CHAPTER XIX. WHERE WAS SHE ?

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 406, 28 September 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XIX. WHERE WAS SHE ?

Being in the Union lines did not seem to improve the position of either Caucus or myself. We were seized as Confederate prisoners. I tried to explain to the colonel in command, but he said : ' I have no time to listen to you. Say what you have to say at brigade headquarters.' Then we were started to the rear in a hurry. This seemed to astonish Caucus very much. He sidled up to me, for we were huddled together with a few Confederate prisoners and stragglers that had been gleaned by the Federal troops, and muttered disconsolately : ' Massa Bryant, why is we always took prisoners? Don'b seem to make murb diff repce what -ide we gits on, we's tool prisoners anyway !' ' Move alone there, and keep your we rasrs to yourself !' cried one of the guards* sharply, as Caucus brushed against him •with his dripping garments. Ab this the negro looked at him and remarked, plaintively: * Dey always said in South Ca'lina dab if I come Norf I d be treated almighty bad, an' seems to me dey 'bout right. Here I is, come all dis way to freedom and darned if you don't treat me worse dan de Rebs I was tole you would 'sider me as a bruddcr,' and looking innocently at the man, he set his comrades into shrieks of laughter by saying : ' Be'anb you an Abolitioner?' * No, you miserable coon— l'm a Democrat !' very savagely cried the man who was, by his uniform, from one of the Tennessee Union regiments. 'And darn you, if you don b shut up, 1 11 blow the top of your sorrel head off !' The look of unutterable astonishment and reproach with which Caucus gazed upon this unsympathetic boy in blue as he tramped along to the rear after this was pitiab'e in the extreme. During this walk I meditated that the only way that I could be set light immediately was the chance that Lieutenant Hanson might have escaped. I questioned Caucus as to the fate of our companions. He said two of them had been killed and one wounded by the Confederate pickets. By throwing himself in the bottom of the boat, he had escaped wibhoub a scratch. Upon my arrival at the rear 1 was sent first to brigade and then to division headquarters, the general of which, as the firing had already died away from the front, had time to attend to me. I told him I had just come from the battle. ' Battle !' echoed he, with a smile. 'Guess you haven't been round the army much. That wa=! only a rc-connoi-t-anee in force.' I inquired of him if Lieutenant Hanson of the sth Kentucky Cavalry had joined his command. After some inquiries among, members of the staff, he told me that be had. The lieutenant was senb for, and in a very fewmoments hh explanations placed me and Caucus upon the free list. Upon giving a detailed account of my adventures to the Federal commander, he very kindly furnished transportation for Caucus and myself to tli6 North. Two days afrer this we were in Nashville, and two more took us to my home in Illinois Here I had a small farm, which, during my absence in the South, it being but twenty miles from Chicago, had greatly increased i in value. At the local post-office I inquired anxiously for letters for me. I had instructed my wife carefully as to how she should address and send letters to me by blockade runners. I hnd been two mo- ths on the journey, which would have given ample time for a letter via Nassau to reach me ; bub there was none there. I immediately wrote to Laura via Bermuda, and waited anxiously for six weeks, but received no reply. It was now April of 1864. The blockaderunners were often captured or sunk; the letter service in the Confederacy was very uncertain. My epistle might have miscarried. Despite the entreaties of my friends in Illinois that I would stay with them longer, I determined to go to Nassau, for "my anxiety with regard to Laura had become unendurable. Taking Caucus, who now seemed to think me bound to support him for the remainder of his life, and obtaining money for the purpose by borrowing a small sum upon my farm, I set out for Nassau. Arriving there two weeks after my departure from Illinois, I forwarded another letter that six weeks after I knew must ha\e reached the Confederacy, because the blockade-runner came back in safety. I had given the letter personally to the captain, who informed me that he had nlaced it in the post-office at Wilmington, North Carolina. Again I waited anxiously a month. Still no letter. Duiing this time my excitement, agitation and misery became greater and greater. I did not dare to visit the Confederacy — certuin death awaited me there ; yet I could hear no news of my wife. My next attempt I made in another way. I wrote letters to Judge Peyton, Miss Belle, and Laura's brother, as well as another epistle to my wife, and one to my friend Stuart Bf>e, and waited another month with no more satisfactory result All this time I had tried to make the acquaintance of pas&engers on the biockaderunners coming from South Carolina, but the only thing I could learn from them was that they thought the Peytons were all alive, but there was some sickness in the family. Ab this information, I began to fear that my wife might have expended the small stock of money I had left with her on her sick relatives. I knew her unselfish disposition. I bought a draft on a local bank at Columbia, and forwarded it enclosed in another letter to my darling Laura. It was now nearly August. At times I wildly thought of disguising myself and attempting to enter the Confederacy. I think i would have done something of the kind, for my desire to hear of my wife had now almost bacome a mania which was undermining my health, taking away my spirits, and shattering my nervous system, had not I about this time received a letter from Stuart Bee which ran as follows : Savannah, Ga., August 1, 1864. My Dear Bryant : Your letter containing hea< count of your marriage with Miss Peytone also your extraordinary adventures and escap into the Union lines, came to hand only yesterday. I have been away from Charleston upon military duty for some time in the interior of Georgia, and received it only on my return to

Savannah. All I can tell you in regard to your \ wife is. that I know, from f riends in Columbia, she is alive, butßhull write and make particular inquiries, an 1 forward to you all detail* I can learn in regard to the young lady you have been so fortunate to win, as soon as they are sent to me. Hoping you are having a more comfortable time in Nassau than you had on Morris Isiand, lam, Yours sincerely, Stuart Bee. This letter kept me anxious, bub quiet, in Nassau. About the middle of September an additional note came from Bee which ran as follows : Savannah, Ga., Sept. 4, 1864. MyDk\rßrya\t: I have just received news from Columbia in answer to the inquiries I made with regard to your wife. She is alive, 1 but I fear not haying a very pleasant time with some of her relatives n regard to her marriage with you, and think from what 1 hear, somewhat of an invalid, though from all I can learn her disease is not at al< riant, erons. and nothing that ne dto give you any immediate alarm I write you the plain facts of the case as I get them. Would have been able to obtain them sooner but oyeryihing at present seems to be disorganised in the onfederacy, postal service as vi ell as other things. Don't let this make you anxious enough to attempt to visit her, for I assure you if you are c Might again in this part of the world j'ou will have very little chance of escpping this time. Yours once n.ore, Stuart Bisb. Whether Bee's warning would have had any <*flecb on me, Ido not know. 1 was be- / coming desperate, and ready to take desperate chances : in fact, had almost engaged my passage on a blockade-runner, tor the Confederacy, when, about the middle of October, I received a letter from my old chum Baxter, who held a staff posilion in Sherman's army, and with whom I had opened a correspondence. His letter was to the point, and read : Atlanta, Ga., October 8, 1364. My Dear Bryant,— Your various letto s to me seem to indicate that your anxiety in regard to your wife has become a mania with you. I have no doubt that the lady is well, and some of her friends may have intercepted the correspondence betwee, i you. If you wish to see her personally, the best way yon can take is to ioin us. lamin a position to know now of a movement that will take 'h s army very near to her. I am not at liberty to say more and you will regard this as confidential Come to Atlanta as soon as possible, and I will getyou an appointment of some kind that will enable you to accompany the army; but come at on c. ds veiy shortly the railroad behind us will be cut and communication will be severed between us and the outer world. Your old friend, Thomas Baxter. After reading this letter carefully, I cancelled my agreement for a passage on the b ockade-runner, and two days afterwards saw mo on the steamer bound to New York, Making a few hurried preparations, I took the railroad for Nashville, and then pushed forward to Atlanta, where Hood and Sher- ' man were at present confronting each other. Here everything seemed to be in preparation for some great military movement. The divisions of Sherman's army were rapidly tilling up ; recruits being hastened to the front, and men and officers on furlough oi leave of absence being called in. The train which carried me to Atlanta brought a large number of them. After some trouble, I found the headquarters of the general's staft, and there met my friend Baxter. The mutual confidences incidental to the reunion of old chums being ovar, he laughed and said : ' Got your carpet bag with you, old boy ?' 'To go where ?' I asked. ' With us to the sea ! You want to find 3 r our wife. There is only one way of your getting to South Carolina, and that is with this army. We will soon cut loose from our base, and Heaven knows what will be our nexo one. Now,' he continued, 'if you want to go with us, you have goc to become one of us.' ' What?' I said, ' shoulder a musket?' 'No, shoulder a staff appointment. Come with me.' He led me in to the chief of Sherman's staff. That officer said, ' Mr Bryant, Major Baxter tells me you are an engineer, and should be very well acquainted with most of the Georgia railroads.' ' Yes,' I replied, • I have assisted in building a good many of them.' 'Tnen,'he remarked, 'you should know how to destroy them -their vital places where the burning of a bridge will do the mo*t damage, or the de-truction of a culvert cause a wa-h-out of the track. We expect ro destroy a great many railroads on this trip, an i if you wish to accept an appointment on some division or brigade con-mancer's staff, I will get it for you.' I replied that that would suit me very well, and two days afterward found me acting as extra aide-dc camp to Major- i General Woods, commanding the first division of Logans Fifteenth Army Corps, temporarily in charge of Ostei haus. By November 12th, the lasb locomotive and train of cars had steamed out of Atlanta. These gone, we burned the railroads leading to the north, to prevent their being used by the Confederates. Thus cut off from all supplies, communication, and reinforcements, we had only the power of our sixty thousand veterans to rely on. But keep them in bread and meat, and they were the kind of men to go anywhere and do anything. On the 14th, with as little baggage, ammunition, and general army stores as it was considered possible for this great army to move with, we left Atlanta, marching southward, our next base of supplies we hoped to gain being Savannah, two hundred and odd mile" away on the sea. Ido not intend to give many details of that eventful march? I paid very little attention to the military movements about me, except so far as obeying my orders, and fulfilling my duties. But one thought dominated my mind, and I that was thab each mile that army travelled carried me a mile nearer to my wife. Passing through the rich grain lands of centra' Georgia, we lived, as Caucus expressed it, ' like fightin' cbir-kens,' my table being bounteously supplied by him ; for this creature was now in his element ; bringing a large youthful expei'ience of water-melon raids and turkey-stalks to bear on the subject, as he expressed it, 'of fightin' for do grub.' The most expert • bummer ' of Sherman's army looked with envy upon Caucus and his extraordinary contributions to our larder. Sometimes he would come in riding a 'borrowed ' horse, a turkey and goose slung over his shoulder, a sack of grain or potatoes on one side, a few strings of dried apples twisted around his neck, and driving a fat pig or plump calf ahead of him.' Passing through these rich plains ot central Georgia, pontooning the rivers, the bridges having been destroyed, doing a little skirmishing, and in one or two places some hard fighting, and all the time destroying the railroads that were as vital to the existence of the Confederacy as arteries to the life of man, toward the end of November we arrived at the rice lands of Georgia. By this time the army consisted of three divisions. First, the regular army, disciplined and practised, that kept their ranks, obeyed their orders, and did the fighting. Nextthe bummers, stragglers, and worthless men of all corps, who were good — as Caucus expressed it — 'only to do fightin' for de grub.' Then an immense concourse of negroes, who had left their homes and followed the army that bad • brought them freedom. These furnished a more serious impedi-

menfc to us, almost, than the Confederates. They ate up everything they could put their teeth on, and as the army was compelled to depend for its existence upon the country through which it passed, if we had had another hundred miles to march through the rice swampa of Georgia, I doubt if many would have avoided starvation ; for the bummers got the best of all foraged provisions, the first pick of the barn-yarda, and grain-cribs ; the enormous gangs of contrabands the rest ; and the army who did (he fighting had a chance at what was left, which, as Caucus remarked, was ' de last pick ob de bone !' However, in December we arrived in sight of the sea, and on the 13th, Fort McAllister having been captured by assault, we were in communication with the Federal fleet. A few days afberwaids we entered Savannah, which was evacuated by the Confederates under Hardee. But here disappointment and delay awaited me. Sherman, to complete his arrangements, reorganise his army, and obtain fresh supplies and ammunition, remained over a month in Savannah. Every day I had marched, I had said, * So many miles nearer to Laura.' Fancy my impatience ! During this time, I made all the inquiries I could in Savannah in regard to the Peytons, but could learn nothing new. The old Confederate inhabitants had nearly all left the town, and tnose who remained htid but little to tell me. However, I heard frequently of Mr Amos Pierson. Unable to obtain the money due him trom the Confederate Government in any other shape, he had received a large amount of cotton in payment of his claims, preferring that bulky but valuable merchandise to Confederate money that was now almost worthless. Most of this cotton had been shipped into South Carolina before the approach of Sherman's army, and stored at Columbia. I had no doubt that Mr Pierson would be near his merchandise, and consequently near my wife. This made me more anxious than ever to be by her side. But about January fifteenth Sherman made his preparations to leave Savannah for his campaign in South Carolina. The army had been 'lighting light' when we left Atlanta, bub now it might be called • flying light.' Only the absolute necessities for the campaign were permitted us. The wounded, sick, and nou-corapetenb of every class were left behind. On the seventeenth this movement re illy began, but it was delayed by tremendous rains that flooded the swamps in the vicinity ot Savannah until January thirtieth, when the columns i?-ere fully in motion. In Georgia we hid destroyed railroads ; during the march through South Carolina we built roads. Day after day I directed companies of men laying down corduroys over swamps and floating pontoons across rivers. Some idea of the herculean labour of the engineer corps of the army may be formed from the fact that we bridged the Salkehatchie River, which has fifteen different channels, between sunrise and sunset. Thus fighting battles and building bridges, we struggled through the swamps and morasses, and on the sixteenth day of February, 1865, looking acros3 the Saluda River, «aw the beautiful capital of South Carolina. While assisting in our preparations to bridge the river I could almost fee Judge Peyton's home, and fondly imagined 1 saw the form of my beloved wife, whose face 1 had longed for but never seen for fourteen months. Next morning, in spite of considerable opposition from detachments of Confederate troops, the Fifteenth Corps succeeded in laying pontoons and crossing the river. Then skirmishing began for the advance guard of Woods's Division, and was followed up by additional brigades being put in action, and the Confederates being driven over two miles. From their last position they retreated, and the mayor of Columbia with a number of the leading citizens came out to surrender the place to us. While negotiations lor this were going on, Caucus, who probably knew the hen roo°ts of the neighbourhood very well, had been out on a foraging expedition in the company of several more of the same kidney. About two o'clock he came riding; in on horseback | in a tremendous state of excitement, and coming to me cried : ' Golly, Massa Bryant, if you want to save Judge Peyton's house you come along right smart.' • What ao you mean ?' said I. 1 Dat swearin' colonel of Kilpatrick's Cavalry what brags dat he leaves only de chimneys and neber de houses, has gone up Judge Peyton's way, an' if you want to take care ob your wife's family you had better go quick.' The negro seemed very much excited and grieved to think of the fate that might come to his old master. I hardly noted this, however, for I rode at once to Division Headquarters. General Woods was seated on his horse. I said : ' General, can I have leave of absence for the clay and also use a comoony of infantry V He looked at me inquiringly, as I had never made any such request before, and replied : ' What for ?' • To protect my wife •' At this the General nearly fell off hia horse in astonishment, and gapped : ' Your wife a South Carolinian, who liv*>s here ? You must be a South Carolina Unionist. By George ' I should think you did deserve protection.' Explaining to him the peculiar relations I bore to Judge Peyton's family, he wrote an order directing a company of Stone's brigade to go with me. As they filed off the captain remarked, for he had been placed under my orders for ( this expedition : ' What do you want us for ? Do you know of any treasure hid in the neighbourhood ?' I explained to him my errand. He then said : ' That's right, I've got a wife myself in lowa. Boys, we'll follow him lively !' and gave his men the order to ' double quick.' Guided by Caucus, we took a short cut. I had already had the protection signed by the division commander for Judge Peyton and his family. Though we moved rapidly, we were not too soon. Riding upthe broad avenue of oaks, every tree of which reminded me of the beautiful girl I had left behind me, my heart bounding with exultation and hope, I galloped up to the house and found it in possession of the Federal soldiers. Not heeding the marauders that were swarming over the rooms I remembered so well, 1 only thought of finding Laura or someone who could tell me of her. The negro servants had all fled from the house, but one that Caucus broughtin from the garden, knew him and was not afraid of him. In answer to our questions she said Judge Peyton's family, fearing what was now taking place, had gone into Columbia for protection that afternoon just before the cavalry rode up. I asked if they were all well. 4 Yes, Massa, all well. ' This brought from me a sigh c relief and a • Thank God !' There was nothing now for me to do but to save the Judge's property, which I did with considerable trouble. Even after showing the protection signed by General Wood, one of the cavalry remarked : • Tea, , that is to protect Judge Peyton's property, i but these 'ere goods is now our property. ' ; Had it not been for the captain of in- i

fantry, who swore the cavalry should obey orders, if he had to shoot every one of them, the troopers would have lef b very little of Judge Peyton's house. All thie took considerable time, and it was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon when I succeeded in making the proper arrangements. The captain of infantry left a sergeant and a squad to guard the house over night. Then I turned inbo the main road to Columbia. Nob wishing to travel entirely alone, as skirmishers and Confederate cavalry might be about, I was compelled to take the time the tired infantry could march in, and it was becoming dusk when we reached Columbia. The city we could see was already occupied by Federal troops ; the flag of the Union flying from the State House. The ,-nain street was now full of large quantities of cotton and other articles, dry goods, merchandise, etc, which had been taken out ready to be placed on trains to follow tho Confederates ; this our rapid advance had prevented. The owner of the cotton I accidentally learned was my friend, Amos Pierson. This would doubtless be confiscated, and Mr Pierson shorn of a great deal of his power and wealth. I was compelled to go to division headquarters to make my report. Here, to my astonishment, I heard that Amos Pierson, on the entry of our troops, had taken the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government, and claimed his cotton as a non-combatant. Long before this I had despatched Caucus to try and find out where Judge Peyton had taken his family. My report being made, I was now free to seek my wife myself. In a fever of excitement I went to the houses at which 1 thought it likely she would be. Elbowing my way through streets full ot excited boys in blue, who had unfortunately, either by design or accident, obtained a large amount of Confedeiate wbioky, which had excited them still more, I sought my wife without sqecess. Some of the people I called on had left the town ; the others had not seen the Peytons, and were too nervous about their own affairs to care much for those of anyone else. All this time with cheers and cries the soldiers paraded the streets in squads — even a strong provost-guard having but little control over them, the citizens looking at them, some with scowls and a few with joy on their faces from the surrounding houses and gardens. I went back to headquarters to wait impatiently for Caucus to report where 1 could find my wife, for without some definite knowledge I might havo wandered for days — perhaps weeks — in that motley throng, and never have seen her ; for no ladies were walking the streets of Columbia that night. While doing this I was surpiised and astonished to hear a very violent commotion. Looking out of the window I saw a faint glow down the main street. This gradually became larger and larger, and the accompanying noise louder and more violent. Hurrying 1 out, I, bo my horror, saw a portion of the city was in conflagration. A very heavy wind added to its violence, while drunken soldiers, bummers and camp followers crazy with drink, spread the flames. A sudden fear darted through me. What, in a burning town full of drunken soldiers, in the dead of the night, would be the fate of my wife ? I must find her now ! The flames roared more fiercely than ever, the public buildings catching tire. Down the main street immense piles of cotton became each a huge bonfire, the wind carried the flaming flakes for blocks around, spreading the fire over a large portion of thn city. Inaction was impossible to me. 1 was about to run blindly seeking hei, when Caucus came panting to headquarter*. ' Where is she ?' I cried. ' Don't know, sah ! But tink Miss Laura's at Colonel Pickens. Nancy Jackson said dat dey was 'spected dar !' I was already running in that direction, for the Pickens mansion was in almost the centre of the burning district (To be Concluded Next Wee*. )