Part 30 (1/2)

At the next stop, the Senator had just taken his position on the rear platform, lifted his hand for silence and said:

”Friends and fellow citizens--”

The engine suddenly blew off steam with hiss and roar and when it ceased the train pulled out with a jerk amid the shouts and protests of the crowd. The grateful speaker waved his hand in regretful but happy farewell.

The conductor repeated the trick for three stations until the exhausted speaker had recovered his strength and then allowed him a few brief remarks at each stop.

From the moment the train entered the State of Mississippi, grim, earnest men in groups of two, three, four and a dozen stepped on board, saluted their Chief and took their seats.

When the engine pulled into the station at Jackson a full brigade of volunteer soldiers had taken their places in the ranks.

The Governor and state officials met their leader and grasped his hand.

”You have been commissioned, Senator,” the Governor began eagerly, ”as Major-General in command of the forces of the State of Mississippi. Four Brigadier-Generals have been appointed and await your a.s.signment for duty.”

The tall figure of the hero of Buena Vista suddenly stiffened.

”I thank you. Governor, for the high honor conferred on me. No service could be more congenial to my feelings at this moment.”

The Governor waved his hand at the crowd of silent waiting men. ”Your men are ready--the first question is the purchase of arms. I think a stand of 75,000 will be sufficient for all contingencies?”

The Senator spoke with emphasis:

”The limit of your purchases should be our power to pay--”

”You can't mean it!” the Governor exclaimed.

”I repeat it--the limit of your purchase of arms should be the power to pay. I say this to every State in the South. We shall need all we can get and many more I fear.”

The Governor laughed.

”General, you overrate our risks!”

”On the other hand,” Davis continued earnestly, ”we are sure to underestimate them at every turn.”

He paused, overcome with emotion.

”A great war is impending, Governor, whose end no man can foresee. We are not prepared for it. We have no arms, we have no ammunition and we have no establishments to manufacture them. The South has never realized and does not now believe that the North will fight her on the issue of secession. They do not understand the silent growth of the power of centralization which has changed the opinions of the North under the teaching of Abolition fanatics--”

Again he paused, overcome.

”G.o.d help us!” he continued. ”War is a terrible calamity even when waged against aliens and strangers--our people are mad. They know not what they do!”

The new Commander hurried to Briarfield, his plantation home, to complete his preparations for a long absence.

Socola on a sudden impulse asked the honor of accompanying him. It was granted without question and with cordial hospitality.

It was an opportunity not to be lost. An intimate view of this man in his home might be of the utmost importance. He promised Jennie to hasten to Fairview when he had spent two days at Briarfield. Mrs. Barton was glad of the opportunity to set her house in order for her charming and interesting guest.

The Davis plantation was a distinct shock to his fixed New England ideas of the h.e.l.lish inst.i.tution of Slavery.

The devotion of these simple black men and women to their master was not only genuine, it was pathetic. He had never before conceived the abject depths to which a human being might sink in contentment with chains.