The news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-14
following me into camp"

obey you! Don't be afraid to tackle
the graybacks Not one of them shall
get away?"
There" said the captain, "what
better assurance of fealty do you want
than that p
Finding there was no hope for it
Lieut.. Norr called his command to.
getherand ordered them to load their
pieces while he signed receipt fol
the prisoners, and the captain and his
cavalrymen cantered away.
This is nice piece of business,
Chidsey," said Norr, as he looked at
the big bunch of prisoners sitting in
the road. cts a bad job, but we
must make the best of it we can"
"Well, do you know, now, rather
like it, Lieutenant" replied Chidsey ;
it will enable us to arrive in camp with
some credit"
"Be CORA it's the best thing that
could have happened" insisted Bar
ney. 9TH give the b'yes something
to think of an kape 'em out of mis-
chief"
The dispositions were soon made.
Lieut.. Chidsey took the head of the
column, while Lieut.. Norr went to the
rear, and the sergeants, with Barney,
were put on the flanks, and instructions
were given aloud to shoot down any
person who should attempt to escape.
BY advice Of the cavalry captain the
column was put on the march for Har-
per's Ferry, now some twelve miles
distant. The prisoners seemed quite
content and gave no trouble, the
slower march of the infantry being
quite relief after the hurried pace Of
the cavalry. In an hour the party
had reached the head of Pleasant Val.
ley, and by noon the centre of that
pleasant locality was reached, and,
finding piece of open ground on the
left of the road, Lieut.. Norr led his
party to it for rest alongside small
mountain stream. As they were still
some distance away from the Union
army and offits line of march, pickets
were thrown out. and the building of
fires was forbidden.
Lieut.. Norr sat down to eat a bis
cult, having sent Barney out to the
picket line to bring in word should
anything occur. The men were lying
about in all directions taking their
rest, and all was quiet and peaceful
when Barney came in from the picket
line on the clean jump and with his
eyes as big as saucers.
"Lifsinant. be the powers we
for it nowl There's the diviPs own
lot of Rib cavalry comm down the
mountain ! In five minits thin pris.
oners of ours will be escortin' US to
RichmoGdl |"
"Shut up" said FFurr, sternly. Are
you sure they are Confederates 2"
"Shurel Bad luck till it; dye think
| don't know butternut coat from a
blue one p
GO back and reconcile, Barney.
If they discover us, fire off your piece
and take to the trees. We will do the
same atsyour signal. Cavalry can not
pursue ISA these woods. Meanwhile
I must keel those fellows quiet"
Dennis darted into the woods again,
while Lieutenant Norr ordered his
men to cover the prisoners with their
muskets, and at the same timehe told
the Confederates that any cutlery on
their part would be the signal for a
volley into their midst. The prisoners
failed at first to understand this sud-
den change of demeanor, but the sight
of two hundred muskets leveled at
their breasts, taught them speedily
that we were in danger. Still the love
of life was too strong for them to make
any effort for liberty SO they covered
down and remained silent and motion
less.
Slowly the Confederate column came
down the side of the mountain and
across the valley. There appeared to
be about two hundred of them, both
men and horses looking tired and
worn out. The head of their column
had passed the opening leading to the
impromptu camp, and Lieutenant
Norr was beginning to think that all
was going off we'll, when suddenly his
horse gave long and loud neigh.
The Confederate column halted sud-
denly, and Norr saw that the crisis
had come, and with the help of Lieut..
Chidsey, he quickly called about fifty
of his men from the line around the
prisoners, and brought them over to
the side next the road, and at the
same moment Barney's musket was
heard. Quickly taking trees. the
Union men opened fire upon their I'M
welcome visitors. The fire was re-
turned, but without effect on account
of the trees. The firing had been
kept up for about five minutes, and
the prisoners were becoming very rest
less and uneasy because the bullets of
their friends were dropping among
them with uncomfortable frequency,
and one or two of them were slightly
wounded, causing them, regardless of
consequences, to break into a loud
yell, half of despair and half of hope,
for succor, at the same time that Bar
ney and the men on the picket line
having got together poured volley
into the rear of the Confederate
column. The effect was magical, the
yell and the fire in the rear led them
to believe that they we're about to be
surrounded by vastly superior force,
and putting spurs to their jaded steeds,
they quickly disappeared down the
valley road, leaving one of their men
dead by the wayside.
The Confederate column was scarce
ly out of sight when another alarm
was raised, but this time the advanc-
ing column proved to be the Sixth
Pennsylvania Cavalry in pursuit of
the enemy. The officer in command
only halted long enough to inquire
how far ahead the column was and to
say that the road was safe for Lieut..
Norr and his party to Harper's Ferry.
A few minutes later Lieut.. Norr heard
the scattering shots, which announced
that the blue had caught up with the