登陆注册
5156400000089

第89章

This he accepted and we became friends.A short time afterward a mode of escape offered itself to me, and I proved the sincerity of my feelings toward him by offering to him and another officer the means of sharing my escape.This they accepted.Once outside the walls, I furnished them with disguises that had been prepared for them, assuming myself that of a minister.We then separated, going in different directions, I myself being accompanied by my negro servant, to whose fidelity I owed our escape.Two days afterward an anonymous writer communicated to the police the fact that I had escaped in the disguise of a minister, and was accompanied by my black servant.This fact was only known to the negro, myself, and the two officers.My negro, who had released me, was certainly not my betrayer; the other officer could certainly have had no possible motive for betraying me.There remains, therefore, only your son, whose hostility to me was notorious, and who had expressed himself with bitterness agsinst me on many occasions, and among others in the hearing of my friend Mr.Furniss here.Such being the case, it is my intention to charge him before the military authorities with this act of treachery.But, as I have said, I am willing to forego this and to keep silence as to your conduct with reference to my slave Dinah Morris, if you will restore her and her child uninjured to the house from which you caused her to be taken."The sallow cheeks of the old planter had grown a shade paler as he listened to Vincent's narrative, but he now burst out in angry tones:

"Hew dare you, sir, bring such an infamous accusation against my son-an accusation, like that against myself, wholly unsupported by a shred of evidence? Doubtless your negro had confided to some of his associates his plans for assisting you to escape from prison, and it is from one of these that the denunciation has come.Go, sir, report where you will what lies and fables you have invented; but be assured that I and my son will seek our compensation for such gross libels in the courts.""Very well, sir," Vincent said, as be prepared to mount his horse;"if you will take the trouble to look in the papers to-morrow, you will see that your threats of action for libel have no effect whatever upon me.""The man is as hard as a rock, Wingfleld," Furniss said, as they rode off together."He wilted a little when you were telling your story, but the moment he saw you had no definite proofs he was, as I expected he would be, ready to defy you.What shall you do now?""I shall ride back into Richmond again and give a full account of my escape from the jail, and state that I firmly believe that the information as to my disguise was given by Jackson, and that it was the result of a personal hostility which, as many young men in Richmond are well aware, has existed for some time between us.""Well, you must do as you like, Wingfield, but I think it will be a risky business.""It may be so," Vincent said; "but I have little doubt that long before Jackson is exchanged I, shall have discovered Dinah, and shall prosecute Jackson for theft and kidnaping, in which case the young man will hardly venture to prosecute me or indeed to show his face in this part of the country."That evening the two young officers started for the front, and the next morning the Richmond papers came oat with a sensational heading, "Alleged Gross Act of Treachery and Ingratitude by a Confederate Officer."It was the 10th of December when Vincent joined the army at Fredericksburg.He reported himself to General Stuart, who received him with great cordiality.

"You are just in time, Wingfield," he said."I believe that in another twenty-four hours the battle will be fought.They have for the last two days been moving about in front, and apparently want us to believe that they intend to cross somewhere below the town;but all the news we get from our spies is to the effect that these are only feints and that they intend to throw a bridge across here.We know, anyhow, they have got two trains concealed opposite, near the river.Burnside is likely to find it a hard nut to crack.Of course they are superior in number to us, as they always are; but as we have always beat them well on level ground I do not think their chances of getting up these heights are by any means hopeful.

Then, too, their change of commanders is against them.

McClellan fought a drawn battle against us at Antietam and showed himself a really able general in the operations in front of Richmond.The army have confidence in him, and he is by far the best man they have got so far, but the fools at Washington have now for the second time displaced him because they are jealous of him.Burnside has shown himself a good man in minor commands, but I don't think he is equal to command such a vast army as this; and besides, we know from our friends at Washington that he has protested against this advance across the river, but has been overruled.You will see Fredericksburg will add another to the long list of our victories."Vincent shared a tent with another officer of the same rank in General Stuart's staff.They sat chatting till late, and it was still dark when they were suddenly aroused by an outbreak of musketry down at the river.

"The general was right," Captain Longmore, Vincent's companion, exclaimed."They are evidently throwing a bridge across the river, and the fire we hear comes from two regiments of Mississippians who are posted down in the town under Barksdale."It was but the work of a minute to throw on their clothes and hurry out.The night was dark and a heavy fog hung over the river.Aperfect roar of musketry came up from the valley.Drums and bugles were sounding all along the crest.At the same moment they issued out General Stuart came out from his tent, which was close by.

"Is that you, Longmore? Jump on your horse and ride down to the town.Bring back news of what is going on."A few minutes later an officer rode up.Some wood had been thrown on the fire, and by its light Vincent recognized Stonewall Jackson.

同类推荐
  • 太上明鉴真经

    太上明鉴真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 困学纪闻

    困学纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冬至后西湖泛舟看断

    冬至后西湖泛舟看断

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东观奏记

    东观奏记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清辖落七元符

    上清辖落七元符

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 谋斗:门主夫人要越狱

    谋斗:门主夫人要越狱

    一个是从小就腹黑的穿越女,一个是冷漠霸道又不少孩子气的十岁小屁孩儿,且看他们怎么折腾。
  • 主宰

    主宰

    鸿蒙界,共有三千宇宙,其中种族如林,强者辈出。而人族,不过是一个极其弱小的种族,一个被称作战神的少年,从昊天星走出,又会带来怎样的传奇故事呢?吾为主宰,当俯瞰时光长河,镇压万古敌!
  • 秩霸

    秩霸

    “英雄不问出处,有朝一日,凡我之所到,若帝王巡游,众生俯拜。”……看草根如何成王,看凡人如何登仙,看斗战者如何捅破天!
  • 宠妃难为

    宠妃难为

    十七岁,仟夕瑶进宫两年,无宠,想的不过是怎么逃离这后宫,结果那许多嫔肚子里没有消息,她却一下子蹦出个皇长子来。二十一岁,仟夕瑶进宫六年,依然无宠,想的不过是怎么让自己和儿子深藏功与名,以后儿子封王自己当个太妃就自由了,结果有天,三岁的儿子竟然一目十行的把千字经给背完了。仟夕瑶忽然觉得头疼了。这特么是逼着老娘在后宫杀出一条血路,踏上后位节奏嘛。皇帝却对迁夕瑶勾了勾手指,别挣扎了,坑都给你挖好了,快掉下来吧。
  • 法集经

    法集经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • AB型人恋爱说明书

    AB型人恋爱说明书

    你只需在符合的条目前打上勾,便完成自己的说明书。你也可以和“想分享的人”一起分享,增加相互间的好感。甚至,想和异性拉近距离、与客户上司打开话题、在聚会中成为人气王……这本“话题书”都可以帮你实现,包你瞬间宅男变型男、宅女变潮女!你是不是正在恋爱、或正算恋爱的AB型人?你是不是正暗恋着、明恋着或者嫁/娶着一个AB型人?诚如《AB型人说明书》揭穿AB型人的基本行为模式,这本由日本爱情占卜师宫崎月撰写的《AB型人恋爱说明书》,则侧重于“爱情”一面,将AB型人的婚恋基本态度、初恋状况、热恋模式和婚姻家庭的经营,以说明书条目的方式一一表述。
  • 伪魔王的综漫之旅

    伪魔王的综漫之旅

    在OVERLORD里和骨傲天展开了一场世纪之战,在斩·赤红之瞳里拐走了艾斯德斯,在超级圣杯战争中召唤了一个能发超电磁炮的Archer,在箱庭世界血虐四方魔王,在鬼泣里盗了维吉尔的号,在学园都市更是拐走两万御坂妹妹,异世界里打游戏都不怕没电!为什么要去综漫世界?是因为爽吗?是因为主角后来找到了能变身魔法少女的能力吗?不,其实是因为无敌的魔王女主角要求主角去帮她找她老爸……本书将涉及《OVERLORD》,《斩·赤红之瞳》,《fate》系列,《问题儿童都来自异世界》,《某科学的超电磁炮》等众多动漫和少数游戏,作者会详细写完设定,不用担心读不懂哦。
  • 怪兽家谱

    怪兽家谱

    三十年前,收音机宣布了与突然出现的人类天敌——原兽的战争正式打响。二十年前,社论谴责了利用原兽基因制造人形兵器的恶行。十年前,电视台传达了威胁人类生存的怪物被新型金属控制的喜讯。媒体在过去的时光中做了许多事情,而如果这个故事落到他们手中,大概头版头条会被诸如此类的标题占领:《震惊!退役首席竟沦为专职奶爸!这一切的背后都意味着什么?》《今日头条:一年前在在事故中成为植物人,伤病退役的高手将何去何从?猎人组织为何频频惨叫?空降女儿为谁而起?这究竟是人性的扭曲还是道德的沦丧?》———————这是一个严肃正经的后末世文...你们信不,反正我信了。
  • Just Cause
  • 我家丞相正当嫁

    我家丞相正当嫁

    对于女状元苏薇来说,这世间最难读懂的,是苏允墨难测的心;这世间最难调教的,是萧云晞的纨绔浪荡。自认可以仗着皇宠兴风作浪的三皇子萧云晞觉得,自从遇到苏薇之后,花天酒地与他无缘,风流潇洒自此远离。他从尊贵独宠的天之骄子,变成了大齐最忙最累的人,偏偏还越累越甘之若饴。“你派人授我武艺,亲自教我诗书,世间所有皆倾囊相授,却也断绝了我爱你的权力。”“我萧云晞活了这么多年,还从没有遇到过护不住爱不了的人,谁敢伤她,立杀无赦。”--情节虚构,请勿模仿