This he accepted and we became friends.A short time afterward a mode of escape offered itself to me, and I proved the sincerity of my feelings toward him by offering to him and another officer the means of sharing my escape.This they accepted.Once outside the walls, I furnished them with disguises that had been prepared for them, assuming myself that of a minister.We then separated, going in different directions, I myself being accompanied by my negro servant, to whose fidelity I owed our escape.Two days afterward an anonymous writer communicated to the police the fact that I had escaped in the disguise of a minister, and was accompanied by my black servant.This fact was only known to the negro, myself, and the two officers.My negro, who had released me, was certainly not my betrayer; the other officer could certainly have had no possible motive for betraying me.There remains, therefore, only your son, whose hostility to me was notorious, and who had expressed himself with bitterness agsinst me on many occasions, and among others in the hearing of my friend Mr.Furniss here.Such being the case, it is my intention to charge him before the military authorities with this act of treachery.But, as I have said, I am willing to forego this and to keep silence as to your conduct with reference to my slave Dinah Morris, if you will restore her and her child uninjured to the house from which you caused her to be taken."The sallow cheeks of the old planter had grown a shade paler as he listened to Vincent's narrative, but he now burst out in angry tones:
"Hew dare you, sir, bring such an infamous accusation against my son-an accusation, like that against myself, wholly unsupported by a shred of evidence? Doubtless your negro had confided to some of his associates his plans for assisting you to escape from prison, and it is from one of these that the denunciation has come.Go, sir, report where you will what lies and fables you have invented; but be assured that I and my son will seek our compensation for such gross libels in the courts.""Very well, sir," Vincent said, as be prepared to mount his horse;"if you will take the trouble to look in the papers to-morrow, you will see that your threats of action for libel have no effect whatever upon me.""The man is as hard as a rock, Wingfleld," Furniss said, as they rode off together."He wilted a little when you were telling your story, but the moment he saw you had no definite proofs he was, as I expected he would be, ready to defy you.What shall you do now?""I shall ride back into Richmond again and give a full account of my escape from the jail, and state that I firmly believe that the information as to my disguise was given by Jackson, and that it was the result of a personal hostility which, as many young men in Richmond are well aware, has existed for some time between us.""Well, you must do as you like, Wingfield, but I think it will be a risky business.""It may be so," Vincent said; "but I have little doubt that long before Jackson is exchanged I, shall have discovered Dinah, and shall prosecute Jackson for theft and kidnaping, in which case the young man will hardly venture to prosecute me or indeed to show his face in this part of the country."That evening the two young officers started for the front, and the next morning the Richmond papers came oat with a sensational heading, "Alleged Gross Act of Treachery and Ingratitude by a Confederate Officer."It was the 10th of December when Vincent joined the army at Fredericksburg.He reported himself to General Stuart, who received him with great cordiality.
"You are just in time, Wingfield," he said."I believe that in another twenty-four hours the battle will be fought.They have for the last two days been moving about in front, and apparently want us to believe that they intend to cross somewhere below the town;but all the news we get from our spies is to the effect that these are only feints and that they intend to throw a bridge across here.We know, anyhow, they have got two trains concealed opposite, near the river.Burnside is likely to find it a hard nut to crack.Of course they are superior in number to us, as they always are; but as we have always beat them well on level ground I do not think their chances of getting up these heights are by any means hopeful.
Then, too, their change of commanders is against them.
McClellan fought a drawn battle against us at Antietam and showed himself a really able general in the operations in front of Richmond.The army have confidence in him, and he is by far the best man they have got so far, but the fools at Washington have now for the second time displaced him because they are jealous of him.Burnside has shown himself a good man in minor commands, but I don't think he is equal to command such a vast army as this; and besides, we know from our friends at Washington that he has protested against this advance across the river, but has been overruled.You will see Fredericksburg will add another to the long list of our victories."Vincent shared a tent with another officer of the same rank in General Stuart's staff.They sat chatting till late, and it was still dark when they were suddenly aroused by an outbreak of musketry down at the river.
"The general was right," Captain Longmore, Vincent's companion, exclaimed."They are evidently throwing a bridge across the river, and the fire we hear comes from two regiments of Mississippians who are posted down in the town under Barksdale."It was but the work of a minute to throw on their clothes and hurry out.The night was dark and a heavy fog hung over the river.Aperfect roar of musketry came up from the valley.Drums and bugles were sounding all along the crest.At the same moment they issued out General Stuart came out from his tent, which was close by.
"Is that you, Longmore? Jump on your horse and ride down to the town.Bring back news of what is going on."A few minutes later an officer rode up.Some wood had been thrown on the fire, and by its light Vincent recognized Stonewall Jackson.
