Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-03


/ horses sides. Tho animal baanded
! into the rosd, hardly ten rods sheaJ
! of the squad, who, alarmed at thu
firing. were closing up at = gallep.
Blake discharged another load fren
his revolver at them, and then sped
down the road to camp, ike an arrow
. from the bow. The orderly had bJ
this time also mounted and reached
} the road; but his horse became un-
gevernsble, ran into the woods and
brushed of poor Max against the
branch of tree. The guerrillas clat-
tered past him, yelling like Canaan
ches, shouting to him not to stir tin
they returned, and vanished in the
pursuit Max waited until they had
all passed, and then plunged into
the woods and Eaa6e his way BY a
| circuitous route back to the camp
| The pursuers probably thought him
disabled, and so took ne pains to
secure him; or their eagerness to
capture the officer may have led them
| to disregard him. Fer the next ten
1 minutes there was such race along
/ that road as is not often extempor-
lied in Virginia or elsewhere, More
than three miles lay between DaF-
rell's snd the eanp-enoagh fer a
coed trial ofspeed. The Adjutant's
new found horse literally devoured
the distance, measuring the ground
in long gallop, and bounding with
increased swiftness at every touch Of
the spurs. The guerrillas made fu-
rious efforts to overtake him, but II
was evident from the first that their
animals could not compete with their
fallen leader. A Foiley of pistol and
earbine balls whistled past the ears
of the fugitive, and one inflicted a
slight wound on his leg, but, very
fortunately, none struck the horse
The pursuers continued to fire, while
Blake continually increased the dis
tance between him and them, riding
with his head bent down to the sad
die to escape the balls, until, at last,
he dashed into the camp lines iustas
the drummers were beating the ieHg
rod, and the companies were hurry
ing into line. The pursuers pulled
up almsst within rifie-shot of the
camp, wheeled their horses, and dis
appeared st a gallop.
The Adjataat speedily told his
story. and the Celonel sent HIM back
to the scene of the rencounter, with
two companies. No traces of the
guerrillas were found on the road,
nor around the house, except some
spsts OF blood near the barn; but up
on entering the house q scene was
discovered which the reader has
probably anticipated. The man
whom the Adjutant had first shet
was lying insensible on the floor,
with Belle Darrell holding his head
in her lap, and weeping bitterly
Further search in the vicinity re-
vealed the fact that the other guerril-
la had heen carried by his comrades
I - s==ssaa.hs-sezsszE daaten half q usile
laray, and then taken OF with them.
Sits very doubtful ii he lives, :"
the doctor said. in response to the
questions asked him. "Tbere's q
ball clean through his neck" The
wounded man at Darrell's was taken
in an ambulance 10 the camp, where
the ball was extracted. 1t had
passed entirely through one lung,
and the surgeon pronounced the case
hopeless. Although he fingered q
week there was never any expeeta-
ton of his recovery Belle Darrell
was constantly by his bedside, in an
agony of mind which it was pitiful
to behold, and which left no doubt
in the'minds of those who Witnessed
it that the two were betrethed lovers.
Just before his death, the guerrilla
rallied a little, and recognizing the
Adjutant, motioned him to put his
head close to the pillow
] "There was pretty trap laid for
yeu," he whispered, shut you were
too much for us. / don'tblame you;
you could de nothing else I've lost
! my life in the matter, and you've gain
ed the best horse in the Valley"
/ He died after week Of suffering,
and Belle Darrell went back to her
fathers overwhelmed with grief, and
it is to lie hoped, not untroubled by
her conscience; while the Adjutant,
who suddenly found himself famous,
was perfectly satisfied to discontinue
his visits at the house. The affair
was officially reported to General
Hancock, who observed that the of
tfieer had done the enly thing which
| weula retain his rank in the service
!. Because" he said, 'sif he had
been taken prisoner under such cir
eumstanees, Ishould certainly have
dismissed him. | hope the lesson
will act be lost On the command -
Nevertheless, think the Genera
really admired the pluck and cool
ness Of the Adjutant as much as any
of US. Blake added bar to his
shoulder within a month.
Z. In my talk with the paroled guer
rilla, previously mentioned, | spoke
. of this affair, and asked him If be
knew anything Of it.
Il know that it made sorrow enough
amsng us, for WHILE he replied
sThe man your officer shet first was
6 lieutenant of the troop, and the
other sergeant. They brought tht
sergeant over to UPpervilie, but hs
) died in TIVE days. Mosby said, wheI
he heard OF it, that he had lost twt
of his very best men; and ! don
! think anything ever happened to u
that grieyed him as this lid Galary
Says the New York World
!