Although his father was not at home, Calhoun received a most joyful welcome. "Bress de chile, if he isn"t bac" again," cried Aunt Chloe.
"Yes, Chloe," said Calhoun, as he shook her honest black hand, "and now be sure and get up one of your best dinners, I can eat it in peace this time.
And, Chloe, cook enough for a dozen; Colonel Morgan, with his staff, will be here to dine."
But what Morgan"s command learned was anything but satisfactory. Kirby Smith had advanced to within six miles of Covington, there halted, and at last fallen back. Bragg, instead of marching direct to Louisville, had turned aside to Bardstown, allowing Buell"s army to enter the city of Louisville unopposed. There Buell had been joined by twenty thousand fresh troops. Clothing and refitting his men, he had turned, and was now marching on Bardstown. A great battle might be fought any day. In fact, it was reported that Bragg had already abandoned Bardstown and was marching in the direction of Danville or Harrodsburg.
"I don"t like it at all," said Morgan. "Our generals have already let the golden opportunity pa.s.s. But there is still hope. With the armies of Bragg and Smith united, they should be strong enough to give battle and crush Buell."
So good was the dinner and so animated the discussion, that it was late in the afternoon when they arose from the table. As they came out Morgan suddenly stopped and said, "Hark!"
Away in the northwest, in the direction of Perryville, the dull heavy booming of cannon was heard. They listened and the dull roar, like distant thunder, was continuous.
"A battle is being fought," they said, in low tones; "May G.o.d favor the right!"
At Perryville the forces of Buell and Bragg had met, and were engaged in deadly strife. Until nightfall the heavy dull roar was heard, and then it died away. Which army had been victorious? They could not tell.
After the battle of Perryville, Buell, fully expecting that Bragg would fight a decisive battle for the possession of the state, remained inactive for three days for the purpose of concentrating his army. It was fatal to all his hopes, for Bragg had already decided to leave the state, and he utilized the three days in getting away with his immense trains. He had been grievously disappointed in the hope that his army would be largely recruited, and that at least twenty thousand Kentuckians would flock to his standard. But Kentucky had already been well drained of men, furnishing troops by thousands for both sides.
From one point of view, the invasion of Kentucky by the Confederates had been a magnificent success. A loss of at least twenty thousand had been inflicted on the Federal armies, while the loss of the Confederate army had not been over one-third of that number. In addition to that, the immense stores gathered and taken South were of inestimable value to the army. But in the chagrin and disappointment over Bragg"s retreat these things were lost sight of and the Confederate general was most bitterly denounced.
Calhoun went wild when he heard that the state was to be given up without a decisive battle, that all that had been gained was to go for naught; and his feelings were shared by all Morgan"s men.
"It won"t prevent us from visiting the state once in a while," said Morgan, with a grim smile.
As for Judge Pennington, he was so disgusted that although his whole heart was with the South, he gave up all idea of forming a state government loyal to the Confederacy, and remained quiet during the rest of the war.
"The armies will have to settle it," he would say; "we can do nothing here."
One of the first things that Calhoun did after he reached Danville was to see Jennie Freeman and thank her for her timely warning. "It was kind of you, Jennie," he said, "for I know that you hate the cause for which I am fighting."
"My conscience has hurt me awfully ever since," replied Jennie, with a toss of her head; "and then I believe you told me an awful fib."
"Why, how is that, Jennie?" asked Calhoun.
"You worked on my sympathy, and said if you were caught you would be hanged. The Union forces don"t hang prisoners. They would only have shut you up, and that is what you deserve."
"But, Jennie, I was in disguise; they would have hanged me as a spy."
"Don"t believe it, but I sometimes think half of you Rebels ought to be hanged."
"Oh, Jennie, Jennie! what a bloodthirsty creature you have grown! But where is your father?"
"Thank the Lord, where the old flag yet floats-in Louisville. He will stay there until that rag comes down," and she pointed to the Confederate flag floating over the courthouse.
"Poor girl, never to see her father again," exclaimed Calhoun, in tones of compa.s.sion.
"What do you mean?" she asked, turning pale. A sudden fear had come over her; had anything befallen her father?
Calhoun saw her mistake. Laughing, he said, "I only meant that flag would never come down."
"Is that all?" she replied, saucily; "you all will be scurrying south like so many rabbits in less than a week."
"Give us ten days."
"No, not an hour more than a week. And mind, if you get caught, you needn"t call on me for help."
"Well, Jennie, don"t let"s quarrel. Perhaps I can return the favor you did me, by helping you some day."
The opportunity came sooner than he expected. The next day Jennie ventured out to visit a sick friend. On her return she had to pa.s.s a couple of Confederate officers, one of whom was intoxicated. The other appeared to be reasoning with him, and trying to get him to go to his quarters.
As Jennie was hurrying past them, the one who was intoxicated staggered toward her, and leering at her, exclaimed, "How-how do, pretty one? Give me a-a kiss!"
Jennie turned to flee, but he caught her roughly by the arm. Just as he did so, he was struck a terrific blow in the face, which sent him rolling in the gutter.
"Take my arm, Jennie," said Calhoun, for it was he who struck the blow, "I will see you safe home."
The trembling girl took his arm, saying: "Oh, Calhoun, how glad I am you came! How can I thank you enough! Do you know that dreadful man?"
"Yes, I am sorry to say he is a captain in Morgan"s command. His name is Conway. We left him back in Tennessee wounded. But he was able to follow Bragg"s army, and he joined us only yesterday. By the way, it was Fred Shackelford who shot him. He shot him when he got Prince back. Conway was riding Blenheim."
"Oh, Fred told me all about that. Wasn"t that just splendid in him, getting his horse back!"
"Where is Fred now?" asked Calhoun.
"I don"t know. Did you know General Nelson was shot?"
"Shot? Nelson shot?" cried Calhoun. "Where? How?"
Jennie had to tell him what little she knew about it. All that she had heard had come from Confederate sources.
"Well, Jennie, here you are at home. I feel ashamed. It is the first time I ever knew one of Morgan"s men to insult a woman."
"I hope that miserable Conway will give you no trouble," said Jennie, as they parted.
"No fears on that score," lightly replied Calhoun, as he bade her good-bye.
But Calhoun well knew there would be trouble. No Kentucky officer would forgive a blow, no matter what the provocation was under which it was given.
The blow which Conway received had the effect of sobering him, but he presented a pitiable sight. His face was covered with blood, and one eye was nearly closed. When he knew it was Calhoun that had struck him, his rage was fearful. Nothing but blood would wipe out the insult. For a Kentucky gentleman not to resent a blow meant disgrace and dishonor; he would be looked upon as a contemptible coward. But Conway was no coward.
He knew he was in fault, but that would not wipe out the disgrace of the blow. There was but one thing for him to do, and that was to challenge Calhoun.
That night Calhoun was waited upon by Captain Mathews, who in the name of Conway demanded an abject apology. This, of course, was refused, and a formal challenge was delivered. Calhoun at once accepted it, and referred Mathews to his friend Lieutenant Matson.
"Look here, Pennington," said Mathews, "I do not want you to think I uphold Conway in what he did. I am no saint, but I never insulted a woman.
Conway would not have done it if he had not been drunk. I was just going to the lady"s rescue when you struck the blow. There was no need of knocking Conway down. I understand the girl is a Lincolnite, but that makes no difference, Conway is right in demanding satisfaction."
"And I am willing to give it to him," answered Calhoun. "The only thing I ask is that the affair be arranged quickly. Let it be to-morrow morning at sunrise. And, Captain, understand that I bear you no grudge. I consider your action perfectly honorable."
Mathews bowed and withdrew. He and Matson quickly arranged the preliminaries. The meeting was to take place at sunrise, in a secluded spot near Danville; the weapons were pistols, the distance fifteen paces.