It was true. So many times had the victory changed hands, that it washard to tell who had won finally and it looked as if the Confederateline was breaking.
Jeff Davis' heart sank as he came up from Manassas and found thathundreds of Confederates, under the impulse of fear, were fleeing tothe rear. He kept on, only to find that the Northern army was infull retreat, and the battle of Bull Run was a bitter defeat for theFederals.
Ralph lay there in ambush, pale with dread. He feared capture more thandeath. He rose quickly as the two officers galloped away, to stay theirmen, and looked upon the scene. Lines of men in blue and gray stretchedaway in the distance, while the noise of the guns, the neighing ofwounded, horses, the huzzas of the victors, drowning the groans of thewounded, made him faint with horror, and his cheeks grew white as hesaw men lying on their backs, their glassy eyes staring up to the sky,{055}their faces ghastly and white, and peaceful, or else distorted withpain. Here a wounded soldier would half raise himself on one arm, andbeg for water, while others, bleeding and dying, lay uncomplainingly,their eyes fixed on the blue sky, which nevermore would greet theirwaking vision.
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In the dim light he saw all this, and knew not where to go. The terriblesights and hideous silence which succeeded the noise of conflictsickened him, and Ralph, the brave soldier boy, actually fainted.
"What's this? Why, it's Ralph! Is he killed?"
The tones sounded, to the boy's benumbed senses, far away, as a{056}heavily bearded man knelt down and placed his hand upon his heart.He saw it was Bill, and the flush of mortification mounted to his brow,as he tried to rise.
"I was weak--dizzy--and I--"
"I know all about it!" good-humoredly laughed Bill Elliott, for heit was. "This is your first appearance, and you had a sort of a stagefright."
Ralph bit his lips with vexation.
"Oh, that's nothing. You'll make a better showing next time. You'll liveto be a brigadier-general. But I was kinder rattled myself when I sawyou so still. I didn't know but some fellow had tuk good aim at you!"
"I'm not hurt in the least, Bill."
"Well, boy, come on. We've been whipped bad, and are most unpleasantlynigh those fellows with the guns over thar, and as I'm pretty tall, theymight choose me for a mark, just to keep their hands in."
The Federal army, broken and defeated, straggled back to Washington,footsore, dirty and hungry. No battle during the war was fought withmore desperation, and bravery was shown by both sides--the Union and theConfederate.
And though the defeat of General McDowell's forces was a blow to thepride of the North, it carried a valuable lesson; that the South wouldnot be persuaded back to its old allegiance.
To the boys of this generation slavery is almost a myth. But when theCivil War broke out the blacks were held in bondage to masters who hadacquired them by purchase or inheritance, and thus they representedproperty or wealth.
The South bitterly resented any interference with an institution whichmany of them honestly regarded as divine. In the North opinion wasdivided, some believing slavery to be wrong, but that it would graduallydie out. All classes were unwilling that it should be extended into newterritory.
This difference of opinion led to the conflict which caused brave mento take up arms and arrayed brother against brother, in defense of whateach believed to be just and fair.
{057}
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CHAPTER IV. RALPH DOES PICKET DUTY.
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LD Bill was a little fearful, spite of Ralph's protestations, {058}lesthis boy, as he dubbed him, was going to show the white feather, afterall, and so he kept him well under his eye.
"I don't want the tarnal little rascal skipping, for it 'ud go hard withhim to be caught. They'd shoot him sure."
But he didn't know the true mettle of the boy. He was no coward, if hedid turn sick at the scenes of his first battle, and he was a lad ofhonor, and would have died before he would leave his post.
So he felt a little down-hearted when orders came for a detail fromCompany K to turn out for picket duty. The men themselves felt ratherblue at this news, for they were worn out and disheartened by their latetussle, but they didn't expect their wishes would be considered in thematter. Ralph's eyes gleamed with joy, for he longed for adventure.
"Bill, I believe you think I am cowardly. You'll change your mind soon,I know."
That individual grimly responded: "Picket duty is a very cheerful way ofpassing one's time, but I guess you'll do."
The picket line was twelve miles distant, and as the men got into line,the air and the excitement infused courage into Ralph's breast. They hadbeen ordered out to relieve a regiment which had seen some hard work,and who were anxious to get into shelter.
{059}
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The newcomers were told what spots needed the most watching, and as soonas they were stationed at their posts and received {060}the necessaryinstructions, they settled down to the importance of the duty assignedthem.
The woods lay behind them, and each picket sought their friendlyshelter, well aware that any "change of base" on their part would be aninvitation to the enemy to pick them off.
Memories of home filled Ralph's breast. The night was dark and starless.A strong wind blew at intervals, now howling dismally through the trees,and then shifting its course, rushing down the bank, as if it would rendthe earth and the tall grass in its anger.
"I wonder if mother thinks of her soldier boy," he pondered.
When does a mother ever cease to think of and pray for her children?
The night wore on. Perfect quiet reigned, and Ralph began to considerpicket duty not half so risky as Old Bill called it, after all. But ashe kept his eyes on the opposite bank, where the "Johnnies" were, hefancied he saw a small dark object creeping through the grass down tothe river, where it seemed to be looking up and down its shore. Hisheart beat fiercely. What was it? he asked himself. Was it a man or someanimal hiding in the grass? If it were a reb, he would be shot dead, atthe least move on his part--that he well knew.
I am afraid you will not think my boy was much of a hero, but the truthis, he was very much in love with life, as all young people should be,and, though willing to do his whole duty, he could not help feeling atrifle nervous about his surroundings, so he stooped quickly down behinda tall bush that appeared to be growing there just for his benefit.
The object on which his gaze was fixed seemed so small that he almostlaughed aloud at his own fears.
"Why, it's only a dog that's strayed into camp," he said.
"Wonder if they fatten him on hard tack."
His gaze was riveted upon the dark mass, and his surprise nearly foundvent in a low whistle, which he speedily checked, as he saw a man or aboy steal noiselessly along the bank, till he came {061}to a place wherethe grass was tangled and thick, and stooping down he pulled a wideboard from its hiding-place, and picking up a long piece of wood whichlay there, he stepped on the plank and commenced to paddle across thestream.
Ralph lay in the grass behind the bush, breathlessly watching theapproaching figure. Suddenly a dog began to bark on the opposite shore,and the man on the plank gave utterance to a low, angry exclamation.The dog stopped barking, and the stranger came slowly on, till his novelcraft touched the shore within five feet of Ralph.
He saw to his amazement that it was a boy, even younger than himself, itseemed in the dim light, and he waited breathlessly till he came closer,and was halted by Ralph's gun, which he brought sharply against theother's breast, while his own was on fire with excitement, as he criedaloud--"Halt--you are my prisoner!"
For a moment these two boys faced each other; then the stranger threwhis head proudly back, and, with a gesture of impatience, replied:
"I will not be made a prisoner--I am merely going about my ownbusiness."
"And that business is to spy upon our lines!" Ralph said hotly.
"Take me to your superior officer. I can soon convince him that I amdoing no h
arm," answered the boy.
A stir ran through the picket lines, as the news was passed on that arebel spy had been captured, and soon the lad, whose proud carriage andhaughty face involuntarily commanded attention, was at headquarters,where to all questioning he remained dumb, after telling an apparentlytruthful story that he was crossing the river to visit an old uncle, andknew nothing of the movements of either army.
"This 'old uncle' is one I fancy we'd better try to unearth," saidColonel Tuttle. "His acquaintance would be worth cultivating." {062}
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The boy would give no further account of himself. His frank, boyish faceand manly bearing impressed the officer of the day favorably, and hemuttered to himself--"Wonder if he is a spy. If all the Johnnies areas brave and resolute as this youth we'll have to work hard to conquerthem."
An opinion which he found cause to verify often.
CHAPTER V. RALPH AT HEADQUARTERS.
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OU'RE in {063}luck, my boy," and Bill Elliott's face showed genuinepleasure as he shook hands with Ralph. "You are to show yourself atheadquarters and receive your reward, as the good boys in story booksalways do."
An orderly came up to Ralph, and said:--"You are wanted atheadquarters."
Ralph proceeded to the officers' tent. For the first time he stood inthe presence of his commanding officers, and as he saluted respectfully,a tall, kindly-faced man looked at him with some surprise.
"How old are you?" was the abrupt query, as the officer looked in thebeardless face of the boy.
"Nearly eighteen, sir."
"Have you seen any service yet?"
"I was at Bull Run."
The fine face clouded with sadness. "That was hard and tedious fighting.You brought in a prisoner last night, whom we have strong reasonsto believe is a rebel spy. You have shown two qualities befitting asoldier--pluck and forgetfulness of self. Your captain commends you tome, and I have thought proper to make you a corporal."
Ralph's heart beat loud and fast. What had he done to deserve thishonor?
"Your warrant will be handed to you, and you are expected to attendstrictly to all its requirements."
To a general or a colonel the promotion would not seem very exalted; butto this boy, who could not realize why he had been selected, it was asif he had suddenly been lifted into the seventh {064}heaven To besure, it only meant two stripes on his jacket sleeve, and a trifleof authority, but it also meant encouragement and notice from hissuperiors, He could not answer, but, bowing low, he left the tent.
[9072]
"A board of inquiry must be appointed at once, and we'll see what thislad whom Corporal Gregory brought in is doing within our lines."
The boy was marched before them, but he parried all their questions, andmaintained a resolute and fearless mien.
"I have told you the truth," he said proudly.
"I was going to make a visit when I was seized. You see I have noweapons."
"Spies do not always carry arms. Papers are more to their taste. You sayyou came to see an uncle. Where does he live? Why did you visit him atnight?"
"I knew {065}that the enemy lay near us, and I didn't want to be takenprisoner."
"Where is this uncle?"
"He lives back of the bluff, on the right hand side of the road."
"We'll invite him into our camp, and see if he'll own the relationship."
0073]
The boy's face flushed with wounded pride, as he answered scornfully:
"We call our old servants uncle and aunt. He is an old colored man, andlives on this side of the river--one of our old slaves, whom my fatherfreed."
"We'll send you to the guard-house until more is known about you," wasthe stern retort.
The boy was removed to the guard-house. To Ralph he was {066}an objectof much interest. His sympathies went out to him and he longed to saysomething comforting.
And so when his turn to act as corporal of the guard, with the abruptfrankness of youth, he blurted out:
"What were you doing over here the other night?"
0074]
"I have given an account of myself to your superiors."
"Don't be so lofty. I don't mean to be inquisitive, but I thoughtyou might like to know that I am awful sorry I brought you into thistrouble."
The boys face softened.
"I don't know as you could do anything else under the circumstances.{067}I suppose, in fact, I know, I'd have done just as you did. Perhapsworse," he muttered. "I might have shot you."
"Then you don't hold any grudge against me?"
"Well, I can't pretend that I'm grateful to you for my detention in thishole, but I can't blame you, either."
"Were you really going to see the old slave you told the colonel about?"
An indescribable expression flitted across the boy's features. "I saidso once. My word is usually taken, where I am known. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, from curiosity, I suppose. You look too young to be verydangerous."
"I'm as old as you are. You look too young to be carrying arms againstyour countrymen."
"Oh, I'm going to help put down this rebellion."
"A hard job you've selected. It is not a rebellion; it's an uprisingagainst meddlesome Yankee interference."
Ralph's eyes flashed fire. "You don't mean to say that you justify theSouth, do you?"
"I not only justify it, but am proud to belong to a people who can neverbe subdued. Your people are trying to force us to give up our rights,but we won't be driven. We have thousands of men in the field, who donot know how to fear. And when their places are vacant, more are waitingto fill them. We despise the North, and want to be a separate people."
"You despise a government that has always protected you in all yourrights. You have no cause for wishing to be disunited. How dare you talkso to me?"
"'Dare?' Am I not your equal? Why should I not speak when I aminsulted?"
"Don't talk treason to me again, then."
"I am a prisoner," the boy said, sadly, "innocent of any crime,surrounded by foes and powerless. Were it not so you would not give me adefiance."
Ralph's conscience smote him. It did appear as if the odds were on{068}his side, and with the quick generosity of youth he said--
"I am sorry for you. We will not quarrel."
Not to be outdone in generosity, the other replied--"I believe you; butwe had better not talk about it any more, for we can never agree, andwe are both hot-headed. You see affairs in a different light from what Ido, that is all."
The next day the youth was rigidly examined. He gave his name as CharlesArlington, stated that he was merely crossing the river to look afterthe old slave; that he had chosen the night-time as he heard the Unionpickets were thrown out, and he did not think, with his knowledge ofthe stream, that he would be captured in the darkness. Meantime, thesoldiers had been searching, and had found an old half imbecile negro ina little cabin half a mile back from the river, whom they brought intocamp, shaking with fear.
"Old man," one of the soldiers said, "do you know this boy?"
"Yas, honey. I knows him well. I'se old Marsa Thomas' boy. I bin on hisold plantation since he was a baby. His mud-der was one of de----"
"Say, we don't care who his mother was. What do you know about the boystanding there?"
"Yas, yas, I knows lots. Why, he was de littlest pickaninny of dehull lot, and his father he say to me, 'Jim'--I was young and strongden--'Jim, dis yere boy's gwine to be your young mastah some day, ifhe ebber grows big enuff. And I tole him de sweetest posies were alwayssmall, like de vi'lets and lilies ob de valley, and--"
"You black rascal, we don't want a dissertation on flowers. Tell usabout the young man standing there."
"Yas, marsa, but you tole me to tell you all 'bout him, and doan't I habto begin at the beginning?"
"Well, go on," the Colonel interposed. {069}
0077]
"Dat ar chile dere was de idle of Massa Thomas' heart. My old woman,Easter, who's dun
been dead dese free years, nussed him. {070}And whenshe died she cried mo' for leabing him alone in dis cold world dan shedid fer me. You see de boy's mudder was put under de roses when he wasonly a few days in de world, and Easter she lubbed him mo' fer dat.Oh, de old times kaint come back no mo'. Marsa Thomas is in de war widGineral Johnston, and 'fore he went he say to me--'Jim, you'se beena faiful old servant, and I gibs you yo freedom.' 'I doan't want it,Marsa,' I say. 'Let me lib and die wid you,' 'Yo neber shall want,' hekep' on, 'go lib in de little cabin toder side ob de ribber. You know heowns bof sides ob dis yere big plantation. 'Go lib dar, and de chillunswill look arter you.' An' bress dere hearts, dey all does care for po'old Jim. But I fell sick wid some sort ob a feber, and de rest ob 'emgot a little scared like, all but dis yere chile. He neber left me tillI done got well and able to hoe my leetle truck patch. And now he's tuka prisoner, fer being kind to de po' ole man, who won't lib many yearslonger, to git him into trubble."
The old man's withered features shone with a light that was beautiful;his utterance was choked, and the tears rolled down his black cheeks ashis simple eloquence found its way to the hearts of those who heard him.
"Sergeant, release the boy and let him go home. And while we stay here,see that the old man is not molested."
"Praise de Lawd! Bress you for yore kindness."
The boy bowed courteously to the Colonel, and with a look of gratitudehe passed out of the officer's tent, with the old man hobbling afterhim. As he approached Ralph he said, "Goodbye. We may meet again."