Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-05
WHOLE NUMBER iOs.

{ twcniy-lhree Or twenty. four years Of ape. lie
had enlisted in '76 rather above the common
sIzc--lulI Of bone and muscle, with a saturninc
counIcnance; grave, thoughtful. aud tacitIurn-
Of tired courage and inhcxible perseverance,.
and as likely 10 reeci an offer coupled with IL.
nomlny as any officer ia the corps; conmis.
siOn bslng the goal Of his long and anxious ex.
erilons, and certain on the first vacancy"
/ Ii was eleven o'clock when Champe leli Ma.
Jor Lee. lie returned Immediately to camp.
and taking his cloak, yalise. and orderly book.
drew bis horse from the picket, and mounting
him, rctrcaIed as rapidly toward the BRUSH
lines as The darkness the night permitted.
T Major Lee was thoroughly gratfed at the
+ promplness and alacriiy with which the brave
young Sergeant entered into the plans of Wash
lnglon. After be retired 10 his couch, the dan.
gers which his chiyalnc friend must uccessari.
\ ly encounter in his retreat, and the possibility
OF his being taken by some Of the advance SEN
tlnels, prevented Lee from snachng even a
moments rest. In vain did he turn in his bed
IN eiinrIs TO couu
/ "Tired natures sweet restorer, balmy sleep"
/ The past scene could not be oberalcd from his
excited mind. The night was dark and some.
what stormy, and as the signing winds sirred
the old sycamores which surrounded bis quar-
ters, he would start suddenly from his recum.
bent position, imagining The sound TO be the
voices Of those returning with Champe a pri.
soner.
Half an hour had scarcely elapsed, when
Captain Carnes, officer Of the Gay, entering un-
tremendously the chamber Of the sleepess
/ Lee, informed him with considerable emotion
that one of the patrole had fallen in with dra-
goOn, who, upon being challenged, put spur 10
his horse and escaped, though Instantly pursu-
ed. Lee, complaining of the interruption, and
! leigning to be excessively fatigued by his ride
that day from headquarters, answered as if he
did not understand what was addressed to him.
The Captain was compelled TO repeat il.
"Whal! All! understand, now Captain"
said Lee, making no liule effort 10 throw off his
drowsy feeling.
"Yes, sir, the Internal rascal has escapedI''
returned the Captain, Indignantly.
"Who can the fellow be!" demanded the Ma.
jor with forced interest in the tones of his voice
Probably il was some countryman."
"No," replied Carnes, SHE patroIe sufficient
ly distinguished him 10 know that he was dra.
goon; probably one from the army, if not from
our own egion"
"Nay, Captain Carnes, that cannot be-the
members ofmy legion are"
"Excuse me, Major" interrupted the excited
Captain, 'f differ from you-recollect Arnold
| am ready to believe any thing after wha
that distinguished officer has basely done. Be
sides, some one has said that every man ha,
his price"
"Pooh, pooh, Carnes, reioined Lee, "that re.
mark applied to politicians is correct enough
but otherwise employed it becomes an absrrdi-
". | have TOO much confidence in every man
of the legion to suppose any thing like desertien
at the present crisis; but single dragoon, dur
ing the whole war, as you very well know, has
deserted from u.s."
swell, sir, shall | Withdraw and examine the
squadron of horse, to satisfy myself that the pa
lroe were mistaken in regard TO this deser-
toni" asked Captain Carnes, making slight
movement toward the door.
Nodding assent 10 the expressed wishes Of
Carnes, that officer Immediately left the pre-
sence of Lee, and ordered the dragons to as
semble, in pursuance of established usage on
such occasions.
Lee now arose from his bed, finding il impos-
sible TO sleep, and tremblingIy awaited the re-
appearance of Carnes. Although Champe had
escaped the patroe, and might effect a safe
retreat owing TO the darkness of the night, yet
the Major felt considerable doubt as TO the hap
py termination Of the affair. The watchlul SEN
tinels having thus early pursued The deserter
prevented that delay which Champe, as well as
himself, so anxiously desired, and which was
so necessary for the safety and success Of the
party concerned.
In fifteen minutes, so quickly did he examine
the squadron, Captain Carnes returned to Lee
and informed him that the scoundrelwas known.
and that it was no other than The Sergeant Ma
ior, Champe, who had gone eff with his horse,
baggage and orderly book, as neither The one
nor the other could be found. Sensiby affect
ed at the supposed baseness ofa soldier extreme
ly respected, the Captain added
81 have ordered party 10 make instant pre-.
paraton for pursuit."
"That is right, Captain Carnes," returned
Lee, fegning great surprise at the baseness of
Champe, ''and will give you written orders for
his arrest"
As Lee took seat at the table to write the
necessary orders, he suddenly turned to the i'm
patient Captain and Observed
"RealIy, Carnes, cannot believe that this is
a deserton on the part of the Sergeant MAJOR.
The character Of Champe is above suspicion.
He asdoub.less taken the liberty to leave camp
with view TO personal pleasure-an example
too often set by the officers themselves, destruc
tive as it is of discipline, opposed to orders, and
disastrous to the cause which we have es-
poused."
: "But, Major, why should the man take with
him both his baggage and ordeyly book on such
an errandl" demanded Carnes, with emphasis.
81 confess" replied Lee, shat circumstance
staggers me-
"Wrte the order, Major" said his compan-
ion, as he tapped The table impatiently with the
ends of his fngers-"l perceive the pursuing
party have already arrived"
Rising from his chair, Lee strobe 10 the win