Tom the Coxswain.
Now that the excitement was over, and Frank began to think more calmly,
he found that he was wounded. The blow which had broken down his guard
had spent its force on his head, which was bleeding profusely from a
long, ragged cut. His face and clothing were covered with blood, but the
wound had caused him no inconvenience. After Archie had bandaged it with
his handkerchief, Frank began to look about him. The force of the rebels
had originally consisted of fifteen men, of whom eight were lying,
either dead or wounded, upon the floor. He could scarcely believe his
eyes, and wondered how he and his companions had ever secured a victory
against such heavy odds. Had the rebels, instead of relying upon their
sabers and the superiority of their numbers, made use of the firearms
that during the fight had become scattered about the hall, the result
would have been far different. The fight, although a most severe one
while it lasted, was not of more than five minutes' duration, and during
that time eight rebels had been disabled, and six captured by four
determined men; one only had escaped. As Archie afterward said, in a
letter to his father, "It was the biggest _little_ fight" he was
ever engaged in.
"Now, boys," said the major, as soon as he had satisfied himself that
the remaining rebels were disarmed, "we've no time to lose. Paymaster,
you and the coxswain station yourselves in those doors, and keep a good
look-out, to prevent surprise. Captain, we will secure these prisoners."
One of the blankets that lay on the floor was speedily cut into strips,
and with these the rebels, one after the other, were bound hand and
foot. While this was going on, the leader of the guerrillas stood
leaning against the wall, no doubt looking into the future, and
pondering upon the punishment which, according to his own barbarous mode
of warfare, he was certain would be meted out to him. He well knew what
course _he_ would have pursued, had he been the victor instead of
the prisoner, and, judging his captors by himself, he fully expected a
speedy and terrible vengeance to be taken upon him. As these thoughts
passed through his mind, he determined to make one bold effort at
escape. Hastily glancing toward the door, where Archie stood looking up
and down the road, he suddenly sprang forward, and giving him a violent
push, that sent him headlong upon the portico, he jumped down the steps,
and started for the gate at the top of his speed; but before he had gone
half the distance, he was overtaken by the coxswain and thrown to the
ground. The sailor, instead of standing in the door, in his eagerness,
as he expressed it, to "ketch the first glimpse of any guerrilla craft
that might be sailin' about," had come round to the front of the house
just as the rebel had made his attempt to escape. Archie sprang to his
feet and ran to the assistance of the coxswain, and by the time Frank
and the major arrived, the rebel, who struggled most desperately, had
been overpowered, and his hands bound behind his back. In a few moments
more the prisoners were all secured, and, after a horse had been caught
and saddled, the guerrilla placed upon it, his hands still bound, and
the coxswain was ordered to take charge of him. The dead and wounded,
together with the other prisoners, were left in the house, the doors of
which were closed and fastened. They would, no doubt, soon be relieved
by their friends, for the rebel who had escaped would, of course,
procure assistance as soon as possible.
As soon as the major had satisfied himself that every thing was ready
for the start, he mounted his horse and led the way down the road. It
was now broad daylight, and their first thought was to place a safe
distance between themselves and the scene of the fight, and then halt in
the woods until night, when they would return to the vessel. But if this
plan was adopted, it would give the guerrillas, who, of course, would
hasten to the rescue of their leader, time to get between them and the
river, in which case their capture was certain. Frank, who believed that
every instant of time was valuable, and who delighted in dashing
exploits, was in favor of returning at once to the vessel. Their horses
were comparatively fresh, and, if they rode rapidly, they could make
good their retreat before a sufficient force could be collected to
pursue them. The major and Frank talked over these different plans as
they rode along side by side, and the latter course was finally adopted.
It was at once communicated to the others, and they pushed forward with
all possible speed. Frank and the major rode in front, followed by the
coxswain, who held fast to the horse which their prisoner rode, and
Archie brought up the rear. In this manner they dashed along, passing
several plantation-houses, whose inmates ran to the doors and gazed at
them in astonishment. Half a dozen miles were passed over in this way
without stopping, except to water their horses, and without seeing a
single armed rebel, and Frank began to hope that the dangerous part of
the undertaking was passed. If attacked by a superior force, the chances
were that they would not only lose their prisoner, whose capture had
been effected in so gallant a manner, but also their own liberty, and
the thought of the treatment they would receive, judging by the order
the guerrilla chief had given his men at the commencement of the fight,
was enough to nerve them to make the greatest exertions to effect their
escape. They had reloaded their pistols, the effective use of which had
gained them a victory over almost four times their number, and Frank and
Archie carried the shot-gun and carbine which they had found attached to
the saddles of their horses, ready for instant use.
The rapid pace at which they were traveling had, at the end of an hour,
put half a dozen miles more between them and the house where the fight
had taken place, and they began to hope that, if they were followed at
all, they were leaving the enemy behind. At length they came to a place
where the road ran through a deep ravine, the sides of which were
thickly covered with trees and bushes. They dashed along, their horses
hoofs ringing loud and clear on the hard road, but as they came suddenly
around a bend, almost before they were aware of it, they had run into
the very midst of a small band of rebels, who were traveling as rapidly
as themselves. They were not entirely unprepared for this encounter.
Although they had hoped that they might be able to avoid it, they had
held themselves in readiness for it, while the rebels, being taken by
surprise, scattered in every direction, as if fully expecting to see a
whole army of Federals close at their heels. As they dashed by, Frank
fired both barrels of his gun, which emptied more than one saddle, and
the others had just time to follow with a volley from their revolvers,
when another bend in the road hid them from sight. It was quickly done.
Before the rebels had time to think twice, the danger was over. The
enemy had met them, sent three of their number to the ground, and
disappeared as rapidly as they had come. But the rebels did not remain
long inactive. They quickly satisfied themselves that those who had just
passed were not the advance-guard of an army, as they had at first
supposed, and presently the officers heard the clatter of hoofs behind
them, accompanied with loud yells, and knew that the guerrillas had
commenced the pursuit. Although, as we have said, the rebels had but a
small force, they still greatly outnumbered Frank's party, and nothing
but the most rapid flight could save them. Frank's only fear was that
their pursuers would come in sight of them, and begin to pick them off
at long range with their carbines, a proceeding which nothing but the
numerous windings in the road prevented.
"If we do not get into a scrimmage, boys," said the major, speaking as
calmly as though he was at that very moment safe in the cabin of the
Boxer, "we must stick together, if possible; but if they come on us in a
heavy force, we must separate and every man take care of himself."
"Oh, you needn't look so mighty pleased, Johnny!" exclaimed the
coxswain, addressing himself to his prisoner, who now looking upon his
rescue as beyond a doubt, could not repress a smile of triumph. "Shiver
my timbers! you're not loose yet. You're just as safe here as though you
were in the brig [Footnote: The brig is a small dark apartment in the
hold of a vessel, in which culprits are confined.] and in double irons.
Look as mad as you please, Johnny," he continued, as the guerrilla
scowled savagely upon him, "a man who has smelt powder in a'most every
battle fought on the Mississippi River an't often skeered by looks."
The major had, several times during the retreat, cautioned the coxswain
to keep a fast hold of his prisoner, and not to allow him to escape
under any circumstances. But Frank, who knew his man, had never thought
the caution necessary. He had often seen the sailor in action on board
ship, and the gallant manner in which he had saved his officer's life
during the fight at the house, had fully satisfied the young commander
that the coxswain was not the man to shrink from his duty because it was
dangerous. His reply to the major had been:
"If this Johnny rebel an't safe in the brig tonight, sir, then Captain
Nelson will have to make a new cox'son for the first cutter, an' another
cap'n for that number two gun. I'll either take him safe through, or
I'll never hear the bo'son pipe to dinner ag'in."
All this while they had been tearing along the road as fast as their
horses could carry them, but rapidly as they went, the sounds of pursuit
grew louder, and the yells fiercer and more distinct, showing that the
guerrillas were gaining on them. Suddenly they emerged from the woods,
and found before them a long, straight road, with broad fields on each
side. Before they could pass this, the rebels would certainly come in
sight, and, if they did not overtake them, they would at least open fire
on them with their carbines.
Frank gradually drew in his horse and fell back beside his cousin.
Archie was deadly pale, but he sat firmly on his horse and handled his
carbine with a steady hand.
"Archie," said he, "you and I must cover the retreat of the others.
Don't waste your ammunition now."
They had accomplished perhaps a quarter of the distance across the road
when the foremost of their pursuers came in sight. In an instant Archie
turned in his saddle, and leaving his horse to pick out his own road, he
raised his gun to his shoulder and fired. A moment afterward a riderless
horse was rearing and plunging about among the rebels, throwing them
into confusion. This was the time for Frank, and he discharged both
barrels of his gun in quick succession. The buckshot must have done
terrible execution, for when the smoke cleared away, they saw the rebels
retreating to the cover of the bushes. One, more daring than the rest,
lingered a moment, to fire his carbine, and the fugitives heard the
bullet sing through the air above their heads.
Although they were not more than five minutes crossing the road and
entering the woods on the opposite side, it seemed an age to them, and
they had scarcely reached the cover of the trees, when the rebels again
coming in sight, fired a scattering volley after them, which rattled
through the trees and sent a shower of leaves and twigs about them. The
guerrillas then continued the pursuit as fiercely as ever, every time
they came in sight firing their carbines, which Archie answered with
effect; but they wisely kept out of range of the buck-shot in Frank's
double-barrel.
Hour after hour the chase continued, the guerrillas every time they
appeared having their ranks thinned by Archie's unerring rifle, until
finally the fugitives heard a sound that told them in plain language
that their danger was yet by no means passed. A whole chorus of hoarse
yells arose from the depths of the woods, showing that their pursuers
had received heavy reinforcements, and were urging forward their horses
to overtake them, But the river was not more than two miles distant, and
as the rebels were fully a quarter of a mile behind, they were confident
they would yet escape, if their horses could hold out fifteen minutes
longer. For some time past this had been their only fear. The rapid pace
was telling on the animals severely, and Frank's horse especially began
to show signs of distress, the young commander having several times been
obliged to use the point of his saber to compel him to keep pace with
the others. The rebels gained rapidly, and presently, just as the
fugitives emerged from the woods, in full view of the river, they could
hear the tramping of their horses behind them. Before them was a clear
space of fully a mile in extent, that must be crossed before they
reached the river, and their pursuers might overtake and capture them
within sight of their vessel. Presently several men were seen running
about on the deck of the Boxer, and then a puff of smoke arose from one
of the ports, and a shell went shrieking over their heads and burst in
the woods.
The crew of the vessel, in obedience to Frank's orders, had kept a good
look-out for them, and hearing the yells of the pursuing rebels, had at
once opened fire. When the smoke cleared away, Frank saw the crew of the
gig hurrying to their places. The boat was lowered into the water, and
pulled rapidly toward the shore. If they could but reach the bank of the
river they would be safe. At this moment the rebels appeared in sight,
and a volley from their carbines sent the bullets about the fugitives
like hail-stones. Frank turned in his saddle and fired one barrel of his
gun among them, and was about to give them the contents of the other,
when his horse stumbled and fell, throwing him at full length on the
ground. Frank had been expecting this, and for the last half hour had
ridden with his feet out of the stirrups, so that in case the accident
did happen, he would not be entangled in the saddle. As it was, he was
thrown some distance in advance of the horse, which, too exhausted to
rise, lay panting on the ground. Frank, however, instantly recovered his
feet, and was about to start after his companions, when he saw the
coxswain, with a knife in his hand, working desperately to free himself
from the saddle of his own fallen horse. Frank at once sprang to his
assistance, and catching the knife from his hand, severed the strap that
confined him, and set him at liberty. The coxswain, as soon as he had
regained his feet, ran up to the horse which the prisoner rode, and
which had stopped the moment the sailor fell, and pulling the guerrilla
from the saddle, lifted him in his arms as though he had been an infant,
and ran toward the boat. The rebels by this time were within easy
rifle-range, and in spite of the shells that burst about them, seemed
determined to effect the release of their leader, until one more
accurately aimed than the others, exploded in their very midst, cutting
down horses and riders with terrible slaughter; another and another
followed, and when Frank and his companions stepped into the gig, the
rebels were in full retreat. When they arrived on board the vessel, the
coxswain delivered his prisoner to the master-at-arms, who ironed him,
and lodged him safely in the brig.
Their long ride had taxed their endurance to the utmost; but, by the
next day, they had fully recovered from their fatigue, and shortly after
dinner Frank ordered the officer of the deck to have all hands mustered.
The crew speedily assembled on the quarter-deck, and among them stood
the coxswain, who, at a motion from Frank, stepped out from among his
companions, holding his cap in his hand, and looking altogether like a
man who expected "a good blowing up" for some grievous offense. But he
soon found that he was not to be reprimanded, for, to his utter
astonishment, Frank proceeded to give the officers and crew a full
account of the fight at the house, speaking in the highest terms of the
old sailor's bravery. He then addressed the coxswain, saying:
"Now, Tom, what can I do for you? What do you want? Would you like a
leave of absence, to go home and visit your friends?"
"Avast heavin' there, Cap'n Nelson, if you please!" answered the
coxswain, hastily. "I was brought up on board a man-o'-war, sir," he
continued, whirling his cap in his hand, "an' have follered the sea for
goin' nigh on to thirty-five year, but this is the first time I ever had
my cap'n say, 'Thank ye, Tom,' to me for doin' my duty. I an't the only
chap, sir, that wouldn't see harm come to you. There's many a man in
this crew that would have done the same thing, at the risk of his own
life. As for home an' friends, sir, I have none. But, cap'n, there's one
favor I have thought of askin' you for. There's no gunner's-mate on
board this vessel, an' I think I can take charge of the magazine--don't
you, sir?"
This was a small reward for a man to ask of the captain, who would
gladly have granted him any favor in his power; but promotion on board
ship, among the men, is given only to the most deserving, and the old
sailor made this request with a timidity he had never shown before an
enemy; and even after he had made it, he regarded his officer as though
he fully expected a refusal. But Frank, who could scarcely refrain from
smiling at the man's earnest manner, turned to Archie and said:
"Paymaster, please rate Thomas Willis on your books as gunner's-mate
from the time the other mate was discharged."
This was something more than the coxswain had expected. The former
gunner's-mate had been discharged from the service nearly two months
before, and this gave the old sailor a considerable amount of back pay.
Frank had delayed the appointment of a gunner's-mate, not because he did
not need one, but because there were many good men among his crew, and
he wished to give the appointment to the most deserving, and thus make
promotion something worth working for. Frank then dismissed the men, who
returned to the lower deck, fully satisfied in their own minds that
"Cap'n Nelson was the best man any crew ever sailed under."