| |
The rest of the trip to the bridge was uneventful, consisting of about a mile and a half of countryside dotted with the occasional copse of trees. The town was well behind us now, but we soon caught up to a couple of small groups of travelers, most on foot, a few on horseback, going the same direction as us- workers from Harpers Ferry returning to their homes on the far side of the Potomac, was my guess. Looking ahead to the bridge, a sturdy stone and iron affair with a bed of thick wooden planks, I could see a few soldiers idling on the far side. Occasionally, one would raise his hand in greeting, but for the most part they sat passively, watching the few travelers passing by.
Gordon, meanwhile, had engaged in explaining his thoughts on Sarah’s participation in our enterprise. “You see that she can act, and she’s fiercely protective of me- us.” I smiled. If push came to shove, no doubt I’d get the shove. Off of a cliff. “And she’d give us credibility,” he finished.
I raised an eyebrow. “Credibility? How’s that?”
“Well, I was thinking about how we plan to go about gathering information in Washington. We might be able to get people to show us around based on our orders, but we might not- I could see us getting pulled into meetings about organization and equipment and training requirements, rather than being allowed to stroll about on our own. Furthermore, we might arouse suspicion if two militia officers show up unannounced and start making inspections of the fortifications, encampments, and so forth.”
He paused to check my reaction; so far, he was correct in his assessment. I had considered that fact and had hoped to rely on our orders as an initial ruse, feeling out the situation from there. Not the best plan, but I would need to stay fluid in my thinking in order to determine how to proceed- locking us into a pre-set plan was a quick trip to disaster if an unforeseeable circumstance arose.
Gordon went on. “But an officer with his wife, that’s normal- expected even. It’s done all the time, and no one would bat an eye if I showed up with my wife and made a tour of facilities- showing her around, showing her off, the young officers falling all over themselves to be of service.” I gathered he had first-hand experience with this. “So we’d be able to move about freely without much interference. We check in, establish our credentials, and go from there. We can always receive 'orders from the Governor' to do something. But if we get hard-pressed to attend something or meet with someone, I can send you- I’m the senior officer after all, and I have my wife to think of- and we won’t lose any time.”
“I’ve got to hand it to you, that’s a good plan.” He smiled at the compliment. “No, you deserve credit- you’ve identified potential problems and come up with a solution, that’s of great value. So we have a plan for when we get to Washington, and from there we’ll determine what we need and where we can obtain it and who will be tasked with collecting it.” He dipped his chin in agreement. “And since you’re doing so well, now tell me what happens when we have the information we came for?”
The smile vanished. I hated to do it, but we still had to resolve the issue with Sarah. “I don’t know,” he said at last. “I’d like her to return with me to Virginia, but her father and brother will be living in Maryland. I don’t suppose the Federals will like me going back and forth across the border to see her- especially if there’s a war.”
I shook my head. “It isn’t likely. So Richmond, or somewhere in Virginia- the cavalry won’t remain in one place, they’ll go wherever the war is. But she’ll have to stay put, she can’t follow you on campaign. It comes down to whether we have war- and I mean a long war, not one quick battle which everyone seems to think likely. If we end up in a fight for independence, it’s going to touch every part of Virginia, sooner or later. Either we resolve this quickly, without shooting, or we win one decisive battle and the Federals give up- or we’re in for the duration. But you have to place her in a home before we’ll know for certain which outcome is the most likely.”
“What do you think will happen?” He asked it almost timidly, afraid of the answer.
“The Federals won’t settle this peacefully, not after Sumter- and not after the call for volunteers. That drove the Upper South out, after all, so Lincoln would’ve wrecked the Union for nothing. Probably get impeached for that- why call out state troops if it’s just a bluff? So, he has to use them. There’s going to be a battle- they’ve got their version of fire-eaters up North agitating to restore national honor. The time to buy our way out of the Union, by compensation for Federal property and so forth, is past. They’re building an army to bring the rebels to heel, and we’re building an army to stop them. They’ll meet in Virginia. And I don’t think a single victory, no matter how decisive, will stop them- maybe if we rout them and sweep into Washington itself, but even then I doubt it. There’s too much hot blood on both sides to be cooled by one battle, and there’s still the border states to consider. If we crush the Federals, will Maryland join us? Kentucky? Will the Union let them depart, or fight to keep them- and how do we react to a state trying to join us which is held in the Union at bayonet point? Sorry, you’re on your own? No, I don’t think this will be resolved until both sides are bloody and exhausted and ready to sit down and talk.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” said Gordon.
“So do I,” I replied. “But I don’t offer opinions with the expectation of being proven wrong.”
As we finished this rather depressing discussion, the carriage rolled onto the bridge. We followed short seconds behind, our wheels rumbling on the wooden surface beneath us. I looked out over the side of the bridge to where the Potomac made its way toward the Chesapeake Bay. How unconcerned with the problems of mankind it was, and yet how important a role it played- the effective border between the two great powers, Union and Confederacy. If only its waters could cool the passions on both sides and let us avoid the bloodshed I feared!
The carriage was drawing close to the other side, and I saw two soldiers lazily make their way to the end of the bridge, crossing the muzzles of their muskets as a barrier. Davis and Gordon brought their respective vehicles to a halt, and one of the soldiers walked up to the carriage while the other covered us from the side. I didn’t see the point of this- he had a single-shot weapon, and if we were armed with even a single revolver would be completely out-gunned at this close range. Still, it was good practice for sentry duty.
This time, Davis was more cordial at being stopped. “Good afternoon, Private. May I inquire as to the reason for this delay?”
The private looked unmoved by Davis’ genial attitude. “Orders,” he grunted.
“Orders, did you say?” Davis affected the manner of a perplexed old man. “You have orders to stop me? Have I done wrong?”
The soldier looked and acted bored. “I got orders to ‘spect wagons and such what comes across my bridge.” He sounded bored too. “Sarge says to ‘spect anyone comin’ cross th’ river, so I’s gonna ‘spect you.”
“My, my, my! What is your sergeant looking for?”
The private looked up at Davis. “I dunno. I reckon I’ll know it if I sees it.”
I was amazed by the utter lack of order and discipline. This ‘soldier’- probably from a militia unit which did little more than drink and gamble during drill periods- was completely ill-equipped to perform his duties, yet no corporal or sergeant was here to monitor his performance. He had ‘orders’ but they were poorly understood by him, and again no one had ensured they were understood or verified that they were being carried out. I watched, passively, as he carried out a lazy inspection of our conveyances- basically walking around them with the same bored expression on his face. He then moved to the side of the roadbed and motioned to his comrade to let us pass. “All right, move along,” he said, with a wave of his hand.
Once clear of the bridge, safely in Maryland, I looked at Gordon and shook my head. “To think, we were concerned about crossing the border.”
He shook his head as well. “Pathetic. Absolute disgrace. I really was tempted to school him on the proper role of a sentry, except that it suits our purpose for him to be so incompetent.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I wonder how well our boys do?”
“Did you see anyone checking traffic on our side of the river?”
He shook his head. “Not a soul.”
“At least they posted a guard...”
He just grinned and nudged the horses to catch up to the carriage. It was about twenty-odd miles to Frederick, and with the heavy wagon we wouldn’t make it tonight; there was only about an hour and a half to two more hours of daylight left and we’d be hard-pressed to make more than five miles an hour with our burden. We’d spend the rest of the day looking for an inn or a way station, someplace we could rest for the evening. I thought about the soldiers by the river, and about the militia we had encountered in Richmond. The only difference was that Gordon and I had taken the time to explain their duty to them- would that be enough?
A moment later, Davis pulled off the side of the road and climbed down from the carriage. Gordon drew near and halted, and we climbed down as well. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I approached.
Davis looked up in surprise. “Oh! Nothing- I just wanted a bit of a stretch is all. I figured now that we’re in Maryland, we can relax a bit. I’m a bit hungry as well, I thought we might have a bite to eat.”
This was a good idea, so we spread a blanket on the ground and brought out the wicker basket of food. We enjoyed a small meal of bread and cheese and smoked meats while Gordon amused us with his impression of the soldier on the bridge. Sarah, seated by his side, seemed particularly amused by his antics. She gazed at him with a look of such warmth and tenderness of feeling that I felt uncomfortable, as though I were intruding on a private moment. She had her hand on his leg as she laughed, and he reached down to brush a few stray strands of hair back from her face. The move was so natural that it was hard to believe they had only been acquainted for hours, and I had to admit a small twinge of jealousy at their obvious affection. It had been a long time since a woman had looked at me with half as much joy, and I recalled Gordon’s words that it was, ultimately, my own decision. That made it worse.
The meal over, we prepared to resume our journey. As I started to climb into the wagon, Sarah surprised me by asking me to help her father with the carriage, explaining that he was fatigued from the long journey and that the horse was too much for her to handle. As the ‘long journey’ had been less than ten miles and the carriage was small and light, I quickly gathered that 'Daddy' wasn’t the reason for the change. I bowed graciously and assisted her into the carriage, my reward being a flash of the special smile she reserved for Gordon. Ah, well. If he was set on getting married, with all the difficulties we had discussed, he couldn’t have picked a better girl.
Davis was surprised as well when I informed him of his fatigue, laughing heartily. “I never thought I’d see the day where she’d be scheming to get close to a man. My dear Mary- that was her momma- her one regret was not seeing Sarah married off. I was beginning to wonder if I’d depart this world without seeing it myself. Well, it looks like she’s found someone at last, and although I’m not happy at the circumstances, I reckon if they both want this it’s not my place to interfere, not anymore.” He looked at me as I drove the carriage, letting the horse set a comfortable pace. “She’ll always be my little girl, you understand? But she’s not mine anymore. She’s never been one to settle for anything less than she feels she deserves- that’s how I know young Gordon is someone special, she wouldn’t be willing to marry him unless she saw something in him.”
I sat silently, watching the road. The old man had something to get off his chest, and I thought it best to listen. He looked around at the lush forests on either side of the road. “It’s funny how every place looks like any other. This could be right down the road from my home, instead of another country now, I guess is what they’re saying.” He looked at me closely. “You seem like a decent man, and I know you want to do what’s right. I think you- all of you- are wrong, but that’s no matter, not for me to say. You’re a man and you make the best decisions you can. But promise me this- make sure my Sarah is safe. I haven’t told her, but I’ll be joining her mother soon, nothing can prevent that. Doctor says it’s my heart, about to give out. Didn’t give me a time, damn doctors never do, just says it’ll be soon. You boys, you were an answer to my prayers- I feared to die and leave Sarah alone in the house, with no one to look after her. Now, I know she’s got protectors, and I can rest easy. But with war coming, and you know it is, she needs to be away from it. Safe. Not just physically, but safe from the horrors. I was in Mexico, I know what war brings. I don’t want her to know. You promise me that.”
I didn’t know what to say, but he was so firm in his conviction of impending death that I had to treat it as a confirmed fact. “I swear it. I don’t know how, but I’ll get her somewhere safe and keep her there until it’s all over.”
He patted my arm, “I know you will. Gordon is a brave man, and full of the fire and passion that Sarah needs. They’ll clash, they’ll fight, but they’ll love one another like no couple before. But Gordon is bold and fearless where careful deliberation is called for; he’ll save her from any danger- but you’ll keep her from being endangered in the first place. Take care of both of them, and you’ll have my blessings.”
With that, he leaned against the side of the carriage and closed his eyes; within a few minutes, I could tell from his deep and regular breathing that he was asleep. His color seemed to be a little more pale than I remembered, perhaps I was just being more observant in light of his revelations. I took off my coat and draped it over him, warding off the chill in the air now that the sun had started to set. I shook my head as I reflected on what I had promised- where was I supposed to send her, and how would I make her stay? No doubt she would want to stay with Gordon, or as close as she could get. I’d have to come up with a place, then convince him so he would convince her.
Part of me was annoyed by this. After all, it had nothing to do with me, or the mission at hand. She was Gordon’s responsibility, not mine. And if Gordon couldn’t keep her safe, maybe he shouldn’t be taking on the role of husband. I sighed again- these were unworthy of my character. Like it or not, by involving Gordon in my work, I was now duty-bound to assist him; after all, he had gone off on this adventure with no foreknowledge of what he would be getting into, yet he had gamely soldiered on- even coming up with several gambits which had increased our chances of success. Was aiding his soon-to-be-wife too much to ask?
There was another issue. Gordon had broached my lack of ‘domestic entanglements’ in his discussion of my life, pointing out that I had never managed to cultivate any type of relationship due to my distance. Perhaps this was an opportunity to atone for that, to see if I was worthy of finding my own happiness someday. The thought bloomed in my mind, and was surprisingly pleasant. Yes, maybe I would find someone, settle down, get married and raise a family. Why did I need to do this job forever? Already we’d seen there were other agents-
A chill ran down my spine, and my nascent happiness faded away. There were still the enemy agents to contend with, at least two and probably three. That would have to be sorted out in Richmond. With Davis asleep and Gordon and Sarah lagging behind in the wagon- I looked back to verify- lagging far behind in the wagon, I had time to ponder the day’s events and try to sort out their significance.
There were four items of concern on my admittedly quickly formed list. First- Casey. Second- the enemy agents. Third- their master. Fourth- Washington.
Casey- was he alive or dead? If he was dead, it didn’t really impact us- granted, we had his carriage, but since we were in Maryland, it was unlikely that anyone would trace it to us. Alive, on the other hand, was another matter. Having failed to accomplish whatever he was trying to do, would he now hide out, anticipating our retaliation? Would he make contact with our enemies and give them the details of our plans, including our identities? Would he contact Richmond? I thought about this, trying to discern patterns of behavior which could help predict his moves. Casey liked to throw his weight around, play the part of a big, important man, but was at heart a coward. When confronted by Gordon and I, he crumbled, preferring to strike when he thought he wouldn’t be observed. Contacting Richmond to give them his own version of events might be an option, but frankly I doubted he’d bother. He knew we had no plans to contact them before we completed our mission, so he would figure he had time to make his escape or come up with an excuse for his behavior. I doubted he would work with our enemies- they were his as well, and he had sent them on a merry chase in the countryside; it was doubtful they’d even believe him at this point. No, in all likelihood Casey would go to ground and hide until he thought it was over, counting on us forgetting him or being too busy with weightier matters to bother with him.
Our enemies- what would they do when they couldn’t locate us? Return to Richmond (or wherever they came from)? Cross to Maryland in pursuit? Head to Washington and hope to intercept us there? How long would they wait? This was a trickier problem, and more important, than Casey. These agents were resourceful and well-supplied with information. They tracked us to Harpers Ferry, identified the hotel, identified Casey, and managed to intercept us on the road. No matter how well Gordon and Sarah had fooled them with their domestic act, at some point they’d decide the trail was cold and that the likeliest subjects had been the four of us. They were mounted well, and we had the wagon, so they’d be able to catch us fairly quickly, so it really depended on whether they had authority to follow us into Maryland, and if they had permission to do so. I had always insisted on approval to move wherever I felt necessary to accomplish mission goals, and I had to believe they had such blanket approval as well. The question, then, was how long they’d wait. The answer was fairly straightforward- they’d check the hotels for two guests who arrived and departed within a 12-hour period, and check our descriptions with the clerks. We already knew they had ransacked my room, so they were familiar with our names. The next step would be to give the descriptions of the three men they met this afternoon to the clerk and see if it matched the names on the registry. Then they’d know who they were after, and they’d be racing to catch us. Would they be in time? I couldn’t be sure, but I thought that maybe we’d be all right for tonight; it would be dark before they had searched the hotels to be certain we didn’t transfer to another lodging, so they wouldn’t head out until the next morning. We would hopefully be in Frederick before then, and able to disappear.
The spymaster- Granted, he wasn’t an immediate threat, but in many ways he was the more concerning; if he knew our orders to Harpers Ferry, and could place agents there shortly after our arrival, what else was he privy to? We were directed away from the direct routes to Washington City, so I had to assume that meant he was aware of our destination and had moved to intercept us there. Just how many agents did he have access to? Was there a welcoming committee in Washington? At least he didn’t know what we looked like, although that could change. So we would be in danger upon arrival in the city, and with no way of determining who might be the source of it. The bigger problem, however, was that the spymaster was still in Richmond, with incredible access, and unidentified. There was no way to guarantee that the information we retrieved and returned to headquarters wouldn’t be passed along to the spy- who would tip the Federals off that they had been compromised. In the end, all of our work could be for nothing.
Washington City- the hornet’s nest. We were walking into the heart of the enemy’s preparations, and we had no idea what we were up against. This could be a huge trap which would ensnare not just Gordon and myself, but now Sarah as well. I suddenly felt the crushing burden of having the responsibility for these other lives; working alone had its advantages.