[Illustration: "WATER!" HE MURMURED, "WATER!"
_Page 115._]
_The Blue and the Gray--On Land_
AN UNDIVIDED UNION
BY
OLIVER OPTIC
AUTHOR OF "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES" "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD, FIRST AND
SECOND SERIES" "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES" "THE GREAT WESTERN SERIES" "THE
WOODVILLE STORIES" "THE ONWARD AND UPWARD SERIES" "THE LAKE SHORE
SERIES" "THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES" "THE RIVERDALE STORIES" "THE
BOAT-BUILDER SERIES" "THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--AFLOAT" "ALL OVER THE
WORLD--FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD SERIES" "THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--ON LAND"
ETC. ETC. ETC.
COMPLETED BY
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
AUTHOR OF "THE OLD GLORY SERIES" "BOUND TO SUCCEED SERIES" ETC.
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS
1899
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.
_All Rights Reserved._
AN UNDIVIDED UNION.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith
Norwood Mass. U.S.A.
_To My Friend_
FRED D. IRISH
WHOSE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS
IN DISTRIBUTING MY BOOKS
AMONG THE YOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES
HAS BEEN A CONSTANT INSPIRATION
_This Work is Affectionately Dedicated_
PUBLISHERS' PREFACE
The outline and incomplete material of AN UNDIVIDED UNION were left
among the papers of the late William T. Adams ("Oliver Optic"), and the
same notes that were to complete the "Blue and Gray--On Land" series
also closed the life-work of America's best-known writer of boys'
stories.
There has been a constant demand that this unfinished concluding volume
be prepared for publication, and Mr. Edward Stratemeyer, author of the
remarkably popular "Old Glory" series, based upon the Spanish-American
war, undertook the task of picking up the threads of the narrative and
carrying it to such a conclusion as was evidently intended. He has
performed the work devotedly and successfully, and sustained the harmony
of the series to the end.
The publishers take this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Mr.
Adams, whose name has been inseparably connected with this house for so
many years. Such was his loyalty that no manuscript for publication in
bound form was ever given to any other publisher, and the present
volume is the one hundred and eighth to bear the magical name of
"Optic." It is gratifying to be able to record that in return for his
steadfastness in remaining by the house of his choice through prosperity
and adversity an actual sale of more than two million copies of Mr.
Adams's books has been reached, while the present season finds them
enjoying undiminished favor.
No more striking testimonial could be asked than the constant
applications from men of mature life for the books that so charmed them
as boys, in order that their own sons may have the same enjoyment. Or,
could anything be more conclusive than that one of the most prominent
men in the public life of our state still turns to his favorite "Oliver
Optic" books for pleasurable relief when the cares of the day have made
rest seem almost an impossibility?
Critics come and critics go, but the hold of "Oliver Optic" upon the
popular mind remains unchanged. No mean-souled man could so endure. As
he said himself: "I have never written a story which could excite the
love, admiration, and sympathy of the reader for an evil-minded person
or bad character. This has been my standard; and, however others may
regard it, I still deem it a safe one." All who had any connection with
the publication of Mr. Adams's works loved the man, and his visits were
marked with cheerful words for each one, in whatever capacity employed,
and will linger helpfully while life remains. All who knew him join in
honoring the unfailing kindness and clean, true nature of this great
writer and noble friend of youth.
LEE AND SHEPARD.
APRIL 1, 1899.
PREFACE
"AN UNDIVIDED UNION" is the sixth and last volume of the "Blue and
Gray--On Land" series. Like its predecessors it relates the adventures
of the Riverlawn Cavalry, a Union regiment, raised in Kentucky, and
participating in the daring campaigns undertaken by the Army of the
Cumberland. The fifth volume of the series left the regiment at
Murfreesboro, after most gallant service performed at the battle of
Stone River; in the present book is given an account of the operations
around Murfreesboro, before Tullahoma, and through the bloody battles of
Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and other
contests leading up to Sherman's famous March to the Sea.
As in the other stories of this series, Deck Lyon has again come to the
front as a daring hero, but his achievements are closely seconded by his
foster brother, Artie, and by the firm friend of the two, Captain Life
Knox. If Deck does some smart things, it must be remembered that he was
a smart young man or he would not have risen to be senior major, first
battalion, of the Riverlawns. Besides this, the major still had with him
his famous charger, Ceph, a steed with almost human intelligence on
certain points, and one that had helped him to escape from many a
perilous position.
In the completion of this work some thirty authorities have been
consulted, including the Government Records, records of the Army of the
Cumberland, and biographies of the principal generals on both sides who
took part in the various operations. Thus the book has been made, from
an historical standpoint, as accurate as possible. It may be that errors
have crept in, but if so it is hoped that they will not be of sufficient
importance to mar the general usefulness of the volume, outside of its
value as a bit of fiction.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I PAGE
A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE 1
CHAPTER II
AN UNEXPECTED SET-BACK 13
CHAPTER III
THE ENCOUNTERS AT THE BRIDGE AND ON THE RAFT 26
CHAPTER IV
A FIRST VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY 40
CHAPTER V
TWO FLAGS OF TRUCE 53
CHAPTER VI
A MISSING DOCUMENT OF IMPORTANCE 67
CHAPTER VII
IN WHICH THE ENEMY'S SUPPLIES ARE CONFISCATED 80
CHAPTER VIII
THE ENGAGEMENT NEAR SPRING HILL 95
CHAPTER IX
MAJOR DECK LYON MAKES A PROMISE 109
CHAPTER X
A TRIP ON A RAFT 123
CHAPTER XI
THE ENCOUNTER AT THE RAILROAD TRESTLE 137
CHAPTER XII
IN THE BURNING COTTON MILL 150
CHAPTER XIII
AN ADVANCE ALL ALONG THE LINE 163
CHAPTER XIV
ARTIE IS MADE A PRISONER 176
CHAPTER XV
GOSSLEY THE GUERILLA 189
CHAPTER XVI
THE HOLDING-UP OF THE CLOSED CARRIAGE 203
CHAPTER XVII
THE CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE SPY 216
CHAPTER XVIII
THE EVACUATION OF TULLAHOMA 228
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH THE RIVERLAWNS ARE CAUGHT IN A TRAP 242
CHAPTER XX
MAJOR LYON WINS A BATTLE AND LOSES HIS HORSE 256
CHAPTER XXI
CROSSING THE TENNESSEE RIVER 269
CHAPTER XXII
THE SIGNALS IN THE DARK 281
CHAPTER XXIII
AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE ON THE MOUNTAINS 294
CHAPTER XXIV
OPERATIONS IN MCLEMORE'S COVE 306
CHAPTER XXV
"HOLD THE HILL FOR TEN MINUTES, AT ANY COST!" 320
CHAPTER XXVI
THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA 333
CHAPTER XXVII
MAJOR LYON PLAYS THE PART OF A SPY 346
CHAPTER XXVIII
AN ADVENTURE AT CRAWFISH SPRINGS 359
CHAPTER XXIX
MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL 372
CHAPTER XXX
A FRIEND IN NEED 386
CHAPTER XXXI
THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES 398
CHAPTER XXXII
THE SECOND DAY AT CHICKAMAUGA 412
CHAPTER XXXIII
CAPTAIN ARTIE LYON IS SHOT DOWN 426
CHAPTER XXXIV
MAJOR LYON MAKES A DISCOVERY AND DELIVERS A MESSAGE 440
CHAPTER XXXV
THE SIEGE OF CHATTANOOGA AND A HUNT FOR DRUGS 453
CHAPTER XXXVI
FIERCE FIGHTING--AN UNDIVIDED UNION--CONCLUSION 468
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"'Water,' he murmured. 'Water!'" _Frontispiece_
PAGE
"'Surrender, or you are a dead man!'" 32
"'So we meet again,' was the salutation Artie received." 190
"His foot caught the man in the face." 249
Captain Vallingham attempting to escape. 308
"'Say, Major, tumble right down yere!'" 352
"He found himself face to face with the Confederate captain." 428
AN UNDIVIDED UNION
CHAPTER I
A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
"How many miles have we still to go, Deck?"
"Not over seven by this road, Artie," replied Major Deck Lyon,
commanding the first battalion, Riverlawn Cavalry, of Kentucky. "I
should think the surroundings would begin to look familiar to you, even
if we have been away from home for some time."
"I never frequented this road," exclaimed Captain Artie Lyon, commanding
the fourth company of the Riverlawns. "Doesn't it run into that cut
where you saved Kate Belthorpe and the rest of her party from that gang
of so-styled 'Home Guard' ruffians?"
"I believe it does," was the slow response, and Major Dexter Lyon
blushed; for although the incident referred to had occurred many months
before, it was still fresh in his mind, as were also the beautiful face
and bewitching eyes of the maiden. The young major was but nineteen
years of age, and it could hardly be said that he was in love, yet a
warm attachment had sprung up between these two people. "Does your wound
trouble you in riding, Artie?" he went on, to change the subject, and
thus prevent his cousin from teasing him in his most susceptible spot.
"Not enough to count." Artie paused to urge his lagging horse ahead. "I
wonder if any of Morgan's desperadoes are in this neighborhood. I
understood from what Captain Ripley said that they were trying to
overrun the whole State. It's a pity we haven't more of such first-class
sharpshooters around as he commands."
"What's the matter with Life Knox's tall boys, Artie? I reckon they can
shoot about as well as any of Ripley's men, even though they are not as
well drilled. If I know anything about it, Life is a whole host in
himself."
"Oh, I agree with you there, Deck." There was another pause as the pair
of horsemen swung around a heavily wooded bend. "What a pity father
couldn't get a furlough to come home with us. I don't believe he would
have been missed, when the main body of the Department of the Cumberland
is doing nothing but keeping an eye on Bragg. Mother and the girls would
have been delighted to see--Hullo, if there isn't Levi Bedford coming
this way--and with half a dozen of the boys! Something is up, sure!"
As Captain Artie broke off, a tall, heavy-set man, mounted on a
coal-black horse, burst into view, riding at a high rate of speed.
Behind the man came six stout negroes; and all of the party carried
guns, and the white man a pistol in addition.
"Hi, Levi!" yelled Major Deck, as soon as the party of seven came within
hailing distance.
"Deck!" burst out the overseer of Riverlawn. "And Artie, by all that's
fortunate!"
"De young mars'rs!" came from several of the colored men. "Proud to see
yo', Mars'r Dexter, an' Mars'r Artie!"
At this Deck and Artie smiled on the slaves. Deck shook hands with Levi
Bedford, and Artie followed suit. "Is there any special reason for this
meeting being fortunate, Levi?" questioned the major, anxiously.
"I think so," was the hasty answer. "Less than two hours ago, and just
after I had made the rounds at Riverlawn, to make sure that everything
was all right, and no marauders in sight, I received this note." And the
overseer passed over a small sheet of note-paper, upon which a few lines
were written in pencil, in a small hand.
"DEAR MR. BEDFORD: If you can, come to our assistance at once.
A detachment of three soldiers of Morgan's cavalry has arrived
at Lyndhall. One of the three is to return to his company at
once and bring them here to plunder the estate. I am at home
alone with my sister Kate and three servants. The negro who
delivers this is a stranger to me, but well known to my father.
"MARGIE BELTHORPE."
"Kate in danger!" The words left Deck's lips before he could think to
repress them. "Levi, we must not waste a moment in getting to Lyndhall!"
"Just my idea," responded the overseer. "I didn't lose a minute in
getting the boys together, after I received that. Some of the boys were
out in the back pasture, rounding up two stallions that broke away; but
I sent word for them to follow, and I reckon they'll soon be after us,
four or five strong."
"Four more will give you eleven men, counting yourself. Artie and I will
make thirteen. An unlucky number--for those ruffians, if we get to
Lyndhall in time. Forward!" and Major Deck wheeled his horse, followed
by Captain Artie; and away went the entire party at the best speed their
animals could command.
The time was the middle of the month of January, 1863, and the Army of
the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans, was resting in and around
Murfreesboro. The long, stubborn fight at Stone River had exhausted the
men, and no new campaign could be undertaken until the wrecked and
burned lines of communication were restored, the army reclothed and
otherwise put into proper shape, and the necessary steps taken to make
Murfreesboro safe as a new base of supplies.
As the readers of the former volumes of this series know, the Riverlawn
Cavalry was one of the first to be organized in the State of Kentucky,
at the time when the Commonwealth was still undecided as to whether it
should remain in the Union or throw its lot in with the Confederacy.
The original body of men, forming two companies, had been raised very
largely by Noah Lyon, the father of Dexter, who had used them in putting
down the lawless uprisings of the Home Guards of the neighborhood--a mob
of unprincipled fellows who, under the guise of wishing to defend
Kentucky's neutrality during the great conflict, secretly plotted to aid
the Confederacy, and later on, when the Commonwealth declared for the
Union, promptly joined the ranks of the Secessionists.
From two companies the command had developed to a full regiment of
twelve companies, of which Noah Lyon was colonel. Following his father
into the war, Dexter had, by hard work and a bravery which sometimes
bordered on recklessness, risen from the ranks until he became senior
major, while his cousin Artie, of about Deck's age, had well earned the
commission of a captain. Both had been wounded more than once, Artie
rather seriously, and both were known to care little or nothing for the
injuries received in such a righteous cause.
The first duty of the Riverlawns as a regular military body had been to
put down the raids of several bands of guerillas operating in counties
bordering upon, or near, the Tennessee State line. Successful in these,
the command had become a part of the Union army, and as such had taken
an active part in the battle of Mill Springs, or Logan's Crossroads, as
it is sometimes called. After this had come a series of operations on
and around Duck River, and in the entrenchments before Corinth, and then
had come the advance of Rosecrans's forces upon Murfreesboro, ending in
the bloody battle of Stone River, which, while hardly a victory, caused
the shattered forces of the Confederate General Bragg to retreat, and go
into winter quarters at Tullahoma.
Although each of the Lyons fought with the warmth and enthusiasm of a
true Kentuckian, not one of the members of the several families living
at Riverlawn and at Barcreek, a small, nearby town, had been born within
the borders of the State. All hailed from New Hampshire, and were Yankee
bred as well as born.
The original emigrant to Kentucky had been Duncan Lyon, one of four
brothers, who had settled at Riverlawn and made a comfortable fortune
in raising hemp, tobacco, and horses. Duncan Lyon had been as
good-hearted as he was successful, and under his care Riverlawn had
become a model plantation and stock-breeding farm, with Levi Bedford as
superintendent or overseer, and with fifty-one slaves, old and young,
who thought "Mars'r Lyon de best gen'men in de hull world."
The next member of the family to come West had been Titus Lyon, another
of the four brothers. Titus was a mason by trade, and inclined to be
shiftless, and when Duncan Lyon wrote that the mason at Barcreek was
dead, Titus had very promptly come on with his wife, two sons, and three
daughters. It had taken a good deal of help from Duncan to place Titus
on his feet, and even then the proprietor of Riverlawn was pained to
note that the mason was more inclined to loaf around the village,
drinking whiskey and talking politics, than he was to work at his trade.
During the times that Duncan Lyon and Titus were locating in Kentucky,
Noah Lyon was attending strictly to his farm in New Hampshire, not a
large place, but still one upon which, by economy, he managed to earn a
living not only for himself, his wife, and his two children, Dexter and
Hope, but also for the two children of his deceased brother Cyrus,
Artemas and Dorcas. From the time that Artie and Dorcas came into the
family they were looked upon as brother and sister by Deck and Hope, and
both always referred to Mr. and Mrs. Noah Lyon as father and mother.
The somewhat unexpected death of Duncan Lyon had proved a shock to all
his relatives, but when Lawyer Cosgrove, of Bowling Green, the county
seat, came forward to read the plantation owner's will, the second
shock, to Titus Lyon, was even greater than the first.
Duncan Lyon had valued his estate at one hundred thousand dollars.
Riverlawn was put down as being worth twenty-five thousand dollars, and
this magnificent property, including all things in the house and on the
grounds and the fifty-one slaves, went to Noah Lyon, who likewise
received ten thousand dollars, half cash and half stocks, for having
taken care of Artie and Dorcas since they had become orphans. It may
here be remarked that Duncan Lyon had been a bachelor, and had never
felt capable of raising the children himself. To the children he left
one-quarter of his estate, half cash and half stocks, Noah to remain
their guardian until of age.
Of the balance of his property he gave to Titus only twenty-five
thousand dollars, from which amount was to be deducted a note for five
thousand, leaving the mason twenty thousand dollars, half cash and half
in stocks. All the stocks to be divided were named in a schedule, so
there might be no disputes.
As might be supposed, Titus Lyon was very angry over the provisions of
his brother's will, thinking that Riverlawn should have been settled
upon himself. When Noah Lyon gave up his home in the East to take charge
of Riverlawn, Titus did not call upon him for several days, and for some
time after that the unreasonable mason talked about being swindled out
of five thousand dollars, he thinking he ought to have had half of the
ten thousand given to Noah for supporting Cyrus's children, although he
had never lifted a hand to assist the orphans.
With the breaking out of the war Titus had been in his element. Strange
as it may seem, he had sided with the South in the struggle, and had
even gone so far as to spend a large amount of money in equipping a
company of Home Guards, of which he was to be captain. But the arms and
ammunition, hidden away in a cavern, had been discovered by Artie and
Deck who had turned them over to Noah Lyon, for use, later on, by the
Unionists. This confiscation of property had made matters even worse
between the two families, and for a long while Titus and his two sons
were very bitter. They entered the Confederate service much against the
wishes of Titus's wife, and while serving under the stars and bars one
of the sons, Orly, was killed and Titus was taken prisoner.
His own capture and the killing of Orly, coupled with the fact that
Sandy, the older son, was nearly starved while in the Southern service,
produced a profound impression upon Titus Lyon. While a prisoner he gave
up drinking and signed the pledge. Then when Sandy suddenly left the
Confederate service to enlist on the Union side under his Uncle Noah, he
began to study the situation, and he wrote to Noah that he had seen the
error of his ways and was now for the Union, once and forever. Later on
he was released, and he joined the Riverlawns, to become adjutant of the
regiment in which Sandy was now a second lieutenant of the fifth
company, second battalion, the battalion being commanded by Major Tom
Belthorpe, of Lyndhall and the company by Captain Gadbury, a dashing
young soldier, who was far more attentive to Margie Belthorpe than Deck
Lyon had ever dared to be to her younger sister.
There had been but one thing concerning Duncan Lyon's will which had
excited much curiosity when the document was read and when the lawyer
having the matter in hand had had his say. This was concerning the
fifty-one negroes installed at Riverlawn. Noah Lyon was requested not to
part with any of them. Furthermore, the heir to the plantation was left
a sealed letter which was not to be opened until five years later. The
Lyons sometimes imagined the contents of the letter concerned the
disposition of the slaves, but they had no positive information on the
point.
CHAPTER II
AN UNEXPECTED SET-BACK
Deck Lyon was mounted on his famous horse Ceph, so nicknamed after the
even more famous charger ridden in ancient days by Alexander the Great.
The young major had trained Ceph from ponyhood, and rider and beast
understood each other perfectly. On more than one occasion Ceph had
performed in a truly wonderful fashion on the battlefield, and once,
when being promoted, Deck had declared that the honor of the occasion
rested with his equine comrade and not himself.
As the small body of whites and negroes moved onward in the direction of
the Belthorpe plantation, Deck took the lead, with Artie and the
faithful Levi close behind him. In the rear came the armed slaves riding
in two ranks of three men each. The men could hardly be termed soldiers,
yet during the time that Noah Lyon had been away from Riverlawn the
overseer had drilled them thoroughly, both in horsemanship and in
carbine practice, and they were, consequently, a long way removed from
raw recruits. Moreover, upon the occasion of the attack upon Riverlawn,
they had been under fire and had not flinched, so it was known that they
could be depended upon even in a hazardous emergency.
Even without such a fine bit of horseflesh under him, Deck would have
been anxious to go to the front. The note received by Levi filled him
with alarm, and in his mind all sorts of troublesome thoughts ran riot.
The Belthorpe sisters were at home alone, two of Morgan's guerillas were
in possession of Lyndhall, and a whole company were soon expected. What
indignities might not the sisters suffer, not to say anything of the
confiscation and ruin of Mr. Belthorpe's property?
"This is certainly rough on Kate," observed Artie, as he advanced to his
cousin's side. "We ought to have Captain Gadbury with us--for Margie's
sake."
"If only those ruffians don't attempt to carry Margie and Kate off,"
half groaned the major, biting the lip upon which a faint mustache was
beginning to show. "I suppose the major would be at Lyndhall, only
father didn't think it wise to let so many officers off at one time.
Levi, what did the negro who delivered the note have to say?"
"Nothing."
"Not a word?" queried Artie.
"Absolutely not a word--and for the best reason in the world: he was
deaf and dumb," and the overseer smiled broadly. "I tried to question
him, but he only shook his head and pointed to his tongue."
"Humph! I didn't know there was a deaf and dumb negro around Lyndhall,"
mused Deck. "Forward, boys, we mustn't lag!" he shouted to the ranks in
the rear.
"We's comin', Mars'r, jest as fast as we kin come!" answered the servant
called General, who was the "high private" of the occasion. "Come, don't
yo' go fo' to drap behind, Clinker!" he cried out to the heaviest man of
the crowd, the blacksmith and horseshoer at Riverlawn.
"Ain't drappin' behind," growled Clinker. "I'll git to Lyndhall afore
yo' do, yo' don't look out," and away he galloped after Deck and the
others.
The day was frosty but clear, an ideal one for a ride, and mile after
mile was passed, between the now almost barren fields, and through long
groves of leafless trees. The horses from Riverlawn had always been
boasted of as being the best in that section of the country, and now
they were proving their worth.
The mansion home of the Belthorpes stood near the road, with the
plantation extending to both sides and to the rear. At a distance up the
highway upon which Major Deck and the others were travelling was a grove
of walnut trees, and as soon as this grove was reached the young
commander of the forces called a halt.
"We don't want to run into an ambush," he explained to Levi and Artie.
"For all we know to the contrary, that whole company of guerillas may be
in possession of Lyndhall, and if they have got wind of the fact that
word has been sent out for assistance, it may go hard with us, if we are
caught napping. I'll go on a scout, and if the coast is clear I'll come
back and tell you. If I get into trouble a couple of pistol shots will
notify you."
To carry out his object, the major dismounted and turned Ceph over to
one of the servants. Then, examining his pistol to see that it was in
proper condition for use, he struck out boldly, along a path which ran
through the walnuts and came up over a lawn fringed by magnolias, to the
south of the mansion.
Deck did not slacken his pace until the magnolias were reached. Here,
from an opening, he looked toward the house. Not a soul was in sight,
and pistol in hand, he crept along the line of trees until he was within
fifty feet of a side veranda.
At this moment the door to the veranda opened and a girl stepped out,
clad in a house dress, with a cape thrown around her shoulders and a
worsted shawl caught over her head in bonnet fashion. Deck did not have
to look twice to convince himself that the girl was Kate Belthorpe.
"Kate!" he cried, softly and half involuntarily. "Kate!"
The girl, hearing his voice, stopped short and stared around her in
amazement. Then, as he waved his hand to her, she ran down the steps of
the veranda, and reaching him, almost embraced him.
"Oh, Deck! Why I--I didn't know you were coming here!" she stammered,
with a blush. "Are you home on a furlough?"
"Yes--fortunately, Kate," he answered, remembering that they had kissed
before, yet hardly daring to do so now--since, to him at least, his
intentions were becoming serious. "I--I trust they haven't harmed you
and Margie any? Where are the ruffians? Have the whole company arrived
yet?"
The girl started and stared at him. "Why, Deck, what are you talking
about? I know nothing of any ruffians."
The major was nearly dumfounded by this announcement. "You don't know?"
he queried slowly. "Then what does this mean? Levi Bedford received it
less than three hours ago."
It took but a moment for Kate Belthorpe to master the contents of the
note. "I don't know what it means," she said. "I don't believe Margie
ever wrote it. Come in, she is in the sitting room, writing a letter to
brother Tom."
With his mind in a whirl the young major followed Kate into Lyndhall
mansion. Margie was found as described, and was equally astonished to
see him. The situation was explained, and she glanced at the note.
"It is a forgery, and is not even in my hand-writing, Deck," she said
quickly. "There is some underhanded work here."
"Yes, and I know what it is!" cried Deck. "That note was penned with the
intention of getting Levi and the negroes away from Riverlawn. My
father's place may even now be suffering an attack. I must get home
without an instant's delay!"
"Oh, I trust you are mistaken, Deck!" murmured Kate, her beautiful eyes
filling with tears. "What will your mother and your sisters do?"
"Heaven alone knows, Kate," he answered, his voice growing curiously
husky. "Artie and I were going home when we met Levi and six of the
slaves on the road. Four or five other slaves were to follow, so it is
safe to say that out of about fifteen men who can use firearms
two-thirds are now away from Riverlawn and awaiting me in the walnut
grove just below here. Good-by!" and he held out his hand.
"Good-by, and take care of yourself!" burst in Margie, and gave him a
warm brotherly kiss. Seeing this, Kate did not hold back, and Deck sped
from the mansion with the warm contact of her sweet lips still haunting
him.
But now was no time for sentiment, however delightful it might prove,
and the young major burst into the grove all out of breath with running.
"Quick, to Riverlawn!" he shouted, as he leaped again into the saddle.
"We have not a moment to lose! The note was a decoy, to get Levi and the
others to leave our house. Pray Heaven we may reach there before mother
and the others are subjected to insult, or before any damage is done!"
"A decoy!" gasped Levi Bedford. He could scarcely believe his ears.
"Then that negro was not dumb, I'll wager! Boys," he turned to the
slaves, "did any of you see that fellow who brought Mrs. Lyon the note
this morning?"
"'Deed I did, sah!" came from Clinker.
"So did I, sah," put in Woolly, another of the body.
"Did either of you hear him speak?"
Clinker shook his head. Woolly, however, smiled shrewdly. "I dun racken
I did, Mars'r Bedford, when he crossed de creek bridge. But I dunno wot
he said, fo' I was a right smart step off."
"It doesn't matter what he said," replied Levi. He turned to Deck. "You
are right. I have been badly fooled, and don't deserve to hold the
position with which your father entrusted me--that of taking care of his
family and his property."
"Don't blame yourself, Levi," Deck hastened to say, seeing how bad the
overseer felt. "You did what you thought was right, and what I should
have done under the circumstances. The best we can do is to get over the
ground just as lively as we can, and if you know of any short cuts to
take, so much the better."
They were already going ahead at full speed, Deck and Levi in the lead
and Artie and the negroes following as rapidly as possible. "I was
thinking, we might take the trail through Charwell meadow--the ground is
stiff enough to hold horseflesh," observed the manager of Riverlawn.
"But that may make us miss the four or five fellows who were to follow
us, and if anything is wrong at Riverlawn, we may want all the help we
can gather."
"How much will the Charwell trail shorten the ride?"
"A good mile and three-quarters, possibly two miles, if the ground at
the lower end is hard."
"Then let us take that short cut, all but Clinker, who can take the
regular road and turn back the second detachment as soon as it comes
up," answered the young major, unconsciously speaking in military terms,
as was now his usual habit.
"Good! You've got a long head--just as you always had!" cried Levi, and
in a minute more Clinker was instructed into the new order of things.
Shortly after this the others left the road and took to a well-defined
trail running through a woods and then across the meadow previously
described. At the end of the meadow the party came out upon the road
running almost parallel with the creek, but at a considerable distance
above the spot where the bridge to Colonel Lyon's domain was located.
"Halt!" cried Deck, as the horsemen reached the edge of the clearing.
"Don't show yourselves until I give the order."
"I think Levi and I ought to go forward with you, Deck," interposed
Artie, who was thinking of his sister, as well as of his Aunt Ruth and
his Cousin Hope.
"Well, you can go; but we must be careful not to expose ourselves to the
enemy," was the ready reply of the major, who had unconsciously taken
command of the expedition.
"Supposing we separate," went on Artie. "One can go up to the bridge,
one down to where the logs are usually tied up, and one over to the
bend. That will give us three points of observation."
"Right you are, Artie. General Thomas couldn't have planned it better,"
answered Deck. "I'll go to the bridge, and you can go down to the logs.
Levi, is there a raft handy?"
"There is, just above the logs, and there is a canoe up at the bend. We
used it day before yesterday, when Faraway and I went over and came back
by the bridge."
"Then it will be an easy matter for us to make an advance all along the
line. What of Fort Bedford?" continued the major, referring to the
ice-house which, during the early troubles at Riverlawn, had been
turned into an arsenal. The so-styled fort was built along the creek,
almost opposite the point where the logs and the raft rested.
"It's still there, but it contains little outside of a few guns and two
boxes of ammunition."
"I was thinking, if those rascals are here, and the worst comes to the
worst, it will be a good thing if we can take possession of the fort,
and use it in defending my mother and the girls and ourselves."
"If the coast is clear, I'll move for the fort without delay," said
Artie. "One man can hold that place, if the doors and the portholes are
properly secured."
"That's so, but don't do anything rash, Artie," said Deck, gravely.
"Remember what Ripley said--those guerillas of Morgan's are the worst
cut-throats Kentucky has ever seen."
"Artie might wait until I can help him," suggested Levi. "If the fort
isn't occupied now, it won't take long to get the boys over to it in the
canoe and with a small raft in tow."
And so it was arranged that the young captain should wait on the
movements of the overseer, and this decided, the three set off on their
various missions.
CHAPTER III
THE ENCOUNTERS AT THE BRIDGE AND ON THE RAFT
At the time of which I write the name of Morgan's Cavalry was already
known throughout the length and breadth of Kentucky, and those of the
inhabitants who were on the side of the Union heard of his coming to one
neighborhood or another with dread.
When the boys in blue were refitting at Nashville, late in the year
1862, Morgan, having made several raids in Kentucky, though hardly, as
yet, any of consequence, determined to visit the State once more, taking
with him the pick of the Confederate cavalry of this section of our
country. His first engagement was with a few companies of Michigan
troops, on the 24th of December, where he suffered a loss of seventeen
men. On Christmas Day came an engagement near Munfordsville, and then
the notorious leader attacked the stockade at Bacon Creek. A vigorous
resistance was made, but the explosion of a number of shells within the
enclosure made a surrender necessary, and this was followed by the
burning of the bridge across Bacon Creek, after which Morgan advanced to
Nolan, where another bridge was destroyed.
The march of the cavalry was now turned toward Elizabethtown, and here a
fierce fight occurred between the Confederates and a body of six hundred
infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, which lasted six hours. The
infantry could do but little against the superior numbers of the
cavalry, although fighting valorously, and in the end Morgan gained his
point and began a march along the railroad, destroying everything in
sight as he advanced.
It had been hoped by Bragg that Morgan's raid would help the cause of
the South a great deal; but the sudden movement of Rosecrans from
Nashville to Murfreesboro dimmed the glory considerably. On the 29th of
December Morgan was attacked at Rolling Fork on Salt River and driven to
Bardstown, from which point he began to make his slow but certain
retreat from the State.
Captain Ripley, Deck's friend of the sharpshooters, had called Morgan's
cavalry cut-throats. This was an appellation common in those days, but
it is hardly justifiable. But there is no doubt that a portion of the
raiders were men of low moral character, and these fellows, when
foraging, thought it no more than right to confiscate everything in
sight. In the neighborhoods strong in Union sentiment whole plantations
were laid waste, and the women and children made to suffer untold
indignities.
It has been said that Morgan himself had left the State. This was true,
but numerous detachments of the cavalrymen remained, some under captains
and lieutenants who held no commissions in the Confederate army, and
these were mixed up with guerillas,--lawless bodies,--who, while
pretending to fight for the Southern cause, thought only of murder and
plunder. For these latter bodies Morgan was not responsible, yet they
were spoken of everywhere as Morgan's Raiders.
From the very start of hostilities there had been a strong sentiment in
Barcreek and vicinity against the dwellers at Riverlawn. Here the first
Union cavalry companies had been formed, and from this house a father
and two sons (Artie was always called the colonel's son) had gone forth.
More than this, Colonel Lyon had declared that all he possessed should
go to uphold the Union cause were it needed. Those of Confederate
tendencies had muttered against this, and ever since the first attack on
Riverlawn had been repulsed, numerous "fire-eaters" had longed for a
chance to "get square."
Deck thought of all these things as he moved from the shelter of the
clearing along the creek in the direction of the bridge. From one source
and another he had learned of a score of men of the vicinity joining
Morgan's Raiders, and he felt certain now that these fellows would be
found among those bent on the looting of his father's estate.
The young major could not get his mind away from a certain rowdy of
Barcreek who rejoiced in the name of Gaffy Denny. At a Union meeting
held at the schoolhouse when the war began, Deck had refused this man
admittance to the building, even when the ruffian drew a bowie-knife,
and had caused the fellow to decamp by showing his pistol. Since this
time he had heard twice from Denny--first that he had joined the
guerillas operating throughout the county, and again that he was trying
to pay his addresses to Dorcas, who, it may readily be imagined, would
have nothing to do with him. Denny was a man of thirty-five, a "hoss"
trader when he worked, which was but seldom, and as sly and nervy as he
was unprincipled.
"If Gaffy Denny is in this, he shall hear from me," murmured the major,
as he worked his way along the creek's shore. There was a low fringe of
brush overhanging the water, and he skulked behind this, passing the few
breaks encountered by crawling on his chest through the grass. His
progress was necessarily slow, and it took five minutes to reach the
bridge, although the distance from the clearing was not more than an
eighth of a mile.
From behind the brush he had more than once looked over in the direction
of the mansion. Not a soul had appeared in sight, and had he not known
otherwise, he would have said that the homestead was deserted.
When within half a rod of the bridge the major halted, for a slight
movement behind the tree overshadowing the bridge seat--that seat where
his father and Uncle Titus had once so bitterly quarrelled--had
attracted his attention.
"Was that a squirrel or a man's hat?" was the question he asked himself,
when the view of something else answered the question. The new object to
come into view was the elbow of a man, and the shining barrel of a gun
followed.
"A guard, I'll wager my commission," was Deck's thought. "I wonder if he
is alone and if I can capture him single-handed."
The major, having led the way into many a hot fight, was not the one to
hang back in such an emergency as this. Even while wondering if the man
on the bridge was alone, he hurried forward, keeping the tree between
himself and the individual. The bridge was gained and the tree was but
three yards off when a partly loose plank tipped up, making enough noise
to attract the attention of the man, who leaped forward, pointing his
gun as he came.
"Halt!" he spluttered, but the word was still on his lips when Deck
ducked, caught the gun barrel with his left hand, and with his right
levelled his pistol full into the sentinel's face.
"Surrender, or you are a dead man!" commanded Major Deck, sternly. "Let
go of the gun."
The fellow, taken completely by surprise, hesitated, as if inclined to
argue the point. "Wha--what?" he stammered. "See yere, this ain't fair,
nohow!"
"Let go, or I'll fire," was Deck's only answer, and he fingered the
trigger of his revolver nervously.
In a second more he had the gun in his possession, and then he compelled
the man to throw up both hands. "Now march up the road away from the
bridge," he continued. "And no treachery, or I'll put a ball through you
on the spot."
"I reckon I have fell in with Deck Lyon," said the sentinel, with a
sickly grin, as he moved on as the major had commanded.
"I am Deck Lyon; but I don't know you, although I've seen you at Bowling
Green. What do they call you?"
"They call me Sergeant Hank Scudder in our company."
[Illustration: "SURRENDER, OR YOU ARE A DEAD MAN!"
_Page 32._]
"And what company is that?"
"Cap'n Casswell's command--unattached."
"Casswell's guerillas, eh?"
"We ain't guerillas--we belong to the boys in gray."
"Does your captain hold a commission from headquarters?"
"'Tain't fer me to answer thet question, Major."
"From the fact that you refuse to answer it, I infer that he does not;
consequently he is nothing but a guerilla, and worse, and you are--"
"Hold on, Major, don't be too hard on a poor fellow who has his living
to make."
"This isn't making a living--it's stealing one. Tell me truthfully, is
Gaffy Denny with your company?"
"Gaffy Denny is first leftenant, Major."
"Where are the others?"
"Somewhere around the house and barns."
"How long since you arrived here?"
"'Bout an hour and a half ago."
"How many are there here? Answer me truthfully, or, my word for it, I
and my friends will hang you to one of yonder trees."
"Got many friends with yer, Major?"
"Enough. Now answer my question," and again Deck's weapon came up on a
level with the guerilla's head.
"There air twenty-five on us, I reckon."
"Were you the only man left on guard?"
"I dunno."
"Who put you on guard?"
"Leftenant Denny."
"Isn't Captain Casswell in command?"
"No, the cap'n was shot down in a skirmish three days ago--back of
Edmonton, and he's laying at the house of a friend ten miles from yere."
While talking the pair had moved across the road, and now Deck turned
his prisoner in the direction of the clearing. Soon they came in sight
of General, Clinker, and one other of the slaves.
"The first prisoner, General," said the young officer. "Have you
anything with which to bind him?"
"Look yere, Major, this ain't handsome!" cried Sergeant Hank Scudder, in
alarm.
"Handsome or not, you can thank your stars that I didn't shoot you dead
on the bridge," rejoined Deck. "How about a cord, General?"
"We dun got one, Mars'r Deck," answered the slave, and producing it he
and Clinker soon bound the guerilla's hands behind him, after which the
rope at his wrists was passed around a stout tree.
Deck's next movement was in the direction of the raft, for nothing was
to be seen of Artie, and he was anxious to know how the young captain
was faring. He had hardly reached the pile of logs to which the raft was
moored, when a sharp cry rang out on the frosty air.
"Help! General, Woolly, Clinker! Help!" There followed another cry, and
leaping through the brush and onto the logs Deck saw his cousin battling
manfully in a hand-to-hand conflict with two rough men in gray, one of
whom was trying to possess himself of the captain's sabre.
In such an emergency Major Deck did not hesitate as to a proper course
of action. Had the men been regular Confederates he would have been
justified in shooting at them; being guerillas he felt himself even more
justified. He took careful aim and fired, and the rascal who had just
wrenched the sabre from Artie's grasp fell, shot through the thigh, an
ugly wound though not a fatal one.
Surprised at the counter-demonstration thus made, the second guerilla
turned to see from what direction the shot had come. Giving him no
chance in which to take in the situation, Deck fired a second time, the
bullet whistling past the man in gray's shoulder. With a yell the fellow
started to retreat from the logs, slipped on the wet and frost-covered
surface beneath him, and rolled over and over until he went with a loud
splash into the creek, not to reappear upon the surface of the icy
current until fifty feet away.
"Artie, are you hurt?" demanded Deck, as he watched the man who had gone
overboard.
"N--no, but th--that man nearly choked the life out of me," was the
answer, with a cough. "Don't let him get away," and the young captain
nodded toward the guerilla who was making for the plantation side of the
creek.
"He shan't get away." Deck elevated his voice and his shooter at the
same time. "Come back here, unless you want a hole put through your
head!" he called out.
To this the guerilla did not reply. But he kept on swimming, and seeing
this both Deck and Artie fired. A yell of pain was the answer to the
shots, and the man turned around.
"Are you coming back?" demanded Deck.
"Yes! yes! don't shoot ag'in!" came with something like a groan.
The wounded man on the logs was writhing in pain, but nothing could be
done for him just now, and Deck and Artie watched the man in the water.
"I'm a goner!" came from the individual of a sudden, and throwing up
both arms he disappeared from view.
For the instant Deck stared blankly and Artie looked at him. "Was that a
genuine move, or is he shamming?" questioned the captain.
"I take it he is shamming," answered the major. "I don't believe he was
badly wounded at all. Wait," and he continued to watch.
In half a minute the body of the guerilla appeared, a hundred feet below
the logs. "Turn back here, or I'll put a bullet through your body for
luck!" sang out Deck, and raised his pistol again.
"Don't! don't!" came the quick reply. "I'll come--don't hit me ag'in,
Cap'n!"
In less than five minutes after this the guerilla was on the raft once
more. Deck was on the point of marching him up into the grove by the
creek road when Levi Bedford came up in the canoe, demanding to know
what the several shots meant. He was highly pleased to think that three
men had already been put out of the contest.
"I've discovered the guerillas moving around at the back of the mansion
and around the largest of the barns," he said. "Now that you have used
your pistols the best thing to do, in my opinion, is to get over to the
fort and take possession of it."
"You are right," returned Deck. "Let us go over on the raft, as first
proposed; but General can come around by the bridge and bring all of the
horses, or keep them where they will be handy in case they are wanted.
We ought not to give these guerillas the least chance to escape."
The General was called from his hiding-place and matters were explained.
While he went off with the horses, Levi Bedford led the way to the raft
and unmoored her, fastening the painter to the stern of the canoe,
which, though so called, was, as old readers already know, really a
round-bottom rowboat. The overseer, Deck, and Artie entered the canoe,
the first two at the oars, while the slaves deposited themselves on the
raft, doing what they could to aid their progress over the stream by
means of several sweeps which had been picked up.
CHAPTER IV
A FIRST VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY
It may be asked why a rush was not made upon the mansion and barns,
instead of the stealthy advance now under way. The answer to this is,
Deck and the others knew that the force to be encountered was larger
than their own, and probably just as well, if not better, armed.
Moreover, the young major felt that some of the guerillas must be on the
lookout from the mansion, and an advance across the lawn in front and to
one side, or the meadow to the rear and the other side, could only have
been accomplished after a serious loss of life. The guerillas of
Kentucky were for the most part "dead-shots," and the youthful commander
was not inclined to risk his men in the open against their superior
numbers.
The creek at the point where the raft had been moored was between sixty
and seventy feet wide, consequently the journey to the other side did
not occupy over five minutes, even though the raft was an unwieldy thing
to handle. As soon as they were near enough to do so, all hands leaped
into the meadow grass, and started on a rush for Fort Bedford.
Bang! bang! bang! The three shots in rapid succession came from the rear
of the largest barn, and Deck felt something rush through his cap and
his hair beneath. A groan came from Clinker, who was struck in the side.
The negro staggered but kept on, his eyes rolling and staring from a
pain that was new to him.
"'Tain't much, I reckon," he panted, in reply to Levi Bedford's
question. "Anybuddy else hit?"
Nobody was, and without halting to return the fire they pressed on. Soon
they were under the shelter of the ice-house, as dark and silent as the
rest of the plantation had previously appeared.
"I left it locked up," explained Levi Bedford, when Artie gave a cry as
he caught sight of the door. The heavy slabs of wood had been smashed in
with a stout log used as a battering-ram, and a hasty search revealed
the fact that the arms and ammunition, the overseer had mentioned, had
been carried away.
