The Rock of Chickamauga by Joseph A. Altsheler (best love novels of all time txt) 📖
- Author: Joseph A. Altsheler
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Sergeant Whitley to Dick, "that the man who laid that ambush was Slade.
He'll keep watch on us all the way to Grant, and he'll tell the Southern
leaders everything the general is doing. Oh, he's a good scout and spy."
"He's proved it," said Dick, "and I'd like to get a fair shot at him."
They rode nearly all night and most of the next day, and, in the
afternoon, they met other men in blue who told them that a heavy Union
force was advancing. They had no doubt now that Grant's great plan was
already working and in a short time they reached McPherson, advancing
with Logan's division. Hertford reported at once to McPherson, who was
glad enough to have his cavalry, and who warmly praised Dick and the
sergeant for the dangerous service they had done so well. As it would
have been unwise for them to attempt to reach Grant then he kept them
with him in the march on Jackson.
Dick slept that night under the stars, but thousands of Union men were
around him and he felt neither the weight of responsibility, nor the
presence of danger. He missed Warner and Pennington, but he and the
sergeant were happy. Beyond a doubt now Grant was going to strike
hard, and all the men were full of anticipation and hope. His force in
different divisions was advancing on Jackson, leaving Vicksburg behind
him and the Southern army under Pemberton on one side.
Dick heard, too, that the redoubtable Joe Johnston was coming to take
command of the Southern garrison in Jackson, and a leader less bold than
Grant might have shrunk from such a circle of enemies, but Grant's own
courage increased the spirit of his men, and they were full of faith.
"I expect they're alarmed in Washington," said the sergeant, as they
sat on their blankets. "There ain't any telegraph station nearer than
Memphis. They've heard in the capital that the general has begun to move
toward Jackson, but they won't know for days what will happen."
"I don't blame the President for being disturbed," said Dick. "After all
the army is to serve the nation and fights under the supreme civilian
authority. The armies don't govern."
"That's so, but there come times when the general who has to do the
fighting can judge best how it ought to be done."
Dick lay down on one blanket and put another over him. It was well into
May, which meant hot weather in Mississippi, but, if he could, he always
protected himself at night. He was not a vain lad, but he felt proud
over his success. Hertford's six hundred horse were a welcome addition
to any army.
He lay back soon with a knapsack as a pillow under his head and listened
to the noises of the camp, blended now into a rather musical note.
Several cooking fires still burned here and there and figures passed
before them. Dick observed them sleepily, taking no particular note,
until one, small and weazened, came. The figure was about fifty yards
away, and there was a Union cap instead of a great flap-brimmed hat on
the head, but Dick sprang to his feet at once, snatched a pistol from
his belt and rushed toward it.
The evil figure melted away like a shadow, and two astonished soldiers
seized the youth, who seemed to be running amuck in the camp, pistol in
hand.
"Let go!" exclaimed Dick. "I've seen a man whom I know to be a spy, and
a most dangerous one, too."
They could find no trace of Slade. Dick returned crestfallen to his
blanket, but he recalled something now definitely and clearly. Slade
was the little man whom he had seen carrying the log the morning he left
General Grant's camp, on his mission.
The sergeant, who had never stirred from his own blanket, sat up when
Dick returned.
"Who was he, Mr. Mason?" he asked.
"Slade himself. He must have seen me jump up, because he vanished like
a ghost. But I gained something. I know now that I saw him here in our
uniform just before I started to find Colonel Hertford. That was why I
was followed."
"The cunning of an Indian. Well, we'll be on the watch for him now,
but I imagine he's already on the way to Jackson with the news of our
advance and an estimate of our numbers. We can't do anything to head him
off."
On the second day after joining the column Dick was ahead with the
cavalry, riding beside Colonel Hertford, and listening to occasional
shots in their front on the Jackson road. Both believed they would soon
be in touch with the enemy. Sergeant Whitley, acting now as a scout, had
gone forward through a field and in a few minutes galloped back.
"The enemy is not far away," he said. "They're posted along a creek,
with high banks and in a wood. They've got a strong artillery too, and I
think they about equal us in numbers."
Dick carried the report to the commander of the column, and soon the
trumpets were calling the men to battle. The crackle of rifle shots
ahead increased rapidly. The skirmishers were already pulling trigger,
and, as Dick galloped back to Hertford he saw many puffs of white smoke
down the road and in the fields and woods on either side. The Union men
began to cheer. In the West they had suffered no such defeats as their
brethren in the East, and every pulse beat with confidence. As the whole
line moved forward the Southern cannon began to crash and their shells
swept the road.
The cavalry were advancing in a field, but they were yet held back to
a slow walk. Dick heard many impatient exclamations, but he knew the
restraint was right. He saw the accuracy of the Southern gunners. They
were driving the Northern infantry from the road. Their fire was rapid
and deadly, and, for a while, the Union army was checked.
Hertford was calmly examining the Southern position through his glasses,
while he restrained his eager men. The volume of Southern fire was
growing fast. Shells and shrapnel rained death over a wide area, and the
air was filled with whistling bullets. It was certain destruction for
any force to charge down the road in face of the Southern cannon, and
the Northern army began to spread out, wheeling toward either flank.
An aide arrived with an order to Hertford, and then he loosed his eager
cavalry. Turning to one side they galloped toward the creek. Some of the
Southern gunners, seeing them, sent shells toward them, and a swarm
of riflemen in a wood showered them with bullets. But they passed so
rapidly that not many saddles were emptied, and the trumpeter blew a
mellow note that urged on spirits already willing enough.
The sweep of the cavalry charge exhilarated Dick. The thought of danger
passed away for the moment. He saw all around him the eager faces of
men, and horses that seemed just as eager. Dust and dirt flew beneath
the thudding hoofs, and the dust and floating smoke together made a
grimy cloud through which they galloped.
They passed around still further on the flank. They seemed, for a few
minutes, to be leaving the battle, which was now at its height, the
Southern artillery still holding the road and presenting an unbroken
front.
Dick saw a flash of water and then the whole troop thundered into the
creek, almost without slackened rein. Up the bank they went, and with
a wild shout charged upon the Southern infantry. On the other flank
another Northern force which also had crossed the creek attacked with
fire and spirit.
But the battle still swayed back and forth. Hertford and his cavalry
were thrown off, merely to return anew to the charge. A portion of
the Northern force was driven back on the creek. The strong Southern
batteries poured forth death. Dick felt that they might yet lose, but
they suddenly heard a tremendous cheer, and a fresh force coming up
at the double quick enabled them to sweep the field. Before sunset the
Southern army retreated toward Jackson, leaving the field to the men in
blue.
Dick dismounted and, examining himself carefully, found that he had
suffered no wound. Colonel Hertford and the sergeant had also taken no
hurt. But the lad and his elder comrade secured but little rest. They
were bidden to ride across the country at once to General Sherman with
the news of the victory. Sherman was at the head of another column, and
Grant was farther away with the main body.
Dick and the sergeant, with the battle smoke still in their eyes, were
eager for the service.
"When you're with Grant you don't stay idle, that's certain," said Dick
as they rode across the darkening fields.
"No, you don't," said the sergeant, "and I'm thinking that we've just
begun. I know from the feel of it that big things are going to happen
fast. Sheer away from the woods there, Mr. Mason. We don't want to be
picked off by sharpshooters."
They arrived after dark in Sherman's camp and he received them himself.
Dick remembered how he had seen this thin, dry man holding fast with his
command at Shiloh, and he saluted him with the deepest respect. He knew
that here was a bold and tenacious spirit, kin to that of Grant. Sherman
had heard already of the battle, but he wished more and definite news.
"You say that our victory was complete?" he asked tersely.
"It was, sir," replied Dick. "The entire force of the enemy retired
rapidly toward Jackson, and our men are eager to advance on that city."
"It would be a great stroke to take the capital of Mississippi," said
Sherman musingly. Then he added in his crisp manner:
"Are you tired?"
"Not if you wish me to do anything," replied Dick quickly.
Sherman smiled.
"The right spirit," he said. "I wish you and your comrade to ride at
once with this news to General Grant. He may hear it from other sources,
but I want to send a letter by you."
In ten minutes Dick and the sergeant were riding proudly away on another
mission, and, passing through all the dangers of Southern scouts and
skirmishers, they reached General Grant, to whom they delivered the
letter from Sherman. Grant, who had recently been in doubt owing to the
threat of Pemberton on his flank, hesitated no longer when he heard of
the victory, and resolved at once upon the capture of Jackson.
Dick, after his battle and two rides, went to sleep in a wagon, while an
orderly took his horse. When he awoke unknown hours afterward he found
that he was moving. He knew at once that the army was advancing. Before
him and behind him he heard all the noises of the march, the beat of
horses' hoofs, the grinding of wheels, the clanking of cannon, the
cracking of whips and the sounds of many voices.
He was wonderfully comfortable where he lay and he had the satisfaction
and pride of much duty done. He felt that he was entitled to rest, and,
turning on his side, he went to sleep again. After another unknown time
his second awakening came and he remained awake.
He quietly slipped out at the tail of the wagon, and stood for a few
moments, dazzled by the blazing sunlight. Then a loud, cheery voice
called out:
"Well, if it isn't our own Lucky Dick come back again, safe and well to
the people to whom he belongs!"
"If z equals Dick and y equals his presence then we have z plus y, as
Dick is certainly present," called out another voice not quite so loud,
but equally cheery. "Luck, Frank, is only a minor factor in life. What
we usually call luck is the result of foresight, skill and courage.
There are facts that I wouldn't have you to forget, even if it is a hot
day far down in Mississippi."
Warner and Pennington sprang from their horses and greeted Dick warmly.
They had returned a day or two before from their own less perilous
errands, but they were in great anxiety about their comrade. They were
glad too, when they heard that the sergeant had joined him and that he
had come back safe.
"I suppose it means a battle at Jackson," said Warner. "We're surely on
the move, and we're going to keep the Johnnies busy for quite a spell."
"Looks like it," said Dick.
Colonel Winchester came soon, and his face showed great relief when he
shook hands with Dick.
"It was a dangerous errand, Dick, my lad," he said, "but I felt that you
would succeed and you have. It was highly important that we gather all
our forces for a great stroke."
Dick resumed at once his old place in the Winchester regiment, with
Warner, Pennington and his other comrades around him. Refreshed
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