fire of the enemy. + +From his heart Tom thanked God for his escape. He was religiously grateful +for the aid which Providence had rendered him, and when he thought how +near he had stood to the brink of destruction, he realized how narrow the +span between the Here and the Hereafter. And the moral of his reflections +was, that if he stood so near to the open gate of death, he ought always +to live wisely and well, and ever be prepared to pass the portals which +separate time from eternity. + +Tom's thoughts were sad and heavy. He could not banish from his mind the +face of the rebel, as he raised his hand to his breast, where he had +received his mortal wound. That countenance, full of hate and revenge, +haunted him for weeks afterwards, in the solitude of his tent, and on his +midnight vigils as a sentinel. + +As he sat in the boat, thinking of the events of the morning, and +listening to the mournful rippling of the waters, which, to his subdued +soul, sounded like the requiem of his victim, he was challenged from the +shore again. + +"Who comes there!" + +Tom jumped up, and saw a sentinel on the bank pointing his gun at him. He +surveyed the form with anxious interest; but this time he had nothing to +fear, for the soldier wore the blue uniform of the United States army. + +"Friend," replied he, as he grasped his paddle. + +"Come ashore, or I'll put a bullet through you," added the sentinel. + +"Don't do it!" said Tom, with energy. "Can't you see the colors I wear." + +"Come ashore, then." + +"I will." + +The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it was +astonishing to observe with what better success than when invited to land +by the grayback up the river. The guard assisted him in landing and +securing his boat. + +"Who are you?" demanded he, as he gazed at Tom's wet and soiled garments. + +"I was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and came back on my own hook." + +"Perhaps you were, but you can't pass these lines," said the soldier. + +Tom was sent to the Federal camp, and passed from one officer to another, +till he was finally introduced to General Banks, at Harper's Ferry. He was +questioned in regard to his own adventures, the country he had passed +through, and the troops of the enemy he had seen. When, to use his own +expression, he had been "pumped dry," he was permitted to rest a few days, +and then forwarded to his regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BUDD'S FERRY. + + +Though Tom Somers had been absent from the regiment only a fortnight, it +seemed to him as though a year had elapsed since the day of the battle +when he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his townsmen and friends. He +had been ordered to report to the provost marshal at Washington, where he +learned that his regiment was at Bladensburg, about six miles from the +city. Being provided with the necessary pass and "transportation," he soon +reached the camp. + +"Tom Somers! Tom Somers!" shouted several of his comrades, as soon as they +recognized him. + +"Three cheers for Tom Somers!" shouted Bob Dornton. + +The soldier boy was a favorite in the company, and his return was +sufficient to justify such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, were given +with tremendous enthusiasm. + +"Tom, I'm glad to see you!" said old Hapgood, with extended hand, while +his eyes filled with tears. "I was afeared we should never see you again." + +The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who was present. +His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to him, and he was +determined always to merit the good will of his companions in arms. + +"Now, fellows, tell us what the news is," said Tom, as he seated himself +on a camp stool before the tent of his mess. + +"There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the orderly," added one +of his friends. "I suppose you have got a bigger story to tell than any of +us, but you shall have a chance to read your letters first." + +These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given to him, and +the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, lest he should find +in them some bad news; but his mother and all the family were well. One of +them was written since the battle, and it was evidently penned with deep +solicitude for his fate, of which nothing had been heard. + +Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him that his +mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, for all the men +had written to their friends since the battle. The captain who had escaped +from Sudley church had reported him alive and well, but he had no +information in regard to his escape. + +"We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same as usual in +Pinchbrook," wrote one of his older sisters. "John is so bent upon going +to sea in the navy, that it is as much as mother can do to keep him at +home. He says the country wants him, and he wants to go; and what's more, +he must go. We haven't heard a word from father since he left home; but +Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in the +harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope that he is +safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy keeping. + +"Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went into the army. He +don't say a word about politics now." + +In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had advanced the +money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire Pemberton had not +said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His brother added that he was +determined to go into the navy, even if he had to run away. He could get +good wages, and he thought it was a pity that he should not do his share +towards supporting the family. + +Tom finished his letters, and was rejoiced to find that his friends at +home were all well and happy; and in a few days more, a letter from him +would gladden their hearts with the intelligence of his safe return to the +regiment. + +"All well--ain't they?" asked Hapgood, as Tom folded up the letters and +put them in his pocket; and the veteran could not fail to see, from the +happy expression of his countenance, that their contents were +satisfactory. + +"All well," replied Tom. "Where is Fred Pemberton? I haven't seen him +yet." + +"In the hospital: he's sick, or thinks he is," answered Hapgood. "Ben +Lethbridge is in the guard house. He attempted to run away while we were +coming over from Shuter's Hill." + +"Who were killed, and who were wounded? I haven't heard a word about the +affair, you know," asked Tom. + +"Sergeant Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner. Sergeant Brown was hit +by a shell, but not hurt much. The second lieutenant was wounded in the +foot, and--" + +A loud laugh from the men interrupted the statement. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded Tom. + +"He resigned," added Bob Dornton, chuckling. + +"You said he was wounded?" + +"I didn't say so; the lieutenant said so himself, and hobbled about with a +big cane for a week; but as soon as his resignation was accepted, he threw +away his stick, and walked as well as ever he could." + +The boys all laughed heartily, and seemed to enjoy the joke prodigiously. +Tom thought it was a remarkable cure, though the remedy was one which no +decent man would be willing to adopt. + +"How's Captain Benson?" + +"He's better; he felt awful bad because he wasn't in that battle. The +colonel has gone home, sick. He has more pluck than body. He was +sun-struck, and dropped off his horse, like a dead man, on the field. It's +a great pity he hasn't twice or three times as much body; if he had, he'd +make a first-rate officer." + +It was now Tom's turn to relate his adventures; and he modestly told his +story. His auditors were deeply interested in his narrative, and when he +had finished, it was unanimously voted that Tom was a "trump;" which I +suppose means nothing more than that he was a smart fellow--a position +which no one who has read his adventures will be disposed to controvert. + +A long period of comparative inactivity for the regiment followed the +battle of Bull Run. General McClellan had been called from the scene of +his brilliant operations in Western Virginia, to command the army of the +Potomac, and he was engaged in the arduous task of organizing the vast +body of loyal troops that rushed forward to sustain the government in this +dark hour of peril. + +While at Bladensburg the --th regiment with three others were formed into +a brigade, the command of which was given to Hooker--a name then unknown +beyond the circle of his own friends. + +About the first of November the brigade was sent to Budd's Ferry, thirty +miles below Washington, on the Potomac, to watch the rebels in that +vicinity. The enemy had, by this time, closed the river against the +passage of vessels to the capital, by erecting batteries at various +places, the principal of which were at Evansport, Shipping Point, and +Cockpit Point. Budd's Ferry was a position in the vicinity of these works, +and the brigade was employed in picketing the river, to prevent the enemy +on the other side from approaching, and also to arrest the operations of +the viler traitors on this side, who were attempting to send supplies to +the rebels. + +It was not a very exciting life to which the boys of our regiment were +introduced on their arrival at Budd's Ferry, though the rebel batteries at +Shipping Point made a great deal of noise and smoke at times. As the +season advanced the weather began to grow colder, and the soldiers were +called to a new experience in military life; but as they were gradually +inured to the diminishing temperature, the hardship was less severe than +those who gather around their northern fireside may be disposed to +imagine. Tom continued to be a philosopher, which was better than an extra +blanket; and he got along very well. + +It was a dark, cold, and windy night, in December, when Tom found himself +doing picket duty near the mouth of Chickamoxon Creek. Nobody supposed +that any rebel sympathizer would be mad enough to attempt the passage of +the river on such a night as that, for the Potomac looked alive with the +angry waves that beat upon its broad bosom. Hapgood and Fred Pemberton +were with him, and the party did the best they could to keep themselves +comfortable, and at the same time discharge the duty assigned to them. + +"Here, lads," said old Hapgood, who, closely muffled in his great-coat, +was walking up and down the bank of the creek to keep the blood warm in +his veins. + +"What is it, Hapgood?" demanded Fred, who was coiled up on the lee side of +a tree, to protect him from the cold blast that swept down the creek. + +"Hush!" said Hapgood. "Don't make a noise; there's a boat coming. Down! +down! Don't let them see you." + +Tom and Fred crawled upon the ground to the verge of the creek, and placed +themselves by the side of the veteran. + +"I don't see any boat," said Tom. + +"I can see her plain enough, with my old eyes. Look up the creek." + +"Ay, ay! I see her." + +"So do I," added Fred. "What shall we do?" + +"Stop her, of course." replied Tom. + +"That's easy enough said, but not so easily done. We had better send word +up to the battery, and let them open upon her," suggested Fred. + +"Open upon the man in the moon!" replied Tom, contemptuously. "Don't you +see she is under sail, and driving down like sixty? We must board her!" + +Tom spoke in an emphatic whisper, and pointed to a small boat, which lay +upon the shore. The craft approaching was a small schooner apparently +about five tons burden. The secessionists of Baltimore or elsewhere had +chosen this dark and tempestuous night to send over a mail and such +supplies as could not be obtained, for love or money, on the other side of +the Potomac. Of course, they expected to run the risk of a few shots from +the Union pickets on the river; but on such a night, and in such a sea, +there was very little danger of their hitting the mark. + +Up the creek the water was comparatively smooth; but the little schooner +was driving furiously down the stream, with the wind on her quarter, and +the chances of making a safe and profitable run to the rebel line, those +on board, no doubt, believed were all in their favor. + +"We have no time to lose," said Hapgood, with energy, as he pushed off the +boat, which lay upon the beach. "Tumble in lively, and be sure your guns +are in good order." + +"Mine is all right," added Tom, as he examined the cap on his musket, and +then jumped into the boat. + +"So is mine," said Fred; "but I don't much like this business. Do you +know how many men there are in the schooner?" + +"Don't know, and don't care," replied Tom. + +"Of course they are armed. They have revolvers, I'll bet my month's pay." + +"If you don't want to go, stay on shore," answered Hapgood, petulantly. +"But don't make a noise about it." + +"Of course I'll go, but I think we are getting into a bad scrape." + +Tom and Hapgood held a hurried consultation, which ended in the former's +taking a position in the bow of the boat, while the other two took their +places at the oars. The muskets were laid across the thwarts, and the +rowers pulled out to the middle of the creek, just in season to intercept +the schooner. Of course they were seen by the men on board of her, who +attempted to avoid them. + +"Hallo!" said Tom, in a kind of confidential tone. "On board the schooner +there! Are you going over?" + +"Yes. What do you want?" answered one of the men on board the vessel. + +"We want to get over, and are afraid to go in this boat. Won't you take us +over?" + +"Who are you?" + +"Friends. We've got a mail bag." + +"Where did you get it?" + +"In Washington." + +By this time, the schooner had luffed up into the wind, and Tom directed +his companions to pull again. In a moment the boat was alongside the +schooner, and the soldier boy was about to jump upon her half-deck, when +the rebel crew, very naturally, ordered him to wait till they had +satisfied themselves in regard to his secession proclivities. + +There were five men in the schooner, all of whom were seated near the +stern. Tom did not heed the protest of the traitors, but sprang on board +the schooner, followed by his companions. + +"Now, tell us who you are before you come any farther," said one of the +men. + +"Massachusetts soldiers! Surrender, or you are a dead man," replied Tom, +pointing his gun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +IN THE HOSPITAL. + + +The night was very dark, so that the rebels in the boat could not +distinguish the uniform of those who had applied for a passage on the +schooner. Perhaps Tom Somers's experience in the Blue Ridge and on the +Shenandoah had improved his strategic ability, so that his words and his +manner seemed plausible. But as strategy and cunning always owe their +success to the comparative stupidity of the victims, Tom and his +companions gained the half-deck of the schooner more by the palpable +blundering of her crew than through the brilliancy of their own scheme. + +Tom did not stop, in the midst of the exciting enterprise, to determine +the particular reason of his success, as we, his humble biographer, have +done. He was on the enemy's ground, and confronting the enemy's forces, +and logic was as much out of place as rebellion in a free republican +country. He was closely followed by Hapgood, and at a later period by Fred +Pemberton. The nerves of the latter were not remarkably steady, and as he +stepped on board the schooner, he neglected to take the painter with him; +and the consequence was, that the boat went adrift. It is good generalship +to keep the line of retreat open; and Fred's neglect had deprived them of +all means of retiring from the scene of action. The only alternative was +to fight their way through, and find safety in success. + +To Tom's reply, that the party were Massachusetts soldiers, the rebel who +had acted as spokesman for the crew, uttered a volley of oaths, expressive +of his indignation and disgust at the sudden check which had been given to +their prosperous voyage. + +"Surrender!" repeated Tom, in energetic tones. + +Two of the rebels at the stern discharged their pistols in answer to the +summons--a piece of impudence which our Massachusetts soldiers could not +tolerate; and they returned the fire. The secessionists evidently carried +revolvers; and a turn of the barrel enabled them to fire a second volley, +which the soldiers were unable to do, for they had no time to load their +guns. + +"O!" groaned Fred, as he sunk down upon the half-deck. "I'm hit." + +"We can't stand this, Hapgood," said Tom, fiercely, as he leaped into the +midst of the party in the standing room. "Let's give them the bayonet." + +"Give it to 'em, Tom!" replied the veteran, as he placed himself by the +side of his young companion. + +"Will you surrender?" demanded Tom, as he thrust vigorously with his +bayonet. + +"We surrender," replied one of the men; but it was not the one who had +spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat upon the bottom of the +boat. + +"Give up your pistols, then," added Hapgood. "You look out for the boat, +Tom, and I will take care of these fellows." + +Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the spokesman of the +party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller of the boat, he soon +brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in the stern, he assumed the +management of the schooner, while Hapgood busied himself in taking the +pistols from the hands of the rebels, and exploring their pockets, in +search of other dangerous weapons. + +"How are you, Fred?" shouted Tom, when the pressing business of the moment +had been disposed of. "Are you much hurt?" + +"I'm afraid my time's most up," replied he, faintly. + +"Where are you hit?" + +"In the face; the ball went through my head, I suppose," he added, in +tones that were hardly audible, in the warring of the December blast. + +"Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. Have you got an +easy place?" + +"No, the water dashes over me." + +"Can't you move him aft, Hapgood?" + +"Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed," replied the veteran, who +had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and was securing the arms of the +prisoners behind them. + +"There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers apiece, and we can +have it all our own way, if they show fight." + +But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender care he +lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, and made him as +comfortable as the circumstances would permit. + +"Now, where are we, Hapgood?" asked Tom, who had been vainly peering ahead +to discover some familiar object by which to steer. I can't see the first +thing." + +"I don't know where we are," replied Hapgood. "I never was much of a +sailor, and I leave the navigating all to you." + +"I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we were," added Tom, who had +thus far been utterly unable to ascertain the "ship's position." + +During the brief struggle for the possession of the schooner, she had +drifted some distance, which had caused the new commander to lose his +bearings. The shore they had just left had disappeared, as though it had +been swallowed up by an earthquake. No lights were allowed on shore, where +they could be seen from the river, for they afforded so many targets to +the artillerymen in the rebel batteries. The more Tom tried to discover a +familiar object to steer by, the more it seemed as though the land and +everything else had been cut adrift, and emigrated to foreign parts. Those +who have been in a boat in a very dark night, or in a dense fog, will be +able to appreciate the bewilderment of the skipper of the captured +schooner. + +"Look out, Tom, that you don't run us into some of those rebel batteries," +said Hapgood, after he had watched the rapid progress of the boat for a +few moments. "A shot from a thirty-two pounder would be a pill we couldn't +swallow." + +"No danger of that, Hapgood," answered Tom, confidently. + +"I don't know about that, my boy," answered the veteran, in a tone heavy +with dire anxiety. + +"I know it. The schooner was running with the wind on her starboard +quarter when we boarded her. We are now close-hauled, and of course we +can't make the shore on the other side while we are on this tack." + +Well, I don't know much about it, Tom, but if you say its all right, I'm +satisfied; that' all. I'd trust you just as far as I would General +McClennon, and you know we all b'lieve in him." + +"What are you going to do with us?" asked one of the rebels, who began to +exhibit some interest in the fate of the schooner. + +"I suppose you will find good quarters in Fort McHenry," replied Tom. +"Where do you belong?" + +"In Baltimore." + +"What are you doing here, then?" + +"We go in for the South." + +"Go in, then!" added Tom, laughing. + +"You'll fetch up where all the rest of 'em do," said Hapgood. + +"How's that fellow that was hit?" asked Tom, pointing to the rebel who lay +in the middle of the standing room. + +"I guess it's all right with him," replied Hapgood, bending over the +silent form. "No; he isn't dead." + +"I have it!" shouted Tom, suddenly crowding the helm hard-a-lee. + +"What, Tom?" + +"I see where we are. We are running up the river. I see the land on the +weather bow." + +The schooner was put about, and after running with the wind amidships for +ten or fifteen minutes, Tom discovered the outline of Mrs. Budd's house, +which was directly under the guns of the Union battery. + +"Stand by the fore halliards, Hapgood," said Tom, as the boat came about +again. "Let go!" + +The foresail came down, and Tom sprang upon the pier, as the schooner came +up under its lee. In a moment the boat was made fast. By this time the +pickets appeared. + +"Who comes there?" demanded the soldier. + +"Friends!" replied Tom. + +"Advance, friend, and give the countersign." + +"Little Mac," whispered the soldier boy in the ear of the sentinel. + +"Who are you?" + +"Co. K." answered Tom. + +"What's the row? The long roll was beat just now, and the whole regiment +is in line. What was that firing?" + +"We have captured this boat, and five prisoners, one of them wounded, if +not dead." + +"Bully for you," replied the picket. + +They were soon joined by a squad of men, and Fred Pemberton and the +wounded rebel were conveyed to the hospital, while the four prisoners were +conducted to a secure place. Hapgood and Tom then hastened to the parade, +where the regiment was drawn up, and reported the events which had just +transpired. It was unanimously voted by officers and privates that the +picket guard had done "a big thing," and they were warmly and generously +commended for their skill and bravery. + +Hapgood and Tom requested permission to go to the hospital and see their +companion. They found that the surgeon had already dressed his wound. + +"Will he die?" asked Tom, full of solicitude for his friend. + +"Die! no; it's a mere scratch. The ball ploughed into his cheek a little +way," replied the surgeon. "It isn't a bad wound. He was more scared than +hurt." + +"I am glad it is no worse," said Captain Benson, who, with fatherly +solicitude for his men, had come to the hospital as soon as the company +was dismissed. "But what ails you, Tom? You look pale." + +"Nothing, captain." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I don't think I am badly hurt. I believe one of those pistol balls grazed +my side; but I hardly felt it." + +"Let me see," said the surgeon. + +The doctor opened Tom's coat, and his gray shirt was found to be saturated +with blood. + +"That's a worse wound than Pemberton's. Didn't you know it, Tom?" + +"Well, of course I knew it; but I didn't think it was any thing," replied +Tom, apologetically. "I knew it wouldn't do to drop down, or we should all +be in Dixie in half an hour." + +"You are my man for the present," said the doctor, as he proceeded to a +further examination of the wound. + +Tom was hit in the side by one of the pistol bullets. As I have not the +surgeon's report of the case, I cannot give a minute description of it; +but he comforted Hapgood and the captain with the assurance that, though +severe, it was not a dangerous wound. + +"Tom Somers, there's a sergeant's warrant in Company K for one of you +three men," said Captain Benson, when the patient was comfortably settled +upon his camp bed. "The colonel told me to give him the name of the most +deserving man in my company." + +"Give it to Tom," said Hapgood, promptly. "He led off in this matter, and +ef't hadn't been for him, we should all have been on t'other side of the +river, and p'raps on t'other side of Jordan, afore this time. And then, to +think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat like a +commodore, when the life-blood was runnin' out of him all the time! It +belongs to Tom." + +"Give it to Tom," added Fred, who lay near the patient. + +"No, Captain Benson," interposed Tom, faintly. "Hapgood is an old soldier, +and deserves it more than I do. Give it to him, and I shall be better +satisfied than if you give it to me." + +"Tom Somers!" exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of tears sliding down his +furrowed cheeks, "I won't stand nothin' of the sort! I'd jump into the +river and drownd myself before I'd take it, after what you've done." + +"You are both worthy of it," added Captain Benson. + +"Please give it to Hapgood," pleaded Tom. "He first proposed going out +after the little schooner." + +"Give it to Tom, cap'n. It'll help heal his wound," said Hapgood. + +"No; it would do me more good to have you receive it," protested Tom. + +"Well, here, I can't have this battle fought in the hospital," interposed +the surgeon. "They are good friends, captain, and whichever one you give +it to, the other will be suited. You had better settle the case at +head-quarters." + +"If you please, Captain Benson, I would like to have Hapgood stay with me +to-night, if he can be spared." + +The veteran was promptly detailed for hospital duty, and the captain +returned to his quarters to decide the momentous question in regard to the +sergeant's warrant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TOM IS SENTIMENTAL. + + +The little schooner which the picket guard had captured was loaded with +valuable supplies for the rebels, which of course were confiscated without +ceremony. The mail bag which was on board contained a great many letters +from traitors in Baltimore, some of whom were exposed by the capture of +their treasonable correspondence. + +Tom's wound proved to be more serious than even the surgeon had +anticipated; but the best care which it was possible to give in a military +hospital was bestowed upon him. Old Hapgood, in recognition of his +services on that eventful night, was permitted to be near the patient as +much as the interests of the service would permit; and the old man was +happy when seated by the rude couch of the soldier boy, ministering to his +necessities, or cheering him with bright hopes of the future. A strong +friendship had grown up between them, for Tom's kind heart and brave +conduct produced a deep impression upon the old man. + +"Here, Tom," said Captain Benson, as he approached the sufferer, a few +days after he entered the hospital, and laid a paper upon the bed. "Here's +a prescription which the colonel says you must take." + +"What is it?" asked Tom, with a faint smile. + +"A sergeant's warrant." + +"Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on!" exclaimed old Hapgood, +jumping up like a youth of sixteen, and swinging his cap above his head. + +"Shut up, there!" shouted the hospital steward. "Don't you know any better +than to make such a racket in this place?" + +"I beg pardon, Jameson. I forgot where I was," apologized the veteran. +"The news was so good I couldn't help it. Our Tom is a sergeant now!" + +"Not yet, Hapgood," replied Tom, feebly. "I can't accept it, Captain +Benson; it belongs to Hapgood, sir, and I shall feel a great deal better +if you put his name in place of mine." + +"Don't do it, cap'n!" interposed the old man, vehemently. "Tom shall be a +brigadier general if the war lasts one year more. I should feel like a +whipped kitten if that warrant was altered." + +"The matter has been fully and fairly considered at head-quarters, and +there is no such thing as altering the decision now; so, Tom, you can put +the stripes on your arm just as soon as you please." + +Hapgood insisted, the surgeon insisted, and the captain insisted; and Tom +was too sick to hold way with them in an argument, and his name was placed +upon the roster of the company as a sergeant. He was proud of the +distinction which had been conferred upon him, though he thought Hapgood, +as an older and abler soldier, was better entitled to the honor than +himself. + +It was six weeks before Tom was able to enter upon the actual enjoyment of +the well-merited promotion which he had won by his gallantry; but when he +appeared before the company with the chevron of the sergeant upon his arm, +he was lustily cheered by his comrades, and it was evident that the +appointment was a very popular one. Not even the grumblers, of whom there +is a full quota in every regiment, deemed it prudent to growl at the +decision of the officers. If any one ventured to suggest that he was too +young to be placed over older and stronger men, his friends replied, that +men in the army were measured by bravery and skill, not by years. + +If my young readers wish to know why Tom's appointment was so well +received by his companions in arms, I can only reply, that he had not only +been brave and cheerful in the midst of peril and hardship, but he was +kind and obliging to his comrades. He had always been willing to help +those that needed help, to sympathize with those in trouble, and generally +to do all he could to render those around him happy. + +Above all these considerations, Tom was a young man of high principle. He +had obeyed his mother's parting injunction, often repeated in the letters +which came to him from home, and had faithfully "read his Testament." +Without being a hypocrite or a canting saint, Tom carried about with him +the true elements of Christian character. + +Tom had fought a greater battle than that in which he had been engaged at +Bull Run a hundred times, in resisting the temptations which beset him +from within and without. True to God and true to himself, he had won the +victory. Though his lot was cast in the midst of men who swore, gambled, +and drank liquor, he had shunned these vices, and loved the sinner while +he hated the sin. Such a person could not fail to win the respect of his +companions. Though he had been jeered at and insulted for being sober, +honest, and pious, he had fought down and lived down all these vilifiers, +and won their esteem. + +It must be acknowledged that Tom's piety was of the robust type. He would +not allow any man to insult him; and after the chastisement he had given +Ben Lethbridge, not even those who were strong enough to whip him were +disposed to trespass upon his rights and dignity. Perhaps Tom's creed +needed a little revising; but he lived under martial law, which does not +take cognizance of insults and revilings. He was willing to be smitten on +the one cheek, and on the other also, for the good of his country, or even +his friends, but not to be wantonly insulted. + +The influence of Tom's principles was not confined to himself, for "a +little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." This was particularly true of +Hapgood, who, more through Tom's preaching and practice than from any +strength in his own character, had steadily maintained his purpose to +abstain from intoxicating drinks, though occasional opportunities were +presented for the indulgence of his darling vice. Tom and he read the +Testament and other good books which were sent to the regiment, and both +profited by them. + +When the soldier boy was discharged from the hospital, the surgeon gave +him a pair of woolen socks, from a case of them which had been sent by the +friends of the soldier in Boston and its vicinity. He was very much in +need of them, and from the depths of his heart he blessed the ladies who +had done this good work. He unrolled the socks, and proceeded to pull one +of them on. It was as good a fit as though his mother had knit it on +purpose for him. + +"God bless the lady that knit these socks!" exclaimed Tom, as he began to +draw on the other. + +"Amen!" replied Hapgood, who was watching the operation in full sympathy +with his protege. + +"Eh! what's this?" added Tom, for his foot had met with an obstruction in +its passage down the leg. + +He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took therefrom a +letter enclosed in an envelope. + +"See that, uncle?" said he, exhibiting the prize. + +"What is it, Tom? Open it quick," replied Hapgood. + +The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note enclosing a +photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of pleasure, which +would have caused the original of the miniature, the author of the note, +and the author of the socks, to blush up to her eyes if she had beheld the +expression of admiration which glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the +young sergeant. + +"By all that's lovely, isn't she a beauty!" exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as +he glanced from the picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder. + +"She's hahnsome, and no mistake," replied the veteran, with a grim smile. + +"Well, she is!" added Tom, whose eyes were riveted to the photograph. + +"Well, why don't you read the letter, Tom?" demanded the old soldier, +after the young man had gazed with blushing cheek upon the sweet face of +the author of his socks for full five minutes. + +"I guess I will," said Tom; but he did not; for the picture seemed to be +glory and beauty enough to satisfy him for the present. + +"Read the letter, Tom!" shouted the veteran, after he had waited as long +as the nature of the case seemed to require. + +The soldier boy carefully placed the photograph in the envelope, and +unfolded the letter. It was written in a beautiful hand, which looked as +soft and delicate as the fair fingers which had penned the lines. He +glanced at it as a whole, admired the penmanship, and the fairy-like +symmetry that make up the _tout-ensemble_ of the page, and was about to +dissolve into another rhapsody, when Hapgood, who was not half so +sentimental as the sergeant, became impatient to know the contents of the +missive. Tom read it aloud to the stoical veteran; and though we cannot +clothe its sweet words in the fairy chirography which transported our +hero, and made the letter a dream of bliss to him, we shall venture to +present it to our curious readers, stiffened and hardened into the dull, +cold forms of the printer's art. + + No.----, RUTLAND STREET, BOSTON, _Nov._ 5, 1861. + + MY DEAR SOLDIER:-- + + This is the first pair of socks I ever knit; and I send them to + you with my blessing upon the brave defenders of my country. I + hope they will keep your feet warm, and thus keep your heart warm + towards God and our blessed land. + + Grandma says I am a silly girl, and I suppose I am; but if you + feel half as much interest in me as I do in the person who will + wear the first pair of socks I ever knit, you will wish to know + how I look; therefore I send you my photograph. + + I very much desire to know whether my work has done any good; + whether my socks are ever worn in a battle; and most of all, I + desire to know how the noble fellow looks that wears them. + Therefore I beg you to answer my letter, and also to send me your + photograph, if you can conveniently. + + Now, my dear soldier, be brave and true, and, above all, do not + run away from the rebels with my socks on your feet. You may + retreat when your officers order you to retire; but if you are a + coward, and find yourself compelled to run away, please pull them + off before you do so, for I should die with mortification if I + thought I had knit a pair of socks for a Union soldier to run away + in. + + Truly yours, for our flag and our country. + + LILIAN ASHFORD. + +"Well, if that gal ain't a trump, then there ain't no snakes in Virginny!" +exclaimed Hapgood. "She's got the true grit, and no mistake." + +"That's so," replied the recipient of the gift, thoughtfully, as he bent +down, and began to pull off the sock which encased his left foot. + +"What are you doing?" demanded Hapgood, surprised at this new movement of +his companion. + +"I can't wear these socks yet, uncle," replied he. + +"Why not?" + +Don't she say she wants them worn in a battle?" + +"Tom, you are a little fool!" added the veteran, petulantly. "Are you +going with cold feet just to please a silly gal, whose head is as full of +moonshine as an egg is of meat. Put on the socks, and keep your feet warm. +If you don't, I'll write to her, and tell what a fool you are." + +Tom did put them on, but he could not help feeling that uncle Hapgood, as +he was familiarly called in the camp, did not understand and appreciate +his sentiments. The socks seemed to be too precious to be worn in the +vulgar mud of Maryland. To him there was something ethereal about them, +and it looked a little like profanation to put any thing emanating from +the fairy fingers of the original of that photograph, and the author of +that letter, upon his feet. + +"Now you act like a sensible fellow, as you are, Tom," said Hapgood, as +the sergeant put on his army brogans. + +"Well, uncle, one thing is certain: I never will run away from the rebels +with these socks on," added Tom, with a rich glow of enthusiasm. + +"If Gen'l McClennon don't stir his stumps pretty soon, you'll wear 'em out +afore you git a chance to run away." + +Tom, almost for the first time since he had been in the army, wanted to be +alone. With those socks on, it seemed just as though he was walking the +streets of the New Jerusalem, with heaven and stacks of silver-fringed and +golden-tinged clouds beneath his feet, buried up to the eyes in floods of +liquid moonshine. + +If "grandma" really thought that Lilian Ashford was a silly girl, and if +Lilian really supposed so herself, it must be added, in justification of +her conduct, that she had given the soldier boy a new incentive to do his +duty nobly, and kindled in his soul a holy aspiration to serve God and his +country with renewed zeal and fidelity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE CONFEDERATE DESERTER. + + +While Tom was in the hospital, he received a letter from his sister, +informing him that his brother John had actually entered the navy, and +with his mother's consent. The news from home was so favorable, that the +soldier boy was pleased to hear that Jack had realized his darling wish, +and that he was now in his element. + +Intelligence from home, accompanied with letters, papers, books, comforts, +and luxuries of various kinds, reached him every two or three weeks; and +when the news went back that Tom had been made a sergeant for gallant +conduct, there was a great sensation in Pinchbrook. The letters which +reached him after the receipt of this gratifying announcement contained +all the gossip of the place in regard to the important event. Of course, +Tom was delighted by these letters, and was more than ever determined to +be diligent and faithful in the discharge of his duties, and never to +disgrace the name he bore. He was confident his friends would never have +occasion to blush for his conduct--including the original of the +photograph, the author of the letter and of the socks. + +Tom recovered from the effects of his wound, as we have before intimated, +and took his place in the regimental line as a sergeant. January and +February passed away without any very stirring events; but in the month of +March came indications of activity. The rebels began to draw in their +lines, by abandoning various points, till the nation was startled by the +evacuation of their strongly fortified position at Manassas, and the forts +in front of Budd's Ferry were suddenly left for the occupation of the +Federal troops. + +Hooker's men crossed the Potomac, and Tom was once more on the sacred soil +of Virginia. Skirmishers were sent out in various directions, and though a +deserted camp, which had been hastily abandoned, was found, there were no +rebels to be seen. The Union boys were not disposed to leave their +investigations at this interesting point, and they pursued their way still +farther into the country. Somehow or other, Tom and his party did not +receive the order to return, and the enterprising young hero continued his +march in search of further adventures. It was altogether too tame for him +and the congenial spirits in his section to retire without seeing a live +rebel or two; and I am not sure, if their desire had not been gratified, +that they would not have penetrated to Fredericksburg, and captured that +citadel of rebellion in advance to General Augur, who visited the place in +April. + +As it was, they stumbled upon the pickets of a rebel force, and as soon as +their uniform was identified they had the honor of being fired upon, +though none of them had the honor of being killed in the midst of their +virtual disobedience of orders. But their appearance created a panic among +the Confederates, who had no means of knowing that they were not the +pioneers of a whole division of Union troops, for General McClellan had +removed the spell which bound the loyal army to its camps, and corps, +divisions, and brigades were pushing forward into the dominion of the +traitors. + +The alarm was given, and Tom saw that he was rushing into a bad scrape; +and as prudence is as much a requisite of the good soldier as bravery, he +ordered his men to fall back. Rebels are very much like ill-natured curs, +ever ready to pursue a retreating foe, or run away from an advancing one. +The Confederates chased them, and as the legs of the former seemed to be +in remarkably good condition, the sergeant came to the conclusion that it +would not be safe to run too fast. + +"Halt!" shouted he; and the men promptly obeyed the order. + +They discharged their muskets, and then made a demonstration towards the +enemy, who, obeying their instinct, ran away as fast as their legs would +carry them. Taking advantage of this movement on their part, Tom again +ordered a retreat. + +"They are after us again," said Hapgood. "I hope there ain't no cavalry +within hearing. If there is, we may take a journey to Richmond." + +"They have stopped to load their guns," replied Tom. "We will use our legs +now." + +"See that, Tom!" said Hapgood, suddenly. + +"What?" + +"There's one of them rushing towards us all alone." + +"He has thrown up his gun. The others are yelling to him to come back. +What does that mean?" + +"He is a deserter; he wants to get away from them. There he comes." + +"Yes, and there comes the rest of them--the whole rebel army--more than a +million of them," said Fred Pemberton. "It's time for us to be going." + +"See! They are firing at him. Forward!" added Tom, leading the way. + +The party rushed forward, for a short distance; but the dozen rebels had +been reenforced, and it was madness to rush into the very teeth of danger. +Tom ordered his men to halt and fire at will. The deserter, probably +finding that he was between two fires, turned aside from the direct course +he was pursuing, and sought shelter in the woods. The sergeant then +directed his men to retire, for whether the retreat of the runaway rebel +was covered or not, it was no longer safe to remain. + +Fortunately the Confederates were more in doubt than the Unionists; and +perhaps expecting to fall upon a larger body of the latter, they abandoned +the pursuit, and returned to their posts. Nothing was seen of the deserter +for some time, and Tom concluded that he had lost his way in the woods, or +had missed the direction taken by the Federal scouts. + +"He was a plucky fellow, any how," said one of the men, "to attempt to run +away in the very face of his companions." + +"Well, he timed it well, for he started just when their guns were all +empty," added another. + +"I'm not sorry he missed us," continued Hapgood. "I don't like a desarter, +no how. It goes right agin my grain." + +"But he was running from the wrong to the right side," replied Tom. + +"I don't keer if he was. Them colors on t'other side were his'n. He chose +'em for himself, and it's mean to run away from 'em. If a man's go'n to be +a rebel, let him be one, and stick to it." + +"You don't know any thing about it, uncle. Thousands of men have been +forced into the rebel army, and I don't blame them for getting out of it +the best way they can. I should do so." + +"That may be. Tom; that may be," added the veteran, taking off his cap and +rubbing his bald head, as though a new idea had penetrated it. "I didn't +think of that." + +"He's a brave man, whoever he is, and whatever he is." + +"He must want to get away from 'em pretty bad, or he wouldn't have run +that risk. I shouldn't wonder if they hit him." + +"Perhaps he is wounded, and gone into the woods there to die," suggested +Tom. + +"Halloo!" shouted some one in the rear of them. + +"There's your man," said Hapgood. + +"Halloo!" cried the same voice. + +"Halloo, yourself!" shouted Hapgood in reply to the hail. + +The party halted, and after waiting a few moments, the rebel deserter came +in sight. He was apparently a man of fifty; and no mendicant of St. Giles, +who followed begging as a profession, could have given himself a more +wretched and squalid appearance, if he had devoted a lifetime to the study +of making himself look miserable. He wore a long black and gray beard, +uncut and unkempt, and snarled, tangled, and knotted into the most +fantastic forms. His gray uniform, plentifully bedaubed with Virginia mud, +was torn in a hundred places, and hung in tatters upon his emaciated +frame. On his head was an old felt hat, in a terribly dilapidated +condition. He wore one boot and one shoe, which he had probably taken from +the common sewer of Richmond, or some other southern city; they were +ripped to such an extent that the "uppers" went flipperty-flap as he +walked, and had the general appearance of the open mouth of the mythic +dragon, with five bare toes in each to represent teeth. + +As he approached, the unthinking soldiers of the party indulged in screams +of laughter at the uncouth appearance of the whilom rebel; and certainly +the character in tableau or farce need not have spoken, to convulse any +audience that ever assembled in Christendom. Rip Van Winkle, with the +devastations and dilapidations of five-and-twenty years hanging about him, +did not present a more forlorn appearance than did this representative of +the Confederate army. + +"What are you laughing at?" demanded the deserter, not at all delighted +with this reception. + +"I say, old fellow, how long since you escaped from the rag-bag?" jeered +one of the men. + +"What's the price of boots in Richmond now?" asked another. + +"Who's your barber?" + +"Silence, men!" interposed Tom, sternly, for he could not permit his boys +to make fun of the wretchedness of any human being. + +"We'll sell you out for paper stock," said Ben Lethbridge, who had just +returned from three months' service in the Rip-Raps for desertion. + +"Shut up, Ben!" added Tom. + +"Dry up, all of you!" said Corporal Snyder. + +"Who and what are you?" asked Tom, of the deserter. + +"I'm a Union man!" replied the stranger with emphasis; "and I didn't +expect to be treated in this way after all I've suffered." + +"They thought you were a rebel. You wear the colors of the rebel army," +answered the sergeant, willing to explain the rudeness of his men. + +"Well, I suppose I do look rather the worse for the wear," added the +grayback, glancing down at the tattered uniform he wore. "I joined the +rebel army, after I had tried every way in the world to get out of this +infernal country; but I never fired a gun at a Union man. Seems to me, +sergeant, I've seen you before somewhere. What's your name? Where did you +come from?" + +"Pinchbrook, Massachusetts; and most of us hail from the same place." + +"Creation!" exclaimed the deserter. "You don't say so!" + +"Your voice sounds familiar to me," added Tom; and for some reason his +chest was heaving violently beneath his suddenly accelerated respiration. + +As he spoke, he walked towards the dilapidated rebel, who had not ventured +to come within twenty feet of the party. + +"Did you say Pinchbrook?" demanded the stranger, who began to display a +great deal of emotion. + +"Pinchbrook, sir," added Tom; and so intensely was he excited, that the +words were gasped from his lips. + +"What's your name?" + +"Thomas Somers," replied the sergeant. + +"Tom!" screamed the deserter, rushing forward. + +"Father!" cried Tom, as he grasped the hand of the phantom Confederate. + +The soldiers of the party were transfixed with astonishment at this +unexpected scene, and they stood like statues gazing at the meeting of +father and son, till the final development of their relationship, when the +muscles of their faces relaxed, and the expression of wonder gave place to +joyous sympathy. + +"Captain Somers, of Pinchbrook!" shouted old Hapgood; and the men joined +with him in a roar of intense satisfaction, that made the woods ring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ON THE PENINSULA. + + +The scene between Captain Somers and his son was very affecting and very +exciting; and if the soldiers had all been uncles and first cousins of the +parties, they could not have manifested more interest on the joyous +occasion. The father wept, and the son wept; for each, amid the terrible +experience of these troublous times, had hardly expected to meet the +other. + +For several minutes they held each other by the hand, laughing and weeping +alternately, and neither being able to express the intense emotions which +agitated him. The men shouted and laughed in full sympathy with the +reunited sire and son. + +"I'm glad to see you, Tom," said Captain Somers, as he wiped away the +tears that were sliding down upon his grizzly beard. "I haven't cried +before for thirty years; I'm ashamed of it, Tom, but I can't help it." + +"I didn't expect to find you here, father, and clothed in the rebel +uniform; but I'm glad to see you in any uniform," replied the soldier boy. + +"So you're in the army, Tom," continued the father, gazing with +satisfaction at the neat appearance of the sergeant. + +"Yes, sir; I enlisted within a fortnight after we heard that the traitors +had bombarded Fort Sumter." + +"I see you've got three stripes on your arm." + +"Yes, Cap'n Somers," said Hapgood; "Tom was made a sergeant for gallant +conduct on the river in December; and he deserved his promotion too." + +"I'm glad to see you with that uniform on your back, Tom; and glad to hear +that you have behaved well." + +"I was in the battle of Bull Run, father, and was taken prisoner, but I +got away." + +"Well, Tom, we'll hear about that bimeby," said the old man, stopping and +looking nervously into the face of his son. "I want to ask a great many +questions, Tom, but I hardly dare to do it. You know I haven't heard a +word from home since I left, and it's almost a year now." + +"You needn't be afraid, father; the folks are all well. I have got a heap +of letters at the camp, and you shall read them all as soon as we get +there." + +"Is your mother well, Tom?" + +"First rate." + +"And John?" + +"Yes, sir; but he's gone into the navy. He was bound to be in the fight +any how." + +"John's a chip of the old block. He wanted to snuff the salt water afore +he was a week old. John's a good sailor, and he ought to have a good lay +wherever he goes," added the father. + +Captain Somers and Tom sat upon the ground for half an hour, until the +fugitive from the rebel army was in some degree rested after the hard run +he had had through the woods. The soldiers gathered around them, as much +interested as though they had been members of the Somers family. Tom's +father had a multitude of questions to ask about Pinchbrook and its +people, all of which were answered to his satisfaction. + +The sergeant thought it was time for the party to move on, and his father +declared that he was able to walk any distance which would bring him +nearer to the home of his wife and children. The order was given, and the +little band resumed its march. + +"How have you been all this time, father?" asked Tom, as he walked along +by the side of Captain Somers. + +"I've been pretty fairly most of the time. I'm tough and hardy, or I +should have been dead afore this time. We've been half starved and half +frozen in the camp; but I managed to live through it, hoping and expecting +to get away from those rascally rebels." + +"Where have you been all the time?" asked Tom. "Have you been in the rebel +army long?" + +"About four months; but I may as well begin at the beginning, and tell you +the whole story," added the captain. "I got to Norfolk all right, and was +there when the news came up that the rebels had taken Sumter. Every body +was mad, and I was as mad as the rest of them, though not exactly in the +same way. I let on a little with my tongue, and came pretty near being +tarred and feathered, and I think I should have been, if your uncle Wyman +hadn't interfered." + +"Did he settle with you, father?" + +"After a while he did. He had some fifteen thousand dollars in New York, +which had just been sent over from England, and as he was secesh, he was +terribly afeard the Lincoln government would confiscate it; so he settled +with me, and gave me a power of attorney to draw his money, pay myself, +and take care of what was over. I've got the papers safe in my waistbands +now." + +"Good! Glory, hallelujah!" shouted Tom. "We can pay off old Pemberton now, +for it goes against my grain to owe a dollar to a traitor. But if uncle +Wyman is a rebel, and I suppose he is, I hope the government will +confiscate what's over after you have paid yourself." + +"Well, I don't know. We will see about that bimeby. He used me fair, and I +don't wish him any harm; but I hate his principles. Well, just then, Tom, +when I had got my accounts squared, the rascals took my vessel, and sunk +it in the channel to keep the Union fleet out. My pipe was out then, and I +couldn't do any thing more. I hung round the city of Norfolk till I saw +there was no chance to get out in that direction; and then I left. I was +up near Bull Run--the rebels call it Manassas--when the battle was fought; +but our folks got licked so badly, that it was no use to try to get +through there. + +"I tried half a dozen times to crawl through, and had nearly starved to +death in the woods; but some rebel cavalry pickets spied me out, called me +a traitor, and sent me back. My money was all gone by this time, and I +went over to Norfolk again. Your uncle Wyman told me I had better keep +quiet where I was, for just as sure as his name was Somers, the North +would all fall to pieces in less than six months. He expected the rebel +army would be in New York afore long, and I should be a great deal better +off where I was. He tried to get a pass to send me through the rebel +lines, but he couldn't do it. + +"Things went on in this way till your uncle Wyman went to Charleston on +business, and I haven't seen him from that day to this. The rebels tried +to make me go into their navy, but I wouldn't do it, of course; but when I +couldn't do any other way, I went into the army, hoping I should be sent +to the front, and find a chance to get away. I've been watching ever +since, but I never happened to get within twenty miles of the Union +pickets before. But here I am, and I'm perfectly satisfied with the past, +though I've suffered a good deal in one way and another." + +By the time Captain Somers had finished his narrative, the party arrived +at the camp. Tom was reprimanded very gently for detaching himself from +the main body of the regiment; but when he reported the events of his +excursion, as he had safely returned with his command, nothing more was +said about his adventure. + +At the camp the Union refugee was provided with comfortable clothing; his +hair and beard were trimmed down to decent proportions, and he was +otherwise purged of the barbarisms of the rebel camp. But even then he did +not look like the stout, hearty, healthy Captain Somers who sailed from +Boston in the Gazelle nearly a year before. He was haggard and emaciated +from anxiety and semi-starvation. + +Captain Somers was warmly welcomed by the members of Company K, who came +from Pinchbrook; and when his physical wants had been satisfied, he was +sent to General Hooker, to communicate to him such intelligence as he +possessed in regard to the position and numbers of the rebel army. He +remained at the camp but two days, at the end of which time he was sent to +Washington, and from there hastened to his home in Pinchbrook. A letter +from Tom, announcing the joyful intelligence of his return, had preceded +him. + +In ten days after parting with his father, the sergeant received a full +and glowing account of the reception of Captain Somers, who became quite a +lion in Pinchbrook for the time being. He received his money as he passed +through New York, though not without the aid of a government order which +he had procured in Washington, and only the amount that was actually due +to him, for uncle Wyman's funds were then in process of being confiscated. + +The only drawback upon his father's happiness was the absence of John, who +had been drafted into a vessel bound to the South. He had not seen him for +a year, and another year would probably elapse before he could expect to +realize this pleasure. But the captain's patriotism had been intensified a +hundred fold by his bitter experience in Virginia; and while his twin sons +were gallantly serving their country in the army and the navy, he was +willing to sacrifice the yearnings of his paternal heart, and he hoped and +prayed that they might do their duty faithfully. + +Tom's regiment remained on the Potomac but a short time after the event we +have related. Sharper and sterner experience was before these tried +soldiers, and the first indications of active service were greeted with +joyous enthusiasm. Suddenly the camp was broken up, and the order to march +given. The men wondered and speculated upon their destination, and though +the prophets of the regiments gave them certain information in regard to +the direction they were to take, most of them were incredulous. One +declared they were going to Richmond by the way of Fredericksburg; +another, by the way of Manassas; and a third was positive, from hints he +had seen in the newspapers, that they were going down the valley of the +Shenandoah, to take the capital of Rebeldom on the flank and rear. + +While the prophets and wise men were speculating, the regiment marched on; +and to the astonishment of all, and to the utter confusion of the seers, +they were embarked in a transport--the steamer Napoleon--bound no one knew +where. One regiment and half of another belonging to the brigade were +huddled on board of this one steamer. Every foot of standing room was +occupied, and, of course, the boys were not very comfortably quartered; +but, as Tom expressed it, there was music ahead, and the brave hearts on +board were ready to stand any thing if they could only get a fight out of +the rebels. The mortification of their defeat at Bull Run still hung +heavily on their spirits, and they were panting for an opportunity to +retaliate upon the foe, and win the laurels they had lost upon that +disastrous field. + +The prophets, though their failure to foretell the coming event had cast +them into disgrace, were still ready to volunteer an opinion. They +declared that the transports were bound to North Carolina, to follow up +Burnside's successes; but most of the men were content to wait till the +future should develop itself. + +The troops were eager for active duty, and if they could get into the +field and strike a heavy blow at the rebellion, they did not care where it +was. They had unbounded confidence in the young general who was to +organize victory for them, and they were willing to obey orders, and leave +every thing to him. + +It "thundered all around" them. Roanoke, Pea Ridge, Newbern, Winchester, +Donelson, were a succession of Union victories, which inspired them with +zeal and courage to endure all hardships, and face any peril which might +be in their path. + +The transport descended the Potomac, and came to anchor in the bay, where +they lay one day; the steamer then continued on her course, and landed her +troops in Cheseman's Creek, an indentation of the peninsula between the +York and James Rivers. After lying in camp a few days, they marched again, +and Tom learned that the regiment was before Yorktown, which had been +strongly fortified by the rebels to resist the advance of the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. + + +What the army of the Potomac achieved and suffered before Yorktown, we +must leave for the historian. Our soldier boy was only one hero among +thousands who toiled in the soft mud of the early spring, who watched and +waited for the tremendous events which have now passed into history, and +whose actors will be honored and remembered by future generations. + +Tom Somers bore his full share of the trials and hardships of that +eventful period; and when McClellan's scientific engineering had driven +the rebels from their strong works without a struggle to retain them, he +moved forward with the gallant army. "On to Richmond!" again sounded along +the lines, and the soldiers toiled through mud and mire, hoping and +expecting to strike the final blow that would crush out the rebellion. + +Yorktown was evacuated. The rebels were fleeing from their frowning +batteries, and the order came for Hooker's division to join in the +pursuit. At noon the brigade--now under command of General Grover +commenced its forward movement. + +"Rather rough," said Hapgood, as the regiment struggled on through the +mire. "Rather soft, I think," replied Tom, laughing. + +"I hope we haven't got to march far through this mud," added Ben +Lethbridge. + +"That will depend upon how soon we come up with the rebels. If it rests +with Hooker, I tell you he will get a fight out of the rebs, if such a +thing is possible." + +After the regiment had marched five or six miles, the order came to halt; +and the intelligence passed along the column that the cavalry had come up +with the enemy, and were waiting the arrival of an infantry force to +assist in the attack. + +"Good!" shouted Tom. "We shall have a battle before night." + +"Perhaps not," added Hapgood. "It takes the cat a good while to catch the +mouse, even after she smells the critter." + +"Why don't we march? What are we stopping here for?" said Tom, +impatiently. + +"They say Smith's division has got in ahead of us. Keep cool, Tom; never +be in a hurry for a battle. Some of us that stand here now won't be alive +in twenty-four hours from now; for I don't believe the rebs are going to +let us have it all our own way," said the veteran. + +"Nor I," added Fred Pemberton. "I shall be killed in this fight." + +"How do you know, Fred?" demanded Hapgood, sternly. + +"Of course I don't know, but I feel it in my bones that I shall fall in +the first battle." + +"Your bones ain't no guide at all. I know something about this business, +and I've seen croakers afore to-day. Don't talk about being killed, or +even hit. Be ready to die, do your duty like a soldier, and leave all the +rest to your Maker," said the veteran, solemnly. + +"I don't have any such feeling as that. I know I shan't be killed," +laughed Ben. "The bullet hasn't been cast yet that will stop my wind." + +"Perhaps it has, my boy. It may be in some rebel soldier's cartridge box +over yonder, even now. I tell you, boys, you don't know any thing about +it. Just afore we went in at Cerry Gordy, a feller by my side said the +same thing you did, Ben; and he was the first man that went down. I tried +to pick him up, and do something for him, but he was stone dead. I tell +you, Ben, you don't know any thing about it. Leave it all to the +Almighty." + +"Pooh, uncle!" sneered Ben, trying to laugh down the solemn words of the +old man. "Don't you think we'd better have a prayer meetin' before we go +in?" + +"I think we should fight the better for it, for he who trusts in God don't +fear death." + +But it was evident that the words of Hapgood, especially the incident of +Cerro Gordo, had made a deep impression upon the mind of the thoughtless +young man. Though the division did not move for three hours, he was very +silent and sober. He seemed to feel that he had been tempting Providence +by his bold speech, and even expressed his regret to Tom for what he had +said. + +It was dark when the order to march was given. The night was exceedingly +gloomy, and the rain poured down upon the devoted army, as it moved +forward to do its great work. Hour after hour, in the deep darkness and +the pouring rain, the men struggled through the mire, expecting every +moment to be hurled upon the rebel battalions, or to meet the impetuous +onset of the foe. + +Between ten and eleven, when the men were nearly worn out by the +exhausting labors of the march, they were ordered to halt in the road, and +bivouac for the rest of the night. What a time and what a place for +repose! They could only wrap themselves up in their wet blankets, and +stretch themselves upon the ground, soaked with water, and with the rain +still pouring down upon them. But they slept, and enjoyed their rest, for +Nature was imperative in her demands. + +At daylight the march was resumed; for the intrepid Hooker, ever faithful +to the trust confided to him, was wholly in earnest. At half-past five the +column was halted in the woods. The rebel works before Williamsburg were +in sight, and General Hooker rode to the front to examine the position of +the enemy. + +In front of the rebel batteries, and on each side of the roads, the trees +had been felled, in order to give the guns in the field works full play +upon an approaching force. + +"Hurrah!" shouted some of the boys on the right of the column. "Our +brigade is to commence the attack." + +"How do you know?" growled Hapgood, who did not think a soldier ought to +know any thing about the plan of the battle. + +"We are ordered to move," replied Tom. "I suppose that's all they know +about it." + +The prophets on the right were correct this time, for the regiment was +soon sent to the right of the road, and ordered to deploy as skirmishers. +A battery was thrown forward in front of the felled timber; but before a +gun could be fired, two officers and two privates were seen to fall before +the unerring aim of the rebel sharpshooters, occupying the rifle pits +which dotted the cleared land in front of the forts. + +"That's a hot place," said Ben Lethbridge. + +"We shall all see hot work before the sun goes down to-night," replied +Tom. "But let us stand up to it like men." + +"That's the talk, Tom!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Have you got those socks on, my boy?" + +"I have, uncle; and I have the letter and the photograph in my pocket." + +"Good, Tom! After this day's work is over, you can write the lady a +letter, and tell her that her socks have been in a battle." + +"And that I didn't run away in them." + +The roar of the guns in Fort Magruder interrupted the conversation. The +gunners of the battery in front of them had been driven from their pieces; +but it was almost instantly manned by volunteers, and a destructive fire +poured into the works. Other batteries were brought up, and the fort was +soon silenced. The roar of battle sounded all along the line; the thunder +of cannon and the crash of musketry reverberated through the woods and +over the plain, assuring the impatient troops that they were engaged in no +trivial affair; that they were fighting a great battle, of which thousands +yet unborn would read upon the pages of history. + +Our regiment closed up its lines, and the gallant colonel gave the order +to move forward in the direction of the field works. On, on, steadily and +firmly marched the men of Massachusetts, through ditch and swamp, through +mud and mire, loading, firing, and charging, as the enemy presented +opportunity. The hot work of the day had commenced; for, from every bush, +tree, and covert, which could conceal a man, the rebels poured a deadly +fire into the ranks of the advancing Federals. + +Tom stood as firm as a rock. The doubts and fears which beset him in his +first battle had no existence on this day. So thoroughly had he schooled +his mind to the fearful ordeal of carnage, that he felt quite at home. He +was cool and determined, and continually encouraged those around him by +his cheering words as well as by his example. + +"Ben is down!" exclaimed Hapgood. + +"Poor fellow!" replied Tom, without taking his eye off the foe in front. + +"There goes Bob Dornton!" added Hapgood. + +"Stand up to it, my men!" said Tom, firmly, for he had no time then to +think of the fallen. + +"Forward!" shouted the impetuous colonel, who, if he had never been +popular with the men before, was rapidly establishing himself in their +good graces by his unflinching heroism. "Forward! double quick! march!" + +And on dashed the gallant regiment, mounting the enemy's lofty works, and +driving the foe before them like sheep, at the point of the bayonet. This +was the first experience of this exciting description which Tom had seen, +and he entered into the spirit of it with a hearty zeal. + +"Halt!" was the order, as a regiment filed out in front of them, with a +flag of truce flying on its front. "Steady--don't fire," repeated several +officers along the line. + +"What regiment are you?" shouted a person, as the flag came within +speaking distance. + +"What are you?" demanded an officer of the storming party. + +"We're the Alabama eighth!" + +"We are the Massachusetts --th," replied our men. + +"Then you are the villains we want!" returned the rebel, plentifully +interlarding the sentence with oaths. + +The flag of truce dropped, and the dastardly foe poured in a volley of +musketry, before which a dozen of our brave boys fell, either killed or +wounded. + +"Fire!" yelled the colonel; and the order was obeyed with a will. "Charge +bayonets! Forward--double quick--march!" + +The men, burning with indignation at the treachery of the rebel horde, +sprang forward to wreak their righteous vengeance upon the cowardly +traitors. So impetuous was the charge, that the rebel regiment broke, and +sought safety in flight. + +"Down with them!" hoarsely screamed Tom, as the line swayed forward, and +pursued the panic-stricken foe into the woods on the left. The even line +was broken, and the boys scattered to do their work to the best advantage. + +Tom's legs seemed to be in excellent condition, notwithstanding the +toilsome marches of the last twenty-four hours; and he dashed forward into +the woods followed by only a dozen choice spirits, whose enthusiasm was +equal to his own. A squad of flying rebels in front of them was the object +of their present anxiety, and they soon distanced their companions. + +The rebels, seeing by how small a force they were pursued, rallied and +formed line again. + +"Give it to them!" cried Tom, as he led his little force upon the rebels. + +"Hold on, Tom!" said Hapgood; "we have gone far enough. There's a rebel +regiment forming behind us." + +"Can't help it," said Tom, as he rushed forward, with the veteran by his +side. "Give it to them!" + +Tom and his men threw themselves upon the rebel squad, and a sharp fight +ensued, in which the parties fought with bayonets, clubbed muskets, and +even with the death grip upon each other's throats. The traitors could not +stand it, and fled again. + +The sergeant glanced behind him, and saw the rebel regiment formed ready +to charge upon his own. He was cut off from his friends, with the enemy on +his front and rear. Three of his men had fallen in the sharp encounter +with the rebels, and most of them were wounded or bruised, and all of them +out of breath. To add to the peril of the situation, the squad they had +been pursuing were rallying and being reenforced by their fugitive +companions. + +"Bad, Tom, bad," said Hapgood, who was puffing and blowing like a +porpoise, as he ominously shook his head. + +"Follow me!" said Tom, confidently, as he led the way in a direction at +right angles with the advance of the party. + +Our regiment had reformed again, and soon gave that in front of them +enough to do. The rebels in their rear caused the sergeant's squad no +little annoyance; but they continued on their course, loading and firing +as they retreated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +MORE OF THE BATTLE. + + +While Tom and his little command were working their way back to the Union +lines, followed up by the disorganized band of rebels, a series of most +unearthly yells swept over the field, for they had emerged from the woods. +It was the rallying cry of the Confederate regiment which had formed in +their rear. They were charging upon the Massachusetts --th; but they might +as well have charged upon the Rock of Gibraltar, for presently Tom was +delighted to see them retiring before the tremendous onslaught of his +friends. + +"Hurrah!" shouted he, forgetting the foe in his rear, and pressing forward +to that on his front, at the same time changing his course so as to +approach the right wing of the rebel regiment. + +"Don't be rash, Tom," said the old soldier, who never permitted the +sergeant to leave his side. + +"Follow me, boys!" roared Tom, breathless with excitement, as he started +off on the double quick towards the breaking lines of the enemy. + +"Here we are!" replied the gallant fellows behind him, pushing forward +with a zeal equal to that of their leader, from whom they derived their +inspiration. "Go in, sergeant, and we'll stand by you." + +But the bold soldier boy had discretion as well as gallantry; and he saw +that if he threw his little force upon the rebel line, the whole party +would be instantly annihilated. A covert of bushes fortunately lay on the +right flank of the retreating regiment, and Tom ordered his men to conceal +themselves behind it, until a favorable moment should arrive to take their +places in the lines. + +The men were glad enough to obtain a breathing spell; but, at such a +tremendous moment as that, idleness would have been treason, for such a +glorious opportunity to strike a heavy blow had not before occurred. + +"Load up, and fire at will," said Tom, as he charged his musket. "Don't +throw your lead away either." + +"We are a dead shot here if we are any where," added Hapgood, as he and +the rest of the party hastily loaded their muskets. + +Pop went Tom's piece first, and over went the rebel at the extreme right +of the rebel regiment. There was no such thing as missing the mark, for +they were on the flank of the Confederate line, which the united efforts +of the officers could hardly preserve. The men in the covert fired when +they were ready; and as they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not +to waste their lead, every shot told upon the rebels. + +The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of bushes, which +glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant's little command poured in +their volleys; but they were too closely pressed by the Federals in front +to attempt to dislodge them. The rebel privates were not long in +ascertaining what was so clear to their officers--that they were flanked, +and were being shot down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not +defend themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the +advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they realized +that the bolts of death were dropping among them from another direction, +they could no longer endure that awful suspense which takes possession of +the minds of men when they are suspended, as it were, between life and +death. + +Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line was just +abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men fall before the +deadly fire of his party. + +"Give it to them, boys! They shake!" shouted Tom, as he delivered his fire +again. "Pour in as fast as you can, but don't waste your powder." + +The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their fire was +sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the rebel ranks; +for the right of the line, probably supposing a company, if not a whole +regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed in the covert, suddenly broke +and fled with the utmost precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of +their officers to rally them. + +The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial panic, and +charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate hand-to-hand encounter +ensued, during which Tom and his companions emerged from their +concealment, and ran along the rear of the victorious line. They soon +satisfied themselves of what they had before believed--that the regiment +was their own; and they lost no time in finding the company to which they +belonged. They joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout +of the rebel force. + +The position of the enemy's lines did not permit them to follow the +advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon given to fall back. +At this juncture the regiment, which had been constantly engaged for +several hours, was relieved; and not too early in the day, for the men +were completely exhausted by the furious onslaughts they had made. + +"Who were those men in the bushes on the flank of the rebel regiment?" +demanded the colonel, as he reined up his jaded horse in front of Company +K. + +"Sergeant Somers and others," replied Captain Benson. + +"Somers again!" exclaimed the colonel. + +"Yes, sir. They pursued the regiment into the woods--the one that showed +the flag of truce--till they were separated from the rest of us." +"Forward, Sergeant Somers," added the colonel. + +Tom modestly stepped forward, and he would have blushed if his face had +not been so reddened by his previous exertions as to leave no room for a +deepening of its tint. + +"You did a big thing, Sergeant Somers. You broke that rebel line by your +steady fire. Sergeant Somers, I thank you and the men you commanded for +your good service." + +Tom bowed, and the regiment cheered. It was the proudest moment of his +life to be thanked on the field, while the guns were roaring and the +musketry rattling, for the good service he had rendered. It would form an +excellent paragraph for his letter to Lilian Ashford, especially as he had +more than once, in the perils of that exciting hour, thought of the socks +he wore, and of the letter and the photograph which nestled in his breast +pocket, and upon which his quick throbbing heart was beating the notes of +glory and victory. + +"We gave you up for lost," said Captain Benson, as Tom returned to the +line. + +"We are safe, thank God!" replied Tom, "though three of our number fell in +the woods, or on the field where we were chased by the rebels." + +"Sergeant Somers saved us," added uncle Hapgood. "If he hadn't been as +cool as cowcumber, and as stiff as the mainmast of a frigate, we should +have been taken, every one of us." + +"Bravo, Tom!" said the captain. + +"The men stood by me like heroes, or it would have been all up with the +whole of us. They are good fellows, and they deserve as much credit as I +do." + +The battle continued to rage with increasing fury, till the roar, and the +crash, and the sweep of armed legions beggared description. Regiments and +brigades advanced and fell back with the varying fortunes of the day, but +as yet there was nothing to indicate the final result. + +When the men of our regiment had recovered their breath, an order came for +them to proceed to the left. On their arrival at the position assigned to +them, they were immediately led to the front, where the batteries which +had been pouring a hot fire into the enemy were in imminent danger of +being surrounded. Indeed, the swoop of the rebel infantry upon the guns +had already been made, and the cannoneers had been driven from their +stations. With the colonel on the right, and the adjutant in command on +the left, the regiment charged upon the foe, as it had twice before +charged on that eventful day, with an enthusiasm bordering upon fury. + +The rebels had even spiked one of the guns, and they maintained their +position with an obstinacy which promised the annihilation of one or the +other of the contending forces. A desperate strife ensued, in which the +least perceptible advantage was gained by the Federals. But if they could +do no more, they held the enemy in check, till the gunners could charge +their pieces with grape and canister, which they poured into the rebels +with the most deadly effect. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Tom, as the rebels quaked before the withering storm of +shot belched forth by the guns of the battery. "They shake! Give it to +them!" + +"Steady, my men! steady," said Captain Benson. "The ammunition of the +battery is expended," he added, as the cannon ceased their work of +destruction. "We must hold these pieces, and every man must do his duty." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" replied Tom, vigorously, and the cry was repeated through +the company. + +As soon as the guns were thus rendered useless, the enemy swept down upon +the supports again, intent upon capturing the pieces. They advanced with +that terrific yell which is enough of itself to frighten a nervous man, +and with an impetuosity which nothing human could resist. Our regiment +recoiled under the shock; but it was forced back by the sheer stress of +numbers. + +"Rally men! Rally, my brave fellows!" shouted the adjutant, in command of +the left wing. + +"Stand stiff! Roll them back!" roared the colonel. + +"Steady, men!" added Captain Benson. + +"Now, give it to them!" screamed Tom, as he plunged his bayonet into the +vitals of the rebel in front of him, and pushed forward into the very +midst of the foe. + +The sergeant seemed suddenly to be endowed with the strength of a giant, +and he held his own till Hapgood sprang to his assistance. The rest of the +line, inspired by this daring conduct, rushed forward, and fell upon the +foe with a fury that could not be resisted. + +"Bravo! Bravo, Tom!" shouted the captain. "Go in, boys!" roared the +lieutenant. + +And the boys "went in," and forced back the rebel line, and held the guns +until another battery with a supply of ammunition arrived upon the ground +to relieve them. The enemy was again repulsed, and the guns were saved by +the unflinching heroism of our gallant Massachusetts regiment--another +paragraph for the letter to Lilian Ashford. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +GLORY AND VICTORY. + + +The battle now raged more fiercely than ever, and hotter and hotter became +the fire on every side. The shouts of the enemy indicated the arrival of +reenforcements. "Johnston!" "Long-street!" resounded over the field, and +roused the rebels to renewed activity. More certainly was the increase of +the enemy's force determined by the gradual falling back of the brigade at +the left of the road; but the men fought with desperate courage, and +yielded not a foot of ground without enriching it with their best blood. + +There were no signs of reenforcements for over exhausted troops, though a +whole corps was within hearing of the booming guns that were slaughtering +our outnumbered and exhausted brigades. On the field the aspect began to +be dark and unpromising, and Tom prayed with all his soul that he might be +spared the pain of beholding another defeat, another rout. + +Our regiment was ordered to the support of the yielding brigade on the +left. The woods were full of rebels, and the issue of the conflict in this +part of the field was almost hopeless. The enemy seemed to be inspired by +the slight advantage they had gained, and their yells were fiercer and +more diabolical than ever, as they gathered themselves up for a desperate +onslaught. + +The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to waver upon a +balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, and the Union force +fell back a little, but only a little, and doggedly resisted the advance +of the foe. It needed but little to restore the equilibrium, and our +regiment, after struggling through the mud with all attainable speed, +arrived upon the spot when the prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause. + +The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had all day +long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the physical exertion +required of them. But the battle was going against the North, and they +were ready again to make a desperate effort to redeem the field. + +"One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel," said General Hooker, as +the weary soldiers moved up to the endangered position. + +"You shall have it, general. My men are always ready, though they are +nearly used up." + +"Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out a few minutes +longer, all will be well with us." + +"We'll drive them back, general!" shouted the colonel. + +"Go in, then!" added the gallant Hooker, waving his sword to encourage the +soldiers. "Forward! You have no time to lose!" + +The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of the work +before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all day, and +Massachusetts would be proud of them. A ringing cheer was the reply to the +stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were given for the advance. + +On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated themselves +upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up their temporary +advantage. The point of attack was all in their favor, and their +exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe kindled up the expiring +enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose assistance they had come. The +shock was terrible--more fearful and destructive than any which our boys +had before experienced. + +"Steady, my men!" shouted Captain Benson. + +"Give it to them!" roared Tom, maddened to desperation by the awful strife +around him, and by seeing so many of our men fall by his side. + +"Stand up to it!" shouted the excited colonel. "They run!" + +At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of Company K +placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of them, taking +advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and actually broke through +the line, trampling some of our soldiers beneath their feet, and +transfixing them with their bayonets. + +A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole rebel +regiment began to press into the weak place. The breach was made by the +side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by the pressure of the +rebel battalion. + +"Close up!" yelled Tom. "Close up! Hail, Columbia! and give it to them!" + +Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after the capture +of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged its six barrels into +the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood and Fred Pemberton, who were +armed in like manner from the same source, imitated the example of the +sergeant. + +"Now give them the bayonet, boys!" screamed Tom, hoarsely, as he plunged +into the midst of the rebels. + +The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal energy, and +the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and wounded rebels, and +Federals, who had fallen in that sharp encounter. + +"Bravo!" shouted General Hooker, whose attention had been drawn to the +break in the line. "Bravo, sergeant! You shall have a commission! Forward, +my brave boys! Massachusetts sees you!" + +"Up and at them," cried Tom, as the rebels began to yield and break before +the tremendous charge of our regiment. + +The young sergeant's throat was raw with the shouting he had done, and his +limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of the day; but the words of +the commander of the division made him over new again, and his husky voice +still rang along the line, full of new courage and new energy to his +exhausted comrades. The rebels were driven back for the time, and fled +before the iron masses that crowded upon them. + +The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost decimated by +the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, were permitted to +breathe once more. + +"This is awful," said the veteran of Company K, panting from the violence +of his exertions. "I never saw any thing like this before." + +"Nor I," replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with exhaustion. + +"I know something about this business. I thought Cerry Gordy was +consid'able of a battle, but 'twas nothin' like this." + +"It's awful," sighed Tom, as he thought of the good fellows he had seen +fall upon the field. + +"Heaps of our boys have gone down!" + +"Attention--battalion!" came ringing with startling effect along the line, +in the familiar tones of the intrepid colonel. + +"If we win the day, we can afford to lose many. Victory or death!" shouted +Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience to the command. "More work for +us!" + +"How do you feel, Tom?" demanded the veteran, as they sprang into the +line. + +"All right," replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of spirits. + +"Are you sure, my boy?" continued the veteran, gazing with deep anxiety +into the face of the sergeant. + +"I'm first rate, uncle. I think I can stand it as long as any body else." + +"You have done wonders to-day, Tom. I'm proud of you, but I'm afeared you +are doing too much. If you are used up, it wouldn't be any disgrace for +you to go to the rear. After what you've done, nobody will say a word. +Don't kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear." + +"I go to the rear!" exclaimed Tom, with indignation. + +"If you are disabled, I mean, of course," apologized the veteran. + +"I'm not disabled. If I go to the rear with these socks on, it won't be +till after the breath has left my body." + +"Socks!" replied Hapgood, with a sneer. "I'm afeared that gal will be the +death of you." + +"I don't sulk in these socks," replied Tom, with a faint smile, as the +regiment moved off on the double quick to some new position of peril. + +"The rebels are flanking us!" shouted an officer in another command, as +our regiment hurried forward to the endangered point. + +"That's what we are wanted for," said Hapgood. + +The enemy had nearly accomplished their purpose when our gallant colonel +and his jaded force reached the left of the line, and in a few moments +more would have poured a flanking fire into our devoted battalions, which +were struggling with terrible energy to roll back the pressure in front of +them. + +The colonel had his men well in hand, and he manoeuvred them with +consummate skill, so as to bring them advantageously to the work they were +to perform. The regiment was hurled against the head of the flanking +column, and the boys rushed forward with that dash and spirit which had +characterized their conduct half a score of times before in various parts +of the field. + +Tom's muscles had become loose and soft after the long continued strain +upon them, and if his soul had not been ten times as big as his body, he +must have sunk under the exhaustion of the day. Another desperate +onslaught was required of the men of our regiment, and commanding all his +energies, Tom braced himself up once more for the fearful struggle. + +"How do you feel now, Tom?" demanded the anxious veteran, as he bit off +the cartridge, and rammed it home. + +"First rate, uncle!" replied Tom, as the regiment poured a withering +volley into the rebel line. + +"For Heaven's sake, Tom, don't kill yourself," added the old man, as they +loaded up again. "Your knees shake under you now." + +"Do you think I'm afraid, uncle?" demanded the sergeant with a grim smile. + +"No, no, Tom; of course I don't think any thing of the kind. I'm afeared +you'll bust a blood-vessel, or something of that sort." + +"If I do, I'll let you know, uncle." + +"Charge bayonets! Double quick--march!" rang along the line. + +"Have at them!" cried Tom, who was always the first to catch the orders of +the commanding officer. "Down with them! Give 'em Yankee Doodle, Hail, +Columbia, and the Red, White, and Blue." + +The advancing column, shaken by the furious fire of our regiment, recoiled +before the shock. Slowly the foe fell back, leaving heaps of their slain +upon the hotly-contested ground. Our boys halted, and poured in another +destructive volley. + +The Confederate officers rallied their men, and, maddened by the check +they had received, drove them forward to recover the lost ground. + +"Once more, boys! Give it to 'em again," cried Tom, as the order to +advance was repeated. + +His words were only representations of his actions; for, as he spoke, he +rushed on a little in front of his comrades, who, however, pressed forward +to keep up with him. He did not exceed the orders of his superior, but he +was one of the promptest to obey them. On dashed the regiment, and again +the rebel line recoiled, and soon broke in spite of the admirable efforts +of their officers to keep them steady. + +"Kearney! Kearney! Kearney is here!" shouted the weary heroes in various +parts of the field. + +"Down with them!" roared Tom, as the inspiring words rang in his ears. +"Down with them! Kearney has come, and the day is ours!" + +He had scarcely uttered the words, and sprung forward, before he was seen +to drop upon the ground, several paces in front of the line, though the +undaunted old Hapgood was close by his side. The enemy had fled; the +danger of being flanked was averted; and when Kearney's men dashed on the +field, the sad-hearted veteran, assisted by Fred Pemberton, bore the +silent form of the gallant sergeant to the rear. + +Kearney and Hancock rushed gallantly to the rescue of the exhausted +troops, and Hooker's division was ordered to the rear to act as a reserve. +The strife raged with unabated fury as those who had borne the brunt of +the battle slowly fell back to give place to the fresh legions. + +Poor Tom was tenderly carried by the wiry veteran and his friends to the +surgeon's quarters in the rear. There were tears in the eyes of the old +man as he laid the silent form of his _protege_ upon the wet ground. There +he sat by his charge, sorrowful beyond expression, till tremendous shouts +rent the air. Tom opened his eyes. + +"Glory and Victory!" shouted he, in husky tones, as he sprang to his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +HONORABLE MENTION. + + +The surgeon examined Tom's wound, and found that he had been struck by a +bullet over the left temple. The flesh was torn off, and if the skull was +not fractured, it had received a tremendous hard shock. It was probably +done at the instant when he turned to rally the men of Company K, and the +ball glanced under the visor of his cap, close enough to scrape upon his +skull, but far enough off to save his brains. Half an inch closer, and the +bullet would have wound up Tom's earthly career. + +The shock had stunned him, and he had dropped like a dead man, while the +profusion of blood that came from the wound covered his face, and his +friends could not tell whether he was killed or not. He was a pitiable +object as he lay on the ground by the surgeon's quarters; but the veteran +soon assured himself that his young charge was not dead. + +Hapgood washed the gore from his face, and did what he could in his +unscientific manner; and probably the cold water had a salutary effect +upon the patient, for when Hancock and Kearney had completed their work, +and the cry of victory rang over the bloody field, he was sufficiently +revived to hear the inspiring tones of triumph. Leaping to his feet, faint +and sick as he was, he took up the cry, and shouted in unison with the +victors upon the field. + +But he had scarcely uttered the notes of glory and victory before his +strength deserted him, and he would have dropped upon the ground if he had +not been caught by Hapgood. He groaned heavily as he sank into the arms of +his friend, and yielded to the faintness and exhaustion of the moment. + +The surgeon said the wound was not a very bad one, but that the patient +was completely worn out by the excessive fatigues of march and battle. In +due time he was conveyed to the college building in Williamsburg, where +hundreds of his companions in arms were suffering and dying of their +wounds. He received every attention which the circumstances would permit. +Hapgood, by sundry vigorous applications at headquarters, was, in +consideration of his own and his _protege's_ good conduct on the battle +field, permitted to remain with the patient over night. + +The sergeant's skull, as we have before intimated, was not very badly +damaged, as physical injuries were measured after the bloody battle of +that day. But his wound was not the only detriment he had experienced in +the trying ordeal of that terrible day. His constitution had not yet been +fully developed; his muscles were not hardened, and the fatigues of battle +and march had a more serious effect upon him than the ounce of lead which +had struck him on the forehead. + +The surgeon understood his case perfectly, and after dressing his wound, +he administered some simple restoratives, and ordered the patient to go to +sleep. On the night of the 3d of May, he had been on guard duty; on that +of the 4th, he had obtained but three hours' sleep; and thus deprived of +the rest which a growing boy needs, he had passed through the fearful +scenes of the battle, in which his energies, mental and physical, had been +tasked to their utmost. He was completely worn out, and in spite of the +surroundings of the hospital, he went to sleep, obeying to the letter the +orders of the surgeon. + +After twelve hours of almost uninterrupted slumber, Tom's condition was +very materially improved, and when the doctor went his morning round, our +sergeant buoyantly proposed to join his regiment forthwith. + +"Not yet, my boy," said the surgeon, kindly. "I shall not permit you to do +duty for at least thirty days to come," he added, as he felt the patient's +pulse. + +"I feel pretty well, sir," replied Tom. + +"No, you don't. Your regiment will remain here, I learn, for a few days, +and you must keep quiet, or you will have a fever." + +"I don't feel sick, and my head doesn't pain me a bit." + +"That may be, but you are not fit for duty. You did too much yesterday. +They say you behaved like a hero, on the field." + +"I tried to do my duty," replied Tom, his pale cheek suffused with a +blush. + +"Boys like you can't stand much of such work as that. We must fix you up +for the next battle; and you shall go into Richmond with the rest of the +boys." + +"Must I stay in here all the time?" + +"No, you may go where you please. I will give you a certificate which will +keep you safe from harm. You can walk about, and visit your regiment if +you wish." + +"Thank you, doctor." + +Hapgood had been compelled to leave the hospital before his patient waked, +and Tom had not yet learned any thing in regard to the casualties of the +battle. Armed with the surgeon's certificate, he left the hospital, and +walked to the place where the steward told him he would find his regiment. +Somewhat to his astonishment he found that he was very weak; and before he +had accomplished half the distance to the camp, he came to the conclusion +that he was in no condition to carry a knapsack and a musket on a long +march. But after resting himself for a short time, he succeeded in +reaching his friends. + +He was warmly received by his companions, and the veteran of the company +had nearly hugged him in his joy and admiration. + +"Honorable mention, Tom," said Hapgood. "You will be promoted as true as +you live." + +"O, I guess not," replied Tom, modestly. "I didn't do any more than any +body else. At any rate, you were close by my side, uncle." + +"Yes, but I followed, and you led. The commander of the division says you +shall be a lieutenant. He said so on the field, and the colonel said so +to-day." + +"I don't think I deserve it." + +"I do; and if you don't get a commission, then there ain't no justice left +in the land. I tell you, Tom, you shall be a brigadier if the war lasts +only one year more." + +"O, nonsense, uncle!" + +"Well, if you ain't, you ought to be." + +"I'm lucky to get out alive. Whom have we lost, uncle?" + +"A good many fine fellows." replied Hapgood, shaking his head, sadly. + +"Poor Ben dropped early in the day." + +"Yes, I was afraid he'd got most to the end of his chapter afore we went +in. Poor fellow! I'm sorry for him, and sorry for his folks." + +"Fred Pemberton said he should be killed, and Ben said he should not, you +remember." + +"Yes, and that shows how little we know about these things." + +"Bob Dornton was killed, too." + +"No, he's badly hurt, but the surgeon thinks he will git over it. The +cap'n was slightly wounded." And Hapgood mentioned the names of those in +the company who had been killed or wounded, or were missing. + +"It was an awful day," sighed Tom, when the old man had finished the list. +"There will be sad hearts in Pinchbrook when the news gets there." + +"So there will, Tom; but we gained the day. We did something handsome for +'Old Glory,' and I s'pose it's all right." + +"I would rather have been killed than lost the battle." + +"So would I; and betwixt you and me, Tom, you didn't come very fur from +losing your number in the mess," added the veteran, as he thrust his +little fingers into a bullet hole in the breast of Tom's coat. "That was +rather a close shave." + +"I felt that one, but I hadn't time to think about it then, for it was +just as we were repelling that flank movement," replied Tom, as he +unbuttoned his coat, and thrust his hand into his breast pocket. "Do you +suppose she will give me another?" he added, as he drew forth the envelope +which contained the letter and the photograph of the author of his socks. + +A minie ball had found its way through the envelope, grinding a furrow +through the picture, transversely, carrying away the chin and throat of +the young lady. The letter was mangled and minced up beyond restoration. +Tom had discovered the catastrophe when he waked up in the hospital, for +his last thought at night, and his first in the morning, had been the +beautiful Lilian Ashford. He was sad when he first beheld the wreck; but +when he thought what a glorious assurance this would be of his conduct on +the field, he was pleased with the idea; and while in his heart he thanked +the rebel marksman for not putting the bullet any nearer to the vital +organ beneath the envelope, he was not ungrateful for the splendid +testimonial he had given him of his position during the battle. + +"Of course she'll give you another. Won't she be proud of that picture +when she gets it back?" + +"If I had been a coward, I couldn't have run away with those socks on my +feet." + +Tom remained with the regiment several hours, and then, in obedience to +the surgeon's orders, returned to the hospital, where he wrote a letter to +his father, containing a short account of the battle, and another to +Lilian Ashford, setting forth the accident which had happened to the +picture, and begging her to send him another. + +I am afraid in this last letter Tom indulged in some moonshiny nonsense; +but we are willing to excuse him for saying that the thought of the +beautiful original of the photograph and the beautiful author of his socks +had inspired him with courage on the battle field, and enabled him +faithfully to perform his duty, to the honor and glory of the flag beneath +whose starry folds he had fought, bled, and conquered, and so forth. It +would not be unnatural in a young man of eighteen to express as much as +this, and, we are not sure that he said any more. + +The next day Tom was down with a slow fever, induced by fatigue and +over-exertion. He lay upon his cot for a fortnight, before he was able to +go out again; but he was frequently visited by Hapgood and other friends +in the regiment. About the middle of the month, the brigade moved on, and +Tom was sad at the thought of lying idle, while the glorious work of the +army was waiting for true and tried men. + +Tom received "honorable mention" in the report of the colonel, and his +recommendation, supported by that of the general of the division, brought +to the hospital his commission as second lieutenant. + +"Here's medicine for you," said the chaplain, as he handed the patient a +ponderous envelope. + +"What is it, sir?" + +"I don't know, but it has an official look." + +The sergeant opened it, and read the commission, duly signed by the +governor of Massachusetts, and countersigned and sealed in proper form. +Tom was astounded at the purport of the document. He could hardly believe +his senses; but it read all right, and dated from the day of the battle in +which he had distinguished himself. This was glory enough, and it took Tom +forty-eight hours thoroughly to digest the contents of the envelope. + +_Lieutenant Somers_! The words had a queer sound, and he could not realize +that he was a commissioned officer. But he came to a better understanding +of the subject the next day, when a letter from Lilian Ashford was placed +in his hands. It was actually addressed to "Lieutenant Thomas Somers." She +had read of his gallant conduct and of his promotion on the battle field +in the newspapers. She sent him two photographs of herself, and a sweet +little letter, begging him to return the photograph which had been damaged +by a rebel bullet. + +Of course Tom complied with this natural request; but, as the surgeon +thought his patient would improve faster at home than in the hospital, he +had procured a furlough of thirty days for him, and the lieutenant decided +to present the photograph in person. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS AND OTHERS. + + +Tom Somers had been absent from home nearly a year; and much as his heart +was in the work of putting down the rebellion, he was delighted with the +thought of visiting, even for a brief period, the loved ones who thought +of and prayed for him in the little cottage in Pinchbrook. I am not quite +sure that the well-merited promotion he had just received did not have +some influence upon him, for it would not have been unnatural for a young +man of eighteen, who had won his shoulder-straps by hard fighting on a +bloody field, to feel some pride in the laurels he had earned. Not that +Tom was proud or vain; but he was moved by a lofty and noble ambition. It +is quite likely he wondered what the people of Pinchbrook would say when +he appeared there with the straps upon his shoulders. + +Of course he thought what his father would say, what his mother would say, +and he could see the wrinkled face of gran'ther Greene expand into a +genial smile of commendation. It is quite possible that he had even more +interest in his reception at No ---- Rutland Street, when he should +present himself to the author and finisher of those marvellous socks, +which had wielded such an immense influence upon their wearer in camp and +on the field. Perhaps it was a weakness on the part of the soldier boy, +but we are compelled to record the fact that he had faithfully conned his +speech for that interesting occasion. He had supposed every thing she +would say, and carefully prepared a suitable reply to each remark, adorned +with all the graces of rhetoric within his reach. + +With the furlough in his pocket, Tom obtained his order for +transportation, and with a light heart, full of pleasant anticipations, +started for home. As he was still dressed in the faded and shattered +uniform of a non-commissioned officer, he did not attract any particular +notice on the way. He was enabled to pass through Baltimore, Philadelphia, +and New York, without being bored by a public reception, which some less +deserving heroes have not been permitted to escape. But the people did not +understand that Tom had a second lieutenant's commission in his pocket, +and he was too modest to proclaim the fact, which may be the reason why he +was suffered to pass through these great emporiums of trade without an +escort, or other demonstration of respect and admiration. + +Tom's heart jumped with strange emotions when he arrived at Boston, +perhaps because he was within a few miles of home; possibly because he was +in the city that contained Lilian Ashford, for boys will be silly in spite +of all the exertions of parents, guardians, and teachers, to make them +sober and sensible. Such absurdities as "the air she breathes," and other +rhapsodies of that sort, may have flitted through his mind; but we are +positive that Tom did not give voice to any such nonsense, for every body +in the city was a total stranger to him, so far as he knew. Besides, Tom +had no notion of appearing before the original of the photograph in the +rusty uniform he wore; and as he had to wait an hour for the Pinchbrook +train, he hastened to a tailor's to order a suit of clothes which would be +appropriate to his new dignity. + +He ordered them, was duly measured and had given the tailor his promise to +call for the garments at the expiration of five days, when the man of +shears disturbed the serene current of his meditations by suggesting that +the lieutenant should pay one half of the price of the suit in advance. + +"It is a custom we adopt in all our dealings with strangers," politely +added the tailor. + +"But I don't propose to take the uniform away until it is paid for," said +Tom, blushing with mortification; for it so happened that he had not money +enough to meet the demand of the tailor. + +"Certainly not," blandly replied Shears; "but we cannot make up the goods +with the risk of not disposing of them. They may not fit the next man who +wants such a suit." + +"I have not the money, sir;" and Tom felt that the confession was an awful +sacrifice of dignity on the part of an officer in the army of the Potomac, +who had fought gallantly for his country on the bloody fields of +Williamsburg and Bull Run. + +"I am very sorry, sir. I should be happy to make up the goods, but you +will see that our rule is a reasonable one." + +Tom wanted to tell him that this lack of confidence was not a suitable +return of a stay-at-home for the peril and privation he had endured for +him; but he left in disgust, hardly replying to the flattering request of +the tailor that he would call again. With his pride touched, he walked +down to the railroad station to await the departure of the train. He had +hardly entered the building before he discovered the familiar form of +Captain Barney, to whom he hastened to present himself. + +"Why, Tom, my hearty!" roared the old sea captain, as he grasped and wrung +his hand. "I'm glad to see you. Shiver my mainmast, but you've grown a +foot since you went away. But you don't look well, Tom." + +"I'm not very well, sir; but I'm improving very rapidly." + +"How's your wound?" + +"O, that's almost well." + +"Sit down, Tom. I want to talk with you," said Captain Barney, as he led +the soldier boy to a seat. + +In half an hour Tom had told all he knew about the battle of Williamsburg, +and the old sailor had communicated all the news from Pinchbrook. + +"Tom, you're a lieutenant now, but you haven't got on your uniform," +continued Captain Barney. + +"No, sir," replied Tom, laughing. "I went into a store to order one, and +they wouldn't trust me." + +"Wouldn't trust _you_, Tom!" exclaimed the captain. "Show me the place, +and I'll smash in their deadlights." + +"I don't know as I blame them. I was a stranger to them." + +"But, Tom, you mustn't go home without a uniform. Come with me, and you +shall be fitted out at once. I'm proud of you, Tom. You are one of my +boys, and I want you to go into Pinchbrook all taut and trim, with your +colors flying." + +"We haven't time now; the train leaves in a few moments." + +"There will be another in an hour. The folks are all well, and don't know +you're coming; so they can afford to wait." + +Tom consented, and Captain Barney conducted him to several stores before +he could find a ready-made uniform that would fit him; but at last they +found one which had been made to order for an officer who was too sick to +use it at present. It was an excellent fit, and the young lieutenant was +soon arrayed in the garments, with the symbolic straps on his shoulder. + +"Bravo, Tom! You look like a new man. There isn't a better looking officer +in the service." + +Very likely the subject of this remark thought so too, as he surveyed +himself in the full-length mirror. The old uniform, with two bullet-holes +in the breast of the coat, was done up in a bundle and sent to the express +office, to be forwarded to Pinchbrook. Captain Barney then walked with him +to a military furnishing store, where a cap, sword, belt, and sash, were +purchased. For some reason which he did not explain, the captain retained +the sword himself, but Tom was duly invested with the other accoutrements. + +Our hero felt "pretty good," as he walked down to the station with his +friend; but he looked splendidly in his new outfit, and we are willing to +excuse certain impressible young ladies, who cast an admiring glance at +him as he passed down the street. It was not Tom's fault that he was a +handsome young man; and he was not responsible for the conduct of those +who chose to look at him. + +With a heart beating with wild emotion, Tom stepped out of the cars at +Pinchbrook. Here he was compelled to undergo the penalty of greatness. His +friends cheered him, and shook his hand till his arm ached. + +Captain Barney's wagon was at the station, and before going to his own +home, he drove Tom to the little cottage of his father. I cannot describe +the emotions of the returned soldier when the horse stopped at the garden +gate. Leaping from the vehicle, he rushed into the house, and bolted into +the kitchen, even before the family had seen the horse at the front gate. + +"How d'ye do, mother?" cried Tom, as he threw himself pell-mell into the +arms of Mrs. Somers. + +"Why, Tom!" almost screamed she, as she returned his embrace. "How _do_ +you do?" + +"Pretty well, mother. How do you do, father?" + +"Glad to see you," replied Captain Somers, as he seized his son's hand. + +"Bless my soul, Tom!" squeaked gran'ther Greene, shaking in every fibre of +his frame from the combined influence of rhapsody and rheumatism. + +Tom threw both arms around Jenny's neck, and kissed her half a dozen times +with a concussion like that of a battery of light artillery. + +"Why, Tom! I never thought nothin' of seein' you!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers. +"I thought you was sick in the hospital." + +"I am better now, and home for thirty days." + +"And got your new rig on," added his father. + +"Captain Barney wouldn't let me come home without my shoulder-straps. I +met him in the city. He paid the bills." + +"I'll make it all right with him." + +"I'll pay for it by and by. You know I have over a hundred dollars a month +now." + +"Gracious me!" ejaculated Mrs. Somers, as she gazed with admiration upon +the new and elegant uniform which covered the fine form of her darling +boy. + +Presently Captain Barney came into the house, and for two hours Tom fought +his battles over again, to the great satisfaction of his partial auditors. +The day passed off amid the mutual rejoicings of the parties; and the +pleasure of the occasion was only marred by the thought, on the mother's +part, that her son must soon return to the scene of strife. + +The soldier boy--we beg his pardon; Lieutenant Somers--hardly went out of +the house until after dinner on the following day, when he took a walk +down to the harbor, where he was warmly greeted by all his friends. Even +Squire Pemberton seemed kindly disposed towards him, and asked him many +questions in regard to Fred. Before he went home, he was not a little +startled to receive an invitation to meet some of his friends in the town +hall in the evening, which it was impossible for him to decline. + +At the appointed hour, he appeared at the hall, which was filled with +people. The lieutenant did not know what to make of it, and trembled +before his friends as he had never done before the enemies of his country. +He was cheered lustily by the men, and the women waved their +handkerchiefs, as though he had been a general of division. But his +confusion reached the climax when Captain Barney led him upon the +platform, and Mr. Boltwood, a young lawyer resident in Pinchbrook, +proceeded to address him in highly complimentary terms, reviewing his +career at Bull Run, on the Shenandoah, on the Potomac, to its culmination +at Williamsburg, and concluded by presenting him the sword which the +captain had purchased, in behalf of his friends and admirers in his native +town. + +Fortunately for Tom, the speech was long, as he was enabled in some +measure to recover his self-possession. In trembling tones he thanked the +donors for their gift, and promised to use it in defence of his country as +long as a drop of blood was left in his veins--highly poetical, but it +required strong terms to express our hero's enthusiasm--whereat the men +and boys applauded most vehemently, and the ladies flourished their +cambrics with the most commendable zeal. Tom bowed--bowed again--and kept +bowing, just as he had seen General McClellan bow when he was cheered by +the troops. As the people would not stop applauding, Tom, his face all +aglow with joy and confusion, descended from the platform, and took his +seat by the side of his mother. + +The magnates of Pinchbrook then made speeches--except Squire +Pemberton--about the war, patriotism, gunpowder, and eleven-inch shot and +shells. Every body thought it was "a big thing," and went home to talk +about it for the next week. Tom's father, and mother, and sister, and +gran'ther Greene, said ever so many pretty things, and every body was as +happy as happy could be, except that John was not at home to share in the +festivities. Letters occasionally came from the sailor boy, and they went +to him from the soldier boy. + +Mrs. Somers was not a little surprised, the next day, to hear her son +announce his intention to take the first train for the city; but Tom could +not postpone his visit to No ---- Rutland Street any longer, for he was +afraid his uniform would lose its gloss, and the shoulder-straps their +dazzling brilliancy. + +Tom's courage had nearly forsaken him when he desperately rang the bell at +the home of Lilian Ashford; and he almost hoped the servant would inform +him that she was not at home. Lilian was at home, and quaking like a +condemned criminal before the gallows, he was ushered into the presence of +the author of his socks. + +Stammering out his name he drew from his pocket the battered photograph +and the shattered letter, and proceeded at once to business. Lilian +Ashford blushed, and Tom blushed--that is to say, they both blushed. When +he had presented his relics, he ventured to look in her face. The living +Lilian was even more beautiful than the Lilian of the photograph. + +"Dear me! So you are the soldier that wore the socks I knit," said Lilian; +and our hero thought it was the sweetest voice he ever heard. + +"I am, Miss Ashford, and I did not run away in them either." + +"I'm glad you did not," added she, with a musical laugh, which made Tom +think of the melody of the spheres, or some such nonsense. + +"I have to thank you for my promotion," said Tom, boldly. + +"Thank me!" exclaimed she, her fair blue eyes dilating with astonishment. + +"The socks inspired me with courage and fortitude," replied Tom, in exact +accordance with the programme he had laid down for the occasion. "I am +sure the thought of her who knit them, the beautiful letter, and the more +beautiful photograph, enabled me to do that which won my promotion." + +"Well, I declare!" shouted Lilian, in a kind of silvery scream. + +Bravo, Tom! you are getting along swimmingly. And he said sundry other +smart things which we have not room to record. He stayed half an hour, and +Lilian begged him to call again, and see her grandmother, who was out of +town that day. Of course he promised to come, promised to bring his +photograph, promised to write to her when he returned to the army--and I +don't know what he did not promise, and I hardly think he knew himself. + +But the brief dream ended, and Tom went home to Pinchbrook, after he had +sat for his picture. The careless fellow left Lilian's photograph on the +table in his chamber a few days after, and his mother wanted to know whose +it was; and the whole story came out, and Tom was laughed at, and Jenny +made fun of him, and Captain Barney told him he was a match for the finest +girl in the country. The lieutenant blushed like a boy, but rather enjoyed +the whole thing. + +A sad day came at last, and Tom went back to the army. He went full of +hope, and the blessing of the loved ones went with him. He was received +with enthusiasm by his old companions in arms, and Hapgood--then a +sergeant--still declared that he would be a brigadier in due time,--or, if +he was not, he ought to be. His subsequent career, if not always as +fortunate as that portion which we have recorded, was unstained by +cowardice or vice. + + + + +FINIS. + + + + * * * * * + + +Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our Publications + + +1. 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