Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-12

aud smoked with the old man took
ten with theni; I read TO Kate, aud
once IN willie talked love, or wast
just going to when sho would check
me. She was thoroughly Southern
in sentiment. / knew it; aud there
fore we passed politics over for some-
thing more agreeable to both.
Finally the day coine for Winchester
to change hands again. A reinforce-
ment OF cavalry had como to the Con-
federates, and one day ut noon they
made the fact knownto us. Our pick
cts came running in, fighting as they
came, and closely followed by cav
airy, and VIC hud only time to form u
baltic line before the enemy was
along our front. We had sharp
fight for half an hour, during which
time many q good soldier bit the dust
OH either side, and then my command
had to give way. We were hard
pressed in front, and being faiikcd
when the order was given to fall
back slowly TO tho ridge half mile
north Of the farm house.
AS we fell back Isaw that the old
farm house had been torn here and,
there, aud fearing for the safety of
the family We carried them along
with us. All were badly frightened,
and made no objections to getting
beyond the shots of their friends.
Step by step, givingsthe enemy as
good he sent, VIC fell back to the
ridge, aud there we halted. The
fConfederates camo as far as the farm
house and there formed their line and
rested, throwing up q brcastwork
and mounting a cannon to command
tho road. We threw up defenccs,
formed a new line, and by sundown
everything was going along as if no
battle lad occurred, and hundred
liicn in blue and grey had not been
sent to their long sleep. There was
half q mile Of neutral ground be-
tween us, and the pickets thrown out
were hardly II stones throw from
each other.
An hour after VIC fell back the
Hastings family came to mo from q
farm house where they had taken
refuge. KNEW that they wanted to
return homo and was therefore
ready for the old mans question.
"Of course you can CO." l replied,
though II paincd me to think that l
should lose Katc's society. Il only
ask that you repeat after me your
oath that you will not give your Csn-
federate friends any information COLI
corning us.''
The: repeated the words as we
walked down to the picket. A hand
shake all around, aud then they took
their leave, aud my air castles came
topping down. The chances were
hardly one in a score that should
ever see either of the three again.
Having seemingly gained all they
desired, the Confedorates did not
seek TO drive lis further. Several
days passed without even shot
. from the pickets, when one day. to
shake off the rust, rode with two
companies of cavalry, which were
bound on raid around tho east Of
Winchester. to secure information
concerning the strength of the enemy
in that direction. We had long
, ride of seven or eight miles, wher
coming TO fork in the road, the
| major took ono company and myself
, the other, and pushed up the forks
We were riding along careless'!
enough when all at once the bushes
by the roadside shot flame and smoke
. Everything was confusion at th'
8 sudden attack. My horse leaped tt
!. one side and then ran up tho road
r The cavalry, some of whom wer'
q wounded, wheeled about and gal
u loped down the road, and were sooi
out of sight, and the battle was Owe
s in three minutes.
"Hold on! hold on! Surrender
!, Colopel!" shouted q hundred voice
G at Inc, and directly my horse carried
l. me into body ola hundred cavalry
e men concealed i'll bend in the road
v "Good afternoon, Colonel" re
s marked deep rich voice at my left
1 "Im sorry for you, but then yo'
II could have Jared worse"
;. l looked arouud and saw a colone
q of cavalry, handsome man wit
bright, black eyes and long blacl
beard. His face wore good naturc'
II smile and he held out his hand to Eae
:. "Ycs, might have been killed."
# replied, accepting his hand. Il dc
q serve this for my inexexcusable care
II Icssncss in not sending scouts for
n ward"
o The cavalry camp was only half
X mile up the road, and Us the con-
~ mand moved along, the colonel an
myself rode i'll the rear. He had in
d troduccd himself to me as Coione
II LcVillc. We commented on III
d capture, the war, etc., and ha
II sighted the camp, when he suddenl
l. inquired .
L "Ilave you noticed, Colonel. tina
Y the road bends three different timc
/ between here and the forks"
D. "Yes, think it does" l replied
j. "WelI, now," he resumed, sit wi
Is be an easy matter for you to escape
,t .:Turn your horse suddenly. Civ
l him the spurs, and you can reach th
70 the forks in five minutes. Ii my me
It chase you, and they will, the bend i
" thc'road will save You. ] shall CT
out the moment you get started, all
II may shoot at you, but shan't hni
III you."..
" "You are rather given to dr.
" jokes" l replied endeavoring
10 laugh. '.such things are not dow
ly in army regulations"
e: "Ncvertheless, mean what l say,
1t he replied. I'VE are now ten rot
behind the men. Wheel your hOr.