The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-10-08
From the New York Evening Post
WAR SKETCHES BE A NORTHERN
RANGER.
A NIGHT ADVENTURE.

was invited by soldier Of the Ree-
ment of the Fire Zouaves" to accom-
pany him in one of those private adven-
lures which were SO popular among the
men Of his corps, during our recent
movements upon The banks of the Poto-
mac.
Thi. kind Of expedition always carries
with il charm which inhamos the i'm
agination Of The volunteer to degree un-
known in the more precise movements,
WHARF man seems lost in comparison
amonga concentrated mass which depends
tor its success not SO much upon personal
powers as upon mechanical exactitude
Of its evolutions.
Men of the description of my adven
turous friend are generally despsers of
coIlared coats and close drill, and espec
la' admirers Of n loose iaGket and A " free
light With them martinez unless he,
proves fighter, is simply an abomna,
ton.
In few words, accompanied by some
mysterious GESTURES, my friend Il in
formed me that, through the disclosures
ola desertor who had just arrived from
the rebel lines, he had learned that a
quantity Of ammunition, consisting OF
several thousand ball cartridges for mus
ket Use, had been concealed in an upper
room of house belonging 10 noted Sc
cessionist and suspected spy. This house
VAS distant about three miles from our
encampment, and the cartridges which
were concealed therein had been packed
in small canvas bags these bags the
daring fellow proposed, with the assis-
tance of myself, 10 capture or destroy
His plan was thus We were to obtain,
by some means, a horse and wagon, to
be ready at certain point. Il short dis
tance from the camp, at sunset, and each
proceed thither by different routes, in or
der the better to avoid observation, and
as soon as darkness fell upon the scene,
drive cautiously to within n few hundred
yards Of the dwelling containing the con-
templated plunder. Then, hiding the
wagon in a neighborng clump of trees,
some distance from the road, we were to
proceed in such manner As circumstan
ces would permit. In answer to my in
quiries AS to the feasibility of procuring
the wagon, and the possibility of our ev-
er being able to load it even if we sue
ceeded in coming in contact with the
coveted ammunition bags, was greeted
by significant wink and two or three
slow successive mods of the head, which
if not productive of much intelligence.
were quite indicative of the Zouave's de
termination to carry out his design.
The sun was declining when started
on my journey, taking somewhat cir.
cuilous path to the place of rendezvous,
and walking in an irregular strolling
manner. the better TO escape the obser.
walton Of the comrades ofany friend, who
were always on the alert for any adven
iure. Behind a rising and we'll wooded
piece Of ground, | soon discovered my
FREUD Il, coolly seated in on,
horse wagon. smoking short pipe, anc
at intervals Philosophieally lccturing 4
ragged son Of Africa upon the prophet,
OF his meeting US at this same spot OF
the following night, in order to receiy,
his horse and vehicle. and the desire,
remuneration for the use of them. Ate
many doubtful scratches Of his WOOL,
head and singular expressions of dissat
isfaction Of which were met by grea
disgust aud heavy threats on the part Q