with lee in virginia-第26章

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be　allowed　to　carry　fire　and　sword　through　the　land　they　will　soon

find　it　is　a　game　that　two　can　play　at；　and　matters　will　become

horribly　embittered〃



〃We　shall　never　do　that；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃Our　generals　are　all

gentlemen；　and　Lee　and　Jackson　and　many　others　are　true

Christians　as　well　as　true　soldiers；　and　I　am　sure　they　will　never

countenance　that　on　our　side　whatever　the　Northerners　may　do。　

We　are　ready　to　fight　the　hordes　of　Yankees　and　Germans　and

Irishmen　as　often　as　they　advance　against　us；　but　I　am　sure　that

none　of　us　would　fire　a　homestead　or　ill…treat　defenseless　men　and

women。　It　is　a　scandal　that　such　brutalities　are　committed　by　the

ruffians　who　call　themselves　Southerners。　　The　guerrillas　in

Missouri　and　Tennessee　are　equally　bad　whether　on　our　side　or　the

other；　and　if　I　were　the　president　I　would　send　down　a　couple　of

regiments；　and　hunt　down　the　fellows　who　bring　dishonor　on　our

cause。　　If　the　South　cannot　free　herself　without　the　aid　of　ruffians

of　this　kind　she　had　better　lay　down　her　arms　at　once。〃



〃Bravo；　Wingfield！　　spoken　like　a　knight　of　chivalry！〃　one　of　the

others　laughed。　　〃But　many　of　these　bands　have　done　good

nevertheless。　　They　have　kept　the　enemy　busy　there；　and　occupied

the　attention　of　a　very　large　force　who　might　otherwise　have　been

in　the　woods　yonder　with　Pope。　　I　agree　with　you；　it　would　be

better　if　the　whole　thing　were　fought　out　with　large　armies；　but

there　is　a　good　deal　to　be　said　for　these　hands　you　are　so　severe

upon。　They　are　composed　of　men　who　have　been　made　desperate

by　seeing　their　farms　harried　and　their　buildings　burned　by　the

enemy。　　They　have　been　denounced　as　traitors　by　their　neighbors

on　the　other　side；　and　if　they　retaliate　I　don't　know　that　they　are　to

be　altogether　blamed。　　I　know　that　if　my　place　at　home　were

burned　down　and　my　people　insulted　and　ill…treated　I　should　be

inclined　to　set　off　to　avenge　it。；'



〃So　would　I；〃　Vincent　agreed；　〃but　it　should　be　upon　those　who　did

the　wrong；　not　upon　innocent　people。〃



〃That　is　all　very　well；　but　if　the　other　side　destroy　your　people's

farms；　it　is　only　by　showing　them　that　two　can　play　at　the　game

that　you　can　make　them　observe　the　laws　of　war。　　I　grant　it　would

be　very　much　better　that　no　such　thing　should　take　place；　but　if　the

Northerners　begin　this　sort　of　work　they　may　be　sure　that　there　will

be　retaliation　Anyhow；　I　am　glad　that　I　am　an　officer　in　the　7th

Virginians　and　not　a　guerrilla　leader　in　Missouri。　　Well；　all　this

talking　is　dry　work。　　Has　no　one　got　a　full　canteen？〃



〃I　have；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃Dan　managed　to　buy　a　gallon　of　rum　at　a

farmhouse　yesterday。　　I　think　the　farmer　was　afraid　that　the　enemy

might　be　paying　him　a　visit　before　many　days；　and　thought　it　best

to　get　rid　of　his　spirits。　Anyhow；　Dan　got　the　keg　at　ordinary　city

prices；　as　well　as　that　couple　of　fine　turkeys　he　is　just　bringing

along　for　our　supper。　　So　you　had　better　each　get　your　ration　of

bread　and　fall　to。〃



There　was　a　cheer　as　Dan　placed　the　turkeys　down　in　the　center　of

the　group；　and　soon　the　whole　party；　using　their　bread　as　plates；

fell　to　upon　them；　and　afterward　joined　in　many　a　merry　song；

while　Dan　handed　round　the　jar　of　spirits。



CHAPTER　IX。　A　PRISONER。



THE　PARTY　round　the　fire　were　just　about　to　disperse　when　the

captain　of　Vincent's　troop　approached。　　He　took　the　horn　of　spirits

and　water　that　Vincent　held　up　to　him　and　tossed　it　off。



〃That　is　a　stirrup…cup；　Wingfield。〃



〃What！　are　we　for　duty；　captain？〃　Vincent　asked　as　he　rose　to　his

feet。



〃Yes；　our　troop　and　Harper's　are　to　muster。　　Get　the　men　together

quietly。　　I　think　it　is　a　serious　business；　each　of　the　regiments

furnish　other　troops；　and　I　believe　Stuart　himself　takes　the

command。〃



〃That　sounds　like　work；　indeed；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃I　will　get　the

troop　together；　sir。〃



〃There　are　to　be　no　trumpet　calls；　Wingfleld；　we　are　to　get　off　as

quietly　as　possible。〃



Most　of　the　men　were　already　fast　asleep；　but　as　soon　as　they

learned　that　there　was　a　prospect　of　active　work　all　were　full　of

life　and　animation。　　The　girths　of　the　saddles　were　tightened；

swords　buckled　on；　and　revolvers　carefully　examined　before　being

placed　in　the　holsters。　　Many　of　the　men　carried　repeating　rifles；

and　the　magazines　were　filled　before　these　were　slung　across　the

riders'　shoulders。



In　a　few　minutes　the　three　troops　were　mounted　and　in　readiness

for　a　start；　and　almost　directly　afterward　Colonel　Jones　himself

rode　up　and　took　the　command。　　A　thrill　of　satisfaction　ran　through

the　men　as　he　did　so；　for　it　was　certain　that　he　would　not　himself

be　going　in　command　of　the　detachment　unless　the　occasion　was

an　important　one。　For　a　few　minutes　no　move　was　made。



〃I　suppose　the　others　are　going　to　join　us　here；〃　Vin　cent　said　to

the　officer　next　him。



〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　replied。　　〃We　lie　in　tbe　middle　of　the　cavalry

brigade　with　two　regiments　each　side　of　us；　so　it　is　likely　enough

this　is　the　gathering　place。　　Yes；　I　can　hear　the　tramping　of　horses。〃



〃And　I　felt　a　spot　of　rain；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃It　has　been　lightning　for

some　time。　　I　fear　we　are　in　for　a　wet　ride。〃



The　contingent　from　the　other　regiments　soon　arrived；　and　just　as

the　last　came　up　General　Stuart　himself　appeared　and　took　his

place　at　the　head　of　the　party；　now　some　500　strong。　　Short　as　the

time　had　been　since　Vincent　felt　the　first　drop；　the　rain　was　now

coming　down　in　torrents。　　One　by　one　the　bright　flames　of　the　fires

died　down；　and　the　darkness　became　so　intense　that　Vincent　could

scarcely　see　the　officer　on　his　right　hand。



〃I　hope　the　man　who　rode　up　with　the　general；　and　is　no　doubt　to

be　our　guide；　knows　the　country　well。　　It　is　no　joke　finding　our　way

through　a　forest　on　such　a　night　as　this。〃



〃I　believe　Stuart's　got　eyes　like　a　cat；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Sometimes

on　a　dark　night　he　has　come　galloping　up　to　a　post　where　I　was　in

command；　when　one　could　scarcely　see　one's　hand　before　one。　　It

never　seems　to　make　any　difference　to　him；　day　or　night　he　rides

about　at　a　gallop。〃



〃He　trusts　his　horse；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃That's　the　only　way　in　the

dark。　　They　can　see　a　lot　better　than　we　can；　and　if　men　would　but

let　them　go　their　own　way　instead　of　trying　to　guide　them　they

would　seldom　run　against　anything。　　The　only　thing　is　to　lie　well

down　on　the　horse's　neck；　otherwise　one　might　get　swept　out　of　the

saddle　by　a　bough。　　It's　a　question　of　nerve；　　I　think　not　many　of　us

would　do　as　Stuart　does；　and　trust　himself　entirely　to　his　horse's

instinct。〃



The　word　was　now　passed　down　the　line　that　perfect　silence　was　to

be　observed；　and　that　they　were　to　move　forward　in　column；　the

ranks　closing　up　as　much　as　possible　so　as　not　to　lose　touch　of

each　other。　　With　heads　bent　down；　and　blankets　wrapped　round

them　as　cloaks；　the　cavalry　rode　off　through　the　pouring　rain。　　The

thunder　was　clashing　overhead；　and　the　flashes　of　the　lightning

enabled　them　to　keep　their　places　in　close　column。　　They　went　at　a

rapid　trot；　and　even　those　who　were　ready　to　charge　a　body　of　the

enemy；　however　numerous；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；

experienced　a　feeling　of　nervousness　as　they　rode　on　in　the

darkness　through　the　thick　forest　on　their　unknown　errand。　　That

they　were　going　northward　they　knew；　and　knew　also；　after　a　short

time；　that　they　must　be　entering　the　lines　of　the　enemy。　　They　saw

no　signs　of　watch…fires；　for　these　would　long　since　have　been

quenched　by　the　downpour。　　After　half　an　hour's　brisk　riding　all

knew　by　the　sharp　sound　of　the　beat　of　the　horses'　hoofs　that　they

had　left　the　soft　track　through　the　forest　and　were　now　upon　a

regular　road。



〃Thank　goodness　for　that！〃　Vincent　said　in　a　low　tone　to　his　next

neighbor。　　〃I　don't　mind　a　brush　with　the　enemy；　but　I　own　I　don't

like　the　idea　that　at　any　moment　my　brains　may　be　knocked　out　by

the　branch　of　a　tree。〃



〃I　quite　agree　with　you；〃　the　other　replied；　〃and　I　fancy　every　man

felt　the　same。〃



There　was　no　doubt　as　to　this。　　Hitherto　no　sound　had　been　heard

save　the　jingling　of　accouterments　and　the　dull　heavy　sound　of　the

horses'　tread；　but　now　there　could　be　heard　mingled　with　these　the

buzz　of　voices；　and　occasionally　a　low　laugh。　　They　were　so

accustomed　to　wet　that　the　soaking　scarce　inconvenienced　them。　

They　were　out　of　the　forest　now；　and　felt　sure　of　their　guide；　and

as　to　the　enemy；　they　only　longed　to　discover　them。



For　another　hour　the　rapid　advance　continued；　and　all　felt　sure　that

they　must　now　have　penetrated　through　the　enemy's　lines　and　be

well　in　his　rear。　　At　last　they　heard　a　challenge　of　sentry。　　Then

Stuart's　voice　shouted；　〃Charge！〃　and　at　full　gallop　they　rode　into

the　village　at　Catlet's　Station　on　the　Orange　and　Alexandria

railroad；　where　General　Pope　had　his　headquarters。　　　Another

minute　and　they　were　in　the　midst　of　the　enemy's　camp；　where　the

wildest　confusion　reigned。　　The　Federal　officers　rushed　from　their

teats　and　made　off　in　the　darkness；　but　the　soldiers；　who　were

lying　on　the　line　of　railroad；　leaped　to　their　feet　and　opened　a

heavy　fire　upon　their　invisible　foes。　　Against　this　the　cavalry；

broken　up　in　the　camp；　with　its　tents；　its　animals；　and　its　piles　of

baggage；　could　do　little；　for　it　was　impossible　to　form　them　up　in

the　broken　and　unknown　ground。



The　quarters　of　Pope　were　soon　discovered；　he　himself　had

escaped；　leaving　his　coat　and　hat　behind。　　Many　of　his　officers

were　captured；　and　in　his　quarters　were　found　a　box　of　official

papers　which　were　invaluable；　as　among　them　were　copies　of　his

letters　asking　for　reinforcements；　lists　giving　the　strength　and

position　of　his　troops；　and　other　particulars　of　the　greatest　value　to

the　Confederates。　No　time　was　lost；　as　the　firing　would　set　the

whole　Federal　army　on　the　alert；　and　they　might　find　their　retreat

cut　off。　　Therefore　placing　their　prisoners　in　the　center；　and　taking

the　box　of　papers　with　them；　the　cavalry　were　called　off　from　the

camp；　and　without　delay　started　on　their　return　ride。



They　did　not　take　the　road　by　which　they　had　come；　but　made　a

long　detour；　and　just　as　daylight　was　breaking　re…entered　the

Confederate　lines　without　having　encountered　a　foe　from　the　time

of　their　leaving　Catlet's　Station。　Short　as　their　stay　in　the　camp　had

been；　few　of　the　men　bad　returned　empty　handed。　　The　Northern

army　was　supplied　with　an　abundance　of　excellent　food　of　all

descriptions；　forming　the　strongest　possible　contrast　to　the

insufficient　ratious　upon　which　the　Confederate　troops　existed；　and

the　troopers　had　helped　themselves　to　whatever　they　could　lay

hands　upon　in　the　darkness　and　confusion。



Some　rode　in　with　a　ham　slung　on　each　side　of　their　saddle；　others

had　secured　a　bottle　or　two　of　wine　or　spirits。　Some　had　been

fortunate　enough　to　lay　hands　on　sonic　tins　of　coffee　or　a　canist