The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-07-17
WRITTEN FOR rRE LANCASTER Lrpaes.I
THE ADVENTURES
PaeGS9 98A@9>
FOUNDED ON INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH
THE SERVICE OF THE Am cAv-
AIRY, DURING TnE YEAR 1865.
CHAPTER I.
Defence Of n Bridge-hov held.


Twas late in the evening, and the dus
Ky shades OF night were fast crowdrnp
frow view the sIan,ing rays of light ,hs,
still fingered in the recesscs Of the forest :.
the giant pines seemed signing n mourn
fuI dirge to departing day, and weeping
Tor memories Of the past, as pearlv drops
OF rain drip ed from their slender leaves.
/, was in the early par, Of 1865. thai,
through this pine wilderness, situated In
the Southern part Of South Carolina a
body Of Cavalry could he seen wendino
their wav silently a'orC, nothing to he
heard save the clinkirc Of carbine or
sabre and the dull sound Of III, horses
onward tramp. The word OF command
was given in quick and low tones hy the
officers, and then they would aeain re-
lapse into the silent mood from which
they had aroused rhem,elve. 10 attend IN
duty. A settled gloom pervaded the
coun'enance Of every one. for thei,
thoughts were OF the cause for which
they bad brsve'v struggled for four lono
years now rapidly declining: but without
a murmur, though silent and sad. these
brave mon were going 10 offer their live.
for despxirinr cause.
The shadows grew deeper as they rode
ard gloomy right now settled down nm
on them. Ever and anon the march VISA
interrupted bv the challenge of a pick
g.. who was relieved, and then thew pro
c+ehed again. Finally. tie last line Of
picke's was reached, and the rem aiming
nnmhet ot horsernen were sant forward
under their respective officers to relieve
the d'tf-rent advanced pos's. One OF
these parties we propose 10 follow a. the
subject of our storv-unAer command of
Captain A., assisted hv Lieut.. w.
The party consisted Of ter men in.
cluding n Sergeant. The rain since nigh,
closed in, had kept up steady fall, and
the men wet and weary were glad TO hal,
a. TIE command Of their Captain, though
the scene before them promised liul- Of
comfort Or convenience. Thev wers dis,
mounted from their horses which thew
proceedaA at once to relieve Of their bag.
gage and "hi'ch-op" 10 some convenient
tree, ready at a moments warning to be
mounted.
To relieve their henumhed limbs from
the cold and rain. the sourd Of the axe
was now heard to wake tho gloomy d,
lence m II was driven through the yield
ing wood. and ready hands hespinc the
severed timber, soon kindled a fame he
meath that rosred and leapsd az i, caught
the rich pine and shed = welcome warmth
on the silent forms circled around.
Until now the silence had only been
broken Wv words necessary for m utual IN,
dersardiny, ku, the heallhful glow of the
rudy blaze lighting up the darknA. a
round, ~hils the chrys'al drops sparkling
amid the over hanging houghs. lent 20
much Of beauty and romance 10 ,hs
scene tia, the mind u the soldier Welded
IN II. ;oa,s,.. F;,., ,sn.,L. 80.
ada rnon ,hs;, rr...n, a,,, H.. -.
to guard bridge th-t spannsd a creek
,sa, .,b,,d .ra .ho.. w.,s,. .o,,,a :.
bs,,a a. ,hsv rirn,ea and m,,m,,sa ..
,,ro Thai, ms,rd.r;rr cou,,. IT,,
.,,,;.. ,,i ;oI.. s.n, H.. ,o,.5 =,
each face h,;ab,.r,a with .rio,ms,, and
f,so,snuv ,bs ,,rci,o scbo of i.,r,,
ni5b, hs heard nIavins ,b,o,Ob the IA ~