The Visitor 1862

by Barbara Svetlick

  Dominic had been an upper classman and strategic trainer at VMI when Garnett, James and Meeks became cadets. Garnett’s parents were extremely influential in Mississippi but his decision to get military training went against their wishes. The first few months he pretty much stayed to himself and was an avid student. Then he fell in with Meeks and James and his life was never the same. All of them had unique talents but when the four worked together they were almost unstoppable.

  Both men listened. There was another snapping twig then immediate silence. This was most definitely a man. Garnett tapped Dominic on his shoulder and Dominic moved to the left and Garnett moved to the right of the opening. They listened and finally heard low sounds that confirmed their belief. Within a minute the two men were about twenty feet from the cave opening and their whispers were very clear.

  “Are you sure they came this way?”

  “Yep. They turned off the road and headed down through the lower brush so if we come at them from over the top they won’t hear us.”

  “Are we supposed to capture them or kill them?”

  “You know they always get pissed when we kill them but it’s damn easier. Either way this will get us promotions.”

  “Do you know who they are?”

  “Nope but you don’t avoid the roads unless you are a no good Southern sympathizer.”

  “What if they’re one of us?”

  “Then we don’t say nothing when we get back to camp.”

  They came closer and when they were within ten feet of Garnett he released his knife with such precision that it went through the man’s heart almost to his backbone. He fell instantly which caught the other soldier off guard and when he whirled toward the direction of where the knife was thrown, Dominic slit his throat from ear to ear. Garnett put his boot on the man’s chest, pulled out his knife and wiped it on the Union uniform before sheathing it. They saddled their horses and headed north.

  The buildup around Vicksburg made travelling very dangerous. Before the war, John McClernand a lawyer and congressman from Illinois had great aspirations of following President Lincoln to the White House. His aspirations were obvious to all who knew him well but very obvious to General Grant. It was this rivalry within the ranks of the Union that would eventually cause their failure to capture Vicksburg. Grant had already attempted to take it from the north at Chickasaw Bluffs, then at Yazoon Pass and finally Steele’s Bayou, each time being repelled by the Confederates under Pemberton.

  Grant had pulled back to regroup but because he knew that McClernand was ready to steal a victory Grant moved forward recklessly and without full understanding of the Louisiana and Mississippi people who were determined to never be controlled or taken by the likes of the North. Be damned the consequences, the South would not go down in Vicksburg.

  Dominic knew that McPharson had started to move his units up the Mississippi to stage north of Vicksburg. Dominic and Garnett were traveling parallel to the path that McPharson would move to set up his line. Though there had been many small skirmishes since Fredericksburg, they knew that Vicksburg would be the next major campaign under Grant.

  They travelled cautiously through the hills occasionally having to either stop or change direction in order to avoid coming in contact with troops or mountain people. They knew that even though there were a lot of sympathizers in the hills there was also a lot of bounty for turning in anyone who was suspect of being a traitor. They stopped to rest the horses at the top of the ridge as daylight broke.

  Garnett took out one of the little corn cakes that provided them with energy when cooking was out of the question. They had become so vital when travelling that Garnett thought they should be sold to the government for all the troops. Garnett was slowly eating one when he looked at it.

  “These are different. Better but different.”

  Dominic took out one and took a bite. “Tastes like it contains ham but it doesn’t look different.”

  “Well they are a darn sight tastier.”

  “You want to work down the side and camp out until dark?”

  “Yeah. We’re close enough now that we can afford to sit tight.”

  Garnett was sitting with his elbows on his knees steadying the binoculars as he looked out over the land below their position. He was panning back and forth then would stop and watch for a moment before panning again. He handed them to Dominic and pointed to his right. Dominic focused in the area changing his focus several times before he stopped. He sat for a moment then lowered the glasses and passed them back.

  “I would say it’s a small unit of about thirty men and several covered wagons. There doesn’t appear to be anything to determine if they are on one side or the other which means they are Confederates. We’ll keep tabs on them as we work down the north side of the ridge.”

  Garnett agreed, put the glasses in his saddlebag as they mounted up heading down the slope through the tall pine trees. They had to stop at one point to allow a small wagon to pass on the road before they crossed. So many people were either fleeing the area completely or moving closer to town. These were mountain men in the finest sense of the meaning and if he had to pick out a unit it would consist of those who spent their entire life living off the land.

  THEY reached the cabin just before sunrise and both knew that they needed a day to recoup. They put the horses in the hidden cavern and made sure the area was secure before heading up the ridge to the small cabin. Dominic pulled his gun and opened the door with the toe of his boot as Garnett circled around behind the cabin. There was no one inside nor did it look like anyone had been there in a while. It was one of the few safe houses that as far as they knew had yet to be compromised. The floor was covered with mats which made leaving footprints impossible but there was a layer of dust on everything.

  “Obviously fired the maid.”

  “It definitely would appear that way wouldn’t it.” They walked up to the back wall and Dominic took out a key opening the small closet door. It entered into a small area that had ropes and tools hanging on the walls. Garnett closed the door and they slid the panel and climbed down an old wooden ladder to a large room. They took the lantern off the hook and lit it throwing their gear in the corner. Garnett walked over to the cabinet to see if anyone had stocked it. It was not only stocked but the food was fresh and the bottle of whisky was unopened.

  “Well, I guess we shall have company tonight.”

  “I think what I need tonight involve more than just talk.” Garnett had been tense for the last week but Dominic knew being around Mirisa wore heavily on the fact that he had isolated himself from female companionship since the death or his wife and Mirisa reawakened that part of him. Hell, he thought she had reawakened that part of every man in Natchez. God he missed her smell.

  “Well, you know that is available though why you haven’t been taking part is beyond me.”

  “I have been trying to avoid falling back into that world but I think I need it tonight.”

  “Frankly I don’t think I could have gone that long but I’m not as stubborn as you apparently are.”

  Garnett lay down on the cot and took out his gun. He held it up and spun the cylinder just to hear the sound of it. “Want to clean my knife while you are over there?” He took it out and threw it across the room sticking it in the cabinet just inches away from Dominic.

  “You know if you kill me she’ll know because it is impossible to keep a secret from her.”

  “Yeah, but you damn well know she will forget soon enough.” Dominic walked over and handed him the clean knife and bottle of whisky. “You might want to sharpen it.” He pulled out a chair and sat down.

  They heard the panel slide and both were on their feet and Garnett’s gun was leveled at the ladder before he was on his feet.

  “Boys, so good to see you. It has been awfully busy this year but not all company has been as welcome as you.”

  Razzel was not the old mountain man that he appeared to be but he played the role so well that the
y didn’t think he would know what to do if he ever had to come out from the disguise. He was one of the best scouts ever to come out of the academy. He walked up to both of them and gave them a bear hug. “Well, I see you took no time in breaking open the whisky. Did you remember to pack some of those great home grown stogies?”

  “In my saddlebag.” Dominic pointed to the corner and Razzel retrieved a box of cigars and promptly lit one. “I’ve been smoking jack weed for darn near a month and that stuff will kill you.” He took a puff and blew out a smoke ring then turned the other chair around and faced them.

  “What is your pleasure gentlemen?”

  “Well, Garnett has decided in the middle of the mountain that he needs female companionship.” Razzel laughed so hard they thought the chair would break.

  “Well, that is actually something I can handle at the moment.”

  “Razzel, not to insult you but I would prefer it be a woman.” Razzel snorted and took a draw on his cigar. “I need Dominic tonight so I’ll send someone to keep you company.” He chuckled then got up and shook Dominic’s hand. “You need to slide the boards across the hatch so that it can’t be opened. We’ll be using the other entrance from now on. I will see you around 9:00.” He looked over at Garnett who was still lying on the cot playing with his knife. “Hope you can handle it big boy!”

  Dominic laughed but Garnett flipped his knife past him into the far wall. “I would say his sense of humor isn’t exactly obvious huh?”

  Dominic removed the knife and sat down to sharpen it since it appeared that Garnett didn’t really care at the moment. He handed it back to him then went back to taking his gun apart. Garnett was asleep within a few minutes but Dominic decided to put off sleeping until after the meeting.

  Garnett rolled off the bed pointing his gun at Dominic as he came through the outer door. “Whoa, don’t shoot me yet.”

  “Sorry, I must have been asleep.”

  “I’m heading out as soon as the redhead gets here. I shouldn’t be gone more than a few hours. Also, even though Razzel is pretty careful don’t let your guard down with your pants.”

  “Oh, you are so funny.” He went out the door to relieve himself and as he was coming back through the outcropping she was getting off her horse. They spoke a few minutes then entered the room passing Dominic who wasn’t in the mood to acknowledge her or make small talk. Garnett closed and locked the door before grabbing a chair and leaning it under the knob so anyone trying to get in would have to kick it hard.

  “Do you want a drink?” He picked up the whisky and poured a shot.

  “No, I much prefer my sex sober and my men in charge.” He could feel the reaction from the very center of his body and knew that this was definitely what he wanted.

  He put the glass down on the table and walked over to her. She had on a simple blouse that exposed her ample cleavage with a long linen skirt and leather boots. He moved her so that she had her back to the table and ran his hand up the inside of her thigh. She moaned and closed her eyes as her head fell back. She was supporting herself with her hands but the more he touched her the more she was losing the ability to do so. He undid her skirt allowing it to fall to the floor and soon she was completely naked. He began to caress her like she had never been touched before and for the first time in a long time she responded naturally to his advances. She looked up into his steel blue eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him when he took her up against the table so fast and furious that she screamed with pleasure. He then took her on the floor to her complete delight and then she took him places he forgot existed.

  Dominic knocked lightly on the door and when she asked who it was he responded with the password. Garnett was passed out on the cot which not only was unusual for him but also dangerous especially considering the best assassins were women crawling in your bed. She handed him a piece of rope and left without a word. Dominic smiled before securing the door and turning in for the night.

  Garnett rolled out of bed early and found Dominic passed out on the other cot. He hit his boot as he went by. “Morning.”

  “Already?” He stood up and stretched. They both went out and stood at the end of the outcrop assessing the morning. The weather had dropped dramatically overnight leaving a light layer of frost along the slate that jutted out from the outcrop. It was a good day to travel.

  They gathered their gear and saddles, extinguished the lantern and locked the door before moving the horses to the path. They moved the camouflage in front of the entrance, mounted and headed down the path to the valley. Neither of them talked though Dominic thought it was good to see his old friend back again. It had been so long he forgot how good it felt to be riding along side of Garnett.

  At the bottom of ridge they both automatically turned west and started through the thick woods that spread out from the hills before it sloped off into a long field of grazing land. They traveled for a good part of the day never seeing another person before they came to the outskirts of an encampment that was in a clearing along the small river that fed off of the Mississippi. There were at least sixty tents set up in the clearing with two very large ones off to the side. Soldiers were relaxing along the bank; some washing clothes others cleaning their rifles. Garnett took out his binoculars, wrapped light gauze over them so that the sun would not reflect off of the lens and he began to memorize the layout and the patterns of the sentinels around the perimeter of the camp. They spent the afternoon looking for the target when a small group of soldiers rode into camp. As they dismounted, the target came out of one of the smaller tents, greeted them and went into a large tent. Obviously, he was still very paranoid since his tent was very small and plain and a good 100 feet from the inside perimeter.

  “They will probably have at least a dozen men on the outside and a couple dozen around the inside. We need to find a direct route in with the least amount of resistance.” They determined their path then waited for dark to fall. The camp fires started up with a lot of activity preparing and cleaning up the evening meal. Garnett took out a wafer and offered one to Dominic but he declined. The fires slowly started dimming as the men went to bed and no one replenished the firewood.

  The drums were there all through the trip just at the back of Dominic’s consciousness, he didn’t know if they distracted him or actually calmed him down. He used to sit on the ledge overlooking the villages while they performed their ceremonies letting the drums soak into his body. The dreams became stronger the further away he was from Mirisa and he needed to block them out.

  Moving down the side of the hill like ghosts, they came upon the first sentinel. Garnett sliced his throat pulling his body into the underbrush. They stopped for a moment then continued to the inside perimeter where they crouched as two men passed them talking about some blonde they did in the last town. Garnett’s eyes narrowed when he realized that they were talking about an innocent young girl and not some two-bit barmaid. Without warning he reached around and sliced the throat of the closest soldier then gut stuck the second one. Dominic didn’t react until they were both going down. They drug them into the bushes and started working across the compound until they came to the target. Garnett slowly sliced the back of the tent and Dominic slipped in and was back out within seconds.

  They were mounted and headed south before the blood had even begun to clot on the first sentential. This time there were not traveling slow but at a full gallop through the countryside. Time was no longer on their side and they could only hope that the camp was too complacent to realize what had happened for at least a few hours when the guards changed. Life on the run was more exhilarating then killing. The few people whose paths they crossed didn’t have time to react because they were there and gone before it registered. They knew there were no places to stop or rest so they flew through the hills like it was on fire making it just north of Natchez when they stopped at a stream, washed down their horses and changed clothes. When they came into town and tied up at the Tavern they looked like they had
just come from the Plantation. The Judge was standing in the lobby when they came through the doors.

  “Mr. Alexander, I am glad to see you.” He was talking exaggeratedly loud so that the numerous officers in the Tavern would take note.

  “I wanted to see how your trial was going since my client is anxious to have his day in court.” They went into the dining room and ordered breakfast. To the outside world it looked normal. Garnett was famished and ate a complete breakfast then took a biscuit off of Dominic’s plate without asking.

  “Garnett your appetite always surprised me after bedding a woman.”

  The Judge raised his eyebrows. “Who was the lucky woman?”

  Dominic put his coffee down and said quietly. “The illustrious Captain Tipper.”

  Garnett looked at him is disbelief. “No damn way.”

  “Did you think we would just send in some girl off the mountain?”

  They all laughed as he just shook his head and ordered more coffee. They returned to the Plantation before noon.

  JAMES came out of the library with cards in his left hand and his gun in his right. Dominic looked from him to Meeks who was now in the doorway. “You have not been teaching her to play poker.”

  “Well, she can out shoot us so we needed something we thought we could win but I’m not sure we’re winning at the moment. She is an extremely fast study.” He looked past Dominic at Garnett and started laughing. “Son of a bitch if you didn’t break your losing streak.” He handed Dominic his cards, hit Garnett upside the head as he put on his hat. Meeks was buckling his holster on and bent down to tie it around his leg. He stood, twirled Garnett as he passed and they headed out to tie one on. “Let’s go boys and give Dominic some privacy.”

  James was sitting at the table near the window when he saw the young courier ride into town and dismount in front of the Tavern. They had been expecting this so he continued to read his paper as he waited for his breakfast. Meeks slid in next to him and motioned to the waitress which meant he wanted a whisky straight up.