The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-13


broad grsvelled aisles, ands | coult
hear the tick, tick;tick Of the tele.
graph instrument in Sibley cauo
lpy adjoining. iil.a 1-.re.U. ...
I A month had thus transformed
tho pIensantest solitudes, and tn,
hospitabIe grounds had been tramp
led by inumerable hoofs. There
were great gaps in the fences, auc
coarse pencilings upon the, walls o
the fine old mansion, The furnitur,
had, been broken and usedDto feed
| lVaudal cook free. Desolation, fol
flowing in the wske of armies, hat
d.spoiled alike the fertility OF natnr'
and the improvements Of man.
, How soon might retaliation aBec
our Northern homes all we had ru-
iDed these. ''af .' r.I ol u..
| "Left'nant Mintlinl'' Islt 1rr.
Il turned toward the voice at The
mention Of my name, and reeogniz-
ed a tall, athletic orderly. AS | Ia
ced him, ne respectfully saluted anc
said: - .f.y.V ...r.IH.g
The Ginersl uades ye, cir, i'm
madiately at his q uarters. ..aal
The mess broke Into loud !sngl
anticipating that sons onerous duty
would devolve upon me-. as.
"There's twenty pages OF repor
to copy" ssid Bigswig. ~ .
"fll lend' you my leetlc cheoat
mon ami" said Saint Pierre; ''yor
take one dam journey" t ..a,
"l1adn't you better worry do,vr
another smile before you gcl" ssi,'
Wicklowe, copionsly imbibing him-
sell. ..a....s ..I. .. .-r
| replied carelessly, reiIled nv
pipe, and following the eergeons
across a grass plot and through n
broken wicket, and steod in the pre-.
senee ot the General Tie was seat
at spine table, covered With maps,
diagrams and manuscripts, and the
candle threw All imp. rfect light up
on his handsome bronzed face, and
broad, prominent forehead. A trunk
marked with his initials, and y small
iron bedstead, with Two CAMP
stools, and a short wooden bench.
comprised bis furniture; but there
was picture of the NJ donna. which
never left him, suspended from a
null 10 the rear tentpole. This pic
ture had survived oil mutations.
lie had carried It in the Mexican
wsr, when but a Lieutenant. 1t
had hung in the walls OF the Monte
zumss, when employed at clerk dn-
ties therein. At Fort Yuma, the
Siberia of military stations, he had
kept il in his quarters for five mo
notouous years; and when appoint.
cd Colonel, early in the civil war,
he had brought this picture across
four thousand miles of plain snd
prairie. '.r'..a
"Sit down Lieut. Mintlin!" he
resumed his writing. looked at
the richly qnilted saddle that lay at
HE feet, at the splendidly mounted
sword thrown cariessly across hi,
BID, at the holsters and silver plated
pistols beneath his rubber pillow
| studied the aDglee und iuIlness OF
the fine indented form, and the severe
and wrinkled conntensnco before
me; and from the starred shoulder
bars and slvered beard oil this hero
OF score OF battles. my eyes wan
dcred magnetfcaly to the peusive
melancholy picture OF the Madonna
his companion in triuny, reversee
trials and promotion. trust that
every soldier carries some such pic
ture through his journeyings. Ny
own Madonna was in Pennsylvania
"Lieutsnsnt," said he in his quick
nervous manner, looking the direct.
ly 10 the eyes, your horse is fresh
and ssddled!"
looked through the opening Of
the tent at the sharp beat OF the
hoo's, and beheld my pony, led by
my own servant. + I'D. ....
Il would not trouble you until it
was necessary, but gave you a part
OF the evening with our friends. -
There is your horse, here is sealed
envelope. You are to ride with all
speed to ltappaLsnnock.
A little leap of my hcart, and a
eight tremor OF my lips, followed
the announcement: OF this ill,omened
name. ..
| Il may say" continued the Gen
ersl, ia his curt sententious way
''snce commonly take my aides
into my confidence, that this paper
contains the details OF an order fo
an Immediate advance. You at,
; TO ride direct to the quarters OF Gsn
II, TO deliv@r the envelope
and return Tonight with his rcceip
: and reply"
| bowed silently and turned to 90
'Stopl' said he again. 1T is eigh
O'clock; you must deliver the mess.
! age by eleven. shall not retii,
tonight. You will bo back her
at three" I Uo
!, "lt is long and stony way"
said hesitatingly, "and forty mile
: can scarcely be made in cove
hours." 'I .l...". u.la .