xt7hmg7frf8z https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7hmg7frf8z/data/mets.xml Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897. 1866  books b92-166-30116540 English Lee and Shepard, : Boston : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Fighting Joe, or, The fortunes of a staff officer : a story of great rebellion / by Oliver Optic [pseud.] text Fighting Joe, or, The fortunes of a staff officer : a story of great rebellion / by Oliver Optic [pseud.] 1866 2002 true xt7hmg7frf8z section xt7hmg7frf8z 

























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FIGHTING



JOE;



                    OR,



THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



    3 Atorgot Uxe QlraI tbdclltsm.




                    BY

            OLIVER OPTIC,
AUTHOR OF " THE SOLDIER BOY,` " THE SAILOR BOY,"  THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT,'
  "THE YANKEE MIDDY," " RICH AND RUMBLE," "IN SCHOOL AND OUT,"
     "WATCH AND WAIT,` " WORK AND WIN," "THE RIVERDLE
          STORY BOOKS," " THE BOAT CLUB," ETC.









                BOSTON:
      LLEF AND ,S1HEPARD,
          SUCCESSORS TO PHILLIPS, SAMPSON  CO.
                  1866.

 





















      Entered according to Act of Congesu, In the year 1865, by

                    WILLIAM   T. ADAMS,

In the Clerk's Office or the District Court of the District of M1assachusetts.




























                   ELECTROTYPED AT THE
              Doston Stereotype Foundry,
                      No. 4 Spring Lane.

 












TO



F. ORNIOND J.



S. BAZIN



          This Book


IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,


         BY HIS FRIEND


             WILLIAM T. ADAMS.

 



THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES.

          In Six Volumes.

5  oibvratvif(r TD1      gu   M awi gl T.

      BY OLIVER OPTIC.





      TI ExOIflIElt flOY;3
   Or, Tom   Somers in the Army.

                II.
       TILEP SAflLO:R flOV;
    Or, Jack Somers in the Navy.

                III.
  T1E V OTIJNG LIEU=TENANT;g
Or, The Adventures of an Army Officer.
      A SEQUEL TO " TIE SOLDIER BOY."

                TV.
     TH:E VANKIIEE MIDOV;
Or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer.
       A SEQUEL TO "THE SAILOR BOY."

                V.
        r  n-rTINc: JOE:;
  Or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.
    A SEQUEL TO "THE YOUNG LIEUJTENANT."

                VT.
      RflAV OTID S ALT ;
   Or, L.ife on the Quarter fDeck.
     A SEQUEL TO "THE YANKEE MIDDY."
            (In Preparation.)
                            (4)

 














                      PREFACE.





  TnIS volume, the fifth of " THE ARMY AND NAV STORIES," iS
not a biography of the distinguished soldier whose sobriquet in the
army has been chosen as its -principal title, though the prominent
incidents of his military career are noticed in its pages.  The
writer offers his humble tribute of admiration to the energetic and
devoted general who will be recognized under the appellation
given to this work; but perhaps the object of the volume may
be better represented by the second title.  It follows Torn
Somers, " The Soldier Boy " and " The Young Lieutenant,"
in his brilliant and daring career as a staff officer, through some
of the most stormy and trying scenes of the late war.
  As in the volumes of the series which have preceded it, the best
sources of information upon military events have been carefully
consulted; and to the extent to which the book is properly his-
torical, it is intended to be faithful in its delineations. But the
work is more correctly a record of personal adventure, no more
complicated, daring, and romantic than may be found in the
experience of many, whol through trial and tribulation, through
victory and defeat, have passed from the inception to the gigantic
failure of this gigantic rebellion.
                                             (6)

 





e                        PREFACE.

  More earnest than any other purpose in the production of the
book, it has been the object of the writer to exhibit a character
in his hero worthy the imitation of the boy and the man who may
read it; and if it does nQt inculcate a lofty patriotism, and a noble
and Christian morality, it will have failed of the highest aim of
the author.
  With the still stronger expression of gratitude which the in-
creasing favor bestowed upon previous efforts demands of me, I
pass the fifth volume of the series into the hands of my indulgent
friends, hoping that it will not fall short of their reasonable
expectations.
                                  WILLIAM     T. ADAMS.


   HARRISON SQuAnR, MAss., December 12, 1865.


 





















CONTENTS.



CH9APTER
    I. A FITnTING MA    AN-.

    II. A SKIRMISH ON THIE ROAD.

  III. FIGHTING JOE.

  IV. MISS MAUD HASBRaUic.

  V. TIlE BOOT ON ONE LEG.   .

  VI. T1E BOOT ON TImE OTIIER LiG..

  VII. SOUTIH MOUNTAIN.

  VIII. BEFORE THIE GREAT BATTLF.

  IX. BETWEEN TIHE PlCKETS.

  X. M1AJOR RIGGLESTONT.

  XI. SHOT IN THE HEAD.

  XII. THE COUNCIL OF OFFICERS.

  XIII. TIlE BATTLE OF ANTIETAMI.

  XIV. THlE BATTLE ON THE RIG11T.

  XV. AFTER TILE BATTLE.

  XVI.4 TIlE MIYSTERY EXPLAINED.

XVII. DowN IN TENNESSEE..

XVIII. THE GUERILLAS AT SUPPER.

XIX. TrIPPY THE SCOUT.. . . .

  XX. SKINLEY THE TEXX..   . .

  XXI. THE HOUSE OF THE UNION MAN.



            PAGE
..11

           .22

           .33

             44

           .55

           .66

             77
             FS


           .109

           .120

           .1.31

.141

..151

..161

.171

           .181

           .191

           .202

           .213

           .223
 (7)

 





CONTENTS.



THE GREENBACK TRAIN. . . . . . . . . 234

THE BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS. . . . . . . . 244

PEACH-TREE CREEK.  . . . . . . . . . 25

THE MONKEY AND THE CAT'S PAW.  . . . . . 2C

SUPPER FOR SEVEN.. . . . . . . . . . 274
THE CATS'S PAW TOO SHARP FOR THE MONKEY. . . 284

THE BLOOD-HOUNDS ON THE TRACK. . . . . . 294

THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SEA...  . . . . . 303

MAJOR SOMERS AND FRIENDS. . . . . . . . 314



8



  XXII.

  XXIII.

  XXIV.

  XXV.
  XXVI.

XXVI1.

XXVIII.

XXIX.

  XXX.


 













FIGHTING JOE.

 
This page in the original text is blank.


 










          FIGHTING JOE;

                      On,

THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.




               CHAPTER I.

               A FIGHTING MAN.

(X2t A, ELL, Alick, I don't know where I am,"
alt) h isaid Captain Thomas Somers, of the staff
           of the major general commanding the first
army corps of the Army of the Potomac, then on its
march to repel the invasion of Maryland. which had
been attempted by the victorious rebels under General
Lee.
  " Well, massa, I'm sure I don't know," replied Alick,
his colored servant. "' If you was down 'bout Peters-
burg, I reckon I'd know all 'bout it."
  " We must find out very soon," added Captain Somers,
as he reined in his horse at a point where two roads
branched off, one to the north-west and the other to the
south-west.
                                    'tlO8

 





FIGHTING JOE, OR



  "Day ain't no house 'bout here, massa."
  "I don't want to lose my way, for I have no time to
spare."
  " Dar's somebody comin' up behind, massa," said
Alick, who first heard the sounds of horses' feet ap-
proaching in the direction from which they had just
come.
  Captain. Somers, after receiving the agreeable intelli-
gence of his appointment on the staff of the general, in
whose division he had served on the Peninsula, hastened
to Washington to report for duty. He had hardly time
to visit his friends, and was obliged to content himself
with a short call on Miss Lilian Ashford, though he had
an invitation to spend the evening with the family, ex-
tended for the purpose of enabling the young gentleman
to cultivate an acquaintance with the beautiful girl's
grandmother!
  Lilian's father's mother was certainly a very estimable
old lady, and her granddaughter loved and reverenced
her with a fervor which was almost enthusiastic. It
was quite natural, therefore, that she should wish Cap-
tain Somers, - for whom she had knit a pair of socks,
which had been no small portion of his inspiration in the
hour of battle, and for whom she had contracted a friend-
ship, - it was quite natural that she should wish to have
the captain well acquainted with her grandmother. She
lIved the old lady herself, and of course so brave,



12

 



THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



handsome, and loyal a person as her friend had proved
to be, must share her reverence and respect. Besides,
the venerable woman remembered all about the last war
with Great Britain. 1er husband had been one of the
firemen sent out with axes to cut away the bridges which
connect Boston with the surrounding country, when an
invasion of the town was expected. She could tell a good
story, and as Somers was a military man, it was highly
important that he should know all about the dreaded
invasion which did not take place.
  Captain Somers was obliged to deprive himself of the
pleasure of listening to the old lady's history of those
stirring events, for more exciting ones were in progress
on the very day of which we write. He was sorry, for
he anticipated a great deal of pleasure from the visit,
though whether he expected to derive the whole of it
from the presence of the grandmother, we are not in-
formed; and it would be wicked to pry too deeply into
the secrets of the young man's heart. We are not quite
sure that Lilian was entirely unselfish when she described
what a rich treat the old lady's narrative would be; but
we are certain that she was entirely sincere, and that it
was quite proper to offer some extra inducement to se-
cure the gallant captain's attendance.
  The captain did not need any extraordinary induce-
ments, beyond the presence of the fair Lilian herself.
We even believe that he would hale cheerfully spent the



13

 




F1 TGJHTLVG JOE, OR



evening at No. - Rutland Street, if there had been no
one but herself to give him a welcome, and aid him in
passing away the hours. Nothing but a high sense of
duty could have led him to break the engagement. The
rebel hordes, victorious before Washington, and elated
by the signal successes they had won, were pouring into
Maryland, menacing Washington, Baltimore, and Phila-
delphia. It was a time which tried the souls of patriotic
men - a time when no man who loved his country could
rest in peace while there was a work which his hands
could do.
  The young staff officer called upon the lady and stated
his situation. She blushed, as she always did in his
presence, and gave him a God-speed on his patriotic
mission. She hoped he would not be killed, or even
wounded; that his feeble health would be restored; and
that God would bless him as he went forth to do battle
for his treason-ridden land. She was pale when he took
her hand at parting; her bosom heaved with emotions,
to which Somers found a response in his own heart, but
which hie could not explain.
  He went to Washington; but the gallant army, still
suffering from the pangs of recent defeat, but yet strong
in the cause they had espoused, had marched to the
scene of new battles. Somers had already provided him-
self with his staff uniform, and he remained in Washing-
ton only long enough to purchase two horses, one of



14

 



THE FORTUNES OF 4 STAFF OFFICER.



which he mounted himself, while Alick rode the other,
and started for the advance of the army. The roads
were so cumbered with artillery trains and baggage
wagons that his progress was very slow, and the corps to
lwhichl he now belonged was several days in advance of
him. By the advice of a general officer, he had made a
detour from the direct road, and passed through a com-
paratively quiet country.
  The rebels were at Frederick City, and their cavalry,
in large and small bodies, was scattered all over the
region, gathering supplies for the half starved, half
clothed men of Lee's army. Thus far Somers had met
none of these marauders, nor any of the guerillas, who,
without a license from either side, were plundering sol-
diers and civilians who could offer no resistance. Somers
had ridden as rapidly as his feeble state of health would
permit; but his enthusiasm had urged him forward until
his horse was more in danger of giving out than the
rider. But when he reached the cross-roads, at which
we find him, doubtful about the right way, he had slept
the preceding night at a farm-house, and horse and rider
were now in excellent condition.
  " Are your pistols ready for use, Alick" asked Som-
ers, as he heard the sounds of the horses' feet.
  " Yes, sar; always keep the pistols ready. But what
you gwine to do wid pistols here" replied the servant,
as he took his weapon from his pocket.



15

 



FIGHTING JOE, OR



  "The country is full. of rebels and guerillas; they
may want our horses, and perhaps ourselves. I can't
spare my coat and boots very well at present."
  " Guess not, massa," laughed Alick, as he examined
the lock of his pistol.
  'I have never seen you in a fight, Alick. Do you
think you can stand up to it "
  "Well, massa, I don't want to say much about that,
but I reckon I won't run away no faster 'n you do."
  " If I get into trouble with these ruffians, I shall want
to know whether I can depend on you, or not."
  " Golly, massa! You can depend on me till the cows
come home! " exclaimed Alick. II I doesn't like to say
much about it, but if these yere hossmen wants to fight,
I'm not the chile to run away."
  " They don't look much like rebels or guerillas," added
Somers, as he obtained his first view of the approaching
horsemen. "1 But you can't tell much by the looks in
these times, for the villains have robbed us till half of
them wear our own colors. Those people certainly wear
the uniform of our army."
  "D ar's only two of 'em, massa. I reckon they don't
want to fight much."
  " I only wished to be cautious; very likely they are
loyal and true men," replied Somers, as the strangers
came too near to permit any further remarks in regard
to their probable character.



16

 


TIE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



  Both the travellers were evidently officers of the army,
though111, as Somers had sugecsted, it wvas impossible to
tell what anybody was by the looks, or even if he was
seen to take the (oath of allegiance. As they came round
a bend of the road, qnd discovered the captain and his
servant, they reined ulp their steeds, and seemed to be
disturbed by the same-ic doubts which had troubled the first
party. Bult they advanced, after a cautious survey, and
each of them touched his cap, when they came within
speaking distance. Somers politely returned the salute,
and moved his horse towards them.
  "Good morning, gentlemen," said he.    "Can you
inform me which is the road to Frederick City"
  " Trhe left, sir. If you are going in that direction, we
shall be glad of your company," replied one of the officers.
  "Thank you; I shall be glad to go -with you."
    I see by your uniform that you belong on the staff,"
added the officer who had done the talking.
  "Yes, sir; " and Somers, without reserve, informed
him who and what he was.
  "Somers!" exclaimed the stranger. " I have heard
of you before. Perhaps you remember one Dr. Scoville,
of Pdtersburg "
  "Perfectly," laughed Somers.
  "Well, sir, he is an uncle of mine."
  "Indeed I took you to be an officer of the United
States army."



17

 








1I GFlUTING JOE, OR



   "So I am; but my father married a sister of Dr.
Scoville."
  "Dr. Scoville is a very good sort of man, but he is an
awful rebel. I suppose he bears no good will towards
me and my friend Mlajor de Banyan."
  " Perhaps not; but the affair was a capital joke on the
doctor. And since lie is a rebel, and a very pestilent one
too, I enjoyed it quite as much as you did."
  "4 I feel very grateful to him for what he did for me.
I went into his house without an invitation; he dressed
my wound, and nearly cured me. When the soldiers
came upon us, he promised to give us up at the proper
time, and pledged himself for our safety. We left him,
one day, rather shabbily, I confess; but we had no taste
for a rebel prison, for the rebs don't always manage their
prisons very well."
  " I have heard the whole story.  It's rich. If you
please, we will move on."
  "With all my heart, major," replied Somers, who
read his rank from his shoulder-straps.
  " I am Major Riggleston, of the -ud Maryland Home
Brigade, on detached duty, just now."
  "I am glad to know you, Major Rigleston, especially
as you are a relative of my friend Dr. Scoville, and on
the right side."
  "This is Captain Barkwood, of the regulars."
  Somers saluted the quiet gentleman, who had hardly



18

 




THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



spoken during the interview.  Major Riiggleston was
dressed in an entirely new uniform, and rode a splendid
horse, which led Somers to believe that he belonged to
one of the wealthy and aristocratic families of the state
which so tardily embraced the cause of the Union. On
the other hand, Captain Barkwood looked as though he
had seen hard service; for his uniform was rusty, and
his face was bronzed by exposure beneath the fervid sun
of the south.
  The party were excellently well acquainted with each
other before they had ridden a mile. After the topics
suggested by the first meeting had been exhausted,
Somers mentioned his fear of the guerillas and rebel
marauders, who kept a little way in advance of the
invading army. The travellers were now farther north
than Frederick, and some distance from the advancing
line of the Union army. The road they had chosen was
not one of the great thoroughfares of the state; conse-
quently it was but little frequented.
  "I don't object to meeting a small party of guerillas,"
said Major Riggleston; " for, gentlemen, if you are of
the same mind that I am, we should show them the
quality of true Union steel."
  " I hope we shall not meet any; but if we do, I am in
no humor to lose my horse or my boots," replied Somers.
"But we may meet so many of them that it would be
better to trust to our horses' heels than to the quality of
our steel."



19

 





FIGHTING JOE, OR



   "True -too many would not be agreeable; but, say
a dozen or twenty of them. We could whip that number
without difficulty. The fact is, gentlemen, I am a fight-
ing man. There has been too much of this looking at
the enemy, and then running away. I repeat, gentlemen,
I am a fighting man."
   iI am glad to hear it, and glad to have met you, for
I am told there are a good many of these small plun-
dering, parties loose about this region; and I would
rather fight than lose my boots," laughed Somers.
  "Three of us can do a good thing," added the major.
  "Four," suggested Somers.
  "Four"
  "My man can fight."
  "But be is a nigger; niggers won't fight."
  "He will. By the way, he came from your uncle's,
at Petersburg."
  "Alick!" exclaimed the major, glancing back at the
servant.
  He did not seem to be well pleased to discover one of
his uncle's contrabands at this distance from home; for,
with many other chivalrous southrons, lie believed it
would be a good thing to preserve the Union, if slavery
could be preserved with it. le spoke a few words to
Alick, but did not seem to enjoy the interview.
    Yes, we can whip at least twenty of the villains,"
added the major, as he resumed his place between



20

 




        THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.        21

Somers and   Captain Barkwood.    "   l What do you
think" he continued, turning to the regular.
  "I hope we shall not meet any. I am a coward by
nature. I would rather run than figlt, any time," replied
the captain. " Of all things I dislike these small skir-
mislies, these hand-to-hand fights."
    I like them; I'm a fighting man," said the major.
  "I'm afraid you will have a chance to test your
mettle," said Somers. " Those fellows are guerillas, if I
mistake not," added he, pointing to half a dozen horse-
men who were approaching them.


 



FI22  Flf ATLV  JOE, OR



                 CHAPTER. II.

              A SKIRMISH ON THE ROAD.

W       HE horsemen who had attrqocted the attention of
        Captain Somers were hard-looking fellows. They
        were dressed in a miscellaneous manner, their
clothes being partly civilian and partly military. Por-
tions of their garb were new, and probably at no distant
period had been part of the stock in trade of some in-
dustrious clothier in one of the invaded towns; and por-
tions were faded and dilapidated, bearing the traces of a
severe march through the soft mud of Virginia. It was
not easy to mistake their character.
  The guerillas perceived the approaching party almost
as soon as they were themselves perceived.   They
adopted no uncertain tactics, but instantly put spurs to
their horses and galloped up to the little squad of officers.
They appeared to havc no doubts whatever in regard to
the issue of the meeting, for they resorted to no caution-
ary movements, and made no prudential halts. They
had evidently had everything their own way in previous
encounters of this description, and seemed to be satisfied



22

 


THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



that they had only to demand an unconditional surren-
der in order to find their way at once to the pockets of
the travellers, or to appropriate their coats and boots to
the use of the rebel army.
  " Halt! " said the nondescript gentleman at the head
of the guerillas.
  "Your business" demanded Major Riggleston.
  " Sorry to trouble you, gentlemen, but you are my
prisoners," said the chief guerilla, as blandly as though
he had been in a drawing-room.
  "Who are you, gentlemen" asked the major.
  "I don't like to be uncivil to a well-dressed gentleman
like yourself; but I haven't learned my catechism lately,
and can't stop to be questioned. Iu one word, do you
surrender "
  "Allow me a moment to consult my friends."
  "Only one moment."
  "Don't you think we had better surrender, Captain
Somers  "
  "I thought you were a fighting man," replied Somers.
  II am, when circumstances will admit of it; but they
are two to our one."
  " Just now you thought we were a match for at least
twenty of these fellows."
  "Time's up, gentlemen," said the dashing guerilla.
  "What do you say, Captain Somers"
  "You can do as you please; I don't surrender, for one."



23

 



FIGHTING JOE, OR



  "But this is madness."
  "I don't care what it is; I am going to fight my way
through."
  " Do you surrender " demanded the impatient chief
of the horsemen.
  "' No !" replied Soners, in his most decided tone.
  "Then you are a dead man!"       And the guerilla
raised his pistol.
  Somers already bad one of his revolvers in his hand,
and before the villain had fairly uttered the words, he
presented his weapon and fired, as quick as the flash of
the lightning. The leader dropped from his horse, and
his pistol was discharged in the act, but the ball went
into the ground. Almost at the same instant the quiet
captain of the regulars fired, and wounded another of the
banditti. The others, apparently astonished at this u n-
expected resistance, discharded their pistols, and pressed
forward, with their sabres in hand, to avenge the fall of
their comrades.
  Somiers rapidly fired the other barrels of his revolver,
and so did Captain Barkwood, but without the same
decisive effect as before, though two of the assailants
appeared to be slighltly wounded. There was no further
opportunity to use firearms, and the officers drew their
swords, as they fell back before the impetuous charge of
the savage guerillas. Major Riiggleston followed their
example, and for a moment the sparks flew from the



24

 


THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



well-tempered steel of the combatants. Our officers were
accomplishod swordsmen, but the furious rtbels appeared
to be getting the better of them. Major Riggleston con-
trived to wheel his horse, and was so fortunate as to get
out of the mdek with a whole skin.
  At this point, when victory seemed about to perch
on the rebel standard, Alick, who had thus far been
ignored, brought down a third guerilla with his pistol.
Th1e negro was cool, collected, and self-possessed. IIe
had not fired before, because the officers stood between
him and the assailants. Now, as lie had no sword, he
stood off, and took deliberate aim at his man.
  Captain Barkwood, who was a man of immense mMs-
cle, succeeded, after a desperate hand-to-hand conflict, in
wounding his opponent in the sword arm.J The fellow
dropped his weapon, and turning his horse, fled with the
utmost precipitation. Thie only remaining one, finding
himself alone, immediately followed his example. The
battle was won, and the coats and boots were evidently
saved.
  "'W1y don't you follow them " cried Major Riggles-
ton, rushing madly up to the spot at this decisive mo-
ment. " Hunt then (lown! Tear them to pieces."
  "We'll leave that for our fighting man to do," replied
Somers, with a smile, though be was so mitlch out of
breath with the violence of his exertions that he could
scarcely articulate the words.
                3



25

 




FIGHTING JOE, OR



  " Don't let them escape;' added the major, furiously.
"Cut them down ! Don't let them plunder the country
any more."
  As he spoke, he put spurs to his horse, and dashed
madly up the road in pursuit of the defeated guerillas.
  "Your hand, Captain Somers,". said the regular.
"You are a trump."
  " Thank you; and I am happy to reciprocate the com-
pliment," replied the young staff officer, as he took the
proffered hand of Captain Barkwood.
  "As a general rule, I don't think much of volunteer
officers," continued the regular; "but you are a stun-
ning good fellow, and as plucky as a hen that has lost
one of her chickens."
  aI am obliged to you for your good opinion, and
especially for your ornithological simile," laughed Som-
ers, who, we need not add, was delighted with the con-
duct of his companion.
  " My what "
  "Your ornithological simile."
  "My dear fellow, you must have swallowed a quarto
dictionary.  If you had only used that expression
before the fight, the rebels would certainly have run
away, and declined to engage a man who used words of
such ominous length. No matter; you can fight."
  " I can when I am obliged to do so. You remarked,
a little while ago, that you were a coward by nature."



26

 



THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



   " So I am; but it was safer to fight than it was
 to run."
   "' You did not behave like a man who is a coward by
nature."
   " But I am a coward; and I dislike these hand-to-
hand encounters."
   "1 You didn't appear to dislike them very much just
now," added Somers, who was filled with admiration at
the gallant bearing of the regular.
  " I do; war is a science. I play at it just as I do
at chess. By the way, Captain Somers, do you play
chess "
  ' Only a little."
  "Well, it's a noble game; and I may have the pleasure
of letting you beat me some time. War is like chess;
it's a great game. I like to see a well-planned battle,
and even to take a part in it. But these little affairs,
where everything depends on brute force, are my par-
ticular abomination.  There is no science about them
no strategy - no chance to flank, or do any other smart
thing."
  "here comes the major; he didn't catch his man,"
said Somers, as the "; fighting man'" was seen galloping
towards them.
  "He's a prudent man," replied the regular, hardly
betraying the contempt he felt for this particular vol-
unteer.



27

 



FIGHTING JOE, OR



  "He's a Maryland man."
  "So am I," promptly returned Captain Barkwood, as
though he feared that something might be said against
the bravery of the men of his state. "1 I was born and
brought up not ten miles from the spot where we now
stand."
  "W Why didn't you follow me " demanded the major,
in a reproachful tone, as he reined in his panting steed.
  "We had got enough of it," answered the regular.
  "We might have brought them down if you had
joined me in the pursuit."
  "We might, if you had stuck by us in the fight," said
Somers, with a ge'ntle smile, to break the force of the
rebuke.
  "Stood by you" exclaimed Major Riggleston, his
face flushed with anger. " Do you intend to insinuate
that I did not stand by you"
  "You did, but at a safe distance."
  "Didn't I do all the talking with the villains"
foamed the major.
  "Certainly you did," replied the regular.
  "Didn't I bear the whole brunt of the assault at the
beginning"
  "Undoubtedly you did," responded Captain Barkwood,
before Somers could speak a word.
  "Didn't I fight like a tiger, till
  "Unquestionably you did."



28

 


THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



   "Till my rein got entangled in my spur, and whirled
my horse round"
  "lMy dear   jor, you behaved like a lion," said Bark-
wood, in tones so soothing that the anger of Rigg-leston
passed away like the shadow of a summner cloud.
  "I am a fightin, manl."
  " That's so."
  "And I dislike this marching and countermarching
in the face of an enemy."
  "There we unfortunately disagree for the first time.
That is strategy, - the art of wvar, - and all that makes
war glorious."
  "I believe in pitching into an enemy, and, when he is
beaten, in following him up till there is nothing left of
him. I regret, gentlemen, that you did not join in the
pursuit of the two miscreants with me. 'We might have
annihilated them as well as not."
  Somers did not understand the humor of the regular,
and could not fathom his object in permitting the coward
still to believe that he was a fighting man. While the
conversation was in progress, Alick had removed the
bodies of the two dead rebels from the road, and placed
the other two, who were severely wounded, in a com-
fortable position under a tree. He had filled their can-
teens with water from the brook which ran across the
road a short distance from the spot, and left them to live
or die, as the future might determine. He had also
                3



29

 





FIGHITISO JOE, OR



transferred a good saddle from one of the guerillas'
horses to his own animal, which had not before been
provided with one.
  The party moved on again. Major Riggleston talked
about the fight; for some reason or other he could speak
of nothing else. He still called himself a fighting man,
and still talked as though he had fired the most effective
shots and struck the hardest blows which had been given.
The regular agreed with him in all things, except when
he impugned the sacred claims of strategy.
  "Never cross a fool in his folly, nor ruin a man
in his own estimation," said Captain Barkwood, when
Somers, at a favorable moment, asked an explanation
of his singular commendation of the poltroon.
  " But he is a coward."
  "Call no man a coward but yourself.    There is
hardly an officer in the army, from the general-in-chief
down to the corporal of the meanest regiment in the
service, that has not been called a coward. You don't
know who are cowards, and who are not."
  "Perhaps you are right."
  "I know I am. I am a coward myself, but I know
nothing about anybody else."
  "I differ with you."
  "You don't know anything about it. The major don't
love you over much now for what you hinted. Never
make an enemy when there is no need of it."



30

 



THE FORTUNES OF A STAFF OFFICER.



  The approach of Major Riggleston put an end to this
conversation. Somers could not help noticing that the
major treated him rather cavalierly; but as he was not
particularly anxious to secure the esteem of such a man,
the manner of his companion did not disturb him.
  In the afternoon the party reached Frederick, which
had just been abandoned by Lee's rear guard, and was
now occupied by a portion of McClellan's advance.
  " Gentlemen, we have had a hard ride, and I know
you must be tired as well as myself," said Major Rig-
gleston, as they entered the city. " You will permit me
to offer you the hospitalities of my father's house."
  "Thank you; I accept, for one," replied Captain
Barkwood. "1 I am not tired, but I am half starved."
  "And you, Somers " added the major, with a degree
of cordiality in his manner which he had not exhibited
since the skirmish on the road.
  The young captain had been in the saddle all day; his
health was feeble, and he was very much exhausted by
the journey. Ile had hoped to reach the headquarters
of the first