Chapter Sixteen: Time to Leave
The O’Toole family soon worked out a plan of escape. They were able to purchase an older horse and a few supplies with the currency and gold in the strongbox that had, miraculously, survived the fire. Not much else had been saved from the fire, so it would not be difficult to travel light. Each person carried only a small sack holding personal belongings. Over his wife’s objections, Mr. O’Toole had also insisted on buying firearms. An old musket, a revolver, and a small Derringer pistol were all they could afford. Mr. O’Toole tucked them all under the seat of the carriage. “I don’t want anyone to touch any of them unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he warned.
There was little debate as to the timing of their escape. Even now the detectives might be watching them, preparing to arrest them as spies. They had to leave that very night, under cover of darkness. The route was widely debated. Ryan warned against the Williamsburg Road; it would be watched more closely than ever now. The Charles City and New Market roads were also dismissed as being too heavily patrolled by Confederate cavalry.
It was decided that the first step was to seek out the assistance of Elizabeth Van Lew. The Van Lews were widely known to be sympathetic to the Yankee cause and rumor had it that Elizabeth had helped to smuggle a number of people out of Richmond and over to the Union lines. But Confederate patrols often dropped in unannounced at the Van Lew’s to look for fugitives and the house might even be under surveillance by the provost marshal’s detectives. Still, it was a chance they had to take.
Knowing that they might be being followed, the family members agreed to scatter until darkness fell and then meet together at an abandoned livery stable to begin their journey.
About three hours later, the family of five squeezed into their carriage and started on their way. They took the narrow back streets and went slowly, in part not to draw attention to themselves and in part because the horse struggled somewhat with the combined weight of the five passengers. Two blocks from the Van Lew residence, Mr. O’Toole brought the carriage to a halt.
“Mary,” said Mr. O’Toole softly, “we don’t dare approach the house with the carriage. You and Matthew should go first. I don’t know Elizabeth Van Lew well, but from everything I’ve heard, she will welcome you graciously. Abigail, you and Ryan should follow in five minutes. I’ll hide the carriage as best I can and follow in ten minutes.”
Mrs. O’Toole and the children nodded in agreement and climbed out of the carriage. Smiling down at Matthew, she took him by the hand. “Now children,” she said quietly, “this is the time for all of us to be brave.”
Abigail put her hand affectionately on Ryan’s shoulder. “We’ll be just fine, Mother. Don’t worry about a thing.”
Mrs. O’Toole gave both Abigail and Ryan a kiss on the cheek, and she and Matthew turned and walked quickly down the street.
“Right,” said Mr. O’Toole. “You two wait for a bit and then follow your mother and brother. I’ll see to the carriage.”
Minutes later, Mrs. O’Toole and Matthew knocked on the door of the Van Lew home. “Please miss,” Mrs. O’Toole said to the servant answering the door, “we’ve come to see Elizabeth Van Lew on a matter of some urgency.”
Seconds later, Mrs. Van Lew, a middle-aged woman with an animated expression, came to the door. “How can I help you, dear?”
Carefully controlling her emotions, Mrs. O’Toole said, “We’ve come to seek your help, Miss Van Lew. Our house has been burned to the ground and we’ve no place to go.”
Elizabeth Van Lew eyed Mrs. O’Toole and Matthew carefully for a few seconds and then said, “Yes, of course. Please come in. But do so quickly. I believe the house may be watched tonight.”
Mrs. O’Toole and Matthew entered quickly. “We can’t thank you enough, Miss Van Lew. Our family is distraught and it is no longer safe for us here in Richmond.”
“Your family?” asked Miss Van Lew.
“Yes, my husband and two other children are with me and should be coming to the door soon. We thought it safer…”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Miss Van Lew, “although no one is very safe these days.” Miss Van Lew paused. “You say your house has been burned down. Are you Yankee sympathizers?”
“My husband and children…that is…” Mrs. O’Toole hesitated, and then spoke firmly. “Yes, we are Yankee sympathizers. My husband is from Boston. All of my children were born there. We lived there for years before moving to Virginia. I was born just a few miles from Richmond.”
“I see,” said Miss Van Lew, nodding her head gently.
“We are not spies, Miss Van Lew,” said Mrs. O’Toole. “We’ve done nothing to harm Richmond…and yet…”
“And yet Richmond has turned against you? It’s not surprising. War seldom brings out the best in mankind. And now you must leave the city, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Mrs. O’Toole said bitterly. “We are forced to leave. We have no choice.”
“Leaving Richmond is no easy task these days, I fear,” said Miss Van Lew, “but we will do what we can. When the rest of your family is safe under my roof, we will talk.”
Within minutes, Abigail and Ryan arrived at the house. Mr. O’Toole followed some time later, reporting that he may have been watched as he entered the house.
“Now that everyone is here, I will tell you what I believe to be possible,” said Miss Van Lew to the O’Toole family as they gathered in a circle in the large parlor. “Unfortunately, you cannot stay the night here. I’ve received word that two freemen, a Mr. Joseph Smith and his son, somehow escaped through the picket lines to the north so the detectives are particularly riled up today. They’ve been swarming around the house like flies because they’re convinced I had something to do with it. I didn’t, although I would have been happy to help the both of them if they had asked. At any rate, you must begin your journey tonight since things are only going to get worse. All the roads to the north are too closely watched, but I have a farm slightly to the south and east of the city and I regularly send messages through to the Federals through that route. There is no large concentration of troops there and that is to our advantage. The Confederate army sees no great threat from that direction and so does not fortify it well. You may encounter a few patrols and you will have to talk your way through them. I believe that…”
Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door. “That could be trouble…quickly up the stairs…all of you…there is a secret room under the portico…Alice will take you.”
Led by Mrs. Van Lew’s servant, Alice, the O’Toole family moved quickly up the stairs. Miss Van Lew waited a moment or two and then went to the door, opening it to half a dozen of the provost marshal’s detectives.
“Miss Van Lew,” said the leader, a tall lieutenant with an angry sneer on his face, “You are suspected of harboring fugitives.”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” replied Miss Van Lew in her gayest voice. “How often are we to play at this game? Have fugitives ever been found in my home?”
“Our detectives report that five people have entered this house within the last hour. We demand to see them,” said the leader, glowering fiercely.
“Yes, I did have visitors…briefly,” Miss Van Lew said calmly. “Unfortunately, they could not stay. They sought advice on where they might procure housing for the night. I suggested one of our local hotels, and they departed.”
“Miss Van Lew, I must tell you that the front door has been carefully watched,” said a portly sergeant. “No one has left your house tonight.”
“Well now, come to think of it, I guess they did leave through the kitchen door,” said Miss Van Lew, her finger to her chin. “They said something about it being easier access to their carriage.”
“Madam,” said the sergeant, “we saw no evidence of a carriage. All of your visitors arrived on foot.”
“Well then, don’t you see?” Miss Van Lew responded in her cheeriest voice. “They must have left the carriage in the back by the stables
. And that is no doubt why they wished to leave by my kitchen door. A bit irregular, I suppose, but they were insistent.”
“Madam,” said the lieutenant somberly, “it will be necessary to search your house.”
“If you must,” replied Miss Van Lew wearily, “although I have no earthly idea why you would wish to. You detectives have rampaged through my home at least half a dozen times in the last month and have found nothing.”
“Nevertheless madam, we must do so again,” said the lieutenant, indicating to his men to fan out and begin the search.
“Suit yourself, detective,” said Miss Van Lew, “but if you don’t mind, I’ll just be sitting in my parlor knitting. What with all of these visitors tonight, I’ve gotten terribly behind in my work.”
The search took about half an hour. The detectives, disgruntled at finding nothing, offered a cursory apology to Miss Van Lew and took their leave.
Forty-five minutes later, Miss Van Lew signaled to Alice to bring the O’Tooles out of hiding. She met with them briefly in the upstairs parlor.
“The detectives will not bother us again tonight,” she told the O’Tooles, “but it is best if you begin your journey immediately. There is an exit from the cellar that you may take. It opens up to the west side of the house.”
“Good,” said Mr. O’Toole. We can circle around from there to the old livery stable where the carriage is stored and then be on our way.”
“Remember,” said Miss Van Lew,” you must take the southeast road to my farm. It is little trafficked and you may not be challenged at all. If you are stopped, simply tell them that I’ve asked you to transport some valuables out to the farm for me. Here, take these so you have something to show.” Miss Van Lew handed Mr. O’Toole two glistening silver punch bowls. “If anyone doubts you, show them the family crest. That should convince them. Once you’ve found the farm, bear to your left until you reach the woods by the James River. Do not travel on the river itself…it is too well patrolled. Make your way east through the woods to City Point. From there you go directly north and you’ll encounter the Federal troops. There are rumors that General Grant has his headquarters there. At any rate, you’ll be safe.”
“We can never repay you for your kindness,” said Mrs. O’Toole, grasping Miss Van Lew’s hands warmly.
“It is not necessary to try,” she replied, smiling sweetly.