National Republican., 1885-10-03

were we denied food and shelter for our
selves, and forage for our horses, free of
charge. And this was no small matter,
when the ravaged condition Of the COuntryis
and the fact that hundreds, per-
haps, had made the same application before
us. They had but little 10 give, hut they
gave II freely and cheerfully. What tried
us most severely was that the rivers and
creeks were very much swollen by the con
tinucd rains, and It was difficult to ford
them, except by swimming the horses, which
we had to do over the Rivauna river, for in
stance, pretty broad stream. At that date
there were few IL any bridges over the
streams In that section. ! don't rccollcct
one.
REWARDED WITH RELICS.
Well, after tedious and hairassing
marCh-On which we returned rs far as we
could the hospitality shown US, by writing
copies Of Lees farewell address for the
heads Of the houses, and distributing inch
squares of battle flag which had last lloutcd
over Richardson's battalion of cavalry at
Gen. Lees headquarters to the wives and
daughters -- we arrived ut GOrdousvillc,
where were many citizen refugees from my
native village and county. One thing here
amused me very much, so that II was i'm
pressed upon my memory. Wren ! was last
In GordOnsvillc in the winter of 1864. had
paid twenty dollars for quart of apple
brandy | went to the same stOrckcCpur to
get my cantcen filed, and when | asked
what was to pay, the reply was, "A quarter
of Il dollar Il quart--in grccnbacks.n We
looked each other in the face, aud burst out
laughing - the contrast was too much.
However ! had the necessary whcrcwithal
to foot the bill. had intended to remain
in GOrdOnsville for several days to rccupc-
rate, but on being informed by the sheriff
of our county (a refugce) that he had heard
that my father was scriuuslyill, we resumed
our march forthwith.
QUARTERMAsTERs RAID.
When we got to Culpcpcr Court House
we heard Of funny incident that had hap
pcned the day before. A quartcrmnstcr,
Major r., who had been stationed ut Char
lOttesvile, when he heard that the bottom
had fallen out of the bucket, proceeded,
after the manner Of his kind, to appropriate
to his own use the best of the public stores
under his charge. With two fuur-mulc
wagons, loaded down with goods of every
kind, he set out to take his plumber to his
native town of Alexandria. Now some of
the Black Horse cavalry were returning tu
Fauquicr, and they overlook the majors
wagons near the court house. The cavalry
at once took In the situation. and stopped
the wagons The major fumcd and sworc,
and protested against what he was pleased
to style highway robbery, hut II was Of no
use. The troopers iecringly told him that
no BANKED qliartermastcr should rob the
troops who had been suffering in the field
while he was living in clover They took
one team, unloaded the other Of thrce-quar
ters of its stores, took two mules out of tn,
team, and then told the major to take hi,
share and "git.h
When we got to the Hazel river, which 1,
narrow stream thOug!. very deep, tho
water was running like a,hill-race. In at
tempting to ford it by swimming we cam,
within an ace of losing our lives, and buI
for the pluck and strength of my COmradc''
horse, | think we must have been swept
away. | want to say here that we werC
treated with more unkindncss by the Or
ange county farmers than anywhere else Ol
| the route. Some of them actually rcfusCC
| to let usslecp In their barns. Perhaps they
were exctIsablc, for, almost from the begin
ming of tholwar, that county and those nd
| joining had felt the dcsolating presence o
one army or the other.
CROSSING THE RApPAHANNoCK.
We reached the Rappahannock amid
dreary rain-stOrm, where the railroad bridg
crosses II, and were almost shocked TO fin,
/ the river swollen and rushing between IL
banks. We saw, too, that the railrOa,
| bridge, which was about two hundred yard
| long and some sixty or more feet above tn
water, had saggcd from the direct line II
the middle down stream until II was In tn,
| shape of bow, and IL seemed that II wa
only kept from falling by the iron rails
Here was a pretty kettle of fish, to he sure
We knew of no ford or bridge for twcmt,
miles up or down, and we were humc-hun
gry. We talked the matter over, and Il
last decided upon action. The bridge la,
only ties, striugers, and rails, and no rail
| ing or covering. Fortunately for us ther
was large pile of thick fOOt-and-a-hal
wide planks on our side of the stream, an,
the idea occurred to us that If the hrid%
would bear the weight Of the horses We cOul
lay flooring over the ties and lead thcr
over on it, We drew straws to see VIII
should first 90 over aud ascertain whethC
the bridge was shaky or not, My conrad
got the long straw, and started across
When he got to the middle lac tried to shak
1t, and confess that was SO apprchcnsiv
that could not bear to look at him, an
turned by back lie returned and said tina
the bridge appeared firm, and we decide
that we should make the attempt. We Il
one set to work to lay walk of two plunl,
side by side. II was hard work. for tn
planks were long and heavy, and think
took us about fourmortal hours to cOmpct
the job. Then ! proposed to attempt I
cross first, as he had tried the bridge first
but he argued that as his was trained cay
airy horse, while mine was not, It would Il
far better for him to go ahead, and for IN
to follow some twenty-five yards behind, q
my horse would have more confidence !
having leader 1t was SO decided, and W
piled our saddles and other baggage on th
bank We sSOOk hands, and CarricO too
his horse by the bit and led him upon tn
plank walk. The intelligent and discipline
animal stepped as assuredly ON the plank
us il he had been on the firm ground,
Now nothing under heaven could hay
induced me to follow except my anxiety /
see my father. who might be ON his dyin
bed Il had not seen him for over two years
and the natural reluctance veteran feel
to give back when his cOmradeis advancing
led my horse upon the bridge, and f.
twenty yards or SO he went well enough
but tho roaring and rushing of the water
beneath frightened him, and he stood stOc
still, with his eyes fairly starting out Of III
sockets and trembling all over, FOOLISH
| turned to him, but CarrcO, who !, |
stopped his horse, cried out, "Fur Gods. s.gc f.
don't look behind lie will bring the. .ght /
down with both of us. Come start /.
ahead, and follow Closely lie y horse |
ed again, and much to my rclicGoss, but /
followed. Well, we got safehd washed /
at the end Of the bridge the raj my stupid |
the dirt from under the tics, s,,ront feet on |
horse fell through, with al feet ON the
one side of Il tie and hisOn Il, aud there
other, and his body resmning and bruis-
he stuck and struggledhad brought our
ing his legs After, to the middle of
baggage across, we yplmks, and literally
the bridge and tOons awkward position.
built my horse frTselyes safe after our
When we found may well he thought
perllous GrosStmdly thankful to God for
that we felt prI would not undertake
the dclivemlHat for all the wealth of the
again the sal
Vanderbiltihis yarn to old comrades aud
| hoy0nd ey seemed to believe that
otheir irnyiIDn my imagination, but what
Yi',oo stot Is but the simple and exact
tn,th mth' awards heard that GOV. Smith
Ii"st IEStro ri tried the same path few days
orter ms ! narrowly escaped drowning,
,yhn,lrly across the bridge his horse
fell an3'SS'' tue E"'''""' WIZ" '''''' !