Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-20

My orders are
"Oh never mind that. Isn't the road in
plain sight from here, Why can't YOU leave
one man, aud bring the rest upa There il
no danger in the middle Of the day, to be 40
much afraid Of This is Northern courage.
is it y with a snuff highly derogatory to the
aforesaid Northern production.
OF course, it was the old story over Of
samson and Delilah; aud this speech, with a
little more wheedling, produced an acceptance
OF ;he invitation and the Sergeant, after
taking short leave Of the family in general
in the parlor, and long and afectionate one
of Miss jeff in particular, on the stairs, ef-
fected retreat
Roseate we're the visions that surrounded
his homeward path, and mutitudinous the
little "cherry bobs" that Auttered their wings
before his minds eye. Not a little did he
plume himself, that a daughter OF Virginia,
regular soldier-hater, had succumbed to his
attractions No wonder that he whistled as
he thought and performed the two front steps
Of the Essence" The Sergeant felt gay
for he rea IL sd that he was irresistible in love
as in war.
"Flattering, isn't it, that she should take
such great interest in me" be solioquized,
temporarily disseminating the Essence ior the
double shuttle. "But then TO ask the men
am blessed If can see through it, anyhow =
And he fell into a brown study, from which
he was startled by awhisper, "Massa--Massa
Sergeant"
he Sergeant started, looked around, and
hali-drew his revolver; but seeing nothing
but a Juvenile darkey ensconced in an angle
Of the warm fence, ne thrust it back again
"Hallo. Nick, you imp of darkness r. he
cried, recognizing one of the house-servants
Of the Jefs, upon whom he had bestowed
several small iavors. "What do you mean
by bushwhacking me so for;"
"Step here Mars'r Sergeant Dont't let no
one see you, and III tell you some6n."
long and anxious confab ensued, inspir-
ed with considerable "cussing" on the part of
tie military gentleman, at the end of which
the Sergeant took his way to camp, instead
of the post, in a study far browner than that
from which be had so recently emerged.
At precisely noon Of the next day, look
into the dining-room Of the Jefs would have
disclosed the Sergeant and, with one excep-
tion, the entire picket under his command,
sitting at the table, their arms stacked in the
hail. making an onse, before which the din
ner vanished like chaff before the wind The
hhSh WOAN uhhBi9 Auu 40 Nut iuuiCs kItW
fascinating, the Sergeant grew tender.
One hour passed.
Suddenly steps were heard on the piazza.
"Don't disturb yourselves" said one Of
the young ladies, going to the window. ats
only some of the niggen."
IL won't" replied the Sergeant, with a
tender glance.
The steps came on the stairs-up them -
a. i 1. 4
the Sergeant never stirred There was a stir
in the hall, followed by sudden rush, and
about twenty-five of Ashbys cavalry made
their entree, with an utter disregard TO the
proprieties Of life and the presence OF ladies.
" You may as well give yourselves up quiz
ety," smiled the Sergeants conquest q to
her adorer and his followers, who we're con-
sulting in the corner tc which they had re-
treated. my brothers always treat their
prisoners well--and we have your guns"
well, darned if ever saw such perfdy !"
cried the Sergeant throwing his hat from the
window in a rage.
Give me five minutes to collect myself
Lieutenant turning to the commander OF the
troop-'and I'll tell you what I'll do"
"All right, my boy-take six, returned
the young lsdy's brother, in the most good
natured manner, sitting down and pitching
into the dinner like a half-starved dragoon as
no was-an unceremonious example which
was initiated by his followers.
Five minutes passed. A trampling was
heard outside.
Darn those horses !" exclaimed Lieuten-
ant jeff with his mouth full of corn bread
and ''br lied" chicken. There's no guard
there Tom, 90 down and see if they're get
ting unhitched."
Tom picked up his carbine, filled up bis
mouth full of the same articles, and started.
He looked back as he reached the door.
keep me some fodder, Lieutenant. | am
-. What the deuce is"
Bang
Blue wreathes OF smoke circle into the room
and sluggishly roll upward, but Tom pitches
heavily forward with bullet through his brain
never more to rise, while several files Of the
228th Regiment emerged from the smoke and
marched over him, their muskets at charge;
and at the same time. each OF the pickets at
the other end Of the room produced their re-
volver and marked their man.
"Haye to trouble you to surrender, gentle-
men, remarked the Sergeant, with conde-
scending wave of his hand toward the Secesh
"You see you haven't got all our arms
"Just my luck !" cried the Lieutenant
"Here am, taken prisoner before have half
eaten the only decent dinner I've seen in
month"
"Dont let me interfere" interrupted the
Sergeant, with native politeness. Take you
to camp at any time"
The Lieutenant looked at his men and
winked. They grinned back their response
But the Sergeant was oblivious, and the meal
proceeded.
All at once its progress was uninterrupted
by dropping shots on the road, the galloping
of horses, and the hurrahs of charging cavalry.
The Lieutenant pricked up his ears, and
winked a second time at his men.
81 reckon, Sergeant" he remarked to his
captor, who remaiaed as cool a cucumber,
"that the tables are changed again. Those
are our boys--there's no mistakng that
noise. That's"
He was interrupted by sudden cessation
Of the cheering aud the heavy boom of can
non, so ner the house that the Windows rat
tied and the glasses danced upon the table.
The sound was repeated, and followed by a
heavy yolley from infantry.
"What the deuce is that,' he exclaimed,
starting up in great agitation, "Our boys
A.l L..