The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-01-19

turning, picked up the gun, and began to
saunter up and down in a very commendable
way indeed but sharp observer might have
noticed a furtiveness and anxiety in the fire.
ouent glances I threw a the tent which would
not have augured well for my safety. I drew
nearer and nearer to the tent at every turn,
until 1 could almost distinguish the voices
within; and presently after taking a most
minute survey of the premises, ] crept up to
the tent crouched down to the bottom Of the
trench, and listened with all my might.
could also see under the canvas. There we're
half dozen rebel ehieftains within, and map
was spread on a table in the center Of the
apartment. At length the consultation was
at an end, and the company rose to depart /
ran back to my place, and resumed the watch
full saunter of the guard with as Indifferent
an air as possible, drawing the hat well over
my eyes
The generals came outside of the tent and
looked about a little before they disappeared.
Two Of them came close to me and passed al
most within a yard Of the sentry's body. But
they passed on, and I drew a deep breath Of
relief A light still glimmered through the
tent, but presently that, too, vanished, and
all was still. But occasionally 1 would hear
the voice of a fellow sentry, or perhaps the
rattle Of a halter in some distant manger.
looked at my watch. It was two o'clock
would be five before could fire the signal,
and the attack was to be at atdaybreak.
Cautiously as before, I started on my re-
turn, reaching my horse without accident
Here abandoned the gun and Oyercoat, re-
mounted, and started down the mountain.
" Tallahassee " let me through the first picket
again, but something was wrong when l can
70, h. 20 HON
had been so coufdentially dispatched by
Colonel Craig. Probably the genuine mes
senger, or perhaps the gallant Colonel him
self had paid them visit during my absence.
At any rate, l saw that something unpleas-
ant was up, but resolved to make the best of
it.
Tallahassee !" cried, as began to de-
scend the ravine.
" Halt, or you're dead mani " rOared the
leading trooperT "He's q Yankl !" Cut
him down." chimed in the others.
Tallahassee Tallahassee J" I yelled.
And committing my soul to God, plunged
down the gully with sabre and revolver in
either hand.
Click-bang! something grazed my cheek
like hot iron. Click-bang again some
thing whistled by my ear with an ugly in
tonation. And then I was in their midst
shooting, stabbing slashing, and swearing
like a tiend The rim of my hat Topped over
my face from a sabre cut and l felt blood
trickling down my neck. But 1 burst away
from them, up the bank Of the ravine, and
along the bare plateau, all the time yelling
Tallahassee Tallahassee! " without know
ing why. I could hear the alarm spread back
over the mountain by hallOOs and drums, and
presently the clatter of pursuing steeds.
But fed onward like whirlwind, almost
fainting from excitement and loss Of blood,
until reeled off at the hollow stump.
Fiz, iz one, two! and my heart leaped
with exultation as the rushing rockets fol-
lowed each other, in quick succession to the
zenith, and burst on the gloom in glittering
showers. Emptying the remaining tubes Of
my pistol at the nearest pursuer, now but
fifty yards off, was in the saddle and away
again, without waiting to see the result Of
my aim. 1t was a ride for life for a few mo-
ments; but pressed as noble q steed as ever
spurned the footstool, and as we neared the
Union lines the pursuit dropped off. When l
attained the summit of the first ridge Of our
position, and saw the day break family and
rosily beyond the pine-tops and along the
crags, the air futtered violently in my face,
the solid earth quivered beneath my feet, as a
hundred cannon opened simultaneously above,
below, and around me. Serted columns of
men were swinging irresistibly down the
mountain toward the opposite slope; flying
feld-pieces were dashing off into position /;
long lines of cavalry were haunting the gull
lies, or lowering like vultures on the steep;
and the blare of bugles rose above the roar of
the artillery with a wild, victorious peal.
The two rockets had been answered and the
veterans Of the Union were bearing down
upon the enemy's weakened center like an
avalanche of fire.
"So that is al" said the scout, rising and
yawning "The battle had begun in earnest.
And maybe I didn't dine with General R.
when it was over and the victory gained.
Let's go to bed"