A Daughter of the Union by Lucy Foster Madison

  CHAPTER XXIV

  VICKSBURG

  When Jeanne recovered consciousness she knew by the rumbling and roaringthat she was on board a train. The riding was very rough, and hardlyrealizing where she was she began to feel about her for the cushions,weakly wondering where the lights were. It came to her with a suddenshock as her fingers touched nothing but wood that she was lying proneupon the floor of some sort of a car with not even a blanket under her.

  The knowledge brought back the full remembrance of what had happened, andshe sat up quickly and tried to peer about her.

  "Dick," she called. "Dick!"

  A low moan was the answer. Guided by the sound Jeanne groped her way inits direction, and soon came in contact with the prostrate form of the boy.

  "Dick," she cried again. "Dick, is it you?"

  "Jeanne," came the reply, in weak tones, "are you safe? I called but youdid not answer. I did not know you were here. What has happened? Were youasleep?"

  "I think I must have fainted, Dick," answered Jeanne, as steadily as shecould, for the thought of Dick's wound sickened her, and she was stillweak from her swoon. "But I am all right. How do you feel, brother? Areyou suffering much pain?"

  "It is terrible," groaned the boy. "It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't forthe jolting."

  "It must be dreadful," said Jeanne, with aching heart. "Let me see if Ican't help that a little."

  She crawled close to his side, and seating herself with the side of thecar for a brace, gently lifted his head and shoulders into her lap.

  "Is that better?" she asked, as Dick settled back heavily.

  "Yes, dear; but I am afraid that it will be hard on you."

  "Oh, no! It makes me feel so much better to be able to do somethingfor you. It breaks my heart to have you suffer. Didn't those people doanything for you?"

  "The surgeon dressed my wound when they reached the station. Then theythrew me into this box car. I felt worse because I didn't know what hadbecome of you."

  "Now you must rest," said Jeanne, holding him tenderly against her. "Weare still together, Dick. You must sleep if you can."

  And so through all the long dark night the girl held her wounded brother,and strove to break the jolting of the rough car. Her arms ached fromtheir burden, and her limbs were numb, but she breathed no word ofdiscomfort.

  Sometimes Dick would fall into a fitful sleep in which he murmuredfeverishly and then he would awake with a start, but Jeanne was alwaysawake to soothe him and to quiet his wandering fancy.

  At last the long hours of darkness passed, as the longest and darkestmust, and the sun rose lightening up even the gloomy box car with itsrays. Pale and wan Dick looked in the morning light and Jeanne's heartwas very full as she gazed at him.

  "What would mother say if she could see him?" she thought. "Oh, if shewere only here to take care of him! But she can't be and I must do mybest. God help me!"

  About nine o'clock the train slowed down and presently pulled into astation. After a long time the doors of the car opened and someConfederate soldiers appeared.

  "All out for Vicksburg," called one facetiously.

  "Shut up!" said another. "Don't you see that the boy is wounded and thegirl doesn't look any better than he does."

  "What are you going to do with him?" cried Jeanne in alarm as two of themen lifted Dick up.

  "Take him to the provost marshal and then to the hospital. He is ourprisoner, you know."

  "Then you must take me right along with him," said Jeanne, decidedly,rising stiffly. "I suppose I am a prisoner too."

  "I rather reckon so," was the dry reply.

  Jeanne said no more but followed closely after the man as Dick was carriedinto the station. The depot was thronged with soldiers waiting to goout to the batteries. She obtained her first glimpse of the "Gibraltarof the South" as she drove through its streets by Dick's side, in anambulance.

  The city presented a fine appearance situated as it was on the woodedsummits of the Walnut Hills. From these elevations the flat alluvialcountry around could be seen in every direction, which with its forestsof oaks and cottonwood interspersed with extensive plantations, formed apicture of great panoramic beauty. The main portion of the city laynear the water front and above it the hills were crowned with elegantprivate residences, and made conspicuous by the high walls of the publicbuildings. The court-house, a large structure of light gray limestone,crowned the summit of one of the hills and was one of the first objectsto catch the eye. The streets rose from the river with an abrupt difficultascent and were cut through the bluffs and hills directly to the edge ofthe levee.

  With something approaching awe Jeanne gazed at the formidable batterieswhich had been erected to dispute the advance of the Federals. Themost of them were near the lower end of the town as if the greatestdanger were to be apprehended from that point. One tier was near the topof the bluff, another about halfway down from the summit to the water. Asingle row of water batteries was located near the brink of the river torepel all attacks made at close range. The batteries on the hills causingmore trouble to the Unionists than those lower down as none of theFederal guns could be elevated sufficiently to reach them while theirshot could be made to plunge through the decks and disable whateverboats or vessels came within their range. As Jeanne gazed on theseformidable defenses she could not but wonder how the transport hadescaped destruction.

  The provost marshal was reached at last and Dick's name and regiment wereduly registered. Then the provost turned to Jeanne.

  "I don't know what to do with you," he said. "What were you doing?"

  "Dick and I were trying to reach the Mississippi River hoping that wemight get home," said Jeanne.

  "Were you carrying anything beyond the lines?"

  "No, sir."

  "How came you within our lines?" persisted the officer, attracted by heryouth and innocence, yet determined to probe the affair to the bottom.

  "I came from New Orleans," said Jeanne. "I was visiting my uncle. Whenthey left the city they took me with them but left me at a desertedplantation. I started back to New Orleans but fell in with ColonelPeyton's camp and he was bringing me to Jackson where he said that hewould send me to our side. I met Dick and so went with him because heis my brother."

  "But what was Dick doing here?" queried the man. "What business has aUnion soldier in this part of the country?"

  "I was a prisoner," answered Dick, speaking for himself. "I had escapedand when I knew that my sister was in the hands of you fellows I waited totake her away."

  And Dick awaited the effect of his bold declaration anxiously for he wasuneasy for his sister.

  "I don't know what to do with you," said the provost again.

  "Let me go with Dick," pleaded Jeanne eagerly. "He is wounded as you see,sir, and needs care and attention. Please let me go with him. I won't be abit of trouble."

  "I don't know but that that will be the best way out of the difficulty,"remarked the officer musingly. "At least until I can investigate further.What was the name of your uncle?"

  "Vance, sir. Benjamin Vance.".

  "Benjamin Vance!" exclaimed the officer in amazement. "He is well-known inVicksburg. Why, he and his wife are here now visiting relatives. I willsend for him at once."

  "What!" cried Jeanne. "Uncle Ben here?"

  "Right here," responded the other. "Orderly, will you send word to theLa Chaise manor that I would like Mr. Vance to come here?"

  The Orderly saluted and left the room. The provost turned his attention toother matters while Dick and Jeanne waited with beating hearts the returnof the man.

  In about an hour's time the Orderly returned and with him came thewell-known form of Mr. Vance. Behind him, her silken skirts rustling, herface wreathed in smiles, her manner full of smirks and graces, walkedMadame Vance.