The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-03-29
"Well ?" said the Colonel.

II saw him distinctly through m.
glass, and know him perfectly"
! The Colonel started up.
"0rdcr squadron Of picked inen &
report to me here, in fifteen minutes,
he said TO staff-oiiicer on the porch o
the farmhouse.
Then, turning to the newspaper cor
respondent, be said;
"Do you wish to secure material for :
fire paragraph 7"
IL would 60 through fire and blood Z
do so" exclaimed the correspondent il
a martial tone, brandishing his pen.
"You like amusement 7"
II am devoted TO it, Colonel"
''Well, come with me, and you will
zee some fun"
"What is your design, Colonel Z"
ITO bag Ashby."
Aud the Colonel twirled his musiachC
with joyful ardor. A quick thrill ran
through me, aud assuming careless
tone, | turned to Sir Percy, and said
II really would like to be present Of
that little affair, Colonel ["
"You !"
II can ride ia the rear, under guard
and, in either event, there viii be small
danger of my escaping"
ain either event Ny dear sir, ] IN.
tend TO capture yoar General Ashby as
surely as the sun shines. As you doub;
| il, have your wish, aud ecmo and see
me do t."
"And ], Colonel, " said the oorresPou-
deut.
"Of course! You arc the historian
TO hand me down 20 posterity,"
As the Colonel, now in good humor
turned away, | saw grimace upon the
counteuancc Of the correspondent. lIo
was evidently philosopher, and estima-
tod the element Of failure IN all human
Affairs.
In ten minutes We were all 10 the
sadjle--iho Colonel riding at the head
Of the squadron at trot on the straight
road 20 Gross Keys.
The column had not advanced half a
mile when Ashby's cavalry piekcis ap.
pcarcd in front, rcconnoitering from a
hill. The vidctts held their ground un.
I'll the column was nearly upon them,
when they galloped Oh
The same ceremony was repeated at
the next hill. and a. Colonel Wyndham
continued TO advance without fankers
my heart began to beat and my hopes
to tisc high.
knew how dangerous !; was to tri-
H. with an adversary like Ashby aud
the inoaulious method of advancing
adopted by the Federal Colonel aubjcc.
ted him, / knew to imminent peril Of
capture
In thirty minutes, events took place
which fully supported my view Of the
subject
Reaching n point where the road ira.
ycrscd some low grounds, between two
ranges Of hills on either side, Colonel
Wyndham saw 10 front Of him, at the
distance Of about four hundred yards, Il
small body of cavalry, which slowly re-
tired as he appeared
The Colonel greeted the spectacle
with unmistakable pleasure.
Now for il FL heard him call out to
his friend, the correspondent, who had
prudcntly withdrawn to the side OF the
road Look out for some fun r.
And, placing himself in front Of his
column, the Colonel drew his sabre, aud
gave the order TO charge -
The column rushed forward at the
word. but oh ! disastrous event ! oc.
currenco ever to be deplorcd no 5000
or had the horses Of the Federal cAyal-
ry.men run thrice their length, than
the crest on the right Of tho road III
their rear, suddenly bsistled with sa-
bres-aud a squadron, led by Ashby in
pcrpon, thundered down, and fell, with
shouts, upon the Federal rear At the
same instant, the detachment in front,
which had served as a docoy, charged
the enemy at full tilt--and caught, be-
tween this double FIRE, cut off, surroun-
ded, dumb.founded the Federal cayal-
ry.men threw down their arms and sur.
rendered.
was recaptured, aud found myself
by Ashby's side, face TO taco with Gel.
Wyndham. The newspaper correspon-
dent had glIded into the woods and es-
capod.
shall never forget the expression Of
the Federal Colonels face at that mo-
ment. If ever rage, modification and
astonishment were depicted on human
face, his displayed them.
When La caught my eye, he glanced
at me like a tiger, and turned abruptly
away.
Ashby treated his prisoners with that
calm courtesy which characterized him,
but the Colonel would not be Modified.
His face was flushed, his eyes full OF
lured light-wrath had mastered him.
The few words he blurted out had some
thing savage in them and when he was
conducted to the rear, through the lines
of infantry, heard that his wrath ex-
ploded.
Some one among the men greeted
him, | heard, with the words "Jast
look at the Yankee Colonelp r when his
long pent-up anger burst forth like a
torrent. His peculiar abhorrenoe, IT is Is
said, was to be considered a "Yankee"
and this was the straw that broke the
camels back. =,
Ashby captured sixty-four men, il
nv memory serves me, by this ambush
and these were sent TO the rear,
sYort luck is extraordinary, my dear
surry," he said, to be captured and re,
captured both in one day. | am truly
Glad to see you again. Come tell me