Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-01-05
OTIUMWA, IOWA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5. 1854

ever, to spare for reflection: the deed
was done-the responsibility was upon
me, and all was registered in the book Of
that God who judges rightly.
With eager haste | removed from the
body such Of the military accou,rements
as were necessary for the purpose of my
disguise. | buckled on the sword, drew W
of the military boots, and donned them
myself. placed the brigader wig and
cooked hat upon my head, threw on the
cloak. drew it up about my face. and
proceeded with the papers, which
found as the soldier had foretold me, and
the Key OF the outer lobby, to the door
OF The guard room. This opened, and
with firm and rapid tread wal ked ,hro'
the o tilcers, who rose as | entered, and
passed without question or inierru ption
to the street door. Here | was met by
the grim looking corporal, Hewson, who,
saluting me, said-'How soon captain.
shall the file be drawn out, and the pris.
oner dispatched
In halt an hour replied, withou t
raising my voice.
The man again salu,ed. and in two
steps | reached the soldier who held the
two horses, as he had intimated.
ls all righl' said he eagerly.
'Ay.' said |. Which horse am to
mOunt!'
tie satisfied me upon this point and
threw myself into the saddle; the soldier
mounted his horse, and dashing the spurs
int" the flanks of the animal which
bestrode. we Numbered along the
narrow bridge. At the far extremity, a
sentinel, as we approached, called out
who goes there!-stand. and give the
word! Needless of the interruption.
with my heart bounding with excitement.
| dashed on: SO dio the soldier who ac-
companied me-
The sentinel fired.
'Hurrah! | shouted; try it again, nv
boy, and away we went al a gallon,
which bade fair to distance everything
like pursuit. Never was spur more
needen' -hawever; for soon the clatter of
horses hoof' in full speed crossing the
bridge, came shntP aud clear ,hrouob
the stiffness of the night. .wa
went. with our pursuers close beht,..
One mile was passed, another nearly
completed. The moon now shone forth,
and turning in the saddle, | looked back
upon the road we had passed. One
trooper had headed the rest, and was
within a hundred yards of us. | saw
the fellow throw himself from the horse
to the ground. | knew his object, and
said to my comrade-'Lower your body
lie flat over the saddle. the fellow
Is going to fire. | had hardly spoken
when the report of carbine startled the
echoes, and the ball striking the hind leg
of my companions horse, the poor ami
NAL tell headlong upon the road. throw.
ing his rider head foremos over the sad
die. My first impulse was TO stop and
share whatever fate might await my
comrade: but my second and wiser one
was to spur on, and save myself and my
dispatches. l rode on at gallop.-
Turning to observe M comrades fate,
saw his pursuer, having remountec {,
ride rapidly up to him, and on reaching
the spot where the man and horse lay,
rein IN and dismount. He was hardly
upon the ground, when my companion
shot him dead with one of the holster
pistols whi:h he had drawn from the
pipe. and leaping nimbly over a ditch at
the side of the road, he was soon lost
among the bitches and thorn bushes
which covered that part of the country.
Another mile being passed, | had the
satisfaction to perceive that the pursuit
was given over, and in an hour more, |
crossed rhermond bridge, and slept that
night in the fortress of Lemerick, having
delivered the packet, the result of whose
safe arrival was the destruction of Will
liams great train of artillery, then upon
its way to the beseigers. ~.
Years after this adventure, | met in
France young officer, who found had
served in Captain Divers regiment, and
he explained what never before under
stood--,he motives of the man who had
wrought my deliverance. Strange to
say, he was the foster. brother of Oliver,
whom he thus devoted to death, in re.
venge for the most grievous wrong which
one man can inflict upon another!