Quicksilver Passion (119 page)

And so it was that a few days later, the two, along with a thousand other former Confederates, including Rand Erikson, found themselves in the new First Volunteer Infantry. They boarded the big transport ship, the
Continental
, in a Virginia harbor, and were on their way to New York City. The group was divided there, and Cherokee and Dowdy were among the six hundred loaded onto trains and sent to St. Louis.

The first week of September, Cherokee and William Dowdy, wearing Union blue, were now at the Missouri River boarding a big stern-wheeler named the
Effie Deans
to go up river. Final destination: Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, where the First Volunteer Infantry was needed to fight the Sioux.

The two settled themselves on the deck along with hundreds of others and watched the young colonel bark last-minute orders to the ship captain before the crew cast off and the ship started upstream.

Dowdy shook his head.
He don’t look like much, do he?”

Cherokee scowled.
Young and green and scared,” was his verdict,
and maybe Dimon’s got a right to be.”

What do you mean?”

Cherokee looked at the overloaded deck, a sea of blue uniforms.
Do you realize that except for the boat crew, a twenty-three-year-old colonel, and a handful of his own men, what we’re got here are six hundred former Southern troops? And it’s a long, lonely trip up the river.”

That’s right, ain’t it?” the blacksmith drawled.
It wouldn’t be all that hard to overpower him and his officers, take over this boat, and head South to rejoin our own side.”

Watch it!” Cherokee cautioned him.
Keep your voice low! What you’re talking is treason and Dimon’s bound to have spies mixed in with these troops.”

I don’t give a damn,” Dowdy said, pulling off his blue cap and running his hand through the bright red hair.
I’d shore do it if I get the chance. Would you, Cherokee?”

Cherokee thought a moment, then shook his head.
I swore an oath and gave my word. I’m not a man to go back on my word.”

But if it was given to a damned Yankee—”