But the boy's heart was heavy, even while his humble efforts in themusical line were giving pleasure to his comrades. His constant prayerwas that some decisive move might be made, by which the war might bebrought to a speedy close. He {117}was lonely, too, for "Old Bill," ashe always called himself, had been in the hospital for some time, and hemissed his cheery ways.
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One afternoon as he sat in his tent reading, he heard peals ofboisterous laughter ringing out upon the air. Going to the opening,he saw a group of soldiers gathered round some object, and heard themchaffing some one whom he could not see.
"What is the excitement, Harry?" he asked a companion who had evidentlycome from the scene of action.
"I just came for you to pile out and see the fun. They've got {118}oneof our boys, and are amusing themselves at his expense. Come on, oryou'll be too late. The performance will be over." Ralph hurried afterHarry, who was off like a deer, and going straight up to the group, hesaw a crowd of men tossing another one up in the air, and letting himfall into a blanket, amid screams of laughter, and cries of "Send him uphigher!"
"Pickle him in his own salt!"
"Head him up in a barrel, and send him to the cook!"
"We'll make a high private in the rear rank of him!"
"Gently, boys," the victim panted. "You don't want to be too hard on apoor fellow for having a little joke of his own."
"Who is it--what has he done?" inquired Ralph, who didn't enjoy suchrough sport, and was really concerned lest they might carry it so far asto injure the man.
"It's Corporal Fred Greene, the funny fellow of Co. H,"
Tim Mackey responded. "It's his birthday, and we re celebrating it. Andhe's having a high time."
Fred was a mischievous young fellow, who had just seen his twenty-thirdbirthday. If there was any chance for a joke on any member of thecompany, he never lost the opportunity of making the most he could outof it.
In order to impress the fact that he had a birthday, he had invited ascore of his comrades to a "small spread" in his tent. The colored cookwas in the secret, and through his connivance, and the help of a fewcracker boxes draped with bunting, and some tin cans, he had succeededin making quite a tasty looking table. Before the banquet began, hemade a short speech of welcome, which was responded to in good faith byFranklin Field, who was deputed to do the speaking on all occasions, ashe had quite a gift of extempore oratory.
Without further ceremony, Fred cordially pressed all of them to "fallto." Just at this interesting moment, the cook, a loose-jointed,wrinkled old darkey, whose huge mouth looked as if it was always readyto utter a guffaw, entered the tent, and scraping and bowing to the"gemmens," broke out with--"Sorry to put back your 'joyment, Massa Fred,but youse wanted outside, bad."
Fred {119}rose, and with a graceful salute to his guests, begged them,in a most elaborate manner, to attack the food, which was entirely attheir service. It was unfortunate that he should be disturbed at sucha moment, but duty called him, and he would return at the earliestopportunity.
"This black rascal is bound I shan't have my share, but fall to,friends." Once outside, he hunted a safe hiding place waited behind ahedge.
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Those left behind sat a moment lost in wonder as to where the goodthings sprang from. They did look inviting to these devourers of hardtack and bacon. The table had for a centerpiece a fine-looking chicken,flanked on both wings by oranges, potatoes roasted in the ashes, cannedfruit, and--two huge cakes!
"Where did Fred get these dainties? He's too lazy to forage, and I don'tbelieve he could buy them at the sutler's tent. His {120}credit, ain'tgood enough," was the comment made by one of his "friends."
"Never mind where he got 'em," a gaunt, hungry-looking fellow answered."Let's try 'em fust, and investigate afterwards." No further urging wasnecessary. They all "fell to," as they had been ordered, but the wryfaces, choking, gasping breath, and muttered expletives, as one afteranother bit into some tempting morsel to find a mouth filled with salt,pepper or sand, would have been a subject for a painter. The chicken wasa sham; its unusual plumpness was due to a liberal stuffing of cottonbatting, the oranges were well sanded, while the cake was plentifullyseasoned with salt and pepper--two condiments that are very well inproper proportions, but rather nauseating when taken in large doses.
They rose in a body--all were of one mind when they rushed out aftertheir host, who was making for the woods at the other end of camp.A dozen fleet-footed men soon overtook him, and, bringing him back,proceeded to inflict summary punishment, amid roars of laughter, for hewas liked by every man of the company.
Fred didn't play any more jokes upon those boys, and after his undesiredelevation, he was quite subdued. But they all forgave him, and "Fred'sbirthday party" passed into a byword, when some illustration was neededto indicate a good time.
Ralph was homesick. It was useless to disguise the fact, for it began totell upon his health. Malaria had fastened its strong hand upon him,and he grew more listless every day. He did not waver in his duties,however, and when marching orders came, he was among the first to packhis knapsack and shoulder his musket.
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CHAPTER XI. SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
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HE summer {122}of 1862 was hot and dry. Streams were parched, the grasswas brown and burned. The army trailed through the dust, and lay down atnight footsore, weary and sick. Often the only water they had todrink was supplied by "brackish" ponds, whose surface was covered withgreenish slime. Fevers and malaria broke out among the regiments, anddissatisfaction was loud and outspoken. Now and then a brush wouldtake place, or a skirmishing party would sally out, surprise a party ofConfederates, bringing some of them into camp prisoners.
"Knapsacks and rations ready by seven in the morning!" Fred Greene said,one September afternoon as they were watching eagerly and impatientlyfor some move to be made. .
"Sure its not another of your jokes, corporal?"
"No joke this time, as you'll find to your sorrow, perhaps."
"How many days' rations are we to carry along?"
"Can't say. We're going out to interview General Lee. His victory atManassas the other day has given him the idea that he can bring thewhole State of Maryland into his army. He's traveling in that direction.He has a poster out inviting the Marylanders to enlist, but by all wehear, it won't bring many valuable accessions to his ranks."
"Why not?"
"For two reasons. If they want to enlist, they'll do so, without hisstarting recruiting offices. Most of the able-bodied men who wanted togo to war did so long since. Then again, most of the Marylanders arefond of the old flag. The State has never left the Union. General Lee isa fine military man, but he {123}surely don't understand the people he'strying to interest. Hallo! what's a woman doing here? She's coming thisway."
A woman, dressed in cheap, but neat and tidy-looking clothing, andholding the hands of two sad-eyed, poorly attired children, was makingher way toward them. A soldier stepped up to her, and with a pleasantsmile asked her if she was looking for any one.
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The woman looked earnestly into his face, as she said--"You'uns all lookkind. Can you show me whar to find Peter Hall?"
The man looked puzzled, and uncertain as to how to answer her.
"Don't know him, ma'am. What regiment is he in?"
"I can't tell you, sir. He is my man, and he 'lowed he wouldn't goagainst the old flag, for any one. The neighbors said he was a traitorto the cause, and wouldn't give him any work. So he went off in thenight, and told me he'd make his way into the Union army, and as soon ashe could he'd send me word whar he was. He 'lowed I could take care ofthe babies somehow, but I've found it mighty hard work to get bread for'em often. They're good children, though, no better nowhar, and theydon't complain, not even when they're hungry. I heard you'uns were inthe neighborhood, and I thought as perhaps you'd know whar my Peter is."
"Boys!" the soldier cried to a group who we
re listening at a littledistance. "Do any of you know Pete Hall?"
"_Peter_ Hall," the woman corrected, with great dignity.
"Excuse {124}me, ma'am; _Peter_ Hall, I meant to say."
"Why, certain, I know him," a man answered. "He's in the SecondMaryland, and they're over there, on the brow of that hill. Go rightover, ma'am. You'll find him, I hope," he added in a lower tone. "Don'tbe afraid. No one will harm you."
"Me and the children have walked twelve miles since yesterday noon,and we want to see Peter bad. He'd have come out and met us, I know hewould, if he'd have thought we were so near," she added, with refreshingsimplicity. The idea of Peter's leaving his company, even for soimportant a matter as meeting her, caused a general laugh, which she didnot seem to observe, but continued--"You see, we have moved since Peterwent away, and he doesn't know where we live now."
"God bless the woman and her Peter," was the honest invocation sentafter her, as she hurried away in the direction pointed out, and theywere rewarded a few moments later, by seeing a soldier spring up fromthe grass where he had been lounging, and hasten forward to receivethe greeting of his wife, who sobbed for joy upon his breast, while thelittle ones could only jump and shout in the fullness of their pleasureat seeing "Pa."
Many a man stood there, and silently wished some of their loved onescould meet and greet them also.
The entrance of the boys in blue into Frederick was a perfect ovation.General Lee had retired from the town only two days before.
This welcome thrilled their hearts. From every door and window thenational flag fluttered, and the stores were decorated with the colors.Banners were strung across the streets, from house to house, whilecrowds of happy men and women with radiant faces, spoke words ofwelcome.
Good luck seemed to be showered upon them, for General McClellan herecaptured a copy of the orders of General Lee, which gave him a key tothe whole situation. It was of very recent date, and the Confederatecommander had mapped out his campaign. The {125}information contained inthese explicit instructions to his generals, enabled General McClellanto see plainly how to thwart General Lee. So he proceeded to send twocorps through the two Gaps of South Mountain, with the prospect of beingable to cut the enemy's forces to pieces.
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Dividing his command, General McClellan ordered Franklin to Crampton'sGap, while Reno and Hooker, with Burnside at their head, were sent toTurner's Gap.
It was a toilsome task for even those sturdy men to ascend the sides ofthe Gaps. South Mountain towered a thousand feet above them, while themost accessible points were the two Gaps, each nearly 400 feet high.
"We've got to reach the top of those hills somehow," Ralph said. "Butit's one step forward, and three backward. Our men are gaining a little.They show splendid pluck." Clambering, toiling up the rocky hillsides,the Union forces made their painful way. From behind ledges and trees,the rebel riflemen marked their slow progress, and sent many a manto his death. The company to which Ralph belonged was under Reno, andassaulted the southern crest of Turner's Gap. On the northern crest ofthe mountain General Hooker, with splendid courage, kept on.
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Ralph now realized how desperately men will fight. He even felt that hothatred which two foes ever feel, when pitted against each other. He sawthe Federal army, scratched and bruised from forcing their way throughthe brush and over rocks, while the Confederate riflemen poured bulletsinto their midst like {127}rain. Hot, and panting with their efforts,still they never wavered. Gibbon, with his brigade, was trying to forcea passage through the turnpike in the Gap, and here also the enemy didterrible execution. The heat was blistering. The fervid rays of theSeptember sun burned into their very blood, and the dust which rose inclouds mixed with the smoke of the powder, and choked and blinded them.
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They had fought continuously the entire day. Their canteens wereempty--their mouths parched and dry. Ralph saw a tall officer spur hishorse forward, and fire at General Reno. That gallant soldier reeled inhis saddle, and fell, but as he was borne to the rear to die, his eyeswere fixed on the men he had so gallantly led, with a last look offarewell.
This contest was long. Each side fought to the death. As Ralph turnedto speak to a companion he heard a wild shout: "Forward! One more suchcharge, and we'll have the Gap."
It was the colonel's voice, and as he rose in his saddle and cheeredthem on, they took fresh courage. Wild responses answered his appeal,and new strength was given them.
"We are sure of victory," Ralph said to himself, At that instant a horsedashed madly by. He bore General Garland, of the Confederate force,who was lying half across his back, as he was vainly striving to raisehimself in the saddle. His hat rolled down the hill as he came to theground with a shock; his fine features were distorted with pain, and hislong, dark hair was dabbled with blood. He made one frantic effort torecover {128}his sword, which had slid from his grasp, and then he sankhalf on his knees, a livid corpse. Ralph was so near he could almosthave touched him, and to his dying day, he never forgot the look ofagony on the wan face, as the eyes fast glazed in death.
Darkness settled down upon the earth, before the battle was won, by theConfederates withdrawing and leaving the Union forces masters of thefield. But what a sacrifice of human life!--three thousand human beingssent into eternity, as the result of one day's conflict.
The loss of life was felt equally by the two opposing forces; butthe boys in gray suffered a loss of fifteen hundred, who were takenprisoners.
The night was warm. The stars looked down with kindly gleams uponthousands of worn-out soldiers sleeping as quietly as little children,while the wounded were groaning with pain, as the life-blood slowlytrickled over the grass which the hot sun and the trampling of feet andstamping of horses had matted into a tangled and brown mass.
Ralph's captain threw himself down by the side of the boy, as he wastrying to shut out the dreadful pictures which were burned upon hisbrain.
"Is the victory ours?" he asked.
"It is, and a dear one to us," the captain replied. "We have left overa thousand dead upon the field; but the Johnnies have moved off, and wehave orders to push on to the western side of the mountain. They rakedus down in terrible fashion, but the men stood their fire like statues.There was some heavy firing over at the other Gap a while back, butit has stopped now. Hallo!" he called to a man in the uniform ofan officer, "where are you going in such a hurry? Has anythinghappened--any new move ahead?"
The man stopped suddenly, and coming up close to them, with featuresconvulsed and pallid, with either pain or fear, he made answer:
"Oh, captain, I'm sure I'll die, I'm in such misery. I'm all doubled{129}up, and can't sleep. I'm in perfect agony. There--there goes thattwinge again. I must try and find my regiment, and hunt up the doctorright away."
Ralph looked incredulous at the man's apparent suffering. He felt sureit was a pretense. "It's strange that he's so far away from his command,and going in an exactly opposite direction. Can it be that he's goingto skip?" This was a painful thought, and brought an angry flush to hisbrow, for he held nothing in such scorn, amounting to abhorrence, as hedid cowardice or dishonesty.
"Are you going in the right direction to join your company? If youkeep on the way you are faced, you'll be more than likely to find somefriendly boy in gray to snap you up."
The officer looked steadily at him a moment, while his face turnedscarlet.
"Your advice is not required, sir. I shall remember your incivility at amore fitting time." And he stalked away, quite oblivious of the anguishthat had racked him so short a time before.
"That fellow must be a mind-reader," laughed the captain. "He plainlyknew what you thought about him. But seriously, your opinion was ratherharsh; he's probably shamming to get excused from duty. For the honorof our cause I should hope no officer would be guilty of such dastardlyconduct. Nor a private, either," he added, a moment after, "for theboys who carry the muskets have true grit, and do
n't run, only after theenemy."
"I know that's so, but when I saw him making such haste to get away, thesuspicion would come into my mind. To me it seems a shame for a man witha spark of cowardice to wear a uniform."
CHAPTER XII. MORE FIGHTING.
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ALPH arose {130}from the heap of leaves and brush which had served himfor a bed the night through, with his bones aching and sore. The armywas already stirring, for although the Passes were won, there waspromise of another engagement at once. Word was passed along the linethat General Lee had withdrawn his forces and crossed the Antietam,where he took up his position on a high bluff near Sharpsburg, and wasthus able to command a view of the whole country. But he had met withgreat losses, from the dead in battle, and from stragglers. He realizedthe injury the latter had done him; indeed, he complained openly andbitterly, saying that his army was "ruined by straggling." But thebest men of his army were still left with him--picked men, of splendidcourage and vast endurance. He was determined that the coming battleshould decide the campaign, and he waited calmly its issue.