"I secured the door tightly, stripped off his uniform, then my own clothing; put on his, and then replaced my own citizen's dress over all, concealed his cap and boots beneath my overcoat, wrapped the prostrate lieutenant in my blankets for fear he would take cold, and going out, locked the door and proceeded to the quarters of the prisoners. Again the sentinel took no notice of me. I found Colonel Mohun in his 'bunk.' Ten minutes afterward he had replaced his gray uniform with that of the Federal lieutenant, and, watching the moment when the back of the sentinel was turned, we walked together toward the gate of the pen.

"That was the moment of real danger. Outside the narrow gate another sentinel was posted, and the man might be personally acquainted with the officer of the day, or have noticed his appearance. Luckily, the guard had been relieved about an hour before--the new sentinel had not seen the officer of the day--and when Colonel Mohun put his head through the little window beside the gate, ordering 'Open!' the gate flew open, the sentinel presented arms as he pa.s.sed, and I followed modestly--the door banging-to behind us."[1]

[Footnote 1: Fact.]

XIX.

THE NOTE.

"Thus the colonel was out of the pen," continued Nighthawk, smiling.

"The rest was not very dangerous, unless the alarm were given. They might miss the locked-up officer--he might have been seen to go into the sutler's shop--and I admonished Colonel Mohun, in a low tone, to proceed as rapidly as possible in a direction which I pointed out.

"The path indicated led to a spot on the island where I had concealed a small boat among some willows--and, once across on the mainland, I hoped that the danger would be over.

"In spite of my admonitions, Colonel Mohun took his time. He is a cool one! He even turned and walked toward the fort, which he carefully examined--counting the guns, observing the ditches, and the ground around it.

"'That place could be taken, Nighthawk!' he said, with a laugh. And he continued to stroll around the place, receiving at every moment respectful salutes from pa.s.sing soldiers, which he returned with the utmost coolness, and an air of authority which I never have seen surpa.s.sed. I declare to you, general, that it made the sweat burst out on my forehead, and it was fully an hour before we reached the boat. I sprung in and seized the oars, for I saw a dozen soldiers approaching us from the direction of the fort.

"'For heaven's sake, sit down, colonel,' I exclaimed; 'in five minutes we will be lost!'

"He did not reply. He was feeling in the pockets of the lieutenant's coat; and drew out a note-book with a pencil attached. Then, as the men came toward us, he began to write. I looked over his shoulder--a bad habit I acknowledge, general--and I read these words:---

"'Colonel Mohun, C.S.A., presents his compliments to the commanding officer of Fort Delaware, and recommends the 10-inch Columbiad in place of the 30-lb. Parrotts on the bastion near the southern angle of the work.

"'As Colonel M. is _en route_ for Richmond _via_ Wilmington, and the train will soon pa.s.s, he is compelled to refrain from other suggestions which occur to him.

"'The commandant of the post will pardon the want of ceremony of his departure. This distressing separation is dictated by necessity.'"

Nighthawk smiled as he repeated the words of _Mohun's note_.

"Did you ever hear of a cooler hand, general? But I must end my long story. The colonel wrote this note while the soldiers were coming toward us. When they had come within ten steps, he beckoned to one of them--the man came up, saluting--and the colonel said, 'Take this note to the commandant--go at once.'

"My heart had jumped to my throat, general! The next moment I drew a good long breath of real relief. The Federal soldier touched his cap, took the note, and went back toward the fort. Without further delay, I pushed out and rowed across to the mainland, where we soon arrived.

"Then we left the boat, struck into the fields, and pushed for the nearest station on the railroad. On the way, I could not refrain from upbraiding the colonel with his imprudence. He only laughed, however, and we went on without stopping. An hour afterward we reached the station, and the northern train soon came. We got in, the cars started, and we were _en route_ for Baltimore. Suddenly the dull sound of a cannon-shot came from the direction of Fort Delaware. A moment afterward came another, and then a third.

"'A prisoner has escaped from Fort Delaware,' said one of the pa.s.sengers near us, raising his eyes from a newspaper. Colonel Mohun laughed, and said carelessly, without sinking his voice in the least, 'Ten to one they have found your friend, the lieutenant, Nighthawk!'

Such a man, general! It was enough to make your blood run cold! I thought _I_ was cool, but I a.s.sure you, I never imagined a man could equal _that_.

"We reached Baltimore, made the connection with the train going west to Wheeling, and disembarked at Martinsburg. There the colonel procured a horse--rode to a friend's on the Opequon--changed his blue dress for a citizen's suit, and proceeded to Staunton, thence to Richmond, and yesterday rejoined his regiment, near Chancellorsville."

XX.

GENERAL GRANT'S PRIVATE ORDER.

Stuart kicked a log, which had fallen on the hearth, back into the fire, and said:--

"Well, Nighthawk, your narrative only proves one thing."

"What, general?"

"That the writer who hereafter relates the true stories of this war, will be set down as a Baron Munchausen."

"No doubt of that, general."

"This escape of Colonel Mohun, for instance, will be discredited."

"No matter, it took place; but I have not told you what brought me over, general."

"Over?"

"Yes, across the Rapidan. I did not go from Martinsburg to Richmond with Colonel Mohun. I thought I would come down and see what was going on in Culpeper. Accordingly I crossed the Blue Ridge at Ashby's Gap, reached Culpeper--and last night crossed the Rapidan opposite Chancellorsville, where I saw Colonel Mohun, before whom I was carried as a spy."

"You bring news, then?" said Stuart, with sudden earnestness and attention.

"Important news, general. The Federal army is about to move."

"To cross?"

"Yes."

"Where--when!--what force!"

"One hundred and forty thousand of all arms. I answer the last question first."

"And--"

"The army will advance in two columns. The right--of Sedgwick's and Warren's corps--will cross at Germanna Ford. The left, consisting of Hanc.o.c.k's corps, at Ely's ford below. They have pontoon and bridge trains--and the movement will commence at midnight on the third--two days from now."

Stuart knit his brows, and buried his hand in his beard. Suddenly he called out to the orderly:--

"Have two horses saddled in five minutes!" And seizing his hat, he said:--

"Get ready to ride to General Lee's head-quarters with me, Nighthawk!"

The clerical looking emissary put on his respectable black hat.

"You are certain of this intelligence?" Stuart said, turning with a piercing glance to him.