On to Richmond (61 page)

             
Carrie stared at him.  She didn’t pretend to fully understand military matters, but she knew something wasn’t right about that. “Wasn’t Benjamin’s action a little unusual?”

             
Thomas laughed, the first genuine sign of amusement he had displayed since she had arrived.  “Ever the diplomat, aren’t you?” he asked, still chuckling.  Then he sobered.  “Benjamin’s actions were indeed unusual. He claims he was working under President Davis’ orders. Anyway, General Jackson obeyed his orders and then promptly sent in his letter of resignation, explaining that with such interference in his command he could not expect to be of much service in the field.”

             
“What about Romney?”

             
Thomas’ face hardened.  “Federal forces occupied the city on February 7.  We also had troops south of Romney in Moorefield.  They were driven out three days ago.  Yesterday, the Federals surprised our men at Bloomery Gap, capturing seventeen officers and three times as many men.”  He paused.  “The Romney campaign is indeed over.”

             
“So all those men suffered for nothing,” Carrie said softly.

             
“It would seem so.”

             
“And General Jackson?”

             
Thomas sighed.  “His letter of resignation created quite the uproar.  He has quite a strong support system.  It took some powerful persuasion to change his mind, but a final plea that his resignation would harm the country finally swayed him.  He withdrew it.”

             
Carrie nodded.  “I can understand why you are upset.”

             
This time, Thomas’ laugh held no mirth.  “Oh, that’s just the beginning of our troubles, my dear.” 

             
“What else?”  Carrie asked, startled.

             
“I’m afraid Forts Henry and Donelson have fallen.  The Tennessee River is now open to Union gunboats as well as Nashville to the Union armies.  Their loss is a crushing blow to the Confederacy.” 

             
Carrie listened, trying to analyze her own feelings.  That her father was terribly distraught was obvious.  She opened her mouth to comment, but he wasn’t done. 

             
“Roanoke Island has fallen to the Yankees as well.  It was a humiliating defeat.  Our men didn’t stand a chance against the superior forces arrayed against them.”

             
Carrie thought for a moment.  “Wasn’t that where Virginia’s ex-Governor Wise was stationed.”

             
Thomas nodded.  “He became quite ill before the attack, so he wasn’t on the island when the Union struck.”  Then his face saddened.  “I’m afraid his son was, though.  He will not return to retake his position as editor of the
Enquirer
.”

             
Carrie gasped.  “He’s dead?”

             
Thomas nodded gravely.  “His funeral was several days ago at St. James Church.  He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.”

             
Carrie was now certain of her feelings.  She was furious at a war that was destroying so many of the nation’s finest men.   Slowly she shook her head.  How should she respond to her father?  Thomas, however, didn’t seem to need her to say anything.  He continued to talk.

             
“Roanoke Island was a serious loss.  The Federals now have control of North Carolina’s inland seas and the rivers that come into them.  They have also been given a back-door approach to Norfolk.”  His voice was grim. 

             
“Why has all this happened?  After Bull Run, I thought our troops were superior.”

             
Thomas shrugged wearily.  “The Union has not sat idle since then.  They have worked endlessly to build up their forces so that they would not face the same humiliation.  I’m afraid the South became rather lazy after their easy victories.  But it’s more than that,” he frowned.  “It’s simply a lack of resources.  The Confederacy is just too big for us to defend adequately.”  He paused.  “I think the South is getting the reality check that has been needed.  Part of our problem is the expiration of so many short-term enlistments.  We are being forced to reorganize under terribly difficult conditions.”

             
“Because the South was sure it would be a very short war,” Carrie stated.

             
Thomas nodded.  “The only good that may come out of this - if it can happen in time - is what happened in the North.  I believe the people of the South will draw new determination out of their humiliation and defeat.  I believe they will discard their unthinking arrogance and prepare to see the war as it really is - not as it has been ignorantly imagined.” 

             
Carrie tried to introduce a lighter note.  “Is there any good news in the midst of all this bad?”

             
Thomas frowned deeply and thought for a moment.  Then he shook his head.  “You are sitting in my parlor.  That is the only good news I can think of.”  Then his face softened.  “I’m sorry to dump so much on you just as you have arrived.”

             
“Nonsense,” Carrie said immediately.  “I felt isolated on the plantation.  I’ve been dying to know what was going on in the rest of the world.  I know now, however bad it may be.”  Then she smiled.  “And I wanted to be with my father, whom I missed very much.  I’m here,” she said firmly.  “I have the two things I wanted.” 

             
Thomas smiled affectionately then jumped when the hall clock chimed.  “I’m afraid we’ve talked longer than I thought.  I must leave immediately to go to the Capitol.”  He glanced quickly out the window.  “The rain seems to have stopped for a while.  I think it will begin in earnest again tonight.  I have secured another carriage, so you will be free to roam the city though I urge you to be very careful.  If I thought it would do any good, I would order you to stay inside where you’re safe.”  He smiled.  “I trust Spencer, though.  I will stop on my way to the Capitol to tell him you’re in town.  Would you like for me to send him up for you this afternoon?”

             
Carrie thought for a moment.  “Tomorrow morning will be fine.  A long hot bath sounds wonderful after the cold ride here.  Then I’m going to bury myself in your newspapers and catch up on the world.”

             
The sun filtered weakly through a hazy sky as Carrie stepped into the carriage.  “Good morning, Spencer.” 

             
“Good morning, Miss Cromwell.  Where to today?”

             
Carrie had spent the day before just roaming the city.  She had wanted to see for herself how the war was affecting Richmond.  Her father had warned her that prices had risen, but she had not been prepared for what she had found.  Many food items could simply not be found; those that could had skyrocketed.  Fancy dresses were non-existent.  Clothing of any kind was ridiculously expensive. 

             
Today she was going to visit Opal.  Earlier that morning, she had attended church with her father.  After lunch he had gone back to the Capitol.  She was on her own for the rest of the day.  She gave Spencer the address and settled back against the seat. 

             
She was deep in thought when she heard someone scream.  “What was that?” she asked sharply as she sat up and looked around.   A sudden movement to her right caught her attention.  “Stop the carriage,” she ordered. 

             
“I don’t reckon this is a good place to be right now,” Spencer protested.  “Your daddy told me to keep you safe.”

             
“And I said to stop the carriage,” she ordered firmly.  She leaned forward and tried to determine where the scream had come from. 

             
As the carriage rolled to a halt, she heard a slurred, deep voice.  “Now come on, little lady.  Don’t you know how to keep a soldier happy in this city?”

             
Carrie looked sharply to her right.  She was horrified at what she saw.  A burly soldier with a whiskered face and bloodshot eyes, obviously drunk, was holding tight to the hand of struggling well-dressed woman.

             
“Let me go!” she screamed again. 

             
“I just need me some loving!” the soldier protested.  “Don’t you ladies around here know how to do that?”  He raised his hand and reached for the top of her dress.

             
“No!”  The lady writhed violently in her attempt to break away. 

             
Carrie gasped and looked around desperately for some help.  There was no one in sight but other women and children.  “Spencer, we have to do something!” she cried.

             
“The police will probably be along soon, Miss Cromwell.”

             
Carrie was furious at the casual tone in his voice.  She whirled on him.  “How would you feel if it was your wife?” she demanded. 

             
“If it was a white soldier going after her, I don’t reckon there would be a thing I could do but watch,” he said bitterly.

             
Carrie looked at him and then jumped from the carriage.  “Well, I don’t intend to just watch.”  She had no idea what she could do to stop the drunken soldier, but she began to run forward.

             
Suddenly a large hand stopped her. “What you think you doing?”  Spencer demanded.

             
Carrie wrenched away.  “Someone has to do something,” she snapped. 

             
Spencer rolled his eyes, resignation on his face.  “I’ll stop that soldier, Miss Cromwell.  Leastways, I’ll try.”

             
Another deep voice sounded behind him.  “I’ll help him, Miss Cromwell.  You go back to your carriage.”

             
Carrie spun around at the sound of her name.  “Eddie!  You’re Eddie, aren’t you?  Opal’s cousin?”

             
Eddie nodded and then dashed off to join Spencer.  Carefully the two men approached the struggling pair.

             
The soldier didn’t seem aware he was the center of attention.  He was too drunk to care, anyway.  Suddenly he did become aware of the two black men moving toward him.  With no warning, he whipped a pistol out of his belt and began to wave it wildly in the air, all the while holding onto the still screaming woman. 

             
Carrie groaned, thinking of Rose the year before.  She would give anything to have her rifle now.   She looked around desperately, afraid the two men trying to help were going to be seriously hurt, possibly killed.  Yet, they couldn’t just walk away. 

             
She jumped when a pistol shot exploded several feet behind her. 

             
A policeman, even bigger than the inebriated soldier, rushed past her.  “Take your hands off the lady, soldier boy!” he yelled.  The soldier, stunned by the sound of a pistol other than his own, had already dropped the lady’s arm and was staring around stupidly.  The policeman moved in quickly, secured his arms, and pocketed the pistol.  “Seems to me you need some time in the city jail to cool off and dry out,” he said sternly.

             
Then he turned to the now weeping woman.  “I’m sorry, ma’am.  Did he hurt you?”

             
The lady shook her head, struggling for control. 

             
Carrie rushed to her side.  “Are you all right?” she asked anxiously.  “What a horrible thing to happen!  And here in the streets of Richmond in broad daylight!”

             
The policeman turned to look at her.  “Everyone in this city needs to be real careful, ma’am.  We’re trying our hardest to keep things under control, but things have gotten out of hand.  Too much alcohol and too many guns around this place.”  He turned his prisoner roughly and marched away.

             
Carrie watched him go and then turned back to the lady.  “You must be terribly shaken.  My carriage is here.  Can I take you somewhere?”