by Unknown
“Well sir, if any Yankee manages to follow us in this then I will be a monkey’s uncle.”
“I think you are right but it makes for a miserable time in camp eh trooper?”
“You have to be alive to be miserable sir.”
With that attitude my men could do anything. I woke Cecil. “It is still raining cats and dogs, Sergeant Major. I think we will feed the men and rest them tonight and then head on over to Upperville tomorrow night.”
He looked relieved. “I know that Carlton wouldn’t be happy if the horses had two hard nights back to back.” He looked away to the south, hidden in the sheeting rain. “I wonder how they got on?”
“It will do no good to speculate. If they had had a problem he would have sent a rider back here. If they had failed Sergeant James would have brought them all back. I think it is safe to assume that no news is good news.”
“Unless, sir, they have all been captured or killed.”
That thought had been tucked away in the back of my mind. It was a possibility and I did not want to think about that. At the same time I wondered about Harry, Dago, Jed and Danny. How were they doing? They were in the same boat as I was. They were hung out behind the enemy lines where everyone and everything was a potential enemy. We had been given a monumental task and a short time to achieve results.
It was almost as though Cecil was reading my mind. “Even if we do nothing else on this patrol we have had success already sir. We hit their artillery hard and, at the very least, their horse herd was driven off.”
The Sergeant Major was a dour character but he had the ability to say the right thing at the right time. “You are probably right. Let’s get the food on the go.”
Chapter 3
We left the camp in the early afternoon. It was still raining although it had stopped briefly the day before. It was now a sort of drizzle which made it difficult to see too far ahead. It was why I had chosen the later afternoon to approach the town. We would have the weather in our favour. I intended to make a bold raid on the town; they would not expect that. If we hit it at dusk then many of the officers would still be at their desks and yet many of the other soldiers would be eating or hiding from the weather.
There was no sentry post in this town and we left the main road before the town to travel through the smaller side streets. Cecil had scouted the town the first day we had arrived and knew where the cavalry were; they were at the northern end of the settlement. We were headed for the livery stable where the officers who worked in the town would have their horses. If there were no horses within then we knew we would be leaving empty handed.
“Detail four men to watch at both ends of the street. You stay with the rest of the men. You two troopers, dismount, draw your weapons and follow me.”
It was a well organised and clean stable. There was just one man and he was sleeping in the small office. I drew my pistol and placed it between his eyes. I tapped him on the shoulder. He awoke with a start. His eyes widened as he stared down the barrel of my gun. “Not a sound my friend and you will live. Understand?” He nodded wildly. “Tie him up and gag him. Make sure he can’t move.”
I went outside, “Sergeant Major, get the men in here now.”
The troop gratefully entered the dry stable. “I want all the horses in here saddling. Hopefully we will take some Yankee officers back too but these horses will do nicely. I want five men to watch them and another three to guard the door. The rest come with me. Trooper Davis, you are in charge.”
There were now just eight of us to cause some mayhem. More would have attracted attention. When we were outside I said, “Act as though you have every right to be here. We are going to ride down Main Street and tie up outside the building with the flags. It is a headquarters of some kind. Have your pistols hidden under you slickers but if we have to fire then we have lost. Is that clear?” They all nodded. “Sergeant Major, stay close to me and follow my lead.”
The street had a few riders but they were all looking studiously at the muddy road. They took no notice of eight cavalrymen wearing the ubiquitous slicker. As we rode up I saw that there were two sentries outside the main door and both looked thoroughly miserable. We dismounted and tied out horses up. I saw the two sentries looking curiously at us. “Sergeant Major, bring those despatches and the rest of you wait here. We have to get to Warrenton after this.”
We walked up the steps. I have no idea what Cecil held in his hand but it didn’t matter. One of the sentries stepped forward. “Sir?”
“We have important despatches here.” I leaned forward. “We captured a courier.”
His face broadened into a grin and the two of them relaxed. A second later and the looks on their faces turned to ones of horror as two Army Colts were pressed into their middles. Four troopers came with ropes and, as they trussed them up, Cecil and I stepped into the building. The hallway was empty, “Get them in here now. Two of you stay outside; the rest in here.”
I held my finger to my lips and I listened. I could hear voices from the first room. There was a second door further down. I pointed to Cecil and the first door and then at Trooper Dawes and the second. I walked down to the second door and slowly opened it. I cranked it open just the slightest amount. I could see that there were two adjoining rooms and there were two doors. I opened the door and stepped inside. Trooper Dawes followed me. We both had drawn pistols. This half of the room was in darkness. The other side had four men. They were illuminated by the light whilst we were in the shadows. I gestured the trooper forwards and I walked into the light.
“Hands up, gentlemen. You are prisoners of the Confederacy!”
The sergeant, the major and the captain all complied but the young lieutenant ran for the door. He opened it and Cecil’s fist knocked him out.
“Get in here Sergeant Major and tie their hands behind their backs. Trooper Dawes, get those maps off the wall.”
I think up to that point they had been shocked but the major now blustered. “I don’t know what you think you are up to but there are armed guards all around here.”
I smiled as I grabbed all the papers from the desk and stuffed them in the leather holdall which was on the floor. I looked up and smiled. “It appears so. Sergeant Major, gag the sergeant and the lieutenant and make sure neither can leave.”
“Did you hear what I said? This is an armed town. You can’t escape.”
“Yes I heard and yes we will.”
Suddenly he went white. “You aren’t Mosby are you? The Grey Ghost?”
“No, I am afraid I am just a lowly captain in the 1st Virginia Scouts but you two gentlemen are coming with us. Dawes, get their slickers. I wouldn’t want them getting wet.” I gestured with my Colt as their slickers were draped over their shoulders and their hats placed on their heads. “Let’s go outside and, gentlemen, make it nice and quiet. You two will be the first to get shot if any ruckus starts.” They began to walk. “Sergeant Major, bring up the rear.”
We walked along the street as calmly as men taking an after dinner stroll. We saw no-one, which was just as well as we didn’t want to begin a fire fight with so few men. We reached the stables without mishap.
“Get them on their horses. I want a trooper to lead their horses and a second one to ride behind them. We don’t want these boys running.” When the two men were secured the riders leading the spare horses were ready I took out my gun. “We are going out along Main Street. We will ride slowly but if anyone starts anything then get back to the camp as soon as possible. Sergeant Major Mulrooney, you know the drill by now, bring up the rear.”
Cecil laughed, “Sure and it’s a grand place to be Captain Hogan.”
The rain had eased a little which was disappointing. More people were likely to come out on the street. We made it half way down the soaked thoroughfare before we hit trouble. A gaggle of officers began walking along the street. One of them must have recognised the major and he shouted a greeting. The major could neither reply nor wave back and the men beca
me suspicious. I eased my Colt out of its holster.
Suddenly one of the men saw our uniforms. “They’re Rebs! Get …”
That was as far as he got. My Colt was out and barked in the damp air. He fell backwards. The rest of my troopers who had free hands blazed away. “Ride!”
The troopers leading the captives rode past me as I fired at the officers again. They had taken cover. Other soldiers spilled out from the bars and taverns. Those with handguns began firing. I saw Cecil with two Colts laying down a firestorm. As the captured horses came alongside I yelled, “Sergeant Major, get out of there now!”
I took out a second Colt and emptied both barrels. The officers all remained behind cover. When Cecil came alongside I kicked Copper hard and we leapt into the night. We had almost made it out of the town when the trooper in front of me slumped in his saddle. I rode hard and reached him before he fell. Cecil reached the other side and we both supported him. I could see that he had been hit in the back; how seriously I could not tell.
“When we stop you take two troopers and lay a little ambush.”
“Yes sir.”
We reached the cut off into the woods and I halted the patrol there while the horses recovered a little. Cecil and two troopers rode back and I looked at the wounded trooper. He was dead. “Tie him over his horse, Trooper Dawes, and we’ll bury him later.”
We had lost a man and that was hard. The Sergeant Major came back. “No-one is following us sir.”
“Right. Back to camp.”
The joy of our success tasted bitter as we buried Trooper McRae. I had not known him well but he was a good soldier and had never let me down. We now had less the nineteen men and, as dawn broke over an empty camp I became worried that Sergeant James and the others had not returned. We were all tired now. With so few men we were all pulling far more duties than was healthy.
“Sergeant Major.” Cecil wandered over. “We will head back tomorrow. This place will be like a hornet’s nest soon.”
“What about the others sir.”
“Hopefully we will see them or get some news of them on the way back but…”
He saw my concern, “Don’t worry sir. They are good lads. Something has happened but they will get out of it.”
His voice told me that he too thought it had ended badly. While he and the others prepared some food I pored over the maps and the papers. It looked to me like the Union was about to launch a major attack. When I reached the third document I froze. They were sending a Cavalry Corps towards Kelly’s Ford. Sergeant James could well have fallen foul of them. Regardless of that this was valuable information. I had to get it to the general.
“Sergeant Major, forget my earlier orders. We have to leave this afternoon. We’ll wait until the horses are rested. Have the men take down the spare tents.” His look was one of puzzlement. “The Yankees are about to attack Kelly’s Ford. It is a major attack. Even now we may be too late.”
“But sir, if we travel in daylight we risk being seen or captured.”
I shrugged, “We have no choice. If their cavalry gets over the Rappahannock then we could well lose the war. General Lee is the only army between Hooker and Richmond.”
Cecil was a simple soldier but even he could understand the ramifications of a Union breakthrough. “Right sir. Make sure you eat too eh sir? We don’t want to lose as well.”
The two officers complained, of course, “Sir, this is not the way gentlemen behave. I implore you to untie our hands. I give you my word that we will not try to escape.”
The major looked overweight and unfit but the captain was little older than me. “Very well. Dawes, untie them but first take away their belts and their suspenders.”
Both looked too shocked to even make a reply but Trooper Dawes grinned. The two men would be going nowhere fast as they tried to hold their pants up. We managed to get the camp down quicker than it was erected.
“Sergeant Major, take the ten most experienced troopers. I want you eleven to guard the horses and the prisoners. Trooper Muldoon can be added to those ten. If we get attacked or if anything happens to me then your orders are to get the plans and the prisoners through to Kelly’s Ford.” I handed him the papers. “I have made a copy of the important points. They must get through. Is that clear?”
I could see that he was unhappy but he would obey orders. “Yes sir.”
“When you have chosen your men, send the rest to me.”
The seven men almost ran up to me. I could see that they were the seven youngest men left. “We are going to make sure that the prisoners, the horses and the plans get through to General Lee. If we are attacked then we hold off the attackers.” Their grins reassured me.
I saw that there were a couple of reliable scouts amongst them. I had seen them operate before. “Dawson and Lythe, you two will be half a mile ahead of us. We are heading for the river but I want to avoid the roads. Use your noses to sniff out trouble. If you think there is anyone ahead then high tail it back to the Sergeant major. The rest of you will be with me at the rear. Make sure your guns are all reloaded.”
As we left the camp, the tents and spare equipment on the spare horses, I remembered when I had been a young trooper and I had been excited when Danny had given me a special task. These boys would acquit themselves well, of that I had no doubt. They might be young but they were the 1st Virginia through and through.
The rain had finally stopped and there was a brighter grey to the afternoon. We had to pass by farms and homesteads but that could not be helped. If they saw us they would still have to send for help. We just pushed on. The uphill parts were not that bad to travel across but as soon as we struck a dip or a hollow then it was as though the ground was sucking our horses down. It was treacherous and we did not make the progress we should have. The two scouts skirted the dangerous town of Warrenton. We all knew that they would be on the alert.
It was getting towards dark when we saw the glow from the Warrenton camp fires. The last town we had glimpsed had been some miles back and it had still been daylight. Suddenly Trooper Lythe galloped into sight. “Sir there is a troop of cavalry ahead and they are combing the woods.”
“Sergeant Major, you take the Unionville road. Head for Culpeper. We will lead them towards Fredericksburg. We’ll catch up with you as soon as we can lose them.”
Even as he saluted and led them off we both knew that it was unlikely that we would be able to do what I had suggested. The best that I could hope for would be to give the men the chance to escape. “Right, Trooper Lythe. Take us towards them. When we see them I want no rebel yells; just three shots from every man and then ride due east as fast as you can.”
I took out my Army Colt in preparation. When the action started there would be no time to think. I was relying on the fact that their attention would be on the ground looking for tracks and the last thing they would expect would be to be attacked.
We moved slowly through the woods. They were coming steadily towards us. We would meet eventually. I signalled for the handful of men I had to spread out. I wanted the Yankees to think that there were more of us than there actually were. I placed myself at the right of the line. I would be the most exposed of us all. For some this would be their first engagement of this type and I knew how frightening it could be.
Suddenly I saw the blue shapes moving towards us. None of them appeared to have a weapon in their hands which gave us the advantage. We kept moving slowly down the gentle slope. I could see my young troopers glancing nervously at me as they waited for the order. When we were just forty yards away and I knew that someone would see us soon, despite the gloom of dusk and the dark of the woods, I raised my pistol and aimed for the middle of the sergeant I could see. As soon as I had fired I cocked and fired twice more. My men all fired three times as ordered. The smoke obscured my vision. Then I shouted, “Ride!”
We wheeled to ride parallel to the Union horsemen. They would have to ride up hill and would make slower progress. Despite what I had told my b
oys I kept firing until my first gun was empty. I holstered it and took out a saddle pistol and kept firing until that one, too was empty. You could mark the line of our escape by the smoke from our guns. By the time they had begun popping away, we were more than sixty yards from them. It was now a chase.
I could hear orders being barked as well as the sound of pistols and the breaking of branches. It was surreal. As we were heading east we were riding into the dark. The only way they would see us was by our muzzle flashes and we had ceased to fire. We crested a rise and then plunged down the other side. I knew that the land to the east was devoid of habitation and we needed to head south soon. I urged Copper on, relying on his sure feet to get us through safely. I began to overtake my troopers.
“Follow me!”
As soon as I had passed the leading rider I wheeled Copper around. I risked cutting across the Yankee line but I hoped that they would still be heading east. I holstered my empty gun and took out my last loaded one. It was a wise move. As I jinked around a tree a Yankee trooper loomed up before me. I just reacted. I lifted the huge Colt and fired in one movement. He fell from his horse which plunged down the slope after us. The single shot must have thrown our pursuers for I heard orders and questions being shouted behind us. The sounds faded as we lost them in the dark.
We did not slow down until we emerged suddenly into a clearing and the road. I had a trooper grab the Yankee horse. “Reload and let your horses rest a while. We are out of the woods but we, sure as shooting, aren’t in the clear yet.”
The road led to Unionville but that was across the Rappahannock. If they had cavalry patrolling the hills it was a good bet that they would also be on the road. We would have to proceed cautiously.
