The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-24
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY,, AUGUST "a, 1870.

ley came directly toward lis. There
was no light in the hall except what
came from the open door of the library.
AS tho General approached US, we
cronched in the corner behind some
coats which hung there. Gen. Ripley
paused a moment at the door within
three feet of us-then opened the door
and passed out, locking the door on the
outside. Escape from that door was
now impossible; neither could we go
out ut the front door, for sentinel
stood there. The only way left us was
to 60 into my room, and thence into the
street through window. We passed
back by the library door, and saw
Capt. Barns there, smoking q cigar,
and no donbt thinking of the happi-
ness that awaited him on the morrow.
We did not disturb his meditatlons,
and in fifteen minutes Alice was beside
her lover and leaving Richmond,
When passing through the hall, Miss
Riley dropped letter which she had
received from Scott. An hour after
her departure, Gen. Ripley picked up
this letter and read it. Enraged at it's
contents, he sought his daughters
room, to find that she was gone. I'm
mediately the house was aroused.
The General at once came to the con-
clusion she had left with Lieut Scott.
was near the house, and seeing that
Miss Ripley's departure had been dis
covered, 1 rode up to the house and de-
livered my dispatches to Gen. Ripley.
Without looking at them he demanded
if had met his daughter. /, greatly
astonished, of course, told him 1 had
not. He then told me what he sus-
pected, and informed him that had
met close carriage going toward
Richmond. AS hoped, Capt. Burns
declared that he would follow that car
rage which had seen leave Richmond
an hour before, containing couple Of
Federal Officers, tho gallant Captain
hurried away to find his missing bride.
Meanwhile, Gen. Ripley sent messen-
gers in all directions to find the fugi-
tives. At three o'clock one reported
that they passed the pickets on the
Marysville road about midnight. AS
containing beyond doubt that they
had taken that direction, the General
sprang into his buggy, and, calling me
to Join him, We were soon travelling at
a rapid rate over the road which /
knew the fugitive lovers had just pass
ed over. By 10 o'clock we had travel
ed forty miles, and we learned from a
soldier we met that we were near the
objects of our pursuit. We stopped a
few moments to give our horses some
water and repair our carriage wheel.
While the General was at the house
near by, a darby, riding splendid
horse, came along. 1 halted him and
found out his destination; then I wrote
on. piece of paper: "scott, hurry
mp. General Ripley and myself are
in close pursuit"
This gave to the darkey, and told
him to ride swiftly and deliver it, and
made my command important by ad-
ding ten dollargreenback. The dar.
key came upsto them in five miles
where they had stopped to get dinner
not imagining such a close pursuit
They Immediately, of course, pressed
forward. Scarcely had they gone
when we came to where they hat
stopped. The road was quite level AMI
straight, but not tar ahead we saw tn
runaway carriage. Then commenced
an exciting race. Both parties hat
splendid teams, but Scott had tn
> heaviest carriage. At the end of fiv
miles we were within a hundred yard
of the lovers, and were rapidly fillin
- up that space, when I took q piece {
paper, and putting some lead in j
> threw tin front of the horses. TIL
v General did not notice the act. tn
IL horses sprang aside from the pape
,, and as they did SO they broke til
- tongue from the carriage and spe
IS away, leaving General Ripley and m!
80 self in the carriage. The only reso
~ was to walk to the village, two mil'
ahead, and there get other horse
IS Just before we reached the villag
IS Captain Burns overlook us. Hearil
We what had transpired lie pressed on wit
r. out waiting for us. We got fresh no
ut ses in the village, and mounting the
rs pursued our way toward Maysvil
a Seven miles from the Ohio river ,
IN found Captain Burns lying by the ro
OF side, almost senseless. We soon /
he vived him, and he told us that he'll
1T, overtakcn Scott while he was fixi
OF something about his carriage, and fe;
at ing to shoot, had rushed up and gra
is pied with him. b The rebel off,
re proved himself the best man in
N struggle, and had left the gallant ca
tain senseless by the wayside, a
t.. go,