PREFACE

"Within the Enemy's Lines" is the second volume of "The Blue and the Gray Series." Like its predecessor, of course, its scenes are connected with the war of the Rebellion; and perhaps the writer ought to be thankful that he is not required in such a work to rise to the dignity of history, but he believes that all his events were possible, and that every one of them has had its parallel in the actual occurrences of the historic period of which he writes. In fact, some of the experiences of the actors in the terrible drama of a quarter of a century ago would pass more readily for fiction than for reality, and detailed on the pages of a story would be deemed impossible by the conservative reader.

The nation has passed out of its ordeal of fire, and an excellent spirit on the part of both parties to the great strife is still growing and strengthening, in spite of an occasional exhibition of folly on both sides on the part of those who have not outlived the bitterness of the past, and who probably will not outlive it. The time will certainly come when the memories of the conflict, the repetition of the stories of the war, and even the partisan praise bestowed upon the heroes of both sides, will excite no more ill feeling than does an allusion to the War of the Roses in England.

In this country the advocate of either side will tell his story, relate his history, and jingle his verse in his own way, and from his own standpoint. Those upon the other side will be magnanimous enough to tolerate him, at least in silence. Histories, romances, poems, and plays relating to the war, are produced in greater numbers as the gap between the days of battle and the days of peace widens; but the old fires are not rekindled, the old bitterness still slumbers, and the Great United Nation still lives on in perfect peace.

The author hopes he has done nothing on these pages to impair the growing harmony between the two sections which have happily become one, or to impregnate the minds of those who have been born since the strife ended with any of its bitterness. He has endeavored to make as high-toned men on the one side as the other, with the same moral sentiment in the one party as the other, and to exhibit their only difference in the one great question of Union or Disunion.

Dorchester, May 2, 1889.

"He saw Two Men making their way through the Grove."—Page 28.

[CONTENTS]

page
[CHAPTER I.]
An Unexpected Visitor15
[CHAPTER II.]
A Difference of Opinion27
[CHAPTER III.]
The dignified Naval Officer37
[CHAPTER IV.]
Corny Passford plays Another Part48
[CHAPTER V.]
Captain Carboneer and his Party59
[CHAPTER VI.]
The Cabin of the Florence70
[CHAPTER VII.]
Midshipman Christy Passford81
[CHAPTER VIII.]
Arranging the Signals92
[CHAPTER IX.]
The Approach of the Vampire103
[CHAPTER X.]
A Shot from the Long Gun114
[CHAPTER XI.]
The Battle alongside the Bellevite125
[CHAPTER XII.]
The Prisoner of War136
[CHAPTER XIII.]
After the Battle146
[CHAPTER XIV.]
The Beginning of a Chase157
[CHAPTER XV.]
A Chase off the Bermudas168
[CHAPTER XVI.]
The Confederate Steamer Yazoo179
[CHAPTER XVII.]
A Satisfactory Order190
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
Lieutenant Passford in Command201
[CHAPTER XIX.]
Some Trouble on Board the Teaser212
[CHAPTER XX.]
Coming to the Point223
[CHAPTER XXI.]
On a Dark and Foggy Night234
[CHAPTER XXII.]
A Variety of Night Signals245
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
Another Night Expedition256
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
Lieutenant Passford on a Mission206
[CHAPTER XXV.]
Christy becomes a Victim278
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
The Action on the Deck of the Teaser289
[CHAPTER XXVII.]
A Visit from Colonel Homer Passford300
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
An Enterprise for a Dark Night311
[CHAPTER XXIX.]
The New Mate of the Cotton Schooner322
[CHAPTER XXX.]
The Prize-Master of the Judith333