Part 27 (1/2)
LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION
The experience of the soldiers at Harrison's Landing, for a month following their arrival, was not of the most agreeable nature; and consisted of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and shovel to be very pleasant to those who had not been accustomed to handling these useful implements. Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; and the position was as carefully fortified as the genius of the distinguished engineer in command could suggest, and as thoroughly as though he expected to spent the balance of the term of his natural life at this place.
The army was soon in a condition to defy the operations of the enemy, who were wise enough not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest of the command, recovered from the severe trials of the movement from White Oak Swamp, and again longed for active operations. About two weeks after the cessation of active operations, the official doc.u.ments which announced his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the army; but this was a foregone conclusion. He had won his first bar by his scouting services, and his commission was expected for a fortnight before its arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; and was so small an elevation, that his comrades hardly congratulated him upon its reception.
A fortnight later, there came a startling sensation to thrill him with satisfaction and delight. An orderly from the division headquarters summoned him to attend upon the general. The message startled him; for it indicated some momentous event to him, and he hastily prepared to obey the order.
”You are in luck again,” said De Banyan, grasping his hand.
”Perhaps not,” replied Somers, bewildered at the suggestion.
”I know you are, my dear boy. I was sent for just four weeks after the battle of Solferino, and made a brigadier-general,” persisted the captain.
”Ah! then you are General de Banyan?”
”No, no; I dropped the t.i.tle when I ceased to hold the office.”
”That was modest, general.”
”Captain, if you please.”
”You are ent.i.tled by courtesy to the use of the t.i.tle, and you shall not be robbed of any of your honors.”
”As a particular favor, Somers, never call me general. I do not wish to rise above my actual rank. I have never mentioned the little circ.u.mstance of my promotion before. Your good fortune was so similar to my own, that I was surprised into doing so.”
”What do you mean by my good fortune, captain?”
”Why, you are promoted again. I will bet my year's pay you have had another lift.”
”Nonsense! I have just been promoted.”
”Bah! what was that to a man of your merit, with a Senator to speak at court for you? A petty first lieutenancy is nothing for a brilliant fellow like you.”
”I am not half so brilliant a fellow as you declare, and I think that a commission as first lieutenant is a big thing for a young man like me.
I'm sure I never had an idea of being an officer at all; and, when I was made a sergeant, I didn't think I deserved it.”
”What do you suppose a major-general can want with you? You have heard from Senator Guilford once before, and I am satisfied you will hear from him again. Now, Somers, what do you suppose the general wants of you?”
”I don't know; I think it very likely he wants a man of my size to go up the river, or on the other side, scouting; nothing more than that, I am satisfied. But I must obey the order,” added Somers, who had been making his preparations during the conversation.
”Well, good-by, my boy; and I shall have to stand one side for you after this, and salute you as major.”
”As what?”
”Major.”
”How absurd you are, captain! You always talk like a sensible fellow; that is, when you mean what you say.”
”A hard hit; and very likely the first thing you do, when you get to be a major, will be to arrest me for lying.”