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CHAPTER IX
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CHAPTER IX A B O U T H A L F - P A S T T H R E E T H E following morning I was suddenly aroused from my comfortless slumbers by the beating of the long roll, and by the reports of severalmuskets fired in quick succession. Officers half dressed sprang to arms, rushed to their horses, and rode off to the outposts. Meanwhile, I had lighted my candle, my heart beating high with hope; for I persuaded myself that the alarm was caused by an attempt on the part of theConfederates to effect my rescue. I sat down anxiously awaiting the result, when one of the officers, who was rushing to the front, stopped opposite my tent and shouted, or rather roared out— "Put out that light: it is some signal to the rebels. Do you hearme?" I of course obeyed the mandate, and a few minutes afterwards I heard the retreat beat; upon which one of the sentries explained the meaning of what had happened, and how it came to pass that the camp had been thrown into such a state of confusion. It appeared that an obtuse cowhad strayed from a neighboring field, and,not understanding the challenge of the sentry, had disregarded the order to halt, although twice repeated. Hereupon the sentry, who could not make out the outline of the cowin the darkness, fired, and the other sentries on his right and left, taking the hint, fired also, though at what they aimed it would be difficult to say. However, fire they did at random, as is the custom of undisciplined troops everywhere, and thus all my hopes of a rescue were extinguished by acow. 126 B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N Dawn was hardly breaking when I was ordered to get ready once more, as I was to be taken directlyto Martinsburg. My preparations were soon made, and with two hundred for my escort I set forward. At eight o'clock we came to a halt at a small farmhouse standing by the road-side. Here breakfast had been prepared, and I was informed the refreshmentwas at my disposal. No sooner was my appetite satisfied—a consummation which was easy and rapid— than we resumed our journey to Martinsburg, at which bourne I arrived about one in the afternoon, tired and exhausted with the fatigue and anxiety I had undergone. Major Sherman, compassionating my forlorn condition, very kindly stayed behind the cavalcadeand prevailed upon his wife to accompany me to the camp, which waspitched at a short distance on the north side of the town. I was forthwith conducted to the tent of the commanding officer. My head was now almost bursting with pain; and I implored him to have me taken to my home, which was close by in a suburb of the village , there to rest and refresh myself for a few hours, as I understood I was to start for Washington at two o'clock next morning. I make no doubt my petition would have been granted had not the detective here interposed and informed the Federal Colonel that Mr. Secretary Stanton would probably take exception to such an indulgence, which would give me an opportunity of holding communication with persons inimical to the United States Government. After putting this "spoke in my wheel," so to speak, my amiable custodian went himself to my home and ransacked all my father's private papers, under pretence of hunting for "communications" from myself to my mother. Fortunately, however, he found none, and his unwelcome visit was not crowned with the success he had anticipated. To return to myself. I wassitting on the camp-stool in my tent, gazinglistlesslyabout me, when my attention was suddenly attracted to a carriagewhich was driving into the encampment. It stopped, and a lady rapidly alighted. She was dressed in deep mourning; a thick veil entirely concealed her face. But I recognized her at once, in spite of her disguise. The feverish intelligence which accompanies danger and suffering [3.80.24.244] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 13:43 GMT) B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N 127 was superadded to that natural instinct which, though no one can explain , all have experienced; and Ifelt, for I could not see, that the visitor was my mother. I sprang from my seat, and rushed...