The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-11-29

I Tue Hesn HiT ahd Stretch his smooth limbs.
It was not quite dark. Mrs. billiard un.
closed the stable door, and approached
the horse, which, in its restiveness. was
paving the floor with his fore feet. Ia.
king the bride from peg, she boldly ad.
vaneed, and with her hand stroked his
arch neck, and soothed his imraticnce
with her voice. He instantly became quiet
and suffered the lady to briile him.
She led him into the yard, and with an
unwonted exhibition of docility, allowed
himself to be placed in a position favora.
bic to being mounted. Mrs. billiard sprang
lightly to his back. without stopping to
saddle him. The moment the animal felt
his burden firmly upon him, all his life
and animation returned. The heroic rider
turned his head in the direction Colonel
Clarke marched; he reared gracefully,
paused an instant, and obeying the rein
* esse rider and his own generous impulse,
sprang steadily awdF, lrrieaziag IN hm
strength. lie did not slacken his speed,
and as if conscious that a woman's weak
hand guided him, gave his mouth readily
to the bit.
Mrs billiard never forgot tbnt gEy,9r.l,
night. The Americans had pushed up
rapidly during the day, which made the
task our heroine had undertaken not a
light one, and though she swept on at
good pace, it was midnight when she
reached the bivouac Of Colonel Clarke
At that time sentinel heard tee tramp of
horse in full gallop, and cooking his
nuSket, cried:
who goes there?'
1t is me, replied Mrs. billiard.
Who's me? Stand, or | fire. rejoinod
the sentinel.
Take me to Colonel Clarke without de-
lay said the lady, hurredly, and breath
less with exertion. You are all in danger
destruction hangs over your heads = be
quick
The sentinel hesitated moment, and
then conducted her to the presence Of the
Colonel.
You must fight or run she exclaimed.
The enemy under Colonel Ferguson will
be upon you Immediately, and they are
strong
we will be ready to receive them,' re-
piled Colonel Clarke, thanks to your he
roic devotion TO liberty
ferguson has thrown forward body
Of two hundred picked men to surprise
and engage you till he comes up to finish
the victory. and assist in the work of
slaughter. Depend upon it, you will re-
ceive but little quarter if they accomplish
their purposes
4 know that too well to expect it, re.
piled the Colonel. and he instantly issued
orders for the men to get under arms. In
an incrediI ly short time they were drawn
np in battle array. The enthusiasm Of
the soldiers obliged Mrs. billiard to ride
the whole length Of the lines upon her
spirited >tecd, while every musAet was
brought to present. and every sword
to the position Of military salute to q
superior
She performed this feat gracefully. and
lelt more than rewarded lor her cxrriions,
by the gratitude Of her gallant country
men.
4 few minutes brf1re tie dawn Of day,
the advance Of FcrguS0n'S band came up;
but their surprise and di>may were incon-
ceivahle when they found the Americans
ready to receive them. After the first
lire, many Of these cohiilcnt Of victory a
short time before, ceased to exist.
When Ferguson came up, the remnant
Of his two hundred picked men were run
ming in every direction. But few sec
ondS had elapsed after he reached the
scene Of conflict before his horse was seen
flying mady from the field without a ri
der. Notwithstanding his disguise he
had been shot through the right arm, his
right hand hung useless by his side he
had lost the wager and paid it.
This event encouraged the dropping
spirits Of the patriots, and dampened the
ardor Of their enemies and yet owed its
success to the energy OF heroic woman.
The surprise party was remembered with
chagrin by Col. Ferguson ill the day oil
his death