The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-13
For the Farmer and Mechanic
peciaI Service.

my return 10 Camp Gary,l was summon
ed to headquarters IS Col Haskell. WHO
asked me II | was willing to undertake
special service, not strictly military.
but indirectly beneficial t. tte cause.
| replied with cheerful alertness II
am ready TO attempt anything you wish
| Colonel He smiled blaudly. aud pro-
ceeded to say: 4 none know better
than you do, a certain Captain Lester i
the Yankee Provost Marshall ia York
town, and Il seems that he Is dcsper-
ately in love with 4 Young Southern
beauty who returns his love. but refuses
to marry an enemy. The lovelorn Cap
tain has coutrivcd to notify the war de-
partment that if he can be gotten safely
out Of his present command and into
Richmond he Will cast his fortunes with
the South. Both himself and the lady
wish TO leave Yorktown and have been
ordered to send a quick-witted, and re-
liable agent to them to arrange the de-
tails of place by which this object can
be effected. Do you think you can man
age it.
We'll, Colonel" | answered lit
sounds like an uncommonly dirty Job,
but otherwise there's no difficulty in It ;
and as war isn't a specially nice trade
anyhow, | don't know that [ need be
squeamish about a little more or less
abomination. III do it,"
The Colonel gave me my credentials,
and that night set off for Yorktown |
had been in the city,at the least computa-
ton full fifty times since the Yanks had
occupied it, and the flfty-first entrance
was not more difficult. Just after day.
light, equipped in full Yankee uniform,
| presented myself at Capt Testers
quarters and demanded admttance on
official business.
| was Immediately shown To his room.
and by way of introduction, handed him
Col. Haskell's letter, and while he read
it, | took notes OF his personal attri-
butes. And. certcs, he was a marvel
lously handsome fellow. He had fine
dark hazel eyes, rich curly dark hair, a
genuine New England complexion, clear
red and white, a heavy brown beard and
moustache, ivory white teeth, tall sol
dierly figure, and one OF the pleasantest
voices | ever heard. A regular lady's
darling, and if he made love as well as
he was made, it was little wonder that
his wooing was winning.
In less than half an hour everything
was arranged to his satisfaction, and
rose to depart. the Captain Hospitality
insisted that | should breakfast with
him, but | said; Il am little bit OF an
Arab, Captain, and don't eat salt with
an enemy" and so saying, bowed my
self out.
My next move was made on the resi-
dence OF Miss Blake, who was Il niece
OF Commodore P.'s, and a very pretty
saucy little woman into the bargain.
We held a long powwow while |
breaktasted, served by the fair hands OF
the bonny maid.
The plan of operations was as follows:
Miss Blake was to give uttcrance to
some incendiary sentiments which would
be reported to headquarters, and in con-
sequence, she would receive orders to
leave the city in twenty tour-hours.
The trunks would be carried to the Pro-
vosts's office for inspection, but press
of official business would cause the in
spection to be delayed until the next
day when the baggage would be return
ed, officially sealed, and passported be-
yond the lines. The delay in the in
spection would be profitably employed
by Capt Lester is packing all his nova
BILE possessions INTO the trunks so that
he would not be without wedding gar
ment when he reached Richmond.
Miss Blake would proceed at once to
thes 'Spottswood" hotel and await her
lovers arrival.
The night after her departure Capt.
Lester was to make reconnaissance with
a small force beyond the outposts, a
party of Confederate scouts, ambushed
for the purpose would surprise, anl
overpower the whole party, and thus
get the faithless Captain into our lines
without his running any risk, or incurr-
ing the disgrace of desertiOn.
The scheme worked like a charm.
Miss Blake got into the rebel lines with
the Captains's purple and fine linen IN
tact, and the next night thereafter
IIame's band Of scouts turned out in full
force twenty-five strong, and ambusheo
| themselves three miles above the Van.
kee outpost.
Twas brilliant moonlight night, and
about twelve O'Clock we heard the SHARP
/ clatter of horses hoofs, and in a few
minutes. Capt. Lester, and eight mer
| rode straight into our ambuscade. As
/ they did, Hame cried in his clear ring
/ iuJ voice, CLOSE in men, close IN
/ Aud in an instant corl}oa OF twenty
( five heavily armed ConfederateS wa:
4 drawn around them. We had received
the strictest orders not to fire a shot IN
commanded 10 do so by Hame. Fo
the first minute the Yankees seemed
completely bewildered, and ere the.
rallied. Hame demanded their surrender
Before Lester could answer, six OF th'
eight men cried out Don t surrender
Captain. we'll cut our way out. y
Hame interposed saying quietly: :
do not care to sacrifice life, even an Ell
emy's uselessly. Ny men completed.
surround YOU, any attempt at tresistanc
would be folly, your saddles would all b
emptied at the first fire, and as | don
care to see brave men shot down llk
sheep. | demand your instant surren
der
4 surrender, for | see there is no hop
of escape;" said Captain Lester, aud d
he spoke he offered Hane his sword. On
Of his men tine looking young SergeaL
caught The sword hilt, and sald passion
atelys For God sake, Captain, don
surrender us ike a parcel Of trappe
| foxes right in hearing of our own guns
Let Us be cut to pieces like men. even
we don't escape
The red blood leaped into Lester
clear cheek, at the bold words of tt
subordinate whom he had deliberatel
betrayed, but he answered sternly,
command this party, sergeant. and | st
no use in contest of four to one.
have no right to sacrifice the lives
these brave boys to mere scruple
hot headed pride, and rash folly, al
I. therefore, men. | command you, thro
e down your arms and surrender. and
claim for Won the uSanes of lnnorah