In the Hands of the "Johnnies" Again.
As soon as the men had disappeared, Frank, with a heavy heart, repaired
to his room to dress for supper. He thought over all the little
incidents of the day, and frequently detected himself in saying: "Only
fifteen men left; fifteen out of forty!"
What a slaughter--a useless slaughter--there had been! And all had been
occasioned by the ignorance of the commanding officer of the expedition.
Had Frank been allowed to retain the sheltered position which he had at
first taken up, the result would have been far different. And how had he
escaped without even a scratch? He had stood beside his men during the
whole of the fight--freely exposing himself, and, rendered conspicuous
by his uniform, had signaled the vessel twice; and each time the flag
had been riddled by bullets, but not a shot had touched him! It seemed
but little short of a miracle that he had come off unscathed, when so
many men had fallen around him.
He was interrupted in his meditations by the entrance of the orderly,
who informed him that his presence was wanted in the cabin. Frank
hastily pulled on his coat and repaired thither. As he entered, the
captain said:
"Take a chair, Mr. Nelson. I wish to have a few moments' serious
conversation with you."
Frank, surprised at the captain's tone and manner, seated himself, and
the latter continued:
"Are you aware, sir, that you have this day destroyed all the confidence
I have hitherto placed in you, and have rendered yourself liable to
severe punishment?"
The effect of this question, so abruptly put, was astounding, and Frank
could only falter--
"Sir? I--I--don't understand you, sir."
"Mr. Nelson, I am surprised at you, sir," said the captain, sternly. "I
shall have to refresh your memory, then. You have this day been guilty
of misdemeanors, any one of which renders you liable to a
court-martial, and to a disgraceful dismissal from the service. In the
first place, you have shown gross disrespect to your superior officer,
and"----
"I guilty of disrespect, sir!" repeated Frank, scarcely believing his
ears. "There must be some mistake, sir, for"----
"Don't interrupt me, sir. I repeat, you have been guilty of disrespect
to your superior officer, and of cowardice, having been found with your
battery far in the rear at a time when your services were very much
needed at the front; and then, after the fight had fairly commenced, as
if waking up to a sense of your duty, and, no doubt, wishing to make
amends for what you had done, you, contrary to orders, recklessly
exposed your men, and, as a consequence, out of forty of the bravest
fellows that ever trod a ship's deck--which were placed under your
command this morning--you had but fifteen left when you returned on
board. The energy displayed by you in working your battery, and the
manner in which you obtained possession of it, after you moved out from
your sheltered position, and had been compelled to retreat, were feats
of which any officer might be justly proud, and which I should have
been most happy to reward with your promotion, had you not spoiled every
thing by your infamous conduct at the commencement of the fight.
Hitherto, since you have been on board this ship, you have been a good
officer, have always attended to your duties, and it pains me to be
obliged to talk to you in this manner. I never thought that you, after
what you did at Cypress Bend, while you were on board of the Milwaukee,
would ever have been guilty of such misdemeanors. However, as your
conduct heretofore has always been such as I could approve, I shall see
that no charges are made against you; and I sincerely hope that what you
have learned to-day will be a lesson that you will never forget. I shall
give you sufficient opportunities to make amends for what you have done,
and I shall commence by sending you ashore with a flag of truce, to ask
permission of the rebels to bury our dead. You may start at once, sir."
This was a hint that his presence in the cabin was no longer desirable,
and Frank, who, in his confusion and bewilderment scarcely knew what he
was doing, made his best bow and retired.
What his feelings were as he listened to this reprimand, administered
by the captain, who never before had spoken a harsh word to him, it is
impossible to describe. He again thought over every thing he had done
during the fight; how he had, at the commencement of the action, beaten
back the rebels, with a mere handful of men; how he had, in obedience to
orders, taken the exposed position where he had lost so many of his
gun's crew, and which he had held in spite of the storm of bullets that
rained around him, until the whole line had been compelled to retreat,
and he was left unsupported; how he had twice risked his life in
signaling the ship; and how, when the retreat was ordered he had brought
back his guns in safety: he thought of all these things, and wondered
where the charge of cowardice could be brought in. And then, when and
how had he been guilty of disrespect to his superior officer? Certainly
not in remonstrating against ordering the men to stack their arms, for
that was a privilege to which he, as one of the commanding officers of
the expedition, was entitled. In regard to recklessly exposing his men,
the case was not quite so clear. It was true that, in the beginning of
the fight, he had ordered a charge upon the rebels, who greatly
outnumbered his own men, and had easily driven them, without loss to
himself: perhaps it was there that the third charge had been brought in.
But although he was conscious that he had endeavored to do his whole
duty, the words of the captain had cut him to the quick. It had been an
unlucky day for him. The expedition had proved a failure, and he had
been accused of misdemeanors of which he had never dreamed. It seemed as
if fate was against him.
"I believe, as Archie used to say," he soliloquized, "that I am the
unluckiest dog in existence. Troubles never come singly."
"The captain wishes to see you, sir," said one of the men, stepping up
and interrupting his meditations.
"All right," answered Frank, who was so completely absorbed in his
reverie that he was entirely unconscious of what was going on around
him; "call all hands to quarters immediately."
"Sir--I--I don't mean--sir--the captain wishes to speak with you, sir,"
repeated the sailor, half inclined to believe that Frank was getting
crazy. This aroused the young officer to a sense of his situation; as he
approached the quarter-deck, where the captain was standing, the latter
said:
"Mr. Nelson, do you intend to go ashore with that flag of truce, sir?"
"I beg your pardon, sir," faltered Frank, "I forgot all about that. Will
you have the kindness to call away the first cutter?" he continued,
approaching the quarter-master, and saluting him as the officer of the
deck.
"Mr. Nelson," shouted the captain, "what are you doing? Are you crazy,
sir?"
"I believe I am, captain, or pretty near it," answered Frank. "The
charges that have been brought against me have well-nigh upset me. They
are false, sir, and I don't deserve the reprimand I have received."
In his next attempt to find the officer of the deck Frank met with more
success. While the cutter was being manned, he ran down into the
steerage, and seizing a pen, hastily dashed off the following:
UNITED STATES STEAMER TICONDEROGA, }
OFF CYPRESS BEND, _Oct. 30, 1863_. }
SIR:
Having been reported, by the officer in command of an
expedition--sent ashore this day for the purpose of dislodging
a body of rebels posted behind the levee--for cowardice, disrespect
to my superior officer, and for recklessly exposing my men to the
fire of the rebels, and knowing, sir, that these charges are
utterly groundless, I respectfully request that a Court of Inquiry
may be convened to examine into my behavior while under the enemy's
fire.
I am, sir, very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
FRANK NELSON,
_Acting Master's Mate_.
Acting Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER, U. S. N.,
_Commanding Miss. Squadron_.
While he was sealing the envelope the messenger boy entered and reported
the cutter ready. Frank ran on deck, and, after giving the communication
to the captain, with a request that it might be approved and forwarded
to the Admiral, he sprang into the boat, and gave the order to shove
off.
The old boatswain's mate, who was acting as the coxswain of the cutter,
had rigged up a flag of truce. As they pulled toward the shore, Frank
waved this above his head until he elicited a similar response from the
bank; then, throwing down the flag, he seated himself in the stern
sheets, and covered his face with his hands. The old mate, mistaking his
emotion for sorrow at the death of so many of his men, said:
"Yes, it is a hard case. Not a few of us are left without our chums; but
we all know it wasn't your fault. There would have been more of us left
if you had been allowed to have your own way."
"Then I did not expose you needlessly, did I, Jack?"
"Why, bless you, no, sir. Who says you did, sir?" inquired one of the
crew.
"But tell me one thing, Jack," said Frank, his face still covered with
his hands, "Am I a coward?"
"No, sir," answered the mate, indignantly; "'cause if you was, you
wouldn't have held on to them guns as long as you did, and you would not
have pitched into that rebel atween the lines, as you did about a year
ago, at this very place. In course you ain't no coward."
This was some consolation. The men whom he commanded, and who had always
cheerfully followed where he had dared to lead, thought very differently
from the man who had retreated almost before the fight had commenced,
and who, to screen himself, had brought those charges against one whose
conduct had always been above reproach.
"Yes, as you say, it is a hard case, Jack," said Frank, uncovering his
face, and glancing toward the rebels who thronged the levee. "It is a
hard case, indeed, but I will come out at the top of the heap yet."
"What's the matter, sir?" inquired the mate. "Any one been wrongin' you,
sir? He'd better not show his ugly figure-head when what's left of the
first division has shore liberty. We'll douse his top-lights for him."
By this time the cutter had reached the shore, and Frank, taking the
flag of truce, sprang out, and walked up the bank to where a group of
officers was standing.
"Wal, Yank, what do you want now?" inquired a man dressed in the uniform
of a colonel.
How Frank started when he heard that voice. Could he be mistaken? He had
certainly heard it before, and he remembered the time when it had given
an order which still rang in his ears: "Stiles, you stay here until this
man dies." He looked at the men, some of whom were lying on the ground
about the levee, and others standing at a little distance, waiting to
hear what was going to be the result of the interview, and what had at
first appeared a vague suspicion, now forced itself upon Frank as a
dread reality. He was in the presence of _Colonel Harrison and the
Louisiana Wild-cats_. Nothing but a bold front could save him, for he
knew that these men paid very little respect to a flag of truce, unless
it was likely to further their own interests; and if he should be
recognized, his recapture was certain, and then, what would be his fate?
Would not summary vengeance be taken upon him, in retaliation for the
manner in which he had treated the sentinel on the night of his escape,
and the way he had served the man who had overtaken him in the woods?
Brave as Frank was, and accustomed as he had become to look danger in
the face, he could not but regard his situation as critical in the
extreme.
"What did you say your business was, Yank?" inquired the colonel again.
"I wish to see the commanding officer," said Frank, steadily meeting the
rebel's searching glance. "I wish permission to bury our dead."
"Well, that's a fair request," said the colonel, carelessly. "I don't
know as I have any objection to it. Want your prisoners also?"
"Yes, sir," answered Frank, with a smile. "I should like to take them
back to the ship with me. But you know that I have none to exchange for
them."
"That's what I thought. I couldn't afford to give your men back for
nothing."
"I didn't suppose you would. But have we your permission to come ashore
and bury our dead?" inquired Frank, who was anxious to bring the
interview to an end.
"Yes," answered the colonel, "and we will leave the field in your
possession. You will send that message by one of your men, for I don't
think, youngster, that you can go back. If I am not very much mistaken,
I've got a better right to you than any one else."
"Yes, colonel," shouted one of the men, "I'll be dog-gone if I didn't
think he was the chap that give us the slip at Shreveport."
"I didn't think I could be mistaken," said the colonel. "So, youngster,
just consider yourself a prisoner."
"What do you mean, sir? You have no claim whatever upon me, and never
had!" exclaimed Frank, indignantly. "I am acting in obedience to
orders, and am under the protection of this flag of truce."
"Very well spoken. But what do you suppose we care for that dish-rag?
Besides, I say we _have_ a good claim upon you, for you have never been
exchanged. Here, Jim!" he shouted to one of his men, "put this little
Yank with the rest, and don't give him a chance to get away this time."
The man advanced to obey the order, and when he came up to the place
where Frank was standing, he seized him by the hair and shook him until
every tooth in his head rattled.
"Avast heavin' there, you land-lubber!" shouted the mate, who until this
time had remained in the boat with the crew; and, springing ashore, he
ran up the bank, and with one blow of his fist felled the rebel to the
ground.
"Here we have it," said the colonel, who, instead of defending Frank,
seemed to consider the manner in which he was treated a good joke.
"Boys, secure this blue-jacket also."
"No you don't, Johnny!" exclaimed the mate, as one of the men sprang
forward to seize him. "If you think that one of you is as good as five
Yankee sailors, now is your chance to try it on. It'll take more'n one
of you to put the bracelets on me;" and, as he spoke, he planted another
of his tremendous blows in the face of the advancing rebel, which lifted
him completely off his feet. But before he had time to repeat it, he was
overpowered by half a dozen rebels, who had run to the assistance of
their comrade. After a hard struggle, he was secured, and his hands were
bound behind his back.
"Now, you fellows," said the colonel, addressing himself to the men in
the boat, "get back to your vessel; tell the captain how matters stand,
and also that he may come ashore and bury his dead as soon as he
chooses."
"Tell the first division," said the mate, "that the next time they go
into action they must give one shot for Jack Waters. If you fellers
don't pay for this," he continued, turning to the rebels, "then blast my
to'-gallant top-lights."
"Tell the captain," chimed in Frank, "that he had better not trust these
men again, for they are not sufficiently civilized to know what a flag
of truce is."
"You are very complimentary, young man, to say the least," said a
rebel, who was standing near the colonel.
"I am telling the plain truth," answered Frank, "and you will find that
your barbarous mode of warfare will never succeed; and that the crew of
that vessel will never allow the mean action of which you have been
guilty to pass unnoticed."
"Douse my top-lights but that's the truth," said the mate, making an
effort with his confined hands to salute his officer.
"See that these prisoners are well secured," said the colonel, "and be
sure and take special care of that youngster, for if you allow him the
least chance, he'll escape," and the colonel turned on his heel and
walked away.
In obedience to these instructions, Frank and the mate were delivered
into the charge of a sergeant, who at once conducted them toward the
place where the prisoners which had been taken during the fight were
confined under guard. As they passed along through the rebels, they were
insulted at every step, and finally a man drew his ramrod out of his
gun, and seizing Frank by the collar, proceeded to give him a severe
thrashing. Frank immediately appealed to the sergeant, who, instead of
offering to defend him, stood at a little distance, watching the
operation, as if not at all concerned. The mate was fairly beside
himself with rage, and struggled desperately to free his hands, all the
while venting his anger by "dousing" his "top-lights" and "shivering"
his own "timbers." The rebel continued his punishment amid the cheers of
his companions, and at every stroke of his ramrod he exclaimed: "Shot
the best blood-hound in Louisiana, did ye! Stick a bayonet into young
Davis, won't ye!" until Frank, smarting with the pain, determined to
defend himself.
"Unhand me, you scoundrel!" he shouted; "I've had just about enough of
this." Turning fiercely upon his persecutor, he snatched the ramrod from
his hand, and commenced laying it over his head and shoulders. The
rebel, after trying in vain to defend himself, retreated precipitately,
amid the jeers of his comrades, and shouts of derision from the mate.
The sergeant here thought it time to interfere, and Frank and the mate
were not again molested.