by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE RE-ENFORCEMENT FOR PLAIN HILL
It was not strange that the loyal people of Greeltop were grateful totheir deliverers. Reports of similar occurrences within twenty or thirtymiles of them had fully informed them of the nature of such raids,doubtless with many exaggerations; but they had every reason to expectmore severe treatment than most other places, for the residents wereUnionists to a greater extent than in other villages in that section.The magnate was an intensely loyal citizen, and he had largely built upthe place.
Colonel Coffee was a Kentuckian, born in the county where he now lived;but he had not amassed his million there. His father had been a planter,and left a moderate fortune to his children at his death. With his sharethe colonel had gone to New York, and embarked in business. This had ledhim to China, where he had made his million when he was fifty. Heretired, purchased the plantation which had been his father's, andanother. He built the elegant mansion where he now resided.
His partner, equally wealthy, had retired at the same time, and hadpurchased another, five miles from it. He had married the sister of thecolonel, and they had always been strong friends. The China merchant hadbuilt up Greeltop, and his brother-in-law had done the same for PlainHill. Both of them had lived on the other side of the globe a largeportion of their lives; and when they saw the American flag at the portof Hong-Kong, it meant more to them than if they had seen it every dayof their existence. One of the effects of foreign travel, or a foreignresidence, is to make American citizens love their own country all themore.
The influence of these two men, with the liberal expenditure of theirmoney, had built up the villages, and increased the population of thesurrounding region, so that they were in condition to establish a citygovernment, which is done on a small number of inhabitants in the South.This was the substance of what Colonel Coffee wished to tell thecommander of the squadron of cavalry; especially that Mr. Hasbrook, themagnate of Plain Hill, was his brother-in-law.
Both of them were loyal men; and their example, as well as theirpositive efforts, had kept alive the Union sentiment of thesurroundings. This loyalty of the people had aroused the enmity of theSecessionists of the neighboring counties. They were in especial dangerwhen the guerillas and partisan hordes began their work of pillage andoutrage.
The people of each of these places had raised a small Home Guard. Themagnates had provided them with excellent arms, and they served ratheras a police than as a military body. Most of the young men had gone intothe army on one side or the other; and fifty men in both villages wasthe most they could organize. For two weeks the inhabitants had beendreading a raid; and day and night mounted patrolmen had surrounded bothplaces. Probably the existence of the body of Home Guards had had someinfluence in preventing an assault.
The column of cavalrymen reached the camp, and the prisoners weredisposed of. Colonel Coffee was very anxious to obtain furtherinformation in regard to the raid upon Plain Hill. Lieutenant Blenks wasin charge of the camp, with only ten men; for the first company was notfar distant, and there was no considerable body of Confederate troopswithin twenty-five miles of the village, according to the bestinformation to be obtained.
"What do you know about this attack upon Plain Hill, Lieutenant?"demanded Major Lyon, as the officer saluted him on his arrival.
"Very little," replied the lieutenant, as he took a paper from hispocket, and handed it to the commander. "This note was brought here by anegro, who had run his horse all the way, I judged by the looks of theanimal."
"'The enemy are down upon us--within four miles of us.--HASBROOK,'" themajor read from the paper, which was not a sealed letter. "It isaddressed to you, Colonel Coffee," he added, as he turned it over andsaw the name on the outside.
"It has come to the right place," replied the magnate.
"Who is Hasbrook?" asked the commander; for he had not yet heard thestory of Plain Hill.
"He is my brother-in-law, standing in about the same relation to PlainHill that I do to Greeltop."
"The negro that brought the paper is still here," said the lieutenant.
The man was sent for at the request of the colonel. Major Lyon directedCaptain Gordon to have all the horses fed, and to let the men have theirsuppers as soon as possible. Captain Truman had marched with nearly thewhole of his company half an hour before, and must be near hisdestination by this time. The major and his companions had dismounted,and retired to the headquarters tent.
"It is you who have brought this message, is it, Clover?" asked ColonelCoffee, as the man was shown into the tent by a sentinel. "This man isHasbrook's steward," he added, turning to the commander.
He was a mulatto of rather dark shade, was well-dressed, and looked likean intelligent person.
"I brought the paper, sir," replied Clover. "Mr. Hasbrook sent me overwith it, and told me to carry it to your house; but when I came to thiscamp I asked the soldier in front about it, and he sent for theofficer. When I found the camp was of a Union company, I asked thecaptain to read the note, and he did so."
"You did well, Clover; to have gone to my house would have delayed therelief," added the magnate.
"The company started off at full gallop, and I stopped to see you,"continued the steward.
"But what do you know about the approach of the guerillas, Clover?"asked the colonel impatiently.
"I don't know anything, sir. One of the Home Guards came to the mansionwith the news that the guerillas were coming, and he sent me off withthe best horse in the stable. I run him all the way, and I hope I havenot hurt him."
"No matter if you have. If the second company is like the first, theywill bag the whole of the villains," said the colonel.
"The Home Guard were all mounted and gathering in the square when Ileft. They said there was a hundred men coming down on the village,"Clover concluded.
Major Lyon had ordered supper for his party to be brought to his tent.It was camp-fare, but he invited the colonel and the clergyman to joinhim.
"Do you suppose there is any danger of another invasion of Greeltopto-night from the north, Colonel Coffee?" asked the major, as the party,including Deck, were hastily disposing of the meal.
"Certainly not. I am of the opinion that the two raids upon our villageswere planned to take place at the same time, so that neither of themcould send its Home Guard to the assistance of the other. Your coming,Major Lyon, was most opportune."
"It so happens. Dexter, tell Captain Gordon to detail ten men from hiscompany to remain in the camp under command of Lieutenant Blenks, andhave the rest of his men ready to march as soon as they have finishedtheir supper," said Major Lyon.
"Then you propose to go to Plain Hill, Major?" asked the colonel.
"I have no doubt Captain Truman has force enough to protect the place;but I desire to capture as many of the ruffians as possible," repliedthe major. "Who is the captain of your Home Guard?"
"I am," replied the colonel with a smile.
"Then I wish you would order them to this camp, and relieve my men ofthe duty of guarding our prisoners."
"It shall be done at once. Mr. Elbroon, will you attend to this matter?"
"Certainly. Do you go to Plain Hill, Colonel?" replied the clergyman.
"I desire to look after the safety of my sister and her children."
"And I need the assistance of the colonel to show me the way, and pointout the localities in the town," added the major.
Mr. Elbroon mounted his horse, and hastened to the armory of the localforce. The first company had formed in the parade. Colonel Coffee hadtaken a fresh horse while near his residence. The commander and hisorderly mounted their horses.
"Lieutenant," said the major, addressing the officer of the camp, "it isremotely possible that this place may be attacked in my absence with thecompany. If such should be the case, you will make a bonfire on theknoll the other side of the road, and I think we shall be able to seeit. Have it ready to light whether it is needed or not."
The hor
ses had been watered and fed, and they were in fair condition,though they had been on the march all day. The commander led off at asmart gallop, and the company kept up with him. Life Knox was intemporary command of the second platoon. The column moved too rapidlyfor any connected conversation, and in half an hour was approachingPlain Hill.
"What can that mean, Colonel?" asked the major, as they reached the topof a hill, where a brilliant light suddenly flashed upon them. "Can itbe that the ruffians are burning the houses."
"Possibly; I don't know: but they have not yet fired Hasbrook's mansion,for I can see it on the top of Plain Hill," replied Colonel Coffee; andhis tones indicated the anxiety he felt.
"You know the place, and perhaps you can tell from the direction wherethe fire is located," added the commander.
"It appears to be right in the square."
"And what and where is the square?"
"The village is just the counterpart of Greeltop; for Hasbrook andI laid it out together. You can see his mansion on the top of the hill.The square is on the level in front of it, with the houses all aroundit."
"Then perhaps they are burning these houses," suggested the major.
"I think not. There is not volume enough in the blaze for a burninghouse, much less for several of them."
"And where is the road by which the guerillas will or have arrived atthe place?"
"It comes in on the east end of Plain Hill, behind Hasbrook's house. Ithink they would burn his mansion first; but they cannot approach it inthe rear with horses. There are about thirty men in the Home Guard here,and there will be a fight before any houses are burned," said thecolonel very decidedly.
The column descended the hill from which the light of the fire had beenseen, and dashed up another, which brought them into the village. Thenit was ascertained that a bonfire was blazing in the square, and thatthe houses were all safe.
"Who comes there?" demanded a man with a musket in his hand, as thecompany reached a broad avenue which appeared to be the principalstreet of the village.
"Friends!" returned the major.
"Who is it?" demanded the colonel.
"Walkall," replied the man, who evidently recognized the magnate ofGreeltop.
"All right, Walkall; this is another company of United States cavalry.Where are the enemy?"
"Behind Mr. Hasbrook's mansion. They have halted there; but we are allready for them."
"Where is the company of cavalry which must have arrived an hour or twosince?" inquired the major.
"I don't know just where the troopers are now; we turned over everythingto Captain Truman, and he is managing the matter," replied Walkall. "Hestationed me here to report if an enemy came in on the Greeltop road."
Captain Gordon had been ordered to halt the company. Deck was sent withthe sentinel to find the captain of the second company, and the firstwas to remain at the corner. They followed the road leading to the homeof the magnate, which crossed the principal avenue of the village, andcame to another, parallel to it, along the rear of the square. At thispoint they were challenged; and it could be seen by the light of thefire that sentinels were stationed all along this street.
"Who comes there?" demanded the sentinel.
"Messenger from the major of the squadron, directed to find CaptainTruman."
"Can't pass here," added the sentinel decidedly.
"Where is Captain Truman?" asked Deck.
"I don't know no more'n the dead."
At this moment a trooper rode up, and recognized the messenger.
"All right, Deck; you can pass, but the other man cannot," said thecavalryman, when he had stated his business.
Deck thought the captain had adopted some singular strategy.
