Confederate Gold and Silver (36 page)

******

Shortly after the sun rose the lifeless bodies of the two soldiers still hung from the barn rafters. They hung there in full view of those townspeople who came to see what had taken place during the night. While the bodies still hung inside the barn, the train finally arrived at the Florence train station. Soon Francis and his men were again focused on their mission and they began loading the train’s rail cars with the wagons, horses, and with the small amount of remaining supplies they could still carry.

With the train’s arrival, Francis learned new information regarding the movements of Union troops in the Carolinas. News first came from the train’s brakeman, James Reilly, a disabled soldier from Georgia who had lost most of his right leg earlier in the war during fighting in the first battle of Bull Run. Reilly spoke of Union troops being seen both west and northwest of Florence. He also told Francis that many people were now speculating the Union troops were planning to attack Confederate strongholds in western South Carolina, including Columbia. It was speculation that could not be confirmed as most of the telegraph lines have either been cut or damaged. “Captain, them Yankees are coming soon. We gave them hell at Bull Run and I hope you boys can do the same if y’all get the chance. I’d like to come with y’all, but this dang leg just don’t work right any longer.” Francis was glad to hear the news Reilly gave him as it helped him know where units of the Union army had been recently seen. The news also told him their presence posed a serious threat to the success of his mission.

As he thanked Reilly for both the news he brought them, and for his service to the Confederacy, another soldier who had been on the train, Captain William Baldwin, from the 15
th
South Carolina Infantry Unit, brought more news concerning Union troop movements. Baldwin claimed three days ago, while in Richmond seeking much needed supplies for several of South Carolina’s infantry units, he had heard about a Union army telegraph message being intercepted. “From what I was told, part of the telegraph documented Union cavalry movements south through eastern Tennessee. I heard they were being supported by some unknown infantry division as well. Supposedly they were headed to Columbia, South Carolina from there. The guess was they were going to give their armies free reign in creating havoc there as pay back for starting the war. I’m not sure everything I was told was factual or if it was a rumor, but they are coming, that I know to be a fact.”

As he had done with Reilly, Francis also thanked Baldwin for the news he brought him. “Captain, I cannot speak to you about our mission, but I can tell you the news you have told me is most distressing. I fear what the future will bring, not only to my men and me, but to the Confederacy as a whole. If these Union troops are soon to be as far south as you have told me, and if they are not challenged by our troops immediately, we may soon be doomed as a nation.”

Now more than ever Francis knew he had to get to the relative safety of Charleston. Once there he could either gather additional help to move the money to Atlanta, or he could possibly ship it south by boat, but he had to get to Charleston before the presence of Union troops threatened the area.

The train pulled out of the station as soon as the wagons and horses had been loaded. Slowly the train, one of the few still operating for the North Eastern Railroad, began to move them south towards Cades, South Carolina. As the train moved along the tracks, Francis prayed it was also moving them further away from the Union army. As his men rested from their ordeal back in the barn, and from loading the train under the already steaming South Carolina morning sun, Francis and Baldwin stood together by the side of one of the rail cars. They spent time talking of the war’s progress and of what they both had experienced during the war. The two Confederate officers were homesick by now and they expressed frustration to each other about the war lingering for far too long. Both were in agreement about the end of the war. It was an ending which was not yet in sight.

The small talk between Francis and his new friend included Baldwin, the son of a wealthy South Carolina rice planter, talking of his life prior to the start of the war. His life had been vastly different from the one Francis had lived, but as Baldwin told him his father’s wealth had allowed him special privileges, it was easy to tell it had been a life with some unhappiness in it. Baldwin talked about falling out of favor with his father due to an incident which had occurred during his senior year at the Virginia Military Institution. The incident had resulted in him being expelled from school over an allegation of cheating, an allegation which had later been proven false. The allegation had been one which created a deep rift between them as his father had not stood by him during the time the matter was being investigated. Later, again to his father’s ire, Baldwin had joined the Confederate army instead of returning to school. In doing so, he had chosen to simply enlist in the army, choosing to advance on his own instead of using his father’s wealth and influence to buy an officer’s commission. Enlisting had caused an additional strain on his relationship with his father. “I do hope the pride we carry in our own lives, and the pride we have in each other, will allow us to mend our past grievances when the war ends. But for that to happen, he will have to apologize for thinking I would dishonor his reputation by cheating. I would never tarnish our family name like that.” Francis sensed Baldwin truly regretted what had come between him and his father.

Unlike Baldwin, Francis had never received any formal education. He had received his education from his mother, Bertha, who had been a school teacher for a few years after she had completed her schooling in Baltimore. She had been his only teacher and it was from her he learned how to read. Her interest in reading carried over to him as she had exposed her son to the outside world through her small collection of books.

Bertha Elizabeth Bland had been the only daughter of John Bland. He had sent her away to a finishing school in Baltimore so she could receive not only an education, but to hopefully meet someone else to marry besides the boy who had tried courting her back home. The boy who had lived four miles away from the Bland plantation was Peter Francis. Bertha’s father had not liked young Peter early on, but later he finally consented to allow her to marry him after he had received his first promotion in the Union army.

Despite having been taught at home, Judiah Francis had become an enthusiastic student. After learning the basic educational skills, he pushed himself to learn more, especially in mathematics. From the books he borrowed from nearby friends, he read whatever he could get his hands on. He had not received a single day of formal education, but he had become much more than just a young uneducated man from the back country of Virginia. He had proved that to others every day since joining the Army of Northern Virginia. Deep down, as he listened to Baldwin talk about VMI, he wished he could have experienced some form of a formal education.

As their talk continued, and as the train slowly plodded along on the tracks, Baldwin tried to learn more about the mission Francis was on. “Judiah, it is apparent to me, due to both your silence on what your mission is about and from what I perceive to be a somewhat increased level of alertness among your men, an alertness I would not normally expect to see from soldiers riding on a train, that you are doing something different than what most other soldiers are doing in the war. Am I right?”

Growing tired from his lack of sleep and from his self-reflection over hanging two traitors earlier in the day, Francis looked at Baldwin for a moment without speaking. A couple of moments later he gave Baldwin a simple response to the assessment he had made about his mission. “You are correct in your assumption.”

Fearing Baldwin was going to likely ask him more questions about his mission, Francis tried to steer the conversation in another direction. Pointing out one of his men, Francis spoke before he could be asked another question. “You see the soldier grooming the horse over there? He is from North Carolina, the New Bern area if I remember right. He is representing North Carolina very well during our difficult mission. In fact, all of my men are performing very well. They all are enduring many hardships without complaining. I am proud of all of them. Those who are higher in rank than I am chose these men to be part of this mission. I must admit, they chose very well.”

But Baldwin did not see what Francis had attempted to do with the conversation and he again asked about the mission his new friend was leading before he was cut off. With a touch of frustration in his voice, Francis sternly spoke to him. “Captain, my mission is not to be asked about again. As a military officer and as my new friend you need to respect the position I have taken in not talking about my assignment. I cannot speak on it, nor will I. I can only tell you that I must get as far south as soon as possible.”

Finally realizing he had pursued his interest in Francis’ mission too far, Baldwin apologized to him. “Judiah, out of no other reason than my mere personal curiosity, I have asked you questions I now realize I should not have asked. I respect your orders and I respect you. I offer a sincere apology to you. I hope I have not offended you.” Francis smiled and then patted his new friend on the shoulder to indicate the apology had been accepted.

“Judiah, I am a proud South Carolinian, born and bred, and a soldier just like you. I know many routes of travel south from where we now are. Tell me where you want to get to and perhaps I can suggest some way for you to get there so harm does not fall upon you and your men.”

While Francis knew he could not tell Baldwin what their mission was, he also knew he needed help getting to Charleston. He would be foolish not to accept the recommendations of someone so familiar with the roads in and around South Carolina.

“William, my immediate goal is to get to Charleston safely. I had hoped to get to Columbia or to Chattanooga, and then onto Savannah, but train problems in North Carolina have changed my plans. Now the presence of Yankee troops no longer allows me to risk trying to get there, especially since I have recently heard that Chattanooga is under frequent attacks from Union troops. Now I must get to Charleston. Once there I will decide if I should move further south by boat or by the Charleston Savannah Railroad. I can only pray the train will still be running by the time we get there. Now, what do you suggest? And please, while I cannot tell you specifics of our mission, know it is an important one. I shall be in your debt for your assistance. If I had not received a direct order from General Lee regarding this mission, I would have been glad to speak with you about it. As an officer in the Confederate army I cannot ignore the order he has given me or the trust he has shown in me. I hope you can understand my position. Sir, please tell me how to get to Charleston safely with these wagons.”

Francis had played a hunch when he intentionally mentioned General Lee’s name to Baldwin. Baldwin’s opinion of Lee was not important to Francis, but mentioning Lee’s name now signified the importance of his mission. He hoped by playing his hunch Baldwin would tell him the safest route to Charleston. He would soon find out he had played his hunch very well.

“Judiah, I understand the tacit message you have just given me. Please extend my best to the good general when you see him. My father and the general are good friends from their times spent together earlier in their careers. You do not have to mention my name to him as someone who has rendered you some assistance, simply send him my regards. Hearing you mention his name gives me a sense of the importance of your mission.”

Francis then walked to where his haversack sat on the floor of the railcar. After briefly checking on his men, he returned to where Baldwin still stood. Unfolding a map for them to work with, he looked at Baldwin. “Show me how to get there.”

Fearing the Union army would likely be targeting the railroad they were on, as well as others in the area, Baldwin surprised Francis by suggesting he leave the safety of the train before they reached the Santee River. He suggested Francis lead his men towards the relative safety of Georgetown and then south towards Charleston. “The train will get you further south quicker, but if I were you I would go to Charleston over land. The Union army likely wants to disrupt rail service so we cannot resupply our armies in a timely fashion. Your mission appears to be an important one. If it’s as important as you are leading me to believe, I suggest you go by land. You will have to cross a few rivers along the way, but you will also find pockets of Southern sympathizers who can supply you with food and information.”

Always the well prepared and cautious Confederate officer he was, Francis wrestled with the advice he had been given, but soon he agreed with Baldwin’s recommendation to disembark from the train. As he thought more about doing this, his military training told him the decision to leave the train was the right one. Silently he gave his friend’s recommendation serious thought. “Plus, if I do leave the train, the Santee River will afford me some protection as I move east to Georgetown. Hopefully the river will slow any Union troop movements towards Charleston.”

Soon gathering his men to tell them what would be occurring, Francis saw Baldwin climb up and over the end of the rail car they had been talking on. He then saw him beginning to make his way over and through the other rail cars. He knew Baldwin would soon be telling the train’s engineer where to stop the train for them.

In less than two hours the train neared the location Baldwin had recommended to Francis. As it neared the location, the engineer braked the train to stop. It came to a long slow stop alongside a narrow rough trail. As it did, Francis immediately ordered the train to be unloaded of the wagons and horses.

“Judiah, I would like to accompany you to your final destination, but I must get back to my men as I have been away from them far too long. I have been gone so long I suspect they likely believe I have joined up with the Yankees!” Francis shook hands with Baldwin, laughing at the improbable thought of him wearing the uniform of the Union army.