CHAPTER XXXV.

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This victory, though on a small scale, was complete
in itself. It was a favorable omen, too, and
might serve as a sort of rehearsal of the more important
battle to be fought on the same ground. In
one thing only Douglas had been disappointed, by
the eagerness of Schwartz's men. He had made
no prisoners, and the fallen enemy were all either
dead, or not in condition to be harassed by such
questions as he wished to ask. They were necessarily
committed to the care of such of the party as
lived in the neighborhood; and their horses and arms
being secured, were placed in the same hands for
safe keeping.

The feelings of Arthur, as he looked on this fearful
scene of slaughter, were such as might be expected
to possess the mind of a youth, who, as yet,
had never seen the blood of man shed in strife. But
these are nothing to the purpose of my tale. It is
enough to say, that the contemplation of it wrought
the usual change in his character. He now felt that
to kill or be killed was the order of the day; and,
though his next sleep was haunted by visions of the

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ghastly objects that lay before him, he awoke from
it with a mind prepared for the stern duties of war.

Requesting the company and advice of his host,
Douglas now proceeded to examine the ground. He
found the river hills every where intersected, on
both sides of the river, by ravines such as that I
have described. The ford was shallow, but just
above was deep water, which, on the north side,
came down quite near to the gravel bar, which served
as a dam. Here a steep and high rock bounded the
river, and along the base of it, the water eddied in a
deep pool, and then swept away in a stong, but
shallow current. At a short distance below was
the mouth of a ravine, overgrown with lofty trees,
and clustering with brushwood, at a distance of fifty
yards from the landing-place. The road, issuing
from the river at the foot of the rock, holds a straight
course for twenty yards, or thereabouts, and then
turning short to the left, is no more in sight of the
river. From thence a short, but steep ascent through
a deep cleft in the hills, brings the traveller to the
top, where he turns again to the right, and resumes
the direction towards Lynchburg. After a thorough
examination of the whole, the party returned to breakfast
at the house of Mr. Gordon.

Douglas rode slowly and thoughtfully. At length
he said apart to Schwartz:

“Your plot is admirable; but I am afraid it will
fail.”

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“What chance of that?” asked Schwartz. “They
will be ashamed to bring more than a thousand men
against you, even if they had them. We can raise
as many as they can, and we shall be on the ground,
and have the same advantage we had just now.”

“But suppose they come and take possession
first;” said Douglas.

“Oh! no danger of that. They'll be in no
hurry to leave their snug quarters any sooner than
they can help; and we can be here a day or two
before the time.”

“It may be so,” said Douglas; “but I don't
think Col. Mason takes me for an absolute fool; and
if he does, he has reason to know that I have sharp-witted
men about me. But any man's wits may fail
him sometimes. For example, it has never occurred
to either of us, that Mason will certainly not believe
that we have been fooled by such a fellow as this
Yankee of yours. Will he not, therefore, at once
suspect the truth, and conclude that we are trying to
catch him in his own trap?”

“I God!” said Schwartz, “that is true. I had
not thought of that. The fellow is too silly to be
made bait of, sure enough. But then, you see,
Captain, we can fix them any how. Mr. Gordon
here can raise men enough, in three days, to keep
them from crossing the river, until we are ready for
them; and then, you know, we can push across a
part of our men, and toll them over. If once we

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get them into a right sharp fight, they 'll follow us
across the river fast enough.”

“I have no doubt of their coming to look for us,”
said Douglas; “and no doubt of a fight; but we
must be prepared to meet more men than we have
bargained for. Depend upon it, they will bring every
man they can raise. Why, would you believe it, the
fellow talked to me about living at home on codfish,
and potatoes, and cider, and pies, and all sorts of
sass? Such a simpleton could not impose on a
child. Col. Mason has talents worthy of a better
cause, and he will see through the whole affair. I
suppose he is superseded; but he is an honorable
man, and will frankly give the benefit of his suspicions
to his superior, who can hardly be such a fool
as to disregard his suggestions. We must bestir
ourselves, therefore, or give up the game and escape
from our own plot.

“Gentlemen,” continued Douglas, speaking aloud,
and in a sustained and decisive tone, “this is our
place of rendezvous; the time mid-day on the third
of November. Every man must come prepared for
action, and such as mean to accompany me to the
lower country, must bring with them all their necessaries.
Mr. Gordon, I must depend on you to hold
this pass, and keep the enemy from crossing the
river. I shall send a force to support you, if necessary.
You, Schwartz, know what to do better than
I can tell you. You, Witt, will return with me, and

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we will talk, as we ride, of what is to be done. Mr.
Gordon, we could travel without food, but our horses
cannot. We must trouble you for something for all,
and then we part until the day of rendezvous. Until
that time, `Vigilance and Activity' is the word; but
then, `Freedom, Independence, and Glory.”'

As Douglas said this they arrived at Mr. Gordon's
door. The ready meal was hastily swallowed, the
horses fed, and they departed for the camp. On the
way Schwartz, turning to the left, kept a southward
course through the district, along the foot of the
mountains, to rouse the inhabitants in that quarter,
and to collect a party to support Mr. Gordon. The
rest returned to the camp, from whence runners were
despatched throughout all the adjacent country, and
even beyond the mountain to the head-waters of the
Holston. Leaving them thus employed, let us repair
to the head-quarters of the enemy.

In the handsome parlor of a handsome house, in
the suburbs of Lynchburg, we find two officers seated
at a game of piquet. The hour is nine at night.
The room is richly furnished. A bright fire burns on
the hearth, and the blaze of sconce and astral lamps
sheds its soft, luxurious, moonlight beams into
every corner. Wine, cordials, fruits, and cigars are
placed on a table, and every-thing betokens comfort
and luxury, ease and indolence. The dress of these
officers corresponds with the scene. Both glitter
with gold and flutter in lace, and their richly

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mounted swords and highly finished pistols, which lie on
the table, show that the owners abound in the means
of display and self-indulgence.

Such was indeed the fact. The pay of the army,
gradually increased by law during thirty years, had
grown to a noble revenue. The emoluments, as they
are called, under a system of fraud and connivance,
had advanced (without law) yet more rapidly; so
that to be a Colonel in the army of the United States
was to be a rich man. Such was the rank of both
these officers. It was true that the treasury had
already begun to feel the drain of the vast sums
accumulated under an iniquitous tariff, and now
employed to fortify the tyranny that had enforced
that pernicious system. The loss of the southern
trade gave reason to fear that the supply now on
hand, if once exhausted, would not be speedily
renewed. But the rulers felt but the more sensibly
that the energetic employment both of force and
corruption was necessary to retain the little that
remained, by holding Virginia in subjection. With
this view, the same system of wasteful expenditure,
commenced twenty years before, was kept up; and
all who served the crown with becoming zeal were
encouraged to hold open their mouths that they
might be filled.

In another part of the room a company of subalterns
fluttered around a bevy of fair damsels. To
these young ladies the mistress of this mansion had

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of late become an object of much increased regard.
No friend was so dear, no society so desirable, no
house so pleasant to visit at as hers. Many an extra
visit did she receive, since the abounding loyalty of
her husband had invited the commandant of the post
to make it his head-quarters. Many a wistful glance
had been cast during the evening, from the assiduous
subalterns, toward the handsome and unheeding
wearer of two epaulettes, to whose authority all who
approached him were bound to bow. But it was all
in vain. Sufficient to himself, he valued not the
admiring eyes which were bent upon him; or if they
occupied any thing of his attention, it was to be
made the subject of invidious comparison with the
ladies of the highest fashion in the northern cities,
whose lavish attentions had rendered him totally
heedless of the vulgar admiration of a parcel of halfbred
Virginia girls.

These remarks, however, apply to only one of the
officers in question. The other manifested no such
insensibility, though his attentions to the fair were
only marked by a staid courtesy, hardly more flattering
than the perfect indifference of his companion.
Still he paid such attention as it becomes a gentleman
to pay to every thing that wears the exterior of
a lady. But the day when he was himself an object
of court to them was past. Indeed, the ladies had
already begun to despair of thawing the coldness of
his temperament, when, being superseded by a

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younger and handsomer commander, he was laid on
the shelf and condemned as quite passé.

But it is high time to make the reader acquainted
with the two military gentlemen, to whose presence
he has been introduced.

The reader, without doubt, already understands
that, of the two officers before us, the elder in years,
though the younger in commission, is Col. Mason,
late commandant of the post. His companion is
Col. Owen Trevor, whose impatience for distinction
has been indulged by sending him to Lynchburg
with his regiment. Here, taking rank of Mason, he
has been in fact placed in command of a brigade,
with an understanding that time and opportunity
will be afforded him to show himself qualified for the
rank, by discharging the functions of a brigadier.
This post has been assigned him because in this
direction is the only enemy actually in arms.

Although the force under the command of Douglas
had been originally but a handful, Mason had seen
that it possessed, in a marvellous degree, the faculty
of occasional expansion. His intelligence had taught
him to expect that it would ere long be greatly increased,
if not crushed by a vigorous movement on his part.
Hence he was desirous of acting on the offensive,
especially as he had no doubt, from the past, that
Lynchburg was the object of Douglas. But he had
seen enough of the character and resources of his
enemy to know that a small force would be

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unavailing, and had therefore earnestly desired to be reinforced.
In answer to this request he had received,
not the moderate aid that he had desired, but an
order to surrender his command to Col. Trevor,
whose well-appointed regiment was ordered to the
post.

Col. Mason was a man of honor and talent. He
was one of the many subjects of that strong delusion
which had so extensively prevailed; and, under the
influence of which, Virginia, for thirty years, had
been sacrificing the substance of liberty and prosperity
to the forms of a constitution devised to
secure, but perverted to destroy them. He belonged,
moreover, to that unfortunate class of partisans whom
it is safe to neglect. Acting on principles, however
erroneous, it was clearly seen that these alone were
sufficient to bind him to the service to which he had
devoted himself. It was at the same time little
doubted that a change of opinions would be followed
by a renunciation of all the advantages of his situation,
whatever they might be. To waste on such a
man the means of corrupting the corruptible, and
securing the faithless, would indeed have been
“ridiculous excess.” He had won his way to his
present rank by the strict performance of every duty
of the subordinate offices, through which he had
risen by regular gradation. In the shuffling and
cutting of the military pack, he had seen junior
officers placed above him by that sort of

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legerdemain which had so long before procured his master
the name of the magician. He had not indeed
acquiesced tamely in this, but means had been
always found to soothe him, and he had been retained
in the service by dextrous appeals to that
magnanimity which they who knew not how to
appreciate, yet knew well how to play upon.

But he had not yet forgotten how, ten years
before, some pretext had been found for reversing
the relative rank of himself and Col. Trevor, when
both were very young and both subalterns. But on
that occasion, as usual, some complimentary though
temporary arrangement had been devised to reconcile
him to that which gave the rank of Captain to
one, whom he, still a Lieutenant, had once commanded.
Having repressed his dissatisfaction at
that time, he now felt bound to acquiesce in the
circumstances which placed his former subordinate
immediately in authority over him. If this occurrence
made him repent his former tameness, now
when it was too late to remonstrate, he did not say
so, but addressed himself with grave precision to the
fulfilment of all his commander's orders.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Fortuna nimium quem fovet, stultum facit.

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Colonel Trevor was the spoiled child of fortune
and patronage. He was old enough to remember
his father's rise in life. Hence, in estimating his
consequence in society, he had formed a habit of
comparing him with the class from which he sprung,
and not with that more intellectual order of men, in
which he had at last found his proper place, and
where he had long remained stationary in well ascertained
equality. This circumstance alone made an
important difference between him and his younger
brothers. The sort of retrospect with which he was
most familiar teaches any thing but humility, however
it may impress that lesson on the mind that has
already learned it.

In the commencement of Col. Trevor's military
career, the approbation of his father had been of
more consequence to the usurper than now, when his
throne stood strong on its own foundations. The
character of that worthy gentleman, too, had been
less understood. The President had not been aware
how absolutely the convictions of his own mind and
his high sense of duty supplied the place of those

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douceurs, the frequent repetition and continued expectation
of which is necessary to bind the faith of
the unprincipled. Before this discovery was made,
Col. Trevor had been already advanced to a rank,
and invested with an adventitious consequence,
which made it important to cultivate him on his own
account. His early training had taught him the
grand maxim of the court: “Nothing ask, nothing
have.” He had discovered that any display of fixed
principle, however favorable to the usurper's plans,
was no passport to advancement; that rewards were
only for the mercenary, and that they were always
dispensed with a freedom duly proportioned to the
eagerness with which they were sought. The caustic
wit of John Randolph had unintentionally and almost
with his last breath supplied the faction with a countersign
not to be mistaken. If any man talked about
his principles, (as all men do and must at times,)
there was always at hand some dextrous pimp, whose
business it was to ascertain their number. If they
were found to be either more or less than seven, the
discovery was fatal to his hopes of advancement.

The character of Douglas Trevor had been formed
under circumstances directly the reverse of those
which had operated on his elder brother. He only
remembered his father in the same circles and the
same place in society in which his latter days had been
spent. No change of condition had led the youth to
turn his back on the companions of his boyhood; no

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rapid promotion had filled him with a fond conceit of
his own consequence, or an overweening eagerness
for rank and emolument; and his unbought fidelity
had shown that he was of the number of those on
whom rewards would be wasted. Thus it happened,
(as it so often does,) that two young men, sons of
the same parents, educated in the same school, and
trained to the same profession, were just the reverse
of each other, in particulars wherein nature had probably
made little difference between them. So it
was, that while the one was indifferent to duty,
frivolous, self-indulgent, and mercenary, the other
was assiduous, discreet, temperate, and disinterested.

It may be inferred from what I have said, that the
rank of Col. Trevor was already above his merit.
The consequence was, that having reached his present
elevation by the force of causes not within
himself, his own consciousness afforded no standard
for his farther pretensions. He could see no reason
why he should not be a field-marshal as well as a
colonel. And so it was; for he had no just claims
to either rank on the score of service or qualification.
A stone thrown up, were it endued with consciousness
and thought, could see no reason, as long as it
was ascending, why it might not fly to the moon. If
my experience in life has taught me any thing, it is,
that a man who sets no bounds to his aspirations,
unless his daily intercourse with the world affords

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daily proofs of an intrinsic superiority over all he
meets, is already raised above his merit.

The gentlemen, of whom I have been speaking,
were busily engaged in their game, when the Orderly
in waiting entered and announced an officer who
wished to report himself to the commandant of the
post.

“Let him call in the morning, and be damned to
him,” said Col. Trevor. “Is this an hour to disturb
a gentleman?”

The Orderly saluted and withdrew, but presently
returned to say that the officer had particular business
with Colonel Mason, and wished to see him
immediately. Mason accordingly left the room, and
was gone but a few minutes, when he too came back.

“This officer, sir,” said he, “asked to see me,
supposing me still in command here. His intelligence
is for you; and, from what I heard before I
discovered his mistake, it may be important that you
should receive it to-night.”

“Well,” said Trevor, in a tone at once lazy and
peevish, “I suppose I must see him. But it is
damned hard that I cannot have a moment's leisure.
Let him come in.”

He was summoned accordingly, and proved to be
no other than our acquaintance, the Yankee spy,
whom I now introduce to the reader, as he announced
himself. He is Captain Amos Cottle, of
the 20th regiment of infantry, in the army of the

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United States. His name, I presume, (like that of
the fourteen James Thomsons, in Don Juan,) had
been bestowed in honor of the illustrious bard immortalized
by Lord Byron. He was invited to take
a glass of wine, and, having seated himself, requested
a private conference with the commanding officer.
This was a signal for the dispersion of the ladies,
and their assiduous attendants, who adjourned to
another room. Mason was about to follow, but the
Colonel carelessly requested him to remain.

Captain Cottle was then invited to open his
budget, which he did by telling what the reader
already knows. Not a sentence did he utter, in
which some indication of folly, vanity, or indiscretion
did not escape him. All this, however, passed
unmarked of Col. Trevor, whose eyes sparkled at
the welcome intelligence. Nothing could be more
apropos to his wishes, or to the plan of the President.
“Veni, vidi, vici.” The exploit of Cæsar
was the only parallel to that which he proposed to
achieve. Occasionally he looked to Mason for
sympathy and concurrence with his unexpressed
thoughts. As often he withdrew his eye, chilled
and perplexed by the cold, steady, thoughtful look
of his companion. What could this mean? Could
Mason be insensible to the advantage of the plot, or
indifferent to its issue? Could envy so far prevail
with a man heretofore distinguished by his disinterested
zeal for the service, as to damp his ardor in

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an enterprise of so much promise? He was at first
indignant at this idea, but a little reflection made
him judge his brother-officer with more candor.

“Poor Mason,” said he to himself. “I don't
wonder that he is a little mortified at my good fortune.
It is something hard that he should have held
this post so long, without a chance to do any thing,
and that I should have come just in time to rob him
of this. But then, damn it! it is his own fault.
What did he want with a reinforcement against a
parcel of ragged militia? It was right to supersede
an officer who would ask more than one regiment to
meet any number of such ragamuffins that could come
against him. Besides, he ought to have broken up
their den long ago. If Douglas escapes me this
time, it shall not be long before I smoke him out of
his hole, or there is no virtue in gun-powder.”

Having thus reasoned himself into a state of exquisite
self-complacency, he heard the story of
Captain Cottle to the end, and then asked the
opinion of Mason.

“I cannot say,” replied that gentleman, “that I
am prepared to give an opinion.”

“I hope,” said Trevor, “that you don't mean to
deny me the benefit of your thoughts.”

“So far from it, that I make it a point of conscience
not to speak without having first thought.
When I have done so, I will tell you what I think.
To speak now would be but to give you the crude

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suggestions of unreflecting and impertinent presumption.”

“I cannot understand,” said Trevor, “how you
can require time to think in so plain a case.”

“I might say, in reply,” answered Mason, “that
as the case is so clear to you, you can hardly need
my advice. Indeed, I understand your request of
it but as a compliment to which I am not insensible,
and which I shall not decline. When I am prepared
to speak, therefore, I shall speak as plainly as if the
case were as full of difficulty to you as it is to me.”

Having said this, Mason drew Cottle into conversation;
enquired the particulars of his visit to the
mountain; encouraged him to recite his conversations
with Douglas; and, filling him full of vanity
and conceit by his deferential deportment, made the
light shine through him, so as to expose his folly to
the most careless observer. At length he was dismissed
for the night, and Mason, addressing Trevor,
said: “I am now ready to give you my thoughts. I
could not do so in Captain Cottle's presence; and,
indeed, my mind was not clear until I had some
more conversation with him. I am now satisfied.”

“Let's hear, then, the result of your cogitations,”
asked Trevor, with something of a sneer.

Mason colored slightly, but said, in a calm tone:
“I have had some experience of this Captain Douglas,
and am morally sure he has not been deceived
by this man, as he supposes.”

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“What!” exclaimed Trevor. “Do you forget
that Captain Cottle is an officer whose rank is a
pledge for his honor, and who would forfeit his commission
and his life by bringing false intelligence to
his commander?”

“I don't doubt his truth,” said Mason, “but his
sagacity I do doubt. The man is palpably a
Yankee—”

“And the cunning of the Yankee is proverbial,”
interrupted Trevor.

“It is, indeed,” replied Mason; “but as he is
not only a Yankee, but obviously so, he could not
have made Douglas believe that he was an influential
inhabitant of Bedford, a native of the county, and
a zealous stickler for the sovereignty of Virginia.”

“You give your Captain Douglas credit for a
great deal of sagacity.”

“And not without reason,” said Mason. “His
plans, and his manner of conducting them, all show
it. His intelligence appears to be always correct
and ready, and his devices for the concealment of
his own schemes are commonly impenetrable. It is
clear, from many circumstances, that he has agents
who pass through the country unsuspected; and I
should not be surprised if Cottle had fallen in with
one of them. I have no doubt that Douglas will be
found at Jones's Ford on the day appointed; but my
life upon it, instead of coming there to be surprised,
he proposes to come there to surprise you.”

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“Surprise ME!” said Trevor, scornfully.

“I have no apprehension that he will surprise
you,” said Mason, “because I am sure you will take
all proper precaution. I merely mean to say that he
will attempt it.”

“And be punished for his presumption,” said
Trevor. “As to precaution, I must use it, to be
sure, superfluous as it may be against a set of inexperienced
militia.”

“Of one sort of experience,” said Mason, “and
that not the least important, they have had more than
we. They have tasted danger more than once; and
their skill in the use of the rifle is such as men who
live with the weapon in their hands, and they alone,
can be expected to acquire.”

“I hope to bring in some of them as prisoners,”
said Trevor, “and then we shall see how that is.
I will pit a dozen of our sharp-shooters against a
dozen of them, my horse to yours.”

“I am not in the habit of betting,” replied Mason,
smiling quietly; “but, in this case, I dare say I may
do it innocently, as the offence will hardly reach
beyond intention; so I take your bet.”

“How do you mean?” asked Trevor, sharply.

“I mean,” said Mason, “that I am not very sure
that you will take a dozen of them.”

“Not sure!” exclaimed Trevor; “how can they
escape me?”

“I don't profess to understand their craft,” said

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Mason; “but they are hard to catch. In short,
Colonel Trevor, my instructions require me to afford
you all the information I have acquired here. It is
therefore my duty, even without question from you,
to assure you that you are in the midst of a disaffected
country, and that you are going against an
enemy not to be despised, and among a people universally
hostile. Knowing these things, and invited
by you to advise what is to be done in this affair,
my advice is to march your whole disposable force
to the appointed place, using every precaution to
guard against surprise. It might be as well to anticipate
Douglas, so far at least as to understand the
ground, and to occupy it before the day.”

“And so he takes warning, and escapes me.”

“By no means. Cottle's scheme will have been
made available so far as to draw him down from the
mountains. You neither need nor desire any other
advantage. But I see that I cannot easily make
myself understood, because our minds are occupied
with different things. You are thinking about the
trap set for Douglas, and I am thinking about the
snare he has laid for you. Depend upon it, Colonel
Trevor, that the old story of catching a Tartar, may
be illustrated by catching Douglas among the river
hills. He may be caught; and yet, neither come
away nor let you come. Observe,” continued Mason,
“when I inquired of this Captain Cottle about
the nature of the ground at the Ford, behold, he had

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not taken notice of it! but, on cross-examination,
by finding what he did not see, I am satisfied that
there is no low ground, nor cleared land at the place;
that the hills come sheer down to the river, and, by
almost necessary consequence, that the road leads
through a deep defile. The choice of such a place
confirms my suspicion of Douglas's plan, and affords
the means to counterwork it. If we occupy the
strong points of the ground, and he comes with only
such a body of men as Cottle expects, we take him
without effusion of blood. If he comes in force, our
position will give us all the advantage he seeks;
and, trust me, in that case we shall have need of
them.”

“Need of advantages against irregulars!” drawled
Trevor, sneeringly, and emphasizing every word.

“Our discipline and experience are of little consequence,”
said Mason, “if we do not use them.
One use of them is to know how to take advantages.”

“Be it so,” said Trevor; “I shall seek none. A
fair field and a clear sky are all I ask; and I shall
be careful to take no measures which may alarm this
mountain wolf, and drive him back to his den before
I can come up with him.”

These words were hardly spoken when the Orderly
announced that a sergeant of dragoons had just
returned from a scouting party with important intelligence,
and had come to make his report to the

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Colonel. What this was the reader will infer, when
told that he was the non-commissioned officer on
whom had devolved the command of the four men
who had escaped with him from Jones's Ford. His
information confirmed Mason's suspicions, and might
have served as a damper to the flattering anticipations
of a man less sanguine than Colonel Trevor.
Its only effect on him was to sharpen his eagerness
for the expected rencontre. Yet the Sergeant, when
questioned, frankly admitted that his party had not
been out-numbered. But it was clear that their design
had been, by some means, disclosed to Douglas;
and his advantage had been the result of judicious
dispositions, and the skill of his men in the use of
that most terrible of all weapons.

But all this abated nothing of Colonel Trevor's
contempt for a foe unskilled in the manual exercise,
ignorant of the grand manoelig;uvres, and dressed in
buckskin. Every attempt on the part of Col. Mason
to bring him to listen to reason proved fruitless.
Indeed the conversation occasionally took such a
turn as to create a doubt in the mind of that gentleman,
whether to press his advice any farther might
not make it difficult to reconcile with his own selfrespect
the deference which he knew to be due to
his commander. He therefore determined to receive
and execute in silence all orders which might be
given, and leave the event to Providence.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

More dreadful far their ire
Than theirs, who, scorning danger's name,
In eager mood to battle came;
Their valor, like light straw on flame,
A fierce, but fading fire!

[figure description] Page 143.[end figure description]

Freed at length from his troublesome adviser,
Col. Trevor was left to the uninterrupted enjoyment
of his anticipated triumph. He seemed to tread on
air, and, with a flashing eye, and spread nostrils, to
look forward to the glories, and snuff up the carnage
of the expected fight. Such was his impatience for
the adventure, that, in the eagerness of anticipation,
he gave no thought to the necessary preparations.
It was enough to issue the customary order for the
troops to be in readiness for the march, with a supply
of cartridges and rations suitable to the expedition.

The third day of November at length arrived, and
the troops took up the line of march. As they
issued in glittering rank from the barracks above the
town, the Colonel, proudly mounted on his stately
charger, posted himself in the gateway of the house,
where he had taken up his quarters, and received

[figure description] Page 144.[end figure description]

their passing salute. The portico of the house was
crowded with female figures; the windows were
clustered with fair faces; the noble oak-trees in the
yard were hung with garlands, in token of the loyalty
of the household, and of anticipated triumph in his
assured victory. But the Colonel saw nothing of
this. His eye saw not the waving of handkerchiefs,
his ear heard not the cheering farewells issuing in
tones of music from rosy lips. He heard only the
spirit-stirring drum and clanging bugle; he saw
nothing but the stately steppings of his well-trained
troops as they marched by; and then, his eye, following
them, dwelt with delight upon their picturesque
appearance as they wound along the slope of
the hill, and crossed Blackwater-bridge. Beyond
this, imagination presented objects of yet greater
interest,—the battle-field, the tumult of the strife,
the rout, the pursuit, the carnage, the vanquished
leader led in chains to the foot of the throne, the
gracious smile of approving majesty, and the rich
rewards of successful valor. These things he saw;
but saw not the gaunt figure of his host, who stood
near, his strong features and manly person illy sorting
with the abject part he condemned himself to
act. He sought in vain to catch the eye of the
excited commander, desirous, in his parting words,
to convey some expression of loyalty and zeal.
Colonel Trevor marked him not; and, as the rear

[figure description] Page 145.[end figure description]

of the column was about to pass, put spurs to his
horse, and galloped to the front.

At this point of my story, I must crave the indulgence
of the reader, while I introduce my humble
self to his notice. A native of South Carolina, and
the heir of a goodly inheritance, which, during a
long minority, had been at nurse in the hands of an
honest and prudent guardian, I was just of age, the
master of a handsome income, and of a large sum of
money in hand. Having a taste for military life, my
guardian had procured me a situation in the military
academy, which had been established by the State,
as a counterpoise to that institution at which the
Federal Government had taught so many of our
southern youths to whet their swords against the
only sovereignty to which they owed allegiance.
My proficiency had been seen, and gave entire satisfaction
to my teachers. I had imbibed political
opinions which made me a zealous advocate for the
rights of the States, and a strenuous assertor of the
unalienable independence of South Carolina. When,
in compliance with the request of Mr. B—, enquiry
had been made for a young man qualified and disposed
to aid young Trevor in his enterprise, I had
been selected for that purpose. I was invited to
Columbia; made acquainted with the plans of the
insurgents in Virginia, and provided with letters to
my future commander. Journeying to Virginia by
the route that he had pursued, on the evening of the

[figure description] Page 146.[end figure description]

first day of November I entered the valley described
in the first chapter. I soon encountered a crowd of
men, who filled the road and the yard of a house
contiguous to it. There were wagons, horses, and
arms; and the men, moving quietly but busily, seemed
all earnestly engaged in some important preparation.

I was presently stopped, courteously though
peremptorily; and having expressed a wish to see
Captain Douglas, was conducted to the house. There,
pen in hand, and busily engaged in writing, sat a
young man of small stature and slight figure. Though
quite handsome, there was nothing remarkable in
his features, but a bright gray eye, of calm, thoughtful,
and searching expression, strongly contrasted
with the dark brown curling hair that clustered over
his brow.

Being accosted by my conductor, he raised his
head; when I stepped forward, and handed him my
letters. He glanced hastily to the signature of the
first he opened, then read it leisurely, and looking at
me with a beaming countenance, extended his hand.
“You are welcome, sir,” said he; “welcome to
danger's hour. In the morning we march on an
expedition which may decide the fate of the campaign.
My engagements must excuse my seeming
neglect of you this evening. But let me make you
known to your future comrades.”

Then turning to a fair haired youth, already known
to the reader as Arthur Trevor, he introduced him as

[figure description] Page 147.[end figure description]

his mother's son. I was then made acquainted with
Schwartz and Witt, and several others. Among the
number were a few young men from the lower counties,
of good families and education, who, in this
crisis, had left their homes to engage in this expedition.
These, like their leader, had all learned to
accommodate themselves to the fashions of that wild
country, and its wilder climate, and especially to their
own wild life. Each individual was dressed, from
top to toe, in leather, no otherwise differing from the
dress of the rudest mountaineer, than in neatness,
and a certain easy grace, and air of fashion, which
no dress can entirely conceal. In any dress, in any
company, under any circumstances, Douglas Trevor
would have been recognized as a gentleman.

I hardly remember how I fared, or how I passed
the night. As a stranger, I presume somewhat better
than most others; but I took pains to show that I
was content to eat what I could get, and to lodge as
I might.

At daylight we were on the road. But little
attention was paid to order. No enemy was near,
and nobody was inclined to desert. There was
therefore no necessity for harassing men and horses,
by forcing them to keep in ranks. Each man rode
where, and with whom he pleased, except that a
few were directed to keep near the wagons, not so
much to guard as to assist in case of need. It is
impossible to conceive a military array, with less of

[figure description] Page 148.[end figure description]

the “pomp and circumstance of war.” The horses
were, for the most part, substantial, and in substantial
order. Their equipments were of the rudest sort.
Plough-bridles and pack-saddles were most common.
The only arms were the rifle, knife, and
tomahawk, with their appropriate accompaniments
of powder-horn, charger, and pouch. Douglas,
indeed, had a sword, and the few sabres taken from
the dragoons had been distributed among the principal
men. But they were all too wise to encumber
their persons with these weapons, which might have
been troublesome in their mode of warfare. A strong
loop of thick leather, stitched to the skirt of the
saddle, in front of the left knee, received the sword,
the hilt of which stood up above the pummel. Two
or three of the saddles were of the Spanish fashion,
the horn of which served to support any trifle the
rider might wish to hang on it. Douglas, in particular,
carried, in this way, a leather case, containing
his writing materials, and serving as a tablet for
writing on horseback.

But rude as these equipments were, yet to one
acquainted with the object of the expedition, there
was an appearance of efficiency in the whole which
gave the corps a truly formidable aspect. The
perfect order of the arms, the strong though rude
dress of the men, their sinewy frames, their sunburnt
faces; and, above all, the serious and resolved
expression of countenace which generally

[figure description] Page 149.[end figure description]

prevailed, were tokens which none but a martinet
would overlook.

As yet no duty had been assigned to me, so that
I was perfectly disengaged. It was not until we had
rode several miles, that Douglas found leisure to
converse with me. He then joined me, accompanied
by Schwartz, to whom, in my presence, he explained
my situation. Schwartz heard him with thoughtful
attention, and then said: “It is all mighty well, sir,
if Mr. Sidney will only just take it right. You see,
sir,” continued he, addressing me, “there an't no
officers among us, and we only just call the Captain
so for short. If he was a Captain or a Gineral
it would not make much odds, because these fellows
just go for what is right and hard fighting; and him
they believe in, him they mind. But as to who is
first and who is second, that's neither here nor there.
I have not a doubt that you are the sort of a man we
want; but all that we can do, is to give you a fair
chance to let the men see it. The Captain can be
asking your advice, now and then, and I and Witt
will do the same, and when they see that, they will
begin to find out what you are. And then, you see,
sir, when once we get to fighting, a man is never in
such a flurry himself, but what he can see who knows
what he is about, and who does not. So, by the
time we have had a skrimmage or two, the men will
know all about you; and whenever the Captain is
out of the way, they will all be looking to you to

[figure description] Page 150.[end figure description]

know what to do; just in the way of giving your
opinion, mind; but, after a while, it will get to be
orders. And then, if any thing happens to the
Captain, and Witt and I don't see cause to change
our mind, why, we only just have to follow you, and
the men they follow us, and all will go straight. So
you must just make yourself easy and keep quiet.
We'll tell you when to speak, and after a while you'll
find yourself second in command before you know it.”

I had no difficulty in acknowledging the reasonableness
of these ideas, though it seemed a new thing
to find a man possessing the influence and authority
of Schwartz, devising means to transfer them to
another. But he knew, and the event showed that
he was right, that there were some duties of a commander
for which he was not fit; and that there
were other things to which a chief could not devote
himself, for which he was better qualified than any
other.

On the third of November we reached the rendezvous,
at the house of Mr. Gordon. On the way we
had received frequent accessions of strength, and
here we were joined by a yet larger reinforcement.
Our whole number could not have been much, if at
all, short of a thousand men.

Meantime scouts came in, from whom we learned
that the same day had been fixed for the march of
the troops from Lynchburg. It followed that we had
abundance of time for our preparations. It so

[figure description] Page 151.[end figure description]

happened, that they had not learned the name of the
new commander; but it was understood that a reinforcement
had arrived, and that nearly the whole
disposable force was on the march. This included a
troop of dragoons and a company of artillery, with
two pieces of cannon, in addition to a full regiment
of infantry, and one battalion of another.

Having ascertained his force, and fixed on those
on whom he could rely to understand and execute
his plans, Douglas proceeded to make a temporary
organization, suited to the occasion. The men were
divided into corps, to each of which a post was provisionally
assigned, to be occupied as soon as the
approach of the enemy should be announced. Across
the road, near the head of the defile, and just above
the first angle next the top of the ascent, was constructed
a barricade of logs, similar to those already
described. This reached, on each side, to the foot of
the hills, at steep, rocky, and impracticable points.
It was long enough for twenty men to man its
twenty loop-holes, and as it reached above their
heads, they were quite concealed. An hundred men
were allotted to this post, who were ranged five deep
behind the barricade, and instructed to fire in turn,
each man falling back to the rear to reload as soon
as he had discharged his piece.

Others were distributed along the opposite faces
of the hills overlooking the road, and directed to
seek out hiding-places behind rocks, trees, and

[figure description] Page 152.[end figure description]

bushes. These men were under the immediate
orders of individuals selected for the occasion, but
attached to the command of Witt, who was stationed
at the barrier.

About a hundred were placed in ambush in the
mouth of the ravine, just below the road, on the
north side of the river, under Schwartz. These were
all picked men—our steadiest and coolest sharp-shooters—
who were placed there for the purpose of
attacking and carrying the guns of the enemy at the
water's edge.

Douglas himself, at the head of the rest of his
corps, prepared to occupy the road on the north side
of the river, to bring on the action. These were
divided into two equal bodies, and the whole ranged
in platoons, at open order, across the road. Of the
two battalions, as they may be called, the foremost
was placed under my command. The other Douglas
commanded in person. My orders were to post my
headmost platoon just at the bend of the road, on the
top of the hill where it turns to the right. They were
instructed to fire ad libitum, each man choosing and
making sure of his mark, and then to file away by
the right, and, taking to their heels, to run down to
the river, cross it, and dispose themselves on the
other bank, so as most effectually to gall the enemy,
should he attempt to cross. Each platoon, in succession,
was to march up to the same ground, and,
having fired, to execute the same manœuvre. The

[figure description] Page 153.[end figure description]

remaining column, under Douglas, were to stand their
ground until the enemy should come in view on the
top of the hill, and then to fall back fighting, and
cross under cover of those who should have passed
before. But the best account of what was ordered
will be gathered from what was done.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The triumph and the vanity,
The rapture of the strife;
The earthquake voice of victory,
To thee the breath of life;
All quelled:—Dark spirit, what must be
The madness of thy memory?

[figure description] Page 154.[end figure description]

While these arrangements were in progress,
scouts were hourly arriving. The country being
altogether friendly, they were readily provided with
fresh horses; and, before the enemy were half way
from Lynchburg, we were fully apprised of their
number, equipments, and order of march. First
came a squadron of dragoons; then a light company;
then Trevor's regiment, about five hundred strong;
then a company of artillery; then one battalion of
Mason's regiment, consisting of something more
than two hundred men; the whole followed by a few
light troops, by way of rear-guard. The whole might
amount to a thousand men, well appointed and prepared
at all points for efficient action.

On the morning of the fifth of November, the men
were ordered to betake themselves to their allotted
posts; and Douglas, having visited each, and seen

[figure description] Page 155.[end figure description]

that all was right, and rightly understood, addressed
himself to his particular command. Where every
man is an officer, each must be told individually
beforehand what is expected from him. Panic apart,
they will be apt to fulfil such instructions, and will
fight with the terrible efficiency of individual animosity.
Hence the formidable character of partisan
warfare.

At length the enemy made their appearance.
Clinging to the idea of surprising Douglas, Col.
Trevor sent forward no advance, but determined to
bring the whole strength of his corps to bear upon
him at once. If he employed any scouts, they were
either unfaithful, or were not permitted to approach
near enough to learn any thing of the position or
movements of Douglas. The consequence was, that
Col. Trevor received the first intimation of his presence
from a sharp firing in front, which sent his
horse to the right-about and back to the rear. Pressing
forward, he immediately ordered his sharp-shooters
to disperse and take positions to gall us,
while he pushed on his solid column of heavy
infantry. The reception prepared for them was such
as he had not dreamed of. His men fell like leaves
in autumn; and, as fast as one platoon of the mountaineers
discharged their pieces, another was on the
same ground to pour in again that terrible fire, of
which the martinets of the regular service have so
inadequate an idea. Instead of the deep-mouthed

[figure description] Page 156.[end figure description]

peal of muskets, discharged simultaneously, there is
the sharp, short crack of rifle after rifle, fired by men
no one of whom touches the trigger until he sees
precisely where his ball is to go. The effect was
suitable to the cause; but yet the steady infantry
pressed on,

“Each stepping where his comrade stood,”

Suddenly the firing ceased, and, behold, their
enemy seemed to have fled from the expected
charge. The fact was, that my last platoon, having
fired, had withdrawn like their predecessors, and
were running at full speed after their companions,
down the hill and across the river. At the water's
edge, I stopped and joined Schwartz in his ambush.
It had been arranged that I should do this; because,
in case we should be so fortunate as to seize the
cannon, my skill as an artillerist might be of great
use. Meantime, my men having crossed over, dispersed
themselves along the bank, the face of the
hills, and across the road, to cover the retreat of
those who remained.

The regulars had necessarily spent a few moments
in repairing the wreck of their shattered column
before they advanced. They then moved forward;
but, before they turned the angle of the road, most of
my men were across the river. At the same time, the
column under the immediate command of Douglas

[figure description] Page 157.[end figure description]

was seen drawn up in the road, near the foot of the
hill, with the rear resting on the water's edge. As
the enemy advanced the front platoon fired, faced to
the right, and filing along the flank of the column,
entered the river and crossed just below the ford.
They next filed to the left in the same way, and
crossed above the ford. In this manner the whole
column disappeared, one platoon after another, while
their fire was answered by a roar of musketry,
which, being discharged from the higher ground, did
more harm to those on the farther bank of the river
than to the nearer enemy. At length the last platoon
was withdrawn, and the regulars rushed down toward
the river for the purpose of annoying them in
crossing. In this attempt they were again checked
and driven back by the terrible fire of my men, who,
having already crossed, were drawn up, as I have
said, on the other bank.

Col. Trevor now saw the necessity of advancing
his artillery, which was accordingly hurried down to
the water's edge to clear a passage for the infantry.
By the time the cannon were untimbered, not a man
of the mountaineers was to be seen. As soon as
their companions had crossed, they dispersed with
every appearance of confusion and alarm; some
scampering along the road, and some clambering up
the hills on both sides of it.

The way was now open, and the infantry advanced
to cross the river. At this moment Colonel

[figure description] Page 158.[end figure description]

Mason, riding up to Colonel Trevor, pointed out the
advantageous position of the artillery as a cover to
his rear, if he should be forced to retreat. “Give
me leave to suggest,” said he, “that it may be well
to leave the cannon where they are. The cavalry,
too, cannot act with effect among those hills, and the
two together, should the fortune of the day be unpropitious,
may be of more use here than on the
other side.”

“You say true,” said Trevor. “It shall be as
you advise, and you, Colonel, will remain in command
of this reserve.”

“I earnestly beg, sir,” said Mason, “that you will
not deny me a share in the work of the day. The
Captains of artillery and dragoons are all-sufficient to
the command of their respective corps.”

“Pardon me, sir,” said Trevor. “None can be so
proper to execute your prudent and cautious device
as you, its author. You will be pleased, therefore,
to repair to the rear, rally the dragoons, and bring
them down to the water's edge. Let them be ready
to cross at a moment's warning, to assist in the pursuit
as soon as I have driven the enemy into the
plain.”

Saying this, Colonel Trevor turned off, and giving
the word to march, dashed into the river. Poor Mason,
insulted and mortified, nevertheless patiently addressed
himself to the duty assigned him. Thus was
this able and brave man denied all participation in an

[figure description] Page 159.[end figure description]

affair which his arrogant and sanguine commander
believed to be an abounding source of honor to all
who might be engaged it.

I have omitted to mention that, as soon as the
plan of endeavoring to surprise the artillery had been
adopted, Schwartz had requested me to draw the
outline of a piece of mounted ordnance in the sand,
and to mark the proper positions of the artillerists
employed about it. While I did this, some ten or
fifteen of our best marksmen stood by, looking on
attentively. When my sketch was done, he turned
to one of them, and pointing to one of the marks
made to stand for an artillerist, said coolly: “Now,
this is your man;” and to another, “this is yours.”
Thus he went on till he had doomed every victim.

While we are supplying this omission in our
narrative, the reader will please to suppose that Col.
Trevor's regiment have forded the river, and have
passed up the road and out of sight. It will be remembered
that the hills on both sides of the defile
had been lined with concealed marksmen, and that
the greater part of the advance had, on recrossing
the river, thrown themselves into the same places of
concealment. But the idea that they had done so
for any purpose but that of safety, entered not into
Col. Trevor's mind. Indeed, if he had had any
doubt, it must have been removed when he found,
that as his column wound through the deep defile,
not a shot molested their march. At the first angle

[figure description] Page 160.[end figure description]

of the road he halted and let the column march past
him. He could see, from this point, both the head
of it, as it advanced, and the rear as it came up. As
the latter passed the spot where he stood, the leading
platoon was in the act of turning the next angle
of the road. At that moment he heard the startling
report of a volley of rifles. He set spurs to his horse
to gallop to the front, when every rock and every
tree of the surrounding hills burst into flame, and
the deep ravine echoed to the report of a hundred
rifles. A shot struck his horse, and another piercing
his hat, grazed the top of his head deep enough to
lay bare the skull, and stun him, as he fell under his
slaughtered horse. He was thus placed hors du
combat, owing the preservation of his life to the insignia
of his rank which had endangered it.

The sound of this firing was the signal for us.
Each of the selected marksmen fixed his aim
on his appropriate victim; and, at a word from
Schwartz, the artillerymen at the guns fell as if
swept away by the breath of a tempest. Rushing
from our hiding-place, the cannon were instantly in
our possession. The company of artillery were not
slow to disappear behind the angle of the rock, and
one or two who peeped out, being instantly picked
off, we saw no more of them.

Presently we heard the heavy tramp of the squadron
slowly descending the hill, accompanied with
the peculiar sound of dragoons, dressing the front in

[figure description] Page 161.[end figure description]

preparation for a sudden and overwhelming charge.
While this was passing, our guns were all reloaded.
“Mind, boys,” said Schwartz; “all of number
one.” The word was understood, and every alternate
man stood ready, with rifle cocked and trigger set,
to receive the enemy. The charge was sounded, and
the leading horsemen, wheeling around the rock,
were rushing on at full speed, when horses and
riders were seen to go down in one promiscuous
heap. The greater number of the squadron were still
out of sight; and, had the way been open, might
have followed to share the fate of their companions,
and finally to ride us down when our guns should
have been all discharged. But the work had been
done too effectually. The dead and wounded (both
horse and rider) nearly filled the road; and for
dragoons to pick their way among such appalling
obstacles, in the face of fifty loaded rifles, at a
distance of twenty paces, was out of the question.
A few who made the attempt found this to their cost.
The charge was not renewed, and some of our men
advancing to the angle of the rock, and occupying
inaccessible but commanding points on the hills,
soon made them draw off to a safe distance.

While this was doing, I, with the few men
selected for the service of the artillery, gave my
attention to that. Glancing my eye along both
pieces, I saw that both had been accurately pointed
into the road on the other side. I had nothing,

[figure description] Page 162.[end figure description]

therefore, to do but to apply the port-fire, which was
still burning in the clenched hand of a dead artillerist.
By this time the column had fallen back,
and the road below the first angle was fast filling
with the retreating mass. I had never before witnessed
the effusion of blood; and, heated as mine
now was, it ran cold as I applied the match. As
the smoke cleared off, I saw the enemy throwing
away their arms, and stretching out their hands,
some toward me, and some aloft to the unseen foe
that galled them from the hills. The fire instantly
slackened, and cravats and handkerchiefs being
raised on the points of swords and bayonets, it
ceased altogether. The mountaineers now poured
down from the hills into the ravine, securing the
arms of the enemy, mixing among them and hemming
them in on every side. Douglas, whose place,
since he had recrossed the river, had been among
these concealed marksmen, was one of the first to
approach the enemy. Advancing to those whose
rank was most conspicuous, he made known his
authority, and received their swords.

Meantime Col. Trevor had recovered his senses,
and found himself fastened to the ground by the
weight of his horse, which lay upon his leg. He
was presently discovered, relieved, and helped to
rise. At this moment he caught the eye of Douglas,
who hastened to him, less from impatience to demand
his sword, than to offer assistance to one who

[figure description] Page 163.[end figure description]

seemed to be an officer of high rank, and badly
wounded. In the figure before him, all smeared
with blood and dirt, he saw nothing by which he
could recognize his brother. To the Colonel, the
disguise of Douglas was hardly less complete. He
had seen him receiving the surrender of others, and
stood prepared to go through the same humiliating
ceremony. He felt that his own disgrace was complete,
and the form of surrender was thought of with
indifference. He had already reached the lowest
depth of abasement.

“But in that lowest depth a lower deep” seemed
to open, when, as he extended his hand to deliver
his sword to the victor, he discovered that the hand
put forth to receive it was that of Douglas. He
flung down his sword, stamping with rage, and immediately
after called to his men to resume their
arms. The voice struck the ear of Douglas, though
dissonant with passion. The figure, too, confirmed
his suspicion of the truth; and he immediately rushed
to screen his brother with his own body from the
rifles pointed against him. Calling for aid to those
around, he presently succeeded in securing the
Colonel, and after one or two fruitless attempts to
soothe him, ordered him away to the house of Mr.
Gordon. To that gentleman he spoke aside, and
explaining in confidence the strange scene that he
had just witnessed, besought him to take command
of the escort, and to pay all imaginable attention to

[figure description] Page 164.[end figure description]

the health, comfort, and feelings of the Colonel. He
was accordingly led away, raging and foaming at
the mouth like a spoiled child who has been deprived
of his toy, or baulked in his amusement. The mortification
of Douglas was extreme; but he had the
satisfaction to find that Arthur was not present;
and to no other person but Schwartz and myself did
the name of Colonel Trevor afford a hint of the
connexion.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

—If thou didst but consent
To this most cruel act, do but despair;
And if thou want'st a cord, the smallest thread
That ever spider twisted from her womb
Will serve to strangle thee; a rush will be
A beam to hang thee on! Or, wouldst thou drown thyself,
Put but a little water in a spoon,
And it shall be, as all the ocean,
Enough to stifle such a villain!

[figure description] Page 165.[end figure description]

I shall not detain the reader with a detail of
the farther particulars of this skirmish. Indeed we
hardly staid to acquaint ourselves with its exact
results. As at least half the men who had fought
under Douglas on that day had no intention to follow
him any farther, we left to them the care of the
killed, wounded, and prisoners. The body of Col.
Mason alone was selected for a more honorable
burial than the rude hands of the mountaineers could
bestow. It was dragged from beneath the incumbent
mass of men and horses, placed on a suitable
carriage, covered with the colors of his regiment,
and taken to Lynchburg, to be there restored to his
companions in arms. The band of his regiment
were also marched to that place to assist in rendering
the last honors to their late commander.

[figure description] Page 166.[end figure description]

Having given the necessary orders, Douglas
snatched a moment to ride to Mr. Gordon's, where
he hoped to find his brother in a more reasonable
mood. The Colonel had been confined in a private
room; and, being treated with great courtesy and
respect, had lost nothing of his arrogance. Such is
always the effect of delicate attention to the undeserving.
A man of merit would have been softened
and melted by the deference with which Colonel
Trevor was treated. To him it seemed but that sort
of spontaneous homage to greatness which the heart
pays unconsciously. The effect of it was, that being
told by Mr. Gordon that his brother had come to
visit him in his room, he sent him the following
magnanimous note, pencilled on the back of a
letter:

“I am your prisoner. Do with me as you please.
Inflict on me any death, however cruel; but spare
me the sight of one whose treasons have dishonored
our common name, and who has deprived me of my
only chance to restore its former splendor.”

Douglas was inexpressibly shocked at this manifestation
of a temper at once savage and coldly
selfish. But he had no time to waste in parleying
with the ungoverned passions of his brother, and
wrote an answer in these words:

“You are my prisoner, and mine only, and shall
be treated with all tenderness and respect. I am
responsible to no one for your custody, and you shall

[figure description] Page 167.[end figure description]

soon be at liberty. Go home. Go to our venerable
father, and comfort his declining years. If the instincts
of your heart do not restrain you from fighting
against your brothers, (for Arthur is with me,) let a
sense of honor make you regard yourself as a prisoner
on parole, not at liberty to fight again against
Virginia. Meantime your sword shall be restored,
and you shall be treated in all things as the brother
of D. T.”

While Douglas was engaged in this painful duty,
Arthur was employed in preparing a formal report of
the events of the day. This was signed by the
Chief on his return, and with it the young man was
despatched to B—, with instructions to ask his
orders, and return with them, unless another messenger
should be preferred. In the meantime all
things had been made ready for the march to Lynchburg.
I shall not give the history of this. It was
triumphal, as far as complete success and the applauding
gratulations of the people could make it so. We
had no difficulty in adding to our numbers as many
men as the fruits of our victory enabled us to supply
with arms. Some joined us instantly, and others
engaged to rendezvous at Lynchburg in a few days.

There was nothing to damp the pleasure of Douglas,
but the conduct of his perverse brother, and the
presence of the dead body of his old friend, Colonel
Mason. On our arrival before the camp at Lynchburg,
I received orders to present myself with a flag

[figure description] Page 168.[end figure description]

before the gate, at the head of a detachment which
escorted the body, accompanied by the music of
his band, and all the sad and imposing insignia of a
military funeral.

An officer came out to meet us, and thus received
the first authentic history of the fate of the expedition.
I was instructed to deliver over the body of
Colonel Mason with every circumstance of respect
and courtesy. I was also charged to demand the
surrender of the entrenched camp, and of the garrison
as prisoners of war.

A negotiation ensued, which ended in a suspension
of arms for five days, and an agreement to surrender
if, in that time, no reinforcement arrived.

This arrangement was by no means unwelcome to
Douglas. It gave him time to receive and organize
the new recruits that were pouring in, and to await
the return of Arthur. In the meantime, much of
that sort of intercourse which is common on such
occasions took place. There are few things in life
more pleasant than it is. There must be less of
malignity in human nature than is generally supposed,
or men would not seize, with so much eagerness,
on opportunities to lose the idea of public
hostility in the kindly interchange of courtesy and
good offices. Friendships are never formed more
suddenly and cordially than under such circumstances.
So we found it on this occasion. Major
Wood, the officer in command, was a gentleman

[figure description] Page 169.[end figure description]

and soldier, honorable, frank, generous, and accomplished.
I was brought much into contact with
him, and found him enthusiastic in his acknowledgments
of the merits of Douglas, and eager to become
acquainted with him. But the time had not come
when he was willing to be known by his true name;
and besides that he was acquainted with the Major,
there were many others in the camp who would have
recognized him. He therefore confined himself to
his quarters, on various pleas of business; and, to
make his seclusion effectual, took lodgings in a house
in the suburbs of the town. By his advice, I mixed
much with the men; and, as I had acquitted myself
to their entire satisfaction in the late affair, I found
that I was in a fair way to be recognized as second
in command. Schwartz and Witt made a point of
consulting me publicly on all occasions; and this
circumstance, together with my daily attention to the
organization of the troops, obtained me full credit
for all my military skill, and a great deal more.

The five days passed away quite pleasantly. The
regulars, finding that they were not like to fall into
the hands of savages, were becoming reconciled to
the fate which now seemed inevitable; and we parted
on the last night of the truce, with no unpleasant
anticipations of the surrender which was to take
place the next day at noon.

The morning came, and our men paraded in high
spirits, and with considerable show of order and

[figure description] Page 170.[end figure description]

discipline. This was particularly the case with a
small company which had been detailed for the service
of the artillery, who took their stand at the
guns with the air of men proud of their new acquirements.
I had indeed taken great pains to train and
exercise them, and, by universal consent, was recognized
as the immediate commander of this corps,
which was drawn up with the cannon planted directly
against the gate of the camp.

All this time Douglas did not make his appearance.
At length the hour approached for the garrison to
march out, and lay down their arms, when Schwartz
went to his quarters to receive his orders. He soon
returned, and taking me aside, told me that Douglas
was not at his quarters, and was nowhere to be
seen.

We had already observed appearances in the camp
not at all answerable to the expected surrender, and
I was now startled at this intelligence. The character
of Major Wood forbade indeed any suspicion of
foul play. But the time was near at hand when the
enemy should march out, and we heard nothing of
their drums, calling the men to parade. We determined,
therefore, to send a flag to the camp on some
pretext. The officer who carried it was immediately
warned off, and having said that he had a communication
for Major Wood, was told that that officer was
no longer in command, and that Col. Trevor would
receive no communication from rebels and traitors.

[figure description] Page 171.[end figure description]

This was decisive. The quarters of Douglas were
not very distant from the enemy, and such had been
the appearance of perfect good faith in all their proceedings,
that our camp had been guarded even
more negligently than is common with militia. It
seemed, indeed, almost incredible that Col. Trevor
could have been guilty of an act of base treachery
against the life or liberty of his generous brother;
but to Schwartz and myself, who knew the connexion,
even this seemed hardly less extravagant than
his former conduct. That he had escaped, joined
the troops, and disclaimed the capitulation entered
into by Major Wood, was certain. To have surprised
and carried off Douglas could not be much worse.

We now consulted with Witt, to whom we communicated
our suspicions, at the same time disclosing
the true name of our young commander, and his
relation to Col. Trevor. What was suspicion with
us, was at once absolute certainty with him. I do not
think I ever witnessed such a change as our communication
made in the whole appearance and demeanor of
the man. Heretofore, I had always seen him cool,
cautious, deliberate, and thoughtful. There was,
besides, a prevailing tone of benevolence in all he
said, which, added to his sobriety and strong sense,
gave him some claim to the title of philosopher.
But now the expression of his countenance was terrible
and awful. He had made no show of regard
for Douglas; but his attachment was deep and

[figure description] Page 172.[end figure description]

abiding, and his alarm for his safety was in the
same degree. He was impatient of a moment's
delay, sternly protested against wasting time in discussion,
and insisted on immediately storming the
camp.

Schwartz was nothing behind him in zeal, though
less disturbed by passion; and we presently determined
to bring matters to extremities. As soon,
therefore, as the hour appointed for surrender arrived,
our captive drummer was ordered to beat a parley.
To this the only answer was a general fire of
musketry from the whole line of the camp on that
side, by which a few men were hurt. But the
distance was too great for any serious mischief.
Enough, however, was done to excite the men to
fury; and without waiting for the word, they rushed
to the assault. Their movement determined me.
To rush up to the piqueted entrenchment, behind
which the enemy were in comparative safety, was to
expose themselves to destruction. It was indispensable
to open a way for them. This I effected
by a discharge of both pieces of artillery, which
tore the gate away, and pointed their attack to this
accessible point. The moment after, Colonel Trevor,
with his untractable rashness, appeared in
the gateway, shouting, and calling to his men to
sally forth against us. He was instantly recognized
by the incensed Witt, whose fatal aim brought him

[figure description] Page 173.[end figure description]

to the ground. His men fell back; and in a moment
after, a white flag was raised.

It was no easy matter to prevail on our men to
pay any regard to this signal; but we succeeded in
restraining them before it was too late. Of course
we demanded the instant surrender of the place,
which was unhesitatingly given up. Major Wood
now came forward to apologize and explain. Col.
Trevor, having made his escape, had returned to the
camp soon after tattoo. His whole behavior was
that of a man beside himself, and actuated by some
inscrutable motive to some inscrutable purpose. Of
these he said nothing to his officers, but peremptorily
disclaiming the capitulation, gave orders that all
things should be prepared for a renewal of hostilities
the next morning. Nothing more was known but
that he had summoned to his quarters a favorite
sergeant of his own regiment, who had been left
sick in camp when he marched against Douglas.
This sergeant and four soldiers, as it seemed from
the morning report, had disappeared in the night.

Major Wood assured us, that all that had been
since done had taken place under the immediate
orders and superintendence of Colonel Trevor, and
in spite of his own most earnest remonstrances. In
proof of his sincerity, he appealed to the fact of his
unconditional surrender the moment he was apprised
of the fall of the Colonel. With all this I was perfectly
satisfied, and gladly returned him his sword,

[figure description] Page 174.[end figure description]

with a proper acknowledgment of his gentlemanly
conduct.

“And now, Major,” said Schwartz, “there is
another matter we want to talk to you about. Do
you know any thing of our Captain?”

“Of Captain Douglas?” said the Major. “Certainly
not. But I hope I may now have the pleasure
of seeing him.”

“Look here, Major,” said Witt, whose eye still
glared with ferocity not at all abated by the fall of
Trevor; “that a'nt the thing; and we want a
straight answer. Captain Douglas is missing, and
we want to know what's become of him.”

“Missing!” said the Major, with unfeigned
amazement. “I assure you, upon my honor, I
know nothing of him.”

“Is there any body here that knows, or is like to
know?” said Schwartz.

“None that I can imagine,” was the reply.

“Is there not a Captain here,” asked Schwartz;
“a red-headed fellow, that commands the company
at Farmville?”

“Captain Cottle? Yes.”

“Well, I want to see him.”

He was immediately summoned, and presently
made his reluctant appearance. His alarm increased
on seeing Schwartz and Witt.

“See here, Mister,” said the former; “here is a
piece of villany that we want to know about; and

[figure description] Page 175.[end figure description]

there is nobody, I reckon, so apt to tell us as
you.”

“Indeed, sir,” said Cottle, “I declare, sir, I
don't know a word about it.”

“You don't, eh!” said Schwartz. “Well, any
how, you are mighty quick to find out that you don't
know; that I must say for you.”

“Did you ever see me before?” said Witt, fixing
his terrible eye on the alarmed Captain. “Did you
ever see me before?” repeated he. “Do you remember
where it was? Do you remember your
business there; and did you ever hear of such a
thing as a man being hung for a spy?”

The collapse of deadly terror came over Cottle at
these dreadful words. His face, already pale, became
livid; his eye no longer blenched under the
fearful glance of Witt; but the lids opened as if
by mutual repulsion, while his lip and under jaw fell
powerless. He was roused from this state by
Schwartz, who asked him what had become of
Captain Douglas.

He was now effectually scared out of all thought
of concealment, and answered without prevarication
that Captain Douglas had been surprised, during the
night, by the order of Col. Trevor, and sent away
immediately under the guard of a sergeant and four
men, across the river. He could not say, certainly,
where he was gone; but he suspected to Wasington,
as Col. Trevor appeared to have been writing busily

[figure description] Page 176.[end figure description]

all the time the party were engaged in the capture of
Douglas. It was vain to attempt concealing that he
had a hand in this, though the disclosure was made
with great reluctance. It appeared, moreover, that
he had been anxious to accompany the prisoner,
supposing him to be ordered for Washington; but
Col. Trevor had refused to send him. Indeed, he
sent none but those who had not been engaged in
the action at the ford, and was certainly right not to
trust the vain babbler, whose idle garrulity could
hardly have failed to rub off any gloss he might
have thought fit to spread over the affair.

“How did they get across the river?” asked
Schwartz. “We have a strong guard on the other
side, and they had orders to keep a strict watch.”

“Col. Trevor told the sergeant,” replied Cottle,
“just to float quietly down the river and land away
below; and a handkerchief was tied over the Captain's
mouth to keep him from making a noise, and
if he did, they were ordered to shoot him.”

I have no words to express the horror with which
I heard this last circumstance. I trusted, and indeed
Major Wood seemed to be of that opinion, that Col.
Trevor had really been beside himself; but regarding
his conduct even as the effect of frenzy, it was
hardly less shocking. From Schwartz the communication
only called forth some pithy expressions of
detestation, without seeming to interrupt the

[figure description] Page 177.[end figure description]

working of his thoughts, which were at once busy to
devise some remedy for the evil.

Witt was differently affected. His whole frame
and countenance assumed an appearance of stony
rigidity, betokening fixed and fearful purpose. He
turned his glaring eye to the spot where Col. Trevor
had fallen, with an expression that showed his
vengeance quite unsatisfied. A glance of fierce
scorn fell for a moment on Cottle; and then, with a
searching look, he addressed himself to Major Wood.

“Major Wood,” said he, with a voice whose
deep, stern tones, demanded the truth and the whole
truth, “did you know any thing of this business?”

“Upon my honor, I did not; and Captain Cottle,
who did know, will tell you so.”

“I would hardly take his word against himself,”
said Witt, with cold contempt, and not even turning
his eye on Cottle. Then pausing a moment, he
added, with the same look of severe scrutiny, “Major
Wood, do you know who Captain Douglas is?
Do you know that he is Col. Trevor's own brother?”

“Great God!” exclaimed the Major. “Douglas
Trevor! That fine, intelligent, accomplished, noble
young man!—”

“Did you know him?” asked the other.

“I did,” said Wood, “and loved him well. Poor
fellow! Poor fellow! His doom is sealed.”

“That's enough,” said Witt. “I see now that
you had no hand in it. But is it not your duty,

[figure description] Page 178.[end figure description]

Major Wood, to bring back Captain Douglas and
set him at liberty?”

“Would to God that I could,” said the Major;
“but he is quite beyond my reach before this.”

“See here, Major,” said Schwartz; “write an
order to that sergeant to bring him back, and give
me a pass to follow him without being stopped, and
I will have him back in no time. Them fellows lost
ground here crossing the river, and I can catch
them.”

“That might do,” said the Major, hesitatingly;
“and I am bound in honor to do it, because his
capture was a breach of my truce. But I shall never
be forgiven. No matter; it shall be done if they
break me for it.”

“You may thank the Major,” said Witt, turning
his implacable eye on Cottle, “for that word; for it
has given you a chance for your life. But for that,
you would have been hanging like a dog in half an
hour. Now, Major, I don't want you to come to
any harm; and so you shall have a fair excuse.
Bring Captain Douglas back to us, and we will let
this fellow go. But if the Captain is not here before
the week is out, then, as sure as there is a God
in Heaven, he shall be hanged for a spy, as he is.”

There is a difference between the certainty of
being hanged in half an hour, and a chance of escape,
however unpromising. To Captain Cottle,
who had not ventured nearer to Jones's Ford than

[figure description] Page 179.[end figure description]

the rear of the dragoons, and who was now in greater
peril than he had ever willingly encountered, the
difference was of great importance. Yet his hopes
were faint, for he had heard the orders of Trevor,
which enjoined despatch; and he was equally earnest
in hurrying the Major and Schwartz. His impertinence
was cut short by ordering him to close
custody in jail; and the credentials of Schwartz
being soon prepared, he set out on his journey.

CHAPTER XL.

That lies like truth, and yet most truly lies.

[figure description] Page 180.[end figure description]

Let us again intrude into the sanctuary of majesty.
The President is alone, as before. He has the same
air of somewhat impatient expectation. A shade of
anxious thought is on his brow, and his cheek is
flushed with some little excitement. Yet these elements
are all so mixed as to be scarcely perceptible;
and were he conscious that we are looking at him,
they would be completely concealed. On the table
lie a number of letters recently received. Two of
them are separated from the rest. He takes up one
and reads it a second time. Let us look over him.
It runs thus:

“What means this?” said the President, musingly.
“Who is it that I am warned against? The
word `MOST' is underscored. Who does that point
at? Whom do I trust most? I trust nobody. But
I seem to trust; and whom most? Surely, it cannot
be he. I should, indeed, be wrong to trust to his
fidelity. But he is too wise to be false to his own

[figure description] Page 181.[end figure description]

interest. But may he not have an interest that I am
not aware of? It must be considered.”

He then took up the other letter, which I beg
leave to lay before the reader, as a specimen of the
art with which the truth may be so told as to make
others believe what is false. I recommend it particularly
to military gentlemen, reporting the results
of a battle.

Head Quarters, Camp near Lynchburg,
November, 12, 1849.

Sir: I have the honor to lay before your Excellency
an account of the operations of the troops
under my command, since the date of my last despatch.

In pursuance of the information I had received, of
which your Excellency has been already advised, I
marched on the third inst., at the head of my own
regiment, one battalion of the 15th, a company of
artillery, and one of dragoons, to meet Douglas on
his descent from the mountains. At Jones's Ford,
on Staunton river, I encountered him, when about
half his force had crossed over. I attacked him
immediately; and, after a sharp conflict, drove him
across the river. By the advice of Col. Mason, I
left the artillery and draggons on the north bank, to
protect our rear, placing them under the command
of that distinguished officer.

Pressing hard upon the rear of the enemy, we
came up with him just as he had fallen back on the

[figure description] Page 182.[end figure description]

reserve. Here he rallied, and the fight was renewed.
I regret to say that, at the first fire, my horse fell
under me, imprisoning my leg by his fall. At the
same moment a ball struck my head, and I came to
the ground insensible.

You will judge my astonishment, when, on recovering
my senses, I found that all my men near
me had thrown down their arms, and that I was in
the hands of the enemy, who assisted me to rise. I
immediately called to my men to resume their arms;
but am sorry to inform you that I was not obeyed.
As I had not surrendered, I was seized and hurried
away to the house of a ring-leader of these rebels,
where I was confined. From that time I had no
means of receiving any information on which I could
rely concerning the events of the day, as I had no
intercourse with any but the rebels.

Two days ago I was so fortunate as to make my
escape. Returning to this place, I find my camp,
which had been left under the command of Major
Wood, beleaguered by the rebels, and a treaty for
surrender in full progress. I rejoice that I have
returned in time to prevent a consummation so disgraceful.

It is now midnight, and a small party has been
sent out to endeavor to surprise the leader of this
banditti. In the meantime all things are put in
readiness for a sortie in the morning. I shall not

[figure description] Page 183.[end figure description]

close my letter until I can give some farther account
of the success of these operations.

Two o'clock, A. M.—My scouts have come in,
and brought in the hostile chief, who proves to be
the last man in the world whom I could have wished
to find in arms against the generous master who so
well deserved his grateful devotion. I speak of that
unfortunate youth, whose fault, (I must not use a
harsher term,) nearly twelve months ago, dishonored
our common name and parentage. Your Excellency
will appreciate the struggle in my bosom, between
a sense of duty and the foolish but inextinguishable
relentings of nature. I have determined to put an
end to this painful strife, and to take security against
my own weakness, by sending him on immediately
to you, without awaiting the result of the meditated
sortie in the morning. He therefore travels in custody
of the bearer of this letter, under guard of a
sergeant and four men.

Having returned to the camp this night, after
tattoo, I am unprepared to give any account of our
loss, or that of the enemy. I have nothing authentic
but the lamented death of Col. Mason, who fell
fighting bravely.

I beg leave to express an humble hope, that your
Excellency will be pleased to attribute the partial
failure of my enterprise to the unfortunate wound
which put me hors du combat, at a moment, up to

[figure description] Page 184.[end figure description]

which we had successfully driven the enemy before
us for nearly half a mile and across the river.

I remain, sir, with the most profound respect,
your Excellency's most humble and faithful servant,

“A worthy gentleman,” said the President, folding
up the letter. “A most worthy gentleman! Let
any man doubt henceforth, if he can, that the only
way to judge in advance of what a man will do, is to
ascertain his interest. See how readily it settled this
nice point of casuistry—this delicate question of
conflicting duties. Trust! Yes, I will trust; but
not as fools do. I will trust no man's honor, but
every man's interest. The experience of my whole
life has taught the lesson, and every day confirms it.
Here comes a new example,” added he, as the doorbell
sounded, and was echoed by the single stroke in
the room.

The door opened, and the honorable Mr. Baker
appeared. His figure had lost nothing of its deferential
bend; his step nothing of its creeping, cautious
tread; his countenance nothing of its abject
servility. But there was more of anxiety and less of
hope, with a slight appearance of peevish dissatisfaction.

“You are very good, my dear sir,” said the
President. “You are always almost present to my

[figure description] Page 185.[end figure description]

wish. Government would be an easy task, were
all officers like you.”

“I humbly thank your Excellency,” replied the
Judge. “Were not your approbation precious to
me, I might be tempted perhaps to look more than I
ought to public opinion. Perhaps I do so, as it is;
for though my duties are clearly necessary to the
good of the State, I find it hard to bear the loud
reproaches of a misjudging multitude, that reach me
through a factious press.”

“Let it not reach you, my dear sir. The storm
does but rage without. Why need you hear it when
it touches you not. Shut your ears and sleep soundly;
or open them only to the more pleasant tones
that issue from loyal lips. I take care not to know
what is said of me by malcontent scribblers; but I
hardly flatter myself that I should preserve my equanimity,
if I read all that is written.”

“It is sometimes impossible not to hear,” said the
Judge; “and there are words which convey reproach,
which, though uttered in a single breath,
reach the heart. I can never, I fear, make myself
proof against such a phrase as `judicial murder.' ”

“But you must find consolation in your own
enlightened conscience, my dear sir. Some feeling
must be expected when the edge of the law falls on
victims whose offences demand punishment, and yet
are such as those the world calls honorable and upright
are most likely to commit.”

[figure description] Page 186.[end figure description]

“The misfortune is,” replied the other, “that it
is only for such offences, and on such victims, that
my office seems to be made to act; and when the
curse rises up against me, loud as well as deep, and
uttered and echoed on every side, I pray your Excellency
to pardon me, when I say, that I find its
honors and emoluments a poor compensation.”

“It will be some relief to you, then,” replied the
President, “that you are like to have a subject of a
different sort to act upon. One whose crimes offend
against the laws of God as well as man; and who is
not more obnoxious to State policy, than to the
detestation of all good men, and of none more than
yourself.”

“Of whom is your Excellency pleased to speak?”
asked Mr. Baker.

“Of no other than that young fellow, Trevor,
whose ill luck snatched him away from our hands,
when perhaps he was not quite ripe for punishment.
But he has since made himself perfect in crime, by
becoming the leader of a desperate benditti. In
short, he is no other than the famous Captain Douglas,
and is now in my power. I think you will find
in his case a fair set-off against some of the mortifications
of which you complain; and think no more
of denying your services to the public, at least until
he has fulfilled his destiny.”

The effect of this communication on the mind of
the honorable gentleman, was such as the President

[figure description] Page 187.[end figure description]

had anticipated. To every being of the name of
Trevor he bore a mortal antipathy. In the case of
Douglas, this was rendered more intense by the sympathy
of a father with a favorite son. An envious
malignity was a striking feature in the characters
both of father and son; and this had been provoked
to the utmost by that unfortunate young man. Both
were sensible that the younger Baker had been in
bad odor with the public, ever since the affair at the
falls; and hence, it was not only grateful to their
malice, but to their pride, to fasten on Douglas a
stigma so dishonorable as to have relation back, and
to excuse his adversary with those who did not
know all the circumstances, for not seeking such
redress as gentlemen demand of gentlemen only.

The good humor of the Judge was now manifestly
restored, and the President went on to give him some
particulars of the late military occurrences. Douglas,
he said, was on the road, and would reach Washington
the next day. The letter, it seems, had been
brought by a soldier who had orders to outgo the
rest of the party, and ride express to Washington.

“It is well,” said the President, “that I have
this timely intimation of his approach. The custody
of State prisoners cannot be safely entrusted to any
but the military; and that of this young man must
be committed to no corps in which he had any
acquaintance. It seems that he was a universal

[figure description] Page 188.[end figure description]

favorite among men and officers. I am about to take
measures to guard against any such blunder.”

In such conversation half an hour was past, when
the Minister made his appearance. He had been
sent for, and to him the President communicated the
history of the capture of Douglas. Had he turned
an eye of close scrutiny on the favorite, at the moment
when he uttered the name, and announced the
fate of his victim, he might have seen a slight
expression of countenance, which it would not have
been easy to interpret. But this escaped him; and
he went on to direct that the true name of the prisoner
should be kept secret; that his arrival should
be watched for; and that he should be at once conducted
to a place provided for the separate confinement
of State prisoners. It was, moreover, ordered,
that a detail of officers and men for that prison should
be carefully made, so as to exclude any persons
whose loyalty was at all doubtful; and especially all
who, from former associations, could be supposed to
feel any kindness for Douglas.

Finally, it was agreed that, should he arrive in the
course of that night, or the next day, he should be
brought, on the following night, before the triumvirate,
in the room where they then were.

“You were right,” continued the President, addressing
his Minister, “when you said that this
young man had talent. The discovery of his identity
explains the marvellous organization and efficiency

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of that wild banditti that he commanded. His
capture must be fatal to their future success. They
must be powerless now that they have lost their
leader, and must soon disband. That is well. The
two regiments may now be marched from Lynchburg
to Richmond, and save us the necessity of sending a
reinforcement from this quarter. The troops there,
with this aid, will certainly be sufficient to cheek the
insurrectionary movements that we hear of in the
southern counties, and to cover the meeting of the
Legislature. Col. Trevor has certainly deserved well.
I am afraid his unfortunate wound may have occasioned
the loss of more men than we could well
spare, who seem to have surrendered while he was
insensible. But the disbanding of Douglas's corps
will, of course, set them at liberty to return to their
duty. But this takes nothing from Col. Trevor's
merit. He must be brevetted. As to Major Wood,
in the regular course he should succeed Mason; but
I must hear more of this negotiation for a surrender
of his post, before he is promoted. That affair must
be satisfactorily explained, or he will hardly escape
a court-martial.”

The President now went on to give some farther
orders, and then dismissed his guests.

CHAPTER LXI.

Treason can never take a form so hideous,
But it will find a glass, that shall reflect
A comely semblance, on which self may look
With a complacent smile.

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On his departure from Lynchburg, Schwartz had
been provided with a suit of clothes half military, to
prevent the notice which his rude mountain attire
would have attracted. The day was half spent before
he was on the road, and the sergeant and his
party were already far in advance of him.

Colonel Trevor had been desirous, for obvious
reasons, that his letter and prisoner should reach
Washington as soon as possible, and had ordered
the party to proceed with all practicable despatch.
But, as they might be somewhat retarded by the
necessary care of their prisoner, he had directed that
the letter should be sent on, as we have seen, by a
single soldier, who had reached Washington on the
second night. But the sergeant was not far behind,
and had used such diligence that he crossed the
bridge the next morning at an early hour, just as
poor Schwartz came in sight.

He recognized the party by the peculiar dress of
Douglas, with which he was so familiar; but it was

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too late. He followed, however, disconcerted by his
failure, but not desponding. At the farther end of
the bridge he was struck with the countenance and
manner of a fine looking young man, of genteel but
plain appearance, who stood gazing earnestly after
the prisoner and his guard.

Observing Schwartz, he asked eagerly who the
prisoner was, and was told it was Captain Douglas.

“Good God!” exclaimed he, in a tone of deep
concern; “is it possible? But thank God! it is no
worse.”

“Did you think it was any body you knew?”
asked the quick-witted Schwartz.

“Yes,” replied the other. “I was almost sure it
was a friend of my own.”

“And what was your friend's name, stranger? if
I may be so bold.”

“You are bold enough,” said the youth. “I am
not in the habit of answering questions, unless I
know who asks them, and why.”

“I don't mean no harm, young man,” replied
Schwartz; “and if you tell me your friend's name
and your own too, may be you won't be sorry for it.”

The stranger looked hard at Schwartz, and in his
serious, earnest, and sagacious countenance saw
enough to make him curious to know what this
meant. He therefore replied, that his friend was
Lieutenant Trevor, late of the United States Dragoons.

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“Then I have a notion,” replied Schwartz, “that
your name is Whiting.”

“My name is Whiting,” replied the other, in great
surprise; “but how should you know it?”

“I have heard the Captain talk about you many
a time.”

“The Captain! What Captain?”

“Him,” replied Schwartz, pointing toward the
distant party.

“Him! And how was he to know any thing
about me?”

“Just because he is the very man you thought he
was.”

“Douglas!” exclaimed Whiting. “Trevor!
Douglas Trevor! Good God, what an ass I have
been! O Trevor, my friend! how earnestly have I
wished to know where to find you! Had I been
with you, this might have been prevented.”

“May be it is best as it is,” said Schwartz.
“The Captain did not want for friends where he
was. May be one friend here will do him more good
than a hundred any where else. That is what I am
here for now.”

“You are a friend to Trevor, then,” replied Whiting;
“perhaps one of his followers.”

“You may say that,” said Schwartz. “Any
how, I'm his friend.”

“Then come with me to my lodgings. You can
tell me every thing, and we will see what is to be

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done. Trevor has friends enough here. Thank
God! I saw him. But for that we might not have
found out who he was till it was too late.”

Whiting now showed Schwartz where to bestow
his horse, and afterwards conducted him to his lodgings.
These were in an obscure suburb, humble,
plain, and poorly fitted up. Appearances showed
that the occupant spent most of his time with the
pen, although many of the relics of his former military
equipments were to be seen about the room.
But the dust on his cap, which hung against the
wall, and the mould on the belt and scabbard of his
sword, showed that these had been long unused.
In truth, the escape of Douglas and his uncle had
been fatal to him as a soldier. He had been dismissed
the army; and now, as it seemed, earned a
poor livelihood by doing for small wages the manual
labor of those offices, the salaries of which are
received by men who do nothing at all.

During their long walk through the streets of that
city “so magnificent in distances,” as Monsieur
Serrurier said of it, and while a hasty breakfast was
preparing for Schwartz, he gave Whiting the particulars
of the late battle at Jones's Ford; of Douglas's
capture, and of his brother's death, and the surrender
of the camp. As soon as he had seen his guest
provided for, the young man left him alone. Going
out, he proceeded to the first stand of coaches,
and stepping into one was driven to the Minister's.

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Here he alighted, showed a ticket to the porter,
entered, threaded several passages, descended a dark
stair, and, going into a small room in the basement,
touched the spring of a bell. No answering sound
was heard; but, in half an hour the Minister appeared.

“I am glad to see you,” said he. “Have you
heard that your friend Trevor is in the power of his
enemies, and is expected here to-day?”

“I had not heard it,” said Whiting; “but I have
seen him. He is here.”

“Indeed! That is well. We have the more
time.”

“Where will he be lodged, and under what custody?”

“In the state prison. I am instructed to select
his guards from among those who are strangers to
his person, and well-affected to the Government.”

“That will be no easy task, as it seems that all
the troops of that description have been marched
into Virginia, and that, except raw recruits, there
are none here that it was thought safe to trust on
that service.”

“That is true,” said the Minister; “and therefore
I must select those same raw recruits. Think
you there are many here who could be relied on to
peril every thing on behalf of your friend?”

“No doubt of it. I was long enough in the army
after his disgrace to know that his whole regiment

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were indignant at it. A hundred can be found ready
to wipe it out with the blood of the President, or
their own.”

“It is well. He will be taken to the palace this
night, under the cloud of darkness. Have all things
in readiness, and watch for his return. You will
know what to do. Did you know those who had
him in custody?”

“I knew the sergeant, and he knew me.”

“All right. You then must be charged with the
disappearance of Douglas; you must therefore make
your escape with him. I shall, of course, see you
no more. We have no time for compliment; but
you will have my best wishes; and the time may
come when you may have it in your power to do me
justice. My country is to me, Mr. Whiting, what
yours is to you. When New England was permitted
to join in what you will call the plunder of the South, I
was not very scrupulous about the means of securing
her share. But nearly all that was worth having is
irretrievably lost. What remains can only be retained
by means which will but make it an instrument
of power in the hands of this man, and so
enable him to perpetuate his reign according to the
forms of the constitution. Take that away, and
leave the matter altogether to the votes of the
northern States, and I shall not long have to play
second to him. In order to preserve his power, he
would be compelled to break up the system of

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monopoly contrived for the exclusive benefit of his
favorite Empire State; or perhaps to concur with
me in severing a Union, the benefits of which are
now lost, by the escape of our common prey, and
of which we bear all the inconveniences. Of course,
I do not pretend that the place to which the favor
of my countrymen may advance me in either event,
has no charms for me. But you will see that I am
actuated by no low and sordid ambition. I am
desirous you should see it in this light. It is not
my fortune to command the services of many whose
esteem is eminently desirable. I am, therefore, the
more ambitious of yours. Should I succeed, my
acts will vindicate my motives. Should I fail, (and
if Virginia disenthrals herself I shall not fail,) you
will do me this justice. What news have you of
the movements of B—?”

“He is about to take up arms, with the probability
of assembling a force which, with the concurrence
of the corps of Douglas, will secure his object.”

“But is not the band of Douglas dispersed?”

“By no means; but much increased. They have
still their mountain leaders, and a young man from
the South Carolina military school, who seems well
qualified to act, for the time, as the locum tenens of
the Chief.”

“Then farewell, sir,” said the Minister. “You
carry with you my good wishes for yourself and
your cause, and I pray you to commend them to
Mr. B—.”

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