Frank Before Vicksburg

by Harry Castlemon

  CHAPTER VIII.

  Taking Down the Captain.

  When Frank's consciousness returned, he found himself lying on the floorof the cabin, where the fight had taken place which resulted in hiscapture by the guerrillas, his head supported by a dirty blanket, rolledup to serve as a pillow, and the mate sitting on a three-legged chairbeside him. Through the open door could be seen a squad of theWild-cats, lounging under the shade of the trees.

  Slowly the recollection of the scenes through which he had passed, thesentence he had heard pronounced, the preparations he had seen made forhis execution, came to his mind, and he instinctively put his hand tohis throat, as if expecting to find it encircled by the fatal rope.

  "Are you on an even keel now, my hearty?" asked the mate.

  "Where are the guerrillas, Jack?" asked Frank. "Are we safe?"

  "O yes, we're safe from them, but we are still prisoners."

  At this moment a shaggy head, nearly covered up with a slouch hat, wasthrust in at the door, and a voice inquired:

  "Are you all right now, Yank? If you are, come out here, for we must beoff."

  Frank, although very weak, was able, with the assistance of the mate, towalk out of the cabin, where they found several of the rebels mounted,and waiting for them. They were each given a horse, after which theWild-cats closed about their prisoners, as if to put all furtherattempts at escape out of the question, and conducted them down the roadat a rapid gallop.

  As soon as Frank's ideas had fairly returned, he began to make inquiriesin regard to the singular manner in which he and the mate had beenrescued, and learned that the men by whom they had been captured wereguerrillas, in spite of what they had said to the contrary; that theymade war on rebel as well as Union people, and being especiallyobnoxious to Colonel Harrison--from whom they had stolen severalhorses--they had been summarily disposed of. At first Frank couldscarcely credit the statement that they had been rescued through theagency of the very negro to whom they owed their capture; but, afterbeing assured that such was the case, it occurred to them that theirapproach had first been discovered by the rebels in the cabin, and thatthe negro, to save his own life, had acted in obedience to their orders;and then, to make amends for what had at first appeared to be an act oftreachery, he had conveyed the news of their capture to ColonelHarrison.

  As soon as they had fairly started, the orderly sergeant galloped upbeside Frank, and inquired:

  "Yank, how did you get out of that cabin that night? Nobody don't seemto know nothing about it."

  "I have already told him, sir," said the mate, "that we walked by thesentinel when he was asleep; but he don't believe it."

  Frank then proceeded to give an account of the manner in which theirescape had been effected, and as it corresponded with the mate's story,the sergeant was compelled to believe it.

  "Purty well done," said he. "But, mind you, don't go to tryin' it onagin, 'cause, if you do, it's the colonel's orders that you both go indouble irons."

  Having delivered this piece of information, the sergeant rode up to thehead of the column. The prisoners did not again attempt to escape, forthey knew that it would be an impossibility. They were closely watched,not a single movement escaping observation. Wherever they went, twostalwart rebels were at their heels; and when they slept, their guardsstood over them with loaded muskets. That same evening they overtook themain body of the regiment, and on the sixth day after their rescue fromthe guerrillas, they arrived opposite the village of Napoleon, where theexchange was to take place. The Ticonderoga was not there, but two daysafterward she made her appearance; and, as soon as she had dropped heranchor, a boat was seen approaching the shore with a flag of truceflying in the bow. The colonel waved his handkerchief in reply. As theboat drew near, Frank saw two men in rebel uniform seated in thestern-sheets, and he knew, from the remarks made by the Wild-cats, thatone of them was the officer for whom he was to be exchanged.

  As soon as the boat touched the shore, the executive officer sprang out,followed by the two rebels. After a moment's conversation with thecolonel, the former advanced toward Frank and the mate, and, aftergreeting them cordially, exclaimed:

  "Come aboard the ship, boys; you belong to Uncle Sam once more."

  The mate could scarcely believe that he, too, was exchanged. He hadexpected nothing less than a long confinement in Vicksburg, or perhaps amarch to Shreveport; but, as it happened, the captain of the Ticonderogahad found a rebel soldier on board the flag-ship, and had obtainedpermission from the admiral to exchange him for the mate.

  "Yes, Yanks," said the colonel, "you are at liberty to make yourselvesscarce as soon as you choose."

  The prisoners lingered only to shake hands with Lieutenant Somers, whohad treated them very kindly, and had often found means to procure themmany little privileges and comforts, and then ran down the bank andsprang into the boat, which at once pushed from the shore and startedtoward the Ticonderoga. As Frank came over the side, the officerscrowded around him, asking innumerable questions in relation to thetreatment he had received while in the hands of the rebels; but he wasscarcely allowed time to answer one-half of their inquiries before hewas summoned into the presence of the captain.

  That gentleman greeted him in the most cordial manner, requesting him tobe seated and relate his adventures. Frank gave a minute description ofthe manner in which he had transacted the business intrusted to him withthe flag of truce, his recapture by the Wild-cats, and the circumstancesthat had led to the retention of the boatswain's mate; recounted theplans he had laid for their escape, their reception by the guerrillas,and, finally, the rescue from a horrible death, to all of which thecaptain listened attentively. After Frank had finished, the captainsaid:

  "It is, of course, needless to say that I am overjoyed to see you safeon board the ship again, Mr. Nelson, and that you have returned nonethe worse for your sojourn among the rebels. I am especially glad,because I wish to make you an explanation. You have been misrepresentedto me, and I was very hasty in reprimanding you as I did on the day thatyou behaved so gallantly in the fight at Cypress Bend. It was on accountof the report of Mr. Howe, who assumed command of the expedition afterthe captain had been killed. His report showed that we had been severelywhipped; and when I learned what a slaughter there had been of the men Iplaced under your command, and which I find, upon inquiry, was caused bythe ignorance of your superior officer, and not by any fault of yourown--I say, when I heard of this, I was so completely disheartened thatI scarcely knew what I was about. It was the first time that ever anexpedition that I had planned failed, and also the first time in my lifethat I ever gave the order to retreat; and as I had every reason to hopefor success, you can have some idea of how I felt. After you had gone,many facts came to light, of which no mention was made in Mr. Howe'sreport, and with which I was, of course, unacquainted, and I find thatI have done you a great injustice. If ever a man earned ashoulder-strap, you did at that fight. I have, however, sent in yourapplication for a court of inquiry, and have also represented the caseto the admiral. As soon as we arrive at the flag-ship, you will reportto him, and he will investigate the case."

  Frank, as can easily be imagined, listened to this statement with a muchlighter heart than when he had received that unjust reprimand. After thecaptain had finished questioning him in relation to incidents that hadtranspired during his captivity, he left the cabin, and went forwardinto the steerage, where he found his mess just sitting down to dinner.

  "Well, Frank," exclaimed Keys, as the former entered and took his placeat the table, "was the captain glad to see you?"

  "Yes, he appeared to be," replied Frank.

  "I thought as much. He has been as uneasy as a fish out of water eversince you were captured. He told the executive officer that if there wasany thing he had ever done that he regretted, it was that he had givenyou that blowing up. He said that he had no right to talk to you as hedid, and that he would make amends for it at the very firstopportunity."

  "Did he?" inqui
red Mr. French, eagerly. "I was certain that the navyregulations state distinctly that the captain of a vessel has no rightto reprimand an officer, and that, if he does do it, he can be made toapologize. He once gave me a blowing up, and said that I was of no moreaccount on this ship than an extra boiler; and, if he has apologized toMr. Nelson, he must do the same by me. I'll go and see him immediatelyafter dinner."

  The effect of this speech on the older members of the mess can be easilyimagined. They looked at Mr. French for a moment, to see if he wasreally in earnest, and then burst into a fit of the most uproariouslaughter. The idea of forcing the captain of a gun-boat to apologize toone of his subordinate officers for administering a reprimand that hereally deserved, was ludicrous in the extreme. Mr. Keys was the only onewho could keep a straight face. He, with his ready wit, at once saw thathere was a capital chance to satisfy his love of mischief. He droppedhis knife and fork, looked first at one, then at another, and, when thenoise had subsided, said, quietly:

  "I don't see where the laugh comes in. Perhaps some of you gentlementhink that an officer has no right to demand an apology from a superior!Then I can tell you that you are very much mistaken, for I have got thewhole thing in black and white, copied from the navy regulations; and,if I was in Mr. French's place, I would make the captain take back whathe said, or I would report him."

  We must pause here, for a moment, to say that the result of Mr. French'sinterview with the captain, when the former had complained that his rankwas not respected, had become known. Mr. Keys, who had overheard everyword of it, and who was one of those uneasy, mischief-loving fellows whoalways liked to see some one in hot water, considered the joke as toogood to be kept, and had told it, confidentially of course, first tothis officer, then to that one, until every person on board the ship hadbecome acquainted with the particulars; and thus far Mr. French had beencompelled to bear the jokes of his messmates without any chance ofobtaining redress. However, he had discovered it at last. The captainhad apologized to Frank, and he must do the same by him, if he wished tokeep out of trouble. He was certain that he should succeed this time,for he knew that Keys had been in the service long enough to become wellacquainted with its rules and regulations, and there was such apparenttruthfulness and sincerity in what he said, that Mr. French was certainof bringing the captain to terms.

  "Yes, sir," repeated Keys; "if my superior officer abuses me, I shallseek redress. Because a man wears three or four stripes of gold lacearound his arms, he has no right to impose upon me."

  "I shall see the captain about it as soon as I have finished my dinner,"said Mr. French, decidedly.

  "You had better let that job out," said the caterer, who, being a veryquiet, staid sort of a person, did not wish to see any disturbance. "Youwill remember that you got a blowing up once for not taking my advice. Ihave been in the navy longer than you, and you had better listen tome."

  "I know that you have more experience than myself," answered French;"but that experience doesn't tell you that a captain can use me as hepleases. I have rank as well as he has. Besides, you see, I have theadvantage this time."

  "Yes, sir," chimed in Keys, winking at Frank, who struggled hard tosuppress a laugh, "and, if you will only push the matter, you will seesome fun on this ship."

  Here the subject was dropped. Immediately after dinner was finished, asusual, the officers all congregated under the awning on the main-deck.Mr. French walked up and down the deck, conversing earnestly with histwo friends, who, entirely ignorant of what might be the consequences ofsuch a step, were urging him to seek an interview with the captain, todemand an apology, which would certainly be given, and would show theship's company that they _had_ rank, and that it must be respected.

  Frank had for some time missed Keys, and was wondering what had becomeof him, when he discovered that individual on his hands and knees behindthe pilot-house, beckoning eagerly. Frank walked toward him carelessly,so as not to attract the attention of Mr. French and his friends, and,as he came up, Keys said, in a hurried whisper:

  "See here, Nelson; you know I told French that I had the rules andregulations all copied down in my order-book. Now, it has just occurredto me that he might want to see them; so I want to write something toshow him. I can't get to my room without his seeing me, so I wish youwould lend me your key."

  Frank accordingly produced it; but his conscience reproved him when hethought in what an unpleasant position his friend was endeavoring toplace Mr. French.

  "Look here, Keys," said he, "I propose that you don't carry this jokeany further. It will get the poor greenhorn in a bad fix."

  "I can't help it," returned Keys. "I have often volunteered to give himadvice, and have tried to convince him that if he ever wants tounderstand his business he must make use of somebody's experiencebesides his own. But he has always snapped me up very short. Now, if hewants to learn by experience, I'll help him all I can."

  So saying, Keys crawled off on his hands and knees toward Frank's room,where he locked himself in, and the latter returned to the main-deck.About an hour afterward Keys made his appearance, walking rapidly acrossthe deck, as if searching for something that he was in a great hurry tofind, and thus attracted the attention of Mr. French and his twofriends, who took him familiarly by the arm and led him forward, out ofear-shot of the other officers, who were still seated on the main-deck.

  "See here, Keys," said French, "I understood you to say that you had theregulations in relation to the treatment of subordinate officers, copiedin your order-book. Will you allow me to look at them?"

  "Ah, yes," said Keys, "I remember. Here's something that relates to it;"and he produced his memorandum-book, and pointed to an article hastilywritten in lead pencil, which ran as follows:

  "_And be it further enacted_: That, as in the maintenance of his authority over his officers on shipboard, it is rendered necessary that the commanding officer should, in all cases, treat his subordinates as gentlemen, all harsh words from a commanding officer to an officer of lower grade are hereby strictly prohibited; and in all cases where the commander is guilty of a violation of this act, the person aggrieved shall be, and is hereby, authorized to seek redress."

  "There, gentlemen," exclaimed Mr. French, after he had carefully readthe article, "is an act of the American Congress, which authorizes me toseek redress. All harsh words in the navy are strictly forbidden; and ifthe captain does not apologize for what he said to me, I'll report him."

  "You will please excuse me, gentlemen, for the present," said Keys, whowas finding it exceedingly difficult to control himself. "The turretmust be got ready for inspection at sundown;" and, thrusting the book inhis pocket, he walked rapidly below.

  Mr. French immediately moved aft, and, drawing himself up very stiffly,said to the orderly:

  "Tell the captain that I have business with him."

  The marine disappeared, and soon returned with a request that he wouldwalk into the cabin. The captain was seated at his table, writing; but,as the mate entered, he dropped his pen, turned in his chair, andwaited for him to make known his wants.

  "Captain," began Mr. French, hesitatingly, for he scarcely knew how tocommence the conversation, "I--I--I--have been reading the navyregulations, and I find that I have been abused."

  "Who has abused you, sir?"

  "Well, you see, sir," began the mate----

  "I asked you who had been abusing you, sir," interrupted the captain."Answer my question, and make your explanations afterward."

  "Well, sir, to come to the point, you have abused me, sir."

  The captain started back in surprise, and looked at the mate for severalmoments, as if to make sure that he was in his right mind, and thenquietly asked:

  "How have I abused you, sir?"

  "In reprimanding me, sir. The navy regulations distinctly state that acommanding officer has no right to use harsh words to his subordinates;and I demand an apology."

  "Can you furnish me with a copy of those r
egulations?"

  "Yes, sir; Mr. Keys has them," replied the mate; and he left the cabin,and commenced searching for that individual.

  We should remark that Mr. Keys was pretty well aware that he would belikely to get himself into hot water. Wishing to delay the interviewbetween himself and the captain as long as possible, he had retreated tothe hold, where he appeared to be very busily engaged; but, as soon asMr. French made known his errand, he readily produced his book, gladindeed that he was to be let off without seeing the captain. The matecarried it into the cabin. The captain read over the article severaltimes, and then arose from his seat, and, going to one of theafter-ports, appeared to be busily engaged with his own thoughts. Mr.French stood watching him with a smile of triumph, certain that thecaptain had been worsted, and that he would soon receive the requiredapology; but, had he been a keen observer, he would have seen that thecaptain was convulsed with laughter, which he was vainly endeavoring toconceal. He easily saw through the trick, and it reminded him of thedays when he was a midshipman, and had been implicated in similarjokes.

  "Mr. French," said he, at length, "you may retire for a few moments. Iwill send for you presently. Orderly, tell Mr. Keys that I wish to seehim."