Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-01
4tllstcllann.
From ths Atlantic Monthly Tor August
Nv Second Capture.

The A3iuant = and myself, not mex
perenceI Ia battles, though, perhaps, Ike most
Americans, lnlants in warfare. were captured
in september last in the Valley ol the Shenau-
do4b, Natuios noble art-g4liery, on the west
side Of Opcquan Greek, q stream that Is pc
ture at aim 81 any point Ia one OF the gallant
charges which our eager cavalry, under General
Sheridan, made before the great charge that
captured Winchester aud the Valley, our regl-
ment had the right, and gained fine position
10 the end But two or three encounters were
very close The sea OF battle surged buck and
forth, tormonled only, however, by the mild
hreezss of day like May and as the waves Of
our army withdrew from the ridge on which the
enemy rested, 70 gain freater imletus, my poor
horse was shot under me, stranded, and left
rolling upon the ground, midway betseen friend
aud toe. The ordedy, my attendant, had another
10 the rear OF the retreaung column but,
inasmuch as that was now swep. by tho swilt-
reeedlug current far beyond US, he could neither
have M mounted nor command other present
means whereby to get me of. | reclined, like
Aioul4, upon soft bed of meadow-grass stud
ded here and there with wild.howers, and
emerald velvet with silver spangles but SUI
lerlnr, unlike him, from bruises, and with my
best souiless friend dead at my side. ! was
somewhat sprained by the fall the dying beast
had given me. The enemy WAS clOsa at hand
following with yels and chaotic eagerness upon
cur troops.
" We III take march to Libby said my
orderly, dropping ON his knees TO feel my bones,
He drew ms arm through his rein, having
bad no idea of dcsertng me In his sound health
by the ala OF his ready animal,) aud continued
his examination whilst his sturdy fiyorite
chopped the short grass within reach Of hI'
breathing hltehiug-post as closely as his long
bit would allow. la a very few moments the
rebel loan was surgng like Wild beyond u.s.
a private pauslng az me for a second, to poke
mt IN the rlbs with his piece.
" There & lite there, Grayback, growled my
.ttendant and tho rebel had ordered us to the
fe5r.
Indeed, had we remained where we were, w
would soon have been in the rear, SO impetu
ou,y did the 10 sweep by. But private sol
1els, the potent kay-stones of the rebel arch
huIt 20 crush the voice of the many, command
The Southern armies In every great engagement
aud one of these important atoms had given u'
tae hint TO move You never see anything but
The rank aud file In the heart of the rebel corps
Olr new commander mounted my orderly I
horse, aud wa soon lost in the distance.
IL Is not, have found, very dlverung en-
tertanmeni to wander free lew moments 4
Tree prsouer) in search Of some authority, out
OF the myriads who have the opportunity, wllt
shall choose to take charge Of one. ie
. peculiarly as stood irresOute, now framing
E one thought, now another, casting about IN my
mind, wslghne the odds With no light fancy
ss'aes, which OF therushiog demons on all side
would draw up before me with a cnrse, anC
command me to follow him. Our regiment
our corps, our whole army, this last had no
leit It's works for the little hght,) were far II
Che distance now and the ground on which
stood and which but short time since wa
Stamped 10y Northorn troops, had, in the muta
tons o' war, become portion OF the reoc
domlnuns. The September sun shone brigh IL
through the white Il Gee u the clOud-swan
swimming IN the morning air and the ear
spring breeze thst have mentioned-lor k)lu
hlJ gwen freedom 10 the tender doye-1ephyt-
l@yiuE with the silk fringe of the meado'
Rrass, tndlng no olive branch here, ve1turin
astppic, with The audacity OF innocence unde
the very heels OF the oontending forcee Poss
ply the feeling Of onllncss which oyerwhelms
han az such time as this is the most acute
all his feelings, looked my orderly in th
1aee as ho supported me on hls shoeldcr. II
pas gazing cooly before him.
at We have to march soon, you had bette
fst,' he said deliberately. " There q TIRE
soa can SIT uuder. And il you have money Q
Z watch, you bad better hide them in yoar aru
fts."
We went 10 the tree. and set ourselves again