xt7qz60bwc2c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qz60bwc2c/data/mets.xml Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897. 1876  books b92-166-30116559 English Lee and Shepard, : Boston : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Fiction. Soldier boy, or, Tom Somers in the army  : a story of the great rebellion / by Oliver Optic [pseud.] text Soldier boy, or, Tom Somers in the army  : a story of the great rebellion / by Oliver Optic [pseud.] 1876 2002 true xt7qz60bwc2c section xt7qz60bwc2c 














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     THE SOLDIER BOY;


                     0R.



TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY.



  cl Atory of the   5reat  tevlZZivu.



                   BY

           OLIVER OPTIC,
AUTHOR OF "RICH AND HUMBLE," " IN SCIIOOL AND OUT," a"THE BOAT CLUB,"
4" AL  ABOARD," " NOW OR NEVERt," " TRY ACAIN," P- OOR AND PROUD,"
     "LITTLE BY LITTLE," "THE RIVERDALE STORY BOOKS," ETC.










                BOSTON:
  LEE AND SHEPAR1D). PUBLISHERS.
               NEW YORK:
       LEE, SHEIEPARD) AND' Dll,LNLGIAA.
                  18 7   .

 
























      Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by

                 WILLIAM T. ADAMS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts

























                    ELECTROTYPED AT THE
               Boston Stereotype Foundry,
                        No. 4 Spring Lane.

 

















            TO


   WILLIAM LEE, ESQ.,


         This Book


is RzSPECTFULLY DEDICATED,


       BY HIS FRIEND


            WILLIAM T. ADAMS.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 












                       PREFACE.





  TInS volume is not altogether a military romance, though it
contains the adventures of one of those noble-hearted and pa.
triotic young men who went forth fromn homes of plenty and
happiness to fight the battles of our imperilled country. The
incidents of the story may be stirring and exciting: vet they
are not only within the bounds of probability, but lave been
more than par;Uelcd in the experience of hundreds of the gal-
lant soldiers of the loyal army.
  The work is not intended to approach the dignity of a his-
tory, though the writer has carefully consulted the " authorities,"
both loyal and rebel, and has taken down the living words of
enthusiastic participants in the stirring scenes described in this
volume. lie has not attempted to give a full picture of any
battle, or other army operation, but simply of those move-
ments in which the hero took a part. The book is a nar-
rative of personal adventure, delineating the birth and growth
of a pure patriotism in the soul of the hero, and describing
the perils and privations, the battles and marches which he
shared with thousands of brave men in the army of the Po-
tomac.
  The author has endeavored to paint L picture oe the rue
                  1                        (4)

 






6                       PREPA CE.

soldier, one who loves his country, and fights for her because
he loves her; but, at the same time, one who is true to him-
self and his God, while he is faithful to his patriotic impulses.
  The work has been a pleasure to me in its preparation, and
I hope it will not disappoint the reasonable expectation of
those partial friends whose smile is my joy, whose frown is my
grief. But, more than all, I trust this humble volume will
have some small influence in kindling and cherishing that gen-
uine patriotism which must ever be the salvation of our land,
the foundation of our national prosperity and happiness.


                                  WILLIAM T. ADAMS.


 























CONTENTS.



A PtIt
    1. tflt ISAIYLE OF PINcnBIOOs

    11. TiE foOMERS FAMILy, . . .

  III. TA.11uzG A TRAITOR . . . . .

  IV. THE COMM11ITTEE COME OUT,

  V. TIIE ATTIC CHAMBER, ...

  VI. THE WAY IS PREPARED,

  VITi. A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE,

  VIII. SxosNING TUE PAPERS,. . .

  IX. THE DEPARTURE ......

  X. COMPANY K .........

  XI. IN WASHINGTON, ......

  XII. 4ON TO RICHMOND," ....

  XIII. TimE BATTLE OF BULL RUN,

  XIV. AFTER THE BATTLE, ....

  XV. TOM A PRISONER ......

  XVI. A PERPLEXING QUESTION,

XVII. DINNER AND DANGER,. ..

XVIII. THE REBEL SOLDIER ....

XIX. ThROUcGH THE GAP .....

  XX. DOWN TILE SHENANDOAH, . .

  XXI, THE PROBLEM OF RATIONS,.



                     PAoU
...... .. .. .. ..  . 11

..............    . 21

............     . .            . 32

AND TOM GOES IN, . . . .41

..............    . 49

...... .. .         58

... .....             68

.77. .............  .  77

..............    . 87

............ .    97

.........    ......... 107

. ........... 118

..............                  . 127

..............    . 137

....                         . 147

..............    . 157

... ... . .... . . . 166

..........  .       176

... .. .. .. .. .. . 16

.1... .9.6...........  . 19G

.. .............   . 204



(7)



-

 








CONTENTS.



TiE PICKET GUAR     R.......

TIlE END OF THIE VOYAGE, . . .

BUDD'S FERRY.    ........
IN THE HOSPITAL .... . ....

ToM IS SENTIMENTAL .......

THE CONFEDERATE DESERTER, . .

ON THE PENINSULA.. .. .. .

TIE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG, .
MORE OF THE BATTLE ......

GLORY AND VICTORY. .. .. .

" HONORABLE MENTION," .....



........  .... 216


. ......... . 236

... .. .. ... 246

............ 256

............ 266
... 275
... .. .. ... 284

... .. .. ... . 294

........... 302

........... 312



XXTI. LEUTENAXT SOM1ERS AND OTHERSM .......... .a321



8



  XXII.

  XXIII.

  XXIV.
  XXV.
  XxVI.

XXVII.

xXVIII.

XXIX.

  XXX.

  XXXI.

XXXII.


 















THE SOLDIER ROYO

 This page in the original text is blank.


 










       THE SOLDIER BOY;

                       on,

  TOM SOMERS IN TIlE ARMY




                CHAPTER I.

           THE BATTLE OF PINCUBROOK.

 4HORT      SUIITERt has surrendered, mother!"
       shouted Thomas Somers, as lie rushed into
       the room where his mother was quietly read-
ing hevr Bible.
  It was Sunday, and the exciting news had been cir-
culated about the usually quiet village of Pinchbrook
Harbor. Men's lips were compressed, and their teeth
shut tight together. They were indignant, for traitors
had fired upon the flag of the United States. Men,
women, and children were roused by the indignity
offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that
struck the walls of Sumter seemed at the same time to
strike the souls of the whole population of the North,
and never was there such a great awakening since the
                                     CL 1)

 





THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



Pilgrim Fathers first planted their feet upon the rock
of Plymouth.
   " Fort Sumter has surrendered ! " shouted the indig-
nant young patriot again, as his mother looked up from
the blessed volume.
   "I You don't say so! " exclaimed Mrs. Somers, as
she closed the Bible, and removed her spectacles.
  " Yes, mother. The infernal rebels hammered away
at the fort for two days, and at last we had to
give in."
  "There'll be terrible times afore long," replied the
old lady, shaking her head with prophetic earnestness.
  "The President has called for seventy-five thousand
volunteers, and I tell you there'll be music before
long! " continued the youth, so excited that lie paced
the room with rapid strides.
  "W What's the matter, Thomas" asked a feeble old
gentleman, entering the room at this moment.
  "Fort Sumter has surrendered, gran'ther," repeated
Thomas, at the top of his lungs, for the aged man was
quite deaf; "' and the President has called for seventy-
five thousand men to go down and fight the traitors."
  "Sho! " exclaimed the old man, halting, and gazing
with earnestness into the face of the boy.
  "It's a fact, gran'ther."
  "XVell, I'm too old to go," muttered gran'ther
Greene; "but I wa'n't older'n you are when I shoul'



t2

 




TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMTr.



dered my firelock in 1812. I'm too old and stiff to
go now."
  " How old were you, gran'ther, when you wvent to
the war " asked rIT1omas, with more moderation than
he had exhibited before.
    "Only sixteen, Thomas; but I was as tall as I am
now," replied the patriarch, dropping slowly and cau
tiously into the old-fashioned high-back chair, by the
side of the cooking stove.
  WIell, I'm sixteen, and I mean to go."
  "You, Thomas! You are crazy! You slan't do any
thing of the kind," interposed Mrs. Somers. 11 There's
men enough to go to the wvar, without such boys as
you are."
  "You ain't quite stout enough to make a soldier,
Thomas. You ain't so big as I was, when I went off
to York state," added gran'ther Greene.
  "I should like to go any how," said Thomas, as he
seated himself in a corner of the room, and began to
think thoughts big enough for a full-grown man.
  "Fort Sumter has surrendered," shouted John Som-
ers, rushing into the house as much excited as his
brother had been.
  " We've heard all about it, John," replied his
tnother.
  " The President has called for seventy-five thousand
men, and in my opinion the rebels will get an awlid
                 2



13

 


THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



licking before they are a fortnight older. I should like
to go and help do it."
  The exciting news was discussed among the mem-
beFs of the Somers family, as it was in thousands of
other families, on that eventful Sunday. Thomas and
John could think of nothing, speak of nothing, but Fort
Sumter, and the terrible castigation which the rebels
would receive from the insulted and outraged North
They were loyal even to enthusiasm; and when the3
retired to their chamber at night, they ventured to ex-
press to each other their desire to join the great army,
which was to avenge the insult offered to the flag of the
Union.
  They were tw in brothers, sixteen years of age; but
they both thoughItt they were old enough and strong
enough to be soldiers.  Their mother, however, had
promptly disapproved of such suggestions, and they had
not deemed it prudent to discuss the idea in her
presence.
  On Monday, the excitement instead of subsiding, was
fanned to a fever heat; Pinchbrook Harbor was in a
glow of patriotism. Men neglected their usual occupa-
tions, and talked of the affairs of the nation. Every per-
r-on who could procure a flag hung it out at his window,
or hoisted it in his yard, or on his house. The governor
had called out a portion of the state militia, and already
the tramp of armed men was heard in the neigh'
boring city of Boston.



14

 

TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY.



1s



  Thomas Somers was employed in a store in the vila
lage, and during the forenoon lie mechanically performed
the duties of his position; but he could think of nothing
but the exciting topic of the day. His blood was boiling
with indignation against those who had trailed our hal-
lowed flag in the dust. He wanted to do something to
redeem the honor of his country-- something to wipe out
the traitors who had dared to conspire against her peace.
On his way home to dinner, lie met Fred Pemberton,
who lived only a short distance from his own house.
  " What do you think now, Fred " said Thomas.
  "W What do I think I think just as I always did
the North is wrong, and the South is right," replied
Fred.
  " Who fired upon Fort Sumter Trliat's the question,"
said Thomas, his eyes flashing with indignation.
  "Why didn't they give up the fort, then "
  "Give up the fort! Shall the United States cave in
before the little State of South Carolina. Not by a two
chalks! "
  "I think the North has been teasing and vexing the
South till the Southerners can't stand it any longer.
There'll be war now."
  "I hope there will! By gracious, I hope so!"
  " I hope the South will beat! "
  "Do you Do you, Fred Pemberton" demanded
Tams so excited hle could not stand still.

 


THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



   "Yes, I do. The South has the rights of it. If we
had let their niggers alone, there wouldn't have been any
trouble."
  "4 You are as blind as a bat, Fred. Don't you see
this isn't a quarrel between the North and the South,
but between the government and the rebels"
  "I don't see it. If the North had let the South
alone, there wouldn't have been any fuss. I hope the
North will get whipped, and I know she will."
  "6 Fred, you are a traitor to your country !
  "No, I'm not!"
  "Yes, you are; and if I had my way, I'd ride you
on a rail out of town."
  "No, you wouldn't."
  "Yes, I would. I always thought you were a decent
fellow; but you are a dirty, low-lived traitor."
  4" Better be careful what you say, Tom Somers! " re.
torted the young secessionist, angrily.
  "A fellow that won't stand by his country ain't fit to
live. You are an out-and-out traitor."
  "Don't call me that again, Tom Somers," replied
Fred, doubling up his fist.
  "I say you are a traitor."
  " Take that, then."
  Tom did take it, and it was a pretty hard blow
on the side of his head. Perhaps it was fortunate
for our young patriot that an opportunity was thus



16

 



TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY.



afforded him to evaporate some of his enthusiasm in the
cause of his country, for there is no knowing what
might have been the consequence if it had remaine
longer pent up in his soul. Of course, lie struek back
and a contest, on a smiall scale, between the loyalty
of the North and the treason of the South com-
menced. How long it might have continued, or what
might have been the result, cannot now be considered;
for the approaell of a chaise interrupted the battle,
and the forces of secession were reinforced by a full-
grown man.
  The gentleman stepped out of his chaise with his'
whip in his hand, and proceeded to lay it about the
legs and body of the representative of the Union side.
This was more than Tom Somers could stand, and lie
retreated in good order from the spot, till lie had placed
himself out of the reach of the whip.
  "What do you mean, you young scoundrel" de
manded the gentleman who had interfered.
  Tom looked at hiim, and discovered that it was Squire
Pemberton, the father of his late opponent.
    He hit me first," said Tom.
  ile called me a traitor," added Fred. "I won't be
called a traitor by him, or any other fellow."
  "What do you mean by calling my son a traitor, you
villain 



I1;.

 


THE SOLDIER BOY, ON



  " I meant just what I said. He is a traitor. He
said lie hoped the South would beat."
  " Suppose he did. I hope so too," added Squire
Pemberton.
  The squire thought, evidently, that this ought to set-
tle the question. If lie hoped so, that was enough.
  "' Then you are a traitor, too. That's all I've got
to say," replied Tom, boldly.
  "You scoundrel! How dare you use such a word
to me! " roared the squire, as he moved towards the
blunt-spoken little patriot.
  For strategic reasons, Tom deemed it prudent to
fall back; but as he did so, he picked up a couple
of good-sized stones.
  "I said you were a traitor, and I say so again,"
said Tom.
  "4 Two can play at that game," added Fred, as he
picked up a stone and threw it at Tom.
  The Union force returned the fire with the most
determined energy, until one of the missiles struck the
horse attached to the chaise. The animal, evidently
having no sympathy with either party in this ininia-
ture contest, and without considering how much damage
he might do the rebel cause, started off at a furious
pace when the stone struck him.  I-le dashed down
the hill at a fearful rate, and bounded away over the
plain that led to the Harbor.



18

 



TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY.



  Squire Peniberton and his son had more interest in
the fate of the runaway horse than they had in the
issue of the contest, and both started at the top of
their speed in pursuit.  But they might as well have
chased a flash. of lightning, or a locomotive going at
the rate of fifty miles an hour.
  Tom Somers came down from the bank which he
Lad ascended to secure a good position. Ile had done
rather more than he intended to do; but on the whole
he did not much regret it.   lie watched the course
of the spirited animal, as he dashed madly on to de-
struction. The career of the horse was short; for in
the act of turning a corner, half a mile from, the spot
where Tom stood, lie upset the chaise, and was hin-
self thrown down, and, being entangled in the harness,
was unable to rise before a stout man had him  by
the head.
  ";I wish that chaise had been the southern confed-
eracy," said Tom to himself, philosophically, when lie
saw the catastrophe in the distance. "W Well, it served
you right, old Secesh; and I'll bet there ain't many
folks in Pinchbrook Harbor that will be willing to
comfort the mourners."
  With this consoling assurance, Tom continued on his
way home. At dinner, he gave the family a faithful
account of the transaction.
  "You didn't do right, Thomas," said his mothers



19

 



20            P/UE SOLDIER sOY, OR

  " He hit me first."
  "6 You called him a traitor."
  " He is a traitor, and so is his father."
  " I declare, the boys are as full of fight as an egg is
of meat," added gran'ther Greene.
  "You haven't seen the last of it yet, Thomas," said
the prudent mother.
  "6 No matter, Tom; I'll stand by you," added John.
  After dinner, the two boys walked down to the
Harbor together.


 



TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMr.



21



                  CHAPTER II.

                  THE SOMERS FAMILY.

 z       HE town of Pinchbrook is not a great distance
        from Boston, with which it is connected by rail-
        road. If any of our young readers are of a
geographical turn of mind, and are disposed to ascertain
the exact locality of the place, we will save them any
unnecessary trouble, for it is not laid down on any map
with which we are familiar. We live in times of war,
and probably our young friends have already learned the
meaning of " military necessity." Our story is essen-
tially a military story, and there are certain military
secrets connected with it which might be traced out if
we should inform our inquisitive readers exactly where
Pinehlbrook is situated.
  Squire Pemberton, we doubt not, is very anxious to
find out certain persons connected with some irregular
proceedings in and around his house on the evening of
Monday, April 16th. Fidelity to the truth of history
compels us to narrate these proceedings in our humble
volume; but we should exceedingly regret thereby to get

 


THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



any- of our friends into a scrape by informing the squire
that they were active participants in the scenes of that
eventful night, or to say any thing which would enable
him, a lawyer, to trace out the authors of the mischief
through these pages. Therefore we cannot say where
Pinchbrook is, or even give a hint which would enable
our readers to fix definitely its locality.
  Piuchbrook is a town of about three thousand inhab-
itants, engaged, as the school books would say, in agri-
culture, manufactures, commerce, and the fisheries,
which, rendered into still plainer English, means that
some of the people are farmers; that wooden pails,
mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, are made ; that the
inhabitants buy groceries, and sell fish, kegs, pails, and
similar wares; and that there are about twenty vessels
owned in the place, the principal part of which are
fishermen.
  We have not the agricultural and commercial star
tistics of the place at hand; but the larger territorial
part of the town was devoted to the farming interest,
and was rather sparsely populated, while the principal
village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was more densely
peopled, contained two stores, four churches, one wharf,
a blacksmith shop, and several shoe and bucket mauu-
factories.
  We are willing to acknowledge that Pinchbrook is
rather a singular name.   The antiquarians have not



22

 

TOM SOMERS IN TIZE ARr. 2.



yet had an opportunity to determine its origin; but
our private opinion is that the word is a corruption
of Punch-brook. Perhaps, at some remote period in
the history of the town, before the Sons of Temper-
ance obtained a foothold in the place, a villanous
mixture, known to topers under the general appellation
of "punch," may have been largely consumed by the
Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged person our-
self, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where,
metaphorically, the punch was said to " flow in streams."
Possibly, from  " streams" came "brooks," - hence,
"Punchbrook,"   which, under the strange mutations
of time, has become "P Pinchbrook." But we are not
learned in these matters, and we hope that nothing
wve have said will bias the minds of antiquarians, and
prevent them from devoting that attention to the origin
of the word which its importance demands.
  The Somers family, which we have already partially
introduced, occupied a small cottage not quite a mile
from Pinclhbrook Harbor. Captain Somliers, the head of
the family, had been, and was still, for aught his wife
and children knew, master of the schooner Gazelle.
To purchase this vessel, he had beavily mortgaged his
house, and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire Pemberton.
But his voyages had not been uniformly successful,
though the captain believed that his earthly possessions,
after discharging all his liabilities, would amount to
aibout five thousand dollars.



23

 




THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



   The mortgage note would become due in June, and
 Captain Somers had been making a strong effort to realize
 upon his property, so as to enable him to pay off the
 obligation at maturity. Captain Somers had a brother
 who was familiarly known in the family as uncle Wy.
 man. He had spent his life, from the age of eighteen,
 in the South, and at the time of which we write, he
 was a merchant in Norfolk.
 Captain Somers and his brother had been interested
 together in certain mercantile transactions, and uncle
 Wyman, being the business man, had the proceeds of
 these ventures in his own hands.
 On the 10th of April, only two days before the
 bombardment of Fort Stimter, Captain Somers had
 sailed in the Gazelle, with an assorted cargo, for Nor.
 folk. Before leaving home lie had assured his wife
 that he should not return without effecting a settle.
 ment with Wyman, who had postponed it so many
 times, that the honest sailor began to fear his brother
 did not mean to deal justly with him. Nothing had
 been heard of the Gazelle since her departure from
 Boston.
 Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man
with southern principles, while his brother, thougrh not
in the habit of saying much about politics, was fully
committed on the side of the government, and was
willing to sustain the President in the use of all the



24

 


TOAr SOMERS IN THE ARMY.



coercion that might be necessary to enforce obedience
to the laws.  The threatening aspect of affairs at the
South had made Captain Somers more than ever
anxious to have his accounts adjusted, as all his earthly
possessions, except the schooner, were in the hands
of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman 'was so
strong an advocate of Southern rights, had caused him
to make the declaration that he would not return with
out a settlement.
  The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore,
were not in a very prosperous condition, and the sol-
vency of the house depended entirely upon the adjust-
ment with uncle Wyman.    The mortgage note which
Squire Pemberton held would be due in June, and as
the creditor was not an iudulgent man, there was a
)rospect that even the little cottage and the little farm
might be wrested from them.
  The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and
three children. The two oldest daughters were married
to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the Harbor.
Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age.
'The former had a place in one of the stores at the
village, and the latter occasionally went a fishing trip
with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been
brought up to work, and there was need enough now
that they should contribute what they could to the
"upport of ths family. The youngest child, Jane, was
                  a



25

 



THE dO)DIJER BOY, OR1



but eleven yctr= of ag6, snd went to school. Mrs
Somers's brother, a feeble oiad man, a soldier in the war
of 1812, and a pensioner of the government, had been
a member of the family for twenty years; and was
familiarly known in town as " Gran'ther Green."
  Having thus mats our readers acquainted with Pinch-
brook and the Someris family, we are prepared to con-
tipsue our story.
  Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor to-
gether after dinner. The latter had listened with in-
terest and approbation to his brother's account of the
"Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it;
and perhaps he thought Thomas might reed his as-
sistance before he reached the store, for Fred and his
father would not probably be willing to let the matter
rest where they had left it.
  We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts
of the hero of this volume; but John, without asking
our opinion, fully indorsed the action of his brother.
  "1 Fred is a traitor, and so is his father," said he, as
they passed out at the front gate of the little cottage.
  "That's so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to
hear them  talk," replied Thomas. " And I couldn't
help calling things by their right names."
  "Bully for you, Toni! " added John, as he turned
round, and glanced at the house to assure himself
they wero out of the hearing of their mother.  "Be.



26

 


TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMer.



tween you and me, Tom, there will be music in
Pinchbrook to-night."
  He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with
mystery and heavy with importance.
  "W 1Vhat do you mean" asked Thomas, his interest
excited by the words and manner of his brother.
  "There is fun ahead."
  "Tell me what it's all about."
  "You won't say a word -will you"
  "Of course I won't."
  "Not to mother, I mean, most of all."
  "Certainly not."
  "Squire Pemberton. has been talking too loud for
his own good."
  "I knoiv that; lie was in the store this forenoon, and
Jeff Davis himself is no bigger traitor than lie is."
  "Some of the people arc going to make him a call
to-night."
  " Vhat for"
  " What do you suppose Can't you see through a
millstone, Tom, when there is a hole in it"
  " I don't know what you mean."
  " You can come with us if you like, and then you
will know all about it," added John, mysteriously.
  "But what are you going to do"
  "We are going to make hlim hoist the American
flag on his house, or hang it out of his window."



.

 


THE SOLDIER BOY, OR



  "Well, suppose he won't."
  "Then we'll hang him where the flag, ought to be
We'll pull the house down over his head."
  "c I'm with you, Jack," replied Thomas, with en
thusiasm.
  "We won't have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we
can't cure him, we'll ride him on a rail out of the
town."
  " I don't know as you and I ought to get into this
scrape," added Thomas, thoughtfully.
  "1 Why not"
  "You know the squire has a mortgage on our
house, and he may get ugly."
  "Let him, if he likes. I'm not going to tolerate a
traitor because lie has a mortgage on my father's
house.  Besides, that is a fair business transaction;
the squire gets his interest."
  "Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil
spirit."
  "Women are always timid," said John, sagely.
  "By George! there comes the very man himself!"
exclaimed Thomas, as he discovered a horse and
Thaise slowly approaching.
  "So it is; that old chaise looks ratller the worse
for. the wear. It looks as though it had been through
the wars."
  The vehicle did bear very evident marks of hard



28

 

TOM SOMERS IY THE ARMY.



usage. One of the shafts was broken, the dasher
wrenched off, and the top stove in. The horse was
covered with mud, and limped badly from the effects
of his fall. The broken shaft and the harness were
now plentifully adorned with ropes and old straps.
In fact, the catastrophe had utterly ruined all claim
which the chaise ever might have had to be consid-
ered a "; hahnsome kerride."
  "There'll be fun nearer home, I reckon," said
John, as he obtained his first view of the sour visage
of the squire.
  "Can't help it," added Thomas.
  "Keep a stiff upper lip, Tom."
  "I intend to do so."
  " Don't say a word about to-night, Tom,"
  "Of course not."
  When the chaise had approached near enough to
enable the squire to recognize the author of his mis-
fortunes, he stopped the horse, and got out of the
vehicle, with the whip in his hand.
  "Now, you young scoundrel, I will teach you to
insult me and my son, and destroy my property.
Stay in the chaise, Fred, and hold the horse," he
added to his son.
  But there was not much need of holding the horse
now, for lie was too lame to run fast or far. Thomas
and John came to a halt; and if the squire had been



29

 

THE SOLDIER AOr, OR



a prudent man, he might have seen by the flash of
their eyes, that he was about to engace in an unsafe
operation.
  "I am going to horsewhip you within an inch of
your life, you villain, you! " roared the squire, bran,
dishing the whip.
  "No, you are not," replied Thomas, coolly.
  "If you drop the weight of that lash on my
brother, I'll smash your head," added John.
  The squire paused, and glanced at the wiry form
of the young sailor. Better thoughts, or at least wiser
ones, came to his aid.
    I can bring you to your senses in another way,"
said he, dropping his whip, and getting into the
chaise again.  "You will hear from  me before the
week is out."                     I
  "Let him   go; don't say a word, Tom," added
John.
  "He will prosecute me, I suppose he means by
that."
  "Let him prosecute and be hanged! I'll bet by
to-morrow morning he will think better of it. At
any rate, he will find out what the people of Pinch,
brook think of him."
  The boys resumed their walk, and soon reached
the store, where they found the group of idlers, that
always frequent shops in the country, busily engaged



80

 


           TOM SOMERS IN THE ARMY                31

in discussing the affair in which Thomas had been
the principal actor. As the boys entered, tsm hero of
the Pindibrook Battle was saluted with a r-oiley of
applause, and his conduct fully approved and Coma
mnended, for a copperhead in that day was an paler
ination to the peo-ia.


 


THE SUr, DI Z b R B o Yo n8



                 CHAPTER IIl.

                 TAMING A TRAITOR.

           ITH  the exception of Squire Pemberton,
           Piuclhbrook was a thoroughly loyal townn;
           and the people felt that it was a scandal
and a disgrace to have even a single traitor within its
borders.  The squire took no pains to conceal his trea-
sonable sentiments, though the whole town was in a
blaze of patriotic excitement. On the contrary, he had
gone out of his way, and taken a great deal of pains, to
condemn the government and the people of the North.
  Squire Pemberton was a wealthy man, and he had
always been a person of great influence in the place.
He had occupied all the principal official positions in
town and county. He had come to retard himself, as
his townsmen were for the most part willing to regard
him, as the social and political oracle of the place.
What he thought in town meeting was generally the
sense of his fellow-citizens, and when he expressed
himself in words, his word was law.
  When, on Sunday morning, with Fort Sumter in ruins,



32

 

TOM SOMERS IN TEE ARMYr.



with the national flag trodden under the feet of traitors,
with the government insulted and threatened, Squire
Pemberton ventured to speak in tones of condemnation
of the free North, the people of Pinchbrook listened
coldly, at first, to the sayings of their oracle; and when
lie began to abuse the loyal spirit of the North, some
ventured to dissent from him. The oracle was not in
the habit of having men dissent, and it made him angry.
His treason became more treasonable, his condemnation
more bitter. Plain, honest men, to whatever party they
mnight have belonged, were disgusted with the great man
of Pinchbrook; and some of them ventured to express
their disapprobation of his course in very decided terms.
Some were disposed to be indulgent because the Squire
had a sister in Georgia who had married a planter. But
there was not found a single person, outside of his own
family, who was mean enough to