Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson Part 39

"By this time Peter had so far recovered that the Surgeon felt it to be safe to remove him. Henry, who had remained with him all this time, now brought him home, with old Ham's a.s.sistance. Henry had kept me posted by letter, and it was very hard at times to explain his absence. But when he reached home, and the truth was revealed to my good wife, she was almost frantic, and was unable to sit up. She talked continually of her dear son, and was haunted day and night by her dream. Peter gained strength very rapidly. The members of the household were at his service at all times. The children could not understand so many coming home shot as they termed it, and little Mary Anderson was continually inquiring of her mamma about her dear papa, and if he was shot again! Our family had all become so nervous that I was continually on the alert for fear of sickness being produced by the constant strain.

"Old Ham and Aunt Martha had many things to say to each other. Ham's experiences in battle very greatly amused Aunt Martha. They were both very kind to Peter, but wore very serious countenances in our presence.

Ham would only talk to me about Peter, and would always say: 'I hopes dat Marsa Peter git well, but I fears. Marsa Lyon, I tell's you dat dream of de Madam, dat am bery bad. I fears de time am mighty nigh come.'

"Aunt Martha did not express any opinion, but would shake her head.

Peter kept the two little girls by him nearly all the time, petting them, but conversed very seldom. He would talk to his mother occasionally, to keep her mind away from her horrible dream.

"About the 1st of October we learned of the movements of large bodies of the enemy's cavalry in Tennessee, raiding the railroads to the rear of Sherwood's army. Head had thrown his army across Chatham River, below Gate City, to the north, and moved parallel to the railroad, so that he could strike and destroy our lines of communication at various points.

Sherwood was compelled to follow him. Our forces were stationed on the railroad at many places. Gen. G. B. Ream, with one division, held Carter Station, Etwau Bridge, Alletooning, Ainsworth, King's City, Adamsville, Sarco, and north to Dallytown. Chatteraugus was held by Gen. Sleman with his division, and Romulus by Cortez. All had orders to support any point that should be attacked. Gen. Ream was of the opinion that Head would strike the railroad at Alletooning, where a great quant.i.ty of supplies were stored.

"Sherwood left Somers with his corps at Gate City and started north. He arrived at Henrietta Just as Gen. Ream had got Cortez with his command at Alletooning. Head was advancing on Alletooning by rapid marches. He a.s.saulted the garrison at once on his command's arrival The a.s.sault was made with great determination, but it was not successful. His loss was very great. He drew off and at once moved in the direction of Romulus.

"Gen. Sherwood reached Carter Station, and was directing his movement in order to protect the railroad and no more. Gen. Ream insisted to Gen.

Sherwood that Head's next move would be against Sarco. Sherwood did not think Head would cross the Cussac River, and so commenced his march on Romulus by way of King's City, and left the matter of protecting Sarco to Gen. Ream, who procured trains and started all the troops he could get together for that place. That night on the way they found the track torn up. This was soon repaired, and the troops proceeded. At five o'clock Gen. Head arrived in front of Sarco and demanded its surrender.

Gen. Ream, learning this, took the troops from the cars and marched from Cahoon, sending the trains back for more re-enforcements. By daylight our troops were in the fort and on the skirmish-line at Sarco.

"Ream at once sent word to Gen. Sherwood that Head was present with his army in front of Sarco, and would like to pay his respects. About daylight Head opened his artillery upon the forts, and sent forward his skirmish-line. In the garrison every effort was made to impress Head with the idea that Sherwood's main force was present. Every flag was displayed on the forts and along the skirmish-line. Head kept up a continuous fire on the forts during the day. Late in the afternoon re-enforcements arrived. There were but 500; this was enough, however, to show that re-enforcements were coming. The firing was kept up the most of the night; the next morning the enemy was gone.

"He pa.s.sed around Sarco and struck the railroad north of this place and dismantled it for many miles, capturing every garrison north from Sarco to Turner's Hill. Turning west from there he pa.s.sed through Snake Gap, moving in the direction of Alabama. Gen. Sherwood arrived at Sarco very soon and was gratified that the place, with its great quant.i.ty of supplies, was safe. He at once pushed out through Snake Gap in pursuit of Head.

"The next place that Head presented himself with his army was in front of our garrison at De Kalb, Ala. He withdrew, however, and crossed into Tennessee, where he rested for near a month, collecting supplies and recruiting his army.

"Sherwood halted his army, and while resting made such dispositions as were in accordance with the plan to be followed out in the near future.

"In the meantime the excitement in the North was very great. Jacob Thomlinson had returned from Europe and was again in Canada with a large sum of money, which was freely used in all the States North in attempting to elect the Democratic candidate, 'Little Mack,' for President--the man that Thomlinson had suggested in the meeting of the leaders of the 'Sons of Liberty' at St. Catharines, Canada, of which I have heretofore spoken. Mobs were now frequent, and bad blood was stirred up all over the country.

"Finding the condition of things very unsatisfactory, I suggested to Henry that he make a short visit to Canada. He did so, and returned to Allentown four days before the Presidential election. He had met Wintergreen, who had returned from England with Thomlinson. He disclosed to Henry the fact that the rebels were greatly depressed, and were using all the money they could to defeat the war candidate, Mr. Lincoln; and that the night before the election a raid would be made on all the Northern prisons, so that released prisoners might burn and destroy, and thereby cause such alarm on the day of the election as to prevent as many as possible from going to the polls. At the same time their friends were to be in possession of the polls wherever they could. In this way they had hopes of carrying the election.

"I sent this report to the President by letter, which he received in time to have all the prison guards re-enforced. The attempt was made, however, but defeated in every instance. In Chicago they were very near accomplis.h.i.+ng their designs. They had cut the water pipes and were making preparations for the burning of the city. But the attack on the camp was thwarted, and the leaders arrested and put in prison. John Wall, of whom I have heretofore spoken, was one of the leaders, and was captured and imprisoned.

"Mr. Lincoln was triumphantly elected. Mr. Jacob Thomlinson's friend, 'Little Mack,' as he called him, was ingloriously defeated. This indors.e.m.e.nt by the people of the war measures and the manner of their execution was cheering to our loyal people, as well as to the armies and their commanders.

"Soon after the election Sherwood abandoned pursuing Head, leaving the States of Tennessee and Kentucky, with Head's army scattered along the main thoroughfares, to be looked after by Papson, with his forces, preferring himself to take the Armies of the Tennessee and Georgia and cut loose and march un.o.bstructed to the Sea. On the march, food for the troops and animals was found in abundance, making this march really a picnic the most of the way.

"While Sherwood was making this march, matters of great interest were going on in Tennessee. On the last day of November the enemy, maddened by disappointment in their failure in the North to carry the election and have their Confederacy recognized, concluded to risk their all in a great battle for the recapture of the State of Tennessee. Head, then in command of an army increased to nearly 50,-000, moved across Goose Run and against our forces at Franktown, where he at once a.s.saulted Scovens, who had been sent to oppose his advance. Our troops were behind intrenchments. He attacked with fearful desperation. At no time during the war did any commander on either side make a more furious and desperate a.s.sault than was made by Head. After forming his lines in double column, he moved right up to our works, where his men were mowed down by the hundreds. Gen. Pat Cleber charged time and again with his division, and hurled them against our works only to be as often driven back with great slaughter. At last, in a fit of desperation, he led his men up to the very mouths of our cannon and the muzzles of our muskets.

He drove his spurs into his horse until his forefeet rested on our parapet. In this position he and his horse were riddled with bullets and fell into the trench, which was literally running with blood. The desperation of the enemy was such that they continued their murderous but ineffectual a.s.saults until their men were exhausted as well as dismayed at their great loss. Thirteen of his commanding officers fell killed and wounded. Night forced him to desist.

"The next morning his men could not be brought to the slaughter again.

The b.l.o.o.d.y battle ended and Scoven's men withdrew to Nashua, three miles to the South of which place Papson's army was intrenched. Wellston, in command of about 8,000 cavalry, covered both flanks of our forces.

It was now getting along in December. The enemy moved forward and intrenched in the front and within two miles of Papson. The weather became very bad for any kind of movement. It rained, hailed, and sleeted until the country around and about them became very muddy and swampy, and at times covered with a sheet of sleet and ice. Papson hesitated to attack and Head could not retreat; so there the two armies lay s.h.i.+vering in the cold, suffering very greatly, both fearing to take any decisive steps.

"Gen. Silent became quite impatient, believing it to be the time to strike, as the enemy could not get away. Finally he concluded to relieve Papson, but notified him of his order. Papson now made ready for an a.s.sault. His command was posted as follows: Gen. A. J. Smithers on the right, who was to a.s.sault the enemy's left, supported by Wellston's cavalry; Ward was to support Smithers on his left, acting against Monterey Hill, on the Hillston road; Scovens was to hold the interior line, being the defense of Nashua. When the time arrived, all being in readiness, the order was given. The enemy seemed to be totally unaware of the movement. Smithers and Wellston moved out along the pike.

Wheeling to the left they at once advanced against the enemy. The cavalry first struck the enemy at the Harden House, near Rich Earth Creek, and drove him back, capturing many prisoners. One of Smithers's divisions moving with the cavalry, captured two of the enemy's strong advance positions, with about 400 prisoners.

"At this time Scovens's Corps was put in on Smithers's right, and the advance was then made by the whole line. Ward's Corps now found the enemy to Smithers's left, and Gen. Anderson led his command against Monterey Hill and carried it, capturing a number of prisoners. Ward's Corps at once advanced against the main line of the enemy, and after a b.l.o.o.d.y contest carried it, capturing a great many prisoners, a number of pieces of artillery, and many stands of colors. The enemy was now driven out of his entire line of works and fell back to a second line at the base of Harpan Hills, holding his line of retreat by way of Franktown.

Night closed in and stopped again the play of death. Our forces were now in possession of sixteen pieces of artillery, with many officers and 1,200 prisoners, not including wounded. Our troops bivouacked on their line of battle in order to be ready for any movement in the morning.

"Ward's Corps at six in the morning moved south from Nashua, striking the enemy and driving him some five miles, to Overton's Hill, where he had thrown up works and was making a stand. Gen. Sleman now moved rapidly to Gen. Ward's left. Scovens remained in his position of the last night. Wellston moved to the enemy's rear and drew up his line across one of the Franktown roads.

"About two o'clock one brigade of Ward's Corps, supported by Sleman's division, a.s.saulted Overton's Hill, which was the enemy's center. One of Sleman's brigades was composed of colored troops. The ground over which they had to a.s.sault was open. The enemy re-enforced his center. The a.s.sault was made, but received by the enemy with a terrible shower of grape, canister and musketry. Our forces moved steadily on, not wavering in the least, until they had nearly reached the crest of the hill, when the reserves of the enemy arose from behind their works and opened one of the most destructive fires ever witnessed, causing our troops to first halt and then fall back, leaving many dead and wounded, both black and white indiscriminately, in the abatis and on the field.

"Gen. Ward immediately re-formed his command, and all the forces of the army moved simultaneously against the enemy's works, carrying every position, breaking the lines in many places, and driving him in utter rout from his position, capturing all his artillery and thousands of prisoners, among whom were many officers, including four Generals. Ward and Wellston pursued the fleeing enemy until by capture and other means Head's army was entirely destroyed and wiped out of existence as an organization. It appeared no more in the history of the great rebellion.

Thus were destroyed all the formidable forces of the enemy in the West.

The army of Papson now went into Winter quarters at different points which were thought necessary to be garrisoned.

"Peter, by this time, was growing very weak, having had a relapse, resulting in a very serious hemorrhage. At his request I had telegraphed Gen. Papson, stating his great desire to see Gen. Anderson. Upon the receipt of which, leave was immediately granted the General and he came home, bringing Lieut. Whitcomb with him. On the way home people greeted him everywhere with shouts of joy. They could now see that the end was near, and they were overflowing with grat.i.tude and good feeling.

"On their arrival you can imagine the joy of our household. The meeting between him and Peter was most touching. Both wept like children. All were much affected; even the two little children wept and sobbed aloud at the bedside of their Uncle Peter. My wife was quite feeble. She greeted the General as one of her own sons, and said:

"'Our dear Peter is not going to live. I see it all, and I pray G.o.d that he may take me also.'

"The General encouraged Peter all he could. Ham and Aunt Martha were as delighted to see the General as were any of his family. We all tried to be cheerful and in good spirits, but it was very hard to do this under the circ.u.mstances.

"The next day after the General reached home he inquired of Ham why he did not return to the army. Ham said:

"'I fuss done thought I would, and den I knowed I be no use, kase you so far off, and I feared I not jes' safe gwine trough dem Sesh lines down dar; and den I knowed, too, dat you kin git as many n.i.g.g.e.rs as you wants dat am jes' as good as Ham is, 'ceptin when you done wants good tings to eat, sech like as chickens. Ham can allers get dem when dey is 'round and skeered of the Sesh. I all de time noticed dey is powerful feared ob de Sesh', Marsa Lyon. De General know dat am so.'

"'Well, Ham, you must be ready to go back with me when I return.'

"'Oh, yes, Marsa; oh, yes! I go all right; I will, sho' as you is bawn.

But I tells you dat Marsa Peter am powerful bad, he am, sho'. I dream it all out las' night. Missus, she be right in dat. He be agoin' dis time, and no mistake. Dat dream ob de Missus be all come 'round.'

"'That will do, Ham; you go and talk to Aunt Martha about your dreams.'

"'All right, Marsa, all right, sah; but you mine what I tole you.'

"The next day Joseph Dent came in, and we had a long conversation on the subject of the war, the Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty. He said that they were alarmed, and quite a number had refused to meet recently, but that the Grand Commander had issued a call for a meeting to be held in Canada some time soon, where many of the leading men were again to a.s.semble and take into consideration some new plan for aiding the rebellion. After he left for home the General, Henry and I consulted as to the best plan to get at what those men in Canada were working up.

They had tried mobs and riots in New York and other places, had tried releasing prisoners, burning and destroying cities, scattering disease in our hospitals, and army raids, guerrilla warfare, etc., and had failed in all. Now what next? We thought that it would be best for Henry and Seraine to return to Detroit; that Henry again should visit Canada, and, by him the information could be communicated to me. This being understood, they left the next day. James Whitcomb, having gone immediately home on his arrival at Allentown, would be with his parents and Seraine, while Henry should visit in Canada.

"Peter was now apparently improving and we felt he might possibly recover. The news of Sherwood's safe arrival at the Sea having been received, the people were greatly rejoiced. They felt that the Spring campaign would probably end the rebellion. The country was full of hope and the drooping spirits of anxious people were much revived. Things went on in this way and our family enjoyed themselves as best they could. Mary Anderson and Jennie Lyon, David's widow, and the two little girls, made our home as pleasant as possible But my poor wife grew weaker all the time, which gave us much concern.

"Henry had arrived in Canada, and again found his friend Wintergreen.

They were now visiting different places. Henry had written Seraine and she came down to Allentown, spending two days with us, and at the same time posting the General and myself as to the movements of the conspirators. Thomlinson had called the leaders of the Northern Sons of Liberty to again a.s.semble at St. Catharines the last Thursday in January. Henry had concluded to remain and learn fully their intentions and schemes. I told Seraine to say to him that his proposition to remain was approved. I sent to the President the information and Henry's intention, in answer to which I received a very kind and touching letter from one of his Secretaries, exhibiting great sympathy for my family and deploring our misfortunes.

"Time moved on, and the General was preparing to leave for his command, when Peter became very much worse; and, also, my wife was growing weaker and losing her mind. Peter was coughing very often and having slight hemorrhages. The physician p.r.o.nounced him to be in a very critical condition. One morning Aunt Martha came running into the parlor where the family were sitting, and with much anxiety cried out:

"'Marsa Lyon and Marsa Gen'l, come to Marsa Peter, quick; 'cause he bleed to deff if you not hurry.'

"We ran to him quickly. He was bleeding profusely, holding his head over the edge of the bed. He could only speak in a gurgling whisper. He took me by the hand and said:

"'Father, it is all over with me; soon there will be but one finger left.'

"We laid him back on the pillow, and without another word or struggle he pa.s.sed away. Good bless my poor son!"

"Amen!" said Dr. Adams.

Uncle Daniel soon proceeded, saying: "But, my good friends, this was not my only grief. We tried to keep his death from his mother. She, in her delirium, was constantly speaking of her dear son Peter, and crying. She seemed to have no thought except of Peter and the constant shadow of her dream. The day of Peter's funeral her reason seemed to return and her strength revived. She asked for all of us to come into her room, and we did so. When she saw that Peter was not with us, she inquired why.

I answered that he could not come. I then broke down and left her room weeping. She saw it, and, with strength that she had not shown for many weeks, arose, and leaping to the floor rushed past all into the parlor, and there saw Peter lying a corpse. She shrieked and fell on his remains. We lifted her and carried her back to her bed. She was dead!"