CALLED TO OTHER FIELDS
The victory of Prairie Grove sent a thrill throughout the west,
especially to the Union men of Missouri. To the secession element of the
State it was a fearful blow, and they felt that their only hope was in
the success of the Southern army in other fields.
Generals Blunt and Herron and the gallant soldiers of the Army of the
Frontier were warmly thanked by the Federal Government for the great
victory they had achieved.
A few days after the battle an orderly placed a bulky letter in the
hands of Lawrence. He found it to be from General Schofield. As he read
it he uttered an exclamation of surprise. The letter stated that General
Blair had sent an urgent request that Lawrence be at once returned to
him, as he was greatly in need of a staff officer of Lawrence's
acquirements.
"As much as I regret to lose you," wrote Schofield, "under the
circumstances I cannot object. I have just heard of your achievements in
the Ozarks and desire to thank you, which I hope to do in person."
The letter then went on to state that while he no longer feared an
invasion of Missouri by any large force, the guerrilla warfare was by no
means over, and the State was still open to raids from Arkansas;
therefore he hoped that the troop would remain under the command of
Lieutenant Sherman, and that the scout Harry Semans would remain with
him.
As Lawrence read this his brow contracted, for he hated to give up Dan
and Harry. But he felt the wisdom of Schofield's suggestion and could
offer no objection.
Enclosed was a letter from General Blair to Lawrence, urging him to come
as soon as possible, saying that the movement against Vicksburg was
about to commence. "There will be stirring times down here for the next
few months," he wrote, "and you will find plenty to do, and fresh fields
in which to win honor."
After he read the letter Lawrence handed Schofield's letter to Dan,
saying, "Read it."
Dan had read but a few words when he looked up with a happy smile. "Why,
Captain," he exclaimed, "this is jolly. It means a wider field. I always
thought I would like to be in an army commanded by Grant."
"Read on, Dan," said Lawrence. "There is much bitter with the sweet in
that document."
Dan read on. In a moment he uttered an oath, and threw the letter down.
"I won't stay," he cried. "I want to go with you. I will resign my
commission. I will enlist as a private soldier so I can be near you."
"I do not think that will do you much good," said Lawrence, smiling. "As
a private soldier you might be sent hundreds of miles from me. Even if
we were in the same army we would see little or nothing of each other.
Dan, let's look at this in a reasonable way. To part with you is as
great a grief to me as to you. It will be a sad parting, Dan, but it
will leave you in command of the troop and, Dan, I know you will do as
well, if not better, than I. Then you will have Harry and Bruno. General
Schofield is right; the guerrilla warfare is not over, and it is your
duty to remain here."
It was hard to convince Dan, although he knew Lawrence was right.
"Let's go and see Blunt," said Lawrence.
The General, though he had known Lawrence but a few days, had become
warmly attached to him. His gallantry and coolness in time of battle had
won his admiration.
"I had hoped you could remain and become chief of my scouts," he said.
"I have need of just such a body of men as you command."
"You forget," said Lawrence, "that General Schofield writes that the
troop is to remain under the command of my lieutenant, Daniel Sherman.
You will find him equal to all demands. As for scouting, Harry Semans is
to remain with his dog Bruno, and they are equal to a regiment when it
comes to scouting."
Schofield had written that he wished Lawrence would come by way of St.
Louis, as he wished to see him. This meant a horseback ride of two
hundred miles to Rolla. Lawrence's preparations for the long ride were
soon made, and the time to bid farewell to his command came.
The members of the troop crowded around him to say good-bye and bid him
Godspeed, and tears stood in the eyes of many a rough soldier as they
took his hand in theirs.
When it came to parting with Dan and Harry, Lawrence broke down. He
tried to say something, but a great lump was in his throat and his voice
died away. They could only clasp hands, their eyes looking what their
tongues refused to say. Dan and Harry watched him ride away, and as he
looked back, waved him a last farewell.
But Lawrence's adventures in Missouri were not ended. He reached
Springfield in safety and there joined a wagon train en route for Rolla,
guarded by a detachment of fifty cavalry. The train was a small one,
consisting of forty wagons and ten ambulances, the ambulances conveying
back some disabled soldiers who had been furloughed.
The escort was in charge of a Captain Jackson, a pompous, red faced man.
Lawrence noticed that he was more or less under the influence of liquor
all the time, and that there was little discipline among his men.
A train from Rolla that came into Springfield just as this train was
leaving reported that they had been threatened by a band of guerrillas
under Jackman, but as their train was strongly guarded, he had not
attacked.
"You had better be on your guard," said the officer in command to
Jackson.
With an oath Jackson replied that his fifty men were a match for any
force Jackman could bring against him. That he wished Jackman would
attack, as he would like to give him a good licking.
The first day out Lawrence saw how things were going and spoke to
Jackson, telling him that he was moving carelessly, that his men were
straggling and were in no shape to resist an attack if one came.
Jackson drew himself proudly up and growled: "Who's in command of this
train, you or I? If you are afraid you had better go back to Springfield
and get a regiment to guard you through."
Lawrence smothered his wrath and said nothing more. Jackson went among
his men boasting loudly how he had taken the starch out of that young
peacock of a captain. He had quickly shown him he couldn't order him
around.
Soon a lieutenant of the company came to Lawrence and said, "Captain, I
heard what you said to Captain Jackson and his insulting reply. You are
right. We are in no shape to resist an attack."
"You are in charge of the rear guard, are you not?" asked Lawrence.
"Yes."
"How many men have you?"
"Fifteen."
"Can they all be depended on?"
"Ten or twelve can."
"Good! Tell them if an attack comes to stand by the train to the last.
Captain Jackson has charge of the advance; how many men has he?"
"Twenty. Half of them are no good. They would run at the first shot."
"That leaves fifteen men to guard the center of the train," replied
Lawrence. "Under whose command are they?"
"Sergeant Strong. He's a good man."
"Let's see him."
The Sergeant was seen and found to be a keen young soldier, fully alive
to the situation. "I have had hard work," he said, "to keep my men in
hand owing to the example of those in front, but I am doing the best I
can. One shot would stampede the whole advance."
"If an attack should come in front," said Lawrence, "and the advance
come back panic-stricken, don't give way; Lieutenant Hale, here, will
come to your relief. If the rear is attacked, go to him. If the center
is attacked he will come to you."
"You can depend on that," said Hale.
"Are the teamsters armed?" asked Lawrence.
"Only about half of them are enlisted men. They are armed."
"See that their guns are loaded and ready for instant use."
The teamsters were astonished and considerably excited when the order
came, but they were told that it was merely a matter of precaution, and
that there was no cause for alarm.
On the morning of the third day out firing was heard in front. There
came a volley followed by fiendish yells and the advance came tearing
back, panic-stricken. In a moment everything was in confusion.
Down the train rode the guerrillas, shooting the teamsters and mules,
and yelling like devils. Back came Captain Jackson, spurring his horse,
his face white with fright.
"Halt," cried Lawrence. But the Captain went past him like a whirlwind,
his only thought of escape.
Where the guerrillas had charged the head of the train the ground was
open, but where Lawrence was there was a thick growth of bushes on one
side of the road and a rough fence built out of logs and rails on the
other.
Lawrence ordered one of the teamsters who had not entirely lost his head
to swing his wagon across the road, blocking it. Sergeant Strong had
succeeded in rallying some ten or twelve of the soldiers, who, springing
from their horses, used the mules and wagons for breastworks. Several of
the advance guard had been cut off, but they jumped from their horses
and, diving under the wagon, continued their flight. Lawrence did not
attempt to stop them, for they had lost their arms and would have been
of no use.
Close on the heels of the fugitives came six or eight guerrillas.
"Steady, men! Hold your fire!" shouted Lawrence.
He waited until the guerrillas were within a few rods of the improvised
breastworks, then ordered the men to fire. Half the saddles were emptied
and the rest went scurrying back. But they were met by the main body of
guerrillas and all came charging with blood curdling yells.
At this opportune moment Lieutenant Hale came galloping up with the rear
guard. His quick eye took in the situation and he ordered his men to
dismount and take position behind the mules and wagons.
"Hold your fire!" again shouted Lawrence. "Keep cool and take good aim."
On came the yelling horde. When within a few yards of the blockade the
foremost tried to check their horses, but those in the rear pressed on
and threw the whole body into confusion.
"Fire!" Lawrence's voice rang out loud and clear. In that packed mass
the effect of the volley was terrible.
"Give it to them," shouted Lawrence.
The men loaded and fired as fast as they could, but soon there was no
one to shoot at. The guerrillas who had escaped were in retreat.
"Lieutenant Hale, hold the position here," said Lawrence. "Fifteen men
come with me."
Every man within the barricade volunteered. Quickly Lawrence counted off
fifteen. "The rest stay with Lieutenant Hale and hold the barricade," he
ordered.
With the fifteen men Lawrence boldly charged after the fleeing enemy.
They had commenced to rally, but a few well directed volleys once more
put them to flight.
Ten or twelve wagons were in flames, half a dozen of the teamsters lay
weltering in their blood, and the poor mules lay in heaps as they had
fallen. The ambulances had been in the rear of the train and so the
occupants had escaped.
It was found that fifteen of the teamsters and soldiers had been killed
or wounded. Of the guerrillas, thirty lay dead or desperately wounded.
After the fight was over Captain Jackson came creeping back. He claimed
that before he retreated he had killed two of the guerrillas with his
own hand and he had only gone to the rear to order up Lieutenant Hale.
"Captain Jackson, you are under arrest."
"Sergeant Strong, please relieve Captain Jackson of his sword," said
Lawrence, coolly.
"By what right do you arrest me?" roared the Captain. "I refuse to be
arrested. Sergeant Strong, dare to arrest me and I will have you
court-martialed."
"As the representative of General Schofield I arrest you; I am on his
staff," quietly answered Lawrence. "Sergeant, do your duty."
The Captain delivered up his sword without a word. The name of General
Schofield was potent.
Lawrence now turned to Lieutenant Hale and said, "Lieutenant, you are in
charge of the train. Clear up the debris of the battle. Let the men in
the ambulances who are best able be put in the wagons and our wounded
take their places. Let the wounded guerrillas be taken to that house
over there, and be made as comfortable as possible. Their friends will
care for them as soon as we are out of sight."
It was noon before the train was again on the way. The burnt wagons,
dead mules and new made graves were the mute witnesses left to tell of
the fight.
Rolla was reached without further trouble. Here Lawrence turned Captain
Jackson over, charging him with disgraceful cowardice. The Captain was
court-martialed and dishonorably dismissed from the service. For their
bravery, Lieutenant Hale was promoted to captain and Sergeant Strong to
second lieutenant.
Lawrence took the cars at Rolla and was soon in St. Louis, where he
reported to General Schofield. What that gentleman said brought the
blushes to Lawrence's cheeks.
"You do not know how I hate to give you up," said the General. "But on
your account, I rejoice. This is a miserable warfare in Missouri; not
much glory gained in fighting guerrillas. I will welcome the day when I
am assigned to another department. I have repeatedly asked to be
released, but the powers that be think I am of more service here. I know
the Radicals are opposed to me, and that complaints are pouring into
Washington against me. There is a large element that will not be
satisfied except I devastate the whole State with fire and sword."
"I know," replied Lawrence. "I had a little experience with Jennison.
Jim Lane and a host of others are as bad. As you say, this is a
murderous warfare in Missouri, without much glory."
"There will be great things doing around Vicksburg. I envy you," said
Schofield.
"Ah! General, before the war is over you may have opportunities to
distinguish yourself, rather than fight guerrillas."
The history of General Schofield shows that these opportunities came and
that in the last year of the war he won great distinction.
Lawrence made a hurried visit to his friends before he departed for his
new field. He found his uncle and aunt well. His uncle was as firmly
convinced as ever that the South could never be conquered.
Lola Laselle was overjoyed to meet him. "Every day I live I am prouder
of my knight-errant than ever," she cried. "No lady of old ever had a
braver or truer knight."
Lawrence found Leon Laselle had nearly recovered from his wound.
Randolph Hamilton was in a fair way to recover, and was longing for the
day to come when he could be exchanged and again fight for the
principles he held dear.
When he heard of Lawrence being the chosen knight of Lola he begged to
be allowed to become her knight too. "Then Lola," he said, "you will
have a knight in both armies, and one of them will be sure to come back
wearing the crown of victory."
"It will not do," laughed Lola, "and you are a naughty boy for fighting
against the old flag. I had rather my knight be defeated in a good cause
than be victor in a bad one, and Randolph, the cause for which you are
fighting is a bad one, very bad."
Randolph sighed. Day by day Lola had become more precious to him, and as
he looked at Lawrence he thought, "Why should she not prefer him to me?"
When Lawrence inquired so particularly about Dorothy, how she was
getting along and how she liked Europe, a faint hope came to him that
after all it might be Dorothy and not Lola that attracted Lawrence; and
then he sighed again, for he remembered Dorothy's hatred for Yankees.
The next day Lawrence was floating down the river. When we meet him next
it will be in that great campaign which ended in the capture of
Vicksburg, the Gibraltar of the Mississippi River.
THE END.
THE YOUNG KENTUCKIANS SERIES
GENERAL NELSON'S SCOUT
ON GENERAL THOMAS'S STAFF
BATTLING FOR ATLANTA
FROM ATLANTA TO THE SEA
RAIDING WITH MORGAN
THE YOUNG MISSOURIANS SERIES
WITH LYON IN MISSOURI
THE SCOUT OF PEA RIDGE
THE COURIER OF THE OZARKS
End of Project Gutenberg's The Courier of the Ozarks, by Byron A. Dunn