Part 5 (1/2)
”You are right; he was killed at Ball's Bluff.”
”I think not; but were you at Bull Run?”
”Certainly I was. I was on General Fremont's staff.”
”Were you, indeed? Whew!”
”What may be the precise meaning of that whistle? Do you think I was not there?”
”Well, I don't remember to have seen you there?”
”Very likely you did not; but you will call to mind the fact, that things were rather mixed up in that action. But never mind that: we will talk those things over when we get down upon the Peninsula, and have nothing else to think about. Do you really mean to say, my dear fellow, that you never drink at all?”
”I do not.”
”Well, I have heard of a man climbing up to the moon on a greased rainbow; but I never heard of an officer before that didn't drink.”
”I'm afraid you haven't been very careful in the choice of your companions. I know a great many that never taste liquor under any circ.u.mstances.”
”It may be so; and I am willing to confess that I have found one. I wouldn't have believed it before if I had read it in the Const.i.tution of the United States. I owe you an apology, then, for letting on in that saloon. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my dear fellow; but I thought you were joking.”
”I hope you will not repeat the experiment, then; though I shall consider myself fair game if I ever enter another rum-shop,” replied Somers.
They proceeded to the place designated for the lecture; and Captain de Banyan betrayed his interest in that memorable battle, where he had served on the staff of General Fremont, by going to sleep before the eloquent ”partic.i.p.ant” had got half-way through the exordium. Lieutenant Somers listened attentively until he was satisfied that Colonel Staggerback either was not in the battle, or that he had escorted ”Bull Run Russell” off the field.
When the lecture was finished, Somers awakened his edified companion, and they returned to the hotel; though the captain hinted several times on the way that the ”elephant” could be seen to better advantage in New York than in any other city in the Union. The young lieutenant had an utter disgust for the elephant, and took no hints. Before he retired that night, he thanked G.o.d, more earnestly and devoutly than usual, that he had been enabled to pa.s.s unscathed through the fires of temptation. He was still in condition to look his mother in the face.
CHAPTER V
ON THE SKIRMISH LINE
In the morning our travelers resumed their journey, more refreshed and in better condition for service than if they had spent the evening in chasing the ”elephant” from one to another of the gilded dens of dissipation with which the metropolis abounds. In spite of his errors and sins, Somers could not help liking his das.h.i.+ng companion. He was a dangerous person; but his enthusiasm was so captivating, that he could not close his heart against him. But, while he liked the captain, he hated his vices.
They stopped in Philadelphia only long enough to dine, and in Baltimore only long enough for supper; arriving at Was.h.i.+ngton in the evening.
Captain de Banyan again proposed to ”go round;” which, rendered into unmistakable English, meant to visit the drinking-houses and gambling-saloons of the city, to say nothing of worse places. Lieutenant Somers had grown wise by experience; and no amount of persuasion could induce him to leave the hotel. It was horrible to him to think of spending even his leisure time in the haunts of dissipation, when his country was bleeding from a thousand wounds; when his gallant comrades in the Army of the Potomac were enduring peril and hards.h.i.+p in front of the enemy. He had no taste for carousing at any time, and every fiber of his moral nature was firmly set against the vices which lured on his reckless companion.
Lieutenant Somers stayed at the hotel that evening, listening to the conversation of the officers who had been at the front within a few days.
The great battle of Fair Oaks had been fought during his absence, and there was every prospect that the most tremendous operations of the war would soon commence. He listened with the deepest interest to the accounts from the army, and needed none of the stimulus of the bar-room or the gambling-saloon to furnish him with excitement. He was soon to be an actor in the momentous events of the campaign; and the thought was full of inspiration, and lifted him up from the gross and vulgar tastes of his companion.
Before noon the next day, somewhat against the inclination of Captain de Banyan, the two officers were on board a steamer bound down the river.
After some delays, they arrived at White House, on the Pamunkey River; and then proceeded by railroad nearly to the camp of the regiment, at Poplar Hill, in the very depths of White Oak Swamp.
”My blessed boy!” shouted Sergeant Hapgood when Lieutenant Somers appeared in the camp.
The veteran rushed upon him, and, not content to shake his hand he proceeded to hug him in the most extraordinary manner.
”I am glad to see you, Hapgood! How have you been since I left?” said Somers.