The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-09-07

Office, pear Fairfax Courthouse, I
was riding ahead Of my party. A
wire had been laid out thus far
and dispatches from the field wore
carried here and wired to Wash
ington. The last messages sent
had told how our troops were
driving the enemy.
: What news from the feld?' cried
the little operator, with his finger
on the key.
<''Our men are routed. They
are running this way shouted
back to him as l galloped past.
He cut loose bis instrument, tuck.
ed it under his arm and took to
: his heels. When the next order
ly came with dispatch be found
the battery disu.ounted, and that
! was how l came to be
THE FIRST TO CARRY THE NEWS
to Washington. | overlook Bull
Run Russell, and we rode TO-
gether for awhile but his horse
was tagged and mine was fresh,
so I soon left him. After that /
rode foremost and alone. At
Balls Cross Roads I was chalIeug-
cd by Dutch sentinel. Ben
Morgan had my pass through the
lines, but I had an annual over
the Pennsylvania Railroad signed
BY Tom Scott. | showed the
sentinel the name Of Scott, told
him it was Gen. Winfield Scott,
the Commander-in chief, and be
passed me through. I got over
the Long Bridge at Washington
at 9 O'Clock, Just as the counter
sign was being given out for the
night. I rode up to Wizards
Hotel, through streets tbronged
with people, wild with excite
ment over the favorable telegrams
that had come in from the front.
The brass bands were out in force,
and somebody was making g
rousing On to Richmond speech
from the balcony of the hotel. I
walked into. The Office, under the
sound Of his inspiring words,
knowing how soon those cheers
would be hushed to whispers of
alright. Chadwick was keeping
the hotel then, and as l pushed up
to the desk be stared at me bare
headed and streaming with dirt
and sweat as I was, and finally
recognizing me, asked NE where
I had been and what was the mat
ter.
Il came from the front. Nc
Dowell is licked out Of his boots,
and the wreck of our army is not
far behind me-
Chadwick dlved back into bis
private Office with scared face,
and in a few moments came back
and took me in with him.
GEN. MANSFIELD STAGGERED.
There sat Gen. Mansfield, who
was in command Of the troops
around Washington, with a bottle
of champagne before him.
Mr.. Chadwick informs me, sir,
that you report our army retreat,
ing. Are you a military man,
sir?'
No, sir
Then how do you know, sir,
that they were not merely max
| ipg o change of front or executing
some other military mapeuvre,
sir p
We'll: General l replied, as
calmly as l could, while the gray.
haired old martinez eyede me
stern!y, 4 saw whole regiments
throw down their guns and take
to the woods. l saw artillerymen
| cut their horses loose from the
guns and caissons, and gallop
away. ] saw officers, men, Con-
gressmen and Texas steers run
ming neck AMI neck down the
road toward Washington, and
steers were the only things that
had their tails up. It may have
been a change of front. as you
say, but
Il don't believe a damned word
of it, broke in the General, who
| had listened to me wiiA evident
Impotence.
Good evening" | replied, and
walked cut Of the door. The
crowd had got the news by this
time from Chadwick, and l was
almost pulled to pieces. Somebody
noticed that I was wearing gray
suit, and shouted Hes a rebel