Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_ # _' rMtfctf-i _________________ ' ??pi?HP, LEWiS M. GRIST,\ An |^ytn^nt Jk^ltrfD^ptr: Jfor % promotion of % ^jlitiral, ^otH^gricnltnral^b (fommrrthl $ittmsls of Ibf foiub. ^ ^ VOL. 14. YORKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1868. NO. 24. ; ?^?I??? JU Original fjhrawfottf. - i Written for the YorkviUe Enquirer. . I ISOLETTE, THE FEMALE SPY.' A 8T0BY OP 0HABLE8T0H ABD TEE WAS. BY J. WITHERSFOON ERVIN. CHAPTER HI. J "Hitch b the mule, Pompey,"said Harvey Ha- , ley, rising to his feet, after the morning meal had , been concluded. We may as well go into camp at , once, and enrol our names and get to work. I un- ( derstand all the ropes, Victor; but it's a new thing , to you, and you won't fancy it much for some time." "I think I shall get along pretty well," replied ( Victor, quietly. "I don't, however, expect a life j of ease." - ] "Nor of plenty, either, I hope, Victor," replied j his companion; "if you do, you will certainly be , disappointed. When we were in Mexico, and old f Scott had everything arranged like the programme | of a circus, it was oflener a fast than a feast; and } here, we have no Scott?no programme printed { before-hand?but a hurly-burly affair, and nine- j tenths of our Commissaries and Quartermasters ( are idle young sprigs, that have begged their way into office to sleep comfortably in bad weather, and ( avoid the smell of gunpowder. They are too lazy and indolent to carry corn, ready shelled, to fatten- j ing hogs; much less to be trusted with such ener- ? getic and untiring work as providing for an army of four hundred thousand men. No! there are a g good many fast days before us, Victor; and unless you lay aside your desire to serve every comrade c who wants help, and look out for self, you will fare badly." ? "Why, Harvey, that is a very selfish philosophy ? you are trying to teach me," replied Victor. "You will find it very sound common sense, in y camp," rejoined Harvey. "You will see life there t just as it is, stripped of all ceremony and of most g of its deception. The friend who shares his blan- j. ket with you to-night, will, to-morrow, if you are j shot down, step over your body with almost as little feeling as if it were the body of a dog that lay t in his way. You will be reported killed at the a next roll call, and there will be an end of the matter, so far as your comrades are concerned. It's g the way of the world, Victor; I mean of the j world with its mask thrown off." f "You are too misanthropical to-day, Harvey," j said Victor. "This world is quite a good one, and there is still much kindness and generosity among t men." "I don't believe in that, Victor," returned Harvey. "I find the world full of selfishness and c thauklessness, with only here and there, a whole- s souled, noble being, standing about as scarce as c guide posts along the road. One who has seen the same side of life that I have looked at, man <j and boy, for forty-five years, can't have any faith i in his species. Some are born to ease and comfort ; they pass along quietly through life, fawned upon and flattered; every one lends them a help- s ing hand; life is all sunshine to them. But let ^ one be born poor, and have to fight his own way in the world ; and he has to stand alone, and not on- ( ly to struggle against circumstances, but against men who would crush him down if they may.? ? Think you, if you bad been worth a half million, ? old Jacob Read would not have forced upon you, ( as a free gift, the best horse in his stables? Wait t until you get into camp, and you will see how mean and servile men are to wealth. An honest, poor j man, with a wife and large family, sick and starv- i ing at home, will wait, month after month, for a furlough, to provide for the wants of his suffering, t ragged little brood; while the rich man, with no \ necessity clamoring for him at home, will be noti- j fied that a furlough is waiting for him when he is s ready to ask it These things are so, Victor, and j they do no credit to human nature. You will see them, for yourself, in camp." e "Wo must not denounce all mankind, Harvey," 1 replied Victor," because a few are dishonest or i unjust" "Denounce them? No! but Victor," replied ( Harvey, "we must remember what they are, and t rely only upon the few. Trust not in man! Do 1 your duty?be just, yes! be kind and generous to all, but rely, with the blessing of Heaven, on your j own arm when life grows dark and difficulties gath- 1 er around you. Fate made me poor and left rae to struggle with adversity. I feel bitterly, at times, 1 Victor, that I might have been other than I am. 1 At the very threshold of life I was defrauded of 1 every penny?and without one friend to direct or counsel me, I entered upon life, and it has been ] one long, fierce struggle with fate. I have had 1 sorrows?sometimes very bitter ones?but I have | kept them in my own heart I had none to whom ] I could speak of them. But let such things pass! < I am out of tune,to-day, for we are both going to 1 enter into slavery." I "Into slavery ?" asked Victor, "what do you mean by that?" ] "There is no slavery like that of a soldier," re- 1 plied Harvey. "You may be sworn at and abused ' like a dog, but you dare not repl^. You must be t as submissive as the lowest of brutes. You may t be a gentleman, and your officer a low bred knave; \ but his word is your law. There is no remedy a- < gainst his injustice and oppression. I think of all < these things, for I know what service is. But, < Viotor, I hope all will turn out well. I hear the i officers are gentlemen, and, though I chafe at the l yoke I am about to put on, I will try and dismiss j such feelings. We will do our duty at all events. I But look! if I am not mistaken, here comes an old acquaintance." 1 As Harvey spoke, he directed the attention of his young comrade to a squad of soldiers who were i approaching from the camp, along the same road 1 which they were pursuing, apparently having un- | der guard an ill-looking fellow, whom they were carrying to the Provost's office in the city. They 1 were now in a few feet of the party, whicE consist- 1 ed of two young men with muskets, and the pris- j oner. He was a tall and powerfully built man, up- 1 wards of six feet high, with a sullen, dogged countenance, in which cunning and ferocity were blend- 1 ed together. His red, uncombed locks, falling about his weather-beaten face, gave him a still more savage and forbidding appearance. His broad, low forehead, rayless blue eyes, and short square nose, like that of a bull dog, with his powerful under jaw and the broad lines of his firmly set j lips and high bony cheeks, formed a face at once i savage, energetic, and full of animal courage, vin- 1 dictiveness and determination. He was without i vest or coat, and his shirt, unbuttoned at the throat, I displayed a powerful chest as shaggy with red hair, i as the hide of a bear. While the upper part of his frame was thus powerfully formed, his hips i were contracted and narrow, and his gait, as he strode along with his brawny muscular hands resting upon his hips, was peculiarly shambling and ungainly, and rendered still more so by his knees smiting together, and the carriage of his head, which was never directly to the front, but still turned to the one side or the other, as though he were constantly on the watch against an expected enemy. Such was the ungainly but powerful being who was approaching them, under guard, and who, if he had been closely observed, might hav^ been seen to start, involuntarily, as his savage glance first fell upon them as the parties approached each other. "I know that man, I think," replied Victor to his companion, after regarding the stranger for a moment "If I am not mistaken, it is Mike Walsh, who was indicted a few years ago for the brutal murder of his wife, and who escaped by a flaw in the indictment" 'That is the man," replied Harvey. "It is bard to forget such a face as his, especially when impressed upon the memory by so awful a tragedy. [ saw the body of his wife an hour after the deed was done, and it was dreadfully mangled, seemingly only to gratify his love of cruelty; for of a doz?n wounds in her body, any one was at once mortal. He must have hacked at her body long after she ceased to breathe. I knew her, and she was really a meek, and gentle, and beautiful woman. I jannot see how she ever consented to marry such i creature as he is." By this time, the parties who were approaching me another, while the above conversation was gong on, were about passing each other on the road. Harvey failed to catch the vindictive eye of the prisoner, who looked away, indifferently, as though lot caring to notice the new comers. The file of soldiers, evidently to the chagrin of their prisoner, lalted in the road and engaged in conversation with the party, while the prisoner himself, chafing it the delay, stood kicking against the ground with lis toes, and with his chin raised in air, looked disiainfully away. "You are not a soldier, are you?" asked one of die guard, addressing himself to Harvey. "None to brag of," replied Harvey, complacenty. "I was in the United States Army two years, ind I learned something of soldiering there." "What! you are a deserter then?" asked the oldier quickly. "No, my friend, I was regularly and honorably lischarged," replied Harvey. "You are a queer fish," returned the soldier.? 'After fighting on one side awhile, you wish to ight on the other?" "Not that, either," retorted Harvey; "when I ras discharged from the United States service, here was no such country as the Confederate States. That was fourteen years ago, when we lad about with the 'greasers' down in Mexico; perlaps you have heard of some such thing?" The soldier, before replying, looked critically upon he calm matter-of-fact face of the speaker. His crutiny done, he replied quite gravely? "Yes, I do think I have heard of some little kirmishing we had with the Mexicans, but I beieve it never came to a pitched battle. But, my riend, if you are not in the army, they will not >ermit you to go into camp under present orders." "Yes, but I, and my friend here, intend joining he army," replied Harvey. "What Regiment?" asked the soldier. "The ?th," replied Harvey, giving the number f the regiment he intended joining, which, forreaons which will hereafter more fully appear, we will tot disclose. "That's my own Regiment," returned the sol lier, "and I am glad to see recruits pitching into t; for the guard duty is quite heavy. "And the rations?" querried Harvey. "Quitelight; and now," continued the soldier, "as oon as I come back, I will find you out But yhat Company do you join ?" "Company 'I,"' replied Harvey?"Captain barberry." A good officer and a clever man," continued the soldier. I belong to Company H. I shall return ifter disposing of this prisoner, and, if you are not >n duty, I will hunt you up and show you a ound." "I thank you," returned Harvey, "I shall be jlad to fall in with you when you return to camp. Where are you carrying your prisoner?" "Over to the Provost's, in the city," answered he soldier. "We wish to find out who he is, and vhafc brings him here. He seemed to be trying to nake his way over to the enemy; but you might twcar the Provost will hold on to him until he jives a correct account of himself." "I know him well," said Victor, who had hitherto remained silent. "His name is Michael Welsh. If I am not mistaken, he belongs to the 21st Regiment." "Look you, my pert young man," said the pris>ner, turningupon Victor with a fierce scowl, "who old you to put in your tongue? You shall pay or this intermeddling some of these days!" "Silence, prisoner!" said the soldier. "This roung man has told nothing but what you should lave told of your own free will.'1 "If I choose to be silent, that little popin-jay has 10 business to meddle with my affairs," retorted Welsh, with an angry oath. "I swear I'll whip him out of his jacket for it yet! I vow I will!'' "Hark! j?ou, my friend," interposed Harvey Haley, stepping in front of the prisoner; "none of four threats! They only put your own life in danger. I would shoot you down with as little compunction, as I would slay a wolf, and will certainly lo so, if I ever find you in gunshot of any camp to vhich I belong. Remember that! Be wise, and ceep far from my path!" H?rv<>v snoke with the utmost coolness and com josure. It was easy to see that he was making 10 idle threat, but was in downright, sober earnest. The guard, full of that idle curiosity which belongs jo most men, listened with interest to every word ;bat passed between their prisoner and Harvey, md it was, indeed, but natural that they should lesire to learn something of the character and contact of the man whom they had in charge. The iuty they were performing gave them a temporary interest in his history, and they made no attempt to check or put an end to the conversation, but stood by, in silcuce, looking on the parties with the keenest interest. The prisoner was evidently disquieted by the tone and manner in which Harvey Haley addressed him. His eye fell before the steady gaze of the latter, and its glance wandered uneasily from side to side. He turned and spoke to the soldiers who guarded him. "Corporal Blake," said he, "do you intend to stop to allow eveiy man you meet on the road to threaten and abuse me, and I a prisouer, too, under guard.? You had better bayonet or shoot me at once, for I won't bear it." "You seem to know something of this man." said Corporal Blake, disregarding the words of his prisoner, and addressing himself to our friend Harvey. "Yes, Corporal," replied Harvey, "I know Mike Welsh too-well." "You had better be silent, Harvey Haley, and go on your way, as I wish to go on mine. Remember, I have a black score against you now, Ha ? ?J ?tnn T trill tint, he unarmed and ley , auu iciutmuvi, wu, ~..... under guard forever. Don't rake up old forgotten things against me, I warn you again," and raising his hand, the prisoner, whose face was aglow with the excitement of anxiety and evil passions, shook his forefinger warningly and threateningly at Harvey Haley. "Forgotten things!" returned Harvey, repeating the words of the other, in a tone of indignation and surprise. "Who that saw it, could ever forget it, on this side of eternity! Corporal," continued Harvey, turning to the subaltern; "let the statement be sent up with this man, that he is the murderer of his wife. After murdering her with atrocious coolness, he mangled her body in a manner that a savage would have shuddered at I saw the body myself, and gave testimony in court against him. I knew her, too ; she was a good, gentle creature. How she happened to marry such a creature as Mike Welsh, no one oould im agine. The evidence was plain and direct?every fact was fairly and fully proven against him; but there was a flaw in the indictment, and he escaped hanging by a miracle. He is a dangerous man!" "Well, Harvey Haley," retorted the prisoner, with the utmost effrontery and coolness?"if yon think me so dangerous, you wonld have been no fool to have gone about your business and let my affairs alone. They didn't concern you. I give you fair warning?I will remind you and that youngster of this day's work before long." "Cold blooded wretch!" muttered Corporal Blake, between his teeth. "March on, prisoner!" and with a parting nod to Harvey and Victor, the guard shouldered arms, and with a rapid step, hastened on to turn the cold-blooded villian over to the provost marshal. "Well! there certainly is more of conscience and humanity in the breast of a tiger, than in the heart of that man," muttered Harvey Haley, as he stood, like one in a dream, gazing after the prisoner, as he hurried along with a shambling but rapid step, before the gleaming muskets that were borne close behind him. "His wife, so fair to look upon, mangled so horribly by his hand, and be not to regard it! It makes even me, who had no hand in hor fWth shudder. tn this dflv. when I think of "v* ?J ? /I ? how she looked lying upon the hearth, in a pool of her own blood, and the half cooked breakfast on the fire! Victor, you must be on your guard after this morning's work." "What! do you think there is any danger to be feared from so low a wretch as he is?" "Yes! I do," replied his friend, with emphasis. "He harbors revenge like an Indian, and he would scarce think it more of a crime to shoot down a man, than to kill a squirrel. There are some men so uttcrtly destitute of conscience that they scarce feel the difference between right and wrong. Mike Welsh is one of these; and I warn you to be on your guard against him, and if you ever find him skulking about your quarters, give him a sure bullet, if you cannot turn him over to a guard. He will never forget or forgive either of us to his dying day, for revenge is his virtue and religion." "I am in ill luck to day, to have made an enemy before the sun is well over the tree-tops," rejoined Victor with a smile; "but I scarce think Mike Welsh will be a dangerous one; for he will be sent on to join his regiment forthwith, if I am not mistaken." "Let us pray he may," responded Harvey, "and that some lucky bullet may save the hangman a deal of trouble; for, to my thinking, Mike will die like the blacksmith's horse?with his shoes on." "Mass Harvey, we mos' down to de (amp now," interposed Pompey, "an I want youner to tell me for-true, what you gwine to do wid me. If youner wants me for stay and wait on youner in de camp, de ole boss tell me I hab for stay." "Well, what had you rather do, Pomp?stay with us and help fight the Yankees, or go back home and help make corn to feed us?" asked Harvey. "Look 'ere, mass Harvey, dis chile don't know nothin' bout fightin' wid guns," said Pompey, showing the whites of his eyes as a very serious fit came over him. "What I gwine do when dey shoots shells at me, big as molasses hogshead ? You T J #,11 JA4 mam tnicfol'O A Q llllh. JL bUiliU all UUL, JUU uiiguvj uiiauiKv. >v> make corn for all youner to eat, dat's hard work on de old boss' place, where de jinter grows so strong; an' what's de use ob work to make corn? Enty dey tell me de governmen' got money to buy flour an' bacon to feed all youner wid, widout so much work?" "Yes," responded Harvey, "the government has some money, I believe, but we can't live on that Pompey. We must have something to eat." "Let de governmen' buy it den. De governmen' got plenty money, and you tink I work when I got de money ? No, sar! dat 1 don't! But, boss, how does de governmen' get dat money? Yeller Jake says, when he bin ober to Columbia wid ole boss, he seed a box dat would hold ten bushels peas, crammed wid money. De top fall off at de dipper, [depot] and dere was bushels ob de bills. How de governmen' get all dat? Take'cm from de Yankees?" "No, Pomp," answered Harvey, who seemed disposed to amuse himself with the ideas of his sable attendant, "the money, I suspect, is all made at the printing press." "Aha!" ejaculated Pompey, receiving the idea most complacently, "dat's de way, den I Dat's as easy, Mass Harvev, as fallin' off a log. De governmen' might gib us chicken-pie for dinner ebery day, if dey makes de money so easy. No use for Pomp to*work den, dat's sure ! Buy ebery ting, for true, widout work." "Well, Pomp," asked Harvey, "if you won't help us to fight, and don't want to work to make corn and bacon to feed the army, I don't see how you can be of any use to us, either in camp or at home." "Yousee, boss," replied Pompey, thoughtfullyshowing that he had studied the subject and made himself "master of the situation"?"You an' Mass Vic ain't at home now. You gwine to be in company, all de time. It's wuss dan de big camp meetin', down at de bilin' spring. Dere ain't so many wimraen dere, for true; but den dere's de big offersers, de captins, de majors, and de leftenants, and you and Mass Vic got to keep dressed up mity nice an' fine. You want clean shirt on ebery day; and den, I hab fur brush Mass Vic's boots two or tree times ebery day; and den, dere's de washin', an' de cookin'. Oh! I tell you, youncs gwine for need dis chile, more in de camp dan in de corn field." T)rt.Mr,Ai? too oltoil noorl vnn vorr? mtioV " 1 V9) X nt ouuii nvvv? jvu ?vij w.?wm, said Victor; "especially, wheu we are going at double quick, to get into battle, I'll need you along to carry my gun and cartridge box." "Now, look here, Mass Vic," responded Pompey, his face beginning to become quite serious? "'sposc I fall down when you runnin' along and git lef' behin', and loss my way? What you do, den ? If you ain't got any gun to fight wid, some blue-belly yankee put his gun to your head an' blow your brains to kingdom come! And spose I not min' dis lame knee, and keep up wid de army, an' bum-shell hit me on de side of de head, who gwine wash your shirt, so you dress nice fore de offerser; and I like to know, who gwine to brush your boots ebery mornin' ?" Pompey stated the case with the air of an advocate who had put forward an unanswerable argument. His face grew an inch longer, as Victor replied? "Well, that would be bad, Pompey, I admit; but the Government can make money so easily, I would have to beg the Colonel to get me a thousand or two dollars to buy another boy to take youi place." "Look here, Mass Vic," replied Pompey, brightening up, after several moment's of sober thought, "you jest send right off now, dis berj day, an' git de money and buy dat boy to tote de gun. My own knee too lame to keep up. I swar you will leave Pompey, one, two or tree miles behind, ebcry time you git into fight You see de Kernel, Mass Vie, and git de tousand dollar to buj dat boy, fust ting you do when you git to de camp, Dunno you put 'em off till to-morrow. Don't forgit now, Mass Vic." "I will try to remember it, Pompey," replied Victor, "but if I should forget it, you must remind mo of it." "You leff it to me, Mass Vick, you ain't gwine toforgit it, fur true 1" responded Pompey earn estly. "Well, here we are, Victor; at Battery Pringle, ????? I believe it is called," said Harvey Haley. "1 learned, in the city, that we would find Capt Car berry here. Unharness your mule, Pompey ; we stop here." The party had now reached the lines where the i Confederate fortifications began. Just to theii > right rolled the dark waters of the Stono, and immediately before them was a heavy battery oi some eight or ten guns, commanding the river approaches to the city. Not more than forty or fifty soldiers were in sight; some preparing their morning meal, and others lying indolently in the sun, behind the breastworks." Having unharnessed the mule, and seen him securely haltered to the low-spreading limbs of a large live-oak, Harvey and Victor, closely followed by Pompey?who was sorely alarmed at the novelty of his situation, and the preparations aroand him, that seemed to tell of danger?took their way to the breastworks, to make enquiries for the Captain of the company which they were about to join. The attention of the party was drawn to a soldier standing upon the breastworks, who stood looking intently down the river. Before Harvey could address himself to one of the group, who lounged around, the sentinel called out sharply? "Corporal of the Guard!" In answer to the /?oll n anlrlipr diatinraiahed from those aronnd him only by the red stripes on his pantaloons, went forward and mounted the breastworks by the side of the sentinel. Pompey who, like most of his race, was full ol curiosity to see all that was passing, strolled to the breastwork where the sentinel was stationed, and, peering oyer it, saw what, to him, was a most unusual sight. A boat was just issuing from beyond the bend ol the river, and a second, and finally a third came in sight Pompey had never before seen a steamboat, and he was anxious to get a fair view. He rose on tip-toe. The corporal of the guard took but a glance, and that was sufficient to satisfy him as to his duty under his orders. "Drummer," said he, quite composedly, "beal the long roll; Jack," said he to the sentinel, "go tc your place at your gun, until further orders. ] will remain here, until the place gets too warm.'' "Boss," said Pompey, unconscious of the scent that was preparing, as he pulled hisfore-top to the Corporal, I nebber see a steamboat before. Kin 1 come up dere whar you is and take a look at 'em?" "0, yes," said the jolly corporal with a good natured laugh, "jump up and look as long as you please; but to my thinking, you'll catch the devil before you get down." So saying, he turned awaj to watch the motions of the boats, while Pompey, delighted at the permission accorded him, clamber* -a i .1 1 _M !J- J!_ ed upon tne Dreastworic ana, wun eyes wiue uwtended with curiosity and wonder, surveyed the boats that manoeuvred below. In the meantime, the long roll was vociferously beaten, and all idlers and timid persons, whose duty did not call them to the batteries, hurried to the shelter of the bomb-proof which stood slightly tc the rear, while the artillerymen came streaming up to the breastwork to man their guns. Pompey remarked the crowd hurrying up, and while theii seeming curiosity struck his attention, he congratulated himself that his position for beholding the boats was far better than that -enjoyed by any ol the soldiers. "Massa," said Pompey, to the goodnatured corporal, who stood but a few feet from him, "what does dem boats bring for trade?" "Look out you woolly head or you'll get it now!" said the corporal as he descended from the breastwork. "Just as he spoke, a puff of smoke rose from the sides of the boats, one after the other in quick succession. Pompey still stood amazed but not undeceived as yet; but in a moment more, when the roar of the heavy guns came booming across the water, and the round shot hurtled by, while the fragments of bursting shells filled the air, and the Confederate batteries opened almost under his feet, making the ground quake with their thunder, the truth flashed upon his mind, and with a scream oi terror that rose above the roar of the guns, he rolled down into the trenches and lay shivering in mortal fear. "We are into it at our first step, Victor," said Harvey, with brightening eyes as he threw off his coat and prepared to take his place at a gun. "Do you go to the bomb proof, yonder"?pointing il out as he spoke?and, as I am an old soldier, I'll take my place here, as soon as one of those brave fellows is knocked over." "No, I'll remain with you, Harvey," replied Victor. "I am no gunner, but I can help carry the wounded to the surgeons, or hand out ammunition." "Very well, Victor," responded Harvey?"but just listen at that rascal fompeyl ttauo, rompey!"?said he, going to the spot where thenegrc lay yelling?"are you hurt?" "Oh! yes mass Harvey," groaned the negro; "I shot all to pieces! Pray for me, mass Harvey! poor Pomp gwine for dead 1 tell aunt Dinah and sister Phillis to meet me over Jordan 1" "Now you d?d rascal!" exclaimed Harvey, in his indignation, as he turned the negro over and examined his body cafiefully, "this is too bad! You haven't a scratch on your whole body!" "Oh! yes, mass Harvey, I gwine for dead," yelled Pompey. "I'll get a pole and ferry you over Jordan, in short metre," said Harvey Haley, as he looked carefully around. His eye soon fell upon a portion of the hoop of a hogshead which lay near. Indignant at the cowardice of the negro, he approached him and laid it upon his back with a hearty good will, until he brought him to his feet. "Now run, you black coward, and get under that bomb proof and cease your yelling;" and the negro, anxious to get out of reach of the well seasoned oak, took to his heels, and running in the direction indicated by the outstretched finger of his indignant comrade, was soon safe from ball and shells. But these continued to fly fast and furiously. From previous practice the boats had obtained the exact range of the guns, and delivered their lire with great accuracy. Harvey and Victor did not remain long idle. The former?though he was scarcely aware of it himself?when once engaged, had a mania for the conflict that induced him tc throw himself into the strife with his whole soul. A gunner was soon struck down by a fragment of shell, and, leaping forward, Harvey seized the rammer and supplied his place. ''Curse these pop guns,'' cried he as he rammed down the cartridge; "we might fire all day and not make a decent scratch upon the hull of those boats I Why could they not give us guns that would enable us to sink the enemy?" Victor took his place near a thirty-two pounder, - the largest gun of the battery, and the only one s that seriously annoyed the enemy, who fought a! long range with guns carrying heavy metal. "You had better get out of the way, my young ! friend," said an officer to him as ho was bringing r his gun to the bear, "and get to the bomb-proof Don't you see the enemy is directing the mosi oi . his fire at this gun? You ore in danger here." "1 see you are getting more than your share ol I the enemy's attention," replied Victor modestly "and thought I might sooner find a vacanoy hen to assist than elsewhere." s "As Victor spoke, a shell from the enemy ex - ploded just in front of the gun, and two of those who were serving it, fell disabled by the fragments. , "There's a place for you already, my fine fel . low," said the officer, turning to Victor with a t quiet smile. "If you still have an appetite for it, ? i after what you have seen, you can pass the car- ( tridgesup." ( ! "Thank you, sir" said Victor with a blush, "I'll i try to do my duty." The firing still continued, 1 briskly, for several minutes, before the boats manif fested any disposition to retire. The officer who ( commanded the thirty-two pounder, stood with his t ' glass in hand and aimed the gun eaoh time it was brought to bear. Cold, calculating, and intrepid i in appearance, he fought his gun as coolly as he t would have played a game of billiards. He was t very youthful in appearance, seeming scarcely i i more than twenty-one or two years of age, some- f I what above the medium height, but slender and r almost feminine in appearance; but from his stern r blue eye the soul of a hero flamed out From the ) black felt hat which shaded his brow, to his finely t - polished boots, he was neatness personified. His linen was fine and spotless, and on the finger of I . his right hand, from which he had just withdrawn his clove, a Dlain cold rine ^listened. Yet there 1 r was nothing foppish in his dress or appearance, t , One who bnt glanced casually at his face, would \ . have pronounced him somewhat effeminate ; but i one who regarded him more closely, would have 1 | beheld in him a stern and intrepid soldier, with the gentleness and purity of woman written upoB ( ( every feature of his expressive face. 8 The first cartridge which Victor handed up was rammed home and the gun aimed, but the Lieu- 8 i tenant stood gravely with the lanyard in his hand, 1 watching the largest of the boats as she rounded 1 . to deliver a broadside, heedless of the shot and 5 shell that were flying around him. After several ? f seconds, he stepped quietly back, and pulling the 1 > lanyard, sprang suddenly upon the parapet, with 8 . his glass to his eye. His quick glance discovered I . that his shot had been successfully delivered, and < had raked his antagonist from stem to stern. 1 I By the time his gun was reloaded; he was again ' ' at his post, and, aiming as deliberately as before, ? saw the smoke stack of another one of the steam- 1 t era come down. The lost two shots from this gun J ? put an end to the fight. The damage to the boats [ was such that they fell down the stream at once, J ' and disappeared beyond the bend as fast as steam ! could carry them, receiving a farewell shot from 1 i every gun of the battery. The crew of each gun . claimed the result as dde chiefly to its own gun ; J but the young Lieutenant, returning his glass to its ' [ case, and quietly drawing on his glove, was about 1 ( to depart without a word, when his glance fell up- 1 I on Victor. ( "I see, from your dress," said he, "you do not ( belong to the artillery; what regiment are you 1 ! of?" "I intend joining the ?th," replied Victor, "as 1 . soon as I can find it." t.rm .? /? J__ il_. (J | "Xftis, (lien, 13 your nrsc aay among me uugo r of war,"' said the Lieutenant, with surprise.? , "How do you like it ?" ? "It was too hot to be agreeable, I must confess," , said Victor. , "It was a small affair, as you will think after a r few weeks," replied the young Lieutenant; "but come with me to my quarters, and as soon as we . can take a cup of coffee, I will conduct you to your t Regiment Your Colonel is an old acquaintance, f and I have an engagement to dine with him today." Victor, much pleased with his new acquain> tance, thankfully accepted the invitation, and accompanied him to his tent, which stood about one i hundred and fifty yards to the rea. of the breastwork, under a magnificent live oak. An hour passed away pleasantly, and when Victor came , forth with Harvey Haley?whom he had previously sought out and conducted to the tent of the young Lieutenant of Artillery?to accompany his , new acquaintance to that portion of the Island , where the Regiment he was about to join lay en, camped, he felt as though parting from an old , friend. The kindly interest that Lieutenant McGregor manifested in him, won upon his heart, , and when, having reached the quarters of his reg* iment, they shook hands at parting, it was with a | sincerely expressed wish, on either part, that the ( fate of war might bring them together again. I i CHAPTER IV. 1 Harvey Haley and Victor at once enrolled their ; names as members of Captain Carberry's CompaI ny, and were considered as mustered into service. ! There was no time lost in drilling, at least, in this portion of the Confederate army; for the service was not one of a holiday character, iutended to delight the eye by the regularity of the evolutions in ' wheeling and marching. The movements of the individual, the precision of his step and his raili; tary carriage, were considered as matters of small moment compared with his understanding of the ? 1 manoeuvres to be executed, and tbeir rapid and t prompt execution by the line, as a whole. The ( officer accustomed to a review of the household r troops in Hyde Park, would have smiled at the } [ manner in which the ragged Confederate boys per- ] formed the evolutions required of them ; but the ? 1 veteran marshals of Napoleon, accustomed to sol- i diers in the field, would have been charmed at the ( 1 rapidity with which they wheeled into line, and t their rapid and intelligent execution of the most ] complicated military manoeuvres. Camps of in- ( struction, it is true, were established ; yet by far ? 1 the larger portion of the soldiers of the Confede- ] racy went into active service without any military ? 1 training whatever. Notwithstanding this want of ( previous military instruction, no disaster was occa- t sioued by it, and no defeat can be traced to this t ' cause ; for the soldiers had that confidence in v themselves, in their leaders, in one another, and in c the justice of their cause, which made them in- ^ vincible where success was otherwise than impossi- t ble. They went into service with those habits of { thought, and that steadfastness and fortitude of r : mind, which other soldiers acquire only by years of a active and successful warfare. c Harvey Haley and Victor had enrolled their a 1 names but a few hours, when an orderly waited r 1 upon Captain Carberry and placed in his hand a s ' ?1- ^ fVi/i ?fVi TvVinm r noie iruiu mo vuiuuci u? ?,u? v.. , t i for the purpose of concealing his real name, we s shall, in the following pages, speak of as Colonel f 1 Giles. We are dealing with recent events and v with real characters, and, therefore, feel it due to t delicacy to employ fictitious names for the parties a ' we introduce upon the scene. " ' f Captain Carberry promptly summoned Victor a L and notified him that he was wanted at the head- c > quarters of Colonel Giles. a The blue-eyed artillery officer was there, and \ when Victor was ushered in, he introduced him to e the ColoneL c i "I hear a good report of you, my young man," said Colonel Giles, accompanying his words with a J a friendly scrutiny, in which he seemed to take a the measure of the young soldier, mentally, mor- t ! ally and physically. "You have never been under 1 > fire before to-day." c "No sir," replied Victor quite modestly. 1 f "Of course, you are not a conscript?" observed s the Colonel, in an interrogative tone. 1 f "I am not eighteen, quite, sir," replied Victor, i , "Well, my young friend, do you ever fox-hunt?" I 5 asked the Colonel, glancing at him with a quiet 1 smile in his eye. I Victor looked somewhat astonished at the ab- < ! ruptness of the question, and would have thought j the Colonel was quizzing him, but for the kindli- 1 ness of his manner and the presence of the young- i irtillery officer, to whose favorable report of himlelf he attributed hla present interview with his inperior officer. The object of the question he ?uld not divine; but a glance at the two offioers, tnd a moment's thought, set his mind at rest? rhey evidently were not making sport of him. UI sometimes have joined in a fox-chase, Colo>nel, but I am no adept in the sport," replied Vicor. "Well, at all events, you know how a huntsman eels when the dogs come to a dead loss, and the vhole field is at fodlt?the trail ran to a dead end; ind not making anything out of it, the fox seemngly gone up like Klisha, or down like Banquo's jhost Have you any acquaintances in the city?" "None, sir ; except a few among the soldiers," eplied Victor. "No one among the citizens knows you?" asked he Colonel. "Not one, as well as I can remember, sir," redied Victor. "That is quite fortunate," remarked Lieutenant tfcGregor. "It would not answer to entrust the msiness to one who is well known. I think Victor vill do." ?wi T J. .1 O" VY nac am i w uo, geuuemcu < t?*cu ? ???, ooking somewhat embarrassed. "Take a seat, my young friend," said Colonel Jiles; "I intend to employ you in tracing out a tpy who communicates all our movements to the memy. You are a stranger to me, but Lieutenint McGregor, who chanced to fall in with you this norning?to whom I spoke upon the subject of erretting out a spy and his associates?mentioned rour name to me as that of one who might; perhaps, >c a suitable person to aid me. You are very roung and inexperienced, but these qualities will erve to throw off their guard, offenders who would )e especially on the alert against older and more rafty agents. So, at least, Lieutenant McGregor Kinks; and, perhaps, he is right Our best deectives are all thrown off the scent But we are mtisfied there are spies who report everything to he enemy that passes in our lines. Do you think rou can aid me in detecting them?" "I would scarcely know where to begin, or what to do," replied Victor, extremely embarrassed; 'but I am willing to try, sir, if you will only give ne instructions what I am to do." "Well, I can put you on the trail," replied the [Jolonel; "and all you will have to do will be to ceep wide awake and improve every opportunity that occurs of gaining a knowledge of the associttes in the plot. I have arrested and sent to the uty, one who, I am sure, has been trying to hold jommunication with the enemy, and I will send rou over to watch him and see by what parties he s employed; for, I am quite satisfiod, he is only he agent for others." "When am I to go, sir," asked Victor, seeing hat the Colonel continued silent "This very hour," replied the other; "the less rou are seen in camp, the better. I do not wish rou known or recognized as a soldier. You yill ?rry to the Provost, in the city, a letter which I vill write, and he will give you further instructions, and whatever assistance you may need a9k of lim. I shall give you papers to show your real jharacter as a soldier on service in the city, but these you will not exhibit, even if arrested by the provo9t guard, unless your arrest will interfere with he objects you have in view. You can only be jarried before the Provost, and, knowing your buiiness. he will promptly release you. You under1 Oil itana me r "Fully, sir," replied Victor, who began to con*ive a relish for the duty in which lie was to be jmploycd. "I cannot promise success, but 1 will lo all I can to ensure it." "Very well; I have no doubt you will succeed," eplied Colonel Giles. ' 'Boys are more wide awake :han men, excite less suspicion, and go to work vith more hearty zeal and energy. All this is in ,'our favor. Call here in about half an hour's irne, and I will have all the necessary papers eady for you; but be sure you breathe not a sylable of the service you are to be sent on, to any Viend or comrade." "I shall not sir," replied Victor, rising to retire, ind making his best bow. The jovial Colonel aughed at him heartily but good huraoredly. "Pardon me, young comrade; but a bow is so musual a courtesy in camp, that I can but laugh it it alui09t as heartily as at the queer little bonlet in which my grand mother was married. We )nly use a simple military salute, here?but you vill fall into our ways?only our better ones, I lope?in time." At the appointed hour Victor returned, and the capers were handed him with the simple statenent that the Provost-Marshal would aid him vith his counsel and assistance, if he should find t necessary. Victor at once took his way to the city. The service had been thrust upon him so suddenly, hat he had no time or opportunity for reflecting lpon the novelty and awkwardness of his position ind the difficulties of the part he had to play, until le found himself alone and on his way to the city. EJe lia urally, and quite correctly, attributed his lelection for such a duty, to the prepossession and nfluence of the young artillery officer, who had :harmed him so much. Lieutenant McGregor, jotwithstanding his extreme youth and modesty, lad that straightforwardness and earnestness of :haracter, which makes the influence of their poslessor felt by all with whom he comes in contact. Sarnest of purpose and strong in conviction himVin mA^oofu Vio rlisnrrmnir pnvw find ifial ICUJ HID ?WJ UIUUWIJ 1 +rj vM v ??? ^ >usy, enabled him, the more readily, to impress ipon others his feelings and thoughts. Knowing lothing of Victor but what he had gathered by ratching his conduct under trying and novel circumstances, and by an hour's subsequent interdew with him, he had formed a most favorable esimate of his character and qualities, and trusting mplicitly in his own intuitive judgment of charicter, he did not hesitate to urge Colonel Giles to ivail himself of Victor's services, when he discovered the perplexity of that officer in finding an igent to discover and bring to light the secret corespondents and spies of the enemy. He felt asured that Victor's alertness and quickness of ap>rehension, together with his sense of the respon ibility imposed upon him, would make amends or his inexperience, whilst his very youtbfulness rould tend to disarm the caution and suspicion of hose whom he was sent to watch. He had a quick ind discerning eye, and his youtbfulness of apjearance would banish suspicion as to his purposes ind objects, from the minds of the most wary and listrustful.. Such was the reasoning of Lieutenmt McGregor, and thinking to benefit Victor, in vhom he already felt a warm interest, he succeeded in having him put upon the confidential service ?f which we have spoken. At first, Victor was rather pleased at the duty issigned him, inasmuch as it freed him, fora time, it least, from the irksomeness of the camp and he severity of the service, and permitted him freev to range through the streets of the historic old iity, of which he had read and heard so much.? rhe only drawback to his satisfaction was, that to lave himself from the mortification of an utter allure, he mnst achieve some positive and definite esult The soldier on post has duties of a negative character to perform; while those assigned to aim were of the most positive and active character, demanding the keen and skillful exercise of jvery faculty of his intellect It was not the mere guarding of a post, but he was to accomplish the far more difficult task of finding a clue to the abettors and partisans of the enemy, and following it *** ' 1 2 i up cautiously, carefully, and craftily, through all its hidden and intricate windings, until the whole mystery was disclosed. As Victor took his way to the city, to enter upon his duties, he felt more than one misgiving of the heart, and would gladly, on any terms, have been back in camp again. The apprehension of an absolute failure tormented him, and he felt his cheek already burning with shame at the thought of returning to his Colonel and reporting that all his efforts were?as he feared they would be?ftitile and nugatory. Such anticipations were a keen pain to the young soldier, and as he wended his way along the road, meeting in his route various groups returning, or visiting the island, his abstracted eye and the red flash burning on his yonng cheek, told that some unpleasant thoughts were busy at his heart He hod gone, perhaps, about half the distance to tho city, when he saw * gay looking equipage, drawn by two beautiful black horses, approaching rapidly along the road that led down to the lines. It soon became evident to Victor, from the manner in which the driver lashed his -fiery horses and reeled upon his seat, that he was in a state of inebriation. The spirited horses, chafing under their treatment, were covered with foam, and were so frantic with excitement that they conld scarcely be controlled. The two ladies, who occupied the carriage, exhibited in their countenances and actions, the great alarm occasioned them by the drunkenness of the driver, and the excitement into which he had goaded the spirited, but otherwise gentb horses. A painful catastrophe seemed imminent, and occurred quite soon, lire drunken coachman, scarcely aware of what he was doing, had guided the horses quite out of the road, where there weijj lying a few heavy pieocs of timber, intended to assist in strengthening the fortifications, which some over-laden government wagon bad left by the wayside. The wheels came in contact with one of these heavy timbers, and the vehicle received so violent a jolt that the drunken coachman1' was thrown from his seat, losing the reins in his fell, and the excited horses, now altogether freed from control and guidance, dashed wildly on, quitting the traveled road. Fortunately, the whole fece of the country, for some distance around, was a level cleaning, broken by scarcely a bush, tree or stump, and there was no object near, with which the vehicle might come in collision. Victor, himself, was standing on the end of a rude bridge, thrown across a narrow creek inte? scoring this portion of the island, which was quite narrow, but having steep, precipitous banks and * deep and boggy channel *JThe affrighted animals were dashing on rapidly toWKtds this creek, and in such & direction that they w^Dd strike its line at a point some eight or ten rods below the spot where Viator was standing; and it was quite CVi . ? i .1 awe .? . 1 dent that, unless tney could oe promptly turned or stopped in their career, a most frightful catastrophe would soon occur. Regardless of his own safely, and the extreme peril he would incur in the attempt to arrest the horses and save the occupants of the vehicle from certain destruction, Victor hastened to throw himself in the way of the affrighted horses, now rushing on with redoubled speed. There was, indeed, but a faint hojpe that he ! would be able to avert the impending danger, but he did not pause to weigh his chances. He planted himself directly in the pathway of the horses, and as they came rushing by, he leaped forward at the critical moment, and by great good fortune, no less than by activity and dexterity, seized the bridle of the nearest horse. Clinging to it with the tenacity of desperation, he brought the hones, trembling with excitement and fear, to a stand upon the very verge of the bank, down whioh another plnnge would have taken the vehicle and its occupants. Gently turning the hones from the dangerous spot, he soothed and calmed their wild excitement, and, holding firmly to the reins of which he had possessed himself, assisted the in- < mates to alight. Still trembling with alarm, and hardly yet assured of their safety, the terrified females overwhelmed him with their thanks. With their emotions of gratitude was mingled admiration for his gallantry and courage. He had not only rendered them a most signal service, but he had risked life and limb to perform it The fact that he was youthful, handsome, and evidently raised in the best society, certainly did not detract from the warmth of their gratitude. The younger lady, who seemed a year or two younger than Victor himself, was more eloquent with her glances than her tongue, but the elder, who was still beautiful and attractive, was profuse in her acknowledments and thanks. .."You must, indeed, do us the further pleasure," said the elder lady, "to let us know the name of one who, at such imminent risk to himself, has saved as from a frightful death. I must know the name of my gallant deliverer, that I may thank him all inv life." . "You greatly over-rate what I have done, ladies," replied Victor, "especially in these days, ?1-? ? IftrnMiv fkam liirao io/v Amnltr wuuu illttuy uiu lajiug uwnu wuvu utvo itviiwij? My name, however, is Victor Garnett; bat I hope you will not consider yourselves under any obligations to me for a service, any one iroald be happy to perform." "Gratitude I feel to be more a privilege than an obligation," returned the lady, "especially to one like yourself. You seem to bp on your way to the city, and since my nerves are too much shocked by this accident to permit me to enioy a drive down to the lines, as I at first intended, you will oblige rpq, by aocompanying us in our carriage to the city. But more?you must even go home with me, that you may hereafter know where to find friends who will always be glad to give you a cordial welcome." Victor bowed and expressed his thanks. "Aunt Carrie," said the younger lady, "are you not afraid to risk these horses again?" "No, Nellie, "yreplied the elder lady; ^ey are quite gentle; it was only the mismanagement of tne drunken driver, that caused them to act badly." "They are quite safe, I am sure," said Victor; "if you will allow me, 1 will drive you home with S)leasure, and scarcely think I will meet with the ate of Phaeton or your coachman.'' "I eannot trust Joe agaiu, aunt Carrie," said Nellie, "not even to drive us back to the city." "I hope you'will not fear to trust mer' said Victor. Nellie's cheek colored, and she smiled her answer, but her aunt replied for her. "No, Mr. Garnett," said she, "after what we have witnessed and experienced, we know we could ot be in safer or more gallant hands." "Here comes our discotnfitted Phaeton, aunt Carrie," said Nellie, as their late driver came approaching with a wo-be-gone feoe. "Ah t Joe; you have served us quite badly today I" said the aunt with a look of reproach at the half-sobered negro. "We cannot trust you again. Nay, don't attenvpt to reply, but be silent and take your beat ou iuc lwt-wvaiu. Joe vas evidently anxious "to cleanse his bosom of its perilous stuff," in ; the form of excuses and apologies, and protestations for the fhture, hut the quiet and lady-hke manner of his mistress forbade him any reply, and Joe, looking very sulky and very sheepish, took his seat behind the carriage. Victor assisted the ladies in, and taking his seat upon the driver's box, they went bowling off to the city behind the noble pair of horses that Were soon soothed, by Victor's pleasant voioe, into gentleness and quiet .... *f? V . ' The elder lady giving him directions, from time to time, as to his course, Victor at length drew up at the gate of a large and handsome- residence on one of the most fashionable streets of the city.-? Having assisted them to alight, Victor, notwithstanding their cordial and repeated invitations to enter, excused himself on the plea of urgent business, and promising to call upon them at an early day, hastened to the office of the Provost Marshal to deliver his papers and receive further instructions.