Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-03-11
THE RENEGADE'S DOOM

A storm had ragged all day; thu
believing blast carrying with it dir
and fine particles Of sand until thu
cloud was not only binding, bur
till it was next to impossible for ;
human being to venture from undel
cover without having the very flesf
lacerated or peeled from his bones
Tents lay scattered and rent in ev
cry direction, and even some of the
"dobie'' quarters had been levelec
with their mother earth. Indeed
Fort Sedgwick presented much the
appearance that might have been
expected had a band of Sioux In
dians made a successful assault upon
the place.
AS the darkness came on the
wind ceased to some extent, 9nd
then a steady storm set in, almost
as terrible as the sand tempest OF
the day. 1t was densely dark, and
this darkness was favorable to the
movements Of savage band who
had lurked in a shallow ravine be-
hind the bluffs, back about 2 miles
from the Platte river.
The bugles at the fort had just
sounded the tattoo and taps, when
one Of tile band referred to arose
from his PROSTATE position, and as
he did so gave vent to coarse and
mocking laugh.
Immediately after, a small light
shot up. He had ignited a match
for the purpose Of lighting his pipe,
and the brief flame, as he protected
it from the wind with his fur cap,
revealed his features. He was hid
eous in the extreme; and although
painted like a savage, it was easy
for an experienced eye to detect
that he was not so, Then his
voice and words were another
proof, for turning around, he
spoke:
"Men, you will understand that
our work must be quickly perform
ed. At the first alarm those whom
| have designated will dash into the
quartermaster's, the sutler's and the
commissary's. l have business at
the commanders headquarters and
this | shall perform alone, I shall
be successful; and if you are not
so, the fault will be your
own-not mine. In all cases 'of
this kind you must resolve that you
will succeed or die, and then you
will never know the meaning of
failure. Come, and be cautious !"
Some twenty or thirty dark forms
were seen to arise as ifout of the
ground, and then they silently took
their way down the bf1fffs towards
the fort. Soon, however, the'band
separated, and every one Of the
number proceeded onward singly.
Those who had yeceived their in
struction from the master spirit,
simply contented themselves with
gaining certain positions, and
avoiding every sentinel. Not SO
with the leader. When this person
had arrived within q hundred yards
ofthe hospital, he paused and stood
silently surveying the camp. Here
and there we're dim lights, but bar
racks and tents were wrapped in
gloom. After q time the man NUT
tered: A " ~-t-Az.
"Everything favors me tonight,
and 1 feel like a tiger. Oh, shall /
succeed? If l do not, death will
be the only thing that will prevent
meP Do / love that girl n I
scarcely know. / have strange
feelings when in her presence
Something Of the past comes before
me; but the recollection is like
a dim dream. I am puzzled. Many
is the time l have felt an inclina-
ton to spring upon her, even as
the tiger would upon the young
fawn, and rend her in pieces; and
then I have felt again as though |
must hold her to my breast and
weep. Curses upon it--what is
this ? Hang me if 1 don't think
that a tear has already started from
my eyes and dampened my cheek.
Pshawl Mad Leon the Renegade
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