Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-04-13

ing led, but we hoped it finally opened
into the country beyond the wood,
where we would find good road and
plain sailing. But we were rushing
on blindly, and not without fears that
we might end it all by being captured,
a result so disgraceful under the cir.
cumstances, as to make death almost
as welcome.
"To he captured away from my post
on a pleasure junketing," said the
General, pressing his lips together.
sit would be shameful would de-
, serve to be cashiered and discharged
This while going at round gallop
through the wood and peering in vain
for an opening beyond.
We had been going at this gait for a
half-hour, perhaps, when we came into
an open field. About eighty rods
! across it lay a rough road that we could
see winding up hill far to the right.
Making straight across the field we
leaped the low fence and reached this
road and went Gathering on. We
were q good half-mile ahead of our
pursuers, and were we'll up the hill be-
fore we saw them emerging from the
wood. They halted moment and
then perceiving us came on. Think.
ing perhaps few only had joined in
the chase, the General halted with an
idea of showing fight; but when they
reached the open field we counted ut
least twenty-five of them, and conclud-
ed that discretion was still the better
part of valOr. So away we went again.
The country was very rough and noun.
famous, but our horses did not lag, and
we made excellent speed. Finally, in
ascending a hill we came to fork in
the road which puzzled us. The bet.
ter beaten path lay straight ahead, but
a track turning to the left was in the
direction of home, and, thinking that
perhaps it led into the main highway,
we entered it and galloped onward.
Ten minutes had elapsed, perhaps, and
we were slackening our speed and
thinking that we had easily escaped,
when we heard loud shout behind us,
and away through the opening could
discern the body Of cavalry coming on
with fresh speed. We again dashed
ahead, but in few minutes more d.
vined the cause of the shout. The
road we had taken led on to piece of
high level ground. shaped something
like triangle. We had entered it up
on the broad side, and had been grad
ually nearing the coverging point,
where the high land terminated in
steep precipice, that sunk away almost
perpendicularly to the distance of
nearly quarter of a mile below.
At the base ran highway and just
beyond q broad deep river, which we
at once recognized. The precipicc
seemed to surround the tract on it's
three sides, leaving one side open, up
on which we had entered, and, as it
seemed, had been fairly trapped, We
looked hastily about to the left and
right, hoping to find Il place less pre-
ciptous, but in vain. There was little
time for reflection, and after few
minutes hesitation saw the Generals
lips close with determination, and l
knew that the sequel meant no sur.
render.
eve must go down, Biles,' said he.
''We can do it if we leave our hor-
ses behind" hurriedly replied.
''That would be half Il victory for
Them" he said 'sand about as bad for
us as capture. We had better kill the
beasts trying to take them down than
to leave them behind
While he was saying this he had dis
mounted, and had begun to urge his
horse over the chasm. The earth un-
derneath the surface where we stood
had caved away and left eight or ten
feet of the descent perpendicular, af.
ter which there was Il little slope,
though it was slight, to a plateau a
hundred and fifty feet below. I fol-
lowed the example of tie General in
dismounting, and we tried to force
the unwilling beasts over the brink,
but at each endeavor they started
back in terror, and came near escap-
ing us altogether. We had tried
this three times, and failed, when, as
we proceeded to make a fourth at.
tempt, our pursuers emerged from a
bend in the road, and seeing lis ut
tered a shout of exultation. The Gen.
eral cast one look at them. and then,
vaulting into his saddle and drawing
the reins, sank his spurs deep into the
animals side. With a culver of pain
the horse reared wildly upward, and
at one bound went headlong over the
cliff. saw the forms of rider and
horse go tllmbling down the descent,
and, then, without noting the result,
l followed.
In Il moment was over the cliff, and
in another moment over the animals
head, and simultaneously but seperate.
ly we were sliding, rolling, and falling
to the bottom. l had hardly time to
think until found myself ON the level
plateau. about twenty feet broad at
the foot of the first decent, my horse
at one side shaking himself and whil-
neying, and the General just disap.
pearing down the second declivity.
stood half bewildered for a moment,
but noticed meanwhile that thick
clumps of bushes grew along the edge
of the second cliff, and that below this
stood rambling farmhouse with i
gardenafence of high boards extending
up the decline. Below this l saw the
road, and in the road recognized one
of our forage trains, protected by quite
a body of infantry. They had stopped
for rest evidently, and my heart
bounded as thought the pursuers
could now be turned back. While
these reflections were passing through
my mind was suddenly recalled by
shower of bullets that came whizzing
about me. The cavalry had arrived
upon the cliff above, and sighting me
had fired volley, but happily without
effect. One shot struck my horse in
the flank, however, and maddened by
the pain the animal started forward.
/ grasped the bride as he did 50, and
urging him on we were both soon tum-
bling down the second decline, now on
our feet, now on our backs, but always
hurried swiftly toward the bottom.
The way seemed very long, though the
time must have been exceedingly
Short and / hardly knew whether We
were to be crushed into jelly or broken
to pieces before heard a crash, and,
glancing forward, saw my horse tum-
bling through the. high but decayed