The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-14

the revolution, was Slung to his thin form
by a common sadd girth. The sallow
face was shaded by = broad hrimmed
slcuched hat. that vas made conspicuous
by q white and re- cockade, fresh from
the barnyard, sporting the tails OF at least
a dozen unfortunate roosters. He car
Eied on a stick dirty white rag, while
bis t~o companions, or squad. rs badly
rugged and mounted, one on mare that
sho red by her uneasiness that colt had
been Lett behind, were to be known as
soldiers BY their heavy old muskels.
Our captain called a halt, and de.
handed the reason for this extraordinary
appearance.
| come, sab, was the response in the
purest Potomac dialect, "fom General
Tompkins, to demand the immediate
surrender of Petersburg"
"The devil you do Z was the captains
brusque response.
"Yes, san
"Will you tell General Tomkins for me
that il he wants this God-torsaken town
just come and take it,"
"Very well, sab then General Tom
kins ordered me to say TO YOU, sab, to re-
move the women and children, for he will
open on the place Immediately"
| "Tell General Tomkins," SnoTted the
captain, for me, that as the women and
children are secesh, be can open, aud be
d to him and them, too. The more
he kills the merrier it will be-"
General Tomkins is humane man,
sab, and despises war or women and
children. To avoid unnecessary blood
shed, he demands your surrender"
You have my answer-pound away.
won't sutrenderp
Very well, sab. shall SO report"
And. so saying, he gravely saluted our
captain and, turning, rode away. AS he
did so the beteaved mare made a vt.or.
Gus effort by rearing and kicking TO rid
herself Of her rider. Failing in this she
took the bit in her teeth and went off at
speed highly complimentary to the
brood m ares OF Virginia The bearer OF
the flag and his remaining squad OF one
man paced off in sober, sedate manner,
while the rider of the beIeaved mother,
with his long legs and arms Tapping
wildly, disappeared over the hill as Cap
tam Lee and his orderlies made the
place ring with their peals of laughter.
| rhe flag of truce, however, did not re-
spond TO this merriment. Their mission
could not be relegated TO the things IN t
amuse. They carried war and desola-
tons lkedness back to the mysterious
General Tomkins.
Oar captain lost no time irotting back
Ito camp. He had the long roll beaten,
the company hastily drawn up in line,
supported by such Of the sick and
wounded as could stand. This lllani
little force was informed that the enemy
under General Tomkins was abou, to
make raid on Petersburg, Il at he would
probably open on them with artillery,
and as they had none with which 10 re
spond. it would be necessary TO assume
the offensive as soon as the de mons,rl-
ton was made. This was responded to
by such hearty cheers as the honest
Threats of Amer can soldiers God bless
shem-are always ready to give, and our
hero, sitting in grim silence on his steed,
awaited further developments.
An hour passed, and then to the cap
tain's amszement the flag Of truce again
appeared; this time without the bereaved
mare. Captain Lee rode down.
General Tomkins, san" said the Asg
bearer, lis humane-yes, sah--a gallant
soldier, sab, but humane. He has his
guns in position, under a superior force,
and he again demands a surrender to
avoid unnecessary bloodshed, sab"
See here" said the captain, "you
have my answer, and il you come cavort-
ing down this road gain III open on
you. Do you understand thati'
| Yes, SABA flag of truce, sah."
ooh, 60 to -" well it was rather
warm climate, not then abolished by
Colonel Ingersoll, and our hero rode
back to his command. At the head Of
his small forces he awaited the attack.
He waited in vain. The woods upon the
mountains, into which the flag of truce
had disappeared, remained as silent as
cemetery. The sun went down, the stars
came out, and yet the thunder os the
echoes of the mountains one by one the
sick and wounde dropped of, and the
anxious commander, taking all necessary
precautions for the night, broke ranks
and sent his soldiers to their tents.
The place remained undisturbed
through the night. and early in the morn
ing a squad of Connecticut cavalry-a
force always cumming around stealing
horses, and making themselves generally
disagreeable to both sides galloped into
camp with some prisoners, and among
the rest the bearer of the flag.
Show dye do 2" asked our captain Of
the warrior under the red flannel straps.
Purity we'll, sab how dye find yer
self?"
why didn't you open on Us yester-
day."
Well, sab, fact is we had no artil-
lery."
The devil Why did not you come
in and take Us anyhow
"Why, you see, sab, when you beat the
long roll and formed, we thought you
were too much for U.s."
THAT soY
"Yes, sab, Only three Of Us all told"
Then have the honor Of addressing
General Tomkins %
"You have, sab"
L. was a neat little game Of bluff, in
A.~,k s<h -nN