The news Alex and Olivia gathered from talking to others on the train did not sound promising. Everywhere, the South seemed to be arming for battle, and traveling was nearly impossible.
It was late when they left the train at Bowling Green, but even in the dim late January light, it was easy to see that the largest number of people on the streets were gray-clad soldiers.
Alex turned to Olivia. “I’m going to inquire about trains. Much as I dislike traveling at night, if there’s one going through to Paducah, I believe we’d be wise to take it.” His mouth twisted. “Seeing those soldiers, I don’t believe there’s a forum for my ideas tonight.”
She slipped her hand through his arm. “I’ll come with you. I don’t want to be left for a moment, and certainly I don’t look forward to staying here tonight, either.”
The station agent looked at them strangely. “Paducah? That section of the line isn’t in operation north of Union City, by order of the army. The Yanks have taken over Paducah, and it seems the two armies aren’t on friendly terms.” A shadow of a smile touched his eyes and Olivia wondered why he was amused.
“If you want to get to Paducah, I’d suggest taking the local stage to the Tennessee River and ship down to the Ohio. There’s a boat going down shortly after noon tomorrow. Stage leaves here at six in the morning.”
They checked into the hotel. When they reached their room, Olivia looked wide-eyed at Alex. “How are we going to get home?”
“Doesn’t sound like a problem to me.” He patted her shoulder and gave her a quick hug. “If nothing else, the army will find a way to get us across the river. On the Illinois side we can take a train home.”
****
Shortly after noon the following day, the stage reached the river. But when Alex and Olivia reached the wharf, the boat they were to have been on had become merely a dot in the distance downriver.
Olivia scanned the sleepy group of buildings and the two small boats rocking gently in the backwash of the steamer headed for Paducah. “Alex, I think we’d better find someone to talk to. There’s neither a hotel nor a place to eat.”
Alex pointed to the trim little tugboat docked just below them. “First I’m going to see if that fellow’s headed toward Paducah.”
At the end of the wharf a man leaned over the rail, smoking a cigar and staring upstream. Alex called to him, but the man didn’t move. Alex walked to the end of the wharf. “Sir—Captain, may I come aboard?”
The man’s head came up and he turned. For a moment he frowned at Alex and then he glanced Olivia’s direction. “What’s your business?”
“We need to ride to Paducah. I’ll be happy to pay you double fare if you can take us this afternoon.”
The man’s eyebrows lifted. “Better double that again. There aren’t any hotels around, and I don’t see a wagon.”
Alex grinned up at him. “You got me there. Name your price.”
The man pushed his cap to the back of his head, leaped to the wharf, and sauntered toward them. He turned to drop his cigar in the water, then stepped closer. “Mind telling me what your business is in Paducah?”
Alex hesitated. “I understand the town is in Federal control. We want to contact some people who live about fifteen miles inland. A farmer named Stevens.”
Slowly the man shifted his weight from one foot to another, then he reached for another cigar. “Do you have travel passes?”
“Yes.” Alex took them out and handed them to the man.
“Been in Richmond, huh? You aren’t planning on going across the Ohio, are you?”
Alex gave the man a quick look, and said evenly, “Certainly not right now. We’ve further business in Kentucky.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Alex regretted them. Suddenly the tugboat captain became very interested. The gray eyes turned cold. He straightened his shoulders. “If I were to refuse you, I’d lay myself open to letting you slip through my hands. I—”
A thump sounded on the wharf behind them and Mike Clancy came across with an outstretched hand. “Alex Duncan! Olivia, ma’am, what a surprise!”
He turned with a grin. “So you’ve already met General Grant—” He fell silent as he looked from one face to another. “Did I interrupt something?”
Grant sighed softly. “Might say so. He’s been beating the bushes trying to stay hidden. Mind introducing your friends? I’d decided they were spies. Maybe when you finish talking, I’ll can you, too.”
“Alex, Olivia, this is General Ulysses S. Grant of the United States Army.”
Alex heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought my past had caught up with me.”
“Sir, this is Alexander and Olivia Duncan. They sound Southern, but well—” Mike grinned. “Maybe I should explain. Sir, you didn’t ask me what I did before the tugboat came into my life.”
Grant’s face was stolid. “I’m asking.”
“We’ve been running slaves up into Canada. Part of the Underground Railroad.”
“I suppose that makes you acceptable.” There was a twinkle in his eyes. “But one thing. Don’t get the idea I’m abolitionist. Those guys have been a pain in the neck—to both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. My job is to hold the Union together, and right now that involves fighting this war to the finish.” His jaw jutted out.
“Sir, I’m happy to make your acquaintance,” Alex said. “Also, I apologize for calling you captain.” He glanced at the man’s rumpled dungarees and oil-stained cap.
Grant turned. “We’ve got to get this thing moving. “Mike, is Foote ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
Grant waved toward the boat. “Come along. We’ve got a mission to accomplish this afternoon. I have an idea it will be to our advantage to have the Duncans aboard, especially if Mrs. Duncan is very visible once we head up the river.”
“Me?” Olivia cried.
Grant grinned. “Ma’am, you are temporarily in the employment of the United States government. I’m pleased to have you aboard. Come meet Commodore Foote, who is in charge of this expedition.”
“Yes sir, General Grant,” she smiled as Mike pulled the gangplank into position and offered his hand. “So you’ve been piloting this boat, Mike?”
Alex followed, dropping their trunk and valise on deck. Mike turned to point. “Take your baggage into this cabin. Fortunately it won’t be as crowded as it was on the Golden Awl.”
Alex looked around curiously. “I’d heard the Mississippi was closed to traffic, and I wondered what you were doing.”
“Been taking barges down the Ohio—oil, coal, whatever. Come up to the pilothouse. Foote’s been looking over the charts while I’ve worked on the steam gauge. It was stuck.”
Halfway up the stairs he paused. “You’ll enjoy meeting Foote; he’s a Christian gentleman, and a good seaman besides.”
General Grant had preceded them to the pilothouse. He and Foote turned with a smile as Alex and Olivia followed Mike. Commodore Foote held out his hand. “You two are a very welcome addition to our crew. Let me get you some coffee and we’ll explain it all.” His eyes were still twinkling as he handed coffee to Olivia. “Sorry this isn’t tea, ma’am, but you see, we just didn’t expect you.”
“If Mike hadn’t come over the rail when he did,” Grant rumbled, “I’d have fed them to the fish.”
Alex chuckled. “Sir, if I’d any idea who you were, I could have saved us all a few tight moments.”
Commodore Foote bent over the chart table. “Don’t think you need to know anymore than this—” He cocked his head. “Full ahead, Mike. The steam’s up, and there’s no reason to delay.”
As the boat moved away from the wharf, Foote said, “Alex, we were on our way up the Tennessee River. Need to take a look at Fort Henry.”
“I’m in the dark,” Alex murmured.
“Come here.” Foote pointed to the map. “See these two rivers? The Tennessee and Cumberland, nearly parallel each other. At this point, just over the Kentucky-Tennessee line, the Confederates have built two forts—I should say, they are building two. Right now they are only partially completed and armed. We need to take a good look, see what we’re getting into. Understand?
“The Tennessee flows north into the Ohio at Paducah. We’re going upriver, away from the mouth.”
Olivia nodded and returned his smile. She liked this man, who explained things clearly without condescending.
Foote glanced back at Alex. “Having your wife along will make it much easier to appear casual about this reconnaissance,” Foote commented. “Not too often do pleasure trips transpire in tugboats. But then, attractively dressed women don’t usually ride on such vessels, either.”
“Whatever the reason,” Olivia said, “I’m enjoying being back on a boat again. It’s nearly like coming home.”
“Are you by chance a pilot?” Foote asked Alex.
“I have my license, but not for large vessels.” Before Olivia turned back to the window, she caught a glimpse of the studied expression on Commodore Foote’s face.
General Grant moved from the window to the table. “We’ll move full power ahead until we reach the border, then we’ll assume the relaxed manners of sightseers.”
“It’s late now,” Foote murmured, checking his watch. “If we don’t have good daylight, we’ll lay over until tomorrow.”
Grant glanced up. “Might be a good idea. That would give us an opportunity to check out Donelson, too.”
“What is Donelson?” Olivia asked.
The men looked at each other, and Grant answered, “Another fort, sister to Fort Henry. It’s located about fifteen miles east of Henry, on the Cumberland River.” Grant paused. He seemed lost in thought, then he turned to Alex. “I know you have questions. What I’m telling you is information that is not known beyond this circle. I feel it’s better to answer the questions now rather than allow you both to speculate. Sometimes the most innocent information serves disloyal ears.”
He paced the pilothouse, returned to the table, and faced Olivia and Alex. “Beginning last autumn, we’ve been making attempts to gain a foothold on the Mississippi and extend our control throughout Kentucky. Mike can tell you that our initial attempts to take over forts along the Mississippi were thwarted.”
He paused and turned to look at Alex and Olivia with a crooked grin. “I don’t suppose, since it wasn’t a Confederate victory, that you’ve been advised of the fighting that’s taken place during this month in the eastern part of Kentucky. Harris, Buell, and McCook have all had their turns. Harris pushed the Rebels back into Virginia, but he couldn’t gain control of the railroad. General Thomas, a Virginian true to the Union, pushed back another group at Crossroads. And now it’s our turn. We’ve got to gain control of the western section. We must begin to break open the Mississippi.”
“And Tennessee?” questioned Alex.
Grant threw him a quick glance. “We must have all of it, but we’ll take it as we can get it. Right now the Confederates are primed to defend Fort Columbus. We have other matters to handle first; our aim is to surprise them. You two are our guests this sightseeing cruise in Mike’s little tugboat, while we check out the forts on the rivers.”
****
Olivia was in the cabin, shaking out her frocks and hanging them in the tiny wardrobe when Alex came in. She glanced up and asked, “Is it time to come out on deck?”
“No, it’ll be another hour or so.” He wandered restlessly around the cabin while she continued unpacking.
“Alex, being on the water again reminds me of all the wonderful times we’ve had in the past.”
“Wonderful? We were risking our necks.” He smiled down at her.
“What is it, Alex? Something’s bothering you.”
“Commodore Foote has asked me to pilot a gunboat. He said they’re desperately short of pilots.”
“Why, Alex, that sounds exciting.”
He faced her. “Olivia, don’t you realize what that means? I’ll be taking a boat into battle. There will be fighting. My boat will be lobbing shells at those forts. I’ll be indirectly killing men. That’s something I’ve never been able to reconcile doing.”
Slowly she folded Alex’s shirt, straightened the collar, and buttoned it. She faced him and studied his troubled face. “I can’t see you in that situation. But Alex, no matter what you decide, just be certain that it is what God wants of you. That’s the only really important consideration.” She stared at him a moment more and then flung herself into his arms.