The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-02-28

S-s-N'- ---s --1-'o-
My guide-fOr without a guide no
one could possibly find his way at night
through that cOUntry-was dull, taCi-
I turn fellow, with whom found it i'm
possible 10 maintain a conversation,
, and SO my twelve miles ride to the far
thest picket post, which l visited first,
was a very disagreeable substitute for
the joviaI, cialeyening had planned.
By the time Ihad reached Bears Island
I was wet to the skin with the dew and
stiff with cold. 1t was about ten o'clock
when we rode across the Causeway
from the mainland to the island, and
the first thing 1 observed is the utter
j darkness of the place. Ordinarily the
Pickets kept up a little fire behind a
! screen, at which to warm and dry them
selves during the night; and, approach
ing from the rear, 1 always saw the fire
when I crossed the causeway, the screen
standing between it and the water on
the outer side. Tonight, however,
everything was dark, and it was with
] aOAlu QAsLLllllI ludB VIC luuuu uAA1 way
across the island to the picket post.
"What's the matter, Sergeant?" I
asked. where's your fire to-night2"
81 had to put it out, and move away
from it, =" he replied. They are load
ing up two gunboats and three trans
ports just across the creek there, and
they threw two or three charges of
grape shot over here an hour ago. I've
/ been watching them, and was on the
point Of sending a man up with the
alarm. I'm glad you've come to take
The responsibility off my hands.
By this time had brought my glass,
strong marine instrument, to bear
upon the pier on the other side Of the
cut, or creek as it is commonly
called, and saw that the sergeant was
right. Three transports were rapidly
receiving trOops-cayalry, artillery and
infantry-while two rather formidable
looking gunbOats were slowly steamng
up and down in front. The inlet was
nearly mile wide; and as the enemy
showed few lights, and dim ones, the
sergeant, without a glass, had not been
able to discover the number Of troops
taken on board. 1 soon made out, how
ever, that at least five feld-pieces were
on board, and that the transports were
almost full of troops, while battalion
Ofinfantry, a squadron Of cavalry and
two batteries remained on shore, appa-
rently waiting for those on board to be
so disposed as to afford room for them.
1 rapidly weighed all the probabilities
of the case in my mind. There were
TWO and only two possible purposes in
this embarkation of troops. 1t was
formidable expedition against 7the rail-
road via BlUfftOn, or else it was merely
aremOval of troops from one p int on
the coast to another. If the first were
the object, the vessels would steam up
the inlet; if the other, they would put
to sea. But, if it were merely a trans
ferOf troops, why were the transports
crowded in this way? and why were the
conveying gunbOats there2 There was
no enemy at sea off the coast except
storms; and, as these were disregarded
in the overlooking of the steamers, it
seemed to me clear that the expedition
was bound for BlufftOn.
"HOwmany men have you, sergeant?"
1 asked.
1.-Two, he replied.
'Trusty fellOWs?"
"As good as ever threw a leg over a |
saddle
Send them to me" said.
When they came I asked:
Are your horses good ones?"
Pretty good"
mount then, " said to one, "and ride
as fast as you can to Buckingham Fer
~, and wait with the pickets there till |
the Eeet comes within sight. Then send |
a Idan TO Blutfton to announce the fact;
and you stay till the feet has passed, |
observing which creek it takes. AS
soon as you satisfy yourself on that |
point, ride to Bluffton and report. - |
Then, turning to the other, said:
You 60 to Hunting Island, and do !
the same thing. Tell the sergeants to |
follow their standing orders in all other |
regards. Be quick now, both of you.
III expect you at BIufftOn at the right |
time"
As the menrOde away, I walked to the |
place where the sergeant was still stand |
ing, and said:
Sergeant, you and I will stay here |
till the feet leaves, and then will ride |
straight TO camp on full run and give |
the alarm in time"
Its already leaving" lie replied:
''and look, it's steaming straight up the |
creek!"
Looking, saw that it was az lie had |
said. The two gunboats abreast led the |
column, the three transports following.
lit is time for US to be riding, then" |
I said, hastily springing into the saddle;
"but we can beat them by two hours,
as the creek is crooked, and they must
sound all the way, for want of buoys."
We gaIOped across the island; hut.
when We came to the little creek, we
found an unexpected obstacle in our
way. The tide had risen well nigh to
the flood, and extraordinarily high Ill
consequence of a strong wind which
had been blowing on shore all day. The
strip of marsh which separated the
island from the mainland was complete
ly covered with water, and even the
causeway was submerged. The two
men sent to alarm the pickets had reach
ed the place only minute earlier than
we, and we found them hunting for
some landmark or other, by which to
discover where the causeway was.
The sergeant thought he knew its 10
cality and direction, and boldly plunged
in, the rest of us following. Just what
we did, or where we went, or how it all
happened, none of US ever knew; but
We rode off the submerged track about
midway into the stream, and found our
selves fOundering in the water, some Of
US on or horses, and some Of us under
them. 1t was the darkest night I ever
knew. and once in the Watpr- We couId