The Sun Rises (Southern Legacy Book 4) (12 page)

The shame and dishonor would lie on the heads of all of them. The most important truth— Wade would have died in vain. Above all else, she could never allow anything to take away from his sacrifice.

Magnolia Bluff would be no more. Pillaged and burned to the ground would be its fate. No, Cullen had put in place a well-covered operation to help the Yankee cause and now she would pay the price.

Arguing and bickering ensued between the lawyers. Jo’s head hurt as she tried to follow the conversations. She wondered whether her reputation would be in shreds even if she walked out the door free of all charges. On one side, her family and the entire city of Charleston would know she had knowledge beneficial to the South and withheld it. On the other, the Yankees seemed intent to use her to advance their careers and enact revenge. She had been reduced to being used as a pawn.

“Mrs. Montgomery? Mrs. Montgomery?” General Benson called to her. “Lieutenant, see to the defendant.”

Jo felt Lieutenant Boyd’s hand on her shoulder. She jerked away and cried, “I hear you clearly.”

“Good, for I want you to understand fully what lies in front of you,” General Benson stated plainly. “I find the whole of this situation despicable.” His eyes lay upon the captain. “I wish I had within me the power to throw you within a prison cell, Captain Johnson. To think we have been reduced to that, to imprison a lady without just cause!”

“Sir, there is cause. She has knowledge that…”

“I know why we are here, Captain Johnson. I’m also aware she has done nothing to cause herself to endure this fate. I question what this war has done to us all.”

Jo’s heart leaped with hope.
Was he going to let her go?

“Stand up, Mrs. Montgomery.”

Slowly, Jo eased upward, with Lieutenant Boyd standing beside her.

General Benson began, “I find this situation a trying one. Any other time, I would happily dismiss it, but it’s not within my power. I’m afraid my hands are tied. Captain Johnson is correct that they can hold you indefinitely given the state of war we are now in. Unfortunately, due to the sensitive nature of your knowledge, I see no other recourse but to sentence you back to your holding cell until it is deemed safe to let you go.”

“General Benson, I protest!”

“Sit down, Lieutenant Boyd!” General Benson demanded. “Mrs. Montgomery, you are to be held in your cell, but with the stipulation that your comforts will be seen to. You will be able to write to any you choose, knowing your letters will be read before they are sent. I can also assure you that whoever is responsible for your injuries will be dealt with properly. Where are her children?”

“They are being well cared for by family in Philadelphia.”

Jo heard nothing else. She didn’t even look toward Lieutenant McFadden as she was led away.

Back within the confines of her cell, the conditions improved. She was given books and embroidering to pass the time; paper and pen to write letters. Jo took comfort with the weekly letter from Cullen’s father, who wrote about the children.

She sat alone in her cell. She hurt, so terribly, and was so utterly alone…so alone.

August, 1864

Mobile Bay

“Captain! It’s going right at the
Hartford!
”

Turning quickly, Cullen surmised the signal quartermaster’s assessment was correct. Through the thick, acrid smoke, the dreaded ironclad ram, the CSS
Tennessee
, emerged. The determined Southern vessel was surviving the constant duress on its assault toward the Union flagship, flying the Rear Admiral Farragut’s blue pennant.

On the deck of the USS
Itasca,
the fighting sailors ran furiously to load and reload the guns. Their efforts were made harder from the barrage of fire from the forts and enemy ships. Clanks of the slings and relieving tackles resounded on the deck.
The smoke was so dense, visibility was only a matter of yards. Nevertheless, the shadow of the CSS
Tennessee
loomed closer.

The Union fleet had taken a beating. Already Cullen had witnessed the unbelievable sight of the sinking of the USS
Tecumseh.
It had crashed into one of the dreaded torpedoes planted in the harbor while chasing after the formidable CSS
Tennessee
. After the explosion, confusion followed. The crew watched
the inconceivable—the USS
Tecumseh
standing on her bow straight down in the water.
Less than a minute after her stern raised high in the air, she disappeared into the sea. For a moment, all eyes gazed on the sight, knowing they, too, could share a similar fate.

Rear Admiral Farragut g
ave no one a chance to contemplate the loss. He s
wept the
USS
Hartford
through the waters, right into the Bay. Taking the lead, the commander’s call rang out: “
Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead
!”

Cullen swore under his breath, knowing the waters were filled with torpedoes. Holding to the faith he held in Farragut, Cullen directed his ship to follow. With a glance over his shoulder, he saw that none of the fleet had faltered…staying the course. Through the barrage of shelling, smoke, and haze, he caught sight of the flag that flew above him, waving proudly…standing firm.

Suddenly, the question of why he had chosen the path he had…holding to the Union…was answered as he watched the stars and stripes flying. There was power in the red, white, and blue. He felt it radiate through him. He fought for the country he loved. His heart filled with faith in his cause and that his purpose was just.

Through the chaos and confusion, the CSS
Tennessee
reached the USS
Hartford
. Cullen screamed orders. Water sprayed over him from the constant bombardment. A pulley broke off and swung down. Cullen barely ducked in time.

“Straight ahead, Mr. Decker.”

“Aye, sir!”

Cullen pushed his vessel alongside the CSS
Tennessee’
s stern. “Fire in succession and fire low!”

The eleven-inch guns were no more than ten to fifty yards from their objective. Alongside the USS
Chickasaw,
the guns fired again and again. Smoke rose from the battle explosions of dozens of cannons firing rapidly with devastating accuracy.

Through the smoke, a white flag emerged over the once mighty CSS
Tennessee
. Her stack was completely shot off; the steering chains destroyed. The battle was over in Mobile Bay.

* * * *

Captain Cullen Smythe stood on the main deck. The ship would dock soon enough. He would be in Washington before nightfall. Exhausted, he drank in the salt air. This he would miss—the feel of the sea beneath him. His three-month leave would begin the moment he set foot on dry land, but his intention to resign had already been made.

He had done his service to the country. He had a medal of honor to prove it for his part in the Battle of New Orleans. Moreover, Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut had given his blessing before Cullen’s departure.

“Go home. We have done all we can do now. You have served with distinction,” Farragut dismissed him.

Under Farragut’s command, Cullen had served with the Western Blockade. Two long, hard years, but they had been successful. First with the blockade of New Orleans, then Vicksburg, and now with the victory at Mobile. The South could not stand much longer.

Over the course of the war, he had seen changes in the navy. Although the Confederates would go down in defeat—of that Cullen was certain—their ideas, engineering of their ships would be duplicated with the Union fleet. Gone were the days of the glory of the wooden ships. Ironclads had shown their military value.

Mobile Bay had long been in Farragut’s sight and with the appointment of Ulysses S. Grant as Supreme Army commander, Farragut got his wish. Grant prepared to take the heart out of the South. Already, Sherman began his march toward Atlanta.

Cullen had served as a man possessed. Farragut had respected Cullen’s fearless approach, courage, and bravery. Cullen’s commander hadn’t cared why…why Cullen had thrown caution to the wind or that Cullen fought like he had nothing to lose.

No one knew Cullen had tried desperately to get Josephine out of his head…and his heart. Over time, his heart had hardened; he hated Josephine as intensely as he once loved her. She had kept his son from him, denied him his right to claim him openly…and refused to leave Wade for him.

For the last eight months, Cullen had known Percival was safe with his grandfather. It had relieved his mind, especially now that the South was feeling the wrath of the Union. Less than a month had passed since he had gotten word of all that had transpired at Jo’s trial. He hadn’t gone into much detail with Farragut, but he had told him he needed to return to deal with a family issue.

On the last day of August, 1864, Cullen’s eyes soaked in the sight before him— Washington. He had only a few issues to take care of at the state department and then he was headed to Philadelphia, his attention solely on his son.

* * * *

“What has happened to you, Cullen?”

Cullen shrugged as he poured himself a drink. “Would you like another? I find that I might indulge this evening. Tomorrow I go and see my son.”

Hugh had met him down at the docks. In high spirits, Hugh had immediately taken Cullen to his quarters in Washington at a boarding house. He had been lucky to find an apartment with the shortage of housing in the city.

“You heartless son of a bitch! I have waited quite impatiently for your return. I have done everything you requested and now you are going to walk away from her. Have you any idea…?” Hugh struggled to find his words.

Cullen had never seen Hugh so angry, but it mattered little to him. He gulped down his whiskey and poured another. “I have an idea that my son had been kept from me. She can rot in prison for all I care.”

Shocked, Hugh’s hands closed on the chair in front of him and thrust it to the side. He fumed. “You put her there!”

“If she wants to become a martyr, it is not my problem. I’m sure there is a place in Heaven for her. Some women are callous, cold-blooded creatures. Those you know how to deal with. It is the ones such as Josephine that you have to be leery of…she holds to her goodness and honor. She reels you into her web. She is the worst kind of woman.”

Color rushed to Hugh’s face. “You can stand there with a clear conscience…you who put her in this position to begin with! I took her to protect your damn scheme! To protect your home from destruction! To protect your family in the South. What if she talks? All will be for nothing!”

Cullen laughed. “If she was going to say a word, it would have already been plastered in every Southern paper. I know her. She won’t say a damn word to protect the same home and same family honor. She doesn’t want anyone to think she would betray the South. All is for her own gain, I assure you.”

“Oh, yes,” Hugh sarcastically spouted off. “She has plans of glory. She had it all planned out. She planned for you to use a system of spies on her plantation and to be discovered. She planned to be arrested to keep her silent. You do realize that Percival and Madeline were with her when she was taken into custody. I suppose you didn’t hear that they nearly starved and froze to death when they first arrived in Washington.

“To keep prying eyes from her, she was placed under guard at a secret location…even from me! The war department was in such chaos they lost her paperwork for days before I found them. She gave her food to the children. She had no heat. Yes, she sat in her glory in a filthy six-by-ten room with two small hungry children. When I finally found her, Madeline was sick with a fever. So to further her newfound glory, she gave up her precious children to your father.

“She was transferred to the Old Capitol Prison…prison, Cullen! For over eight months, she has held to the little dignity that is afforded her in her cell. She has been beaten and the one thing she held dear to her they stole from her. Go, visit her, Cullen, and tell me that she has done all for herself. You God damn imbecile!”

Cullen sat the glass down, but his hand gripped it tightly. “What do you mean she was beaten and starved? Who would treat a lady in that manner?”

“The guards, you fool!” Hugh’s cold eyes fixed on Cullen. “They thought her the enemy. The sergeant in charge of the unit stole her wedding ring before she was transferred. She fought for it. She was beat up for her efforts. They delayed her court appearance because of her black eye and bruises, but they were apparent even days later. Do you have any idea what she has been thrust into? Do you care?”

“Did they…?”

“Rape her?” Hugh answered for him. “No. Now Superintendent Wood has been put in charge of her care. She is in solitary because she isn’t allowed to talk to anyone. Cullen, you didn’t see what they did to her and the children. The baby is not quite two and she has been ripped from her mother’s arms for over eight months because of me, because of Andrew, and because of you. Your son has not had his mother!”

Cullen scowled. “War is hell, Hugh. It is for everyone.”

“But not by me. I have fought honorably. I know only that she saved Mitchell. I know that I’m the one who took her from her home when she pleaded for me to let her stay. She told me she wouldn’t say anything, but do you know what was in the back of my mind? Do you want to know, Cullen?” Hugh snapped.

Staring at his outraged friend, Cullen made no reply and shook his head in denial.

“I thought I was doing you a favor.” He laughed a cynical laugh. “I realized I couldn’t take a chance on leaving her, but I thought all would end well. I thought you two could reunite now that she is free. She told me that you hated her. I didn’t believe her. I made a huge mistake, but this I promise you, Cullen. If you don’t make this right, I will.”

* * * *

When Captain Cullen Smythe started his morning, the sky had been cloudless. When he stepped outside after his meeting in the late afternoon, gray clouds covered the sun. The wind smelled of rain. He hoped he would accomplish his intention before it descended.

He had expected this morning would have gone quicker. A sudden impatience bothered him. Secretary Welles had been quite thorough in his briefing. Cullen learned the use of Magnolia Bluff had been invaluable, that had been a certainty.

Josephine was another matter.

“I don’t like locking up innocent people, but we didn’t have much of a choice. In this situation, Captain, I feared that she would say something that would endanger the mission. We both know the consequences if that happened.”

“Magnolia Bluff is safe from looting and burning from the Union forces as agreed?”

“Yes, Captain. It has been arranged that Dr. Montgomery will post a sign saying the plantation is being used as a hospital for typhoid fever when we make our presence known. It should divert attention away from seemingly preferential treatment from us damn Yankees.”

“Secretary, I realize the issues Josephine presents, but I have serious concerns about keeping a mother from her children. Moreover, do not forget she saved Mitchell, reluctantly, but she saved him nonetheless. She is a lady whose only crime is being loyal to her home. I would like her immediate release.”

“I would love to do so, but I can’t simply dismiss the concerns surrounding the issue at hand or I would have already done so. She has to concede to silence.”

“I believe I can take care of your objection, Secretary.”

“Then be quick about it, Captain. Tell me—what is your solution?”

****

The agreement about Josephine’s release had been made. Now, Cullen had only to convince Josephine. Hugh had offered to come with him, but this was something he had to do on his own.

In front of the Old Capitol Prison, Cullen exited the carriage and straightened his coat. “Wait,” he instructed the coachman, handing him a token. “I shouldn’t be long.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Cullen reached into his coat pocket and pulled the papers out as he walked up the front steps of the sprawling multistoried building. An ill-fitted uniformed sentry opened the door for him.

“I have come to speak with Superintendent Wood.” Cullen glanced around. He had heard the horrors of prison life during the war and given what most prisoners of war were enduring, this wasn’t the worst by far. But still—the thought of Josephine being housed in this place…