 | Hilt to hilt, or, Days and nights on the banks of the Shenandoah in the autumn of 1864 |  |
XLI.
ARDEN'S BADGES.
Ratcliffe turned like a tiger, and measured the
speaker from head to foot with a glance of inexpressible
wrath and surprise.
“You dare!” he exclaimed; “you presume to
address your superiour officer in that tone of insubordination?”
“I dare to defend the honour of the gentlemen of
the army,” replied Lieutenant Arden, in a voice
quivering with rage. “I dare to speak as I feel,
and as every officer here present feels, and tell you
that this is murder, — cold-blooded murder!”
The words raised a tumult in the crowd. For
the first time the young officers attached to the command
seemed to realize what was taking place before
them. Ratcliffe heard that confused murmur —
glared around him — was about to speak — when
Lieutenant Arden interrupted him.
“I say it is murder!” he exclaimed, “to hang a
gentleman, — your prisoner, — as burning that
house over a sick man and a young lady was barbarous,
and opposed to all the laws of civilized warfare!
Captain Ratcliffe, that you were dishonouring the
flag. I proceeded to the point of insubordination in
refusing to command the party, and now I do not
shrink from more, — from mutiny, if you like the
word, — only be sure of one thing, that I will not
be shot down or hanged like a dog! If I die, I will
not die alone!”
And Arden laid a furious hand on his pistol.
Ratcliffe shrunk back, recoiling from the hot eyes
and the threatening gesture.
“Come, arrest me! try me! glut your thirst for
murder!” exclaimed Arden. “I know you, and I
know the danger I am running if my brother officers
keep silent and permit you to outrage me! I expect
to be arrested, to be tried for insubordination; but
before I give up my sword you shall hear me!”
And, advancing two steps, Arden went on with
concentrated passion: —
“I entered the army of the United States to make
war on men. My aim was to help to crush the rebellion.
I meant to assist in doing so by honourable
warfare, not by a base and cowardly war on women
and children. In the army the gentlemen thought
as I thought; they accepted commissions, shed their
blood, fought bravely, and died bravely, to restore
the old Union of Washington. They did not mean
to burn houses over women, and hang prisoners.
fought under a by-word. They did not mean to
have `house-burner,' and `hangman,' and `murderer,'
stuck on to their names; and my name, I
swear, shall not be dishonoured!”
As he uttered these furious words, the young man
unbuckled his belt and threw his sabre at the feet of
Ratcliffe. It fell with a ringing clash; and Arden
exclaimed: —
“Take my sword! I will never more draw it in
a cause that is disgraced by such men as yourself,
and by such acts as I have witnessed to-day! Take
my commission!”
And, drawing a paper from his breast, he threw it
contemptuously from him.
“Take my badges of rank!”
And, violently tearing from his shoulders his lieutenant's
straps, he hurled them to the ground, and
placed his heel upon them.
“That commission,” he exclaimed, “is a dishonour!
These badges would burn my shoulders if I
wore them longer. I throw them down, and trample
on them, and scorn them, as I scorn that flag yonder,
that for three years I have fought under. It is no
longer my flag. I renounce it, and will never more
fight for it. Now, arrest, try, murder me, if you
will. At least you cannot dishonour me.”
| Hilt to hilt, or, Days and nights on the banks of the Shenandoah in the autumn of 1864 | |