The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-21
A Thrilling TALE,

The Virginia CORES pOndent OF the Charles
ton C0aztc~ writes from Fairfax G. H. an &C.
count Of the adventures OF q Maryland gen
tio.uau, who had just arrived there, having
been driven from his native state by the Lin
coluites. The writer says
Three weeks ago he lett his home II Prince
George COuHly, Cn i visit to his son III the
Confederate army. After Z journey OF sew
eral DAYS on FOOT and horseback, lie reached
the Potomac, crossed, and made his way 10
Fairfax. Hear M learned that his son was
performing picket duty near Munsons Hl!l,
and prepared 10 pay hun visit. " hll7 these
preparations were going on, word Was
brought TO the house in which he was, that
the young la2n had been killed Few hours
before. Au hour after, the cold, stiff bay OF
has only boy WAS brought to the village and
laid In his presence. a bright, handsome iad
OF nineteen, tull Of the hopes OF yOutA aud
the love OF his natige south, ne had LETT has
home IN Maryland 10 hight III htr tiuse, dhu
nad fallen, u victim 10 The 4llurderUus ire Of
some OF The Federal pickets the tt.ther haa
now two errau0s 10 perturm-!rst, 10 carry
the dead body 10 Richmond ara deposit II ih
a vault; auG, second, to return to MS "Iie
and communicate the LldIugs OF tneIr great
loss In Que time both sad duties were Gc
corn plished, though II was only like u tnlef
ia the night that az could steai 10 tie btsoln
OF his family, and enter the abode which ne
was wont 70 feel was his right tul home.
TWeuty-1our hours elapsed after bis arrival
before lie dared break the sAd Intelligence 10
the feeble wife and mother, ana then IN the
twilight OF an evening, amid their mutua!
soOs and tsars, the tale was told. The poor
gEOnaD sWooGed with excess OF emotion, and
trr 4 lOI = time remained InstNslble.
Ten O'Clock arrived. Having by this time
recovered, and being IN meas IRE soOthei
by the sylnuathising conversation OF hush md
auC EeI@ O'S, sac Was SlLJIuS SURROUNDED ny
tLs iii tie circle who had assembled 10 nj MIS-
.ec 10 her wan =, when suddenly u loud rap
ping was heard ut the sont door. The hns-
band was aware hat Tor weeks the hounds
had been upon his track seeking his arrest
and imprisonment, AID had accordingly ar
angeG With his wife that ii any time, night
or DAY, wien the Yankees came 10 the
house, he being in II, she should give
r precouceTted signal ana Getaih tnem
in conversation until he could escape
Under the light OF these instructions she
Went 10 the door on tine present occasion
There me found half q dozen cavalry, ella
II rous tor the person OF her hus band. n col
loQuy ensued, occupying three 10 four min
ut,5, during which her acute ears heard the
back GOOr pen aaG hec husband emerge INTO
the garden. Sufficient time having elapsed
for him to get safely lnto the adjacent woods,
she invited the soldiers 10 FL ter and search the
house 10 be satisfied THAT she had told the
train. Assured by this frank prefer that the
object of their search was not within. the
cavalry left, cUrsing the iii luck by which
they had been disappointed.
Meanwhile the Marylander was quietly
making his way through tina woods, and in
half an hour was beyond the reach OF danger.
Sill he was enc0mp passed on all sides. The
federalists roamed In squ'ds OF six and seven
through every byeroad and turnpike in the
country, ana it was only by the exercise OF the
greatest vigilance that be avoided capture.
The distance between his residence and the
Potomac, or rather that point CT IL al which
he expected 10 cross, was less han forty leg,
and yet the poor man was whole week get
ting over the ground. During the day he
generally Law concealed IN the wood, or OBJ
tanned shelter aud food in the huts faithful
negroes, with whom he was guam ted dur
ing the night he travelled. he finally reach ed
the Potomac, however, fOUt-sore and weary,
and il has been my fortune to De among the
first, since his arrival in Fairfax, TO give him
the warm grasp of welcome home"