第14章

ButLee"sveteranssoonrecoveredfromtheirsurpriseandmaintainedtheirpositionuntilnoon。ThenthewholeFederalarmyadvanced，andthebattleragedtillnightfallterminatedthestruggle，leavingLeeinpossessionofthewholelineliehadheld，withtheexceptionofthegroundlostinthemorning。

Forthenextsixdaysthearmiesfacedeachother，wornoutbyincessantfighting，andpreventedfrommovingbytheheavyrainwhichfellincessantly。Theywerenowabletoreckonupthelosses。TheFederalsfoundthattheyhadlost，inkilled，wounded，ormissing，nearly30，000men；whileLee"sarmywasdiminishedbyabout12，000。

WhilethesemightybattleshadbeenragingtheFederalcavalryunderSheridanhadadvancedrapidlyforward，and，afterseveralskirmisheswithStuart"scavalry，penetratedwithintheouterintrenchmentsroundRichmond。HereStuartwithtworegimentsofcavalrychargedthemanddrovethemback，butthegallantConfederateofficerreceivedawoundthatbeforenightprovedfatal。HislosswasaterribleblowtotheConfederacy，althoughhissuccessorinthecommandofthecavalry，GeneralWadeHampton，wasalsoanofficerofthehighestmerit。

InthemeantimeGeneralButler，whohadatFortMonroeunderhiscommandtwocorpsofinfantry，4，000cavalry，andafleetofgunboatsandtransports，wasthreatcuingRichmondfromtheeast。

ShippinghismenonboardthetransportshesteameduptheJamesRiver，underconvoyofthefleet，andlandedonaneckoflandknownasBermudaHundred。ToopposehimallthetroopsfromNorthCarolinahadbeenbroughtup，thewholeforceamountingto19，000men，underthecommandofGeneralBeauregard。Butler，aftervariousfutilemovements，wasdrivenbackagaintohisintrenchedcampatBermudaHundred，wherehewasvirtuallybesiegedbyBeauregardwith10，000men，therestofthatgeneral"sforcebeingsentuptoreinforceLee。

InwesternVirginia，Breckenridge，with3，500men，wascalledupontoholdincheckSigel，with15，000men。AdvancingtoStaunton，BreckenridgewasjoinedbythepupilsofthemilitarycollegeatLexington，250innumber，ladsoffrom14to17yearsofage。HecameuponSigelonthelineofmarch，andattackedhimatonce。TheFederalgeneralplacedabatteryinawoodandopenedfirewithgrape。ThecommanderoftheLexingtonboysorderedthemtocharge，and，gallantlyrushinginthroughtheheavyfire，theychargedinamongtheguns，killedtheartillerymen，drovebacktheinfantrysupports，andbayonetedtheircolonel。TheFederalsnowretireddownthevalleytoStrasburg，andBreckenridgewasabletosendaportionofhisforcetoaidLeeinhisgreatstruggle。

Afterhissixdays"pauseinfrontofLee"spositionatSpotsylvania，GrantabandonedhisplanofforcinghiswaythroughLee"sarmytoRichmond，andendeavoredtooutflankit；butLeeagaindivinedhisobject，andmovedroundandstillfacedhim。Aftervariousmovementsthearmiesagainstoodfacetofaceupontheoldbattle-groundsontheChickahominy。Onthe3dofJunethebattlecommencedathalf-pastfourinthemorning。Hancockatfirstgainedanadvantage，butHill"sdivisiondasheddownuponhimanddrovehimbackwithgreatslaughter；whilenoadvantagewasgainedbytheminotherpartsofthefield。TheFederallossonthisdaywas13，000，andthetroopsweresodispiritedthattheyrefusedtorenewthebattleintheafternoon。

Grantthendeterminedtoalterhisplanaltogether，andsendingimperativeorderstoButlertoobtainpossessionofPetersburg，embarkedSmith"scorpsintransports，andmovedwiththerestofhisarmytojointhatgeneralthere。Smith"scorpsenteredtheJamesRiver，landed，andmarchedagainstPetersburg。BeauregardhadatPetersburgonlytwoinfantryandtwocavalryregimentsunderGeneralWise，whileasinglebrigadefrontedButleratBermudaHundred。WiththishandfulofmenhewascalledupontodefendPetersburgandtokeepButlerbottledupinBermudaHundreduntilhelpcouldreachhimfromLee。HetelegraphedtoRichmondforalltheassistancethatcouldbesenttohim，andwasreinforcedbyabrigade，whicharrivedjustintime，forSmithhadalreadycapturedaportionoftheintrenchments，butwasnowdrivenout。

ThenextdayBeauregardwasattackedbothbySmith"sandHancock"scorps，whichhadnowarrived。With8，000menhekeptatbaytheassaultsoftwowholearmycorps，havinginthemeantimesentorderstoGracie，theofficerincommandofthebrigadebeforeButler，toleaveafewsentriestheretodeceivethatgeneral，andtomarchwiththerestofhisforcetohisaid。Itarrivedatacriticalmoment。Overwhelmedbyvastlysuperiornumbers，manyoftheConfederateshadlefttheirposts，andBreckenridgewasinvaintryingtorallythemwhenGracie"sbrigadecameup。Thepositionwasreoccupiedandthebattlecontinued。

AtnoonBurnsidewithhiscorpsarrivedandjoinedtheassailants；

whileButler，discoveringatlastthatthetroopsinfrontofhimwerewithdrawn，movedoutandbarredtheroadagainstreinforcementsfromRichmond。NeverthelesstheConfederatesheldtheirgroundalltheafternoonanduntileleveno"clockatnight，whentheassaultceased。

AtmidnightBeauregardwithdrewhistroopsfromthedefensesthattheyweretoofewtohold，andsetthemtoworktothrowupfreshintrenchmentsonashorterlinebehind。Allnightthemenworkedwiththeirbayonets，canteens，andanytoolsthatcametohand。

Itwaswellforthemthattheenemyweresoexhaustedthatitwasnoonbeforetheywerereadytoadvanceagain，forbythistimehelpwasathand。Anderson，whohadsucceededtothecommandofLongstreet"scorps，andwasleadingthevanofLee"sarmy，forcedhiswaythroughButler"stroopsanddrovehimbackintotheBermudaHundred，andleavingonebrigadetowatchhimmarchedwithanotherintoPetersburgjustastheattackwasrecommenced。

ThusreinforcedBeauregardsuccessfullydefeatedalltheassaultsoftheenemyuntilnightfell。AnotherFederalarmycorpscameupbeforemorning，andtheassaultwasagainrenewed，butthedefenders，whohadstrengthenedtheirdefensesduringthenight，drovetheirassailantsbackwithterribleloss。ThewholeofLee"sarmynowarrived，andtherestofGrant"sarmyalsocameup，andthatgeneralfoundthatafterallhismovementshiswaytoRichmondwasbarredasbefore。HewasindeedinafarworsepositionthanwhenhehadcrossedtheRapidan，forthemoraleofhisarmywasmuchinjuredbytherepeatedrepulsesandterriblelossesithadsustained。Thenewrecruitsthathadbeensenttofillupthegapswerefarinferiortroopstothosewithwhichhehadcommencedthecampaign。TosendforwardsuchmenagainstthefortificationsofPetersburgmannedbyLee"sveterantroopswastocourtdefeat，andhethereforebegantothrowupworksforaregularsiege。

Fightingwentonincessantlybetweentheoutposts，butonlyonegreatattemptwasmadeduringtheearlymonthsofthesiegetocapturetheConfederateposition。Theminersdroveagalleryundertheworks，andthendroveothergalleriesrightandleftunderthem。Thesewerechargedwitheightthousandpoundsofpowder。

Whenallwasready，massesoftroopswerebroughtuptotakeadvantageoftheconfusionwhichwouldbecausedbytheexplosion，andadivisionofblacktroopsweretoleadtheassault。

Ataquartertofiveinthemorningofthe30thofJulythegreatminewasexploded，blowingtwoguns，abattery，anditsdefendersintotheair，andformingahugepittwohundredfeetlongandsixtyfeetwide。LeeandBeauregardhurriedtothescene，checkedthepanicthatprevailed，broughtuptroops，andbeforethegreatFederalcolumnsapproachedthebreachtheConfederateswerereadytoreceivethem。Theassaultwasmadewithlittlevigor，theapproachestothebreachwereobstructedbyabattis，andinsteadofrushingforwardinasolidmasstheyoccupiedthegreatpit，andcontentedthemselveswithfiringovertheedgeofthecrater，whereregimentsanddivisionswerehuddledtogether。ButtheConfederatebatterieswerenowmanned，andfromtheworksoneithersideofthebreach，andfrombehind，theyswepttheapproaches，andthrewshellamongthecrowdedmass。Theblackdivisionwasnowbroughtup，andenteredthecrater，butonlyaddedtotheconfusion，Therewasnoofficerofsufficientauthorityamongthecrowdedmasstheretoassumethesupremecommand。Noassistancecouldbesenttothem，forthearrivaloffreshtroopswouldbuthaveaddedtotheconfusion。Alldaytheconflictwenton，theFederalsliningtheedgeofthecrater，andexchangingaheavymusketryfirewiththeConfederateinfantry，whilethemassbelowsufferedterriblyfromtheartilleryfire。

Whennightclosedthesurvivorsofthegreatcolumnthathadmarchedforwardinthemorning，confidentthatvictorywasassuredtothem，andthattheexplosionwouldlayPetersburgopentocapture，madetheirretreat，theConfederates，however，takingaconsiderablenumberofprisoners。TheFederallossinkilled，woundedandcapturedwasadmittedbythemtobe4，000；theConfederateaccountsputitdownat6，000。

AfterthisterriblerepulseitwasalongtimebeforeGrantagainrenewedactiveoperations，hutduringthemonthsthatensuedhistroopssufferedveryheavilyfromtheeffectsoffever，heightenedbythediscouragementtheyfeltattheirwantofsuccess，andatthetremendouslossestheyhadsufferedsincetheyenteredVirginiaontheirforwardmarchtoRichmond。

CHAPTERVIII。APERILOUSUNDERTAKING。

VINCENTWINGFIELDhadhadanarduoustimeofitwithhissquadronofcavalry。HehadtakenpartinthedesperatechargethatcheckedtheadvanceofSheridan"sgreatcolumnofcavalrywhichapproachedwithinthreemilesofRichmond，thechargethathadcostthegallantStuarthislife；andthedeathofhisbelovedgeneralhadbeenaheavyblowforhim。JacksonandStuart，twoofthebravestandnoblestspiritsoftheConfederatearmy，weregone。

BothhadbeenpersonallydeartoVincent，andhefelthowgrievouswastheirlosstothecauseforwhichhewasfighting；buthehadlittletimeforgrief。Theenemy，afterthetremendousbattlesoftheWilderness，swungtheirarmyroundtoColdHarbor，andVincent"ssquadronwascalleduptoaidLeeinhisstrugglethere。ThentheywereengagednightanddayinharassingtheenemyastheymarcheddowntotakeuptheirnewbaseatPetersburg，andfinallyreceivedorderstorideroundatfullspeedtoaidinthedefenseofthatplace。

Theyhadarrivedinthemiddleofthesecondday"sfighting，anddismountinghismenVincenthadaidedthehard-pressedConfederatesinholdingtheirlinestillLong-street"sdivisionarrivedtotheirassistance。AshorttimebeforetheterribledisasterthatbefelltheFederalsintheminetheyexplodedundertheConfederateworks，hewaswithGeneralWadeHampton，whohadsucceededGeneralStuartinthecommandofthecavalry，whenGeneralLeerodeup。

"Theyareerectingsiegeworksinearnest，"GeneralLeesaid。"Idonotthinkthatweshallhaveanymoreattacksforthepresent。I

wishIknewexactlywheretheyareintendingtoplacetheirheavybatteries。IfIdidweshouldknowwheretostrengthenourdefenses，andplantourcounterbatteries。Itisveryimportanttofindthisout；butnowthattheirwholearmyhassettleddowninfrontofus，andSheridan"scavalryarescouringthewoods，weshallgetnonews，forthefarmerswillnolongerbeabletogetthroughtotelluswhatisgoingon。

"Iwilltryandrideround，ifyoulike，general，"Vincentsaid。"Bymakingalongdetouronecouldgetintotherearoftheirlinesandpassasafarmergoingintocamptosellhisgoods。"

"Itwouldbeaverydangerousservice，sir，"GeneralLeesaid。

"Youknowwhattheconsequencewouldbeifyouwerecaught？"

"Iknowtheconsequence，"Vincentsaid；"butIdonotthink，sir，thattheriskisgreaterthanonerunseverytimeonegoesintobattle。"

"Perhapsnot，"GeneralLeereplied；"butinonecaseonediesfightingforone"scountrybyanhonorabledeath，intheother-"andhestopped。

"Intheotheroneisshotincoldblood，"Vincentsaidquietly。"Onediesforone"scountryineithercase，sir；anditdoesnotmuchmatter，sofarasIcansee，whethercueiskilledinbattleorshotincoldblood。Aslongasoneisdoingone"sduty，onedeathissurelyashonorableastheother。"

"Thatistrueenough，"GeneralLeesaid，"althoughitisnotthewaymengenerallyviewthematter。Still，sir，ifyouvolunteerforthework，Idonotfeeljustifiedinrefusingtheopportunityofacquiringinformationthatmaybeofvitalconsequencetous。

Whenwillyoustart？"

"Inhalfanhour，sir。IshallridebacktoRichmond，obtainadisguisethere，andthengoroundbytraintoBurksvilleJunctionandthenrideagainuntilIgetroundbehindtheirlines。Willyougivemeanorderformyhorseandmyselftohetaken？"

"Verywell，sir，"GeneralLeesaid。"Sobeit。MayGodhewithyouonyourwayandbringyousafelyback。"

Vincentrodeofftohisquarters。

"Dan，"hesaid，"Iamgoingawayonspecialdutyforatleastthreedays。Ihavegotacoupleofletterstowrite，andshallbereadytostartinhalfanhour。Givethehorseagoodfeedandhavehimatthedooragainbythattime。"

"AmItogowithyou，sah？"

"No，Dan；Imustgobymyselfthistime。"

Danfeltanxiousashewentout，foritwasseldomthathismastereverwentawaywithouttellinghimwherehewasgoing，andhefeltsurethattheservicewasoneofunusualdanger；norwashisanxietylessenedwhenattheappointedtimeVincentcameoutandhandedhimtwoletters。

"Youaretokeeptheseletters，Dan，untilIreturn，ortillyouhearthatsomethinghashappenedtome。Ifyouhearthat，youaretotakeoneoftheseletterstomymother，andtaketheotheryourselftoMissKingston。Tellherbeforeyougiveitherwhathashappenedasgentlyasyoucan。Asforyourself，Dan，youhadyourlettersoffreedomlongago，andIhaveleftyoufivehundreddollars；sothatyoucangetacabinandpatchofyourown，andsettledownwhenthesetroublesareover。"

"Letmegowithyou，master，"Dansaid，withthetearsstreamingdownhischeeks。"Iwouldratherbekilledwithyouahundredtimesthangetonwithoutyou。"

"IwouldtakeyouifIcould，Dan；butthisisaservicethatImustdoalone。Good-by，myboy；letushopethatinthreeorfourdaysattheoutsideIshallbebackhereagainsafeandsound。"

HewrungDan"shand，andthenstartedatacanterandkeptonatthatpaceuntilhereachedRichmond。Atrainwithstoreswasstartingforthesouthinafewminutes；GeneralLee"sorderenabledVincenttohaveahorse-boxattachedatonce，andhewassoonspeedingonhisway。HealightedatBurksvilleJunction，andtherepurchasedsomeroughclothesforhimselfandsomecountry-fashionedsaddleryforhishorse。Then，afterchanginghisclothesataninnandputtingthefreshsaddleryonhishorse，hestarted。

Itwasgettinglateintheafternoon，butherodeonbyunfrequentedroads，stoppingoccasionallytoinquireifanyoftheFederalcavalryhadbeenseenintheneighborhood，andatlaststoppedforthenightatalittlevillageinn。Assoonasitwasdaybreakheresumedhisjourney。HehadpurchasedatBurksvillesomecoloredcalicoandarticlesoffemaleclothing，andfastenedtheparceltothebackofhissaddle。Asherodeforwardnowheheardconstanttalesofthepassingofpartiesoftheenemy"scavalry，buthewasfortunateenoughtogetwellroundtotherearoftheFederallinesbeforeheencounteredanyofthem。Thenhecamesuddenlyuponatroop。

"Whereareyougoingto，andwherehaveyoucomefrom？"

"OurfarmisamileawayfromUnionGrove，"hesaid，"andIhavebeenovertoSussexCourthousetobuysomethingsformymother。"

"Letmeseewhatyouhavegotthere，"theofficersaid。"Youarerebelstoamanhere，andthere"snotrustinganyofyou。"

Vincentunfastenedtheparcelandopenedit。Theofficerlaughed。

"Well，wewon"tconfiscatethemascontrabandofwar。"

Sosayinghesetspurstohishorseandgallopedonwithhistroop。

VincentrodeontoUnionGrove，andthentakingaroadatrandomkeptontillhereachedasmallfarmhouse。Heknockedatthedoor，andawomancameout。

"Mother，"hesaid，"canyouputmeupforacoupleofdays？Iamastrangerhere，andallthevillagesarefullofsoldiers。"

Thewomanlookedathimdoubtfully。

"Whatareyoudoinghere？"sheaskedatlast。"Thisain"tatimeforstrangers；besidesayoungfellowlikeyououghttobeashamedtoshowyourselfwhenyououghttobeovertherewithLee。Myboysareboththereandmyhusband。Yououghttobeashamedofyourself，astrong-lookingyoungfellowlikeyou，toberidingaboutinsteadoffightingtheYankees。Goalong!youwillgetnoshelterhere。Iwouldscorntohavesuchasyouinsidemydoors。"

"PerhapsIhavebeenfightingthere，"Vincentsaidsignificantly。

"Butonecan"tbealwaysfighting，andthereareotherthingstodosometimes。Forinstance，tofindoutwhattheYankeesaredoingandwhataretheirplans。"

"Isthatso？"thewomanaskeddoubtfully。

"Thatisso，"heansweredearnestly。"IamanofficerinWadeHampton"scavalry，and，nowSheridan"stroopershavecutoffallcommunication，IhavecomeouttofindforGeneralLeewheretheYankeesarebuildingtheirbatteriesbeforePetersburg。"

"Inthatcaseyouarewelcome，"thewomansaid。"Comestraightin。Iwillleadyourhorseoutandfastenhimupinthebush，andgivehimafeedthere。Itwillneverdotoputhiminthestable；theYankeescomeinandoutandthey"dtakehimoffsharpenoughiftheireyesfellonhim。Ithinkyouwillbesafeenougheveniftheydocome。Theywilltakeyouforasonofmine，andiftheyaskanyquestionsIwillanswerthemsharpenough。"

"Iwondertheyhaveleftyouafeedofcorn，"Vincentsaid，whenthewomanreturnedaftertakingawayhishorse。

"It"snothankstothem，"sheanswered；"theyhaveclearedouteverythingthattheycouldlaytheirhandson。ButIhavebeenexpectingitformonths，and，asIhavehadnothingtodosincemymanandboyswentaway，Ihavebeendiggingagreatpitinthewoodoverthere，andhaveburiedmostallmycorn，andhavesaltedmypigsdownandburiedtheminbarrels；sotheydidn"tfindmuch。Theytooktheoldhorseandtwocows；butIhopetheoldhorsewillfalldownthefirsttimetheyuseshim，andthecowmeatwillchokethemaseatsit。Now，isthereanythingasIcandotohelpyou？"

"Iwantabasketwithsomeeggsandchickensorvegetablestotakeintotheircamptosell，butIamafraidIhavenotmuchchanceofgettingthem。"

"Icanhelpyoutheretoo，"thewomansaid。"IturnedallmychickensintothewoodthedayIheardtheYankeeshadlanded。

Theyhavegotratherwildlike；butIgooutandgivethemsomecorneveryevening。Iexpectifwelookaboutweshallfindsomenests；indeedIknowthereareoneortwoofthemsitting。Soifyouwillcomeoutwithmewecansoonknockdownfiveorsixofthecreatures，andmaybegetascoreortwoofeggs。Asforvegetables，ahordeoflocustscouldn"thavestrippedthecountrycleanerthantheyhavedone。"

Theywentoutintothewood。Sixhensweresoonkilled，andhuntingabouttheydiscoveredseveralnestsandgatheredaboutthreedozeneggs。Vincentaidedinpluckingthechickensandtheythenreturnedtothehouse。

"Youhadbesttakeabitebeforeyougo，"shesaid。

It"snoonnow，andyousaidyoustartedatdaybreak。Alwaysgetamealwhenyoucan，sayI。"

Sheproducedaloafandsomebaconfromalittlecupboardhiddenbyherbed，andVincent，who，nowhethoughtofit，wasfeelinghungry，madeaheartymeal。

"Iwillpayyouforthesechickensandeggsatonce，"hesaid。

"ThereisnosayingwhetherIshallcomebackagain。"

"Iwillnotsaynotoyourpayingforthechickensandeggs，"shesaid，"becausemoneyisscarceenough，andImayhavelongtowaitbeforemymanandtheboyscomeback；butastolodgingandfoodIwouldnottouchacent。YouarewelcometoallIhavewhenit"sforthegoodcause。"Vincentstartedwiththebasketonhisarm，andafterwalkingthreemilescameupontheFederalcamps。

Someoftheregimentswerealreadyundercanvas，otherswerestillbivouackedintheopenair，asthestore-shipscarryingtheheavybaggagehadnotyetarrived。Thegeneralsandtheirstaffshadtakenuptheirquartersinthevillages。Vincenthadreceivedaccurateinstructionsfromhishostessastothepositionofthevariousvillages，andavoidedthemcarefully，forhedidnotwanttosellouthisstockimmediately。Hehadindeedstowedtwoofthefowlsawayinhispocketsothatincaseanyoneinsisteduponbuyingupallhisstockhecouldplacetheseinhisbasketandstillpushon。

Heavoidedthecampsasmuchashecould。Hecouldseethesmokerisinginfrontofhim，andtheroarofgunswasnowcloseathand。Hesawonhisrightanelevatedpieceofground，fromwhichagoodviewcouldbeobtainedofthefortificationsuponwhichtheFederalswereworking。Acamphadbeenpitchedthere，andalargetentnearthesummitshowedthatsomeofficerofsuperiorrankhadhisquartersthere。Hemadeadetoursoastocomeupatthebackofthehillandwhenhereachedthetophestoodlookingdownuponthelineofworks。

Theywerenearlyhalfamiledistant。Theinterveninggroundhadalreadybeenstrippedofitshedges，andthetreescutdowntoformgabions，fascines，andplatformsforthecannon。Thousandsofmenwereatwork；butinsomepartstheywereclusteredmuchmorethicklythaninothers，andVincenthadnodifficultyindeterminingwheretheprincipalbatterieswereincourseofconstructionalongthisportionoftheposition。Hewasstillgazingintentlywhentwohorsemenrodeupfrombehind。

"Halloyou，sir!Whatareyoulookingat？"oneofthemaskedsharply。"Whatareyouspyingabouthere？"

Vincentturnedslowlyroundwithasillysmileonhislips。

"Iamspyingallthemchapsatwork，"hesaid。"Itremindsmeforalltheworldofanant-hill。Neverdidseesomanychapsbefore。

Whatbetheya-doing？Diggingabigdrainormakingaroadway，I

guess。"

"Whoareyou，sir？"theofficeraskedangrily。

"SethJonesIbe，andmother"ssentmetosellsomefowlsandeggs。

Doyouwanttobuyany？Finebirdstheybe。"

"Why，Sheridan，"laughedtheotherofficer，"thisisafeatheroutofyourcap。Ithoughtyourfellowshadclearedouteveryhen-roostwithintwentymilesofPetersburgalready。"

"Ifancytheyhaveemptiedmostofthem，"thegeneralsaidgrimly。

"Wheredoyoucomefrom，lad？"

"Icomesfromoverthere，"Vincentsaid，jerkinghisthumbback。

"Ilivestherewithmother。FatherandtheotherboystheyhavegonefightingYanks；buttheywouldn"ttakemewiththem"causeI

ain"tsharpinmywits，thoughItellsthemIcouldshootaYankaswellastheycouldiftheyshowedme。"

"Andwhodoyousupposeallthosemenare？"GeneralSheridanasked，pointingtowardthetrenches。

"Idunno，"Vincentreplied。"Iguesstheybeniggers。Therebetoomanyofthemforwhites；besideswhitesain"tsuchfoolstoworklikethat。Doesn"tyewantanyfowl？"andhedrewbacktheclothandshowedthecontentsofthebasket。

"Takethemasamatterofcuriosity，general，"theotherofficerlaughed。"Itwillbedownrightnoveltytoyoutobuychickens。"

"Whatdoyouwantforthem，boy？"

"MothersaidasIwasn"ttotakelessnoradollarapiece。"

"Greenbacks，Isuppose？"theofficerasked。

"Isupposeso。Shedidn"tsaynothingaboutit；butIhasnotseenaughtbutgreenbacksforalongtimesince。"

"Comealong，then，"theofficersaid；"wewilltakethem。"

Theyrodeuptothelargetent，andtheofficersalighted，andgavetheirhorsestotwoofthesoldiers。

"Giveyourbaskettothissoldier。"

"Iwantthebasketbackagain。MotherwouldwhopmeifIcamebackwithoutthebasketagain。"

"Allright，"theofficersaid；"youshallhaveitbackinaminute。"

Vincentstoodlookinganxiouslyaftertheorderly。

"Doyouthinkthatboyisasfoolishasheseems？"GeneralSheridanaskedhiscompanion。"Headmitsthathe。comesofarebelfamily。"

"Idon"tthinkhewouldhaveadmittedthatifhehadn"tbeenafool。

Ifancyheisahalf-wittedchap。Theyneverwouldhaveleftafellowofhisagebehind。"

"No，Ithinkit"ssafe，"Sheridansaid；"butonecan"tbetooparticularjustatpresent。See，thetreesinfronthideourworkaltogetherfromtherebels，anditwouldbeaseriousthingiftheyweretofindoutwhatwearedoing。"

"Thatboycouldnottellthemmuchevenifhegotthere，"theothersaid；"andfromthisdistanceitwouldneedasharpeyeandsomemilitaryknowledgetomakeoutanythingofwhatisgoingon。

Wheredoesyourmotherlive，boy？"

"Iain"tgoingtotellyou，"Vincentsaiddoggedly"MothersaidI

wasn"ttotellnoonewhereIlived，elsetheYankeethieveswouldbea-comingdownandstealingtherestofourchickens。"

Theofficerslaughed。

"Well，goalong，boy；andIshouldadviseyounottosayanythingaboutYankeethievesanothertime，forlikelyenoughyouwillgetabrokenheadforyourpains。"

Vincentwentoffgrumbling，andwithaslowandstumblingstepmadehiswayoverthebrowofthehillanddownthroughthecampsbehind。Herehesoldhislasttwofowlsandhiseggs，andthenwalkedbrisklyonuntilhereachedthecottagefromwhichhehadstarted。

"Iamgladtoseeyouback，"thewomansaidasheentered。"Howhaveyougoton？"

"Capitally，"hesaid。"Ipretendedtobehalfanidiot，andsogotsafelyout，thoughIfellintoSheridan"shands。Hesuspectedmeatfirst，butatlasthethoughtIwaswhatIlooked-afool。Hewantedtoknowwhereyoulived，butIwouldn"ttellhim。Itoldhimyoutoldmenottotellanyone，"causeifIdidtheYankeethieveswouldbeclearingouttherestofthechickens。"

"Didyoutellhimthat，now？"thewomansaidindelight；"hemusthavethoughtyouwasafool。Well，it"sagoodthingtheYanksshouldhearthetruthsometimes。Well，haveyoudonenow？"

"No，Ihaveonlyseenonesideoftheirworksyet；Imusttryroundtheotherflankto-morrow。IwishIcouldgetsomethingtosellthatwouldn"tgetboughtupbythefirstpeopleIcameto，somethingI

couldpeddleamongthesoldiers。"

"Whatsortofthing？"

"Somethinginthewayofdrinks，Ishouldsay，"Vincentsaid。"I

sawawomangoingamongthecamps。Shehadtwotincansandalittlemug。Ithinkshehadlemonadeorsomethingofthatsort。"

"Itwouldn"tbelemonade，"thewomansaid"Ihaven"tseenalemonforthelasttwoyears；buttheydogetsomeorangesfromFlorida。Maybeitwasthat，orperhapsitwasspiritsandwater。"

"Perhapsitwas，"Vincentagreed；"thoughIdon"tthinktheywouldletanyonesellspiritsinthecamp。"

"Ican"tgetyouanylemonsororangesneither，"thewomansaid；

"butImightmakeyouadrinkoutofmolassesandherbs，withsomespiritsinit。Ihavegotakegofoldryeburiedawayeversincemymanwentoff，sixmonthsago；Iamoutofmolasses，butI

daresayIcanborrowsomefromaneighbor，andasforherbstheyareabouttheonlythingtheYankeeshaven"tstole。IthinkIcouldfixyouupsomethingthatwoulddo。Aslongasithasgotspiritsinit，itdon"tmuchmatterwhatyouputinbesides，onlyitwouldn"tdototakespiritsupalone。Youcancallitplantationdrink，andIdon"tsupposeanyonewouldasktoocloselywhatit"smadeof。"

"Thankyou，thatwilldocapitally。"

ThenextmorningVincentagainsetout，turningbigstepsthistimetowardtherightflankoftheFederalposition。Hehadinthecourseoftheeveningmadeasketchofthegroundhehadsoon，markinginalltheprincipalbatteries，withnotesastothenumberofgunsforwhichtheyseemedtobeintended。

"Lookhere，"hesaidtothewomanbeforeleaving。"Imaynotbeasluckyto-dayasIwasyesterday。IfIdonotcomebackto-night，canyoufindanyoneyoucantrusttotakethispieceofpaperroundtoRichmond？OfcoursehewouldhavetomakehiswayfirstuptoBurksvillejunction，andthentaketraintoRichmond。WhenhegetstherehemustgodowntoPetersburg，andaskforGeneralLee。

Ihavewrittenalinetogowithit，sayingwhatIhavedonethisfor，andaskingthegeneraltogivethebearerahundreddollars。"

"Iwilltakeitmyself，"thewomansaid；"notforthesakeofthehundreddollars，thoughIain"tsayingasitwouldn"tpleasetheoldmanwhenheconiesbacktofindIhadahundreddollarsstoredaway；butforthecause。Mymenarealldoingtheirduty，andIwilldomine。Sotrustme，andifyoudon"tcomebackbydaybreakto-morrowmorning，Iwillstartrightawaywiththeseletters。IwillgooutatonceandhidethemsomewhereincasetheYanksshouldcomeandmakeasearch。Ifyouarecaughttheymight，likeenough，traceyouhere，andthentheywouldsearchtheplacealloverandmaybesetitalight。Ifyouain"therebynightfallIshallsleepoutinthewood，soiftheycometheywon"tfindmehere。Ifanythingdetainsyou，andyouain"tbacktillafterdark，youwillfindmesomewherenearthetreewhereyourhorseistiedup。"

Providedwithalargecanfullofaliquorthatthewomancompounded，andwhichVincent，ontasting，foundtobebynomeansbad，hestartedfromthecottage。Againhemadehiswaysafelythroughthecamps，andwithouthindranceloungeduptoaspotwherealargenumberofmenbelongingtooneofthenegroregimentswereatwork。

"Plantationliquor？"hesaid，againassumingastupidair，toablacksergeantwhowaswiththem。"First-ratestuff；andonlyfifteencentsaglass。"

"Whatplantationliquorlike？"thenegroasked。"Menotknowhim。"

"First-ratestuff，"Vincentrepeated。"Mothermakesitofspiritandmolassesandallsorts。Fifteencentsaglass。"

"Well，Iwilltakeaglass，"thesergeantsaid。"Mightyhotworkdisindesun；butdon"tyousaynuffinaboutthespirit。Efdeyaskyou，justyousaymolassesandallsorts，dat"squiteenough。Dewhiteofficerwon"tletspiritsbesoldindecamp。

"Datberygoodstuff，"besaid，smackinghislipsashehandedbackthelittletinmeasure。"Yousellhimallinnotime。"Severalofthenegroesnowcameround，andVincentdisposedofaconsiderablequantityofhisplantationliquor。Thenheturnedtogoaway，forhedidnotwanttoemptyhiscanatoneplace。Hehadnotgonemanypaceswhenapartyofthreeorfourofficerscamealong。

"Hallo，yousir，whatthedeuceareyoudoinghere？"oneaskedangrily。"Don"tyouknownobodyisallowedtopassthroughthelines？"

"Ididn"tseenolines。Whatsortoflinesarethey？Noonetoldmenothingaboutlines。Mymothersentmeouttosellplantationliquor，fifteencentsaglass。"

"What"sitlike？"oneoftheofficerssaidlaughing。"Spirits，Iwillbetadollar，insomeshapeorother。Pourmeoutaglass。Iwilltryit，anyhow。"

Vincentfilledthelittletinmug，andhandedittotheofficer。Asheliftedhisfacetodosotherewasasuddenexclamation。

"VincentWingfield!"andanotherofficerdrawinghisswordattackedhimfuriously，shouting，"Aspy!Seizehim!A

Confederatespy!"