Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-23
Continued from Yesterday. J

| Continued from Yesterday
He pushed on over the sloshy road, his
mare every step going slower and slower.
| The poor beast was iaded out for she had
travelled sixty miles, eaten nothing. and
been stabbed in the timber. She would
have given out long before. had her blood
not been the best in Kentucky. As il was,
she staggered along rs if she had taken n
barrel of whiskey. Five miles further on
was the house of Union man. She must
reach it, or die by the waysde for the
merciful man rcgardeth not the life of his
beast, when he carries dispatches.
The loyalist did not know the scout. but
his honest face secured him cordial well
come. He explained that he was from
the Union camp on the Big Sandy, and Of
iered any price for horse to 90 on with.
Yer nag is wuth airy two o. my crit
ters.' said the man. 'Yc kin take the best
beast I've got and when YER ag'in this
way, Wen swap back even
The scout thanked him, mounted the
horse, and rode off into the mist again,
without the warm breakfast which the
good woman had. halfcookcd, in the
kitchen. 1t was IL O'Clock and at IL
that night he entered Colonel Cranor's
quarters at is,-having ridden "A hun
dred miles with rope round his neck. for
Sl3 month, hard tack. and "A shoddv uni
form.
The Colonel opened the dispatch. II
was dated Louisa, Kentucky. December
"A, midnight and directed him TO move
at once with his regiment Uhe Fortieth
Ohio. 500 strong), by tie way of Mount
Stirling and McCormick's Gap. 10 Pres
tonburg. lie would incumbcr his men
with rs few ratons and rs little luggage
as possible, bearing in mind that the safe.
ty of his command depended on his expc
dition. He would also convey the dis
patch TO Lieutenant Colonel Woodford. at
Stamford and direct him to Join the march
with his 500 cavalry.
Hours now were worth months of COM
mon time and on the following morning
Cranor's column began to move. The
scout Law by till night. then set out on his
return. and at daybreak snapped his now
iaded horse for the fresh Kentucky mare,
even. lie ate the housewives breakfast,
too, and took his ease with the good man
till dark, when he again set out. and rode
through the night in safety After that
his route was beset with perils The
Providence which so wonderfully guarded
his way out seemed to leave him to find
his own way in: or. as he expressed il
.Ye see, the Lord: He keered more fur
the dispatch nor lie keered fur me and
twas material He should; ease my life
only counted one, while the dispatch, it
stood fur all kaintuck.'
BE that as it may, he found his road
hard one to tarvel. The same gang
which followed him out waylaid him back.
and one starry midnight he fell among
them. They lined the road forty deep,
and seeing he could not run the gauntlet,
he wheeled his mare and fled back ward
| The noble beast did her part but bullet
struck her. and she fell in the road diving.
| Then-t was Iobson's choicc--he took to
| his legs, and, leaping fence. was at last
out OF danger. Two days he lay in the
woods, not daring to come out ; bu, hung
er finally forced him to asa food at "a ne
gro shanty: The dusky patriot loaded
| him with bacon. brown bread. and bless
ings. and at night piloted him 10 rebel
barn, where he enforced the Confiscation
Act, to him then the higher law'-neces-
sity.
| With his fresh horse he set out again :;
and after various adventures and hair
breadth escapes, too numerous to men
| tion-and too incredible To believe, had
not similar things occurred all through
the war--hc entered. one rainy midnight
| (the 9th Of january, the long log hut,
seven miles from PaiDtville. where Col.
Garfield was sleeping.
The colonel rubbed his ewes, and raised
himself on his elbow.
Back safe? he asked. Have you
seen Cranor?'
/ Yes. Gin'ral. lie can't be more n two
days ahind o me, nohow.'
! God bless YOU, Jordan, You have
done MS great services, said Garfield
warmly.
| i thank he, n'ral. said the scout, his
voice trembling. That's more pay n
expected
10 give the reader full understanding
of the scouts ride. must now move on
with the little army. They are only H.
400 men, worn out with marching, but
boldly they move down upon Marshall
False scouts have made him believe they
are as strong as he: and they are: for
every one is hero, and they are led by q
general. The Rebel has 5000 men-4,-
400 infantry and 600 cavalry-besides II
pieces OF artillery-so he says in a letter
| to his wife, which Buell. has intercepted
and Garfield has in his pocL ct. Three
roads lead to Marshall's position: one at
the east, bearing down 10 the river, and
along its western bank another, a cir
cuitous one, to the west, coming in on
Paint Creek. at the mouth of Jenny's
Creek, on the right Of the village; and
the third between the others, more di-
rect route, but climbing succession of
almost impossible ridges. These three
roads are held by stronO Rebel pickets
and regiment is outlying at the village
of Paintvile.
To deceive Marshall as to his real
strength and designs, Garfield orders a
small force of infantry and cavalry to ad-
vance along the river. drive in the Rebel
Ipickets, and move rapidly after them as il
to attack Paintville. Two hours after this
force goes off, similar one, with the same
orders, sets out on the road to the west
ward: and two hours la.er still, another