Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-04
sPEcTERs OF A wINTER'R NIGHT
Detroit Free PregI.

Detroit Free PregI.
One winters night, when Custer men
picketed the Shenandoah Valley against
E.rly, a man was found dead on bis post
sssassinsted. A powerful blow, from 8 long,
keen knife bad finished him so suddenly
tina, he had not time to FIRE his csrbine or
cry out.
Who had done this bloody deed? Men
asked the question of each other, but no
one could answer it. 1t could not have
been a comrsde-no enemy was near By
That gloomy winters night, as the pickets
we're posted along the front OF forest and
thicket, the officer whispered to each man
as he left him on his post:
Remember the murder Of last night !!
Let nobody approach from the woods"
When the relief hsd passed out of hear,
ing the lonely watch began. A soldier
may pace q beat or take up his station In
the shadow Of tree to watch and listen
for the enemy who has fought him in open
day and keep his nerve, bu. the feeling that
an assassin may creep upon him and strike
him to the heart makes quite another man
OF him.
The wind blows up betimes in fierce
gusts, roaring aud sob0iug among the
lsahess trees, and again it dies away until
there is scarcely q rustliug in the bushes.
The fierce gusts rouse the picket to intense
wstchfulness, and the low rustllDg makes
bis heart beat faster. Was it on this post
the picket of the night previous was
murdered? He does not know, bat as
the though. flashes through his mind
his eTes sean the earth at his feet as If
blood would not sink into the soul. 1t
must have been this post. There is that
tongue Of thicket reaching out into the
cleared field to furnish cover for an o.
saasin, until within 6fty feet of ais victim.
Then advantage could be taken Of the
broken ground to come still nearer, and
one whose eyes were not looking for .
creeping assassin, would fail to detec. him
until be rose up TO strike.
The night grows blscker, and the rush
Of wind ahirls a snowflake against the SOL
dier's cheek. He starts as il struck with q
missile. If storm be added to gale and
darkness what chance has he against those
who may proWl with murder in their
hearts? Heis a man Of nerve, snd he
fights against the timidity creeping into
his heart. One who rides against battery
belching grape and canister should no:
fear q single man, even if it be in storm
and darkness.
What! The relief coming he would
have made oath that be had not been on
his post more than sn hour. Yes, it must
be relief They are coming from the right
direction, and there seems to be the right
number. The assassin, if he meditsted
further bloodshed, had been bafled. His
is the first post to be relieved, The reliet
advances and he calls out:
Halt Who comes there?
Relief guard, with the countersiSn!
Advance, officer of the guard!
The officer steps forward, and as he
bends over 10 whisper the word the picket
drops his esrbine, throws up his hands and
sinks 70 earth.
Forwsfd to post No 2. Forward from
that 10 No 3 ard down the line until No. 3
the last. is reached. The wind waves and
shrieks among the groaniug trees, ard the
snow flies in great white clouds, but the
specters move on and on-from post tC
post-from man to man. The snow dead
ems every football, there is never g whis
per among them. Silently, swiftly, grimly
without q clank of ssber to alarm
without shot to arouse, they move down
the face OF the forest, and at each post II IL
the same:
Hall Who comes thereG
Relief guard. with the couotersignl
"Advanes, officer Of the guard
Now and then the stricken picket utterc
I a hslfso5 or 8 groan as the knife seeks
his life, but there is no sound to be heard
above the storm. The reserve, sheltered
in their tents, half mile away, would
scarcely hear the report of carbine.
And the specsers came with noissIess
tresd, moved down the front of halt mile
uithout the echo offs football, and departed
"a II taken up on the wiDgI Of the gale
An hour later another relief guard passed
tbs, way Sabers clanked, men groRleo
and cursed, and the officer at their head
stumbled OYER a form in his path and
reached his feet to cry out:
lead. MurCereQ! lpo aesaSsln Los
been here again
/ And they drove on 9th the storm, fear
ing yet hoping, aud Post No. yielded uF
lis corpse. Then deep Impressions snc
cries for vengeance are caught up by thu
wind aud sent along the path e
the Iext corpse, and the next snC
the next, but ss the guard gathered
around the eighth there was never q Whis
per or word. Some men, with vengeance
in their eyes, looked toward the forest to-
trace or sign. Others, whose faces were
whi,er than the snow driving around them
looked across the fields, hoping to see Of
hear a movement to give them the clue L
9 pursuit
There Was no sign-no sound. The spec
tres had done their work and vanished. II
after days men spoke Of that dreadful nigh
in low voices, and some wondered if the
dead Of the battlefield had risen TO make
war again Others replied By one wits
psred word:
"Guerrillssl"
An Enfernrisfnw RaIiahla HouaA.