The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1862-06-26
THE SURPRISE.
Or a ScoRe On the Potomac.


II
undated by the swelling of that famous
STREAM, The ttunderrolled lazily and
rumbhugly across the skyi5ig,zag fash
es oflightning shot inRnd out from tie
woods, luridly lightnir 2 up the dark and
saturated fields and then vanishing and
leaving fields and woods in darkness.
On that night, ,ssconsedin q dilspidated
shsnty on the right of Miners Hill, were
some fifteen men, the reserve picket of q
certain Massachusetts regiment, 0nthe
hard, muddy Aoob wrapped in their
blankets, with their greasy and dirty
knapsacks under their heads, number
of them lay asleep, sa1 aa .ie
A wood FIRE burned in the large, open
Fireplace and cast dim, uncertain light
aroundthe desolate apartment, develop
hing more distinctly the clustering bar.
rels and boyonsts Of the guns. AT the
door Of the shanty, which was broken in
many places, stood an officer in earnest
conversation with two men, one Of
whom, judging from the damp face and
Tripping garments, seemed to have just
come in from picket.
The bright, flashing expression of bis
eyes, and his enernetic gestures denoted
his excitement, which seemed fast com.
punicsting ilselftO the officer as he lis
Tlened TO the mans recital. ay
"Where is your post?' asked the off.
der. as the man concluded what ho had
bean saying.
by the cornfeld in front of Throg-
5morton's house, commanding the rOad,p
replied the man nervously. jo5nmii9u
N'By whose orders did you leave your
post? demanded the commander. -1ie
The sergeant told me 10 report % you
what ! seen Immediately after was re.
iieved.' , od N go.d, U1ds
How many rebel officers did you say
YOU had seen?' pursued the officer,
tBoughtfully, at the same, TING casting q
sharp and suspicious look atthe messan-
ger. aig ,aI .icmu.
S'Six-all mounted; fine looking fel
lows they we're too, / shonll have fred
eiicilem--in fact Iwos abou,, 10 qdo.q So
but knew that tbc7 could easily escape,
and as supposed they we're, going into
| Major Knapp's house, thought ~, do
! p6lliihg without the orders of thogsser
ges.it Fthodsltt tbst5we could tahf
them when we pleased sir, tuiaS,
How do you know they are in the bab.
| il Of coming there? We're YOU 50 iqfpr.
med, or have you seen them 80 in there
beforel' W T,I ss
Sarah, the mrlatto at Tbrogmortpnis
told me this morning when was talking
to her, that five or six officer used oio
come TO Knapp's nearly every night and
remain for breakfast in the marping.'
DO you think this girls iGformalion
can be relied uponi' questioned he Off
Ger in peculiar tone. which seemed to
make the man feel uneasy under the
rigid and liresome examination,
'Well, | don't know, sir: but should
think so. =. -ta a-;..., q,
How long have these fellows been at
Knopp's now?' qderied the officer, in o
quiet tone. ii;.. ~, y
"A lit'le more e.! than an hour sir,I should
think. - 10 '''-,, '. ..t l.r,,
How many men men do you n suppose pp,t
would be necessary 10 take Iheml' con-
tinued the officer, at the ssme time draw
ing his revolver from his pocket uuper.
ceived by any one. gry t,
| How many men have you hereT ask,
ed the man hurisdly without answering
the fTicer's question. - e.t ID ~
1T matters not, said The officer, chow
many / have here. How many will IL
take to go TO Knapp's aud seize the
rebelsP ia
'Wel, said the man, afier an embar
raSsed pause. Il think ten or fifteen, un.
der your comm and, would do,
The men seemed TO feel confused un.
derthe tone and searching questions Of
tho officer, t,s 4,
One more question and | have done.
II 10 very dark and rainy without is Il;
not9' 2 aH '.5' ' tll
,Yes. sir said the man. looking up in
surprise; 'yoG canao. sec ! SGr SSad be,
lore you5 t'' '
Then my man, how did YOU manage
to sec six rebel officers, halfa mile of,
about an hour ago, when you admit that
you cannot see your hand before you?'
The man started as If mSddened at his
blind stupidity; but, recovering himself,
he mid: e 3s.''.f ~ Nv
'fbe tightening revealed them, sir
II did, ehi' quoth the officer senton.
tiotsly, at the same time bending his
gret eyes upon the soldier, with a
looE so intense and piercing that the
lsthr involunt&tily cast his eyes on the
groind, still retaining his firm grip on
his musket. '''
les, sir" i'''
Ee uttered the words briefly. Il was
k.s.ttl T..