The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-08-13
Selected storn.
4 WILD NIGHT RIDE,
4 STORY OF THE WAR.

4 STORY OF THE WAR,
.ir was cold and clear December night.
had been dining with several other officers of
General Pc staff we sat long over our wine,
and when left them to go to nv quarters,
was surprised to find how late it was. and also
little ashamed to feel that my head was by no
means so clear as in the morning. only par
italy undressing, threw myself down on my
hard bed, and at once wrapped in profound.
est slumbers How long they had lasted | do
not know, when ! was reused by hand on my
shoulder. Starting up ! beheld a very odd
looking man, regarding me by the light of
queer red lantern. He was certainly a most Ic-
markable person very short, with shoulders so
ridiculousy broad in proportion, that they were
9lmoet deiormity cheQt rounded hugely
lloWing bearh OF tawny red fierce black
eyes, and nose like an eagles beak. But he
wore the staff uniform, with the shoulder straps
of major, and as soon as | had little recov-
cred from my hewilderment, he said in a harsh,
distinct voice
Despptches from General p. to Colonel Ba-
con. You are to ride with them Mt once to his
he.d1uarters"
"C \pe Eacon,' l stammered, "of the
New 20 thY why, he is twenty FIVE miles
from here.
take the shortest rond Haste and secrecy are
of the utmost importance.
So saying, my strange visitor threw down the
papers and before | coud say anot' er word,
disappeared, leaving me in darkness Ny head
wns buaatng 80, that it was some time before
could get light but when | did, there, sure
enough, were the orders and dispatches and
although | was half inclined TO think it joke
for was sure | had never seen that odd-look-
ing major before still, when held the papers
in my hands, there was nothing for it but to
obey.
Haste and secrecy are of the utmost impor-
tance," the strange messenger had said, aud
with those words uttered in that studied tone,
ringing in my care, went quietly to the stables
and sadded my horse without awakiug any one.
Once mounted, with my loaded pistols at my
belt, felt like another being, the moon was so
high, and the air so clear and bracing. As |
made my way down the quiet camp, looked at
my pass and found it oddly worded:
Pass Captain Ralph Pierpont through the
lines, in any direction, without the countersign,
on business of the utmost Importance. By order
off, etc.
Then, what the queer major had said must be
srue Ingtead of keeping the roads within the
lines, was to take shortcut outside, in the
dangerous neutral ground between us and the
enemy. | was very familiar with all the ways
about there, as had lived, when boy, for sew
cral years in the now desolated village of r.
hncied that my familiarity with that region O
country was the reason why was selected for
this dangerous mission. l confess | did uo
wholly like it, and it was anything but reassur
ing IA passed through our lines, to hear the
surprised sentinel say, as he handed back my
pass;
81 hope youll come back all right, Captain
Keep ms near the lines as you can - if might
be SO bold as to say it - for it's an awful clea
night, and the Secesh pickets are uncommon
good shots at long range"
| put spurs TO my horse aud dashed down the
hard road with very little idea shat shoulC
ever return, and could not repress a papg a
the thought of the sweet blue.eycd Laura
loved 80 well, who was at that moment sleepiD.
peacefully in her Northern home, dreaming per
4 hops of me.
The scutnels caution | could not observe
The direct road intended taking, which woul,
i save me some ten miles, ran well ont in tn
open country, and through that | was resolved
n 20 ride, meek or nought, y went on at Il des
y pera,e pace, the echo of my horses hnofs alon
breaking the silence of the night. lie wen
fairly like the wind As / proceeded begai
to be surprised at the tremendous pace he KEEP
up. once or twice tried to check him, but
diSrcgarding word or rein, he absolutely flew
and on a sudden saw good reason to urge rath
ct than TO restrain him, There were dancing
shadows esping after us on either side of tn,
road that were not cast by any friends, Nov
sealing out of the trees now disappearing II
dakness, sometimes crossing the white high
way like htting ghosts, and again ioowiD
like hungry wolves behind, were the black shad
ow of soldiers with muskets The men then
selNs l could never see, try how ! would an
keep Ou iue alert as l did, it was never Il
pen, but opy their fantastic shadows, brougl
1ut strongly 10y the clear moonlight, that coa
distinguish. They wore hats with aOatiu
plumes, could tell by the dark outlines, al
once or twice thought caught the glitter
the bayonets, but more than that could n,
distinctly see, and the surprising thing was th
the faster rode the faster they followed.
Every moment expected to hear the bullc
whistlng about my ears, or to have my brid
seized by hostile hand but still my hor
kept on his headong course, and still the sha
ows followed uoiselessly. had no disposid,
to check him now, though felt that ne gre
gain would result from speed, could not
cape, for footmen, as these strsnge soldiC
we're, they seemed easily to keep by me ; "
completely at their mercy, aud it was only th
each second was a moment OF time gained II
gave ne any comfort IN the Wild race.
After a while began to speculate vaguely
10 what could be the meaning of this singu
pursuit Was /, possible that they were q
own soldiers sent to watch me No, FAR nc
probably they were Coufederates," d0term
ed to see where ! was going, and to capture