"It don't hurt you to answer a civil question, does it?"
"Well, not exactly. You see General McCall has had an advance guard outreconnoitering, but he can't persuade the boys over on the Virginia sideto show up on open ground. They say there's a big force of Confeds atLeesburg, five miles or so back from the river."
"This will be my first battle," the new recruit said, with a sigh, "butI don't expect it'll be my last."
"That's right--never say die. The man who is a little chicken-hearted atfirst, often turns out to be the most courageous soldier."
"I remember reading once," Ralph interposed, "that at some charge on abattery in one of the battles Napoleon fought when the odds were greatlyagainst him, his attention was called by one of his officers to thecowardice of one poor fellow who was pressing on, up to the cannon'smouth. His knees were shaking, {088}his eyes bulged out, and he gaveevery evidence of being terror-stricken. But his gaze was fixed on thecoveted point, his teeth were set hard, and he kept resolutely on. 'Thatman is not a coward,' said the great general; 'he sees that his life isin danger, and still he does not shrink from his duty, but faces deathlike a man. He will be shot before he yields."
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"But the soldier was not wounded. He lived to become an officer in thevery regiment which one would have expected to see disgraced by hiscowardice, and won great fame through his heroic bravery in afterengagements."
"Boys," said Old Bill, who was always the spokesman for the {089}party,"the 'Little Corporal'--that's Napoleon Bonaparte," he continued in anaside to the new man, who made a wry face at being singled out for anexplanation--"was right. It's agin human nature not to feel a littleshaky when you are going into your first battle. It's how you do yourduty that settles your standing. If you attend to that no one can blameyou for having a leetle private fear of your own."
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CHAPTER VII. THE DISASTER AT BALL'S BLUFF.
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HASTY {090}breakfast, with a rigid inspection of theirmuskets, and a hurried packing of knapsacks, preceded the long role ofthe drum, the signal to be up and doing. The sight of a body of soldierswith their glittering arms and tasty uniforms is inspiriting, and dulland cold must be the bosom that does not leap quicker at the thoughtthat he belongs to this grand whole. Ralph felt a thrill of exultationas he realized that he was a part and parcel of the men who were massedon the bank of the Potomac that bright October day. There were Ralph'sregiment of Massachusetts men, the Forty-second New York, Seventy-firstPennsylvania and a Rhode Island battery, counting, in all, some 2,000men, watching for a chance to cross at an island which lay there.
The day was beautiful--the sun poured down his warm beams, for inthat region the winter is late. Many were the openly spoken murmurs ofimpatience, however, on the part of the men.
"We shall never get across till doomsday," Bill Elliott said to Ralph."Look at our men, over 2,000 of them, and we've only got two or threeold boats to carry us over. With all due respect to General McClellan,I think he's made a great big mistake, as General Stone will find to hiscost before we're over. The Johnnies can see all we're doing and getall ready for us. Why, it'll be dead easy for them to receive us in fineshape."
"They are having hard work with that battery, getting it up the bluff.See how they slip at every step."
And as Ralph watched the battery being dragged up with prodigiousexertion his heart felt heavy, and he, too, began to fear there was anoversight somewhere.
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At {091}the top of the bluff lay a broad field of about ten acres,hemmed in on all sides by thick woods, so dense that neither infantrynor artillery could penetrate them in line. Colonel Baker was givenentire command of all the troops. Then began a desperate and gallantattempt, which the Confederates met, dashing out from the timber, andthough the Federals fired round after round from their battery, it was ahopeless conflict, for the rebel sharpshooters picked off their gunners,one after another, and the pieces were left useless.
Still {092}on the Union forces pressed, to be met by a heavy body ofinfantry, whose hot fire cut them down. For two hours they stood theirground gallantly, and returned the fire with spirit. Suddenly an officerriding a splendid horse, whose snowy sides were covered with foam,dashed out of the woods, and coming toward them, waving his sword overhis head, he beckoned the Union forces forward.
Colonel Baker took new courage; he thought he recognized GeneralJohnston in the horseman, and wildly cheering to his command to follow,he pressed forward, hoping at last he should meet the enemy in an openfight. But he was met by a fierce onset of the Confederates, who came onwith tremendous force. Like a solid wall they met the Federals, and aspart of the latter's columns charged, Colonel Baker received the wholecontents of a revolver in the hands of one of the rebels, and fell dead.
His body was rescued through the bravery of Captain Beiral and hiscompany, who fought their way back through the thickest of the opposingforce, and with desperate courage rescued the body of their deadcommander, and conveyed it to the island. At once the rout began, andthe Union forces were driven back, down the steep clay bluffs, onehundred feet high, falling, jumping down, pushed by the Confederates,who followed at their heels, killing and taking prisoners.
It was an awful spectacle. Men whose courage could not be doubted, werepanic-stricken, and throwing away coats, muskets, and everythingthat could impede them, plunged into the river, whose rapid currentoverwhelmed them, and to their shrieks as they drowned, was added therapid firing of the Confederates on the cliff above, the roar of theartillery, the cries of the wounded, making a scene of horror whichcannot be described. The imagination alone can fill in the picture.
Among the incidents of this day may be mentioned a desertion of oneof the regiments by its colonel, who swam the river on horseback, thusmaking his escape. Many took to a boat, which was quickly filled, andas quickly sunk with every soul. A {093}captain in the FifteenthMassachusetts came to the rescue of the fleeing Federals, with twocompanies, and charged up the hill, only to see how little help hecould give, and a few moments decided him to wave his handkerchief, andsurrender to the Confederates.
Dispirited and weary, the remnant of the troops moved back to camp.Their loss had been heavy. Over five hundred soldiers had been capturedby the Confederates, Colonel Baker had been shot, and they had lostarms, ammunition and clothing.
Corporal Ralph Gregory had shown coolness and clearheaded courage, equalto the oldest and bravest. When the battle began, the color-sergeanthad received a ball in the breast, and had fallen dead. Seizing theflag from his stiffening fingers, Ralph rushed to the front, and heldit manfully, through the storm of bullets that riddled its folds, andclinging desperately to it, he carried it proudly and safely, soiled andtorn, but not disgraced.
But his strength was not equal to his courage, and handing it to astalwart comrade whose arm was more powerful, he bade him to "protectit from capture." The colors went back to camp, and with them, went thestory of the boy's bravery.
Ralph was weak, his nerves were unstrung. His ears still echoed thenoise and confusion of the battle that had not yet died away. Still theUnion men were fleeing, pursued closely by their enemy, who wounded themwith muskets and swords, as they ran. The agonized shrieks of thosewho met their death in the swift-flowing stream rang in his ears withfearful distinctness, and he vaguely wondered if he would ever cease tohear them.
He was unnerved. It was not cowardice, but the reaction that so oftenfollows times of great excitement. Exhaustion, complete and unavoidable,had taken possession of him. He reeled like a drunken man. Making afrantic effort to recover himself, he sank on the earth amid a clump ofleaves and brush, that half hid him from observation. How long he layin this stupor he could not tell, but when he became conscious ofthe dreadful {094}place he was in, he slowly struggled to his feet,half-dazed and bewildered. His first thought was to wonder where Billwas. He recollected that he had fled in hot haste with the others, andthe last glimpse of him which he had, wa
s when the plucky Massachusettscaptain made his stand, but was compelled to surrender. He was sure thathe had been wounded, for he saw blood streaming down Bill's face, as heran.
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"Could he have escaped, or is he among the dead lying here?" he thought."I must search for him."
And as he threaded his way among the dead and wounded as best he couldin the twilight, he stumbled over the body of a boy. Kneeling down, heturned the lad's face upward, and in the dim light he knew him.
"It is Charlie Arlington!--he is surely dead!"
The boy opened his eyes, and seeing Ralph, he assured him that he wasnot wounded, but he feared his ankle was sprained. "I told you," hesaid, with a smile, "that we should meet again."
"You did, but I did not think it would be so soon. Are you injured?"
"Only by my horse, who stumbled and threw me with such force againstthat old stump that I fainted with pain. Do you think my leg is broken?"
"Let me examine it. No, I don't think it is. How are you going to ride,however? Where is your horse?"
"Oh, he ran away after serving me that mean trick. But why {095}are youhere? Don't you know you are my prisoner now?" he continued, smilingbroadly.
"How's that?" Ralph spoke sharp and loud.
"Hush!" the other cautioned. "You'll have a dozen soldiers after you.They're coming back to bury the dead. Of course you're my prisoner.You're on our field--were you not routed?"
This fact rather staggered Ralph. It had not come home to him till then;he looked anxiously toward the river's bank.
The boy divined his thought.
"It's no use to try to swim that stream here. The current's too strong."
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"It seems I'm your prisoner, then." Ralph's sad tones spoke volumes. Thehorrors of captivity stared him in the face. He thought at that instant,of his mother, sisters and the dear old home, and his heart was heavy aslead.
Charlie appeared to be enjoying the advantage he had over Ralph, for henever removed his gaze.
"I've but to raise my voice and you'd be surrounded in an instant."
"But how is it you are here now; I thought you knew nothing about thearmy," said Ralph.
"I {096}didn't when I last saw you, but I joined the Southern army thenext week. I am in the cavalry service."
Ralph's curiosity would never be silenced. "Do you like it?" he asked.
"Yes, and no. I have been in several engagements, but the hardest blowI had was when they carried my father home dead, and I asked for afurlough, to go home to see him once more, and was refused."
Here the boy nearly broke down. Ralph's sympathies were aroused atonce. He knew not what to say. But Charlie recovered himself soon, andcontinued--"You see how I'm placed now. I shall _have_ to take you intoour camp."
"I wish Bill were here!" Ralph blurted out. "He wouldn't see me takenprisoner so easily."
To him Bill represented the sum total of all knowledge, and he feltconfident of his ability to rescue him, even in the face of the dangerthat now menaced him.
A low whistle startled both boys. A few feet from them, stretchedlengthwise of a fallen tree, lay Bill, who raised his head, which wasbleeding freely.,
"I've a good mind to take you both prisoners!" he said, jocosely. "Whatare you exchanging courtesies for? The boy's right. Unless we can getaway in a very big hurry, he can land us both in the rebel camp, andthen it'll be all over with us. You'd better be planning each other'sescape, and then you'll both be likely to be court-martialed!"
"It's my luck, isn't it? I can't blame Charlie if he does take me. But Ihaven't got anything against him."
"Neither has any of us got anything against any of the Johnnies. This isnot a personal affair, at all. But just the same we've got to fight 'embecause they're agin the government."
Ralph looked closer at Bill. "You're wounded, and will be carried toprison, too! Oh, Bill, what will become of you?"
{097}
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"It's nothing but a scratch. I lay here awhile till those fellows'{098}guns gave out, for I felt a little dizzy, and didn't care to get uptill the smoke cleared away, and I could make out my bearings."
A groan from their companion recalled them to their position. Ralph wasin a fever of anxiety. War was a brutalizing affair, he pondered."You mustn't have any feelings at all, Bill, if you want to be a goodsoldier."
"Nary a feeling. Humanity don't cut no figger in a battle. Why, boy,I've stood in the ranks and seen father on one side, and son on theother, blazing away with hate and bitterness in their eyes. And allon account of a mere difference of opinion." Ralph shuddered. "It isdreadful; but war shall never make me so hardened and indifferent tosuffering that I will not do all I can in honor to relieve it. I intendto fulfill all my duties as a soldier, but do not see why I shouldhesitate to show mercy to an injured foe."
"He's the right sort," Bill chuckled to himself.
With that thought in his mind, Ralph went nearer to Charlie, andsaid--"Give me your handkerchief, and I will bandage your ankle." In afew moments he had finished binding it on, tightly and skillfully, whilethe boy looked his gratitude.
"It feels a little easier," he said, "the pain was intense." Billwatched them both narrowly. In his heart he admired "the little rebelcuss," but he wished him a thousand miles away, for he saw that it wasimpossible to make their escape, as Charlie had only to raise his voiceas he had suggested, and the enemy would be upon them.
It was a moment of anxiety for the man and his companion. Charlie wasthe most indifferent of the three. "I'd rather have been killed thanhave to go to their prison, for who knows how long it may be before I amexchanged?" thought Bill.
The firing had ceased, and darkness had settled o'er the earth. SuddenlyCharlie seemed to recollect something, for he whispered--"Go--you mustgo, at once. The detail will soon be here, to bury our poor boys, andthey will have you, sure. Go down the bluff as still as you can; don'tloosen a pebble even, for there {099}are sharp ears near. Keep closeto the river bank, and about half a mile down you'll see an old treestanding that has been struck by lightning. Two rods north of the tree alittle skiff is hid in the tall weeds. Take it and row across. Go quick,and, above all, make no noise. My life, as well as yours, is in danger.They'd shoot me in a minute, if they knew I helped you escape."
"You're a brick--you are!" broke out Bill, admiringly. Ralph wrung hishand. "What will you do? You can't lie here all night."
"They'll find me all right and carry me off to the hospital. I can talk,if I can't walk, and I'll soon let them know where I am. But you haven'ta second to waste. Go!"
The hint, so urgently given, was acted upon, and none too speedily, fora moment after, the men appeared, and Charlie was suddenly seized with aviolent fit of coughing, so loud and boisterous, it was well calculatedto cover any noise which Ralph and Bill might unintentionally make. Hewas placed on a litter and borne away.
Bill scarce drew a breath until his feet touched the bottom of the boat.Charlie's violent cough had served them well, for though they stolenoiselessly down the bluff, the night was so still that a breath almostcould be detected. They were soon across the noble river, and theirhearts beat tumultuously when they found themselves safe within theUnion lines.
Bill's wound was not serious, so he declared. He even objected to thefew days in the hospital which the surgeon prescribed. His good naturenever left him.
"Sick men may go and lay up, but you cain't kill Old Bill. I'm presarvedfor something better than to stop a bullet. I've been through too manyhard sieges to give in for a little blow like that was."
"You've got another invite to see the Colonel," a grizzled old soldiersaid to Ralph a day or two after the engagement. "He desires thepleasure of your company in his tent. Leastwise, that's what it amountsto, though that ain't the language he {100}made use of. Wonder why Idon't be asked once in awhile? He don't know what he's losing by notconsulting me. But hurry up--'tain't perlite to keep him waiting."
Ralph trembled v
isibly, and every drop of blood turned to ice. He knewsomething must be wrong. Perhaps he ought not to have helped Charlie,but what else could he do? He walked briskly toward the tent of theofficer.
Colonel Hopkins was a stern, battle-scarred old soldier, who wasted nowords. His keen vision could discover merit, however, and as he lookedsteadily at Ralph, he took his measure at once.
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"Your captain tells me you saved the colors of the regiment, in the lateengagement?"
"I did, Colonel."
"And you risked your life in so doing."
"Why should I not? I am a soldier, sir!" and the boy's "I will, with thehelp of Heaven!" was Ralph's fervent utterance, as he followed theorderly from the Colonel's tent.
{101}
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One of the most brilliant affaire of the war was the charge of a body ofcavalry under Fremont. This was a fine and choice {102}array of cavalry,known as "Fremont's Body Guard," whose exploits were famous. It wascommanded by Major Charles Zagonyi, a Hungarian, whose military recordhad been made in Europe.
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This dashing and fiery soldier, with a band of 160 men, charged upona Confederate force of 2,000, who were drawn up in a hollow square.He rode across the field, unheeding the firing of the skirmishers, butcharged into the midst of the Confederates, and with pistols and sabers,scattered them like dry leaves in the autumn wind. Not content withthis, the daring Major chased them into the streets of Springfield, andfought them hand to hand.
After this daring and unequaled achievement, he hoisted the Nationalflag upon the courthouse at Springfield, sent a guard to care for thewounded, and then went quietly back to Bolivar.