Chapter XXVI. The Rebel Trap

by Horatio Alger

　　ON the first of April Frank received the following letter fromhis father. It was the more welcome because nearly a month hadelapsed since anything had been received, and the whole familyhad become quite anxious:"Dear Frank," the letter commenced, "you are no doubt feelinganxious on account of my long silence. You will understand thecause of it when I tell you that since the date of my last letterI have been for a fortnight in the enemy's hands as a prisoner.Fortunately, I have succeeded in effecting my escape. You willnaturally be interested to learn the particulars."Three weeks since, a lady occupying an estate about five milesdistant from our camp waited on our commanding officer and madean urgent request to have a few soldiers detailed as a guard toprotect her and her property from molestation and loss. Ourcolonel was not at first disposed to grant her request, butfinally acceded to it, rather reluctantly, declaring that it wasall nonsense. I was selected, with five other men, to serve as aguard. Mrs. Roberts--for this was her name--appeared quitesatisfied to find her request granted, and drove slowly homeunder our escort."On arriving, we found a mansion in the old Virginia style, lowin elevation, broad upon the ground, and with a piazza extendingalong the front. Surrounding it was a good-sized plantation. At alittle distance from the house was a row of negro huts. Thesewere mostly vacant, the former occupants having secured theirfreedom by taking refuge within our lines."As sergeant in command--you must know that I have beenpromoted--I inquired of Mrs. Roberts what danger she apprehended.Her answers were vague and unsatisfactory. However, she seemeddisposed to treat me very civilly, and at nine o'clock invitedthe whole party into the house to partake of a littlerefreshment. This invitation was very welcome to soldiers who hadnot for months partaken of anything better than camp fare. It wasall the more acceptable because outside a cold rain was falling,and the mod was deep and miry."In the dining-room we found a plentiful meal spread, includinghot coffee, hot corn bread, bacon, and other viands. We were not,however, destined to take our supper in peace. As I was drinkingmy second cup of coffee I thought I heard a noise outside, andremarked it to Mrs. Roberts." 'It is only the wind, sergeant,' said she, indifferently."It was not long before I became convinced that it was somethingmore serious. I ordered my men to stand to their arms, in spiteof the urgent protestations of the old lady, and marched them outupon the lawn, just in time to be confronted by twenty or thirtymen on horseback, clad in the rebel uniform."Resistance against such odds would have been only productive ofuseless loss of life, and with my little force I was compelled tosurrender myself a prisoner."Of course, I no longer doubted that we were the victims of atrick, and had been lured by Mrs. Roberts purposely to be madeprisoners. If I had had any doubts on the subject, her conductwould have dissipated them. She received our captors with openarms. They stepped into our places as guests, and the house wasthrown open to them. Our arms were taken from us, our handspinioned, and a scene of festivity ensued. A cask of wine wasbrought up from the cellar, and the contents freely distributedamong the rebels, or gray backs, as we call them here."Once, as Mrs. Roberts passed through the little room where wewere confined, I said, 'Do you consider this honorable conduct,madam, to lure us here by false representations, and then betrayus to our enemies?'" 'Yes, I do!' said she hotly. 'What business have you to comedown here and lay waste our territory? There is no true Southernwoman but despises you heartily, and would do as much as I have,and more, too. You've got my son a prisoner in one of your Yankeeprisons. When I heard that he was taken, I swore to be revenged,and I have kept my word. I've got ten for one, though he's wortha hundred such as you!'"So saying, she swept out of the room, with a scornful look oftriumph in her eyes. The next day, as I afterward learned, shesent word to our colonel that her house had been unexpectedlyattacked by a large party of the rebels, and that we had beentaken prisoners. Her complicity was suspected, but was not provedtill our return to the camp. Of course, a further guard, whichshe asked for, to divert suspicion, was refused."Meanwhile we were carried some twenty miles across the river,and confined in a building which had formerly been used as astorehouse."The place was dark and gloomy. There were some dozen others whoshared our captivity. Here we had rather a doleful time. We weresupplied with food three times a day; but the supply was scanty,and we had meat but once in two days. We gathered that it wasintended to send us to Richmond; but from day to day there was adelay in doing so. We decided that our chance of escape would bemuch better then than after we reached the rebel capital. We,therefore, formed a plan for defeating the intentions of ourcaptors."Though the building assigned to us as a prison consisted of twostories, we were confined in the lower part. This was morefavorable to our designs. During the night we busied ourselves inloosening two of the planks of the flooring, so that we couldremove them at any time. Then lowering two of our number into thecellar, we succeeded in removing enough of the stone foundationto allow the escape of one man at a time through the aperture.Our arrangements were hastened by the assignment of a particularday on which we were to be transferred from our prison, andconveyed to Richmond. Though we should have been glad to enterthe city under some circumstances, we did not feel very desirousof going as prisoners of war."On the night selected we waited impatiently till midnight. Then,as silently as possible, we removed the planking, and afterwardsthe stones of the basement wall, and crept through one by one.All this was effected so noiselessly that we were all out withoutcreating any alarm. We could hear the measured tramp of thesentinel, as he paced up and down in front of the empty prison.We pictured to ourselves his surprise when he discovered, thenext morning, that we escaped under his nose without his knowingit!"I need not dwell upon the next twenty-four hours. The utmostvigilance was required to elude the rebel pickets. At last, afternearly twenty hours, during which we had nothing to eat, wewalked into camp, exhausted with hunger and fatigue, to the greatjoy of our comrades from whom we had been absent a fortnight."On receiving information of the manner in which we had beencaptured, our commanding officer at once despatched me with adetachment of men to arrest Mrs. Roberts and her daughter. Hersurprise and dismay at seeing me whom she supposed safe inRichmond were intense. She is still under arrest."I suppose our campaign will open as soon as the roads are driedup. The mud in Virginia is much more formidable than at theNorth, and presents an insuperable, perhaps I should say anunfathomable, obstacle to active operations. I hope General Grantwill succeed in taking Vicksburg. The loss of that importantstronghold would be a great blow to the rebels."You ask me, in your last letter, whether I see much of thecontrabands. I have talked with a considerable number. One, avery intelligent fellow, had been very much trusted by hismaster, and had accompanied him to various parts of the South. Iasked him the question: 'Is it true that there are a considerablenumber of slaves who would prefer to remain in their presentcondition to becoming free?'" 'Nebber see any such niggers, massa,' he answered, shaking hishead decisively. 'We all want to be free. My old massa treated mekindly, but I'd a left him any minute to be my own man.'"I hope the time will soon come, when, from Canada to the Gulf,there will not be a single black who is not his own man. We inthe army are doing what we can, but we must be backed up by thosewho stay at home. My own feeling is that slavery has received itsdeath-blow. It may continue to live for some years, but it hasfallen from its pomp and pride of place. It is tottering to itsfall. What shall be done with the negroes in the transition statewill be a problem for statesmen to consider. I don't think weneed fear the consequences of doing right, and on this subjectthere can be no doubt of what is right; The apparentinsensibility and brutish ignorance which we find among some ofthe slaves will wear away under happier influences."There is a little fellow of perhaps a dozen years who comes intoour camp and runs of errands and does little services for themen. Yesterday morning he came to my tent, and with a grin, saidto me, 'De ol' man died last night.'" 'What, your father?' I inquired in surprise." 'Yes, massa,' with another grin: 'Goin' to tote him off dismornin'.'"As he only lived a quarter of a mile off, I got permission to goover to the house, or cabin, where Scip's father had lived."The outer door was open, and I entered without knocking. A womanwas bending over a washtub at the back part of the room. I lookedaround me for the body, but could see no indication of anythinghaving happened out of the ordinary course."I thought it possible that Scip had deceived me, and accordinglyspoke to the woman, inquiring if she was Scip's mother."She replied in the affirmative." 'And where is his father?' I next inquired." 'Oh, he's done dead,' she said, continuing her washing." 'When did he die?'" 'Las' night, massa.'" 'And where is the body?'" 'Toted off, massa, very first t'ing dis mornin'.'"In spite of this case of apparent insensibility, the negro'sfamily attachments are quite as warm naturally as our own. Theyhave little reason, indeed, to mourn over the loss of a husbandor father, since, in most cases, it is the only portal to thefreedom which they covet. The separation of families, too, tends,of course, to weaken family ties. While I write these words Icannot help recalling our own happy home, and longing for anhour, if not more, of your society. I am glad that you find Mr.Morton so agreeable an inmate. You ought to feel quite indebtedhim for his assistance in your studies. I am glad you have formeda boy's company. It is very desirable that the elements ofmilitary science should be understood even by boys, since uponthem must soon devolve the defense of their country from anyblows that may be directed against her, whether by foes fromwithin or enemies from abroad."The coming season will be a busy one with you. When you receivethis letter it will be about time for you to begin to plowwhatever land is to be planted. As I suggested in my first letterfrom camp, I should like you to devote some space-perhaps half anacre-to the culture of onions. We find them very useful forpromoting health in the army. They are quite high on account ofthe largely increased demand, so that it will be a good crop forfinancial reasons."(Here followed some directions with regard to the springplanting, which we omit, as not likely to interest our readers.)The letter ended thus:"It is nearly time for me to mail this letter, and it is alreadymuch longer than I intended to write. May God keep you all inhealth and happiness is the fervent wish of"Your affectionate father,"HENRY FROST."The intelligence that their father had been a prisoner made quitea sensation among the children. Charlie declared that Mrs.Roberts was a wicked woman, and he was glad she was put inprison--an expression of joy in which the rest fullyparticipated.