"'Yes,' said the General; 'why not?'
"'Well, sah, I doesn't know why; it 'pears like dey wouldn't kill the darkies when we work for dem so long. But de Sesh dey is quar folks dey is; dey fight doe, don' dey, Massa Tom?'
"'Yes; they fight like other people.'
"By this time they were at headquarters, and Ham got hold of his namesake and devoured it as a wild beast would have done. Ham was very serious and finally said:
"'Massa Tom, I guess dey not fight any mo' berry soon, does dey?'
"The General replied that he did not know.
"'Well,' said Ham, 'I guess I stay wid you a while longer. You won't write home 'bout me gittin' in de bush, will you'uns?'
"'No; if you wish us not to do so.'
"'O, for de Laud's sake! Marfa she d neber lib wid dis darky no mo' if she know what I do. You won't tell her, Massa Tom, will you?'
"'No, Ham; I will keep it a secret from her.'
"'Well, den, I will try him once mo'. I 'spects I stay here nex' time. I knows I do. O, I knows de nex' time, sho.'
"All right, Ham; you get around now and get our things together, and look after my "traps."'
"'Yes, massa, yes.'
"Ham's conduct and explanations afforded great amusement for the boys around headquarters for some time.
"Capt. Zeke Inglesby said:
"Uncle Daniel, I did not know before that Gen. Stephen Lyon, who was murdered at Bethesda Springs, was your son. I know all about his murder.
I belonged to his brigade. That dastardly murder was considered by all soldiers as one of the most outrageous acts and cold-blooded murders ever known in civilized warfare."
"Oh, yes. I grieved over his death very greatly, he being the second one of our dear boys murdered outright--the fourth dead since the war began. It chilled the blood of our whole family. The strangest thing to me was how Gen. Anderson, Capt. Jackson and Col. Peter could restrain themselves so as not to mention the name of his murderer, in all their conversations about his death; but, as I said, I never knew who did it until after the war. I could easily understand the reason for their not telling the name. Mary Anderson, being his sister, was never told the facts; nor my wife nor any of us at the time, the boys fearing that it might cause an unpleasant feeling even to know the fact that a near relative of one of our family could be such a barbarian.
"I was kept quite close at home for some months with our family, being their only protection within call. During this time no man ever suffered more in spirit. I can see it all before me now: my poor wife's agony, the sorrowing of David's widow, Mary Anderson's trouble, the two poor little children--their questions about their Uncle Stephen, who killed him, and why? These questions I could not answer."
At this point Dr. Adams inquired if Gen. Rosenfelt ever expressed any regret at not listening to the information imparted to him on the morning of the battle.
"No, sir; I did not so understand."
"Uncle Daniel, did you know anything of Mrs. Houghton after this?"
"Yes; she continued to do good service for our cause, as you will learn hereafter."
Uncle Daniel here called in Mrs. Wilson. She was a bright and beautiful woman. He took her in his arms and said to us:
"This dear child and one boy, the son of another of my boys, are all of whom I can now boast."
His speech at this point was so pathetic and saddening, that the whole party were unconsciously moved to tears. His voice trembled, and he slowly walked out of the room, overwhelmed by the sad memories he had awakened.
CHAPTER XI.
THE COURT-MARTIAL.--AT MURPHY'S HILL.--THE TWO OPPOSING ARMIES AND THEIR MOVEMENTS.--JAMES WHITCOMB'S TRIAL.-- SENTENCED TO DEATH AND PARDONED BY THE PRESIDENT.
"But mercy is above this sceptered sway, It is enthroned in the heart of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy seasons Justice."
--Shakespeare.
"Gen. Biggs having taken up his position in the angle of the headwaters of Goose River and Cane's Fork, near Tullahoming, in the midst of a rich valley, Rosenfelt at once commenced repairing the railroads and throwing up earthworks near Murphy's Hill, which almost encircled the entire place. There he remained during the winter and following spring. The two armies were principally engaged in watching each other, neither being willing to risk an advance against the other. For several months this situation continued. The only operations that marked this long period of inaction on the part of the two armies were a series of small exploits which were calculated to cause the two armies to degenerate into small bands, that could only be employed in harassing their enemies. The rebels got ready, however, and made the first attempt. Gen. Weller, with a brigade of cavalry, pushed his way up within a few miles of Nashua, burned a railroad bridge, then descended on the right bank of the Le-Harp River to the banks of Combination River, and there seized several of our transports, which were loaded with supplies. He burned these with all their cargoes. One of our gunboats reached the scene of action just in time to also become a prey to the flames.
"This act on the part of the rebel cavalrymen in its audacity seems to have completely paralyzed our mounted troops, and Weller was permitted to return entirely unmolested. In a very short time, elated by his success, he concentrated a force of some 3,000 men under Gens. Forrester and Lawting, with two batteries, within twenty miles of Nashua. Gen.
Rosenfelt, seeing that the rebels were riding all around and about him with impunity, sent Gen. Davies with one division of infantry, and two brigades of cavalry commanded by Gen. Minting, in order to hem Weller in and 'bag him' and take him into camp, as the soldiers would say. Davies marched from Murphy's Hill to Eagle Cove; Sleeman marched from Nashua with a division of infantry, upon Tyrone; Minting moved away to the south by way of Franktown, where the forces were all to close in like pulling the drawstring of a bag and closing it over your game. But when opened there was no Weller inside. The next heard of him he had pushed on far to the northwest, and while our forces were closing in at Franktown, Weller had again reached the borders of Combination River at Mariam's Crossing, and appeared before Dolinsburg on the next day. You remember the great battle fought at Dolinsburg, where Gen. Tom. Anderson was thought to have been killed, but was found by me in the darky's cabin?" They answered: "Yes; that could not be forgotten." "Well, gentlemen, this place was still commanded by good old Col. Harden. He had but 700 men all told. The place was encircled by parapets commanding the ravines north and south. In the center the Colonel had constructed large earthworks, and mounted thereon one 32-pounder. He also had a section of field-guns. The rebels lost no time in making their dispositions, and were ready for the assault. Col. Harden hastily made preparations to receive the enemy. He placed his women and sick on a transport that lay at the wharf. That being done, the old Colonel said to his men: 'Boys, here I will die before I will lower that flag.' and his command all cheered him, and said 'we agree to that sentiment.'
"Weller was now ready; he ordered Forrester and Law-ting to advance and attack. But before doing so he thought it would be the more correct warfare to summon the garrison to surrender. He did so by sending a flag of truce and demanding a surrender of the fort. Col. Harden inquired by what authority the surrender was demanded. The reply was that Gen.
Weller demanded it 'in the name of Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confederacy.'
"'Tell Gen. Weller that if Mr. Davis is here in person I will see him; but if Gen. Weller wants this fort he must take it at the point of the bayonet. Col. Harden never surrenders to the enemy.'
"This was reported to Gen. Weller, and he remarked, 'We will see.'
"Forrester deployed his command and moved forward up the hill, but as he galloped up under a heavy fire his loss was severe. The soldiers who were defending that part of the outer works retreated inside of the heavy fortifications. A murderous and destructive fire was now opened upon the enemy from all sides of the works.
"Forrester fell back and formed a new line, and Weller put his whole force in action. Lawting joined Forrester on the right, and the assault was made.
"Old Col. Harden said: 'Boys, here they come; let them charge close up before you fire. Fill that old 32-pounder with bullets on top of the shell;' and they did.
"So Forrester charged with his men right up to the works. Col. Harden gave the command 'Fire!' and with one volley from muskets and the old 32-pounder the cavalry retreated in every direction; many horses and men fell under this terrible fire. Our men leaped out of the works, and with bayonets fixed charged down against Forrester's men and captured many of them. Forrester's best Colonel was killed and his command routed and demoralized. Lawting had captured the Cemetery Ridge, where some of Col.
Harden's men had made a stand, but finding they could not hold it, fell back into the fort. Darkness here closed in and the old flag still floated over Dolins-burg. During the night a gunboat came to the rescue.
"The next morning there were no rebels in sight, save killed and wounded. Dolinsburg was never again assaulted by the enemy during the war. Col. Harden was a brave man, and dearly beloved by my whole family; not alone for his bravery, but for his kindness to Gen. Anderson during his stay at the Colonel's Headquarters.
"Weller was being followed up by Davies, who had finally gotten on his track. But he took another tack; he moved a short distance, as if intending to meet Davies, and then suddenly wheeled to the right and reached Center-town by way of Pinche's Factory, along the line of Goose River. After fording the river he called a halt at Colesburg. His men were now worn out with fatigue, and his horses totally unfitted for further service until thoroughly recuperated. This ended Gen. Weller's exploits for a considerable length of time. Just then another raider appeared upon the scene--one Gen. Van Doring, in command of some 5,000 fresh cavalry. This new force gave the enemy courage, and they at once renewed their former audacity. They were determined to wipe out if possible the terrible and painful result of their attack upon Col.
Harden at Dolinsburg, and immediately advanced within a short distance of Rosenfelt's main encampment, drove in his outposts, and threatened his short Une of communication with Nashua. By this time large re-enforcements had arrived by way of transports up the Combination River to Nashua. Sleeman's division had moved forward to the main force at Murphy's Hill. The General felt that he must rid the country of these raiders, or his situation would become intolerable. His detachments, except in large bodies, could not venture out of camp without danger of being attacked by rebel cavalry. Later on, one day, a report came that our outposts were attacked and part of them captured within a few miles of his main army. Rosenfelt was greatly excited to think that with his force of cavalry--one brigade at Nashua, one at Franktown supported by a division of infantry at each place, and two brigades at his main position--the rebels were audacious enough to come in sight of his camp and menace him. Just at this moment Gen. Sherlin, a small man, but a great soldier, came into his headquarters and said:
"'General, how would you like to have an infantry commander take one of your detachments of cavalry and try his hand on Van Doring, who, I understand, is running round your camp playing marbles on your boys'
coat-tails?'
"'Well, sir,' said Rosenfelt, 'I wish we had some one like old Col.
Harden at Dolinsburg after this fellow Van Doring. Do you think you can run him back on his own ground?'
"'I will try.'
"'Well, sir, you may try your hand to-day.'
"'All right,' said Sherlin; 'I am now ready, and I want only 1,000 men.'