Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-10-25

To do INV sheer for the kentry, Gin
raj, answered the man. And didn't
druv no bargin wi tn Lord. guv Him
my life squar' out; and if He's mind
ter tuck it on this tramp, why, it's His'n n;
! I've nothing 10 say agin it. ="
You mean that yOu'v come into the
war not expecting to get out of it?"
That's so, Gin'ral"
"Will you die rather than let the dis.
patch be taken?"
Il wull."
The Colonel recalled what had passed
in his own mind when poTing over his
mothers Bible that night at his home in
Ohio; and it decided him. Very well, 4"
ne said, al will trust you"
The dispatch was written on tissue
paper, rolled into the form of bullet,
| coated with warm lead. and put it into the
hand of the Kentuckian. He was given
carbine, brace of revolvers and the
ileetest horse in his regiment, and when
the moon was down, started on his peril
Gus journey. lie was to ride at night,
and hide in the woods or in the houses
OF loyal men in the daytime.
1t was pitch dark when he set out; but
he knew every inch of the way, having
travelled it often, driving mules to mar
ket. He had gone twenty miles by early
dawn, and the house of friend was only
few miles beyond him. The man him.
self was away; but his wife was at home,
and she would harbor him till nightfall.
He pushed on and tethered his horse in
the timber; but it was broad day when
he raped at the door, and was admitted.
The good woman gave him breakfast, and
showed him to the guest chamber, where,
lying down in his boots, he was soon in
deep slumber.
The house was q log cabin in the midst
of few acres of deadening-ground from
which trees have been cleared by grid
ling. Dense woods were all about it; but
the nearest forest was a quarter of a
mile distant, and should the scout be
tracked, it would be hard to get away
over this open space, unless he had war
ming of the approach of his pursuers.-
The woman thought of this, and sent up
the road, on a mule, her whole worldly
possessions, an old negro, dark as night,
but faithful as the sun IN the heavens
1t was high noon when the mule came
back, his heels striking fire and his riders
eyes flashing as if ignited from the sparks
the steel had emitted.
"Dey'm comm Missusp he cried
mot half mile away-twenty secesh-
ridin as ef de Debil wus arter 'em!"
She barred the door and hastened to
the guest-chamber.
Go" she cried, Through the winder,
ter the woods! They'll be here in a
minute"
GLOW many is there? ?" asked the scout,
"Iwenty,-gO, go at once, or you'll be
taken?"
The scout did not move; but fixing his
eyes on her face, he said
YES, yere EN-. Theirs a sorry chance
for my life already. But, Rachel, I've
that bout me that's wuth more'n my
life,-that maybe III save Kintuck. If
Pm killed, wull you tuck it ter Colonel
Cranor, at Paris?"
Yes, yes, will But go: you've not
a minnit to lose, tell you"
81 know, but wull you sWare it-sWare
ter tuck this ter Cunnel Cranor, fore the
Lord that years usI"
"Yes, yes | will, +" she said, taking the
bullet. But the horses hoofs were al
ready sounding in the door-yard. "Its
toe late" cried the woman. "Oh why
did you stop to parley!"
Never mind Rachel" answered the
scout, don't tuck on. Tuck keere of the
dispatch. Valu' it like your life-like
KintuclS. The Lords callin fur me, and
Pm Already"
But the scout was mistaken. 1t was
not the Lord, but dozen devils at the
doorway.
"What does yer want?" asked the wo-
man going TO the door.
81 -
camp at sun-up, John Jordan, from the
head of Baine." answered the voice from
tine out side.
Yer can't hev him for the AKIN said
the scout. Go away, or III send some
o'ye whar the weather is warm, reckon
"Pshaw" said another voice from his
speech one Of the cavalry. There are
twenty of us. Well spare your life, il
you give up the dispatch; If you don't,
we'll hang you up higher than Hannah"
The reader will bear in mind that this
was the beginning of the war, when
swarms of spies infested every Union
camp, and treason was only gentleman
ly past time, not the serious business it
has grown TO be since traitors are no longer
dangerous.
"I've nothing but my life that I'll
guv up, answered the scout; and eff ye
tuck that, veil have to pay the price,
six of yourn."
Fire the housep shouted one.
mo don't do that" said another. 81
know him, he is clar grit, he'll die in the
ashes; and we wont git the dispatch"
This sort of talk went on for half an
hour; then there was dead silence, and
the woman went to the loft. whence she
could see all that was passing outside
About dozen of the horsemen we're
posted around the house; but the re-
mainder, dismounted, had gone to the
edge of the woods, and were telling q
well-grown sapling, with the evident in
tention of using it as a bsttering-ram to
break down the front door.
The woman in q low tone, explained
the situation; and the scout said,-
'Its my only chance. | must run for it.
Bring me yer red shawl Rachel"
She had none, but she had a pettiooat
of flaming red and yellow. Handling 1t
as if he knew how such articles can be
made to spread, the scout softly unbarred
the door, and, grasping the hand OF the
woman, said,-
Good bye, Rachel. 1t r right sorry
chance; but l may git through. Eff do,
I'll come ter night; eff don't, git ye the
dispatch ter the Cunnel. Good bye"
To the right of the house, midway be-
tween it and the woods, stood the barn.
That way lay the route of the scout. If
he could elude the two mounted men at
the doorway, he might escape the other
horse-men; for they would have to spring
the barn-yard fences, and their horses
might refuse the leap. But it was foot Of
man against leg of horse, and right
sorry chance"
Suddenly he opened the door, and
dashed at the two horses with the petit
coat. They reared, wheeled and bounded
away like ightnitg just let out of harness
In the time that it takes to tell it, the
scout was over the first fence, and scaling
the second; but horse was making the
leap with him. The scouts pistol went
off. and the riders earthly journey was
over. Another followed, and his horse
fell mortaliy wounded. The rest made
the circuit of the barn-yard, and were
rods behind when the scout reached the
edge of the forest. Once among these