The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-06-29

Ellis, with party Of seventy men-re
fuGees, prisoners, Rebel de.erters,
Union soldiers returning from their
homes within the enemy's line., and
escaping prisoners -About thirty oi
them were mounted and twenty armed.
Like most men of actior. Dan was a
person Of few words. When our story
had been told him. he said 70 hts CON
rndee: r
"Boya, here are some gentlemen who
have escaped from Salisbury. and who
are almost dead from the journey. They
are out people. They have suffered i
our cause They are going to their
homes ia ,ur fines We csn's ride and
let these men walk. Get down' o6 yous
horses, aud be'p them up.
Down they came, and np We went ;
and then We pres.ed along At terrible
pace.
IT, day, when we came on the hot
track Of eight gnertill.a. the tsshtl
hunting instinct waxed strong within
Dan. and, taking eight Of his own men
he started in fierce pursuit. Seven It
the enemy cscape.i, but one was cap
tnred aud brought 10 our camp = pri.
epner. it-H
Then Dan went 10 the nearest Union
house, to learn the nrws: f"r every
loyal family in = range Of many h"nd
red miles knew and loved him. We,
very weary. lay dow" 70 sleep in an old
orchard, with our saddles for pillows.
Oar reflections were pleasant We
we're only seventy nine miles from the
Union lines. We progressed swim
ming'y, and had eve" begun to regulate
the domestic affairs Of the horder!
BEFORE midnight, eome one shook my
arm rubbed my eyes open and look
ed .np. There was Dan. Ellis.
"Roys, We must e.ldie Instantly
We have walked right into nest Of
rebels; several hundred are within a
few mites; eighty are in thi. Immediate
vicinity They are lying in ambush for
Colonel Kirk and his men. It u donbt
fnl whether We can ever get out OF this
We mus, DIVIDE into two parties. The
f""tn,an must take TO the mcuntaina |:
We who are riding. and in snch more
danger -aa horses make more noise,
AMI leave 40 many traces-mnst pvesa
on ~ once. # We ever hope to reach
the Union lincs."
The word passed in low tones. Fling.
ting our sadles upon our weary h"rses.
wc were on onr way almost inst ansiy.
nv place Was near Tho middle "f the
cava,cade. The man jns' before m1
waa rii,irg ! white horse. which enabled
me to follow him with caee
We galto..ed along ~ Dams nsmai
pace, with the nsoat sublime indifference
to roads-np and dovn rocky i'll.
across strealaa, through ewamps, over
fenees- Everywhere bat up n public
ihoroughfares.
I suppose we had Travelled three miies
when NJ. Davis fell back from che front
a01 said to me ]:
"That yonrg lady rides very we'll
does she not -
"Whst young lady ?"
"The yosac ladv Sko i plotting ~. =
Ihad thosght Dan Ellie was plotting
IA, aad rode forward to ace about the
young lady.
There she was, srre,y enough. Iconld
no, scruti~;se her face 10 the darkness,
hit Il vae aaid to BE- comely. I conial
see ina, her form was graceful. and the
ease and firmress with which she sat hex
horse would hare been . lesson tor rid
ing maat4r.
She resided at the Tmion house ~herl
Dan had gene for ~c~s. THE mon,sn,
she learned Ais aeed. abe volunteered Il
pilot h.m ost at chat mel. .hhorhocA
where she gaa b0ra and bred and kneS
every acre. The osiy accessible hoss4
tore hclcsg;og 70 1ehsa ollcs. bsl
iust ,he~ kept in her fathets barn) wal
e~oscht ost and saddled. Shc mosnted
eas.e 70 eur camp ~ asidaight. and va'
nov stea,'i';ly c.''dice ~. avoiding taraa
hMAes whcre the rebels were quarteved
go;~g rssSA uaeir CAMPS evadins thea
pickets.
She led as Ecr eevcs ssaees. Thes
wia.e we rem maineA n <h. wood. she rod,
fcr~a over the io~g bridge which ~psn
aed ,he Neleehscky river, to see il ther,
were any guards upon l.: went 70 lb'
arst U"ioa hosse sey"sA 20 tsar.
whether tho roads were ricketeh; cam,
hack, told us the coast was clear