Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-06-21

Lit WAS UOl anu
soon she heard the roar of artillery. The
| loud booming of cannon and the fiendish
kissing of the shells, that sped fiercer than
thunderbolts through the air, set hernearly
frantic
Stanton !" she cried going to the door
where he was busy putting things in march
ing order is there a horse here ?''
Yes, ma am, couple.
''Then saddle the swiftest for me. 1 am
going out for ride
But ma am, the captain said"
No matter what the captain said, Unjust
have the horse at once
Il have no lady's saddle.
No matter; saddle of any kind will
do
but, madam
Stamping her little foot
Look yonderl'' And she pointed to the
north east. "A heavy rebel force is coming
unexpectedly upon our troops. With a
swift horse | can reach my husband S column
and give the alarm in time to clrcum-
vent them. Now do my bidding at once -
Stanton in fear and wonder obeyed; and
when he led forth the high mettled steed
Lucy appeared IN regular military suit of
her husband with her curls so nicely stow
ed away beneath the close fitting cap, that
the man in waiting could scarcely believe the
boyish looking soldier before him was no
other than the captains wife.
Shall not accompany you madam =
he asked, as she sprang lightly into the sad
die
II want no retainers, Stanton; stay
wheresyou are, and follow the Captain 5
orders y
Lucy did not wait for him to finish the
sentence, but putting spurs to her steed,
took the route her husband had taken, and
was after an hours tatiguing ride in full
view of the battle. She paused but Il few
moments and looked back. The enemy
were advancing rapidly She looked before
at the contending armies. Shells shrieked
past, and the force of the artillery caused the
very ground to tremble beneath her feet.
Her steed curved his proud neck and paved
the ground, impatient to proceed. She
gave him the rein, for she saw where the
dense volume of smoke was slowly rising,
the form of Edward At all events it was
a cavalry campanY, and she dashed boldly
forward.
Nearly deafened by the roar of artillery,
and stiaed by the smoke, she still kept on,
until having reached Fitzpatrick division,
she was dismounted by the stumbling Of her
horse.
"Will you put me to Captain Burnett
company ?'' she asked
10 the left, - replied the officer address
ed, ''but it is impossible for you to reach
him..
''I must see him Or die in the attempt"
she cried.
And she did see him, leading on his brave
but thinned company to the conflict.
She called him once, twice, thrice ere he
needed her, and then gave her but pass
ing glance.
from the west. Make haste and they may
be taken in the gorge: tarry till they reach
the brow of the hill and the day Is lost to
you.
Her voice must have been strangely al
tered, for her husband did not recognize it.
He left his company in charge of his first
lieutenant. sought Fitzpatrick, and in a few
minutes, with his own company and reserve
corps, was soon galloping off in the direc-
ton pointed out by his own brave little
wife
''Ie did not recognize me and it is well.
1t might have deferred him from going,
she said to herself, yet dizzy sensation
crept over her when she looked upon the
wounded, the dead and dying who lay in
masses about her. She thought she heard
"a groan; she listened; yes she was TO mis-
taken half buried among the slain was a
well as she was able, the weight that OPP
pressed him, and asked if he was hurt
much.
The soldier addressed turned his face to-
ward her with groan, saying, Il feel very
faint and thirsty. In the name Of Heaven
eive me drink of water, and [ shall die
easy
1t was terrible task that the captains
wife imposed upon herself-that Of unstrap-
ping ar d opening the knapsack of the dead.
Several times mist came before her eyes,
as the ghastly upturned faces of the dead
met her view; but well was she repaid when
she returned and placed canteen to his
lips.
lap, and with her own handkerchief sought
to staunch the wound in his temple. A
moment after and her arm dropped power
less by her side she felt a sharp cutting
pain about her elbow, then she sank inscn
sible by the side of the poor soldier, who
was too weak to render her any service; nor
did she recover conclousness again until the
tramp of soldiery announced the return OF
Captain Burnett and his corps, W no had
succeeded in totally routing the enemy.
When they reached the point from whence
they started Fitzpatrick and his forces were
in possession of the field.
The enemy leaving their field pieces be-
hind them and flying in all directions.
How did you get Information OF the ap-
proach of the rebs?' asked Fitzpatrick after
having congratulated Burnett on his sue
cess
That is just what [ have been trying to
make out myself General, replied Burnett.
''As near as [ could discern through the
smoke, it was boyish face and figure in
captains uniform.
Suddenly he paused for his eye fell on
the pallid face of one Of his own loved sol