General Nelson's Scout 34

General Nelson's Scout 34

They found General Buell in the highest of spirits, and Fred was given a

warm welcome. He looked over General Thomas' report, and his whole face

beamed with satisfaction. He asked Fred a multitude of questions, and

was surprised at the knowledge of military affairs which he showed in

his answers.

 

"I think, General," said General Buell, turning to Nelson, after he had

dismissed Fred, "that you have not overestimated the abilities of your

protégé. In a private note General Thomas speaks in the highest terms of

him. I shall do what you asked."

 

"Thank you, General," said Nelson. "Somehow I have taken wonderfully to

the boy."

 

What it was General Buell was to do for Fred, that individual was in

ignorance.

 

While in Louisville many of Fred's leisure moments were spent at the

hospitable home of the Vaughns. Mabel's betrothed was now at the front,

and it was astonishing how much note paper that young lady used in

writing to him.

 

"You don't write that often to your brother," said Fred, smiling.

 

"My brother?" asked Mabel, looking up in surprise.

 

"Yes, your humble servant; didn't you adopt me as a brother?"

 

Mabel burst out laughing. "Oh!" she replied, "one doesn't have to write

so often to a brother. Lovers are like babies; they have to be petted.

But to change the subject, where does my knight-errant expect to go for

his next adventure?"

 

"I don't know," answered Fred. "Things appear to be rather quiet just

now."

 

But events were even then transpiring that were to take Fred to a

different theater of action.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVI.

 

FORT DONELSON.

 

 

Commodore Foote and General U. S. Grant sat conversing in the

headquarters of the latter at Cairo, Illinois. The general was puffing a

cigar, and answered in monosyllables between puffs.

 

"You have heard nothing yet, have you, General," the commodore was

asking, "of that request we united in sending to General Halleck?"

 

"Nothing," answered Grant, moodily.

 

There was silence for some time, the general apparently in deep thought.

The commodore broke the silence by asking:

 

"You went to see him personally once on this matter, did you not?"

 

"He ungraciously gave me permission to visit St. Louis in order to see

him, after I had begged for the privilege at least half a dozen times,"

Grant answered.

 

"And you laid the matter before him in all its bearings?"

 

"I tried to."

 

"What did he say?"

 

"Say! he struck me."

 

"Struck you?" asked the commodore, starting in surprise.

 

Grant smiled. "I mean," said he, "that he struck me metaphorically. I

don't believe he would have hurt me as badly, if he had really struck

me. I was never so cut in all my life. I came away feeling that I had

committed an unpardonable sin from a military standpoint."

 

"Then he would not hear to the proposition at all?"

 

"Hear it! He would not listen to me. I came away resolving never to ask

another favor of him. Yet so anxious am I to make this campaign that, as

you know, I swallowed my pride and united with you in making the request

that we be allowed to make the movement."

 

"It is strange," replied the commodore, "that he should ignore both our

requests, not favoring us even with a reply. Yet it seems that he must

see that Fort Henry should be reduced at once. If we delay, both the

Cumberland and the Tennessee will be so strongly fortified that it will

be almost impossible to force a passage. Everything is to be gained by

moving at once. Everything may be lost by delay."

 

"Even a civilian ought to see that," replied Grant, as he slowly blew a

cloud of smoke from his mouth, and watched it as it lazily curled

upward.

 

"The truth of it is," Grant continued slowly, as if weighing every word,

"too many of us are afraid that another general may win more honor than

we. Then there are altogether too many separate commands. Now, here are

Buell and myself; each with a separate command, yet both working for the

same object. I should either be subject to the command of Buell, or he

should be subject to my orders. We are now like two men trying to lift

the same burden, and instead of lifting together, one will lift and then

the other. Such a system can but prolong the war indefinitely."

 

"General," said the commodore, earnestly, "I sincerely wish you had the

supreme command here in the West. I believe we would see different

results, and that very soon."

 

Grant blushed like a schoolgirl, fidgeted in his seat, and then said:

"Commodore, you do me altogether too much honor. But this I will say, if

I had supreme command I should not sit still and see the Tennessee and

Cumberland rivers fortified without raising a hand to prevent it.

Neither do I believe in letting month after month go by for the purpose

of drilling and organizing. The Government seems to forget that time

gives the enemy the same privilege. What is wanted is hard blows, and

these blows should be delivered as soon as possible. Sherman was right

when he asked for 200,000 men to march to the Gulf, yet he was sneered

at by the War Department, hounded by every paper in the land, called

insane, and now he is occupying a subordinate position. The war could be

ended in a year. No one now can tell how long it will last."

 

Just then a telegram was placed in Grant's hands. He read it, and his

whole face lighted up with pleasure.

 

"You look pleased," said the commodore. "The telegram must bring good

news."

 

Without a word Grant placed the telegram in the hands of the commodore.

It was an order from General Halleck to move up the Tennessee as soon as

possible and capture Fort Henry.

 

"At last," said the commodore, his face showing as much pleasure as did

Grant's.

 

"At last," responded Grant; and then, quickly, "Commodore, we may have

done an injustice to General Halleck. There may be good reasons we know

not of why this order should not have been made before. Commodore, be

ready to move with your fleet to-morrow."

 

"That soon?" asked the commodore.

 

"That soon," responded Grant.

 

"General, I shall be ready; and now good-bye, for both of us have much

before us. But before I go, let me congratulate you. I believe that

success and great honor await you," and with these words the commodore

withdrew.

 

The next day, with 15,000 men, General Grant was steaming up the

Tennessee.

 

General Buell sat in his headquarters at Louisville. General Nelson,

accompanied by Fred, had dropped in to see his general, and at the same

time to give vent to some of his pent-up feelings.

 

"It's a shame, a shame!" he fumed, "for us to sit here and let the

Rebels fortify Bowling Green and Dover and Columbus, and build forts to

blockade the Tennessee, and we not raise a finger to prevent it."

 

Buell smiled at his irate general, and asked: "And what would you do,

Nelson?"

 

"Do!" roared Nelson, "do! I would strike, and strike hard. I would give

them precious little time to build forts."

 

Before General Buell could answer, an orderly entered with a telegram.

He read it, and turning to Nelson, said:

 

"Well, General, you can cease your fuming. This telegram is from General

Halleck. He tells me he has ordered General Grant up the Tennessee to

reduce Fort Henry, and he wants me to co-operate as much as possible in

the movement."

 

Nelson was on his feet in an instant.

 

"General," he exclaimed, "I have a favor, a great favor to ask of you."

 

Buell smilingly answered: "I think I know what it is without your

asking. You want me to send your division."

 

Nelson bowed.

 

"I do not see how I can spare so many men; you know we have Johnston at

Bowling Green to look after."

 

"But General," answered Nelson, "the Tennessee and Cumberland must be

defended. In all probability the most of Johnston's army will be

transferred there."

 

"In that case, General," answered Buell, "I will remember you. Your

division shall be the first one sent."

 

"Thank you, General, thank you," replied Nelson. "I only wish I knew I

was going."

 

"As it is now," continued Buell, "I shall order General Crittenden to

send Cruft's brigade. That brigade is near the mouth of Green river.

There is no force of the enemy, in any number, before them, and the

brigade can well be spared. I shall send no more men unless it is

absolutely necessary. I shall at once dispatch an officer to General

Crittenden with necessary orders."

 

"General," now spoke up Fred, "like General Nelson, I have a request to

make, and by your kindness I hope to meet with better success."

 

"Ah!" said Buell, "you wish to carry the orders. If Nelson has no

objection, I think I can grant that request. The general has told me

something of your history, Mr. Shackelford. General Thomas also speaks

in the highest terms of you."

 

"You can go if you wish, Fred," answered Nelson. "I only hope I shall soon be with you."