Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-07-17
The CoJRIER'S RIDE.
BY DANIEL KNIGHT.


g, preparatory to joining General Grant,
,aid in the battle of Shiloh, then daily
expected. In the following details I shall
only narrate the part which acted person.
ally, leaving the army and its movements to
the historian.
1t was the evening before the battle thai
General unknown to me, belonging tc
Buelrs army, hailed me and asked to what
Cavalry l belonged, my name, Captains
n:Ie, and company, all of which l an
swered, he noting my answers. He then
asked if I would be willing to go with an
officer of his staff upon a night ride to
Pittsburg Landing.
He said: Il am General Nelson, and
prefer volunteer courier if can get one,
as they are always better men for tho
work."
l replied that was willing to undertake
the duty when properly detailed and in
structed. My answer seemed to please him.
He answered: GAS soon as possible go to
Jour quarters, feed your horse, yourself,
and the sooner you are ready the better"
This seemed like a strange speech, COM
ing from stranger whom had never seen
before, but, once having seen, not liable to
forget.
He was large, feshy, sharp-spoken
man, and his words carried authority with
them. 1t was now getting on toward night,
and l soon after left the line and went to
camp. l had fed my horse, and was max
ing my coffee, when an orderly came and
directed me to report at the Captain tent.
Going to headquarters to report, I met
General Nelson coming out. I saluted
him. He returned the salute, and said:
BE Off as soon as possible, corporal. I
left your instructions with your Captain.
We were intending to send Lieutenant Mil
man with you, but he is on the
sick list, and perhaps it is just as
we'll. Be careful, but get there as
soon as your horse can get you there.
There will in all probability be fighting
when you get there. But it must not stop
you. Go directly to General Grant and de-
liver your message to him and only TO him.
If there are any rebel cavalry on this side
OF the river to intercept you, you must con-
danger of being taken. If you destroy tho
papers and yet succeed in getting through.
and the fight is in progress, as l am almost
certain it will be before you can possibly
get there, say to General Grant that Gen
eral Nelson's division will be in line with
him before the sun goes down."
He then mounted and rode away. / en-
tered tho Captains tent. He and Major
Bracket We're seated at small writing ia
BILE, examining small military map.
The Captain said: Dan, you have got
yourself into business. General Nelson
has Just left an order to detail you to go to
the Landing with papers for General Grant.
1t is dangerous service. You are to take
road some four or five miles south, al
there are many sentinels on this, and it
would consume too much time to stop and
explain who you are to each; hence, it is
deemed advisable to take the other road, by
which you run the risk OF meeting guards
Of the wrong color. Basil Duke is on this
side of the river somewhere. In the event
well, there is no use of giving you direc-
lions. Do your best, as we trust you will.
You are to start on very important as we'll
rs dangerous mission, and are expected to
deliver these papers TO General Grant by
noon to- morrow. Get there by your own
devices. A darby will guide you to the
south road, and Sergeant Whitehall and the
picket guard will see you safe on yourrace."
took the papers, thanked the Captain
for the compliment, and as soon as pos
sible was in the saddle.
l found the guard waiting, and little
nefole p. m. We started out of camp. On
arriving at the road the sergeant want d
me to take the negro, but l declined,
preferrng to chance it alone, and bidding
them cheerful good-by. cantered away.
1t was very lonely for the first hour, but
gradually the desire to succeed began to
take its place, and felt that was getting
an famously, when 1 discovered to my right
fire. 1t seemed not to be upon the road,
but it was too dark to determine | pressed
Forward, watching the fire, and soon saw
men about it. 4 hat settled the question,
md knew they We're rebel picket. How
vas to get by them was the question:
Very important question just then. There
we're too many of them for me to dash by
hem. My horse wanted to whinny. l had
20 sap him several times to keep him quiet.
For five OF six minutes l sat there watch
ng that camp, when l heard horse ap-
preaching from the same road had come.
pulled Off the road to let it pass, thinking
a Johnny; but when they got opposite
ne they stopped-two negroes, one on foot,
one on horseback-and heard the follow
ng dialogue:
Now, den, Steve, watts ur goin' ter do?
DENIS de Seccsh, an eff we lets dem catch
Is ives no better MS dead niggers."
well, but we isn't gwine to let dem
'atchus, sonny; of course, dey would shoot
IS too quick. But see here, boy; you men,
ser dat path wat runs down to Missa Jen-
tins'. Wal, ia To-"
"What dat, boy"
My horse was uneasy; he snuffied, and
he remark Of the negro in regard TO the
bath was SO satisfactory that ! rode up tc
them, cautioning them to keep quiet I
told them that l did not want to interfere
with their plans, but that did want TO get
around the fire without being seen, and
that if they knew of any way, 1 should be
glad to have them show me it.
The old negro, the first speaker, asked,
us you Linkum sojer?"
| said was.
He seemed greatly pleased at this; said
the rebels at the fire were 'Ole Dukes city
sojers;" that he and his son We're trying to
get to our army at Pit.sburg Landing, and
that if the rebels caught them they would
shoot them without asking question.
And, as l afterward learned, he was right
In so saying, as they showed no mercy to
negroes trying to reach our lines. lie said
his boy knew of path through the woods
cow-path. starting some distance back,
and he thought they could get me through
all right.
assented to following their lead. We
turned back, going slow that the boy might
lind the path, which he soon did-the worst
one / ever saw, ard had been all through
the Rockies, fnling naught to compare
with that cow-path in Western Tennessee.
We Travelled single file-I in the rear
After three or four miles we came to a
stream. We could not see what it was, but
1 knew by its noise tina, it was quite a river.
The boy said it was ordinarily a
small creek, but now was swollen
by recent rains. lie did not like to
cross first, rs he could not swim. was toe
ANXIOUS 10 pIOcoSd 10 stand uDon cAremony