Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-12-05
CHARLEsToWN, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY. DECEMBER 1865

II.
inns, however, was the most doubtful. as it
was certalnlg,the most dangerous portion of
the adventure. The bridge was very lofty.
the ledge narrow, slippery and unprotected,
1Gr ne must move outside of the railing for
1ear OF discovery; single false step would
precipltate him into the river beneath. Even
II TINS dainger we're avoided, there was the
sentinel Beyond, and a picket, doubtless, be.
yond the sentinel Lieutenant W was
| revolving IN his mind these variors circum-
stances, and had begun to take g rather dis.
eotraglng view of things, when his attention
vas attracted by the sound of steps corning
from the direction of the Federal camp a
detachment ot-dismounted men we're evident
iy approaching The bridge, and in a few mo-
the TolceOf the sentinel was heard Civ
ing tho challenge. "Reliefv' was the reply,
enc then came ''Advance relief" which was
Immediately followed by the appearance of
the rellet guard. The sentinel was relieved
from his post, and took his place among the
new guard, one ofwhOm was posted, and the
detachment was heard tramping across the
bridge to relieve in the same manner the
other sentinels; as they came on, trampI
tramp! like the statue Of the commander III
don GlovannI-the young Virginian Co2-
celved an idea as bold as it was original 1t
was difficult to travel aloi:g the narrow ledge
without falling into the black gulf below;
and it was questionable whether any friendly
water pipe would enable him to flank the
sentinel at the opposite extremity of the
bridge. Why not "fall in" in the darkness
with the unsuspecting detachment, pass
| through the guard beyond, and then take
the chances of making his escape? His reso-
luton was at once taken, ana as the guard
came opposite his place of fcoEccaiment behind
the low woodwork of the railing, he crouched
! lower, waited until they had passed ,andt then
quietly stepping over the railing fell in be-
hind. The movement had been uadiscov-
cred; nc was now advancing with measured
step to ''assIst." as the French say, at reliey-
ing the Gold Guard" on the, bridgcs-him-
self an honorary member of the 'trelief!"
His ruse was crowned with complete suc>
cess. He passed with the detachment undis-
covered to point beyond the bridge, and
then stepping out OF the ranks-a maDeuver
which the pitch darkness rendered by no
means difficult-he concealed himself until
the unSuspccting Fcdcrals disappeared He
then. crawlcd Oh mis- hands and knees, crouch
ing close to the ground, by another picket
which he san upon th1 road. and reaching a
point where he believed himself beyond
range, rose to his feet and commenced NOV
ing. All at once he saw before him another
picket fire, and not knowing whether it was
that of his friends or enemies, he again
crouched down and slowly approached the
fire, crawling upon his chest along the sur
face of the ground .s.
He had succeeded too we'll mp to this time
to risk anything and he accordingly contin-
ued to ''snakc along" toward the fire. in order
to discover, before making himself known,
whether the group around it were friends or
enemies In thi- slow and cautious manner
he approached until he was within ten wards
Of it, where hidden behind a stump, he at
tcntivcly reconaoitered: Tine result was in
decisive He could not possibly succeed in
discovering whether the pickcts were Federal
or Confederate: and in relating his adventure
afterward Lieutenant W declared that
his heart now throDbcd with greater anxiety
than at aay other time during the whole af-
fair. lie continued for some time thus crouch
ing behind the stump, and his doubt was
painful and protracted. At last it came to
an end; he breathcd free again. One OF the
men rose from the ground, advanced and
said: 81 don't believe there will be a Yankee
on this side of the river by the morning"
TherCupOn Lieutenant W---rosc up.
approached the fire, and with laugh. made
himself known to the profound astonishment
and confusion of the wary pickets. .xho had
thus received a critical illustration of the
case with which the enemy might approach
AID send bullet through their hearts They,
| however, received Lieutenant W with
military hospitality; gave him a portion of
their rations; divided their blankets; and
overcome with fatigue, he lay down and slept
until daylight. Before sunrise he was at
General Stuart's headquarters, and was re-
iating his perilous adventure to the huge
amusement of the laughing cavalier. He
was without horse, arms, other clothes than
those which he wore; bit he was free, and
he had his spurs, carried throughout against
his naked breast.
Such was the adventure Of Lieutenant
W, and such the means he used in max
ing his escape. The narrative may appear
romantic, but assure the reader that it is
literally true. -. :,
INTELLEoT.-Chattert3n wrote al, his
beautiful things, exhaus ted all hopes of life.
and saw nothing better than death at the age
of eighteen: Burns and Byron died in their
thlrty-sc72nth year, and, doubtless, the
strength of their genius Tas over Raffaellc,
after filing the world with divine beautT.
perished also at thirty Mozart earlier
These might have produced still greater
works. On the other land, Handel was
torty-eigEt before he gave the world "assur-
ance OF nan. ." .. Dryden came up to London
from the provinces; dressed in a Norwich
druGget, somewhat abo76the age of thirty,
and did aot then know that lie could write a
single line of poetry; yet W hat towering vigor
and swimming ease appeared all at once in
'Glorlous John" Milton had, indeed, writ;
ten .'Comus" at twenty-eight, but he was up
wards OF fly when he began his great work.
Cowper knsw not his own might till he was,
far beyond thirty and his Task was not
written till his fiftieth year. Sir Waiter
Scott was $50 upwards If thirty before he
published as "Minstrelsy," and all his great
ness was yet.to come.