by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXXV
A FIRST LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN
The reading of the commission was an unusual proceeding; but therecipient of it appeared to consider it advisable, especially asseveral changes in the organization were to be announced. The documentwas dated back over two months, and made him who had been known asCaptain Woodbine on the staff a brigadier-general. A chorus of cheersresounded all along the lines as Deck finished the reading of thecommission, especially from the Riverlawn Cavalry.
General Woodbine acknowledged the compliment with dignity. He explainedthat his commission had been in his keeping since the date appended toit; but he had preferred to retain his position on the staff of GeneralThomas, who had insisted that morning that he should assume the rank towhich he was entitled; for the services of one so well acquainted withthe country, both in Kentucky and Tennessee, were needed at this time.
He had been permitted to select the force to form his brigade, and hehad chosen those that he regarded as best fitted for the duty to whichhe expected to be assigned. Major Lyon would retain the command of theRiverlawn Cavalry, and Major Richland that of the other squadron ofKentucky cavalry, while Captain Batterson would remain at the head ofthe battery on the field, attached to the brigade.
"Lieutenant Lyon, of the first company of the Riverlawn Squadron,"continued the general, "is promoted from the rank of second to that offirst lieutenant; and I have the pleasure of presenting to him hiscommission;" and he handed to him the important document.
A spontaneous volley of cheers burst from the ranks of both companiesof the Riverlawns, for Deck was as popular in one company as in theother; and it was continued till the general stopped it with a wave ofhis hand.
"First Lieutenant Lyon is appointed to serve on the staff of thegeneral in command," added the commander of the brigade. "SecondLieutenant Herndon is also promoted to the rank of first lieutenant,and he will come forward to receive his commission. He is alsoappointed to serve on my staff."
An outburst of cheers followed from the Marion Cavalry, as they hadchosen to call themselves, in which both the Riverlawns and the batteryjoined. Lieutenant Herndon rode forward to the position of the general;and Deck observed him with the most intense interest, for he was likelyto be his most intimate companion in future campaigns. He was a youngman of not more than twenty-one, but he was six feet in height, wellbuilt, and quite muscular. He had a decidedly handsome face, with avery pleasant expression; and Deck was sure that he was popular withthe ladies. The general presented his commission to him, which hereceived with a graceful bow.
"Lieutenant Lyon, let me introduce to you Lieutenant Herndon; and asyou are now members of my military family, I hope you will be goodfriends," said General Woodbine; and the two young men grasped eachother's hands, and the meeting was as cordial as it was promising forthe future.
"The major, in consultation with the captains of the companies in whichthe vacancies occur, will fill them by appointing acting secondlieutenants; and, if practicable, I will thank them to send me thenames of those selected at once," continued the general, as he fellinto conversation with his newly appointed staff-officers.
In less than five minutes a messenger came from each of the battalionsbearing the names of the appointees; and in both cases they were theorderly sergeants of the companies.
"Eliphalet Knox is appointed acting second lieutenant of the firstcompany of Riverlawn Cavalry, and Thomas Jefferson to the same positionin the first company of Marion Cavalry; and they will be obeyed andrespected as such," said the general, as he read the names from thepapers.
This announcement was received with cheers, as the others had been, andthe business of the occasion was finished. The parade was dismissed.The baggage-wagons, each drawn by eight mules on account of thecondition of the roads and fields, an abundant supply of which had beencollected on the field of battle, and taken from the breastworks atBeech Grove, were in the road.
Deck and Life were heartily congratulated by officers and soldiers; andCaptain Gordon expressed his regret at the loss of such a usefullieutenant as the appointee on the staff of the general had been.
The general then gave the order for the brigade to form for a marchthough it was six o'clock in the afternoon; and the new aids performedtheir first duty as such in carrying the order to the commanders of thethree bodies of troops. It was ascertained that the commission of MajorLyon antedated that of Major Richland, and the right of the column wasgiven to the Riverlawns. Of course there was no end of conjecture as towhere the brigade was to march; but the general did not whisper a wordin regard to his destination to any one.
The brigade marched but about five miles, and it was after dark when ithalted and went into camp. The general had been unusually taciturn onthe way, and it was evident to his aids that he was troubled aboutsomething. The tents were pitched, and the horses picketed. In hismarquee the commander of the expedition placed his maps on the table,and began to study them with an intensity which prevented the othermembers of his family from saying anything, even between themselves,though he had required them to remain near him.
"Neither of you officers, I believe, has ever been on staff-duty," saidhe, suddenly whirling about on his stool, and facing them.
Neither of them had ever served except as the officer of a platoon.
"Then you must learn in the beginning that absolute secrecy is requiredin my family, in regard to all orders and military movements," addedthe general.
"I have already learned that lesson," replied Deck.
"I have learned it now; and my lips will hereafter be like the shell ofan oyster," added Lieutenant Herndon, who was such a pleasant fellowthat he had already excited the admiration of his associate on thestaff.
"I am exceedingly anxious to learn upon what point the enemy on theother side of the river are moving," continued General Woodbine,speaking in a very low tone so that the sentinel outside the tent couldnot hear him. "I satisfied myself this morning that they are moving tothe southward; but they would be obliged to follow the road to OakForest if Crittenden intended to recross the Cumberland, and make araid into Kentucky to obtain supplies; therefore I am entirely in thedark."
"I should say that it would not be a difficult matter to obtain theinformation you need, General," suggested Deck.
"How?" demanded the commander, fixing an earnest gaze upon the face ofthe lieutenant.
"The Confederate army is so crippled for the want of horses and mulesthat it can move only at a snail's pace," answered Deck. "A companycould be sent over"--
"Quite impossible!" exclaimed the general. "We have no boats, thoughthey might be obtained farther down the stream."
"A couple of scouts, then," added the lieutenant.
"Whom could I send on such an errand?" asked the commander with asmile.
"Me for one; and I should be willing to go alone if I knew thecountry," replied Deck very promptly. "My horse Ceph would take me overthe river."
"Have you forgotten the dead horses that strewed the shores of thestream, and the four men who were drowned in trying to cross in aboat?"
"Those men were no boatmen, and I have had some experience in thatline. I am willing to take my chances of getting over, sir."
The subject was discussed for a full hour longer, and Deck carried hispoint; but he concluded that he was unwilling to risk the loss of Ceph,and would go over in Cuffy's boat, and find a horse on the other side.It was decided that he must have some one with him who was acquaintedwith the region they were to visit, even to a considerable distanceinto the State of Tennessee. Life Knox was sent for; and he informedthe general that he had travelled all over the country mentionedseveral times when he was buying horses for a trader, though it wasmany years before. He was willing to go anywhere and do anything withDeck.
"I suppose you know very well, both of you, that if you were caught,and your mission understood, you would be hung or shot without benefitof clergy," said General Woodbine impressively.
"We shall
come back, and with the information you want, in forty-eighthours," replied Deck confidently.
"Do you intend to go over in the full uniform of a staff-officer?"inquired the general.
"I think not, sir. If you will leave the matter to Life and me, we willmanage all the details."
"Very well; you will perhaps find my command at Burkesville when youreturn," added the general, rising from his seat at the table; andtaking the hands of the scouts, he wished them a safe return, and theyleft the tent.
They walked back to the shanty of Cuffy, and found him seated in hiskitchen. Not a word was said to Major Lyon about the enterprise of hisson; and Deck could not bid good-by to his father, his brother, or tothe many friends he had in the squadron. Both of them were in uniform,and they had no difficulty in passing the guards.
Cuffy was not only a ferryman, but a river-driver. He made a businessof picking up whatever floated down the stream, not excepting the deadbodies of men and horses, the former for their clothing and whatevertheir pockets contained, and the latter for the saddles and bridles onthem. He buried the bodies of the men in a pit he had made for thepurpose, drying and storing in his house portions of their clothing.
It required a good deal of talking and a handsome reward to induce theferryman to exhibit his stock of clothing; but from it the scouts tookwhat they needed; and were soon clothed in rusty and damagedConfederate uniforms of privates. They bargained for the use for twodays of Cuffy's boat, and embarked about midnight on their mission. TheCumberland was still in a turbulent condition; but Deck had seen enoughof the stream to enable him to avoid the dangerous places. At the pointwhere Deck and Fronklyn had landed, they had a hard battle with theraging current; but the skill of the lieutenant and the strength ofLife carried them safely through the peril.
At daylight in the morning, they discovered a creek flowing into theriver from the south side. They pulled up this stream five or six milestill the shallow water interrupted their further progress. Theyconcealed the boat very carefully, and then proceeded on foot up thestream till they came to a house, more elaborate than most of thedwellings in this region. They found a negro cutting up wood near thehouse. He told them that it was the home of Colonel Bickford, who hadbeen very badly wounded in the battle on the other side of the river,and had reached his residence the night before.
"We want some breakfast," said Deck.
"Can't hab it, Mars'r. Missus won't feed no more runaway sodjers,"replied the servant.
"Perhaps she will," added Life, as he led the way to the house, andentered the kitchen without an invitation.
He could see in the next room that a table was set, and the cook wasputting the food on the table. Without asking any questions, Lifeentered the room, and seated himself at the table. The cook protested,and then screamed with all her might, which brought the lady of thehouse to the apartment. Another black woman went to the door, andcalled to the man they had seen at the woodpile.
"I am sorry to trouble you, madam," said Deck, as politely as thelandlord of a summer hotel. "We have been travelling all night, and weare very hungry."
"I can't help that; I won't feed any more runaways. Leave the housethis minute, or I will call my servants to eject you!" stormed thelady.
"Call 'em, marm," replied Life, taking one of the pair of revolvers hecarried from his pocket, and placing it at the side of his plate, Deckfollowing his example.
"THE UNWELCOME VISITORS POINTED THEIR WEAPONS." _Page461._]
The lady deemed it prudent to retire; but four stout negroes appearedat the door. The unwelcome visitors pointed their weapons at them, andthey fled at the sight of them. The two black women became verytractable, and the wanderers ate their fill of ham and eggs,supplemented with waffles. Deck left his thanks and two dollars for thelady of the house, and they retired. They went to the stable next,where they found four horses. They took from the harness-room a coupleof plain saddles and bridles, with which they prepared the two besthorses for their own use. Mounting them, they hastened up the road onthe bank of the creek.
CHAPTER XXXVI
SCOUTING IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY
Colonel Bickford was evidently a gentleman of taste, for he hadselected a beautiful locality for his residence; but the scouts had notyet learned whether he was a Unionist or a Confederate. They were stillin Kentucky, though not more than ten miles from the Tennessee line.When they had ridden a couple of miles, they met half a dozen negroes,with fishing-rods on their shoulders.
"Going a-fishing?" asked Deck, as he reined in his steed.
"Yes, sar. De sodjers done took all de meat in de country, and all decorn. Niggers can't git not'in t'eat 'cept out ob de creeks," repliedthe foremost of the party, who was a light mulatto.
"Who lives in the house a mile or two down the stream?" continued Deck.
"Cun'l Bickford."
"Oh, yes; he is a Union man," added Deck.
"No, sar!" exclaimed the mulatto vigorously. "Cun'l ob a Tennesseeregiment. Whar you git his coach hosses?"
"I'll tell you about that next summer; but we only borrowed them for acouple of days. He is badly wounded I heard."
"Yes, sar; fotched home on a stretcher from Monticello, whar he com'dwid de army."
"Why didn't he come down to Newberry along with the army?" asked Life,who knew precisely where he was when Monticello was mentioned.
"De army don't come dis way, dey foller de road by de Souf Forks."
"Where do they go then?"
"Dunno, Mars'r; dey don't tell whar de go," replied the mulatto,shaking his head.
This man seemed to be intelligent, and know more about the region thanmost of the negroes. Deck bade them good-by, and resumed his march.
"I dunno's we need go any furder," said Life, after they had gone a fewrods.
"I hope we shall be able to obtain more reliable information than fromthe reports of these darkeys," replied Deck, who was in favor of doingthe work thoroughly.
"Jest as you say, Lieutenant; but if they had come down this way we'd'a' seen some stragglers," answered the Kentuckian. "I reckon I knowjust whar they are gwine, 'cause I've been over the road myself.They'll foller the South Fork, and strike Jamestown, Fentress County,and from there make for Gainsborough, where they can git steamboats totote them to Nashville."
"There is a village ahead," said Deck.
"That is Newberry" (as it was then called).
They went into the place, and found a grocery store and post-office.They halted near it, and spent some time in a consultation. AtJamestown they could determine with certainty where the army was going.It was a little over twenty miles, while the road the army had takenwas quite thirty, though the roads were better by the latter route.Deck promptly decided to proceed to Jamestown. They deemed itadvisable to avoid the towns, especially Albany, the capital of thecounty; and it seemed to be necessary to provide themselves with aquantity of food, for they might not be able to procure a dinner or asupper as readily as they had a breakfast.
They dismounted, and entered the store. They found the postmaster halfasleep behind his counter; and when Deck inquired if he had anything toeat, he replied in a very sulky manner that he had nothing. He had beenrobbed of about everything he had that was eatable by runaway soldierslike themselves, who had deserted from the army.
"Haven't you got anything?" persisted Deck.
"Not a thing; a dozen of you runaways came here last night, and tookeverything I had, and never paid me a cent for what they carried off,and threatened to shoot me if I made a row about it. I can't afford tokeep store for sech fellers," protested the man, with intense disgust.
"But I have a little money, and I am willing to pay for whatever weobtain," added the lieutenant.
The storekeeper raised his head sharply, and appeared to be wide awakeat these words.
"Don't you think you could raise something for us?" asked Deck.
"Provisions is mighty skeece down here, for the army has picked upeverything they could find; and we are as p
oor as starved turkeys."
"Well, if you hain't got nothin', of course we can't git nothin',"added Life.
"If you're gwine to pay for what you have, I might raise somethin' foryou," said the storekeeper. "I bought two mighty handsome chickensyesterday, and had to give a dollar apiece for 'em. My wife roasted 'emlast night, and hid 'em away for our own use. If you don't mind payin'two dollars apiece for 'em, you shall have 'em."
"All right; bring them along," answered Deck.
The man left the store, and was absent about ten minutes, when hereturned with the chickens. They were quite large, and were a toothsomemorsel for hungry men. Deck then called for a dollar's worth ofcrackers, which the storekeeper had to bring from their hiding-placeoutside the building. General Woodbine had provided him with five goldhalf-eagles, which the lieutenant had concealed in as many differentplaces about his own and Life's person, and a few dollars' worth ofsilver.
Deck paid in gold for the provisions. The postmaster, who looked like ahappy man since he saw the precious coin, wrapped the chickens inpapers, putting a little package of salt with each; and the wanderersstuffed them into their capacious pockets, finding also space enoughfor the crackers.
"We are all right now," said Deck, as they left the shop, and hastenedto the tree where they had left their horses.
"We sha'n't starve, nohow," replied Life.
When they came in sight of the horses, they discovered with surpriseand chagrin four men, evidently deserters from the Confederate army,two of whom were untying the bridles of the animals. One of them hadsucceeded in doing so, and was about to mount the steed.
"What are you about thar?" demanded Life, as he stalked towards the manwho had a foot in the stirrup.
The deserter stopped for an instant, and then leaped on the horse.
"I reckon we need those hosses more'n you uns do," replied the fellowcoolly and impudently.
"I reckon you won't have 'em," replied Life. Reaching up his long rightarm, and grasping the man by the throat, he dragged him from the animalin the twinkling of an eye, pitching him on the ground as though he hadbeen a piece of carrion; and he lay there looking at the stalwart formof the Kentuckian, not much inclined to close with him.
The sergeant held the horse recaptured, which he had ridden so far, andDeck advanced upon the other. But the other two went to his aid, andplanted themselves between Deck and his steed. They did not appear tobe armed, having doubtless thrown away their heavy flint-lock muskets,though they might have pistols in their pockets.
"I reckon you uns can't have these hosses," said one of the men infront of the other two.
"I reckon we can and will," replied Deck, drawing one of his revolversfrom his pocket. "Out of the way!"
The fellow in front made a spring at the lieutenant with the evidentintention of wresting the revolver from him; but Deck was too quick forhim, and fired. He dropped his right hand, and covered his shoulderwith the left.
"Leave that horse!" shouted Deck, aiming at the man who was at work onthe bridle.
At this moment Life, who had mounted his horse, rode to his side. Theone who had stood near the wounded man was feeling in his pockets, whenthe tall Kentuckian rode upon him, and seizing him by the collar liftedhim clear of the ground, and flung him nearly a rod from him. He struckheavily against a log, and did not move again. Life then rode up to theman at the other horse, and would have served him in the same way if hehad not run away into the woods. Deck unhitched the horse, mounted him,and both of them rode off at a gallop.
"We shall be likely to meet more of them carrion," said Life; "for thewoods and the roads are full of 'em."
"It is best to avoid them if we can," suggested Deck.
"I reckon we kin; for we're gwine to strike across the country,"replied the sergeant, now an acting second lieutenant, as he took fromhis pocket a small compass, which had served him in the wilds of thefar West.
A little farther along, Life turned into a cart-path in the woods, andthen halted. Poising the compass, he watched the needle for some time.
"This path is just what we want; for it runs to the south. I wentthrough here somewhere with four horses, and a nigger for a guide,years ago on my way to Nashville. It ain't more'n five miles to ElliottRoads, and then a little more'n twenty to Jamestown. I cal'late we'llgit thar to-night."
In about an hour they came to the end of the cart-path. Life used hiscompass again; and they continued, aided by the position of the sun,till they came to another path, leading to the south. The Kentuckiansaid they saved about ten miles by taking this cross-cut; and they soonreached the main road. Avoiding the two villages of Elliott's Roads andPall Mall, as they were called then but not now, by going around them,they returned to the main road again.
It was a hilly region; for the Cumberland Mountains were not more thanten miles from them, covered with forests, and hardly cultivated atall. In a lonely place they turned into the woods to feed the horses.Behind his saddle, Deck had a grain-bag containing half a bushel ofoats in each end, provided by the forethought of the Kentuckian at thestable of Colonel Bickford. A liberal feed was emptied on the ground ina clean place, which the horses greedily devoured.
The riders produced the chickens; and one of them soon disappeared witha corresponding quantity of the crackers. A mountain brook rippled nearthem, and the thirst of both men and horses was slaked in its clearwaters. Perhaps each of the scouts had slept an hour in the boat byturns, and they put in another hour at this halt, as much for thebenefit of the horses as for that of the men. Refreshed and invigoratedby the food and the sleep, they renewed the march. About three milesfarther on, as they were descending a hill, they were not a littleastonished to see half a dozen men stretch themselves suddenly acrossthe narrow road, blocking their passage.
Like the others they had encountered at Newberry, they were plainlydeserters; and two of them had muskets which they pointed at thescouts. Three to one was a large odds. Even Life believed it was moreprudent to run than to fight; and wheeling his horse, he bade Deckfollow him. The forest was open enough to permit the passage of horses,and a couple of rods back the leader turned into the woods. Deckfollowed him closely; and they made a sweep around, and then struck outfor the road again. But they were checkmated by the deserters, who randown the highway to intercept them. They formed across the road again,the two armed ones taking aim at them.
The ruffians had got in ahead of them, and again the two muskets staredat them. Both of them drew their revolvers, for they had no idea ofbeing stopped in the execution of their mission.
"Hallo, you uns!" shouted one of the men. "We don't want to hurt you;but we want them hosses, and we must have 'em."
"You can't have 'em!" shouted Life.
"And if you've got any grub we want that!" called another of theruffians.
"Out of the way!" yelled Life, as he spurred on his horse.
As they started, the armed men fired. Neither of the scouts fell fromhis horse; but Deck clapped his right hand upon his left arm close tohis shoulder. He did not keep it there for more than a moment, butgrasped his revolver. The two horsemen rode down the ruffians, firingtheir weapons with great rapidity. Two of the assailants had fallen inthe road, and two more had been hit. The scouts drew their secondpistols, and continued to fire. A third fell, and then the others raninto the woods, hiding themselves behind the trees.
The result was decisive enough to satisfy the riders, and they went offat a lively gallop. The work of that day was done; and though they sawother skulkers, they were not again attacked. At five o'clock in theafternoon they reached the vicinity of Jamestown, the capital ofFentress County. They could not help learning, both from sights andsounds, that there was great excitement in the village. A convenientand partially wooded hill lay on their right, which they decided toascend.
This elevation commanded a complete view of the village and itssurroundings; and they witnessed the approach of General Crittenden'sarmy. It did not halt, but proceeded to a more convenientcamp
ing-ground. It moved out of the place by the Livingston Road; andthis settled the question in the mind of Lieutenant Knox, and they hadaccomplished their mission.
"We have nothin' to do now but to git back to the brigade," said Life.
"Shall we start back to-night?" asked Deck wearily.
"Does your wound pain you, my boy?" asked the Kentuckian tenderly.
"Not much; but I am willing to admit that I am very tired," answeredDeck.
"This is not a good place to stop over night," added Life.
"I could ride all night if it were necessary."
"No; but we will halt somewhere near where we did for dinner to-day."
Life led the way down the hill to the road. Everybody in the villagehad gone to see the army; but they met a negro half a mile from theplace, and the Kentuckian questioned him. He confirmed the conclusionat which they had arrived; and they rode on till they came after darkto the spot where they had halted at dinner-time.
Life had dressed the wound of his companion, which was a slight affair.Deck had brought with him the bandages and salve his mother had givenhim, and the injury was doing very well. The horses were watered andfed, and half of the remaining chicken was consumed by the riders. Thescouts stretched themselves on the ground, where they slept the sleepof the just for five hours.
At one o'clock the horses were saddled, and the march was resumed. Inthe forenoon of the next day they reached Newberry by the route theyhad taken the day before. They had eaten the last of the chickens andcrackers, and they stopped at the post-office to obtain more. Thestorekeeper had procured and cooked two more, which he was glad to sellat the same price, with an abundant supply of crackers. He addedanother half-eagle to his funds, and became very friendly to them. Buthe asked no troublesome questions, not even to what Confederateregiment they belonged. He wished them a safe and pleasant journey, andthey proceeded on their way.
Their boat was not where they left it; and they rode along the creektill they discovered it in the middle of the stream, occupied by twonegroes, who were fishing. Life ordered them to bring it to the shore,to which the fishermen objected, for they were having remarkably goodluck. But when the Kentuckian pointed his revolver at the speaker, theypulled to the shore at once. Deck noticed that they handled the oarsvery well; and he offered them five dollars if they would row the boatto Cuffy's ferry. They turned loose their horses, and they made theirway back to their own stable.
The offer was a godsend to the negroes, and they promptly accepted it.Without their services the scouts would have been in a bad situation,for Deck's wounded arm rendered him unfit to row against the current ofthe great river. He had learned the dangerous places, and under hisdirection the ferry was reached in safety.
"Whar you done been to, Mars'rs?" asked Cuffy as they landed.
"We ask questions, but don't answer them," replied Deck. "Bring out ouruniforms, and have two horses ready for us."
The scouts, after they had washed themselves, put on their uniforms,and again they looked like Union officers. Cuffy set the two negroesover the river; and with two dollars and a half in the pockets of each,they were satisfied with their day's work. The brigade with the lightbattery attached had marched, and were doubtless in Burkesville at thetime the scouts arrived at the ferry. Deck and Life, one or both ofthem, had slept most of the way during the long and hard pull up theriver, and they were in tolerable good condition when they landed.
Cuffy had the four horses left at the ferry by the deserters who hadbeen drowned, and the two officers took the two best ones. It was allof forty miles by the roads to Burkesville, where the general said hemight be on their return. After the best supper the ferryman couldprovide for them, they started on their journey, following the river.
On their arrival, about midnight, at Creelsboro', they were agreeablysurprised to find the brigade there. The general had given them thecountersign, and the lieutenants were promptly recognized by thesentinels. They were conducted to the tent of General Woodbine, who wascalled by his servant.
"I am very glad to see you, Lieutenant Lyon; and you also," said thecommander, as he took them both by the hand. "I did not expect to seeyou before to-morrow. Have you obtained the information I need?"
"We have, General," replied Deck. "We saw the Confederate army on themarch through Jamestown, and on the way to Livingston, which makes itcertain that General Crittenden is going to Gainsboro'."
"Where he can obtain steamboats to convey his army to Nashville,"supplemented the general. "I am satisfied now. I feared thatCrittenden might march from Monticello, when I saw him headed in thatdirection from Oak Forest, by the way of Seventy-Six to the river, andthen cross to Burkesville, and pick up the supplies of which he is insuch great need. I must await further orders here. I have no doubt youare very tired, and one of the sentinels will conduct you to yourtents."
"I think Lieutenant Lyon had better see Dr. Farnwright before he goesto sleep," said Life.
"Is he wounded?" asked the general, with interest and anxiety.
"Only slightly. We had a skrimmage with half a dozen deserters from theenemy, and licked 'em handsome," added Life.
The officers were shown to their tents, and the surgeon sent for. Thewound was carefully dressed, and the doctor said it would be well inthree days. He slept soundly after the long and hard journey; and thesurgeon had ordered him to remain in his tent if the brigade did notmarch in the morning, which it did not. The first persons to call uponhim were his father and his brother.
"Where have you been, Dexter?" asked Major Lyon, after his wound hadbeen considered. "I did not know you had been absent till this morning,though I missed Lieutenant Knox when I saw Sergeant Fronklyn at thehead of his platoon."
"Life and I have been away on secret service; and for furtherparticulars you must apply to General Woodbine," replied Deck with ameaning smile.
"I shall not apply to the general," added the major. "I am glad yourwound is no worse; and I hope your new duties on the staff will beagreeable to you."
"I know they will, especially if I get my share of the fighting,"answered Deck.
But the story of this campaign of the Riverlawn Cavalry, ending withthe decisive battle of Mill Springs, is completed. Deck Lyon has wonand obtained his promotion, and has entered upon a new sphere of duty,in which his bravery, skill, and enterprise enabled him to distinguishhimself.
Before noon a messenger, escorted by a squad of cavalrymen, arrived atthe camp with sealed orders for General Woodbine, and bearing a largebag of letters for the officers and soldiers. There were several forMajor Lyon and for his two sons. They were from home; and everything atRiverlawn was quiet and prosperous, with no evidences of war near thefamily.
Levi Bedford kept a watch every night at the fort named after him, andthe fifty-one negroes were as tractable as usual. A number of them hadbeen drilled for service in case of need, but fortunately there hadbeen no occasion for their services. Through his sister Dorcas, KateBelthorpe sent her regards to Deck, and he had something to think of ashe sat in his tent.
Among the major's letters was one which had been forwarded from hisbrother Titus, then in a prison-camp in the North. He had writtenbefore, and the major had replied to his letter. Titus had beeninformed that his two sons had enlisted in the Riverlawn squadron, andwere good soldiers. Titus had no whiskey ration, or the means ofobtaining liquor. It was plain from his letter that he was forced to bea sober man; and his sentiments were much more reasonable than they hadever been before. The major wrote to him again, informing him that hisson Orly had been killed in action while bravely doing his duty as asoldier.
General Woodbine had his orders; and the information obtained by thescouts showed that he had no mission on this part of the frontier ofTennessee, and he must wait for further instructions. He sent a fullaccount of the situation in this portion of Kentucky, in which therewas no Confederate force of any magnitude,--none except guerillas andhome banditti. But orders soon came, and the cavalry brigade and lightbatt
ery were moved to the westward.
Those who are disposed to follow Deck Lyon in his further militarycareer through marches, battles, and adventures, will find it set forthin the succeeding volume of this series, taking its title from theofficial position of the hero, "ON THE STAFF," though he is now a firstlieutenant at eighteen.
