Confederate Gold and Silver (9 page)

Stepping from his tent, Lee spied Captain Francis and his heavily bandaged left hand. He was seated at a nearby table awkwardly attempting to eat his breakfast. Major Taylor, joined by Captains McAulay and White, stood off to the side of Lee’s tent talking as the Confederate camp began to come to life that morning. As he walked to the table, Francis saw him approaching and started to stand to salute him. As he did, Lee waved him off, motioning for him to remain seated. With too much respect for Lee, Francis stood and saluted him sharply. Lee returned his salute.

“Captain, good morning, I am pleased to see you again. I do hope the doctors have done well for you. I also hope you are indeed on the way to a quick recovery.”

“Good morning, sir. Yes, and thank you, they have done their best for me. I am most grateful for their skills.”

“Very good! I am pleased to hear you are on the mend. Please, be seated and please continue eating your breakfast.”

Lee had known of Captain Francis and of his daring military exploits for just over two years, first taking real notice of him after hearing of a cavalry ride he had made one night through Union picket lines. With only a handful of other cavalry officers, Francis had almost single-handily rescued General John Legg who had been injured and then captured by Union forces during the Battle of Big Bethel. This daring ride had earned Francis the nickname of
‘Bull
Rider’
as he had bullied his way through thick brush and Union picket lines to rescue Legg.

In his earlier years, Lee had become close friends with Judiah Francis’ father, Major Peter Francis, when they had served together in the Union army. Peter had sustained a severe back injury in early 1861 after being thrown from his horse; an injury which had occurred just months before the war had broken out. Lee knew it pained his good friend not to have an active role in defending Virginia during the war.

From their friendship Lee had learned Peter’s father, James Peter Francis, had disgraced his family many years ago due to his problems associated with alcohol. The problems also included him taking up with several of his female slaves. Peter talked little about his father to others, but he had with his friend, Bobby Lee. He had called Lee by that name when no one else had dared to, but they had been good friends for many years. Lee had long known about the story of Peter’s father’s problem with the slave women and with alcohol. As little as he had spoken about his father, he had spoken plenty about his great grandfather, William Peter Francis. As a young man, William had bravely fought with George Washington’s troops at Yorktown when they had defeated the British at the end of the Revolutionary War.

It had been two years since Lee had seen his old friend, but when he had, in a brief encounter during the summer of 1861, Peter had proudly compared his son to his great grandfather. He had told Lee he knew his son would live up to his great grandfather’s reputation. Partially because of his close friendship with Peter, Lee later had taken a liking to Judiah the first time they had met.

“General, please excuse me for starting my breakfast before you arrived, but Major Taylor insisted I eat as soon as the food was served. As you can see, I am somewhat handicapped at the time due to this bandage on my hand. I . . . . well I just need a little more time to eat these days. I need to work through this injury I have sustained, so please forgive me for being so clumsy. Sir, I am reporting to you as ordered and I can assure you I will not allow this injury to stop me. How may I be of service to you?”

As Francis spoke, Major Taylor, followed by Captains McAulay and White, moved closer to the table where Lee and Francis sat. Sitting at the table, Lee noticed the pause Francis had taken when he was speaking to him. He knew from the pause that the injury to his hand was one which greatly bothered Francis. Lee soon realized it was more than just a physical injury. He now sought to address the injury head-on, comforting Francis as he did. “Captain, to start with, I know the circumstances of how you were injured and I want you to know you have my appreciation for your service. While I am grateful for your service to the cause we are fighting for, I am also saddened by the injury you have sustained. Secondly, I know your father would be proud to know how well you have conducted yourself during our recent campaign. Please do extend my greetings to your father the next time you may write to him. I miss having him here with us.”

Lee’s comments comforted Francis. He was also pleased Lee had taken the time to mention his father. “Thank you, sir. I will indeed tell my father you have sent your regards to him. I expect he is likely still moaning about both his injury and about missing the action of this war. He would have done the South proud with his service.” Francis had wanted to ask Lee more about why he had been summoned to meet with him, but knew it was not his place to ask. He knew when Lee was ready he would tell him.

Lee smiled and then briefly nodded his head in agreement to what Francis had just said.

Getting comfortable at the table, Lee was served his breakfast by a rather overweight corporal who, amongst other assignments, served as his cook. Major Taylor then sat down at the table next to Lee, quickly briefing him on a few unrelated matters. Captains McAulay and White, who had not been invited to sit at the table, stood respectfully off to the side of it, behind where Francis sat, quietly listening as Lee and Taylor spoke. “Major Taylor, have you made arrangements to contact the commanding generals of the respective states we discussed last evening and advised them to provide one sergeant each for this assignment?”

“Yes, sir. I have personally dispatched couriers to each of them. The orders were sent out early this morning. The instructions directed the generals to make sure their sergeants were in Richmond within a week’s time, by August 4
th
in fact, to meet with Captain Francis at the Richmond train station.”

“Very well.” Lee took a moment to sip the cup of coffee which had been set on the table for him before he spoke to Francis again.

As he sat at the table, Francis could not help but hear Major Taylor mention his name to Lee. As Lee took another moment to drink his coffee, Francis wondered why he was being sent to Richmond. Patiently he waited to be told what his assignment was going to be.

Putting his cup down, Lee looked at Francis for a moment before speaking. “Captain, I have an assignment for you. I hope your injury will not prevent you from accepting this assignment, but if you feel you cannot accept what I am going to ask of you due to your injury, nothing will be said about you declining this assignment. Before I tell you more about what is involved, I must ask you a question. Do not take offense with this as you know of my fondness and of my respect for your family. This assignment, if it is not properly kept in complete secrecy, could spell catastrophe for our cause. Captain, for the time being, can I trust you to keep this conversation secret from everyone except for those who are present here right now?”

As he looked up at the others who were present around the table, Francis could not figure out what else to expect from Lee regarding the assignment he was being given, but sensed it was something very important. “Sir, you have not offended me or my family as we have the same respect for you. My entire family is proud to be from the South. We are here to serve you and the cause we have taken up arms for. Sir, as you can trust my family, you can also trust me.”

Lee smiled at the answer Francis had given to his question as it had been the one he expected to hear. “Very well; now I must tell you one other important requirement for this assignment and I must know that you understand this point. Unless you find yourself in significant trouble, and I stress it has to be significant trouble, under no circumstances are you to tell anyone, other than those who are here right now, as well as President Davis and Treasury Secretary Memminger, of your movements. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

Judiah was now more intrigued than ever. He now knew whatever assignment Lee had planned for him was obviously a very important one. As he listened to Lee speak to him, he could only guess what the assignment might be. “What could be so important that he needs to be assured complete secrecy will be maintained by my men and me?”

“Sir, I promise you I will keep my orders to myself. My men will only know what they need to know unless something arises which may prevent me from completing my assignment. With your permission, and only after I know which of the men I can trust, I would like to tell one man what our final objective is, just so someone knows what has to be done in the event I am injured or killed.”

“You have my permission to do so, captain, but only after you know for sure who you can trust. You must select someone you can trust and someone who the other men will follow; I suggest you select this person wisely. Do you understand that?

“Sir, I do.”

Lee remained quiet for a few moments before asking his next question. Before asking the question, he told Francis something about his grandfather’s past. It was an issue that Francis had no idea he knew about. “Captain, I know of your grandfather’s problems with alcohol. Do you use alcohol at all?”

“Sir, I do not. General Lee, please, and with all due respect, if I am to be compared to anyone in my family, I wish to be compared to my great grandfather or to my father, not to a rogue member of my family, but I do understand why you have asked the question. My family is still embarrassed by the past conduct of a family member. I know my grandfather had a problem with alcohol, but I do not. When my two fingers had to be amputated recently the doctors offered me alcohol to help kill the pain I felt. They made this offer both before and after the surgery. I refused their offer as I would rather not succumb to the same vices as my grandfather did. Sir, if you check with those doctors they will verify my words to you, but I hope you believe me.”

“Captain, that is a fair answer to perhaps an unfair question, but one I had to ask. You will soon understand why. And yes, I believe you. If I did not trust your words I would not have sent for you. Fair enough?”

“Sir, that is fair enough for me. I am honored by the faith you have in me.”

Satisfied by the brief interrogation he had forced Francis to endure in front of the others, Lee then gave him the details of his new assignment. He finished by telling Francis he was to immediately meet with President Davis and Secretary Memminger after arriving in Richmond. Then Lee concluded the meeting by telling Francis he needed only to report back to his command to collect his personal belongings as Major Taylor had already taken care of contacting his commanding officer. As Lee stood up from the table, so did Taylor and Francis. “Captain, I wish you well in your new assignment. It is safe to say the future of the Confederate States of America rests, to a large degree, in the success of your mission. God speed to you! When you have completed your assignment you are to report directly back to me.” After answering a couple of minor questions Francis had regarding his new assignment, Lee dismissed him.

As Francis walked to where he had left his horse, he was momentarily overwhelmed by the responsibility given to him. Gathering himself, he mounted his horse and began the short ride back to his tent so he could collect his few personal belongings. Looking down at his injured hand, he hoped it would soon heal so he had one less problem to be concerned about.

After Francis had left, Major Taylor motioned for Captains McAulay and White to join Lee at the table. As they did, Taylor poured them each a cup of coffee. “Gentlemen, you can now report back to President Davis that I have made my choice. Captain Francis has proved himself well in battle and in previous administrative tasks he has been given. Despite the injury to his hand, I am confident he will do well in this assignment. Please tell President Davis I trust him completely and that I know his family very well. I would not have chosen him if I did not have a strong degree of faith in him. He is an excellent officer to lead this assignment. Do you each agree?”

Neither captain had known of Francis before they had heard his name first mentioned by Lee, but they knew if he was Lee’s choice to lead the assignment, then he was their choice as well. Lee, even with his rank as the Commanding General of the army, was an easy man to speak with, but they both also knew captains did not challenge decisions made by generals. “Sir, we will advise President Davis of your choice of Captain Francis to lead this assignment. We will recommend final preparations begin so we are ready when he arrives in Richmond.” Rising from the table, they thanked Lee and Taylor for their hospitality, saluted Lee, and soon began the ride back to Richmond.

******

It was just before noon when the four sergeants selected to represent the Army of Northern Virginia in this assignment located Francis as he was finishing up packing his saddlebags with his personal items. As they walked towards his tent they all eyed his heavily bandaged left hand, but no one said anything to him about his injury. After a few brief introductions, he advised them they had been selected for this assignment because of their loyalty to the army and because of their fighting skills. “Most importantly,” Francis told them “you have each been selected because your commanding officer has deemed you to be one of the most trustworthy men within his command. This is not going to be the easiest assignment you have had, so I need to know each of you are committed to this assignment as I expect you men will work the hardest to make sure we are successful. Being Virginians and all, I have to be able to trust you more than I might trust the others who are being selected. Speak now if you have any issues.”

Hearing none, Francis and his four new men soon mounted their horses and started their ride to Richmond. As they started out, he eyed each of the four sergeants who now rode with him. As he did, he realized at twenty-eight years of age he was probably at least three to four years older than they were. Francis was young for a captain, but had risen in rank because of his father’s reputation as a soldier, and because of his own fighting and leadership skills. He had quickly demonstrated these skills soon after the war had broken out, showing an almost lack of fear in battle. He had gained the attention of others because of that lack of fear. It was a trait most men did not possess. While the South had at least one other brilliant cavalry officer in J.E.B. Stuart, what Francis may have lacked in reputation, he was certainly Stuart’s equal when it came to fighting.