Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-01

engaged since 62. No doubt his many Oppor-
tlnities for demanding what he wanted, and
for seizing, like Ahab, what was denied him,
had furnished alike the jacket and the buttons
ard were it not for his placid counenance,
should have fathered his entire outfit upon the
Yankees AS having fallen to his shoulders by
the same easy process. lie was directed to drive
US to the road at once, and to keep bis herd in
motion all the time. Hurried orders had come
from headquarters, that set all the small bees
about this lesser hive in q whrl of confused
labors whereby our departure was delayed for
some moments. The proyost'marshal clerk
was even then packing up his rattling desk,
pigeon.holng papers that would hatch knotty
ques ions in the coop, and making due prepara-
uon for the departure Of the Georgian magnate
himself | observed that their army-wagons
kept trailing southwark, like chalk vertebre, in
an unbroken string, and promised for a long
while yet to obstruct the road. 1t was growing
a little cloudy, too 1t was now three hours
after noon, and hoped nervously for sullen
night.
Juet before we sot out on our melancholy
march, saw a man make move towards me,
and hastily clap one finger across his firm liEs.
lt was the AdjutaDt 7, of whom have
spoken, and who did not wish me to recognize
HIM. IL was his object to approach me, and to
walk as a stranger az my side 20 that the guards
should not part us,--and | knew at once, to
speak Of a PROJECT common TO both. The old
stories Of our camp-ilIes had fitted across his
mind, and had blanched his cheek since morn.
ing. His blood was just thawing as he signal.
led me. took no notice Of him till after we
had started, a company Of men with bent brows,
and he had marched on my right some forty
rods. ! then muttered slowly Speak little,
and to the point" Whereat be waved bis hand.
IL was singular and sad TO ignore thus an old
companion IN the very hour Of need when
surely bitterness hung over our souls that more
than ever required balm. We were, perforce,
70 play the ranger, when at no time in life
did We more thirst for the tender friend. Doubt.
les our hopes OF escape depended much upon
each other and we could but oommuncdte
those plans Ii insufficient monosy yllables which,
u msuudeTs.6 d would lead to disaster Ii
even plentiful words, 10 great ear-measures, are
p4rdOnable, it Is at such moments ~ this,-when
even nall worls-diam0nds flashing betrayal
are impru4ent The AdJutant edged little
closer.
" Before dark or after ~ he asked.
To which replied
After.
He gradually glded away from me and for
some time marched ar the other side OF the
column
had noticed that he was walking without
hls jacket. The guards were accosung the offi-
GERS IN their neghbo hood, and had taken his
among other yestments Most Of the party of
sad victims we're well peeled ere their mean-
chi0y was an hour older. A rough boor turned
to me and demanded my gauntlets. a basllisk
five shone through his eyes and the breath
which be blew through the grating Of bis teeth,
over his thin, lvid lips, and into my face was
irelghtei heavily with the fumes Of whiskey.
W hen made bold 10 refuse hlm, he was dumb
founded in astonishment, and was pleased to
compress his jaws.
" You Id Yankee he screamed. profane-
ly, red with the Inspiration OF his anger, - if
you don't give me your gauntets, | Il tear
your hau Is from your body.
There was enough energy in bis action to
have guaranteed even more vehement man
euyre and as he made his threat, he raised
his arm above me. But | had il in my mind
10 see myself through the affair in the course
that | had chosen and having noticed our
mid officer few PAGES IN the rear OF US,
mounted upon bis horse, and Ilaeidly sitting
with his hand upon the pommel, | turned to
mm at once
II you viii do me the favor, SIR, said,
with some gravity OF manner, would like
you TO accept my guantlets,-a new pair from
the box, that has only seen this days work
They We had an unlucky birthday" he said,
not lnaptly, aud rather cJrteously, as be took
them.
" Yes, my gloves heretofore have all been
spoiled by the SABRE replied, keeping step with
his charger. " | don { know but that you have
70 hank drunken guard Tor the pair, Sir /;
since he threatened TO kill me, il kept them
90 ny hands.
He gave basty look Tor his orderly.
Point out the man, If you can, Sir he
said to me, and beckoned trooper 10 his side
| am obliged to you for your interference, 8"
answered " rhe man marches third on the
left there, ami has hls pieoe slung behind him.
hope that some day, Sir, ] may do you
favor
A sense OF hunor for which must be CRATE.
ful, considering the s0mbre detection Of my
marching mates, filled my breast as thanked
him ior putting one under guard Tor attempting
(drunk) what he himself 50 sobery accom-
plished,--lhe capture OF my buokskins He
Kept the eauntlels very willingly, and ordered
a sergeant 10 accompany me But there was
generosity and magnlicence in his action the
acquisition per duress, Ut others property was
a daily habit with hm,--and to have u sergeant
Tor guard was a considerable favor
1t was my desire 10 caiiyate the Sergeant
thus cast within my reach, who otherwise might
be marplt, and who had good OF some sor,
iu him, Judged IRON his appearance although,
as with his kind, it was evidently very barren
winter ia his purs, and his summer clothes
we're apparently too open. HIS butternut jack
ct, poor tweed with cotton filing was
clasped about hs throat with a shred OF twine,
dyus away thence loosely, showing a dirty
cotton shut beneath, aud the rough edge o. the
waistband oi his pantaloons The material of
which these last were made was very impress
sible jean, aud marked the number oil his Jour
ueys, could one but declpher them, in stains and
intricate oreases He had the same face Of lite
less suet, and the yellow hair, that have
noticed rs very pteyaen, in the rebel armies -
but wlthal an elasticity # carriage that seemed
too honest for the cause, an almost Openness OF
cJuu,enanoe, n east OF features tending towards
amiabity, which mbued me with trembling
nope had designs upon tho Sergeant, aud
iuteuded opening upon him with rhetoric, alter,
perhaps, some omica3lo skrrmishing His detail
10 guard my perscp WAS u compliment to me
which ouly The inltiAtei-thOsc who haye made
The same Journey can appreciate. The young
pruy0stulli1ar with the sleeve knots desired to
offer me deliclte attention in return for my
hand-iutnlturc, aud, perhaps to impress me in
some sort with his sense Of right even though
he was OF SO wrong. g.headed company. What
dainty, dew-slppng bunch ol viOlets would
bo to conscious beauty, a quaint volume
ol old matter, dolt breeding and crumhling,
,vonld be IA tha blinking schblar ,shat yegned