A Deeper Sense of Loyalty (13 page)

Then he got up to leave and Polly walked him to the door. “I am so glad that I was wrong about you, James. I am sorry for the things I was thinking. You are a noble gentleman.” Then she raised herself on her toes and kissed his cheek.

It was nearly nine o'clock when James started back up the boardwalk from Polly's house. He looked around in an attempt to see if he might be receiving any attention; he didn't seem to be. He suddenly remembered that he still hadn't eaten and was amused, somehow, that he no longer felt hungry. Baxter's was right in front of him but he knew that the kitchen closed at eight. The bar was still open though, and James decided that a beer might help him to sleep.

Only two other patrons sat at a table talking, and for no particular reason he took his beer to the table next to them and sat down. He nursed his beer, thinking about Polly and the chance to get to know her better. There was no doubt that he was smitten and it started James to thinking about home. He discovered that when a young man is teetering on the brink of romance, it is something that he wants to share with his family. He decided that he would visit very soon. It was also time he found out how his letter explaining the change of plans had been received.

 The beer in his glass was beginning to get warm; something that James usually couldn't tolerate. But he was far too preoccupied to be bothered. Even bits and pieces of conversation coming from the next table barely dented his concentration. However, as he basked in the glow of Polly's change of heart toward him, he also worried that he may have put her in danger by association and he knew it was his responsibility to keep her out of harm's way.

 

Two days later, James was startled once again by a heavy pounding on the front door. The sound was familiar and he wasn't surprised when he opened it and there stood Sheriff Wilkes. He was not pointing a pistol this time but he was still wearing the same menacing expression as before. James stepped back so the sheriff could enter, then he offered his unwelcome guest a chair. “After you,” said Wilkes. James took a seat at the table and the sheriff sat down across from him.

“I sent a wire to the City Marshal's Office about you, Mr. Mason, and I just received a reply. There are three orphanages in Atlanta and after a short investigation it turns out that none of them have any record of a William Mason ever living there.” The sheriff seemed poised as if he expected James to make a dash for the door. Instead, he received a very calm reply.

“There was a fourth, sheriff. St. Mark's Church on Greenbrier Street used a small building behind the church as a home for orphans but it was destroyed along with the church by fire a couple of years ago. That was where I grew up.”

James could see Sheriff Wilkes relax his posture. “OK,” he said. “I'm a reasonable man. Your answer is verified by the information sent to me, so maybe you are who and what you say you are. I would much rather believe you were huntin runaways than helpin them.” The sheriff got up to leave. “By the way,” said Wilkes. “Those rewards are still offered for Turner's slaves and for the ones from Live Oak. Could be money in your pocket if they ain't in Canada by now.”

“I'll keep it in mind,” James replied, chuckling inside.  

When the sheriff was gone, James said a silent prayer thanking God for watching over him. Luckily he'd heard more of that conversation at Baxter's after the evening at Polly's house than he had originally realized.  The two men had been talking about the time St. Mark's Church and orphanage in Atlanta burned down. So it was a near miracle that turned the trick and got him off the hook. Now it was up to James to keep his activities away from Dry Branch and trouble away from his door.

He could not wait to see Polly again and tell her about his triumph over the sheriff, and to let her know that he would be out of town for a few days. James was going home for a visit. 

 

TEN

 

Unexpected Duty

 

 

James rode out of Dry Branch and headed for Macon. He had some business to attend to before going home.

Upon arrival, he could see immediately that the city was buzzing with excitement. Everywhere along the main street there were small groups of people laughing and talking; men were slapping each other on the back, women were hugging their men folk. It was July 22
nd
but it seemed more like July 4
th
—except that now it was the Confederate flag flying from every home and place of business.

When he had tied his horse to the hitching rail and entered the bank he found out the reason for the celebration. As soon as he got in line, the man in front of him turned around and said, “Quite a day, hey, friend?

“What's all the excitement about?” James asked. The man looked astonished. “Haven't you heard? Our army trounced the Yankee invaders at Manassas Junction in Virginia yesterday. They drove those blue bellies the whole way back to Washington along with a flock of their high and mighty citizens.”

“Is that so,” said James in a phony tone of enthusiasm.

“Yes, sir. The elite of Washington society, including politicians and other highly placed men and women, came out in their carriages with their picnic baskets like they were going to a cotillion. They came out to see their army thrash the Rebels and we sent them running for their lives. The way I hear it, the hero was General Thomas Jackson. The Yankees were pushing us back but Jackson and his Virginians refused to retreat. The rest of the army rallied behind him and they routed the Yankees good and proper. People are calling him Stonewall Jackson now. Why, I heard they even took a congressman prisoner and locked him up in Richmond.”

“My God,” said James. “I should say we do have reason to celebrate. I just rode in from Dry Branch. The news hasn't reached there yet.”

“Well, it will soon. It may be the first and last celebration of the war, except for when we hear the Yankees are calling it quits.”

When James left the bank, he bought a newspaper and read the story for himself. It was just as the man in the bank had said. The Yankees and the civilians from Washington must have thought the world was coming to an end. One thing the excited man hadn't told him though was the extent of the casualties. The Yankee army lost almost three thousand men and the Confederates lost close to two thousand. James was shocked at the thought of it. He would have imagined that it would take a lengthy war to produce five thousand casualties. He couldn't believe that even the victorious Southern army would be experiencing the same elation as the folks at home. And what of the families that had lost a husband, father, or brother in the conflict? James wondered if
they
were celebrating. He folded the paper, put it in his saddlebag, and mounted his horse. He was more anxious than ever to get home.

It was mid-afternoon when he rode up to the barn and dismounted. At first glance, everything appeared to be as he'd left it over three months ago. The carriage that his family always used for worship and for social functions was sitting in front of the barn; George Lynch was on the far side working on the rear wheel. When he heard James ride up, he stopped what he was doing. His look of curiosity changed to a broad smile upon recognizing the visitor. “Well I declare. It's good to see you, James. Where did you come from?”

“Richmond,” said James. “All the way from Richmond.”

“Yes. Your father told us all about how you're workin for the Signal Service. That must be real interestin.”

“It
is
interesting, George, but there is a lot to learn about that business. How are things here?”

“Everything is pretty good except that your father got his left leg broken a few weeks ago. He got kicked by that stallion he bought up in Kentucky. He's doing all right but it's hard to keep him off his feet so that leg heals proper. You know how your father hates to sit still.”

“Yes, I know how he is. I'd better go see him.”

“Sure, James. It's good to see you. I'll take care of your horse.”

James hurried to the house and took the front steps two at a time to the veranda. The first person he saw inside was Millie White, busy as usual, cleaning in the hallway. Seeing James, she put down her feather duster and greeted him with a motherly hug. “Welcome home, James. This is an unexpected pleasure, how are you?”

“I'm fine, Millie. I talked to George when I rode in. How are mother and father?”

“They're doing fine, James. Your mother is upstairs resting. It's taking a lot out of her, worrying about your father. I guess George told you about his broken leg.”

“Yes, he did.”

“If he would just take it easy and stay off his feet until he heals . . . but they're both doing all right.”

“Where is Father?”

“He's in his office. I believe he's in there working but at least he's sitting down.”

“I'll go see him. Thank you, Millie.”

He walked down the hallway and knocked on the office door but didn't wait for a reply. His father was sitting at his desk, left leg propped up on a footstool. Seeing his son walk through the door, he made a move to get up but James raised a hand to stop him. “Please, keep your seat, Father. I heard what happened.”

The two men exchanged a firm handshake. “This is a wonderful surprise, son. I'm real glad to see you. Sit, sit and tell me what you've been doing.”

“I will, Father, but tell me first about yourself and Mother. Millie said she is upstairs resting.”

“Yes, she is. She's fine, James, just a little tired. It's my fault really. I've been hard to get along with ever since I broke my leg. Dr. Mead comes out every couple of days and he raises the devil every time but I can't just sit still with a plantation to look after. Things are especially difficult right now. It's that damn Union blockade at Hampton Roads. It's part of the Yankee plan to cut us off from the rest of the world. It makes it very hard to get anything shipped in or out. I have to rely on blockade runners to ship my cotton and so many of them are being caught. I've already lost quite a few tons to the Yankee fleet. You cannot wage a war without the proper tools and there is no Confederate Navy to speak of. Of course, the government is working on it; fortunately we were able to drive the Yankees out of Gosport Naval yard. Much of it was destroyed, but the dry dock was still intact. But how far behind will we be until we can effectively fight on the water, protect our ports, and break up the blockade? I guess we do have reason to be optimistic after the battle in Virginia yesterday. Of course I'm going on about things you already know about. The Signal Service is the first to get information.”

“That's true, Father. I receive my orders from and report directly to the government in Richmond.”

“Be assured, son, we were all very proud when we read your letter. The work you do is vital to our cause. I understand that General Beauregard was well informed about the movements of the Yankee army before the battle at Manassas. He had plenty of time to prepare.”

“That is also true, Father, and still there were plenty of mistakes made. We were victorious, but we were lucky. It will take time before our army can benefit from more effective planning.”

“I agree, son. Mistakes will need to be corrected. But I believe that we have better generals than the Yankees. I think we proved that yesterday. The news is both good and bad. The good news is that we did win the day and we drove the Union army completely out of Virginia. We stunned Washington with the measure of our resolve. They expected to put down the rebellion with one bold stroke. The bad news is that we were wrong to think it was going to be a short war. I believe now that there will be many battles before our future is decided. It may be a while before the North is ready for another fight, but the day will come.”

“That is the feeling in Richmond, Father. I was fortunate to be able to make this trip home. It seems like orders are changing every day and security is getting tighter and tighter. It may be quite a while before I get home again. I'll be here for a couple of days and I want to make the most of it.”

His father seemed a bit dejected by his last remark. “I'm sorry to tell you this, James, but Ashton and Kate went to stay with Uncle Joseph and Aunt Sarah for a couple of weeks. They wanted to spend some time with Jenny and Bret. Mother thought it was a good idea to pick up their spirits. They have been a bit melancholy since you left. I think they might be afraid that your leaving is a sign of things to come. Uncle Stanley's boys are gone, too. They left for the army the day after you did. Stanley hasn't heard from them yet.”

James was sad to learn that he wouldn't get a chance to see his sisters.

And his cousins, Clark and Jessie, were off somewhere with their artillery regiment. James thought about his eighteenth birthday and how they had all been together in that very house. Now the war was heating up. Would all of them ever be together again?

Then, as if on cue, a wave of guilt crashed over him. It did not come as a surprise. He knew that it would be his most formidable enemy. No matter how much he believed in his own cause, it was not always easy to find solace in it.  He wondered if it would be easier to join the Southern army, kill Yankees, and defend that peculiar institution. But if he believed that he was going to be plagued by guilt either way, then he might as well choose the persecution he would receive for doing the right thing. James was very familiar with the bible passage that says  those who are abused for the sake of God are blessed. He was hoping that God would bless him.

Early that evening, his mother came down from her room. She was overjoyed to see her son and slightly disappointed that no one came to wake her. James eyed his mother cautiously, noting her unusual lack of color. His father said that she was just tired, but James was concerned that it might be something more. The cheerful radiance that had always appeared in her face was not there. She was showing her age; that was something he had never noticed before. It worried him that the events of the past few months had taken such a toll. How would she look if the war and the changes it brought should go on for years?