"Without leaving you their adieux?"
"No, they were at least polite. They left me a roll of bank notes--morethan I thought they had about them."
"You had searched them, of course, when they were lying in your cart,"said Mohun.
Swartz smiled.
"I acknowledge it, general--I forgot to mention the fact. I had foundonly a small amount in the gentleman's pocket-book--nothing on thelady--and I never could understand where he or she had concealed abouttheir persons such a considerable amount of money--though I suppose, ina secret pocket."
Mohun nodded.
"That is often done--well, that was the last of them?"
Swartz smiled, and glanced at Mohun.
"What is the use of any concealment, my dear Mr. Swartz?" said thelatter. "You may as well tell the whole story, as you have gone thisfar."
"You are right, general, and I will finish. The war broke out, and Isold my truck patch, and invested in a better business--that is, runningthe blockade across the Potomac, and smuggling in goods for theRichmond market. On one of these trips, I met, plump, in the streets ofWashington, no less a person than the lady whom I had rescued. She wasrichly dressed, and far more beautiful, but there was no mistaking her.I spoke to her; she recognized me, took me to her house, and here Ifound _the gentleman_, dressed in a fine new uniform. He was changedtoo--his wound had long healed, he was stout and strong, but I knew him,too, at a glance. Well, I spent the evening, and when I left the househad accepted an offer made me to combine a new business with that ofblockade runner."
"That of spy, you mean?" said Mohun.
Swartz smiled.
"You speak plainly, general. We call ourselves 'secret agents'--buteither word expresses the idea!"
XXIX.
THE PAPER.
Mohun raised his head, and looked Swartz full in the face. His glancehad grown, if possible, more penetrating than before, and a grim smileresponded to the unctuous expression of the spy.
"Well, my dear Mr. Swartz," he said coolly, "that is a curious history.Others might doubt its accuracy, but I give you my word that I do not!I did well to let you proceed in your own way, instead of questioningyou--but I have not yet done; and this time shall return to the methodof interrogation."
"At your orders, general," said Swartz, whose quick glance showed thathe was on his guard, and foresaw what was coming.
Mohun leaned toward the spy.
"Let us proceed to 'call names,'" he said. "The man you rescued from thegrave was Colonel Darke?"
"Exactly, general."
"Is that his real name, or a false one?"
Swartz hesitated; then replied:--
"A false one."
"His real name?"
"Mortimer."
"And the lady is--?"
"His wife, general."
"Good," said Mohun, "you are well informed, I see, my dear Mr. Swartz;and it is a pleasure to converse with a gentleman who knows so much, andknows it so accurately."
"You flatter my pride, general!"
"I do you justice--but to the point. Your story was cut off in themiddle. After the interview in Washington, you continued to see ColonelDarke and his wife?"
"I saw them frequently, general."
"In the army--and at their home, both?"
"Yes, general."
"Where did they live?"
"Near Carlisle, Pennsylvania."
"Where you were on a visit, just before the battle of Gettysburg?"
"Yes, general."
"Very good!"
And rising quickly, Mohun confronted the spy, who drew backunconsciously.
"Where is the paper that you stole from the woman that night?" he said.
Swartz was unable to sustain the fiery glance directed toward him byMohun.
"Then Nighthawk has told you all!" he exclaimed.
"Colonel Surry saw you hide the paper."
Swartz looked suddenly toward me--his smiles had all vanished.
"The paper! give me the paper!" exclaimed Mohun; "you shall have goldfor it!"
"I have left it in Culpeper, general."
"Liar!--give me the paper!"
Swartz started to his feet.
Mohun caught at his throat--the spy recoiled--when suddenly a quickfiring was heard coming rapidly from the direction of Germanna Ford.
"The enemy have crossed, Mohun!" I cried.
Mohun started, and turned his head in the direction of the sound.
"They are advancing!" I said, "but look out!--the spy!--"
Mohun wheeled, drawing his pistol.
Swartz had profited by the moment, when our attention was attracted bythe firing, to pass through the door, gain his horse at a bound, andthrow himself into the saddle, with an agility that was incredible inone so fat.
At the same moment Mohun's pistol-shot responded, but the bulletwhistled harmlessly over the spy's head. In an instant he haddisappeared in the woods.
Mohun rushed to his horse, I followed, and we were soon riding at fullspeed in the direction of the firing.
As we advanced, however, it receded. We pushed on, and reached the bankof the Rapidan just as Mohun's men had driven a party of the enemy over.
It was only a small body, who, crossing at a private ford and surprisingthe sleepy picket, had raided into the thicket, to retire promptly whenthey were assailed.
The affair was nothing. Unfortunately, however, it had enabled theFederal spy to elude us.
Swartz had disappeared like a bird of the night; and all pursuit of himin such a wilderness was impossible.
An hour afterward, I had rejoined Stuart.
XXX.
GRANT STRIKES HIS FIRST BLOW.
Such were the singular scenes which I witnessed, amid the shadows of theSpottsylvania Wilderness, in the first days of May, 1864.
The narrative has brought the reader now to an hour past midnight on thethird of May.
An hour before--that is to say, at midnight precisely--the Federalforces began to move: at six in the morning, they had massed on thenorth bank of the Rapidan; and as the sun rose above the Wilderness, theblue columns began to cross the river.
General Grant, at the head of his army of 140,000 men, had set forth onhis great advance toward Richmond--that advance so often tried, so oftendefeated, but which now seemed, from the very nature of things, to bedestined to succeed.
Any other hypothesis seemed absurd. What could 50,000 do against nearlythrice their number? What could arrest the immense machine rollingforward to crush the Confederacy? A glance at Grant's splendid array wasenough to make the stoutest heart sink. On this 4th day of May, 1864,he was crossing the Rapidan with what resembled a countless host. Heavymasses of blue infantry, with glittering bayonets--huge parks of rifledartillery, with their swarming cannoneers--long columns of horsemen,armed with sabre and repeating carbines, made the earth shake, and thewoods echo with their heavy and continuous tramp, mingled with the rollof wheels.
In front of them, a little army of gaunt and ragged men, looked on andwaited, without resisting their advance. What did that waiting mean? Didthey intend to dispute the passage of that multitude toward Richmond? Itseemed incredible, but that was exactly the intention of Lee.
It is now known that General Grant and his officers felicitatedthemselves greatly on the safe passage of the Rapidan, and wereconvinced that Lee would hasten to retreat toward the South Anna.
Instead of retreating, Lee advanced and delivered battle.
The first collision took place on the 5th of May, when the Federal armywas rapidly massing in the Wilderness.
Ewell had promptly advanced, and about noon was forming line of battleacross the old turnpike, when he was vigorously attacked by Warren, andhis advance driven back. But the real obstacle was behind. Ewell's rearclosed up--he advanced in his turn; assailed Warren with fury; swept himback into the thicket; seized two pieces of his artillery, with about1,000 prisoners; and for the time completely paralyzed the Federal forcein his front.
br />
Such was the first blow struck. It had failed, and General Grant turnedhis attention to A.P. Hill, who had hastened up, and formed line ofbattle across the Orange plank road, on Ewell's right.
Hancock directed the assault here, and we have General Lee's testimonyto the fact, that the Federal attempts to drive back Hill were "repeatedand desperate." All failed. Hill stubbornly held his ground. At nightthe enemy retired, and gave up all further attempts on that day to makeany headway.
Grant had expected to find a mere rear-guard, while Lee's main body wasretreating upon Richmond.
He found two full corps in his front; and there was no doubt that athird--that of Longstreet--was approaching.
Lee was evidently going to fight--his aim was, plainly, to shut up Grantin the Wilderness, and drive him back beyond the Rapidan, or destroyhim.
XXXI.
THE REPORT.
It was twilight and the fighting was over.
The two tigers had drawn back, and, crouching down, pantedheavily,--resting and gathering new strength for the fiercer conflict ofthe next day.
From the thickets rose the stifled hum of the two hosts. Only afew shots were heard, now and then, from the skirmishers, and theseresembled the last drops of a storm which had spent its fury.
I had been sent by General Stuart with an order to General Hampton, whocommanded the cavalry on Hill's right.
Hampton was sitting his horse in a field extending, at this point,between us and the enemy; and, if it were necessary, I would draw hisoutline. It is not necessary, however; every one is familiar with thefigure of this great and faithful soldier, in his old gray coat, plainarms and equipments, on his large and powerful war-horse,--man and horseready for battle. In the war I saw many great figures,--Hampton's wasone of the noblest.
Having delivered my message to General Hampton, who received it with hisair of grave, yet cordial courtesy, I turned to shake hands with CaptainChurch--a thorough-bred young officer, as brave as steel, and one of mybest friends--when an exclamation from the staff attracted my attention,and looking round, I saw the cause.
At the opposite extremity of the extensive field, a solitary horsemanwas seen darting out of the woods occupied by the Federal infantry, andthis man was obviously a deserter, making his way into our lines.
At a sign from General Hampton, Captain Church went to meet him, and asmy horse was fresh, I accompanied my friend in his ride.
The deserter came on at full speed to meet us, and for a moment, hishorse skimmed the dusky expanse like a black-winged bird.[1] Then, allat once, his speed moderated; he approached at a jog-trot, and throughthe gathering gloom I recognised, above the blue uniform, the sweetlysmiling countenance of Nighthawk!
[Footnote 1: This scene is real.]
"Good evening, colonel," said Nighthawk; "I am glad to see you again,and hope you are well."
"So you have turned deserter, Nighthawk?" I said, laughing heartily.
"Precisely, colonel. I could not get off before. Will you inform mewhere I can find General Stuart?"
"I will take you to him."
And riding back with Captain Church and Nighthawk, I soon found myselfagain in presence of General Hampton.
A word from me explained the real character of the pseudo-deserter.General Hampton asked a number of questions, Nighthawk replied to them,and then the latter begged me to conduct him to General Stuart. I didso without delay, and we soon reached Stuart's bivouac, where he wastalking with his staff by a camp-fire.
At sight of the blue figure he scarcely turned; then suddenly herecognized Nighthawk, and burst into laughter.
"Well, my blue night-bird!" he exclaimed, "here you are at last! Whatnews? Is Grant going to cross the river?"
Nighthawk hung his head, and sighed audibly.
"I could not help it, general."
"Why didn't you come before?"
"It was impossible, general."
Stuart shook his head.
"Strike that word out of your dictionary, my friend."[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
"That is good advice, general; but this time they nonplussed me. Theyblocked every road, and I had to join their army."
"Well, I hope you got the $600 bounty," said Stuart, laughing.
"That was another impossibility, general; but I enjoyed the very bestsociety yonder."
"What society, Nighthawk?"
"That of Grant, Meade, and Sedgwick."
"Ah! my old friend, General Sedgwick! But where are Grant'sheadquarters, Nighthawk? Tell me every thing!"
"At Old Wilderness Tavern, general."
"And you saw him there?"
"In the midst of his generals,--I was temporarily one of his couriers."
"I understand. Well, their intended movements?"
Nighthawk shook his head.
"I could have foretold you those of to-day, general."
"How?"
"I heard General Meade dictating his order, through the window of hishead-quarters, and can repeat it _verbatim_, if you desire."
"By all means, Nighthawk,--it will reveal his programme. But is itpossible that you can do so?"
"I can, general; I engraved every word on my memory."
And, fixing his eyes intently upon vacancy, Nighthawk commenced in alow, monotonous voice:--
"The following movements are ordered for the 5th May, 1864. GeneralSheridan, commanding cavalry corps, will move with Gregg's and Torbert'sdivisions against the enemy's cavalry, in the direction of Hamilton'sCrossing. General Wilson, with the Third cavalry division, will move at5 A.M., to Craig's meeting-house, on the Catharpin road. He willkeep out parties on the Orange Court-House pike, and plank road, theCatharpin road, Pamunkey road, and in the direction of Troyman's storeand Andrew's store, or Good Hope church. 2. Major-General Hancock,commanding Second Corps, will move at 5 A.M., to Shady Grove church,and extend his right toward the Fifth Corps at Parker's store. 3.Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will move at 5 A.M., toParker's store, on the Orange Court-House plank road, and extend hisright toward the Sixth Corps at Old Wilderness Tavern. 4. Major-GeneralSedgwick, commanding Sixth Corps, will move to the Old WildernessTavern, on the Orange Court-House pike, as soon as the road is clear."
The monotonous voice stopped. I had listened with astonishment, andfound it difficult to credit this remarkable feat of memory, though ittook place before my eyes, or rather, in my ears.
"It is really wonderful," said Stuart, gravely.
"You see," said Nighthawk, returning to his original voice, so to speak,"you see, general, this would have been of some importance yesterday."
"It is very important now," said Stuart; "it indicates Grant'sprogramme--his wish to get out of the Wilderness. He is at OldWilderness Tavern?"
"He was this morning, general, with Meade and Sedgwick."
"You were there?"
"I was, general."
"What did you gather, Nighthawk?"
"Little or nothing, general. True, I heard one or two amusing things asI loitered among the couriers near."
"What?"
"General Grant came out talking with Meade, Sedgwick, and Warren.General Meade said, '_They have left a division to fool us here, whilethey concentrate, and prepare a position toward the North Anna,--andwhat I want is to prevent these fellows from getting back to MineRun._'"[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
Stuart laughed.
"Well,'these fellows' don't appear to be going back. What did Grantsay?"
"He smoked, general."
"And did not open his lips?"
"Only once, when General Meade said something about 'manoeuvring.'"
"What did he say?"
"I can give you his words. He took his cigar from his lips--puffed outthe smoke--and replied, '_Oh! I never manoeuvre_!'"[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
"So much the better," said Stuart: "the general that does not manoeuvresacrifices his men: and I predict that General Grant will soon alter
hisprogramme."
Stuart had ordered his horse to be saddled, and now mounted to go toGeneral Lee's head-quarters.
"By the bye," he said, "did you hear Warren or Sedgwick say any thing,Nighthawk?"
Nighthawk smiled.
"I heard Sedgwick utter a few words, general."
"What?"
"He said to Warren, '_I hear Hood is to take Stuart's place. I am gladof it, for Stuart is the best cavalry officer ever foaled in NorthAmerica_!'"[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
XXXII.
THE UNSEEN DEATH.
The morning of the 6th of May was ushered in with thunder.
The battle of the preceding day had been a sort of "feeler"--now thereal struggle came.
By a curious coincidence, Grant and Lee both began the attack and at thesame hour. At five o'clock in the morning the blue and gray ranks rushedtogether, and opened fire on each other. Or rather, they fired when theyheard each others' steps and shouts. You saw little in that jungle.