74. CHAPTER LXXIV.
AMHERST CASTLE.
On one of the spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountain, on
either side of which flowed the sparkling waters tributary
to the great central river of Virginia, Randolph had caused
to be erected one of the most stupendous fortifications on
the American Continent. For months, no less than one
hundred and fifty thousand negro laborers, under the direction
of competent engineers and architects, had been employed
in its construction.
It was in the vicinity of this pile, that a coach, escorted
by a body of cavalry, entered the highway, whence there
was an unobstructed view of the Castle. The party halted
involuntarily.
“The Stars and Stripes!” exclaimed Alice, from the open
window.
“Three of them,” said Edith. “One over the dome in
the centre, and one at each end of the noble Castle.”
“That, indeed, is very grand!” said Senator Langdon.
“And he kept us all in ignorance of it,” continued Alice.
“But I observed a mysterious expression on my father's
lip when you questioned him, Edith, in relation to the
accommodations we would find in the garrison to which
he was sending us.”
“Ay, and I remember how he evaded my interrogatories.
He said a soldier's daughter, and the affianced bride of a
hero, would be contented with the fare and shelter which
the Commander-in-Chief had provided. And, indeed, we
are likely to be! I do believe he had us in view—an asylum
in contemplation for us—when this magnificent Castle
was built.”
“No doubt—no doubt!” said Alice. “And, in truth, it
is much better for us to await in a place of security the
issue of this terrible campaign, than to follow the camp.”
“Oh! I have grown sick of it.”
“And I, too, my children!” said the aged Senator. “And
I have a presentiment that I shall repose in Amherst Castle
until the war be ended.”
“Major Bim,” said Alice, “why are you so melancholy?”
“Miss Alice,” replied Bim, who had been sitting on his
charger during the conversation, gazing in profound silence
at the almost innumerable embrasures in the Castle walls,
and the cannon on the turrets, “when I first saw that
mighty work my heart sank within me; for it seemed that
Jack Bim's fighting days were ended. But now I recollect
hearing President Randolph say this was too important
a fortress for an invading army to leave in its rear, and,
therefore, I think there is reason to hope the Despot will
send out a detachment to reduce us—”
“You hope he will do so, Major Bim?” demanded Dr.
Love, who came pacing up from the rear on his gentle old
brown mare.
“I will not lie, Rev. sir,” said Bim, “and therefore I
must confess the truth. I really did hope so; and if it was
wrong, I pray you forgive me. But my motive was merely
to contribute my share in the destruction of the enemy.”
“Your motive is ever good,” said Alice.
“And, therefore,” said the Doctor, “we will forgive him.
But what do I see yonder?” he continued, gazing through
a spyglass; “a cross on a spire! Gothic windows, and—
I believe, stained glass!”
“True,” said Senator Langdon; “Randolph informed
me there was a chapel. But let us not linger here!”
“On! on!” said both Alice and Edith. And the coachman
drove forward without further delay.
Alice and Edith traversed the numerous and magnificent
apartments of the Castle in joyful surprise. Everything
had been thought of, everything provided, for their comfort
and enjoyment, and all this during the incessant civil
and military occupations of the President!
There were several regiments of volunteers within the
Castle grounds, drilling for the service, and immense stores
were daily arriving from the West. But the command of
the citadel, and of the regular soldiers, had been assigned
by courtesy to Alice. Two hundred of the Blue Caps,
under Major Bim, had been detached as an escort.
At the time of the separation of Senator Langdon and
the young ladies from the head-quarters of the President,
the Federal army was in full retreat for Richmond, and
followed steadily by Ruffleton. And since then nothing
had been heard from the seat of war, excepting the vague
and conflicting rumors of frightened fugitives. But Randolph
had assured his daughter that if no unforeseen event
occurred to change the plan of the campaign, there would
be no great battle for many weeks. Every day the Northern
host of invaders experienced serious diminution from
desertions, and that was better than the destruction of so
many lives on the battle-field. Hence the party, during
their journey to the Castle, and after their arrival, were
relieved of the many terrible apprehensions usually inseparable
from a state of war. During the journey they had
been exceedingly cheerful. The fine scenery, and the
novelty of many objects and incidents, together with the
sense of security, both for themselves and those dear to
them retiring before the foe, sufficed, in a measure, to dispel
the melancholy forebodings so painfully experienced in
advance of the actual invasion. Major Bim, alone, seemed
unhappy; and this arose, as we have seen, from the apprehension
that he was to be immured within impregnable
walls, beyond the reach of the enemy.
For several days the aged Senator and the ladies found
sufficient divertisement within the walls of the Castle to
prevent their thoughts from recurring unpleasantly to the
probable events in the field, while Bim scoured the country
for miles eastwardly and southwardly, industriously
catching every straggler flying to the mountains. Yet the
intelligence from the armies was always conflicting and uncertain.
But even such items of news as these, reported at
the eve of each day, at length created an anxiety in the
breasts of Alice and Edith to receive tidings from those
so dear to them, and whom, in their dreams, they now
began to behold exposed to frightful dangers, and sometimes
the victims of dire calamity.
It was a calm moonlight night. Senator Langdon and
the young ladies were seated in one of the capacious balconies
projecting from the eastern side of the Castle, and some
seventy feet in height from the foundation of the structure.
The summer air was dry, but cool and pleasant at that altitude.
Within, a mellow light, radiating from a silver lamp,
faintly illuminated the ample apartment, from which a few
minutes before the sounds of music, under the magic touch
of Edith, had issued, and where the Rev. Dr. Love and Major
Bim still lingered, discussing the merits and moralities
of bloody war. The tranquil scene for a long time seemed
to impose a solemn silence on the party gazing into the obscure
depths of the surrounding forest. They were mutely
served with confections and refreshments by the several
negresses that attended, as if they, too, and no doubt they did,
partook of the inspiration of the hour.
“Father,” said Edith, “can you point in the direction of
Richmond?”
“Easily, my child,” said the Senator. “It is almost due
east from us.”
“And how far?”
“Near one hundred miles.”
“Oh,” said Alice, after a pause, “if one could only with
the same certainty point out the locality occupied by my
father and his faithful Generals and followers!”
“Only One may do that,” said the aged minister, abandoning
Bim as incorrigible and joining the party: “and He
can shield them from every harm.”
“I think a military man,” said Major Bim, following,
“may indicate with some precision the relative positions of
the head-quarters of the two armies.”
“Then pray give us your opinion, Major Bim,” said
Edith.
“Do, Major,” said Alice. “For instance, tell us where
General Blount is at this moment, the condition of his
health, the nature of his employment, and any other particulars
which you may discover.”
“No doubt such information would be particularly interesting
to all concerned,” said Bim; “but I am no seer, nor
even a believer in Yankee spiritualism.”
“I give you praise for that, Major Bim,” said Dr. Love.
“This modern ism of fruitful New England would really
make the employments of the existence beyond the grave
as frivolous, if not as absurd and sinful, as we behold them
in this life. It is, I fear, the result of an excessive credulity,
engendered by wicked persons for no good purpose.”
“But according to my ideas, as a military man,” said Bim,
“there can be no difficulty in conjecturing the events since
we left the camp to hide ourselves in this Castle. Napoleon
could take a map and an almanac, and look at his watch,
and foretell the place, the day, and hour, where and when a
great battle would occur. Now, I don't pretend to be another
Napoleon, but think it almost certain that President
Randolph had a day's hard fighting at Richmond. And if he
could not prevent the crossing of the British and Tory allies,
I have no doubt, after slaughtering about 50,000 of them,
he retired to the island, in the James river. That is what
Napoleon did near Vienna. Unable to withstand superior
numbers at Aspern and Essling, he took possession of the
island Lobau, and defended Vienna. It was bloody business,
though, and many brave Generals fell. And many of
our brave Generals may have fallen —”
“Which, do you think?” asked Edith; “Valiant, Crook,
or —”
“Which? Valiant is truly brave, and may have fallen.
Crook! by George! it would be too bad to lose him!
Blount? Never! Don't be alarmed!”
Senator Langdon and Dr. Love could not avoid giving
vent to laughter, in which, a moment after, the young ladies
joined right heartily, and their tones of merriment rang
upon the moonlit scene.
“But what of the President, Major Bim?” said Alice;
“you have omitted all mention of him.”
“President Randolph?” said Bim, “his fall is altogether
out of the question! I believe in crazy Charlotte. She
says he will be preserved to regenerate the Union. And I
have some faith in Captain Fink's rifle, after seeing him kill
Ruffleton's horse a mile off. Well, I got the Captain to
swear me an oath before I left the camp that he and his
Scouts, or some of them, would never lose sight of the
President, day or night, until I returned, or until they returned
him safe to me. Therefore he's safe.”
“Major Bim,” said Alice, rising and placing her fair hand
in that of the stalwart officer, “I thank you! Whatever
else might be alleged, no one can question your noble fidelity.
That quality is paramont to all others!”
“As well as I know my duty, Miss Alice,” responded
Bim, with an expanding heart, “I am always ready to perform
it. In all things where I may be deficient in knowledge,
I am willing to be instructed; and, right or wrong,
I obey the orders of my superiors.”
This speech checked the mirth at his expense, and all had
some words of commendation to bestow on the Major.
“But now,” said the Major, sighing, in response to the
praises of his friends, “I fear my services are ended. Here
am I, one hundred miles from the scene of war, and no—
What's that?” he exclaimed, leaning over the balcony and
listening.
The clatter of hoofs was heard distinctly in the pebbled
valley east of the Castle, where a road had been cut on the
margin of the mountain stream.
“It is a horseman,” said Alice; “a messenger I hope!”
“Heaven speed him, then,” said Edith.
“But why does he come in such a terrible hurry?” remarked
Bim, as the sounds approached. “Such a break-neck
gait as that is very strange. I will go down and see
that he is admitted without delay.”
The ladies strained their eyes to recognise the courier,
that they might be assured of tidings from the army; but
as he leaned heavily on the arm of the Major, and walked
in the shadow of the gigantic soldier, the suspense was prolonged
until the many flights of stairs which separated the
balcony from the pavement could be traversed. At length,
almost borne along by Bim, the ladies beheld the familiar
face of Wiry Willy by the light of the silver lamp within
the spacious apartment. Thither they ran to meet him.
He was pale and haggard, and almost speechless from excessive
fatigue and loss of rest.
“Let these speak for me,” said he, placing on the table
beside the lamp a number of letters, and then sinking into
a chair.
“Some wine!” cried Alice to a slave. “Before I break
the seal of the letter from my father, I vow to witness the
resuscitation of his faithful friend and messenger.”
“And you!” cried Edith to another obedient negress,
“bring water and napkins! Willy, cool your parched lips,
lave the dust from your eyes, and bathe your temples!”
In a brief time Willy seemed restored, and declined
further ministrations from the fair hands of the young ladies.
“Huzza!” cried Bim, springing from his chair. Then
sitting down, he indulged in such involuntary exclamations
as these: “I like that! By George! let 'em come!” He
rose a second time, and was about to hasten away, when a
gesture from Willy arrested him.
“Major,” said he, “I have later intelligence than is to be
found in any of the letters. Do you not observe the date?
I was taken on the road and detained several days.”
“Hey! you were? On the road? Then they are coming
now?”
“Close at hand!” responded Willy in a whisper. “But
wait until Miss Alice finishes reading the President's letter.”
