by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXX
ANOTHER COMMISSION
The horses which De Banyan and Somers rode were those taken from thestable of Captain Sheffield, which had not yet been removed from Dr.Scoville's stable; while that on which Alick was mounted was one of thebest of his master's stock. The party proceeded through the fields for ashort distance till they came to a cross-road, when they put their horsesto the top of their speed. The guide was familiar with all the roads inthe vicinity. The information which he had obtained from the doctor wasexceedingly valuable; for it assured the fugitives in what direction thesearch for them had been pushed.
Dr. Scoville believed that the prisoners were concealed in the vicinityof the city, and that at night they would attempt to make their way inthe direction of City Point; and he assured Alick that they wouldcertainly be caught before morning, for the country in that region wasstrongly picketed by cavalry. It is more than probable they would havebeen taken if the doctor had not been so obliging as to inform Alick ofthese facts. The faithful black, who had served his master, man and boy,for forty years, was entitled to this consideration. Of course, he couldnot have believed that Alick would be so ungrateful and ungenerous as torun away from him; but it is a fact which speaks well for the negro race,that so many have preferred liberty with toil and hardship to slaverywith ease and plenty.
Somers had over-estimated his power of endurance; and a hard gallop offive miles was about the extent of his capacity. The rude jolting of hisarm made it extremely painful, while his system, reduced by the feverattending the wound, was incapable of supporting such a heavy draft uponhis strength. He bore up against the pain and faintness which beset himas long as he could; but at last, to the oft-repeated inquiries ofCaptain de Banyan in regard to his condition, he was compelled to answerin the most discouraging terms.
"We must stop and rest," said the captain. "We have about fifteen milesmore to go; and you mustn't break down yet, Somers."
"Here, massa, take some of this," said Alick, as he reined in his horse.
"What is it?" asked Somers faintly.
"Brandy."
"I can't drink brandy."
"It will do you good, my dear boy. There is strength in brandy--only asmedicine. Don't be stubborn, Somers."
"Good brandy, massa," added Alick. "I brought it along on purpose foryou. I was mighty feared you wouldn't be able to stand the ride."
"I am willing to take it if it will do me any good," said Somers. "I amabout used up."
The sufferer drank two or three swallows of the fiery liquid from thebottle after he had dismounted. The potion gave him an artificial life,which enabled him to ride five miles farther, though at a much slowerpace than before. The roads seemed to be entirely deserted, and the partyfelt satisfied that they had passed out of the reach of a successfulpursuit. Another dose of brandy gave Somers strength enough to accomplishfifteen miles of the journey; but at this point he was absolutely unableto sit on his horse. With the assistance of De Banyan, he got off and layfor two hours on the ground, where his devoted companions made him a bedof their coats. Alick produced some bacon and crackers, which he hadbrought for an emergency, of which Somers partook in small quantities.Pressed by his fellow-fugitives, he again drank some brandy; and whilehis head was flying round like a top, his friends placed him on the horseagain.
In the overpowering weakness and suffering of the hour, Somers had beggedhis companions to leave him to his fate; but De Banyan declared that hewould be hanged a dozen times before he would do so mean and wicked anact. With the fumes of the brandy darting in every direction through hisbrain, which seemed to be about fifty feet above his shoulders, hespurred on his horse. The liquor had inspired him to a kind ofdesperation. He hardly knew what he was about, and even forgot the painof his wounded arm.
"Halt!" shouted De Banyan, as the party dashed over a rude bridgeextending across a broad creek. "Halt, Somers!"
But Somers heeded not the word, and still spurred on, till the captain,who rode the fastest animal, could overtake him. He succeeded in stoppingthe furious rider, and in making him understand that they had reached theend of their journey in this direction. They returned to the bridge,where the sharp eye of the captain had discerned a boat moored to a tree,a short distance below the road. Somers, still stupefied by the effectsof the brandy, tamely submitted to whatever disposition his companionschose to make of him. Taking off their coats, they made for him a bed inthe bottom of the boat, which was a large yawl, evidently used forconveying merchandise to some point farther up the creek. The horses wereturned loose, and the captain and Alick took the oars.
After pulling for half an hour, they were rewarded by a view of the broadriver which to them was like the Land of Promise; and moored in themiddle there was a steamer, which in those waters could belong to noother party than the United States Government. They rowed out to thisvessel, and hailed her. Of course they were cordially welcomed after asatisfactory explanation had been given.
"Glory hallelujah! How do you feel, Somers?" said Captain de Banyan,after he had insured a proper reception on board of the steamer.
"Badly, very badly," replied Somers faintly.
"Well, cheer up, my boy! We have got home again."
"Home!" said Somers, raising himself partially up at the sound of thatmagical word.
The captain and Alick lifted him tenderly, and assisted him up theaccommodation-ladder of the steamer. The vessel was a gunboat bound upthe river, and was waiting for the daylight. Somers was taken to theward-room, where the surgeon dressed his arm, and prescribed for hisbodily ailments. Alick was duly installed as his nurse, though Captain deBanyan performed the greater part of his duty. But the consciousness thathe was again beneath the old flag did more for the patient than even theassiduous care of his devoted friends.
After leaving Petersburg the fugitives had pursued a nearly easterlycourse till they arrived at the bridge over Chipoak Creek, where they hadabandoned their horses, and taken the boat. Alick had chosen thisdirection to avoid the pickets which were on the lookout for them in thevicinity of the City Point Railroad. His calculations had been well made,and he was rewarded for his zeal and skill by the priceless boon offreedom, which he preferred even to the life of comfort and ease he hadenjoyed beneath the roof of his kind but eccentric master.
How Dr. Scoville ever made his peace with the provost-marshal ofPetersburg we are not informed; but we will venture to say that his whimswere not respected after the events we have narrated. He was a wilfulman; but his guests were very sorry to be compelled to make him such anungenerous return for his noble hospitality. When the war is ended, andhe is enabled fully to understand the meaning of treason to ourbeneficent Government, no doubt he will be very thankful that hisprisoner guests escaped as they did.
At nine o'clock on the following morning, the gunboat dropped her anchoroff Harrison's Landing. Somers, who had slept for several hours, was morecomfortable, though he was still in a deplorable condition. With thekindly assistance of his friends, he was landed at the pier, and conveyedin an ambulance to the headquarters of the division. Leaning on the armof De Banyan, he entered the tent of the general.
"Captain Somers!" exclaimed the general. "I had given you up for lost.Why, you have grown ten years older in five days!"
"I have the honor to make my report, general," said Somers with a faintsmile.
"Your report? Good! After losing you, I did not dare to send anotherofficer upon such a perilous errand. But, Captain Somers, you are allused up," added the general, with a glance filled with sympathy--a lookwhich Somers regarded as an adequate reward for all he had suffered; forto have _that_ man feel an interest in him was better in his estimationthan the plaudits of the multitude. "What is the matter with your arm?"
"I was shot at Petersburg," replied Somers.
"Well, well, captain, you must go to the hospital: andCaptain--what's-his-name----"
"Captain de Banyan, at your service," promptly responded Somers'sfaithful friend.
"Captain de Banyan shall report for you, and tell me all about thisscrape," added the general. "Get into your carriage, Captain Somers, andgo to the hospital. I will call and see you to-day or to-morrow."
"Thank you, general."
Captain de Banyan assisted him into the ambulance; and, when he hadplaced him in the care of the surgeon, he returned to headquarters totell the marvelous story of their capture by the rebels, and their escapefrom Petersburg. It is quite likely that he did not add his experience inTennessee; but when the general called on Somers at the hospital the nextmorning, the latter supplied all that had been withheld. The general hada higher regard for the captain's patriotism than ever before, for he hadvoluntarily renounced the ranks of the rebellion, and placed himself onthe side of his country. There was nothing against him; on the contrary,his conduct had been in the highest degree praiseworthy. But Captain deBanyan was sensitive on this point; and the general readily promised toconceal what the brave fellow regarded as a stain upon his character.
Captain Somers did not improve so rapidly as his friends desired. Thesurgeon declared that his night ride from Petersburg, in his feeblecondition, had done him more injury than a year's hard service; and afterhe had been in the hospital ten days, it was deemed advisable to give hima furlough, and send him home, especially as the division was then underorders to march to Yorktown. The gallant young hero regretted thenecessity of leaving the regiment just as he had been promoted; but hewas in no condition to endure the long and weary march. He was able towalk about a little; and on the day before the sailing of the transportby which he was to proceed to Washington, he received another visit fromthe general.
After a few kind inquiries in regard to the invalid's condition, thegeneral took from his pocket one of those great official envelopes whichso often carry joy to the heart of the gallant officer. Somers wasamazed. It could not be possible that his own promotion was indicated bythis document. It was not three weeks since his commission as captain hadreached him; but then Senator Guilford was a great man, and wielded atremendous influence, both at Washington, and with the militaryauthorities of his native State.
Recalling his former declaration to Captain de Banyan, he was fullyresolved to decline any further promotion, at least until he had donesomething which entitled him to this distinction. The general held up theformidable packet, while Somers's pale face was suffused with blushes.
"I have brought you a major's commission, Somers; and I know it will giveyou joy."
"Really, sir; ah! general, I don't think----"
"Don't you?" laughed the general.
"I don't deserve it, general; and you will pardon me if I say I cannotaccept it. I am very grateful to you; but----"
"Oh, it isn't for you!" roared the general as he handed him the officialpaper.
"Major de Banyan!" exclaimed Captain Somers as he read the superscriptionwith a thrill of delight. "It is indeed a joy to me. I am ten times ashappy as I should have been if my own name had been coupled with thattitle. I am ever so much obliged to you."
"Senator Guilford again! By the way, Captain Somers, you must call on himwhen you get to Washington."
"I shall certainly do so. But I know my friend could not have beenpromoted without the good word which you have spoken for him."
"Well, it is all right, captain. Major de Banyan is a brave fellow. Hehas done you a good turn; and I waylaid this document so as to afford youthe pleasure of being the first to address him by his new title."
"Thank you, general."
"And, captain, if you could prevail on the major to be a little morereasonable in some of the lies he tells, his reputation for veracitywould be improved."
"I will endeavor to do so."
The general bade the invalid a hearty and even affectionate adieu; andthey did not meet again till they grasped hands on the bloody field ofAntietam, where Somers acted in a new sphere of duty. No sooner had thegeneral departed, than Somers, inspired to new vigor by the joyful eventwhich had just transpired, hastened to the camp of the regiment.
"Ah, Somers; my dear boy! how are you now?" said his friend as he seizedhis hand.
"Better, I thank you, _Major_ de Banyan."
"Come, now, Somers, that is cruel! A friend of mine, just before thebattle of Solferino----"
"Confound the battle of Solferino, Major de Banyan!"
"I was about to say that a friend of mine, just before the battle ofSolferino, made fun of my aspirations, just as you do now----"
"I don't do anything of the sort. Here's the official document. If I readright, it says Major de Banyan."
"Somers," said the captain, winking very rapidly to dissipate someevidences of weakness which were struggling for existence in hiseyes--"Somers, you have done this."
"I did write to Senator Guilford about you before we went over the river;and now I thank God with all my soul that I did so."
"Somers, you are one of the best of friends!" exclaimed the major as hestood with the unopened document in his hand.
"And so are you. Without you, I should have been in a rebel prison orunder the sod at this time."
"God bless you, Somers!" ejaculated De Banyan, as with trembling hand heopened the envelope, and took therefrom his major's commission. "I haveloved you just like a younger brother; not selfishly, my dear boy, butwith my whole heart. You haven't disappointed me, only once, when----"
"Don't mention it. I thought you were a rebel then, but I repented."
"I don't blame you. Now, Somers, you are going home. May God bless youand keep you! I shall be as sad as a maiden who has lost her lover, whileyou are gone."
"I shall not be absent long. We shall be together again in a few weeks."
"I hope so. I have no home now. It has been desolated by treason. I heardsince I came over that my wife was dead. I had a son, a boy of fifteen; Iknow not where he is. Well, well; I will not groan or complain. I will domy duty to my country, and that shall cheer my heart;" and with an effortof his powerful will, he banished the sad reflections from his mind, andsmiled as though earth had no sorrows. "After the battle of Magenta, Ihad the blues, and----"
"One word, De Banyan. _Were_ you at the battle of Magenta?" said Somerssolemnly.
The major looked on the ground, at the commission he had just received,and then into the sympathizing face of his friend.
"To tell the truth, Somers, I was not; but I fought in every battle inMexico, from Vera Cruz up to the capital."
Somers improved this opportunity to repeat the injunction of the general.
"Now promise me, major, that you will never say Magenta or anything ofthe sort again as long as you live," added Somers.
"That would be a rash promise. I have got a bad habit, and I will try tocure myself of it. On my soul I will, my dear boy!"
In the course of the conversation the major, who was now in atruth-telling mood, informed Somers that he had, after his escape fromthe rebel army, enlisted in the regular army, where he had been made asergeant, and, through the influence of a Massachusetts officer, had beencommissioned as a captain. His gallantry had won a swift reward.
On the following day they parted on board the transport in the river; andin that sad hour the friendship which, though brief in duration, had beenfruitful enough for a lifetime, was pledged for the future. They parted,De Banyan to mingle in the terrible scenes in which the regiment wasengaged before the close of the month, and Somers to bask in the smilesof the loved ones at home. Alick, who had been regularly installed as thecaptain's servant, went with him.
