The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-14
UP LOOP CREEK.
= Olrean That Was n the way Al
Nlght..-TAo Guides wife.

Inter Ocean.l
Gen. Benham wns severely censured.
once upon time, because he didn't go
up to Loop creek, according TO orders,
and cut of Floyd's retreat from Cotton
mountain. People no doubt imagined
that it was q very easy thing TO 70 up
Loop creek, but then the people never
had any experience in that direction.
Very early in the first Kanawha cam
paign strong detachment of tro6ps
made . reconnaissance up Loop creek
valley. The march commenced at
dark, and was conducted so quietly
IS to give il an air of mys-
terry. The stream comes into the Kan.
awha through little gap that is very
deoeiving. The boys moved along for
. few hundred Yards in high spirits.
Then there was stream TO cross. This
WAS Loop creek, aud shoes and stock
inss were taken OF, and barsfo,ted tho
men waded through the cold water in
not the best humor. 4 quick march OF
few hundred yards brought them 10
another barrier OF water. This Was
Loop creek. The boys made jokes
about the 'loop,' and stripping Oft
shoes and stockings, walled tie stream
again. A short walk and there was .
halt in front. What now THAT
d .rncd cd Loop creek again" said
man in front, and then the heaviest
swearers went into action in . very
9. .irited manuer. As the men stopped
to take OF shoes, Nirginian, acting -
guide, said: Il wouldn't do it, men.
The creek will be in your way oil
night" And SO it MAS. II was crossed
ta.rty-six times before morning. tho
nlea waling recklesslv through without
removing shoes or STOCKINGS. A the
high lands were reached. the stream be-
came smaller and was less troublesome.
All night the quiet Virginian walked
steadily with the advance guard, speak
ing only when it was necessary to give
direction or when asked question.
He was . tall, ssalwart, se!f-poised man,
in the confidence of the officer COM
manding the expedition. but saying lit
tie to any one else. He carried SPUR
rel rife, and was SO watchful and yet 80
q net that the boys called him "Old Se-
crets." Toward morning he relaxed .
little, and became more laxative. He
said: "lou will see q fine country
pretty soon. This plateau is fertile,
and better than that, it was full OF good
Union men few months since. They
were driven away from home on short
notice, and these Old Codgers,' q, you
have been calling the scouts in front,
are men who are returning to their
homes. or to where their homes were,
for the first time for half year. Ihave,
or had young wife up here some place.
When Fort Sumpter was fired on had
rs coy little home rs man could wish.
/ went on . business trip down the
Kanawha, and before my return the
whole valley had been seized by the
rebels, and-I haven't heard from my
wife since"
The boys at once felt great interest in
the taciturn guide. As daylight came
the country began to answer the do
scription of the south. Farm houses
were seen in different directions, and
the old men in front dropped of to be
welcomed here aud there by screeches
of delight. The man in whom the boys
were most interested could hear moth.
ing from his home. These people had
not ventured away from their homes at
all. and they heard nothing. He was
nearly frantic, and the soldiers, taking
up with his feeling, moved forward in
long quick strides, thinking little Of
rebels, and much Of that pretty little
wife," At last . turn into pleasant
little valley brought them to pretty
little cottage nesting among trees in Q
well-arranged yard. II was as different
from the houses that had been passed
- villa from log cabin. The guide
said to the commanding officer, This
is my house," and he sat down on
stone, nervous and trembling.
The windows were dark, the doors
closed, and there wasn't II sign of life
about the premises. The boys stool
leaning on their ruls, painting from the
quick march. The guide ..tartel up
the walk, the yer. = ctu Q of des.air.
Ito lsSsaed bat cun Il hear no SQUAD
He tried The DOR, bal 4 was .o:nei
lie wen to another, out it Was 10 ted
on the insi 10. He tcrn.h away. anl
the soldiers N no It We. u teriag SYN
palmetto expre ,sions, waen fro II the
snr ng house on tie r4gnt dashed
beautiful woman wlo. without word,
tarew her arms around the guides
neck. He gaze y wnoopi1 .-cou III like
screech, raised the IN in his arms,
and shouted. u nave found h.r." He
said mach moe nut it was not heard
IL tae uaroariou, cheers of tn. soldiers,
who swung their hats and waved fla 3,
they were on secret Q ,pedi-
ton, and were MOI to make any noise.
The little woman c,ne TO the fen q,
and tn ''olI iAg' was taken to her ti,at
he might kiss it and fold it about her
pretty face. Take away tais scene and ,
another, in which an old Union man in
sisted on the boys taking his twenty
hives Of honey, ~ he had nothing elso
TO give them. aud tho Loop creek
march way the darkest and most "a. /
tiguing Of the war.