84. CHAPTER LXXXIV.
BATTLE AND STAMPEDE.
In pursuance of a previous agreement, Generals Toler
and Fell again met midway between their armies, now
encamped in full view of each other. The place selected
for the interview was beneath a solitary sycamore, on the
margin of a brook, in the centre of a plain chosen as the
scene of conflict for the next day. The two generals had
been accompanied by numerous officers to within a hundred
paces of the tree, and from thence they had advanced alone.
“General,” said Fell, after gazing a moment in silence at
the tall form before him, and recognising the lineaments
of the chieftain, “we meet again—may we not part as
friends?”
“We may, if you will it so.”
“By coinciding with your will? Is not that your meaning?”
“Rather say by yielding to the dictates of duty and
patriotism.”
“Duty and patriotism! General Toler, how often have I
heard you say the first duty of Southern men was to the
South? And that patriotism consisted in maintaining our
equality and independence?”
“I know not how often—but I have said it repeatedly,
General Fell. Equality in the Union, or independence out
of it, has been my theme—and is so still. But neither
equality nor independence is to be achieved by leading our
slaves into the camp of the Northern enemy! I care not
what Ruffleton may promise in his Proclamations. I will
not trust him. I care not if it be his purpose to perform
his promises—for I know the Northern people will not sanction
his edicts. Nor would I desire to see slavery re-established
against the people's will in the States where it has
been abolished. Randolph is now hurling back the Northern
invader—”
“How know you that?”
“I know it. I have intelligence of the fact. Let all the
true sons of the South rally under Randolph's standard in
this good work. There is no other course!”
“General,” said Fell, in tones that evinced his feeling,
“if this be so—if Randolph should succeed in driving the
invader out of the South, after permitting him so long to
ravage our fields with impunity—and should re-establish the
Union and the Federal authority, what, then, will the South
have gained?”
“It will gain security in the Union, or it will go out of it
without further molestation.”
“No—we shall have only the same old story! Randolph
will be run for a third term of the Presidency, and of
course the North must again be conciliated.”
“General Fell,” said Toler, with dignity, “we have not
met to discuss the distant future. In regard to the past,
when the portentous cloud appeared in the Northern horizon,
I announced my readiness to follow your lead, and was
then eager to strike for an immediate separation, but you
failed me, and all your partisans shrank back, alleging that
it would be better first to obtain possession of the sword and
purse, by elevating you to the Presidency, a consummation
then deemed practicable. I regarded the excuse as a mere
pretext to obtain the Federal patronage, and so I abandoned
your cause—but not the cause of the South. Aid
me and Randolph in expelling the Northern invader from
our native soil, and then I will unite with you, whether
Randolph shall be with us or not, in demanding security
in the Union, or Independence
out of it. This is my ultimatum.
Send back the slaves to their masters!”
“No. I shall go on. The ball of Revolution must roll to
a final consummation. In the Union, or out of it, our safety
will be best secured by the legal existence of slavery everywhere.”
“The legal existence of slavery to be achieved by slaves!
Fell, you are mad!”
“You are beside yourself!”
“Then to-morrow will be memorable as the day on which
two madmen engaged in a pitched battle, for the security
of the South. Southern men on Southern soil, with Southern
armies!”
“You cannot withstand me! Why oppose my march?”
“I have no words to answer.”
“Nothing but blows!”
“Nothing else.”
“Then be it so! Good-night!” and the Generals separated
and retired to their respective tents.
Every disposition had been made for a decisive battle the
following day, and most of the officers retired early to their
couches in quest of repose. General Toler alone was wakeful,
and strode to and fro in his tent. On turning once he
saw the canvas slightly agitated. He paused, and gazed
steadily, and a moment after the following words reached
his ear:
“Massa John! Massa John!”
“Who's there?” demanded the General.
“It's me, Massa John.”
“And who the d—l's me? Let me see your face.”
“Don't you know me, Massa John?” asked a very black
negro, creeping under the canvas and rising in front of the
astonished General.
“If it were not for the red flannel on your collar, and
epaulette on your shoulder, with bright buttons and sword,
I would say you were my slave Scipio.”
“Dat's it! Dat's it, Massa John,” said the negro. “I am
so still, dough dey call me Captain Scip. I been belonging
to de grand army under General Fell.”
“And now you have deserted to your master, Scip.”
“Not dzacly dat, Massa John—but dam if I fight, Massa
John! And dat's de way all de niggers is thinking and
talking too!”
“Ha! Is that so, Scipio?” asked the General, quickly, and
at the same time advancing and cordially grasping the hand
of his faithful slave.
“It's just so, Massa John!” replied Scipio, while great
tears ran down his cheeks. “You know you learnt me how
to read, Massa John? Well, I got one ob de Plocklamations
of General Ruffleton, which says we's all to be slaves
in de North as well as in de South. I had it and kep it for
more dan a week, and read it ebery night by de pine
knots to de colored Captains, till I got through wid 'em
all—”
“You did, Scipio?”
“Sartin, Massa John! De niggers ain't 'lowed to be
higher den Captain. But all de Captains is been 'splainin'
de Plocklamation to de men—and now we's all ready.”
“Ready for what, Scipio?”
“To break up and go home, Massa John, and 'tend to our
work 'mong our wives and children.”
“Is that so, Scipio? Why, it is understood Fell intends
to lead you into battle to-morrow.”
“I know dat, Massa John! We said he mus let us fight,
or we'd desart. I put 'em all up to dat, Massa John; and
now all's 'ranged. To-morrow all you'll have to do will be
to jus' gallop your white horse right up to us and order us
to throw down our arms and go about our business. Dat's
all!”
“Scipio, I know you love me. We were boys together,
almost like brothers—and indeed the slave in the South is
more like a member of his master's family than the free
negro of the North is like a freeman. Scipio, I shall trust
you. If you deceive me, I shall perish, and my death will
weigh upon your conscience—”
“Stop, Massa John—you're breaking my heart!” exclaimed
Scipio, prostrating himself and embracing his master's
knees. “But if Scipio's 'ceiving Massa John, dat he
loves so much, may he roast in brimstone fires for eber and
eber!”
“I will trust you, Scipio! You will know me by my white
horse, which you trained from a colt! and I am sure he
would know you if it were not for your military trappings.
When you see me approach, contrive to be near the place
where I shall address the men.”
“I'll be dar, Massa John—nebber fear! And all de
Captains, and all de men will know what's to be done. I've
been preparing 'em! Dey all understand! De white
horse'll be looked for! Ride right up to us. Nebber
mine what the white soldiers say—dey'll think you're desartin'!”
“Scipio, your hand! If this scheme of yours succeeds—”
“Now, don't say so, Massa John. Don't say I shall hab
my freedom, Massa John; I want to be wid you all your
life, and I won't be free no how you can fix it!”
“Then farewell, Scipio, till to-morrow!” A moment
after Scipio disappeared, and the General resumed his promenade,
resolved to hazard everything on the fidelity of
his slave.
Early in the morning General Fell put his army in motion,
and General Toler awaited his approach behind the
breastworks which had been constructed the day before.
Not a shot was fired, except at the extreme left, where
the white soldiers engaged—and these formed but an inconsiderable
portion of Fell's army. On the black mass
advanced, maintaining an ominous silence. The white
officers were in the rear, urging the slaves before them,
while Fell himself looked on in amazement from a neighboring
hill. No smoke arose from the plain, no reports of
fire-arms were heard, save from the most distant part of the
field.
It was then that General Toler, in despite of remonstrances,
galloped towards the interminable array of slaves.
Nor did he pause until he was within a few paces of the
foremost ranks, and not a shot had been fired at him.
“What are you doing here?” he exclaimed in a loud
voice. “Why are you in arms against your masters? I
tell you the Northern Abolitionists have deceived you.
They are determined to be your masters themselves, and
you all know what hard masters the Yankees make! Throw
down your arms and go home, and I will forgive you! Go,
I say!”
Then Scipio rushed out of the ranks and gave the preconcerted
signal, and the sky was rent with cheers for
General Toler and for the South. They threw down their
arms, but a moment after snatched them up again, and demanded
to be led against Fell, who had deceived them.
