Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-03
oAmP coURsrne.
ia-snnlrnIse War sroS

Txs camp was perehed like an old
feudAl stronghold on the summit of
a high hili, whence tho Colonel could
take comprehensive outlook over
the adjacent country in the daytime,
After nigstfaIl, there was always
sons excitement along the chain of
sentineis. ListeDmg ears at head
quarters could hear the sharp ''Halt
who goes thereP'' of the picket,
half a mile away, and musket shsts
in the silence of the night at prowl-
ers often brought the regiment under
arms The Adiutant of this com
mard Was--but he is as modest in
pesce as he was in war, and will
thank nae TO disguise him under the
name of Lieutenant Blake. He was
q prompt, decided young man, thor
oughly eenFersant with his duties,
and just as unassuming as brave aen
always are But he was certainly
out of his element in the infantry.
A fearless dasling fellow, an exper.
shot, splendid horseman, and quick
as lightning at an emergency, he was
just the man to head squadron OF
cavalry in such a charge as that
whieh finished the day at Winchester.
ShefkAanszassa fonaness for men of
his stahp, and it may be that the
AdjdtaEft would have won distinction
had helridden southwark with the
ten thoasands who had already scat
tered aiarly's fragmentary army
through Rockish Cap. But hewev-
or that may bo, he made himself
known to us all by the adventure l
am about to relate. Probably every
man in Haneoek's army had card Of
Lieutenant Blake and his exploit q
week after it occurred.
About three miles from the camp,
on the Berryville road, was the res
idenea of one of the substantial
farmers Of the Shenandoah; and this
farnaer had daughter, and hand
semfo one The name / never heard;
n n Il \ z sAz slls==;
aud Belle Darrell for the daughter.
Wfth this hens sehold, Blake had ICON
tracted,a pleasant acquaintance dur
ing the previous Autumn, when the
army passed the place on one of its
maEhes. Whether or not he had
met any of them in the interval, l
am!unahle to say; but it is quite GER
tain that the very first occupation
that he devoted himself to in his
leisure, after the establishment of the
camp, was to call fer his horse and
orderly, and ride over to the Dan
IrelFs. This, every military reader
will agree, was wrolg-deeidedly
wrong, He knew perfectly well that
tie iieighborhood sWarmed with
guelrillas, and that the risk he was
taking was too great to be invited
under any circumstances, except in
ths strict line OF his duty. Neither
had he any assurance of the loyalty
of the Darrells; the presumption is
that he never asked for any. His
cofduet was simply re, assertion of
the venerable truth, that with lady
in ihe case, man will brave every
dagger, ana face every hazard. The
stoy speedily went round the camp
that the Adiutant had become smlt-
ten With Rebel girl past all hope of
respue, and many were the mess table
jokes cracked at his expense; among
them a proposition from some Nan
tudlket wag to send to Stevenson's
foi the Provost Marshal to administer
the oath of allegiance to Blake, to
guard against contagious influences.
But the Adjutant bore it all with i'm
pefturbable good humor, and con
tinued his visits at the Darrell place
| with great regularity. Twice week,
at least, he went, armed and accom-
panied by an orderly; and. so far as
those ia camp could Judge, the affair
! seemed to have rrened into con-
ventienal Down East love making
| Bit perhaps the sequel may show
] that Blake was more pertinaeious
Tba last of these visits was the
! mem o,,able ono As he afterward
sdmitfed he had nromised Miss Oar.
! relllto ..eelne on tTncsdav afternoon
4 al thres o,cIoes. s,I,e." )" and at two of
tbst 'afssrnoon he 'aecordinrly left
can,,,, an, iin 5his nsual trim followed by
his ordarlv He rAschad the house
Is 5,le t;me and Eitbont adventure
| md y;riaer his ra;ns n tbe ORDERLY
usIksd n5 The stsaa RaIle was in
/ he doorway TO welcome him. There