Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-02

dl'ath4l'S dHu sCiEiIS us "Cdp pO' ""'
under other circumstances, might have
6ons; bat there was The other sentinel,
who would al once give the slsrm-tbon
recsptuIe a0d '.Iauer end worse han tne
first" This plan was thus out OF the
question. But one hope presented itself.
The fugitive could not swim The river,
but if by any means he could climb up
10 the floor Of the bridge INSIDE OF the
sentinel, he might perhaps, crawl along
without being discovered, "Hank the
sentinel beyond, and so get back to his
friends. Young, 1.-THE and determined,
Lieutenant W speedily made a re-
connoissance of the sbuiments OF the
bridge TO ascertain the possibility OF exc
cutting bis project. To his great sailslac-
uon he discovered pipe running from a
tank above to the water below-!or this
was the Orange and Alexandra Railroad
bridge-and The rivets securing tha pipe
to the masonry afforded him an excel
lent fooihold in climbing. Gliding be-
meath the sentinel IN the darkness, he
crept into the shadow, grasPed the pipe'
and, with hands and knees, climbed foot
by foo, up the abutment, until he had
reached the edge of the doorway. His
hands were torn and his knees la"eraIed,
but he hal taken another sep toward llb-
erly.
What now remained to be done was to
crawl along the narrow edge of The para
pet, and crossing lhe bridge, pass around
the other sentinel, in some manner, and
escape. This however, was the most
doubtful, as It was certainly the most dan
gerous portion of the adventure. The
bridge was very lofty, the ledge narrow,
slippery and unprotected, for he must
move outside of the railing for fear Of dis
covery; single false step would Preclpl.
tale him inlo the river beneath. Even il
this danger were avoided, there was the
sentinel beyond, and picket, doubt.
less, beyond HE sentinel. LeuIenaD'
W vas revolving in his mind 'hese
various circumstances, and had begun 10
take a rather dscouraging view oi
things, when his attention was attracted
by the sound ofsleps coming from the
direction Of The Federal camp. A de-
lachment of dismounled men were evi
deniIy approaching The bridge, and in d
few moments the voice of the sentinel
was heard giving the challenge. "Re.
lief ~ was the reply, and then came "Ad'
vance relief" which was Immediately
followed by the appearance OF tie reIlel
guard. The sentinel was relieved from
his post, and took his place among the
new guard, one of whom was posted, and
the detachment was heard lramplng
across lie bridge TO yGljcre IL TIE same
manner the other senlineI.; as they came
on, tramp tramp Ike the statue of the
commander IN "Don GiovanRi" tile
young Virginian conceived an idea as
bold as il was original. Il was dltHcul
10 travel along the narrow ledge without
falling into the black gulf below; and i
was questionable whether any friendly
water pipe would enable him 10 flank
the sentinel at the opposite extremity OI
the bridge. Why not "lsll in" in the
darkness with the unsusPecting deiach'
meni, pass through the guard beyond, and
then take the chances Of making his es'
cape His resolution was at once taken,
and as The guard came opposite his place
of concealneni behind the low woodwork
Of The railing, he cTouched lower. waited
until they had passed and then quietly
stepping over the railing fell in behind.
The movement had been undiscovered;
he was now advancing with measured
step 10 "assist," as the French say, at re-
leving the "Old Guard on the bridges
himself an honorary member Of the
"relief ~
His ruse was crowned with complete
success. He passed with the detach.
men. undiscovered 10 point beyond the
bridge; and then stepping out of the
ranks, a manoeuvsr which the pitch dark
ness rendered by no means dfficult-he
concealed himself until the unsuspecting
Fedsrals disappeared. He then cFswIed
on his hands and knees, crouchlOg close
10 The ground, By another picket which
ne saw upon the road, end reaching a
point where be believed himself beyond
range, rose to his feet and commenced
moving. All al once he saw before him
another picket FIRE, and not knowing
whether il was that OF bis friends or enc
mics, he again crouched down and slow
ly approached the fire, crawling upon bis
chest along the surface of lhe ground.
He had succeeded 10 well up 10 this
time TO risk anything and he accordingly
continued 10 "snske along toward the
FIRE, in order 10 discover, before making
himself known, whether tie group
around il were friends or enemies. In