Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson Part 16

"Joseph was silent; as an old soldier he knew how to keep his thoughts to himself.

"'Will you go to the war?' continued the General.

"'No, sir; I will stay here and take care of this farm for Mrs. Lyon and little Jennie. They shall not suffer while I am able to look after them.'

"Old Ham thought he had a point, and said: 'Dat's good; dat's jes' what I 'tend to do when Ma.s.sa Tom git killed. Jes'so.'

"'Shut up, Ham. Your Ma.s.sa Tom, as you call him, is not going to get killed. There have been enough of the Lyon family killed already,' said Peter.

"'Dat's so, Ma.s.sa Peter. I not got dat in my kalkerlate, you see; but I tell you I is monstrous feered 'bout dese matters; deys is heaps of people gittin' killed, and most of dem is good peoples, so dey is. Can't tell who nex', ma.s.sa; can't tell, sah!'

"'Well, Joseph, there will be no trouble about your staying. We want you here on the farm,' I said. 'We are all very much distressed, but, at the same time, we must look out for our country somewhat; and our family all being in the army, of course we must expect some misfortunes. Have you heard any more of the Golden Circle in this neighborhood?'

"'Yes, Uncle Daniel; they are at work, and since the defeat of our forces at the battle of Pageland, they are outspoken about what they intend to do; not only in aid of the rebellion, but they threaten the Union people here at home--threaten to destroy their property, and make war in Indiana if it becomes necessary, just as you have heretofore understood. I am keeping close watch, and they will not be able to do any very great harm here without my knowing it.'

"We cautioned Joseph, and told him to come in to our house frequently and let us know what was going on.

"On returning home we found Aunt Sarah and Jennie much improved, but Dr.

James was suffering very great pain. The swelling was extending up his arm from his hand. I said to him perhaps we had better have a physician.

'You are suffering so much that I fear you are not in a condition to attend to your own case.' He consented, and one was called in. On examination he p.r.o.nounced the trouble blood poisoning. James was greatly alarmed at this. The physician commenced at once with the most radical treatment. The next morning James seemed much easier, and looked as if he was coming out of it all right.

"The next day, while we were sitting on the porch, the postman brought me a letter, written in a delicate female hand. I read it and then called Gen. Anderson and Peter to listen:

"Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

"My Dear Mr. Lyon, Allentown, Ind.:

"Thanks for your very great kindness. I have the President's pa.s.s through onr lines; when you hear from me again, I will let you know about your son Henry.

"Very respectfully,

"SERAINE WHITCOMB."

"'Well, well,' said Peter; 'that tells a tale. Now, father, I agree with you. She is a brave girl; there is not more than one in a thousand like her.'

"'Yes; but what does she mean by saying I will hear from my son?'

"'It will reveal itself,' said Peter. 'She is in love with Henry, and has gone to look after him.'

"'Do you think so?' I inquired. 'Well, I do sincerely hope so.'

"Just then we saw Jackson coming. He came in, and after salutations and greetings between us, he entered the house to see his mother, the Doctor, and Jennie. He was much broken down over the death of his brother. The news of the battle and the list of the dead in the papers having contained David's name, he hastened home. He had, however, been very successful in laying the foundation for probing many things which might be of vast importance in the future.

"When he left home he first went to New York and had an interview with McMasters and B. Wudd, who were the leading spirits in New York, and one of them the princ.i.p.al man North in starting the organization. From these men he learned much about what was going on in Canada; the fact that there was no doubt that quite a number of Southern men were there with a large amount of money with which to carry out any scheme that might be agreed upon. These men in New York were in constant communication with those in Canada; also, with leading men in Richmond. He managed to obtain a letter of introduction from McMasters to the leading Knights of the Golden Circle in Canada; this letter introduced him as William Jackson, of Memphis, Tenn., and was directed to the Hon. Jacob Thomlinson. With this letter and the information he had now obtained, he made his way home, feeling that he could not undertake the further prosecution of his mission without returning and consoling his mother and the family as much as he possibly could in their distress. Knowing his mother's feeble condition he feared the consequences of the heavy affliction that had fallen upon her during the battle of Pageland--with one son a prisoner and another killed outright.

"I wrote the President, and promised that later on I would have the Canada mystery solved. Our people were in desperate straits. Our army had been outnumbered and forced back to the position in front of Pageland; defeated there, and forced to shelter itself in the rear of Cow Creek. It was now broken and shattered, lying in defenses near the Capital, discouraged and worn down by fatigue, wounds and disease. The outlook was anything but bright. Commanders had been changed. Some of our best fighting generals had lost their lives at Pageland. The country had but little confidence in the staying or fighting qualities of the commander, Gen. McGregor, as he had made no success heretofore. The rebel commander, well understanding the situation, was moving rapidly up and along the south line of the Grand River, evidently intending an invasion of the loyal States by penetrating our lines and crossing at or near Brown's Ferry. Our lines were held at this point by Gen. Milo, having in his command 10,000 men, who were all surrendered at the demand of Gen. Wall without very much resistance. Wall had slipped through the mountains like a cat, and was upon Milo before he knew of his approach.

This was very strange though, and hard to understand, and only increased the fears and suspicions already existing that something was out of joint, so that the machinery was working badly in that army.

"'The enemy now had no impediment in the way of a rapid movement except high waters, which seemed to interpose as the only power that could stop their advance into the interior of our country and to the rear of our capital, cutting off all communications to the North with the loyal States.

"The administration was now in a position of great danger, in many respects, not before contemplated.

"The rebel sympathizers and Golden Circles were loud in their denunciation of the war and the party sustaining it. Thos. A. Strider and Dan Bowen were traversing the state of Indiana, making inflammatory speeches, and all over the North the same policy was being pursued by the anti-war party. They alarmed the people by declaring that unless the war was stopped our homes North would be invaded; that our armies could not cope with the rebels. The only thing that seemed to put a check to their hopes, operations and denunciations was the fact that our armies in the West were having a continuation of victories.

"This being the situation of the armies and the condition of the minds of the people, the loss of another great battle at this time would have greatly prolonged the war, if it would not have been fatal to the ultimate success of the Union cause. The authorities at Was.h.i.+ngton were doing everything in their power to allay the excitement among the people, and at the same time were trying to have the Army of the East put in motion so as to pa.s.s down to Pottstown and interpose in front of the enemy; he evidently intending to move by way of Brown's Ferry, throwing part of his force on the Brown's Ferry road and a portion over into the Sheepstown road, making a junction at or near Shapleyville.

The Union forces were expected to move across by Fardenburg, down the sloping mountains of Cochineal and along and across Mad Valley to Pottstown, and take position behind Antler's Run. But it seemed to be almost impossible to get Gen. McGregor to put his army in motion. Many were the excuses made; want of this thing to-day, and something else to-morrow--shoes, clothing, blankets, and many other things--protracted the delay. Finally, the President and Secretary of War being out of patience with his hesitancy and excuses, the President directed the Secretary of War to order Gen. McGregor to move without further delay.

This seemed to be understood by McGregor, and the next day everything about the camps was in a bustle, and the Army of the East was again in motion; but the movements were slow, and made in such a manner as not to inspire very great confidence in our immediate success. The men and subordinate officers seemed resolute and determined, but there was something surrounding all the movements that was mysterious.

"The papers were full of all the movements, and were discussing the probabilities, etc. Seeing this Gen. Anderson was fired with a desire to at once return to the front. On account of his very weak and feeble condition we tried to detain him, but in vain.

"He said: 'No, I am going to the front, and I wish to go to the East.

Will you ask by telegraph for such an a.s.signment for me?'

"I answered that I would, and did so immediately.

"The next day he received a telegram from the Secretary of War, directing him to report to Gen. McGregor for a.s.signment to duty.

"Gen. Anderson said to Capt. Jackson: 'Your invasion of Canada will be postponed until later. You will be ready to start in the morning with me to the Army of the East.'

"He called old Ham, and repeated the order to him to be in readiness.

"Ham said: 'Afore de Lord, Ma.s.sa Tom, you isn't gwine to be fitin' agin, is you?'

"'Yes! You get ready. Have your bedding and all your traps ready, if you think you can stand to be shot at by the rebels.'

"'Shot at! Is you gwine to put me out to be snot at? Me done thought thar war 'nuff white folks to get shotten at, widout de poor darkies like me.'

"'Yes; but you want to be free, do you not, Ham?'

"'Yeas; Ma.s.sa Tom, I wants dat--I wants it bad; but how is gwine to come?'

"'Fight for it. You are no better than I am, are you? Had you not as well be shot as for me to be?'

"'Yeas, sir; dat am so. 'Specks de darkies got to fight. I'll fight, Ma.s.sa Tom, if you say so. Yes, I do. I stay wid you, I will sho'.'

"Old Martha happened to hear this, and broke forth:

"'Well, well, Ma.s.sa Tom, I's sorry you is gwine to de wah agin. But it all right. I tells you dat de good Laud save you up for some good. I jes' know he do it all right. I take care of Missus Mary and de little gal; don't you hab no fears 'bout dem. But you isn't gwine to hab Ham go, is you? If you doz, dat ole fool he git kill. I 'spect he got no mo'

sense dan jes' git rite in whar dey is fitin?'

"'No, no, Marfa; you is wrong dar. I tell you dat you is. I stay by Ma.s.sa Tom.'

"Peter and Jackson laughed, and said to the General:

"'Ham thinks you will be in a safe place during the fighting.'

"'Yes, he seems to be of that impression. I think I may, perhaps, relieve his mind somewhat,' said the General, with a smile.