Assassins of History- Transference

by Vernon Dutton

Watching from his panoramic vantage point, Jargunn witnessed the whole brutal, but brief, encounter. Jargunn relished the sound of their battle and envied the exaltation of triumph the victors must have felt. It reminded him of his service on the planet of Golgoron in the Solar System of Margon in the Galaxy of Esteron decades ago.

  He reviewed the total scenario of what had transpired. The two groups utilized primitive weapons on each other. A few of the Earthlings were now in the Great Void awaiting their resettlement into Infinity due to the piercing of their bodies by the small projectiles emanating from the armaments. It was amazing that the small group attained the triumph. They had used a tactic with which he was unfamiliar. He must remember it for possible further implementation.

  In addition to the engagement, Jargunn also observed the rescue of an Earthling female from the large group by the imposter. Via the use of an amplifying device, he heard that her name was Miss Newcomer. He also heard the dinner invitation, whatever that was, given to the imposter and the commander of the stealth force and their prompt acceptance.

  Lastly, he also beheld the unnecessary display by the female when one of the Earthlings went to the Great Void.

  

  As I looked ahead, I caught sight of the aftermath of battle. With the rescue of Ms. Newcomer, I had completely forgotten about the Yanks we had attacked.

  We approached the battle site and I could see that our boys had captured about fifteen Yanks. Apparently they had been ordered to dismount and lay their weapons in a heap because there were numerous sabers, pistols and carbines piled on a blanket. Six Yanks were lying on the ground. Three were dead because they had shrouds over them. Two were alive and had minor leg wounds. The last Yank had been hit in the shoulder. The wounded Yanks were being attended to by one of their corporals and one of our boys was lending a hand in bandaging. It appeared the Yankee captain and eight of his troopers had escaped.

  Three of our boys were on the ground and being tended to by some of our troopers. One of them was wounded in the arm and one in the leg. The third appeared to be badly wounded in the chest. Eight of our troopers were holding the horses of the Yanks plus the horses of our troopers who had dismounted to oversee the disarming of the enemy and tend to the wounded.

  I was about to suggest to Ms. Newcomer to ride around the group so she wouldn’t be shocked by the carnage, when she deftly jumped down from Lula Belle and strode to where our badly wounded trooper was lying. She knelt down, and taking her lace handkerchief from the cuff of her dress, she wiped the blood from around the soldier’s mouth, took his dirty hand in hers and looked intently into his eyes. He coughed up some blood, which she immediately dabbed away. Then she took his hand in both of hers again. The trooper smiled, closed his eyes and slowly relaxed as death took him to The Other Side. Daphne suddenly realized that the boy had died. She brought his hand to her check and started to weep.

  All the men, both Rebs and Yanks, had stopped moving when she had approached the dying man. We were mesmerized as the gripping tableau played out. These men believed only hospital nurses could overlook blood and carnage to provide comfort to a dying man. So it was incredible for them to see a wealthy young woman give such caring treatment to a poor bloody dying private in the ranks. Tears came to my eyes and I had to blink rapidly and bite my lip to keep the stoic composure, which was required of a 19th century gentleman.

  I approached Daphne and gently said, “He’s gone Miss. We should let his comrades take care of him.” She gradually stopped crying. Then taking one final consideration of the dead youth, she delicately laid the trooper’s hand on his chest. Looking up at me, she nodded her acceptance and stood up. She almost lost her balance when she took her first step, but I quickly grasped her right elbow to keep her from falling. She swiftly recovered and said,” I’m fine.” I let go of her elbow and she continued toward her horse.

  Captain Mosby had been holding Lula Belle’s reins. When Ms. Newcomer approached the Captain, he draped the reins over the horse’s neck and gave Miss Newcomer a leg up to mount. Then he said,” Ya need to proceed to yar home. We will join ya later tonight.”

  She nodded to him and I interpreted it as a thank you for his helping her to mount and that she acquiesced to his suggestion. She looked at him and rasped, “He was so young.”

  The Captain just bowed his head and replied, “Yes, he was.”

  As she turned to go, the Captain motioned to one of the troopers and ordered him to accompany her home.

  The Captain turned to me and declared, “Please forgive my manners, but I didn’t even get your name.”

  “I’m Jim Hager,” I replied.

  “Well Mr. Hager, I want to thank ya on behalf of tha Confederacy for yar help and heroism this day. If I may ask, what do ya plan to do now?”

  “Why, I plan on attending tha dinnah that Miss Newcomer invited us to. By the way, where does Miss Newcomer’s family reside?” I inquired.

  He indicated, “Ya can’t miss tha Newcomer house. It’s tha big two-story house right by tha road about a mile west of Harper’s Ferry on School House Ridge. I’ll see ya therah.” He turned to go, but turned back and added, “You’re in for a treat. I wouldn’t miss a meal at tha Newcomer’s for all tha money in tha world. I just wish my wife had been invited. She would have considered it tha event of tha year.” I smiled at the description of the supposed feast we would be enjoying and the information that he was already married.

  Looking at the site of the brief skirmish, I surveyed all the weapons, equipment, wounded and dead strewn over the wheat field. I asked in a deflated voice, “What cha gonna do now?”

  Mosby replied, “I’ll have tha prisoners and their equipment handed overah to tha other part of our unit, which I am hoping will arrive momentarily. They will in turn transfer tha Yanks and their weapons to the Provost Marshal in Harper’s Ferry. Tha wounded will need to be turned over to tha Army surgeon. Tha bodies will be given to tha local mortuary for burial or transported to tha Union and Confederate families.”

  Abruptly, he solicited, “Will ya be riding to tha Newcomer’s now?”

  “No,” I responded, “I have to return my steed to tha owner from whom I borrowed it and procure tha noble horse that I was originally riding.”

  This seemed to momentarily baffle the Captain, but he finally laughed and said, “I must see this noble steed ya’ve referred to. He must be something if he’s any bettah than tha horse ya are riding now. See ya at tha Newcomer’s.”

  We shook hands. I mounted Sampson and rode back to the River Road.

  

  The Dark Mage’s Log: ’Earth 3’ Date: 18620918

  Jargunn contacted Lord Dendaras immediately and related the happenings. Lord Dendaras questioned, “You are absolutely certain he had an exchange with the Newcomer female?”

  “Yes, Sire, he did,” Jargunn answered.

  “Then leave the imposter alone until further ordered. Don’t apprehend him. Don’t interfere with his movements. Monitor him only and report his activities. Do you understand?” examined Lord Dendaras.

  “Yes, Sire,” responded Jargunn. As the Watcher disconnected his transmission he thought, “This is getting more bizarre by the moment.”

  

  Once we intercepted the River Road, I turned Sampson north. He must have sensed that we were going home because he was restless and wanted to gallop. I let him feel his oats, but kept him in a gentle lope from which he never seemed to tire.

  We ate up the ground quickly. When we rounded the bend in the road that revealed his farm, he whinnied loudly. The lady of the house must have been waiting anxiously for us near the front door because she came out on the front porch followed by two younger men.

  She had her hands on her hips and the two men had grim looks on their faces. Once I had ridden into the yard, she said,” Well, at least ya brought him back in one piece.”

  I dismounted and said, “Yes Ma’am, and he was instrumental in tha capture of about twenty Yankees and tha res
cue of Miss Daphne Newcomer.”

  She and the men acted as if they had been hit by a ton of bricks.

  I took off my hat, gave a short bow and said, “Ma’am, I apologize that I don’t even know yar name, but yar spirit of patriotism in allowing me to utilize Sampson has been a great benefit to our country.” Pointing at the two men that stood on either side of her, I asked, “And who might these fine gentlemen be?”

  The lady was flabbergasted and quickly closed her mouth that had gaped open due to the news of the enemy encounter, the rescue of Daphne and, if I may say so, the eloquence of my apology.

  Gaining her composure again, she uttered, “I am Sarah Throckmorton and these herah are my sons Caleb and Joshua. Tha only reason I allowed ya to take Sampson was that Elias Throckmorton, tha banker ya referred to, is my brother-in-law. I mean was my brother-in-law. His brother Caleb, Senior was my husband. He died last fall of consumption.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that Mrs. Throckmorton. Ya have my condolences,” I commiserated. With my hat in my hand, I walked toward Mrs. Throckmorton bowed in front of her and shook hands with her sons, who were still taken aback by my news.

  All of a sudden Joshua said, “Well don’t keep us in tha dark. What happened?”

  I said, “Could we take Sampson to tha barn and I will relate tha happenings on tha way?”

  They all agreed. So we meandered to the barn as I gave them a recap of the day’s adventures. They were interested in all the happenings, but were especially excited at the news of how well Mosby’s cavalry contingent performed.

  As we reached the barn, I said, “Oh, yes!

  Mrs. Throckmorton, I wanted to thank ya for tha use of tha pistol. I didn’t have a chance to use it, but it was an encouragement to know I had it.” I pulled the weapon from my belt and handed her the Colt six-shooter she had loaned me.

  The sons really raised their eyebrows at the return of the pistol. I thought that she would have a lot of explaining to do once I had left. Mrs. Throckmorton flushed a bright crimson and took the weapon. “Glad it was a support to ya,” she said.

  I told them I had to return to Harpers Ferry for a dinner with the Newcomers and wondered if I owed them anything for the use of Sampson. They were very solicitous and said it was their privilege to have helped The Cause. So the sons took Sampson into the barn for a rubdown and I mounted Beau, who seemed very annoyed that he had to continue traveling this day.

  Before I left, I touched the brim of my hat and said to Mrs. Throckmorton, “Sampson really was tha difference in what happened today. I really appreciate yar trusting what I said and allowing me to ride ‘im.”

  She actually blushed, gave a little curtsey and stated, “t’was tha least I could do.”

  When Daphne arrived home, she immediately said thank you to her cavalry escort, dismounted in one swift move, gave Lula Belle to the attendant at the front stairs to the family house and rushed inside.

  “Where have ya been child? Ya weren’t supposed to leave tha property,” chided her mother, who was sitting in the parlor being fanned by a servant girl.

  “Oh Mama, ya won’t believe tha young man I met on my ride. He is tha most dashing and bravest person I’ve ever seen.”

  Mrs. Newcomer stood up and came to her daughter holding up her hands as if to thwart off an avalanche of unsolicited information and commanded, “Where have ya been?”

  Daphne let out a sigh and informed, “I went riding down tha River Road.”

  “Ya what?!” bellowed her mother.

  “Yes, I got captured by Yankees and this man and Captain Mosby rescued me.”

  “Oh, saints preserve us,” said Mrs. Newcomer and collapsed in a chair that one of the servants rushed to get under her before she hit the floor.

  Mr. Newcomer entered the room to find out what all the folderol was about.

  Mrs. Newcomer came to after the servant had applied smelling salts under Ole Miss’ nose. “Horus,” she said in a determined voice, “I can’t abide this child’s disobedience any more. Ya will have to deal with her.”

  Mr. Newcomer looked at Daphne, who was beaming from ear to ear, and asked, “What have ya done now?”

  Daphne described her latest adventure to the horror of her parents. The servant had to avert her face to hide a smile at what the whelp had gotten herself into this time.

  Finally, finishing her description of the affair and with a starry gaze in her eyes, Daphne proclaimed she was so moved by the experience that she had invited her hero and Captain Mosby to dine with them tonight.

  This immediately brought on another round of smelling salts for Mrs. Newcomer and a loud roar of, “Ya did what?” from Mr. Newcomer.

  Daphne just stood there unruffled, smiled and said, “Yes, I invited ‘em to dinnah.”

  Mr. Newcomer erupted, “From now on, ya will be accompanied by Ahab wherever ya go and ya will not invite anyone into my house again without my consent. Do ya understand young lady?”

  “Yes Papa,” Daphne answered reassuringly, but without any semblance of regret.

  Mr. Newcomer bawled, “Wake up tha cooks.”

  After kicking Beau profusely, we bounced out of the Throckmorton’s front yard and into the River Road heading south to see the beautiful Daphne Jane Newcomer. It took about two hours of kicking and cajoling Beau to travel at his infamous spine crushing trot to where the River Road met the main road out of Harpers Ferry heading west. We then turned toward where the Newcomer House was supposed to be situated.

  After a few minutes we topped a rise and saw what had to be my destination. The Newcomer’s abode sat on top of a small knoll to the right of the main road. As was the custom in this part of the country, the house wasn’t set that far off the road. It was a two story home with a dark red brick façade, which must have cost a pretty penny in the 1800s. I speculated that it measured in a range of about three thousand to thirty-five hundred square feet. There were two giant oak trees on either side of the twenty-five foot wide front porch providing shade from the sun. The front porch, which ran across the entire front of the home, was covered with comfortable furniture.

  Small trees were situated in rows along both sides of the house, which radiated out giving the appearance that the abode was built in the middle of an orchard. Some of the trees were fruit trees, possibly apple and pear, but interspersed were some sugar maples whose foliage had started to turn the bright golden yellow for which they were famous.

  As I rode up into the front yard, Miss Daphne, Captain Mosby and, I believe, additional members of the Newcomer family came out on the front porch to greet me.

  Chapter 8

  Captain Mosby began to laugh and pointing at Beau said, “I see ya were jesting when ya mentioned tha great steed that ya had to recover for tha trip here tonight.”

  I laughed and then with a smile said, “Now Captain, I can’t believe ya would mock tha noblest steed that Shepherdstown had to offer for this journey.”

  We all had a good chuckle as I dismounted. I tied Beau to a low limb on one of the oak trees and walked to the bottom of the front porch stairs. I caught Miss Daphne’s eyes. She was newly attired in a green dress that accented her dark hair, beautiful white complexion and made her dark brown eyes glisten like deep pools of ebony. It was all I could do to keep from ogling her. What was happening to me? Somehow, I kept my ardor in check. Taking in the crowd on the porch, I bowed and stated, “My name is James Hager and I really appreciate tha invitation of dining at your wonderful home plus tha privilege of meeting all of ya.”

  This sort of woke Miss Daphne, who seemed lost in thought, because she became quite flustered and uttered, “Please excuse me. Where are my manners? Please come in.”

  When I reached the top of the steps, Miss Daphne introduced me to her father, who was about five feet seven inches tall, weighed about one hundred forty pounds, had a thick head of white hair and was impeccably dressed in a white ruffled shirt with black trousers and a green top coat. He took my hand in both of his and sa
id, “I can’t thank ya enough for saving Daphne.”

  I was taken aback by his statement and stammered, “I, ah, well, if it hadn’t been for Captain Mosby’s quick command of tha situation and lightning speed attack, tha Yanks would still have Miss Newcomer hostage. I really can’t be considered tha one that saved her. I was just accompanying tha Captain in this venture.”

  Mr. Newcomer just said, “Sir, ya are too modest.”

  I was really shocked by the outpouring of thanks for the small amount of help I had been. I cast a narrow glance at Daphne. She just unfolded her fan and held it in front of her face so that only her eyes were showing, but I could tell she was smiling from ear to ear and thoroughly enjoying my discomposure.

  Mrs. Newcomer was the next person to be introduced. She was a dainty woman. She stood about five feet two inches tall, and if she weighed ninety pounds, it would be a miracle. She wore a blue satin dress with a white lace collar that had an ivory cameo pinned at her throat. Her hair was a combination of white and black and she had the most pleasant smile. She offered her hand. I took it and bowed. After a brief moment Mrs. Newcomer said, “Daphne told us ya were most kind in yar rescue of her runaway horse, yar thoughtfulness in calming Lula Belle and yar solicitous attention at tha death of our brave cavalry man. I want to add my ‘thank ya’ also, Mr. Hager.”

  I could feel my face turn bright crimson again. I was at a loss for words, but I bent over Mrs. Newcomer’s hand again and uttered, “Yes ma’am, I was privileged that I could help.” I was wondering what Miss Daphne had told all these people. Captain Mosby was the hero here, not me. I glanced at the Captain and he was smiling broadly. I guessed that he had become a party to this charade that apparently Daphne Jane Newcomer had concocted.

  The next in line for introductions were Daphne’s two brothers. They were tall lads for 19th century men. The first one introduced was Tom Newcomer. He was about five feet ten inches tall and weighed about one hundred fifty-five pounds. He had a shock of dark brown hair. I estimated his age at seventeen.