Frank on the Lower Mississippi

by Harry Castlemon

  CHAPTER XIV.

  A Rebel Trick.

  The next day Frank and the major made out their reports of theexpedition. The former's, as usual, was short and to the point,conveying, in a few lines, the information that their object had beenaccomplished. He described the fight in the house as a "short skirmish,"and made it appear that their success was owing to the gallant behaviorof the major, Archie, and the coxswain. In fact, one, to have read thereport, would have supposed that Frank had been merely a looker-on,instead of one of the principal actors. But the major went more intodetails, and the part Frank had taken in the fight was described inglowing language, and his bravery highly complimented. While thusengaged, the orderly entered the cabin and reported a small party ofrebels approaching with a flag of truce. Frank went on deck, and sawseveral men galloping toward the vessel, waving a white flag, to attracttheir attention. When they reached the top of the bank, they dismountedfrom their horses, and appeared to be waiting for some one to comeashore.

  For some moments, Frank was undecided how to act. He remembered that hehad once been sent on shore with a flag of truce which had not beenrespected, he having been detained a prisoner, and he did not like theidea of receiving a white flag from men whom he knew would not respectit themselves; besides, he had received no orders in regard tocommunicating with the rebels, and he did not know whether he had aright to do so or not.

  "Well, major, what do you think of this, sir?" he asked, turning towardthe scout, who stood close at his side.

  "It's a trick of some kind, captain," replied the latter. "Depend uponit, it's a trick."

  "If that is so," said Frank, "I will try and find out what it is." Then,raising his voice, he called out, "What do you want out there?"

  "I want to come on board," shouted one of the rebels, in reply. "I wantto see the captain."

  "Well, speak out; you can't come on board. What do you want?"

  The rebels consulted together for a few moments, and then one of themreplied:

  "We have a Yankee prisoner, and want to exchange him for Captain Thorne.If you will let one of us come on board, perhaps we can make somearrangements with you."

  "You can't come on board," shouted Frank, "that's settled. But where'syour prisoner?"

  "Out in the woods, under guard."

  "They've got no prisoner, captain," said the major. "All they want is tosee the inside of your vessel, and find out how many men and guns youhave."

  "Well, they'll have to go away without accomplishing their object," saidFrank. "I can't make any arrangements for an exchange," he shouted,"until I see your prisoner."

  The rebels lingered a moment, as if in consultation, and then mountedtheir horses and rode away. Every one who had heard the conversationlaughed at the idea of attempting to deceive Captain Nelson with soshallow a trick, and the circumstance was soon forgotten by all exceptFrank, who knew that the guerrillas would not abandon their projectsimply because their first attempt had failed. Although he made noremark, he resolved to be doubly vigilant, and to be ready for anyemergency.

  Two days afterward the dispatch-boat came alongside, on her way up theriver, and the major took passage on her for Cairo.

  "I'm sorry to be obliged to leave you, captain," said he, as he stoodready to start, "for, if I am not very much mistaken, you'll have livelytimes here before long. The rebels are up to something, depend upon it.Don't let them catch you off your guard. Good luck to you!"

  It was lonesome in the cabin after the major left, for he was a goodcompanion, and both Frank and Archie had become very much attached tohim.

  The dispatch-boat had scarcely left the Boxer, when the officer of thedeck reported a canoe approaching. It came from up the river, and, bythe aid of the spy-glass, they discovered that it contained two men andwas loaded with vegetables. It was customary for gun-boats to purchasesuch provisions as they needed from the people who lived along thebanks, and in some places market-boats were received regularly everyday. The men were paid, either in money, or, as they generallypreferred, in coffee, flour, or sugar, from the paymaster's store-rooms;but this was the first time the Boxer had ever been visited, and thiscircumstance, taken in connection with the flag of truce, made Franksuspicious.

  "Shall we allow them to come alongside, sir?" asked the officer of thedeck.

  "Yes," replied Frank, who had already determined upon his plans, "allowthem to come on board, if they wish to do so;" and here he gave theofficer a few rapid orders, which the latter hurried below to execute.The Boxer had a full crew of sixty-five men, who were in an admirablestate of discipline; but Frank had sent the officer below to order themost of the men into the hold, out of sight, and to remove the smallarms about the deck. The major's warning was still ringing in his ears,and the young commander could not rid himself of the impression that themarket men who were now approaching were in some way connected withguerrillas. If it was a trick, he resolved to help it along. As the boatapproached, it was hailed by the sentinel on the fore-castle, who askedthe men their business, and was informed that they had "garden truck"which they wanted to "swap for sugar, flour, an' sich like."

  The men were then permitted to come alongside, and one of them was atonce conducted into the cabin, where a bargain was soon concluded, Frankagreeing to take the whole boatload of vegetables, and to give the mantwo pounds of flour, three pounds of sugar, and six pounds of coffee.The young commander was now fully satisfied that the only object of themen in visiting the vessel was not to dispose of their vegetables, forthe man rather overdid his part. He gazed with open mouth at every thinghe saw, in regular country style, but it was not natural, most of hiswonder, as Archie expressed it, being "put on." The latter went below toorder his steward to procure the provisions, and the man inquired--

  "Will yer let a feller look about a leetle? This is the fust time I wasever on a gun-boat."

  "Certainly," replied Archie, who had received his instructions fromFrank; "look about all you please;" and while the steward was weighingthe coffee and sugar, he accompanied the man about the vessel. Therewere not more than a dozen sailors on deck, and most of these appearedto be asleep.

  "Be these all the fellers you-uns hev got?" asked the man.

  "What's the use of having any more?" replied Archie. "There's no dangerhere."

  "That's so," was the answer; "I haint seed a rebel round for more 'n sixmonths, dog-gone if I hev."

  The man walked slowly about the deck, carefully examining every thing hesaw, and acting altogether like a backwoodsman who had never seen agun-boat before. Finally, he said:

  "I've heered as how all these 'ere boats hev got hot water; has yourn?"

  "Oh, yes, we've got plenty of hot water, but it takes an hour to screwthe hose on, so that we can use it."

  By this time the provisions were ready, and the market men took theirdeparture, expressing themselves fully satisfied that it wouldn't be a"healthy job" for any rebels to attempt the capture of the Boxer, andpromising to be on hand the next day but one with more "garden truck."

  As soon as their boat was out of sight, the hatches were raised, thecrew poured up out of the hold, and in a short time the Boxer's deckpresented its usual appearance of neatness and order. Frank's object hadbeen accomplished, for the market men had gone away satisfied thattwenty determined men could easily effect the capture of the gun-boat,and they seemed determined to make the most of what they had seen.Gaines's Landing had been a regular mail station, and the rebels hadonly been deterred from sending it across the river by the presence ofthe Boxer. The market men, however, had discovered, as they supposed,that the vessel was but poorly manned, and this being communicated totheir leader, (for, as Frank had suspected, they belonged to aregularly-organized band of guerrillas,) the latter determined todispatch his mail at once.

  That night, about ten o'clock, as Frank and Archie sat in the cabinreading, the orderly reported that lights were seen moving about onshore. This was something unusual, and when Frank had watched the lightfor a moment, he
came to the conclusion that the rebels were making somemovements, the nature of which he was, of course, unable to determine;but he resolved, if possible, to find out what was going on, and turningto the officer of the deck, ordered the cutter to be called away andfurnished with an armed crew. This order was speedily and quietlyexecuted, and when the boat was ready, Frank and his cousin stepped intoit, and were pulled noiselessly up the river. The place where the lightshone was about half a mile from the vessel, and when they came oppositeto it, the crew rested on their oars, giving only an occasional stroketo keep the cutter from floating down the stream, and waited impatientlyfor the rebels to show themselves.

  The light, which gleamed from the shore opposite to the town, seemed tocome from a dark lantern, for it would blaze up brightly for a moment,and then disappear. Presently an answering light was shown from theshore nearest to them, when Archie whispered--

  "There's a boat coming!"

  Frank listened, and could hear the slow, measured strokes of oars, whichgrew louder and louder as the boat approached. It seemed to be headingdirectly toward them, and in a few moments more it could be dimly seen,moving through the darkness.

  "Give way together!" commanded Frank, and the cutter, propelled bytwelve oars, shot alongside the approaching boat, and the sailors seizedthe gunwale and held her fast. Resistance was useless. Three rebelsquietly delivered up their weapons, and one large, well-filled mail-bagwas stowed away under the stern sheets of the cutter. The prisoners weretaken on board the Boxer, and delivered into the charge of themaster-at-arms, while their boat, a leaky affair, requiring constantbailing to keep it afloat, was unceremoniously allowed to sink. Thelight on the opposite shore was still shown, now at shorter intervals,as if the persons who were managing it had begun to grow impatient. Thiswas the source of much merriment among the sailors, who hoped the"rebels would not grow tired of waiting for their mail."

  The next day the Manhattan again came up the river, and, as sheapproached, made signals for Frank to go on board of her. The gig wascalled away, and taking the reports of the expedition the young officerand his prisoners shortly stood in the presence of Captain Wilson, who,as soon as he had secured the prisoners, conducted Frank into the cabin.The latter, after presenting his reports, proceeded to give the captaina history of the expedition which had resulted in the capture of theguerrilla chief, of the interview with the flag of truce, and of themanner in which he had deceived the market men and captured the mail,upon hearing which the captain sprang from his chair, and giving Frank ahearty slap on the back, exclaimed:

  "Well done, sir! well done! Then you are not entirely unprepared to hearwhat I have to tell you. I picked up a runaway darkey yesterday, whoinforms me that the rebels are making preparations to capture theBoxer!"

  "I knew something was going on, sir," replied Frank, "and if that iswhat they are up to, they will not find me unprepared."

  "Well, that is what they intend to do. They have been building two largeboats, into which they are going to put a sufficient force to overpoweryou. The attempt is to be made on Wednesday night. Of course, they hopeto be able to take you by surprise. This contraband I picked up says heworked on the boats, and that they will hold about forty men each. Ishall not be far off when the fight takes place, although I do notsuppose you will need any assistance."

  The two officers then began an examination of the mail, in hopes itwould throw some further light upon the movements of the guerrillas; butmost of the letters were unofficial, and not a word was said about theproposed attempt to capture the Boxer.

  At the end of an hour, Frank returned on board his vessel, and theManhattan steamed down the river toward her station.

  CHAPTER XV.

  Honorably Discharged.

  When Frank reached the Boxer, he sent for the executive officer, toldhim of what he had heard, and also laid before him the plans he hadadopted to defeat the rebels, which met the hearty approval of thatgentleman. Frank did not think it best to delay putting the vessel in astate of defense, for the rebels might make the attempt at any time; sohe instructed the executive officer to see that the men were kept undercover, so that the rebels, if any were on the watch, might not be ableto judge of their numbers. When hammocks were piped that night, not morethan a dozen men answered the call, and when bedtime came, the sailorsstretched themselves out on deck, ready to take their posts at amoment's warning. The guns were all carefully loaded, the hot-water hosegot ready for use, and the anchor fixed so that it could be slipped inan instant. Outside, the appearance of the vessel was not changed, theonly thing noticeable being the quantity of smoke that came out of herchimneys. At eight o'clock Frank inspected the boat, and after seeingthat every man was in his place, he lay down on the sofa in the cabin,without removing his clothes, and fell asleep. When he awoke, he aroseand went on deck, just as the ship's bell was striking midnight. It wasvery dark, and the only sound that broke the stillness was the splashingof the wheels of a steamer as she went on her way up the river. For anhour he remained on deck, listening, but without hearing any thingsuspicious until just as he was about to return to the cabin. He hadstarted down the stairs, when he heard a slight splashing ahead of thevessel, like a heavy oar dipped carefully into the water. He listened amoment, and the sound was repeated.

  "There they are! They're coming, sure!" said Archie, who stood at hiscousin's side.

  "Yes, sir," said Tom, the gunner's-mate, who, in his eagerness to be thefirst to announce the approach of the rebels, had remained on deckduring the whole night. "That's them, sir!"

  "Tell the officer of the deck to call all hands to quarters as quietlyas possible," said Frank.

  The officer ran below, and the young commander heard the sound again,still faint, but nearer and more distinct than the others. It was wellthat he had not put off his preparations to receive the rebels, for theywere certainly approaching. Presently the pilots came up and took theirstations at the wheel, and a moment afterward the executive officer cameup and reported the crew ready for action. So quietly had the men beenaroused, that Frank had not heard them as they moved to their stations.Nearer and nearer came the sound of oars, and suddenly a large flatboat,crowded with men, loomed up through the darkness.

  "On deck, there!" whispered Frank, leaning over the rail and speaking toa sailor on the forecastle. "Slip that anchor."

  There was the rattling of a chain as this order was executed, and as theman sprang through one of the ports, a sheet of flame covered theforecastle, and two twenty-four pound shells went crashing and shriekingamong the rebels.

  The pilots rang the bell for the engineers to "come ahead," and as theBoxer turned out into the river, thus bringing her broadside guns tobear on the boat, two more shells completed the ruin. The rebels werecaught in their own trap. Their boat was sinking, half their numbereither dead or wounded, and all who were able to swim were springinginto the water and making for the nearest shore.

  It was so dark Frank could not see the havoc that had been made amongthe guerrillas, and he was about to give them another broadside, when heheard loud cries for quarter. That boat was disposed of, and he turnedto look for the other, (for Captain Wilson had said there were two ofthem,) but it was not to be seen. As he afterward learned, theguerrillas, having been completely deceived as to the force of theBoxer, had crowded sixty men into one boat, thinking that forcesufficient to insure an easy victory. After running up the river nearlya mile without seeing any signs of the boat, the Boxer returned to herstation, and found the rebel craft hard and fast aground. Her deck wascovered with dead and wounded, and Frank at once turned his attention totaking care of the latter. Twenty-three wounded guerrillas were conveyedon board the vessel, and delivered into the charge of the doctor and hissteward, together with nearly a dozen prisoners, who, being unable toswim, had not dared to leave the boat. The dead were left where they hadfallen. The Boxer then returned to her anchorage, and Frank, feelingsafe for the remainder of the night, ordered hammocks to be piped, acommand which the sail
ors gladly obeyed, for their soft mattresses weremuch more comfortable than the hard deck. By the time every thing hadbeen restored to order, the quarter-master reported the Manhattanapproaching. Frank answered her signals, and as she came alongside,Captain Wilson sprang on board.

  "How is it, captain?" he inquired, as Frank met him at the gangway."Mercy!" he exclaimed, as he entered the door and saw the wounded rebelslying in rows on the deck. "Lively while it lasted, wasn't it? How manymen have you lost?"

  "None, sir," replied Frank. "If the rebels fired a shot at us, I don'tknow it."

  "When I heard the firing," continued the captain, "I was afraid you hadneglected to make preparations to receive them, and had got yourselfinto a bad scrape. But I see you are able to take care of yourself."

  The captain then returned on board his vessel, which moved out into theriver and came to anchor at a short distance from the Boxer, while Frankretired to his room and fell asleep, well satisfied with his night'swork.

  Early the next morning, a single rebel appeared on the bank, with a flagof truce, and a boat being sent out from the Manhattan, he was conveyedon board that vessel. In a short time, however, it returned and set therebel on board the Boxer.

  "I want permission to bury our dead," said the guerrilla, on being showninto the cabin.

  "You must see Captain Wilson about that," replied Frank. "I have noauthority while he is here."

  "I have just been to see him," replied the rebel, "and he sent me toyou. He says you command this station."

  This was a compliment seldom paid a young officer; but the fact was,Captain Wilson was so elated at Frank's success, that he determined totake every opportunity to make his approval known. The young commander,of course, granted the request, and soon after the Manhattan steameddown the river.

  About a week afterward, a tin-clad came up, and her captain came onboard the Boxer and presented Frank with written orders to report toCaptain Wilson without delay.

  "I expect," said he, "that you will take my old station. If you do, youwill have your hands full, for boats are fired into every day; but,somehow, I was always at the wrong end of my beat to meet the rebels."

  When the captain had returned on board his vessel, the Boxer got upsteam, and, in obedience to her orders, started down the river. Theyfound Captain Wilson the next day, and Frank was assigned a new station.His beat was about five miles in length, and was a noted place forguerrillas. Steamboat captains dreaded to pass it, for their boats werefired into, and often badly cut up. The rebels had a battery of threeguns, with which they were constantly dodging from one point to another,always taking good care, however, to keep out of reach of the gun-boats.On the second day Frank arrived at his station, and while running idlyabout--for his orders from Captain Wilson were to "keep moving"--asteamer passed them on her way up the river, and Frank ordered the pilotto round-to and follow her. The order was obeyed, but they had not gonemore than half a mile, when a battery, mounted on a point which ran forsome distance out into the river, opened on the steamer. The Boxer wasat that moment behind the point and out of sight of the rebels, who,however, were soon made aware of her presence; for they had scarcelyfired two rounds before a shell dismounted one of their guns. Theirsurprise was complete, and abandoning their battery, they ran into thewoods for protection. The Boxer rounded the point, all the whileshelling the woods, and Frank, seeing the guns deserted, landed with hisvessel and secured them. That guerrilla station was, for the present,broken up. So thought Frank, who ordered the pilot to proceed up theriver until he found the Manhattan. The next day the battery wasdelivered up to Captain Wilson, who sent it by the dispatch-boat toMound City, which was then the naval station.

  From that time hostilities along the river gradually ceased. The Boxerfor nearly a year ran from one end of her beat to the other withoutencountering a single armed rebel. Then came the news of the glorioussuccess of the Army of the Potomac, followed by the intelligence of ageneral surrender of the rebel forces. The Boxer was dressed with flags,salutes fired, and officers and crew looked forward with impatience tothe time when they would be permitted to return home. At length came thelong expected order to report to the admiral at Mound City, where thereduction of the squadron was rapidly going on.

  Although Frank was impatient to see his quiet little home once more, hewas reluctant to part from his crew, whom, upon his arrival at thenavy-yard, he had received orders to discharge. One by one the sailorscame into the cabin, and the hearty grasp of their hands, and theearnest manner in which they wished their commander "plain sailingthrough life," showed that their feelings were not unlike his own.

  One morning, upon inquiry at the navy-yard post-office, Frank waspresented with two official documents, which proved to be leaves ofabsence for himself and Archie for three months, "At the expiration ofthat time," so read the document, "if your services, are no longerrequired, you will be honorably discharged from the navy of the UnitedStates. Acknowledge the receipt of this leave, and send your address tothe department."

  As soon as this order had been complied with, the cousins began to makepreparations to start for home. Their trunks had been packed severaldays before, in readiness for an immediate departure, and in three hoursafter the receipt of their leaves they had taken their seats in thetrain bound for Portland. The ride had never seemed so long, nor had thecars ever moved so slowly: but, in due time, they reached the city insafety. Frank remained but one day in Portland, for he was anxious toreach home. The "Julia Burton" still made her regular trips from Augustato Lawrence, and on the third day he reached the village. Brave was thefirst to welcome him as he stepped out of the hack that had conveyed himfrom the wharf to the cottage, and not recognizing his master, muffledup as he was in his heavy overcoat, he stood at the gate, growlingsavagely, as if to warn him that he had ventured close enough. But oneword was sufficient. The faithful animal had not forgotten the sound ofthe familiar voice, and bounding over the fence, he nearly overpoweredhis master with caresses.

  The meeting with his mother and sister we shall not attempt to describe.Those who have passed through similar scenes can easily imagine that joyreigned supreme in that house.

  About a week after his arrival at home, Archie Winters and his parentsreached the village, the latter having "taken a holiday" in honor of theyoung paymaster's safe return. The cousins spent their furlough invisiting their old hunting and fishing-grounds, and in calling upontheir friends. George and Harry Butler had returned, the former with anempty sleeve, having lost his arm in the Battle of the Wilderness. Butall their companions had not been as fortunate as themselves. More thanone had been offered upon the altar of their country, and many afamiliar face was missing.

  At the expiration of their three months' leave, Frank and Archiereceived their honorable discharges from the service, the sight of whichrecalled vividly to their minds many a thrilling scene through whichthey had passed. How changed the scene now from that when they had firstbid adieu to their homes, to join the ranks of their country'sdefenders! "Then a gigantic rebellion was in progress; armed mensentineled each other from Virginia to the Rio Grande; and the land wasfilled with the crash of contending armies. Now, the rebel forces arevanquished, their banner in the dust; the slave empire that was to riseupon the ruins of the Republic is itself in ruins; and the soldiers andsailors of the Union, returning their weapons to the arsenals, haveexchanged their honored blue for the citizen's garb, and resumed theirpeaceful avocations, as modest and unassuming as though they had neverperformed the deeds of valor that have filled the whole civilized worldwith wonder."

  Frank and Archie are proud of the part they have borne in the war of theRebellion, and will never forget their varied and eventful experience inthe MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON.

 
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