On the summit of a long hill is a farm house, and as we thus approached it on a gallop, I saw a group of men, and rows of cavalry horses tied to the fences. For a moment I thought my pursuit was over, but a closer glance through the dim twilight12 told me these were too few for the squadron—it was the picket13 guard taking their last rest before going out on their posts for the night. "Your men are about two miles ahead of you, captain," said the officer of the picket, and we rode on. As we descended14 the next hill, the last glimmer15 of daylight left us, and the darkness of a gloomy, cloudy night shrouded16 the road. I had been riding rapidly while the daylight lasted, but so had the squadron. Ordinarily, there would have been a halt before this, to re-adjust saddles and examine pistols, but it was now evident that while I was making every exertion17 to overtake them, they were making every exertion to meet me. I knew their orders must have been to proceed till they should meet me, and I could imagine that they supposed I was alone at the bridge, and were urging their horses to my relief. "Confound that blockhead," I was inclined to mutter; but there was no help for his blunder, save to hurry on.
[Pg 77]
A couple of miles beyond the picket guard, the road descends18 into a dreary19 swamp. It seems too dreary for any creature to live in; bushes and trees have died, and the tall, spectral20 trunks stand, like ghosts of a departed forest. Deep holes and fallen trees had made the crossing no easy task in daytime, and I now approached it with some misgivings21, and many wishes that we were well over.
Tennessee led bravely down the bank, on a trot22, crossing the rickety bridge and plunging23 into the submerged road, without abating24 his speed. Here Bischoff fell behind. His beautiful Ida had galloped25 since we turned back, as though running a race; but this was a slough26 of despond, through which she had to pick her way with care. The instinct of my horse was wonderful. Too dark for me to guide him, I threw the reins27 on his neck and trusted everything to him. With his head stretched out, he crossed and re-crossed the invisible road, avoiding its dangers, as it seemed to me, by precisely28 the same path he had picked out by daylight. Several times branches dashed in my face, and once my cap was nearly swept off; but with no other mishaps29, I found we were approaching the opposite bank, and soon felt his tread again on firm ground. I stopped for a moment and listened, but could hear nothing of the squadron before, or of Bischoff behind. I was alone with my good horse. Yet, as I reached the top of the next hill, I was greeted with a cheering sound—for from a house in the distance came the yelps31 of its[Pg 78] half dozen dogs, and in a moment the yelp30 was repeated from the house beyond. I knew then where my men were. At the same time, Tennessee, who had been disposed to linger for Ida, started forward, showing that by sight, or sound, or smell, he recognized his friends ahead, and was greatly disposed to try whether they were fresher than he. The swamp had brought the squadron to a walk, and, for a few moments, to a halt; and it was these few moments of delay that had enabled me to close up the distance between us.
As I approached, I was somewhat soothed32, to find the men were deserving a very big mark in "deportment!" No sound came from the silent column, save the trampling33 of the horses and the clanking of the sabres. A night march in an enemy's country requires secrecy34, and the ordinary recreation of talk and song then has to be laid aside. I was now close upon them, and, stealing up to the rearmost man, I announced myself by the command, "Column—halt." The long line of horses stopped. Habit is a strong master. The unexpected command, coming from the rear, and in the darkness, was obeyed as promptly35 as on parade. There was some surprise, a few questions and explanations, a few minutes' rest (during which Bischoff arrived), a general unslinging of canteens, and a great drinking of water; and then we pushed forward to finish the ten miles which lay between us and the Holly36 Fork.
It was not so late but that the eyes of many little folk I know were then open. Yet with the [Pg 79]Tennesseans it is early to bed and early to rise (though truth compels me to add, they are neither healthy, wealthy, nor wise), and every house was as still and dark as though it were midnight. That morning in Paris, I had observed the shutters37 upon the shops. It puzzled me at first; then I whispered to the sergeant38, "Is this Sunday?" and he answered, "I really believe it is." This was indeed Sunday evening! and yet I could hardly bring myself to believe that at the same hour, and while we were passing these lightless houses, whose undisturbed inmates39 slept, unconscious that their dreaded40 enemies were passing before their doors, in New York, the evening churches were not yet out, and the great city was probably more wide awake than at any other time of the preceding day. It was a contrast, too, those crowded streets and this lonely road.
At last I recognized the houses near the Fork. On the top of the hill, which overlooks the bridge, a cross road runs parallel to the brook41. The road then descends the hill, and is earned, upon a long and narrow causeway, to the bridge. A second causeway leads to the opposite bank, and on this bank a timber tobacco-barn commands the road, beyond. We were then within seven miles of Paris, where six hundred of King's cavalry had been but two days before. It was possible they had returned—possible, indeed, that the Memphis railroad had brought up five thousand troops since I left there in the morning. I halted, therefore, a moment for preparation. The fourth (being the last) platoon was[Pg 80] ordered to stop at the cross-road, and guard against our being surprised in the rear. With the remaining three I descended the hill. The second and third stayed at the beginning of the causeway, and the first, under command of the second-lieutenant42, was ordered to cross the bridge, and take possession of the tobacco-barn on the bank.
A dense43 wood covers the bridge and the causeway; and the beautiful evergreen44 that gives its name to the stream, added much to the darkness of the night; so much that the road looked almost like the entrance of a cavern45, the branches overarching above, and shading the dark passage-way below. Into this woodland tunnel the first platoon slowly rode. We watched them as they disappeared, and then listened to the sound of their horses rumbling47 and clattering48 on the bridge. In a minute more they had crossed; and then, about as long as it would reasonably take to give an alarm, there came, or seemed to come, from the other side, perhaps half a mile distant, the long roll of a drum. I was at the head of the column, and heard it distinctly; and the men behind me instantly whispered, "There's a drum." Our immediate49 inference was that the enemy were on the other side, and, hearing our horses trampling on the bridge, were beating to arms. Thinking it would not do to crowd more troops on the narrow causeway until the first platoon had gained the opposite bank, I ordered them to follow if I fired my pistol, and rode forward to join the first. The galloping50 of my[Pg 81] horse roused the bull-frogs, and they bellowed51 so loudly that I thought I might hereafter believe the stories often told of their frightening armies into a retreat. But above them came, from different points, five or six hideous52 half-human yells, as though sentinels were giving signals of our approach. They were, however, too near and too irregular for that, and evidently came from the trees; so that I quickly concluded that some night birds were the callers, and afterward53 ascertained54 them to be a species of Southern owl46. In less time than I am writing this I had crossed, and found the platoon quietly examining the tobacco-barn. I asked about the drum. They had not heard it, and stoutly56 insisted there could have been none. I waited until some men who had been sent on returned, and reported the road was empty and quiet for a mile ahead; and then, directing the lieutenant to place videttes in advance, and if attacked to draw up his horses in the rear of the barn and let his men fire through the logs until the main body should arrive, I recrossed the bridge. The men were still mounted, and waiting for the signal to advance. I informed them of what the first platoon had said, and they as stoutly insisted that there was a drum, because they had heard it. Whether it was indeed some small party of rebels beating an alarm, or the footfalls of our own horses rolling from the bridge, and echoed back from some distant hill, I leave you to determine.
I now turned my attention to preparations for the night. At the foot of the hill, and near the beginning[Pg 82] of the causeway, a little country store stood empty and deserted57. A fire was soon kindled58, and its counter and shelves moved out of the way. All of the horses were kept saddled, and the men divided into two watches. One platoon, during the first half the night, stood by their horses, ready to mount in a moment, and then changed with the other for such rest as they could gather from the floor of the little building. The first platoon remained across the creek59 as a picket-guard toward Paris, and the fourth in the-rear as a picket for the cross-roads. I have been thus minute in order that you may have a clear idea of the manner in which such affairs are managed, and because I have never observed in the newspapers any narrative60 or statement which explains these details to friends at home. Perhaps you will ask, "What is a picket?" The papers constantly speak of our pickets61 being "thrown out," or the enemy's being "driven in," but never tell what sort of creatures these pickets are. The pickets are sentinels beyond the camp guard, and toward the enemy. There may be a chain of pickets stretching over the country; and the picket guard may be very large, or it may consist of a sergeant and six men. These are divided into three "relieves," which constitute the "videttes," or "lookout," as we might translate it. Toward evening they pass out several miles upon the road they are to guard, and then select a place for the night, but this they do not occupy till after dark; the sergeant then goes out with the first "relief," and "posts" them, selecting a[Pg 83] place where they can see without being seen. The two on duty must remain mounted, and silent; the others may dismount, but not unsaddle; nor can they build a camp fire, nor indulge in any noise. After an hour the sergeant takes out the second "relief" and relieves the first, and then the third to relieve the second.
After visiting the videttes, I agreed to relieve my lieutenant at three in the morning, and then returned to the little store, unbuckled my buffalo62, and was soon stretched with the men on the floor. It seemed as though I had been there but a few seconds, when I was roused by some one laying his hand on my shoulder and saying "Captain!" in a low voice. You wake quickly under such circumstances, and I was on my feet in an instant, demanding what was the matter. "Nothing; it's a quarter to three." "Indeed! that's a very soft floor." And I went out and remounted. The clouds were gone and the moon shone brilliant in the clear sky. At the tobacco-barn I found all quiet. The sentinel paced up and down in front, watching lest there should be an alarm from the videttes; and the men were stretched on some tobacco stalks within, sleeping as soundly without blankets as though on beds of down. It was time to relieve the videttes. "Call up the next relief." The sentinel goes in, shakes the next three, drops down himself, and in a minute is sound asleep. Of the three men who come out, one takes his place and the other two mount their horses. I had not personally relieved guard since at Camp[Pg 84] Asboth last October, and was struck with the difference which practice and discipline had made. Then the men came out, one by one, half asleep, growling63 and yawning; now they were up at the first touch, wide awake, and apparently64 as willing as though called to breakfast.
On the crest65 of a hill, about a mile up the road, the videttes were posted. Seated, silent and motionless, on their horses, in front of a house, they looked in the moonlight like equestrian66 statues placed at the gateway67. "Have you seen or heard anything?" "No, sir." "Has everything been quiet in this house?" "Yes, sir." "Well, you are relieved, and may cross the bridge; there is a fire in the store, and it is quite comfortable." Sitting thus motionless for hours in the chill night air, when the white frost is settling like snow on field and road, is no pleasant duty, and the mention of the fire was an unexpected gleam of comfort to the men. As they hastened back, we rode slowly on, partly to see if the road was clear, partly that the new relief might the better understand the ground they had to watch; and then I returned to the barn, where, fastening my horse, I paced up and down, and resorted to the usual methods of keeping warm. I glanced at my watch; but half an hour had gone, and two and a half remained. Time passes very slowly under such circumstances. Relieving the videttes broke in upon the monotony. "The people are stirring in the house, they have just started a fire," was the report. "Don't[Pg 85] let any of them go up the road on any pretext68;" and I rode back to the barn. How surprised they will be, I thought, when they come out and find two "armed invaders69" have been watching over them while they slept. When I next came my round, the man of the house had just come out. He merely glanced at us, walked by, giving a sulky nod, and proceeded to feed his pigs, with as much indifference70 as though it were nothing to him whether a whole regiment71 of Yankees were in front of his door, or a hundred miles off.
So passed the time till a bright light gleamed through the trees toward the east. The sentinel saw it first. "Is that a fire, captain?" he asked. No; it was the morning star. Slowly it seemed to climb the trees, moving steadily72 from branch to branch, till it beamed from the clear sky above. Then came a belt of pale silver light, which grew brighter and brighter, until it turned to crimson73; and then rose the sun. Our watch is over. "Call up the men, sergeant; order the second platoon across; and take a man and go two miles up the road, and see if there are any rebels there."
We passed a busy day. Parties were sent out, up and down the brook, to see if there were bridges or fords near us, and to ascertain55 where the cross-roads ran; others for forage74; and one toward Paris, to watch any movement there. Guards were placed to stop persons on the road, so that no information might be carried to the enemy. I explored the banks of the brook near us, to make sure that no party could cross[Pg 86] and attack us unexpectedly during the coming night. Late in the afternoon I had my horse unsaddled, spread my buffalo on the floor, pulled off my boots, and laid down for a good sleep before my night-watch commenced. Hardly down, ere an officer arrived from camp. Another squadron was coming to relieve us, and we were to return immediately. The men who had been on duty all day were asleep; their horses were all down too; our arrangements were all nicely completed for the night; but we must go. "Call in the videttes and saddle up," were the orders; and soon we were marching back. So ended my first experience in guarding bridges, and my care of the bridge over the Holly Fork.
There is in our school "Readers" a certain lesson about a vagrant75 little brook, wherein is told that "the glossy76-green and coral clusters of the holly flung down reflections in rich profusion77 on the little pool visited by a ray of softer sunshine," etc. These words (if I recollect78 them rightly) were printed in different "Readers" in different ways; sometimes a hyphen between glossy-green, sometimes a comma; and again no mark whatever. A fearful wilderness79 of words it was, in which scholars and teachers, and even principals, at examinations, and other important times and seasons, have gone astray: whoever then correctly construed80 "glossy green" and "visited," could do what no one else could. While standing8 guard at the bridge, there came to me the memories of the reading lesson—of the[Pg 87] one who succeeded and the many who failed—of disconcerted faces and puzzled looks, and the Holly Fork became associated with the lesson, as hereafter (should I ever return to North Moore street) the lesson will, doubtless, call to mind the Holly Fork.
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1
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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seceding
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的现在分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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atoned
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的过去式和过去分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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14
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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22
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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23
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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abating
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| 减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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25
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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mishaps
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| n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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yelps
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| n.（因痛苦、气愤、兴奋等的）短而尖的叫声( yelp的名词复数 )v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的第三人称单数 ) | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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36
holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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37
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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38
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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39
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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40
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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41
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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42
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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43
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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44
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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45
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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46
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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47
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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48
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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49
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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50
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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51
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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52
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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53
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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54
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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56
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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57
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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59
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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60
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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61
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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64
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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65
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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66
equestrian
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| adj.骑马的；n.马术 | |
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67
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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68
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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69
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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70
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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71
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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72
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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73
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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74
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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75
vagrant
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| n.流浪者，游民；adj.流浪的，漂泊不定的 | |
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76
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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77
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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78
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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79
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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80
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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