76. LXXVI.
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
Stuart was sitting his horse upon the crest, when Mordaunt
rode up. The General's face was glowing, his blue eyes full of
martial fire. Mordaunt, on the contrary, displayed no emotion
on his dark countenance, and saluted with military coolness.
“A splendid charge, Colonel!” exclaimed Stuart, grasping his
hand. “I see you are of the `if-you-want-to-take-a-battery-I'm-your-man'
sort! I never saw any thing finer.”
Mordaunt bowed.
“Every thing depends on the start in cavalry, General—as
you know better than I do.”
“Yes, yes.”
“The men carried the hill easily.”
“And your loss?”
“I am afraid it is considerable. The artillery had full play on
the column. In the charge over yonder I lost very few.”
“And saved the day.”
Mordaunt inclined again.
“My men will be proud to hear that you approve of their conduct,
General.”
“It was splendid. But who is that riding up? Saltoun, or
I'm mistaken!”
The words were scarcely uttered when an officer, wearing the
uniform of a lieutenant of cavalry, approached at a gallop, and I
recognized the young Marylander who had joined us that day in
the Valley, at Captain Bogy's quarters.
A slender mustache curled proudly above his handsome, laughing
mouth; his eyes sparkled; and from his hat floated gallantly
a splendid feather. He sat his horse admirably—and galloped
up, holding one hand in his breast.
“We thundered 'em that time, General!” he exclaimed, with
a loud laugh. “We took their artillery, drove them, and they
are not done running yet!”
“Bully for you!”[1]
replied Stuart, echoing the young man's
laugh in a manner which showed that he was a favorite. “So
you have got your lieutenancy in the Maryland company?”
“Yes, General, and made the company a speech! I told them
`the despot's heel was on their shore,' and now or never was the
time to strike!”
“Good!—see that they do it. But what is the matter with
your arm?”
I looked, and saw that the young lieutenant's sleeve was covered
with blood.
“I was shot in the charge,” he replied, “but it's not much.
Only a flesh wound. How are you, Major Surry?”
And, spurring to my side, the gay youngster shook hands cordially.
“We are old friends, you know,” he said, with a laugh. “I
saw old Bogy yesterday, and dined with him. He is looking out
for another wagon!”
Mordaunt turned at this movement, and, addressing the young
man, desired him to carry an order to his command, then moving
upon the road to the Rappahannock. He bowed with soldierly
grace, touched his horse with the spur, and darted off at a gallop,
his black feather floating in the wind.
“A gay youngster, Mordaunt,” said Stuart; “how does he
fight?”
“Like a firebrand!” was the reply. “He is as brave as steel,
and doesn't seem to know what stopping in a charge means.”
“I thought he was made of that sort of stuff from the first.
He joined me in the Valley.”
“A Marylander, I believe. But here is an officer with a prisoner,
who must have something to communicate, General.”
The officer approached and touched his hat.
“This man can tell you something about the attack last night,
General.”
“Well, out with it,” was Stuart's reply, addressing the prisoner.
His information was soon extracted. A man in citizen's
dress, perfectly answering to the description of Fenwick, had
come into their lines toward daylight that morning, and asked
for the commanding officer; he could tell, he said, what Confederate
force was in front, and how it could be surprised. He
was conducted to head-quarters, and half-an-hour afterward
the order came to mount.
So Fenwick had brought the attack upon us, as I expected—
but how had he escaped? This I learned long afterward. He
had bribed his guard with a considerable sum in gold, which he
had upon his person; the man could not resist the dazzling
coin; and Fenwick had been allowed to glide off, mount his
horse, and escape to a point down the river, where he crossed,
and entered the Federal lines.
Hence the night attack upon Stuart.
