Defiant Hearts Page 32

  Richard said, “We’re as confused and worried as you are, but we’ve told you all we know. Right, Lily?”

  Laura’s best friend added, “That’s where she and Clarissa said she was from, and where Clarissa told me she was going to fetch her back in ’63. If Clarissa changed her last name for some reason, I’m unaware of it. If she’s from a prominent family, she might have done that, considering her line of work and spinsterhood. From what I’ve seen, rich folks from the upper class are very protective of their family names and bloodlines. I didn’t know Laura before she came here, but we did become friends; so I can’t imagine why she would be dishonest or evasive with me.”

  Jayce scowled as he realized what Lily said could be true or it could be only a decoy trail. “Neither can I, Mrs. Stevens. I must tell you, I have a new assignment far away from Virginia, and I’m leaving soon. In fact, I should already be en route to join my new company. I surely did want to speak with Laura before I left because I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. If you hear from her or she visits,, let her know I’ll return later and find her. From the way it looks now, that’ll be after the war. If you see her or hear from her, tell her to leave word with you where I can find her; if you don’t, I’ll carry out our original plan to meet here after the war, if I can get back before she tires of waiting for me and gives up hope.”

  Lily asked, “Is there any way she can contact you if we hear from her?”

  Jayce used another deep release of spent air to dupe the couple. “I don’t know what my exact location will be, but I’ll send word to you two after I get settled there, if you don’t mind acting as messengers for us.”

  “We don’t mind at all, do we, Lily?”

  “Not at all,” Laura’s friend seemingly agreed with her smiling husband.

  Jayce didn’t believe Lily was being honest with him, but he couldn’t force the truth from the woman with her husband standing there. He just hoped Laura hadn’t told Lily to keep her destination a secret from him; but if she had, he couldn’t imagine why Laura would hide from him. He thanked the couple and went to mount up to leave on his new mission, which would take him far away from wherever Laura was.

  As he took one last glance at the hotel where they had met, Jayce was all too aware he was about to endure two of the toughest things he’d been asked to do since the war began: incarceration in a Yankee-prison as a captured Rebel, and leaving Laura far behind.

  Jayce vowed he wouldn’t lose her, not to war or to cruel fate! No matter how long or what it took, he would find her again one day.

  * * *

  On the evening before father and daughter were to leave for the Arizona Territory, Howard sat in a chair and sipped hot tea while Laura finished her packing. “Don’t look so glum, my child,” he comforted. “A great adventure lies before us. I know the Indians are still kicking up a ruckus in many parts of Arizona, but that trouble will be resolved soon. I wouldn’t take you along if I thought your life would be imperiled. Surely you’ll be far safer out there with me than you would be staying at home alone or by returning to Richmond, and I know you don’t want to remain in Washington by yourself.”

  “It’s not the Indians I’m worried about, Father. Isn’t it dangerous for us and Union soldiers to be surrounded by armed Confederate prisoners?”

  Again, Howard offered words of comfort. “I don’t think so, my dear, because I selected the soldiers who’ll serve under my command. I chose healthy and brave ones, but men who are ready to give up a lost cause and eager to stop killing their friends and even kinfolk in some instances. Since there’s much work to do there, I picked several carpenters, farmers, masons, teamsters, and lumberjacks. We also had a need for a blacksmith to assist the farrier, a shoemaker to repair boots, a baker to help with cooking, a harness maker and a gunsmith for repairs on gear and weapons, a hayer for selecting and cutting grass, and an engineer skilled at road building. They’re to help Union soldiers protect Army payrolls and supply wagons, mail carriers, stages, freighters, gold and silver shipments, and wagontrains. They’ll also protect farmers, ranchers, miners and prospectors, explorers, traders, trappers, and our fort and new capital at Prescott. They’ll build new roads and repair old ones. They’ll fight Indians and persistent Rebels. They’ll be doing our country a big service out there; and they’ll have a freedom of sorts, a warm bed, and hot food for a change. They’ve all taken a pledge to perform their new duties.”

  “What if they escape and deplete your forces? Will you be blamed?”

  “No, my daughter, so don’t worry. As for escaping, they know what will happen to a deserter; he’ll be chased down and either hanged or returned to prison. If Galvanized Yanks serve in honor, they’ll be pardoned as soon as the war’s over. They’re already en route and will travel faster than we will, and their first duty is to prepare quarters for us. I know conditions will be rough, my dear, but we’ll have a warm and safe cabin to use during our short stay.”

  Laura asked in confusion, “What is a…Galvanized Yank?”

  “Just a name for an ex-Rebel who’s joined the Union’s side, a U.S. volunteer you might say. The idea came about last September when some politicians and military officers coaxed President Lincoln to use trustworthy Confederate prisoners to replace our men who were summoned from the West to fight in the East. General Grant was against the plan, and it took awhile to convince him to accept it, but Lincoln wouldn’t put the idea in motion until he agreed. It was obvious plenty of prisoners were discouraged, disillusioned, hungry, and miserable; and it’s expensive in costs and manpower to keep them cooped up like chickens when it’s wise to let them scratch elsewhere for our benefit. Many captives were willing—downright eager—to go West, but we can release only so many of them. They’re needed desperately, my dear; after Union soldiers came east, the Indians took advantage of their absence by raiding and killing settlers and attacking anybody on the roads for any reason; they’re determined either to push all whites out of that area or to slaughter them.”

  Howard quickly explained, “The most powerful and aggressive tribes live farther north and east of where we’re going. Both sides—the Union and Confederacy—became concerned about their massacres and thefts. The South’s extermination order under Baylor is what caused President Davis to relieve him of his command and status as governor while the Confederates held that territory years ago. The Union adopted the same eradication policy after attempts at peace failed. Of course, the general in charge blundered big when he battled a band of Apaches years ago; he provoked a leader named Cochise to go on a raging warpath, but Cochise doesn’t operate where we’re heading, thank God. In our area, we just have straggler bands to handle. From what I was told in one of my meetings, currently the tactic on both sides—Indian and white—is the same: retaliation in like kind for past deeds. It’s a shame nobody can work out a truce, but I’m going to give it another try.”

  “It sounds horrible.” Laura halted her task and sat on the bed. “What is Arizona like, Father? Why is it important to the Union?”

  “I can relate what I was told during my briefings, if you wish.”

  Laura nodded and listened closely to facts which could affect her and what she was being sent there to do, as the more she knew, the better.

  “That entire area used to be the New Mexico Territory, until it was split up into Arizona and New Mexico territories. When the war started, the Confederacy wanted it and southern California, particularly the Texans since it bordered them and they didn’t want it in Union control. Southern sympathy was big in that area. In August of ’61, a secessionist meeting was held in Tucson; it ended with the people there asking to join the Confederacy; they were admitted in early ’62 and sent a delegate to its Congress. The U.S. delegate from that area was accused of inciting them to favor the Rebellion. Rebel officers Sibley, Baylor, and Hunter set out to push all Unionists from their territory; they kicked up quite a ruckus in ’61, ’62, and ’63; even tried to do it again last year.”

&nb
sp; As Howard took a breath, Laura recalled warning Ben that Hastings and Baylor were urging Davis and Congress to go after it again.

  Howard picked up where he left off, “By March of ’62, the Rebels actually had control of the New Mexico Territory and Baylor was its governor. Thank God some of our intelligent officers and politicians realized how important that area is to us and coaxed the President and Congress to send reinforcements under the commands of Carleton and Canby. It didn’t require long or many large skirmishes before we retook Albuquerque and Tucson and our forts. Carleton reestablished law and order in Tucson; he told the sympathizers to leave, arrested political prisoners, levied taxes on businesses, confiscated enemy properties and sold them, and went to work battling the Indians and protecting our citizens. It was a quirk of fate that Carleton was compelled to use the same strategies and policies that got Baylor into trouble with Davis. Carleton was forced to agree with Baylor on that point: if the Indians weren’t subjugated or exterminated, they would annihilate the whites. Another quirk of fate was that the Apaches actually helped the Union by picking off many Rebels during their retreat and now the Union is out to confine them to reservations.”

  Howard wet his throat with tepid tea before continuing, “Arizona is important to the Union because of her vast mineral wealth: gold, silver, and copper. She also has timber, excellent grass for stock and ranchers, fertile soil and a good climate for farmers, and roads westward. Besides needing its mineral wealth, we can’t allow it to fall into enemy hands. With gold and silver to support the Confederacy, this war could last for years.”

  Laura realized that information concurred with what Ben had told her and with the crucial reason for her mission there.

  “The President created the Arizona Territory in February of ’63. The new governor, following Carleton’s advice, chose Prescott as the capital, probably because Tucson sided with the Confederacy and because of big gold and silver strikes near Prescott. Fort Whipple was already there, but was situated twenty-five miles north of the mining town, so it was relocated last May to about a mile and a half north of the capital. Arizona has other forts, but we’ll be the territorial headquarters.”

  “Why do we have to go, Father? Why were you selected?”

  “My superiors said the types of strategies I used against the Rebels are perfect for fighting Indians. And they said they needed a man of good character and honed skills. And I’m a Southerner. They think the Galvanized Yanks will respond better to me than to a northern leader.”

  Perhaps they will, if the Rebels don’t view you as a traitor for siding with the Union! “I’m proud of you, Father; you are a good man and, I’m sure, an excellent soldier.” But those aren’t the real reasons why they’re sending you there. If you knew the truth, you’d be angry and hurt, and I’m sorry I’ve been ordered by our President to keep that fact a secret from you. When the truth comes out later, I pray you’ll understand and forgive me. “How long will we have to stay there?”

  “Probably for a year or less. I can’t imagine the war going beyond that time span. As soon as it’s over, I’ll be replaced by a regular Army man and released. I know you aren’t enthusiastic about this trip, but as I said, it will be a great adventure for us. Think of all the unusual things we’ll see and do. There aren’t any large towns for shopping and diversions, and our living conditions will be primitive, but we’ll make do. Right?”

  I’ve had more than enough adventures, excitement, risks, and challenges to last me forever. She only wanted to settle down with Jayce, to build a home with him, to have their children, to share a bright future. Yet, as a loving and obedient and respectful daughter, she was compelled to feign agreement, “We’ll do fine there, Father, so don’t worry about me.”

  Howard smiled. “That’s my girl. I’m proud of you and I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Father. Now, if I don’t get busy, I won’t be ready to leave tomorrow morning.” Which is the last thing I want to do!

  As Laura and Howard left the hotel, the U.S. House of Representatives was engulfed in a fierce debate over the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery. That awesome occurrence took place only two days after “Beast” Butler was relieved of his command, an event that delighted Laura since the Union officer was known to terrorize innocent citizens as well as the enemy.

  Earlier, her father had told her that Wilmington was still holding out against a Union invasion. He had said that Grant had telegraphed Lincoln to inform him that the Wilmington expedition had proven a gross failure…He hoped the person who is to blame would be known.

  Howard had remarked, “Everybody knows he was referring to General Butler whom he not only disliked but had no faith in the man’s skills. We heard that President Davis is still seeking men to save South and North Carolina, but the Rebels might as well admit their struggle is futile.”

  Laura put aside those thoughts as she stepped aboard a carriage to ride to the train station. She presumed a long and rather miserable trip loomed before them as they traveled to Fort Leavenworth, followed the Santa Fe Trail in wagons and on horseback to Santa Fe, then journeyed rough and perilous roads to Fort Whipple.

  As Fort Whipple appeared beyond her on February twenty-sixth, Laura studied the remote area, so different from what she had imagined. In every direction, there were mountains, gentle ridges, low knolls, valleys, ravines, and canyons. Most hills and ridges were covered in grass even in winter, solitary trees and bushes or occasional clusters of them, and protruding rocks. In the valley, it was much the same: scattered or groups of pines, cedars, and scrubs, and grass-covered ground. She had seen oaks, willows, cottonwoods, and mesquites nearby, which her driver identified. In the distance, she saw snowcapped peaks, but most of the sheltered valley’s white flakes had melted.

  As the wind gusted about the creaking and jostling wagon, Laura clutched a wool coat closer to her neck. So much, she scoffed, for the “mild climate” this area was supposed to have. The sky was clear and seemed to be an enormous expanse of blue. For certain, the air was fresh, and she enjoyed taking deep breaths of it. So these, she mused, were the wide, open spaces of the Wild West.

  The journey had taken longer than planned due to inclement weather and sorry road conditions and breakdowns along the way. While en route, she had kept up with the grim news from back East, gathered at their “civilized” stops. Missouri and Tennessee had abolished slavery. Rebel General Hood had resigned. Robert E. Lee had been made General-in-Chief, and the Petersburg Siege was still raging between him and Grant, who had agreed to a prisoner exchange after two previous refusals. The U.S. Congress had adopted the Thirteenth Amendment, but Kentucky had rejected it. Lincoln was to meet soon with a Confederate Peace Commission, and everyone’s eyes and hopes were locked on that conference.

  Sherman, Laura had been told, had kept his word about making an even more destructive trek into South Carolina than he had made in Georgia, to lay waste to the despised “birthplace” and “original hotbed of secession.” His main targets had been taken quickly: Columbia, the capital; then Charlestown, the most formidable coastal city with three forts—among them Sumter where the first shots of war had been fired—a major harbor, inland waterways, river defenses, and railroads. Despite its surrender, the beautiful city of Columbia had been razed and burned, but Charleston had been spared. Perhaps, Laura reasoned, because it wasn’t seized by Sherman and his men. Even Wilmington, North Carolina, favorite of the blockade runners and last major seaport, had surrendered.

  Surely, Laura hoped, the war’s end couldn’t be far off now, though Petersburg, where her beloved Jayce was supposedly assigned, was still in jeopardy, as was Richmond where Lily and Richard lived. Once more she prayed for his survival, for God to spare his life and those of her friends at the hotel. She felt so helpless and ignorant of details in that faraway area.

  Closer to the fort and as her driver pointed out things to her, Laura’s attention was diverted from her worries. She noticed a large s
tockade of undressed pine logs with loophole defenses on a level section of ground above Granite Creek, its water source. She saw corrals and stock shelters outside the rather neat and impressive palisade. There was a sutler’s store, three crude huts, a few tents, and several cabins surrounding it. The parade ground and flagpole—with the Stars and Stripes flapping in the wind—were visible through the open gates, where the bumpy road terminated. She noted that the fortification wall had structures built against its interior, and assumed they traveled the entire distance as she had seen with other forts during their journey. Smoke curled out many chimneys, and fragrant smells came from a few. Soldiers moved about as they performed their duties, most glancing up to see who was coming before returning their attentions to their daily chores.

  Two wagons with their belongings stopped at a large cabin outside the stockade, and Laura was told the log dwelling would be her home. Its roof, as with the other buildings, was shingled; and its cracks were filled with what appeared to be a mud mixture. There was a towering pine to the left of the porch, and two tall ones behind the abode were visible over the roof.

  The other wagons continued into the fort, where their supplies would be unloaded. The escort troop was. to camp nearby for a day or so of rest before returning to Fort Leavenworth, along with the wagons and drivers.

  Howard suggested to his daughter, “While we tend the horses and take a break, you go familiarize yourself with your new setting and decide where you want to place the furniture before the men unload it.”