Part 43 (1/2)

”I have positive information direct from Was.h.i.+ngton that the enemy will move in force across the Potomac on Mana.s.sas via Fairfax Court House and Centreville. I urge the immediate concentration of all available forces on my lines.”

The Southern commander began his preparations to receive the attack.

The house on Church Hill had not been idle. Richmond swarmed with Federal spies under the skillful guidance of Socola.

General Scott knew in Was.h.i.+ngton within twenty-four hours that Beauregard was planting his men behind the Bull Run River in a position of great strength and that the formation of the ground was such with Bull Run on his front that his dislodgment would be a tremendous task.

The advance of the Federal army was delayed--delayed until the last gun and sc.r.a.p of machinery from Harper's Ferry had been safely housed in Richmond and Fayetteville and Johnston had withdrawn his army to Winchester in closer touch with Beauregard.

And still the Union army did not move. Beauregard sent a trusted scout into Was.h.i.+ngton to Mrs. Greenhow with a sc.r.a.p of paper on which was written in cipher the two words:

”Trust Bearer--”

He arrived at the moment she had received the long sought information of the date of the army's march. She glanced at the stolid masked face of the messenger and hesitated a moment.

”You are a Southerner?”

Donellan smiled.

”I've spent most of my life in Was.h.i.+ngton, Madam,” he said frankly. ”I was a clerk in the Department of the Interior. I cast my fortunes with the South.”

It was enough. Her keen intuitions had scented danger in the man's manner, his walk and personality. He was not a typical Southerner. The officials of the Secret Service Bureau had already given her evidence of their suspicions. She could not be too careful.

She seized her pen and hastily wrote in cipher:

”Order issued for McDowell to move on Mana.s.sas to-night.”

She handed the tiny sc.r.a.p of paper to Donellan.

”My agents will take you in a buggy with relays of horses down the Potomac to a ferry near Dumfries. You will be ferried across.”

The man touched his hat.

”I'll know the way from there, Madam.”

The scout delivered his message into Beauregard's hands that night before eight o'clock.

At noon the next day Colonel Jordan had placed in her hands his answer:

”Yours received at eight o'clock. Let them come. We are ready. We rely upon you for precise information. Be particular as to description and destination of forces and quant.i.ty of artillery.”

She had not been idle. She was able to write a message of almost equal importance to the one she had dispatched the day before. With quick nervous hand she wrote on another tiny sc.r.a.p of paper:

”The Federal commander has ordered the Mana.s.sas railroad to be cut to prevent the junction of Johnston with Beauregard.”

The moment the first authentic information reached President Davis of the purpose to attack Beauregard he immediately urged General Johnston to make his preparations for the juncture of their forces.

And at once the President received confirmation of his fears of his General-in-Chief. Johnston delayed and began a correspondence of voluminous objections.