Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-06-20

TO know whether lhad discharge,
my duty Alright the night previous
gave the alarm at the door and tn,
servant appeared. ~ art,.E
Il Inform. Gen. Washington said I
that the person he ordered 10 hi.
quarters at nine O'Clock, is now a.
the door IN - :
# The servant made the report, anl
came and babe me come in, and con
4 Quoted me to the Generals room, :
when 1 entered he addressed me
| Are YOU the sentinel who stood a
my door: at nine o'clock last nightp'
Yes sir, | endeavored to do m,
duty r - :.
iwish all the army understood i,
as we'll as you do said the General
This relieved the burthen on my
mind. :
The General then continued, Can
you keep secrect2' - +
| q can try : I
| Are you willing to have youl
name struck from the roll of the ar.
my, and engage in a 81 cret service
at the hazard of your life, for which
| promise you forty dollars a month.
F Il am willing to ser We my country
in any way you may think best
/ Call here at precisely at seven
o'clock this evening, and | will give
fyou further. Instructions -.
! then retired, and precisely at sew.
en- o'clock Ireturned. The General
presented me with a sealed letter
without any superscription. He ask
ed me il | had ever be en- on Isoxbury
Heighths. told him | had, and at
his request described the level
ground on the top. He gave me the
countersiga, lest | should not be
able to return before the sentinel re-
ceived it; and then told me to 60 to
the heighths, and on the way to con-
verse with no one, and endeavor not
to pass any person if possible, and if
| observed any person, who I observ-
ed to notice me particularly, not to 90
on the height until out OF his sight.
And when | had assembled to the
height, must look around careful
Ily, and if ! discovered any person,
] must keep at distance from him,
and suf1erno one to take me. lfevery
thing be quiet, l. must go on the west
side of the plain; there ] should see
q fiat rock, which could raise by
one hand, round stone about four
fleet from it; ] must take the round
stone, and place it underthc edge Of
the fiat rock, which would raise ii
high enough to putthe.hand under it:
you must the feel under the rock
saidth General, till you find small
hollow; if there is a letter in it bring
il to me and putthis letterin the same
place. -. =. IF
Having received my instructions,
| made my way for the height, and
nothing occurred worthy ofnote, ex-
ccpt found the rock and stone as de-
scribed, and in the hollow a letter,
sealed without any superscription.-.
| then adjusted the rock and placed
the stone as ! found it. : i returned
to the Generals quarters and deliv-
cred the letter found under the rock.
The General broke the seal and read
it to himself. He then said: -
You may retire and appear here
at seven o'clock Tomorrow evening
This | did for some time, carrying
and bringing lstters, without being
annoyed in any respect. At length,
! observed a person at some small
distance travelling the same way |
was going, and he eyed me with more
attention than was pleasing to me.
| took rather a circuitous route, and
when 1 came on the height, was
confident | saw two persons, if mot
more, descend the hill on the opposite
side among the savins Invent even
to the savins to make the discovery,
but could see no one. This told
the General on my return.
He upbraided me for my presump-
ton. He said, they might have
sprung upon you. Never do thelike
again. r -" n f. 4
When returned the next evening,
he gave me stricter charge than be-
fore. There was nothing occurred
till assembled the height lthen plain
Iy saw three persons dodge behind
the savins. ! hesitated what to do.
| placed my head to the ground to OBJ
tain a clear view on the opposite side.
In an instant, three men ru shed from
behind the savins on the other side
in full run to me. | rose. and ran
with all my speed. No Grecian in
their celebrated games exerted him
self more thanI did. | found one of
the three was nearly q match for me.
When lcame to the sentinel, he was
not more than six rods behind me-
/ gave the countersign without much
ceremony. The sentinel turned up
on his heels and fled. went to the
Generals quarters, and on present
ing his letter ! said: ~ I'LL
Here Is the letter you gave me,
and then related the above story to
him. g. Il II. \
IL t.xlJ rnI ,,,;ohf; rafire and