CHAPTER IV.
A SCHEME THAT DIDN'T WORK.
"Say," exclaimed Rodney Gray excitedly, as Captain Hubbard took hisplace on the right of the company and the orderly galloped off to histent. "Who is that old party in the Governor's carriage?"
"You can't prove it by me," answered the captain. "I never saw himbefore, but I know he's a mighty cross-grained old chap."
"May I leave the ranks a minute?" continued Rodney.
"Of course not. What would the Governor think?"
"I don't care a picayune what he thinks," replied Rodney, his excitementincreasing as the Governor's carriage began to circle around toward thefront and center of the company. "If that man in the fatigue cap andduster isn't General Lacey, all the descriptions I have heard of him arevery much at fault."
"And do you really believe," began the captain, who was profoundlyastonished.
"I don't believe, I know that he means to muster us into the Confederateservice," interrupted Rodney. "Hold on a minute before you do a thing orlet a man answer to his name. My father knows him by sight."
Without again asking permission to leave his place, Rodney put his horsein motion and rode over to the tree under whose friendly shade Mr. Graywas sitting while he watched the drill.
"Father," said he, speaking rapidly and panting as if he had beenrunning instead of riding, "who is that in the carriage with theGovernor? Is it General Lacey?"
Mr. Gray nodded and looked up at his son as if to ask him what he wasgoing to do about it.
"Well, he has come here to muster us in, and the orderly has gone afterthe roll-book," continued Rodney. "The general is a Confederate officer,and if we let him muster us in, he will make Confederate soldiers of us,won't he?"
"That's the way it looks from where I sit," answered Mr. Gray.
"It's the way it looks from where I sit too, and I just won't have anysuch trick played upon me," said Rodney, hotly. "I know what I want andwhat I want to do; and as long as I am a free man, nobody shall make medo anything else."
"Are you going to back out?"
"I am. I'll not answer to my name when it is called. I'll go back andput the other fellows on their guard, and then I'll fall out."
So saying Rodney wheeled his horse and returned to his company, which hefound in a state of great excitement. The ranks were kept pretty wellaligned (the horses knew enough to look out for that now), but the menwere twisting about in their saddles, each one comparing notes withevery one else whose ears he could reach. When Rodney rode up they allturned to look at him and listen to his report, regardless of the factthat the little man in the brown ulster was standing up in theGovernor's carriage shouting "Attention!" at the top of his wheezylittle voice.
"Mind what you are doing, boys," said Rodney, as he rode slowly alongthe line behind the rear rank. "That's General Lacey. Don't answer toyour names unless you want to be sworn into the Confederate service."
"But what shall we do?" inquired one or two of the timid members, whothought they might be obliged to answer whether they wanted to or not.
"Keep mum and say nothing," replied Rodney. "Watch me and do as I do. Myname is second on the roll."
"Are you ever going to come to attention so that I can get through withmy business and go back where I belong?" yelled the general, as soon ashe could make himself heard. "A pretty lot of soldiers you are; but Iwarn you that you will have to mind better than this when you reach thecamp of instruction, to which I shall immediately order you. Attentionto roll-call! George Warren!"
"He--er--here!" replied the orderly, hesitatingly.
The Rangers were amazed, and Captain Hubbard glared at the frightenedsergeant as though he had half a mind to knock him out of his saddle.The captain had told the man in the most emphatic language not to answerto his name, and yet he had gone and given away his liberty for the nexttwelve months. It served him right for being so stupid.
"You blockheads don't seem to understand what I want and what I amtrying to do," shouted the general, wrathfully. "All you who volunteerfor the Confederate service answer to your names, and speak up so that Ican hear you. I hope that is sufficiently plain. _George Warren!_"
The Rangers, one and all, drew a long breath of relief and felt likegiving a hearty cheer. Their comrade had most unexpectedly been alloweda chance for escape, and he was sharp enough to take advantage of it. Hekept his eyes straight to the front and said nothing. The general lookedsurprised, but as he was in a great hurry he passed on to the next.
"Rodney Gray!"
This time there was no mistaking the answer. The sergeant moved from hisplace on the left of the line, rode to the center of the company, cameto a front and saluted. The general opened his lips to tell him that heneedn't come to the front and center in order to answer to his name, butthe Barrington boy was too quick for him.
"General," said he, while all the Rangers strained their ears to catchhis words. "I am ready at any time to be sworn into the service of myState, but I do not wish to join the Confederate army. I am a PartisanRanger."
"A--a--_what?_" vociferated the general, now thoroughly aroused. He wasa Mexican veteran, a thorough soldier as well as a martinet, and he hadnever learned to recognize any organizations outside of the regularservice.
"A Partisan Ranger," repeated Rodney, who was neither embarrassed norangered by the covert sneer contained in the general's words.
"A Ranger!" exclaimed the general, raising his hands in the air andturning his eyes toward the clouds. "Shade of the great and goodWashington! what are we coming to? A partisan! And are you allpartisans?"
"Yes sir, we are; and until very recently we have been encouraged tobelieve that we could preserve our independent organization."
"You were, eh? Then you had better organize yourselves into Home Guardsat once and I will go back to New Orleans. Partisan Rangers!" said thegeneral, who seemed unable to get the obnoxious words out of his mind."There's your roll-book. Drive on, coachman."
The general flung the book on the ground at the feet of Rodney's horse,threw himself back in his seat and the carriage moved rapidly away. TheRangers sat motionless in their saddles until it passed through the gateand disappeared behind the trees in the grove, and then they turned andlooked at one another.
"We know where we stand now at all events," said Captain Hubbard, ridingup in front of the line, and throwing his right leg over the horn of hissaddle in a position most unbecoming a commanding officer. "Mycommission will be taken from me, and you fellows will be reduced toplain, every-day citizens once more. We might as well quit this nonsensenow, and I say, let's pack up and go home."
"I'll go, but I'll not promise to stay there," said Rodney.
"Where will you go?"
"Up to Missouri. I have set my heart on being a partisan, and if my ownState won't take me, I have a perfect right to offer my valuableservices to another. I shall start for Baton Rouge to-morrow, and I andmy horse will take passage on the first St. Louis boat that comesalong."
"Hear, hear!" shouted some of the. Rangers.
"Let's go in a body," said one. "We have the assurance that our serviceswill be accepted, that the officers we have elected will be retained,that our plan of organization will not be interfered with, and what morecould we ask for?"
"That won't suit me," another declared. "I don't want to leave myState."
"How are you going to help yourself?" demanded Rodney. "If you join theConfederate army you are liable to be ordered up to Virginia or down toFlorida. And you know as well as I do what the people around here willthink of you if you make up your mind to stay at home."
"Let's take the sense of the company on it," suggested LieutenantPercy.
"All right," answered the captain. "Put the thing in the form of amotion and I will."
This was quickly done, and to Rodney's great disappointment, though notmuch to his surprise, the proposition was defeated by a large majority.The Rangers were opposed to des
erting their State in a body and goinginto another.
"I'll not stay at home, and that's all there is about it," said one ofthe Rangers who had voted with the minority. "Does anybody here knowwhat course we _do_ want to pursue? I have my doubts; and in order totest the matter I move you, Mr. Commander, that we offer ourselves as acompany to the Confederate States."
The motion was received with such a howl of dissent that if there was asecond to it the captain did not hear it. Some of the Rangers, to showwhat they thought of the proposition, backed their horses out of theranks and rode away. Among them was Rodney, who returned to the treeunder which his father was sitting.
"Isn't it rather unusual for a cavalry company to hold a businessmeeting on horseback?" inquired the latter, as the boy swung himselffrom his saddle. "There seems to be a big difference of opinion amongthe members, and you look as though things hadn't gone to suit you. Whathave you decided to do?"
"Nothing as a company," replied Rodney. "In fact we are not a companyany longer. It is every one for himself now."
"What do you mean by that? Have you disbanded?"
Rodney explained the situation in a few words, adding that he thought hemight as well be riding toward home so as to spend all the time he couldwith his mother, for he was going away bright and early on the followingmorning. Mr. Gray looked very sober and thoughtful when he heard thesewords.
"I'd rather you would stay at home," said he.
"And I would much prefer to stay, but I will not go into the service ofthe Confederacy. This State is an independent Commonwealth now, and isentitled to, and has a right to demand the best service I can give her;but who cares for the Confederacy? I think less of it than I did thismorning, for one of its officers tried to rope us in without ourconsent."
That was Rodney's first experience with the duplicity and utter lack offair dealing that characterized all the actions of the Confederateauthorities, but it was by no means the last. We shall speak of thisagain when we see him coming down the Arkansas River, bound for the Armyof the Center, a Confederate soldier in spite of himself.
Having given his comrades plenty of time to vote upon the lastproposition submitted to them that they should offer themselves as acompany to the Confederate States Rodney got upon his horse again androde back to see if they had determined upon any particular course ofaction, but from all he could learn the matter was far from beingsettled. Some wanted to do one thing and some were in favor of doinganother; but finding at last that they could not agree, they begandrawing away by twos and threes, and finally Rodney Gray was left alonewith the commissioned officers.
"I am at my wit's end," declared Captain Hubbard, whose face wore a mostdejected look. "We don't want to remain at home, and neither do wedesire to put ourselves under the control of such a man as GeneralLacey; but there's nothing else we can do, unless we go up to Missouri.Were you really in earnest when you said you intended to start ofttomorrow?" he added, addressing himself to Rodney. "Your decision wasmade on the spur of the moment, wasn't it?"
"Well, no. I made up my mind some time ago that there was going to be ahitch of some sort in our arrangements, and laid my plans accordingly."
"How are you going to work it to reach Price's army?" inquiredLieutenant Percy. "Don't you know that there have been rioting andbloodshed in St. Louis, and that the Dutchmen have got control of thecity?"
"Of course; but that's all over now. I shall telegraph to Dick Graham'sfather that I am coming, and trust to luck when I reach St. Louis.Perhaps he can make it convenient to meet me there; if not, I have atongue in my head and a good horse to ride, and I have no fears but thatI shall get through."
"Well, I'll tell you what's a fact," said Lieutenant Odell. "You can goalone for all of me. There's altogether too much danger in the step.You'll never get through the lines without a pass, and how are you goingto get it? The first thing you know you will be arrested and shoved intojail."
"I have thought of that," answered Rodney, calmly, "but I'll take mychances on it. It's go there or stay home, and I have decided to go.Good-by, if I don't see you again, and if you hear any of the boys saythat they would like to go with me, send them up to the house."
This was said in the most matter of fact way, as if Rodney were going toride to Baton Rouge one day and come back the next; but they all knewthat the parting was for a longer time than that, and each officerthrust his hand into his pocket to find something that would do for akeepsake. Odell handed over a big jack-knife with the remark that thesergeant might find it useful in cutting bacon or breaking up hishard-tack, so that he could crumb it into his coffee. Percy gave him aring which he drew from his own finger, and the captain presented himwith a twenty-dollar gold piece. Then they shook hands with him oncemore and saw him ride away.
"It's like parting from a younger brother," said the captain,sorrowfully. "I don't see how his father can let him go. But he's gotnerve enough to carry him through any scrape he is likely to get into,and besides he is going among friends."
"But he's got the enemy's lines to pass before he can get among friends,and that's one thing that worries me," observed the first lieutenant."What a determined fellow he is. He ought to make a good soldier."
"Didn't I tell you that that company of Rangers would never amount to arow of pins?" exclaimed Tom Randolph, when the members rode stragglinginto town that afternoon, and reported that their organization had beenknocked into a cocked hat by General Lacey's attempt to muster it intothe service of the Confederacy. "I knew by the way the election wentthat it would bust up sooner or later, and I am heartily glad of it. Nowthey've got to go into the army, and if I get the second lieutenant'scommission I am working for, perhaps I shall be placed over some of thefellows who voted against me. So Gray is going to Missouri, is he? Goodriddance. He'll have to go in as private, and that will bring him down apeg or two."
Yes, Rodney calculated to go in as private if he got in at all, but theprospect did not in the least dampen his ardor. Contrary to hisexpectations his mother did not say one word to turn him from hispurpose; but good Southerner that she was, she heartily condemned thecircumstances which, according to her way of thinking, made the partingnecessary.
"I wish the _Mayflower_ had been sunk fathoms deep in the ocean beforeshe ever touched Plymouth Rock," she said to her husband. "The spirit ofintolerance those Puritans brought over here with them is what is takingour boy from us now. No punishment that I can think of would be toosevere for them."
Rodney lived in hopes that some of the company would ride out to see himduring the course of the evening, but midnight came without bringing anyof them, and the disappointed Barrington boy, giving his mother the lastgood-night kiss he imprinted upon her lips for more than fifteen longmonths, went to bed satisfied that he was to be left to work out his owndestiny, with no Mooreville friend to encourage or advise him. He sleptbut little, but appeared at the breakfast table as fresh as a daisyand--dressed in citizen's clothing.
"This is a pill I don't like to swallow," said he, opening his coat andlooking down at himself. "I said I wouldn't take off my gray uniformuntil the South had gained her independence; but I didn't know at thetime that I would find it necessary to pass through the enemy's lines.Don't look so sober, mother. I just know I shall come out all right.I'll surely write when I reach St. Louis, and again the very day I findDick Graham."
That was not a cheerful breakfast table, although every one tried tomake it so. Before the meal was half over the family carriage, withRodney's small trunk inside and his horse hitched behind, drew up at thedoor, and a crowd of weeping servants gathered about the foot of thewide stone steps to bid "young moster" good-by. Rodney saw it allthrough the window, and when he got ready to start stood not on theorder of going, but cut short the parting and went at once. He arosefrom his chair before he had finished his second cup of coffee, put onhis hat and light overcoat and turned toward his mother.
"Good-by, my dear boy," she said, in tones so firm and cheerful thatRodney was ast
onished. "Whatever fate may have in store for me, I hope Ishall never hear that you failed to do your duty as a soldier."
There were no tears in her eyes--she was past that now--but didn't shesuffer?
"The mother who conceals her grief While to her breast her son she presses, Then breathes a few brave words and brief Kissing the patriot brow she blesses, With no one but her secret God To know the pain that weighs upon her-- Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod Received on Freedom's field of honor!"
How many such partings there were all over this fair land of ours,brought about by the ambition of demagogues so few in number that we cancount them on our fingers!
Rodney's heart was so full that he could not reply to his mother's bravewords. Now that the test had come he found that he had less fortitudethan she had. He gave her one kiss, gently disengaged himself from herclinging arms and bolted for the door.
"De good Lawd bless young moster an' bring him safe back," cried thetearful blacks, when he appeared at the top of the steps. "Dembabolitionists aint got no call to come down here an' take him away fromus. We-uns never done nuffin' to dem."
"That's just what I say," answered Rodney. "And I am going to help lickthem for bringing on this trouble when we wanted peace. Good-by, one andall. I'll be back as soon as we have run the Yankees out of Missouri,and that will not take more than two or three months."
Rodney tried to get into the carriage, but the black hands that wereextended to him from every side barred his way, and much against hiswill he was obliged to linger long enough to give each of them a hastygrasp and shake. The only one who stood aloof was the black boy who hadbeen Rodney's playmate when the two wore pinafores, and he leanedagainst the corner of the house and howled piteously. Rodney feltrelieved when the coachman banged the door of the carriage and mountedto his seat and drove off. His only traveling companion was his father,who intended to remain in Baton Rouge until he had seen the boy start onhis way up the river.
It was dark when they reached the city, and after Rodney's horse and histrappings had been left at a stable (civilian trappings they were too,for Rodney was afraid that a military saddle and bridle would attractattention and lead to inquiries that he might not care to answer), thecoachman drove them to the house of a friend where they were to findentertainment until a St. Louis boat appeared.
"I am glad you did not go to a hotel," said their host, when he hadgiven them a cordial welcome. "I heard last night that your entirecompany was going up the river, and that the authorities were thinkingstrongly of putting the last one of you under arrest."
Rodney and his father were speechless with astonishment.
"What business would they have to put us in arrest?" exclaimed theformer, as soon as he found his tongue.
"How did the authorities learn that the Rangers had any notion of goingup the river?" asked Mr. Gray.
"I am sure I don't know," answered the host. "But it was currentlyreported on the street yesterday afternoon that the Mooreville companyhad mutinied, and that the Baton Rouge Rifles might have to go out thereand bring them to a sense of their duty."
"Well, if that isn't the most outrageous falsehood that was evercirculated about a lot of honest men I wouldn't say so," exclaimedRodney, who had never in his life been more amazed. "We didn't mutiny.We simply refused to be sworn into the service of the ConfederateStates, and that was something we had a right to do. I will tell you howthat story got abroad," he added, suddenly. "There's some one inMooreville who wants to get us into trouble, and I think I know who itis."
At this moment the door was softly opened and a darkey put his head intothe room to announce:
"Da's a gentleman in de back pa'lor wants to see Moster Rodney."
Rodney The Partisan Page 4
