Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-01-28

ioA SAouo 2SliatcSy, anu CRATER eau
ton. With less of the latter, he
might have taken Richmond twelve
months after war commenced; and
now been president, actual or elect.
OF these United States. Perhaps it
is better as it is?
The night was not favorable for
a stolen scout, such as that Car tain
Devereux had been commanded to
make. There was a clear moonlight,
to the advantage Of picket in am
bush, and againsta party making
approach. And the moon being in
the zenith flung her beams upon the
broad road, along which the artil-
lery officer had been directed to
make reconnaissance. A little later
and the tall trees growing on each
side, would throw their shadows
over it, making the passage safer.
Observing this, the young officer
halted his little troop at corner;
and was thinking, whether he should
not stay till the moon sank little
lower down; when sound coming
from the opposite side, broke alb
ruptly on his reflections. 1t was the
tramp of horses hoofs, as Of a troop
going at trot; and that they were
armed men, could be told by the
clash of steel scahbards striking
against the stirrups.
ga patrolling party of Confeder-
ate cavalry!'
About this there could be no
doubt. The direction from which
they were coming made the thing
certain. .E
Halted upon higher ground, the
artillery officer commanded a view
of the approaching horsemen. AS
near as he could tell, they numbered
about fifty sabres. Though with
only twenty men at his back, Dew
ereux did not think of retreating
Instead of being surprised by a
picket, he was himself the party in
ambush; and this advantage en-
couraged him to keep his ground. -
The Confederates came on with
out fear. Knowing themselves
nearly three miles from the Federel
lines, they had no expectation of
encountering an enemy.
They were only made aware of it.,
when horse "whinnered" loudly
in their front, his neigh being quick
ly followed by some half-dozen 9th
ers, ana responded to by the horses
they were riding. And then, before
the shrill echoes had died away in
the woods, they were taken up by
sounds more indicative of deadly
strife-by volley from each side,
continued in struggling shots. a-
Several Confederate saddles were
emptied; and the cavaliers in
gray were inclined to turn round
and retreat; when one who appeared
to be their leader, and whose actions
proved him to have the right, draw
ing his sabre, and standing up in
the stirrups, cried out: .s.. -.
"Cowards! would you dare to go
back? FL cut down the first that
turns tail on me. Don't you hear
by their shots there's not more than
a dozen Of them? After me; and
let your cry be Death to all Y ankee
aboHtionists y" 70 e9aa
''Ihe same to traitors and rebels ~
shouted Captain Devereux, as with
satire sloped~and shining in tho
moonlight, he spurred boldly out
into the road, closely followed by
his artillerists. --e- ....f.-
In ten seconds time the opposing
parties we're face to face; and after
rapid exchange of pistol shots,
came the clashing OF their sabres.
1t would have been an unequal
contest-twenty against twice their
number, and both equally brave.
But the first volley from the artiller
lists, aimed with the advantage of an
ambush, had thinned the ranks of
the Coufederates, and otherwise dis
concerted them. When the strife
came hand to hand they fought feeb-
ly, and under foreboding of de-
feat.
To this there was an exception
their chief who had shouted the de-
fant speech, and led them on to the
encounter. Mounted upon power
full horse, he had shot far in front of
his followers, and looked for the
leader ofthe opposing troop-as if
he alone were worthy of his steel
He had no difficulty in finding
him for at the moment Devereux,
stirred by the same instinct, was
searching for him.
Their horses spurred to the
charge, dashed against one another,
recoiled from the shock and then,
at the second meeting, the sabres of
their riders, striking together, com
menced their deadly play. And
while sparks flew from both blades,
that mocked the pale simmer of the
moon, their supporters closed along
side in strife equally engrossing.
The -combatants, at first clumped
together, soon sp.ead into a wider
circle, extending along the road and
the broad waste that bordered it..
Each with his own antagonist had
enough to do, and the leaders were
left to themselves.
Between them, in truth it was a
duel only Of a somewhat original
kind with sabres, and on horse
b;.ck! And with deathlike earnest
ness was it for some minutes kept
up; each so striving to kill the other
that not word was spoken between
them They had neither time nor
inclination for talk.
All at once came pause in the
combat. Captain Devereux, h1ther-
to fighting with his face to the moon