The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-01-22

end huTSeNiAu CntfTtt itiN AHiu TIC
had no time Is comprehend the moan.
ing 81 tic scene, Gle Adjgtant rested
Inc revolver on thc saddle and fired
again. Tho shot was AGAIN ctectam
the man threw up his arms and iums
bled from his scat while tbr frightened
horse ran directly to ths barn
Catch him and mount md ride like
Tic do1il q Blake shouted % Max, rs
nc swung himself into the saddle and
struck both spurs into the horses sides
Tho animal bounded into the road,
hardly ten rods ahead Of the squad,
who alarmed q, the firing, were closing
up II q gallop Blake discharged ans
other load from his revolver at them,
and then sped down the road toward
camp. hike an arrow from the bow The
ORDERLY had hy tins also mounted aud
reached tho road. hut his horse became
uncoyefnublo. ran into the woods and
brushed of poor Max against the
branch Of tree The guerillas clattefei
past him yelling like Camanohes, shout.
ing to him not to Stir til they returned,
aud vanished in tho pursuit Wax
waited until they had all passed and
thcu plunged into the woods and made
lis way BY q eircuitus ronte back g
camp The pureurrh probably thought
him disabled, aud SO took no pans 10
secure him, or their eagornoss 20 cnp-
tme the officer may have led them 70
disregard him. For the next ten min-
utes there was such a race along that
road as Is not oftcn exteiuporlzed IN
Virginia or elsewhere. More than
threo miles lay between Darrcll's and
the camp enough for a good trial oi
speed The Adjutants new-iound
horse literally dcyoured the distance,
measuring the ground in a long gallop,
and bounding with increasing swiftness
1T every touch Of the spurs. The guer-
illas made furious efforts to oycrtake
him. bat it was evident from tho FIRST
that their animals could not compete
with that Of the fallen leader A vol
lev of pistol and caibino balls whietled
past the ears Of the fugatiye, and ono
inflicted slight wound on his leg, hut.
very fortunately, none struck the horse.
The pursuers continued to fire, while
Blake continually increased the distan-
&c between him and thom, riding with
his head bent down to the saddle to es-
cape the balls, until, at last, he dashed
into the camp lines just as the drum
mors wcro boating the long rol and
the companies were hurrying into line,
The purauer5 pulled up almost within
rihe-shot Of the camp, wheeled their
horses and disappeared at a gallop.
/ The Adjutant speedily told his story
and the Colonel sent him back to tie
scene Of the encounter, With two COM
panics. No traces Of the gucrillas were
found on the road, nor around the
house, except some spots If blood near
the barn; but on entering the house a
scene was discovered which the reader
has probably anticipated The man
whom the Adjutant had first shot was
laving inscnsible on the floor, with
Belle Darrell holding his head in her
lap, and weeping bitterly Further
search il the vicinity revealed the fact
that the guerilla had been carried to
tho house Of n doctor, hall mile away,
and then taken off with them
Its very doubtful if he lives the
doctor said, in response to the question
asked him.
There's ball clean through his
neck
The wounded man ut Darrclls was
taken in IN ambulance to camp, where
the ball was extracted 1t had passed
cntierly through one lang, and the sur
geon pronounced the case hopeless
Although he fingered week, there war
never an expectation Of bis recovery
Belle Darrell was constantly by his bed
. side, in an agony Of mind which il was
pitifu to behold, and which left NC
dGubt in the minds of those who wit.
messed il that the two we're betrothed
lovers. Just before his death the guer.
lila rallied q little, aud recognizing the
Adiutant, motoncd him to put his head
close to the pillow.
There was pretty trap laid foi
you, lie whispered; "but you was toe
much for us. | don't blame you; you
could do nothing else. I've lost my life
in the matter; and You've gained the
best horse ii the Valley"
He died after week Of suffering and
Belle Darrell went back 10 her father,
overwhelmed with gi1el, and, It is to be
hoped not untfoub.ed BY her conscion-
&c while the Adjatant, who suddenly
found himself famous, was perfectly sat
ished Co discontinue bis visits at the
house. The aitair Was officially re-
ported to General Hancock, who obger-
we'd tDat tie officer had done the only
thing which would retain his rank in
tie service
Because, ho said, II he had been
taken prisoner under such circumstan-
ces, ! should have dismissed him.
hope the lesson VIII not be lost on tho
command
4 Nevertheless, / think the General re-
ally admired the pluck and cooness Of
the Adjutant as much as any u as
Blake added a bar to hisshoalder with
IN month.
In my talk with a parolod guerilla
afterwards, ! spoke d this affair, and
asked him Il be knew anything of Il
u know that 1t made sorrow enough
among ue, Tor o while, be replied