Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-30

account Of the small space between tn
beach aBdza rliSharocky range o
mountains. which ran along the bay at
distance. Of about half O. mile from Tia
sea In some places, bnt which ran clos
down 90 the water in otaers. Tn
cavalry was 'encamped at an open par
of the shore, where there was room fol
/ their csmp betw cen the hills and high
water mark. Another rportion of thu
army occupied similar encampmen
about six miles further mp the bay.
- account of the rocks running
down to. the sea between the two
camps, there was no road or means
of communication along the shore; ths
only way to go from one camp to the
other was to pass through q gap in t@s
hills, behind orr camp, where We always
had picket, ride about five miles across
the plain, and re-enter the hills by
another gap, behind the Infantry camp.
where pickets' were always regularly
established. II had many friends in the
neighboring camp, and used often to
ride over there, not unfreqnently stop,
ping TO dine, and riding back at night.
These expeditions were not, / believe,
known to the superior authorities, who
would, probably, have stopped my eve
ming rides beyond the sentries, as it was
not certain whether the country was
infested with Tartars, who might have
carried off any stagPler = but trust
ing to-a revolver and my Arab-horse, |
had individually no fear OF being taken
even if attacked.
cone night I had been over to the
infantry, and stayed till about eleven
O'clock, when I started to ride home.
There was a tolerablyl bright moon
shining, and / trotted quickly through
the hills, past the infa:try picket, and
into the plain, where drew my horse
into a walk and smoked cheroot while
he walked quietly along on the smooth
turf About half way across the plain
was aroused from deep reyerie in
which certain lady in England, who is
now my wife. tooka pR5minent place, by
my usually quiet horse manifesting an
inclination to bolt. / attributed his
restiveness TO desire 60 get home, but
was astonished, after had quieted him,
to find he burst into cold sweat and
trembled violently. Fearing he was
i'll, was about to dismount, when a
noise behind me struck upon my ear.
I looked round and saw a human figure
walking behind me at q distance of
about hundred yards. My impression
was that was about to be attacked at
last by some Tartars, so got my re-
volver out and urged my horse with
difficulty into a trot. In few minutes
/ again looked behind, expecting to
/ 4. l<f& f,, fofo
but to my great surprise, he had walked
faster than my horse could trot, and
had gained upon me. was more as.
tonished still, when, as he continued to
gain upon me, 1 perceived he was
dressed in ordinary English evening
costume, especially as did not think a
dress of that kind could have been
found in the whole army, for we always
all wore uniform adapted to the
climate, and had little enough baggage
allowed us without carrying any super
huities.
My follower still continued to gain
on me, and was so much astonisned,
that / continued to gaze on him as,
coming nearer and nearer. he became
more distinctly visible When he was
within few yards saw that the front
of his shirt was covered with something
red, which looked to me as if a bottle
of port had been spilled over it. Nearer
and nearer he came slowly and steadily
the moon, high upons the sky, but
directly Oh the way < was, going, came
from BEND a slight cloud, Just as he
reached my girths. She shone full on
a very pace face, which was turned up
II, II,
was slowly issuing, and on pair of
eyes which, although now they appeared
fierce and staring, L well knew. 1t was
Charles Granger. Stillhe walked quickly
and steadily; he passed NV horses
shoulder, then his head. The poor
brute shook as If he were going to fall.
81 was so surprised that / could not
speak, nor did I remember that held
a pistol in my right hand. When the
spectre Gor so / then thought it) had
passed on, / could distinctly see ii in
front of me, walking away from me,
butstraight along the path Twas pur-
suing. Then recovered my presence
of mind and called after him; in vain /
implored, impreeated and threatened to
fire If he did not stop but on he went
steadily, though quickly, without appear
ing to hear me. then urged my horse
fwho had recovered from the fright
into a canter and pursued, but could
not gain on my extraordinary fellow
traveller; the faster cantered and even
galloped the faster he went; but he
never ran, his movement was always
steady stride. After pursuit of
about ten minutes, saw the sentry of
the outpost, at the pass of the hills
leading to our camp, standing directly
in the path the figure was pursuing;
loudly / called to let no one pass.
saw the sentry bring his musket to the
charge when the apparition was within
thirty yards or so of him. and heard his
cry: Turn ont the guard.' The men
who wereioitering near, fell In almost
simultaneously, and quite closed tie
path in the rocks, when the figure
appeared to fade away FASTENED for
ward and asked the sentry:
did you SEQ man walking in front
of me?" 81. 60. -....i
/. mo sir" was the ready answer; ''no
zone has been past here since We
mounted" .., sas.a 30 u. ;. .,.,
"Why did you turn out the guard. 4"
"Because i saw You gallopipg and
calling out sir, and 1 thought you were
being chased by Cinnamon, ..s-s
s'Fhe sergeant, and other soldiers,
fully confirmed the sentry's assertion
that no person had passed the post, and
as not wish to be thought absurd, 1
simply said ] supposed / had been mis-
taken, and rode into camp without
.oo;,,<x o,,x,tI,ino, mora fk,f fba fouro 90