The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-08-16

1
Of the burning tents contained q
large quantity Of powder. / rcjoin-
I'd Stuart at the head OF the o,lIluu,
and was soon convinced that he had
fully resolved 10 ride around tho
Federal army, 1t was neck or moth.
ing. In twenty.fOur hours the whole
command would be dead or captured,
or would have escaped. Stuart had
plainly determined to take the chan.
ces, and was moving steadily to.
ward the York River Railroad, con.
Meeting the Fedsral army with its
base at the white House" landing
on the Pamunkee.
4 FALSE ALA1N AND soM8 FUN,
Everything was now on the qui rire,
as an attack might take place at any
moment, either on the front or rear.
A laugba bic incident proved that the
men were looking for one, and that
Stuart expected 1t would come from
the rear, as he sent me to Colonel
Martin. commanding there, With the
message:
Tell him to have his artillery rea-
dy and look out for an attack ut any
moment"
I was riding back after delivering
this order when q cry passed along
the line:
yankees in the rear!
Sabres flashed out, horses wheeled,
and then came a burst Of laughter
showing that the alarm was false.
Many incidents followed on the line
Of march. The people ran from
their houses, delighted at the sight
of gray coats In that blue infested re-
gion, and the men gaZed with al.
mtrinR eyes upon q beautiful girl
who fastened up and threw her arms
around the neck OF q brother in the
column, kissing him aud crying
with delight. Another incident was
the capture Of 4 wagon full Of cham.
payne and other luxuries on its way
from the Pamunkee to the quaters Of
u Federal general. and a key OF
whisky, which was 4 part OF the
cargo. played an important part in
rescuing one Ut the Confederate can.
non. This had sunk into q bottom
less mudhols OF the low grounds
and WAS buried to the axle. The
horses were lashed and made violent
Efforts to drag 1t out but could not
succeed. Al this crisis one OF the
men, evidently Of Dutch origin. cried
to Lieutenant McGregor, command.
ing the guns:
Cat, Lieutenant! the horses can't
do it. But just put that key Of
whisky on tho gun and tell the men
through"
The scheme was at once adopted
and the keg mounted on the cannon.
At the signal the cannoneers rushed
into the mudhole, seizsd the gun.
carriage and lifted 1t bodily to firm
ground. As 1t mounted and was safe,
presume the key was dismounted.
DO not remember, having ridden
on. The alarm was nov given and
wagons were seen hurrying in every
direction. They were overtakeo,
by two or three Federal transports
on the river, from which Q dense
black smoke arose. We were now In
eight OF Tunstsll's - tho railway
cr0ssing-where q heavy picket was
stationed. This vas charged at once,
and retreated rapidly. the officer 10
command falling into the hands Of
the Confederates. He had Just filled
y hideous looking wooden pipe, and
was about to light It when Con-
federate politely requested him to
surrender.
II want to SMOKE" growled the
Federal captain, greatly disguised,
apparently .!sa en- ;, at at. bis 3. capture.
"rhe pipe Ia my own property I"
! "Oh! what q mistake!" responded
the other, reaching from the saddle
and taking the pipe. which he placed
between bis own lips.
FIRING INTO A TRAIN.
The railway crossing was now In
Stusrt's possession, and under the
quick blows OF tho sxes the tele.
grsph poles were soon crashing down,
An attempt was slso made to burn q
email bridge near by, but the tim.
beers were too damp. In the midst
OF all this scene Of hustle . shrill
whistle was heard from the direction
Of the Chickahominy; . railway
train Was evidently approaching, and
and It was soon seen coming around
q wooded bend. A loud order to
halt Was given, but the train did not
stop. o. the contrary, eteam was
crowded on, and It shot by Ia the
midst Of q fusiiade, which, 1t Is said,
wounded come OF the troops Of the
train and killed the engineer. In q
moment it disappeared, and getting
his men into column again, Stuart
pushed on toward the village OF Tai.
leysville. directly 10 the Federal
rear. H. afterward told me that the
temptation to attack and destroy the
great depot Of stores ut the White
House was almost Irresistible, but
the rick was too great-and, looking
at the eituatiOu sfterWard, with full
Information Of the state OF atidtrs, It
WAS obvious that this movement
must have resulted In bis capture or
destruction. He rightly determined
to move without delay 10 the direc.
ton OF the lower fords OF the Chicka.
hominy, and did 90 just a. night was
coming, having first burned = huge
wagon camp In q field near. they
we're loaded With grain, coffee and
other stores, which were oil burned.
10 the horse.trough OF one OF the
wagons I found q volume OF poems
with the name Of its oWner-a young
lady Of Williamsburg-on the fly.
Leaf, which gave me 10 elevated idea
Of the tastes Of the wagon drivers.
We reached Talleysvil1e about
midnight and the men proceeded to
ride q suffers store OF edibles Of
every deoCtiptlon-beeS tongues. can.
ned meats. pickles. candy. tomato
cotsup, preserves, lemons. cakes,
sAusaaeo, molasDeG. csackeee and