The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-09-07

and was paying little heed 10 outside
matie's a. he was uususpicieus q dan
ser
! then lcd the rest 81 my men by an.
other circuit, still under Neds suid
ance, to the rear q tie camp, 50 as to
fan npon them from the side opposite
the road. and force them to take flight
towards one OF tie other Of my two
snares.
Thus far all had succeeded admira-
BY aud ] began 70 feel ola,ed in the
prospect 81 capturing the whole party
without firing shot, when mishap
occurred which came near marfing our
whole plan One q my men, kind u
nervous czeitablo fellow, though brave
and reliable i'd other mattoie seemed
70 be constantly anxious lest bis piece
was not loaded or primed right, ana
kept pelreiuaiiy fussing With it to be
sure Of it's beng in proper condition.
Aud just ia the mex Of time, as such
things always 10 happen when We were
within Il hundred yards Of the quietly
sleeping party baag went this IDIOTS
gun. | coald have pammelled him So
soundly then aud there, but we had no
time to lose. The shot, OF course, alarm
ed the bushwhackers, who, unluckily
seemed to be resting on their arms,
and all prepared for contingency in
everything but watchfulness, and al
though at once gave the order, and
we rushed forward with cheer the in
stant attel the shot fell, every man Of
them vas in the saddle before we reach.
ed the spot. But they were sufficient
ly taken by surprise to have no idea Of
resistance, aud when We stopped at
about twelve yards and poured yolley
into them, they every man, but one
whose horse was shot under him, turn
ed about and galloped down the road
towards my second ambush This was
all ] wanted, and we followed on at a
run, shouting with all our might and
main.
BY the time We had got about half
way towards my trap We heard the reg
ular tramp of the horses turn into a
kind Of confused, scrambling noise,
mixed with oaths and screams, and i'm
medately followed by volley and
rousing cheer from my six boys who
were watching it. The other party, nc
cording to directions, now came post
ing down to join US, aud when reach
ed the spot few seconds after, | found
u perfect pile Of horses and men in the
road, who had scarcely recovered from
their surprise and stunning tumble
We made a rush upon them, and club
bng such as offered resistance, with
little pains captured the whole party;
for so completely paralyzed were they
by their topple over the wire That they
hred but SIX or elght shots before we
had dlsarmed them alt.
Having stripped them Of their weap-
ors sent couple Of men after such
Of the horses as mad made Their escape;
and they were easily caught, as having
recover Cd from their scare, they were
mortly grazing by the roadside. We
then counted prisoners and casualties,
The fellow who tumbled at the camp
bad been captured by Ned and his
eomrade Four oi their number were
Int one badly through the body, the
Others slightly beng fellow
had cut IL arm With my arm with my
sword as he raised his revolver to fire
~ me when We ran ~ upon them at the
close Only one Of our men was hurt
sergeant, VINO was SHOT 70 the leg by
one o. the gaefrllas before he casid
club nm down with his masket. lhis
was dong pretty well' considering the
hand TO hand hsht We had had' ana es-
peeiaIly as We had captured elght men.
The tnfee Others had been sent iurther
on by the oihcer Of the gang on plum
dering tramp but not thinking II best
to follow them myself, sent the an-
huit sergeant with SIX men to hunt
them up. Three OF the horses had
been hat or lamed, 50 that we had TO