The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-26
MAI. RICHARDSON or rHR 4,ra.
A Tale of tho confederaey.
BY ALxx. E. SWEET.

tuCtu tuC AOWu 0t Auotah0AA- uG oClG~N of the Federal authorities vas eiiAsr . feint to draw the Confederate forces away from northern Texas where Banks was going, or else the intention was for Ranks to march on to Austin, the capital of Texas, via Red river, while General War ren was to approach the same point Esom the coast. At any rate General Warren occupied lndianola with several thousand troops, and fornhed the place very strongly. The town was situated on peninsula almost entirely surrounded by shalloW bayous that were not fordable, and by means of forts and Guuboats was made almost impregnable.
 General Magruder believed that it was the intention of the Federals to march on to Austin from the coast, hence troops were ordered to lndiAnola. The defeat of Banks, however, caused the FedeTals to withdraw from indianola by water.
 The date of our story Is short time previous to the evacuation of lndianola There was but one Confederate regiment doing picket duty around Indianola That regiment was the std Texas cavalry Close watch was kept that the Federals did not emerge from the town. DurinH the day the long ranged artillery mounted on the forts kept the Confederate pickets at A distance, but at night they were on guard only a few hundred yards from the breastwork. The picket guard consisted, at the time of which VIC write, of twenty men under Lieutenant Bates. Their headquarters were in a deserted house less than half mile from the tortihea. tions. Every night as soon AS 1t was dark, the Confederates rode up to this house, from which party of six men under a sergeant, advanced stealthilY to within fe~ hundred yards of the Fed eral breastwotks, on the only road by which 1t was possible for the enemy to emerge from the town. The regiment itself was encsmped several miles distant on lhe Chocolate bayou.
 The usual picket had been set out. The rest ot the guards with their horses and arms in readiness were outside.
 The only occupant of the solitary room which the house contained, was Lieu tenant Bates, himself. He was s'udio1sly boring over a map of the town of Indian ola, with its numerous bayous, by the light of tallow candle stuck in an empty bottle. There is DO doubt about the bot tie being empty.
 Lieutenant Bates was quite A young man, who had been a clerk in a San Antonio store before the war. He was very popular with his comrades Aving been unanimously elected to tho position he filled. He was very attentive to his duties and while presenting a very mod est exterior was said by his more in,i- mate friends to be of indomitable courage. To use a camp phrase he was keen to fight. He had had several skir- mishes with Federal foragers, and in every instance had taken them in out of the wet While studying the map before him with view to asccrtaining at which point the supposed attack should be made, he heard the sound of horses hoofs. A moment later the new arrival was challenged by tho man on guard The stranger advanced, gave the coun- tersign, and entered the room. The visitor was none other than Major Rich ardson major ot the 43rd. He was a tall, soldierly looking man of abou, fifty years of age, who might have been very hand some if he had not been in bad health He was a V,rginian, and he had done gallant service in Virginia during the early part of the war. When General Magruder vas ordered to Texas Ma or Richardson vas one of his staff As he was suffering from i'll health caused by wounds, finding the climate Of Texas more congenial, he had been transferred 10 the 43rd Texas cavalry. He was no, liked by either the officers or men. O~- ing perhaps to his ill-health he was much given to grumbling, and fault. finding.
 As Major Richardson entered the room. Lieutenant Bates arose and sa- lu,ed his superior off ger, and rendered him the only chair the room posse ssed.
 "What have you got there" asked Major Richardson.
 That's a map of Indianola"
 Major Richardson smiled sardonically ; he laughed a most unpleasant laugh.
 If you have not found out how to get into Indianola, can tell you how to get in much easier than by studying over ths, map"
 "I cont quite understand you"
 If you or your men will just get on your horses and ride in, tha. will be the easier way"
 "I beg your pardon, major, bu, do not quite understand"
 "lt's easy enough. General Warren and bis troops evacuated Indianola this morning, and if you had not been so care iul you might have known l. hours ago. The colonel has reliable information to that effect. Everybody in camp is laugh ing at you"
 Lieutenant Bates drew himself up to his full height, and with unmistakabie emphasis, said
 "I tell you that you and all who be- lieve the Federal troops have evacuated lndianola, are the ones to be laughed st 1 am aware that the Federal troops are keeping very quig. Their object is to in. duce our troops to make night attack, in which they would be cut to pieces They know that we are expecting rein for cements, and that the intention is to make sach an attack0