The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-04-03

nlne. never D6IOI6, unless WlCu On
raid and in face of the enemy, had seen
her so uneasy. Her movements during
the night compelled wakefulness on my
part. The sky was cloudless, and in the
dim light l lay and watched her. Now
she would stretch herself at full length,
and rub her head on the ground. Then
she would start up, and, sitting on her
launches, like adog, lift one fore leg and
paw her neck and ears. Anon she would
riseto her feet and shake herself, walk off
a few rods, return and lie down again by
my side. did not know what to make
Of it, unless the excitement of the day
had been too much for her sensitive
nerves. spoke to her kindly and petted
her. In response she would rub her nose
against me, and lick my hand with her
tOngue--a peculiar habit of hers-like a
dog, AS l was passing my hand over her
head, discovered that 1t was hot, and the
thought Of the old wound flashed into my
mind, with mOmentary fear that some
thing might be wrong about her brain, but
after thinking It over / dismissed It as in
credible. Still I was alarmed. knew
that something was amiss, and l rejoiced
at the thought that / should soon be at
AOhlO WIOAg uuNG uhhJ II
need be, the best Of nursing. At length
the morning dawned, and the mare and !
took our last meal together on Southern
soil-the last we ever took together. The
brigade was formed in line for the last
time, and as / rode down the front to re-
view the boys, she moved with all her old
battle grace and power. Only now and
then, by shake of the head, was re-
minded Of her actions during the night.
l said few words Of farewell to the men
whom had led so often to battle, with
whom I had shared perils not a few, and
by whom, as had reason TO think, was
loved, and then gave, with voice slightly
unsteady, the last order that they would
ever receive from me Brigade, Atten.
ton, Ready to break ranks, Break Ranks
The order was obeyed. But ere they
scattered, moved by common impulse,
they gave first three cheers for me, and
then, with the same heartiness and even
more power, three cheers for Gulnare.
And she, standing there, looking with her
bright, cheerful countenance full at the
men, paving with her fore feet, alternate
ly, the ground, seemed to understand the
compliment; for no sooner had the cheer
ing died away than she arched her neck
to its proudest curve, lifted her tkin, deli
cate head into the air, and gave a short,
joyful neigh.
"My arrangements for transporting her
had been made by friend the day before.
A large, rOomy car had been secured, its
floor Btrewn with bright, clean straw, a
bucket and bag Of oats provided, and
everything done for her comfort The car
was TO be attached to the through express,
in consideration Of fifty dollars extra,
which gladly paid, because of the great.
or rapidity with which it enabled me To
make my journey. AS the brigade broke
up into groups, / glanced at my watch and
saw that l had barely time to reach the
cars before they started. Ishook the reinE
upon her neck, and with plunge, startled
at the energy Of my signal, away she few
What stride she hadi What an elastic
spring Shetouched and left the earth as
if her limbs were Of spiral wire. When
reached the car my friend was standing in
front of it, the gang-plank was ready,
leaped from the saddle sand, running uT
the plank into the car, whistled to her
and she, timid and hesitating, yet unWil
ing to be separated from me, crept slowly
and cautiously up the steep incline anC
stood beside me. Inside found com
, plete suit Of flannel clothes with blanke
! and, better than all, uneh-basket My
, friend explained that be had bought thl
clothes as he came down to the depot
thinking, as he said, that they would b,
much better than your Fegimentals, an(
suggested that dof the one and don tn
, other. To this / assented more readily a
, reflected that ] would have to pass ON
night at least in the car, with no bette
bed than the straw under my feet. hal
barely time TO undTess before the car
were coupled and started. tossed tn
} clothes to my friend with the injunction
/ to pack them In my trunk and expires
them on to me, and waved him my adieu
/ | arrayed myself in the nice, cool fanne
and looked around. The thoughtfulEes
of nay friend had anticipated every want
D An oldicane-seated chair stood in one col
: ner. The lunch basket was large an
: well supplied. Amid the oats found
+ dozen oranges, some bananas, and a pack
b age of real HSvana cigars. How callel
Z down blessings on his thoughtful head q
: 1 took the chair and lighted one Of th
t fine favored fgar0s, gazed out on the field
r past which we were gliding, yet wet wit
!, morning dew. As | sat dreamily at
{ miring the beauty before me, GulnaT
}, came and, resting her head upo
], INV shoulder, seemed to share my moot
D As | strOked her fne-hsired, satin lik
u nose, recollection quickened and memt
!, ries Of our companionship in peri
d thronged into my mind. rode again tbs
l. midnight ride TO Knoxville, when Burr
). side lay intrenched, desperately, holdln
70 his own, waiting for news from Chatt
d nooga OF which was the bearer, chose
&, by Grant himself because Of the reput
q ton Of my mare. What riding that wal
d We started, ten riders Of as in all, eaC
10 with thesam message, parted compar
e. the first hour out with all save one, I
lell iron.R gray stallion of Messenger bloc
le Jack Eurdock rode him, who learned b
ID horsemanship from buffalo and lndis
O. hunting on the Plains-n0t bad echo
ID to graduate from. Ten miles out Of Kno
a. vile the gray, his tanks dripping wi
nt blood, plunged up abreast Of the mare
or shoulders and fell dead and Gulnsre d
Is, I passed through the lines alone. I HI
ID ridden tss terrible race a0jth0at Sslip
be spur. With what scenes Of blood al
ID flight she would ever be associated Al
ID then l thought of home, unvisited for 70
D. long yesrs-that home / left 4 stTiplin
n, but to which was returning a bfonz
r. and braWny man. | thought of moth
y and Bob--how they would admire he
OF Of old Ben, the family groom, and ofth
se one who shall be nameless, whose piCtu
to I had 50 often shown to Gulnare as t
10 likeness of her future mistress i-rhad th
nd not all heard Of her, my beautiful ma
X she who came TO me from the smoke d
at whIrlwind, my battle gihg How th
at would pat her son, smooth sides, and
Id her name with ribbons, and feed
re with all sweet things from open and
its ressinc palm And then / thought OF o
its who might come after her 70 bear
to name and repeat at least some porti
ou Of her beauty--a horse honored and
ist noYned the country through, because
lie the transmission Of the mothers iame.
nd HAbout three O'Clock Ia tho afterno
change came over Gulnare. b
w. fallen asleep upon the straw, and she D
I'll come and awakened me with a ton
ad of heF nose The moment started Vi
hs' saw that something was the matter T
Of ewes were dull and heavy, Never befi
Il a. 4..I.t -, ..st kfta,s.