The Young Lieutenant Part 27

LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION

The experience of the soldiers at Harrison's Landing, for a month following their arrival, was not of the most agreeable nature; and consisted of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and shovel to be very pleasant to those who had not been accustomed to handling these useful implements. Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; and the position was as carefully fortified as the genius of the distinguished engineer in command could suggest, and as thoroughly as though he expected to spent the balance of the term of his natural life at this place.

The army was soon in a condition to defy the operations of the enemy, who were wise enough not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest of the command, recovered from the severe trials of the movement from White Oak Swamp, and again longed for active operations. About two weeks after the cessation of active operations, the official doc.u.ments which announced his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the army; but this was a foregone conclusion. He had won his first bar by his scouting services, and his commission was expected for a fortnight before its arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; and was so small an elevation, that his comrades hardly congratulated him upon its reception.

A fortnight later, there came a startling sensation to thrill him with satisfaction and delight. An orderly from the division headquarters summoned him to attend upon the general. The message startled him; for it indicated some momentous event to him, and he hastily prepared to obey the order.

"You are in luck again," said De Banyan, grasping his hand.

"Perhaps not," replied Somers, bewildered at the suggestion.

"I know you are, my dear boy. I was sent for just four weeks after the battle of Solferino, and made a brigadier-general," persisted the captain.

"Ah! then you are General de Banyan?"

"No, no; I dropped the t.i.tle when I ceased to hold the office."

"That was modest, general."

"Captain, if you please."

"You are ent.i.tled by courtesy to the use of the t.i.tle, and you shall not be robbed of any of your honors."

"As a particular favor, Somers, never call me general. I do not wish to rise above my actual rank. I have never mentioned the little circ.u.mstance of my promotion before. Your good fortune was so similar to my own, that I was surprised into doing so."

"What do you mean by my good fortune, captain?"

"Why, you are promoted again. I will bet my year's pay you have had another lift."

"Nonsense! I have just been promoted."

"Bah! what was that to a man of your merit, with a Senator to speak at court for you? A petty first lieutenancy is nothing for a brilliant fellow like you."

"I am not half so brilliant a fellow as you declare, and I think that a commission as first lieutenant is a big thing for a young man like me.

I'm sure I never had an idea of being an officer at all; and, when I was made a sergeant, I didn't think I deserved it."

"What do you suppose a major-general can want with you? You have heard from Senator Guilford once before, and I am satisfied you will hear from him again. Now, Somers, what do you suppose the general wants of you?"

"I don't know; I think it very likely he wants a man of my size to go up the river, or on the other side, scouting; nothing more than that, I am satisfied. But I must obey the order," added Somers, who had been making his preparations during the conversation.

"Well, good-by, my boy; and I shall have to stand one side for you after this, and salute you as major."

"As what?"

"Major."

"How absurd you are, captain! You always talk like a sensible fellow; that is, when you mean what you say."

"A hard hit; and very likely the first thing you do, when you get to be a major, will be to arrest me for lying."

"Your hit is the hardest, my dear captain. We have seen some hard times together; and you may be sure that whatever I am, I shall never forget you."

"That's hearty, my boy! Your hand once more," replied De Banyan, extending his own. "After the battle of Solferino----"

"Really, captain, you must excuse me this time, or the general will put me under arrest for my want of promptness, instead of sending me on special duty."

"Well, good luck to you, Somers," said the captain as the lieutenant started for the division headquarters.

As he pa.s.sed out of sight, an expression of sadness settled down upon Captain de Banyan's face. He looked disappointed and uncomfortable, and it is quite probable that he envied the good fortune of his young companion in arms. If Somers had been brave, and attentive to his duty, he had been no less so himself; and he could not help feeling that the destruction of those railroad cars had made the young man's fortune; that his rapid advancement was a mere stroke of good luck.

Lieutenant Somers, wondering what could possibly be wanted of him, hastened to the headquarters of the division. He had no faith whatever in the prognostications of Captain de Banyan, and was too modest to believe that he had done anything to merit another promotion so soon. Recalling the incidents of his career since his eventful expedition within the rebel lines, there was nothing in his conduct to merit even the notice of his superiors, unless it was what others called his skill and courage in rallying the broken company at Glendale. He had been warmly praised for this act; but he deemed it of little importance, for the memory of Williamsburg cast into the shade anything that had occurred to him since that b.l.o.o.d.y day.

He was ushered into the presence of the general, who gave him the kindly welcome which he always bestowed upon those of humble rank. Now, Somers cherished an intense admiration for this distinguished officer, and esteemed it a greater honor to stand in his presence than in that of the most powerful sovereign of the earth.

"Lieutenant Somers?" said the general, extending his hand; a piece of condescension which made our officer blush, and appear as awkward as a country school-boy.

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir," stammered Somers, as he took the proffered hand.

"You behaved well at Glendale, Somers," said the general bluntly.

"I endeavored to do my duty, general."

"You did well on that scout, too; and I'm going to send you out on another, if you have any fancy for such work."

"I will do the best I can."

"But, my brave fellow, I wish you to be very careful; for we can't afford to lose officers like you."

"I am always careful, general," said Somers with a smile.

"Can you handle a boat?"

"Yes, sir; I was brought up among boats."

"You will go over the river. There is rebel cavalry over there, and very likely a considerable force of infantry. I am inclined to think they are building batteries in the woods, to close up the navigation of the river, or perhaps to sh.e.l.l us out of our position. In a word, I am instructed to solve the problem, and I have selected you to do the work. What do you say?"

"I am all ready, sir, to undertake that, or any service to which I may be ordered."

"That's the right spirit, Captain Somers; and I thank you for the promptness with which you enter into my plans. I am satisfied, captain, that you will discharge the duty to my entire satisfaction."

"Thank you, sir."

"Well, Captain Somers, you shall take what force you think necessary. As it will not be prudent for you to go over before dark, you may make up your plan, and I will listen to the details before you go. How many boats shall you want, captain?"

"Only one, sir," replied Somers promptly; though he was wondering with all his might how the general happened to make so many blunders in regard to his military t.i.tle, for he had called him captain four or five times.

"Only one? You will need force enough to protect you, captain," replied the general.