The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-04-19

tion-and too incredible to believe, had
not similar things occurred all through
the war-he entered one rainy midnight
(the 9th of January, the little log hut
seven miles from Palntvlle, where
Colonel Garfield was sleeping.
The Colonel rubbed his eyes, and rails.
ed himself upon his elbow.
Back safe ?" he asked. " Have you
seen Cranorp"
Yes, Gln'ral. He can't be moren
two days ahind o. me, nohow."
God bless you Jordon You have
done us great servlce,'' said Garfield,
warmly.
81 thanks ye, Gin raj, - said the scout,
his voice trembling. "Thet's more pay'n
l expected"
To give the reader full understand
ing of the result of the scouts ride, |
must now move on with the little army.
They are only 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 a hero,
and they are led by general. The
Rebels had 5000 men-4 400 infantry
and 600 cavalry,-besides twelve pieces
of artillery,-so he says in letter to his
wife, which Buell. has intercepted and
Garfield has In his pocket. Three roads
lead to Marshall's position one at the
east, bearing down to 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
third between the others, more direct
route, but climbing succession of al
most impossible ridges. These three
roads are held by strong Rebel pickets,
and regiment is outlaying at the viii
lage of Paintville.
To deceive Marshall as to his real
strength and designs, Garfield orders a
small force of infantry and calvary to
advance along the river, drive in the
Rebel pickets, and move rapidly after
them as if to attack Paintville. Two
hours after this force goes off, similar
one, with the same orders, sets out on
the road to the westward; and two hours
later still, another small party takes the
middle road. The effect is, that the
pickets on the first route, being vigor-
ously attacked, retreat in confusion to
Paintville, and dispatch word to Mar
shall that the Union army is advancing
along the river. He hurries off thou
sand infantry and battery to resist the
advance of this imaginary column
When this detachment has been gone
an hour and a half, he hears from the
routed pickets on the right, that the
Federals are advancing along the west
ern road Countermanding his first
order, he now directs the thousand men
and the battery to check the new dan
ger; and hurries off the troops at Paint
vile to the mouth of Jenny's Creek to
make stand there. Two hours later
driven in, and, finding Paintville aban-
doned, flee precipitately to the fortified
camp, with the story that the Union
army is close at their heels and occupy
ing the town. Conceiving that he has
thus lost Paintville, Marshall hastily
withdraws the detachment of 1000 men
to his fortified camp; Garfield, moving
rapidly over the ridges of the central
route, occupies the abandoned position.
So affairs stand on the evening of the
Sth of January, when spy enters the
camp at Marshall, with tidings that
Cranor, with $500 H) men, is within
twelve hours march at the westward.
On receipt of these tidings, the "big
boy, weighs 300 pounds by the
Louisville hay scales, him.
self outnumbered, breaks up his camp,
and retreats precipitately, abandoning
or burning large portion of his sup
plies. Seeing the fires, Garfield mounts
his horse, and with thousand men,
enters the deserted camp at 8 in the
evening, while the burning stores are
yet unconsumed. He sends off de-
tachment to harass the retreat, and
waits the arrival of Cranor, with whom
he means to follow and bring Marshall
to battle in the morning.
In the morning CranOr comes, but his
men are footsore, without rations, and
completely exhausted. They cannot
move one leg after the other. But the
canal boy is bound to have fight; so
every man who has strength to march is
ordered to come forward. Eleven hun
dred-among them 400 of Cranor's tired
heroes-step from the ranks, and with
them, at noon of the 9th. Garfield sets