The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-11

the incident.
1--WE made regular trips" he continued,
'sonce or twice a week, from Harper's Ferry
to Winchester. We did not mean to gArri-
son il, bat 70 prevent the rebels from bold
ING it, At the time ] was speaking of we
were to enter Winchester, and push ~ far
as we could safely 60 beyond it, to find out
whether The enemy bad any forces 10 the
ncjgbborhood.
Ne reached the rebel town ia the evening.
TIE General ordered Us to rest for the
nighs-until he could hear the reports Of
spies, and Of one or two scouting parties that
he had sent into the country.
We aismou1led. The officers told Us to
make ourselves at home. The boys search
cd all the stables and barns IN the town for
forage, and Others went out IN squads 70 the
neighboring farms.
As soon as they got their horses fed, they
entered any house they pleased, and took up
free quarters in IT,
A squad Of three Of our men were about
10 enter a BAN IN the outskirts Of the town,
three rebel 20 diers suddenly jumped up from
smo'g Ihe hav, aId let blaze at them. OGe
OF cur men ~a> badly wounied, but no. f.
tally. HIS two con rades ran Tor help. They
so nre urted, | tell yen, NH as mad SEA
o Fellows a. ytu could lave mustered ia
NnRrsA they "a ia the barn high and
low, everv mock aud corner, up lott, snd
Gown cellar, but not a trace Of the rebels
could tsey find.
We knew they hadn't got cut OF our lines,
for NJ pickets were too strong for that.
There we're some houses near by and We
searched them, but bad the same luck, not q
trace Of the rebels
"Weli boys, we must give it ~" said Tom
RyT der but III be hanged if see how
the -- Jyhnnies got Of. They must be
bers somewhere. nigh by. .oo-but they've
given Us the slip a. slick a. grease
"Not much they haven't" shouted Bill
Greer. Maryland soldier; ''you don't tind
this chdd leave here till DC collars them dog
once r. bells. | tell you they're inside Of ten
rods If mere, and | tell you they're in thas
house there somewhere or other. Hsllai
Look at that boie How are you, Johnnies !
am alter you
Add with that characteristic speech of he
ian 10 the nearest house, which we had
searched ALREADY from top to bottom The
bouses there have NJ cellars. They are
gen-THllv raised about three ~ four feet from
tire ground, ard sometimes rest on a stone
foundation which is built all around, aod
sometimes again, they rest on lIule piece
Of masonry at The corners only, while the
spaces between the. are banked up with
earth. In the bahkh { of this house there
was an opening that none Of us noticed. The
Mar lander made for It, and sQustted on his
knees, ADD pevped in.
GA re III ey here p We shouted.
lie looked up and said nothing He was
eyidenlls DISAPPOINTED.
'ND," he said AZ last, after musing a while,
s'but they're bere somewhere, and Pa ewine
TO ind them. Hillo, bub come here Come
along With me p
a lit:le fellow bad just come out of the
house He hung back, but Bill coaxed him
into The barn went with him. Bill told
TIE ofher men to keep the women Of the
D,.. inside, talking to them, 80 that they
m'et' 10. see him with tie bov.
n bub,r said Bill to the boy, edo
wa - that Pm agSine to burn down
w., -
ooked scared
-e don't SIR be cried, 'sthem
feill h'- there, true as death, sir, they's
D0i raar
"All Pm agwine to hang your dad
buh, said Bill, without taking notice of
Nbatthe TOY had said, sand likewise PIl be
obliged &c give yeu the goidarDdest whaling
you ever heard tell on IN ali your born
days"
20, pleese don't sir !" cried the little fell
low, agar be was thoroughly Grighted now
--''tbe soigers isn't thai
Chow do you know whar they art3" said
Bill
''oh, ] knows they amt" replied the
boy.
Bill suddenly seized him by the collar and
spoke iercely.
Now, boy, Pll hang you and your pap,
and burn down your house, IN less than ten
minutes. e you don't tell me whar them EEL
lowe IS ~
Oh, please sir, Pm afraid to,'' said the
boy.
"Dnn't be ateerd," says Bill, "thsy
shan't BARN you nobody shan't harm Won
but me- and by bokey, III pull your gizzard
out right oil, if you don't tell rue whar they
are hid"
The boy was by this time completely
coEed.
"WelI, sir, they are hid under the
house.n
'Tbey's dug hole under the house, right
under tue middle Of the parlor. You can't
see II wnen y0n look at that hole in the
banking, beksse they toied the dirt away,
an you see IFS too dark to notice the other
hole over that way"
CAL right, my boy" says Bill, s'yougI
be man Yet belore your mother, IL on II
keep your eye peeled vs. won't burt you
new
"Oh, please, sir, said the boy, don't burn
ouI house down; ives all Uoion folks.D
I'm hat direction ~ asked Bill, with q
grin.
~ don't know nathin about auy direc
tiDD," -ai1Ene bay. With a puzzled look.
'ph- on don't?" continued Bill You
orier. Yon orter say yer Union. "Over
the l5lfs you know, over The lrftr
Bill rushed out and told one Of the SOL
DTS 70 stand with has revolyers cooked, al
the backing, and 70 shoot down tue 6rsa
nan who should attempt to escape through
that place.
Then be went into the house and asked for
an axe.
..Nhas in the world do you want with an
azep' inquired the old Foman, With 40
Anxious lcuk.
Az me 10 questions and I'll tell you no
lies," said Bull; 'but uni ss ys want this
house burned over err heads, bring me one
lBiess than five minutes .
The woman saw thar Bill vas In no mood
70 Be trihed with, and got the axe without
am more ado.
Bill ten turned to the three soldiers who
nad followed him into The house, and told
thsm 10. dsaw their reFolvers and Be ready
Ia ehnak
Mthout . word, Bill seized the carpet at
the sdser, and tore il up.
The Eohsalf eeff amsdk sss