Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-08-30

response 10 the rap, anu IN ooedlencs
to the invitation, tall and stalwart
form in gray. with q light in one
hand and revolver in the other.
stands erect, cool and deliberate be.
fore the awe.stricksn Crook. This is
what he saw as he rubbed his ewes
and parted with pleasant dreams.
General Crook, / presume
I am, sir
i am General Rosser, sir, said
Vandiver. You are my prisoner
You have two minutes to dress in
The General lay for some seconds
with his fingers laced back of his
head, as though questioning the &C.
curacy Of his senses.
Come, Genl, there are your clothes;
you can either put them on or 90 as
you are.
| This latter proposition, however.
did not please the General, and in
less time than it takes to tell it he
had dressed, and reaching the street
was soon seen sitting demurely be.
hind Vandiver on his little gray
charger. Riding down the street,
they were Joined by the st. Nicholas
party, with their prize, and proceeded
to 'evacuate the city-quistly, calm
ly and in good order. Reaching
Mills creek, they turned to the left
and proceeded down the tow.path.
On the opposite side of the canal
along the hillsides, were encamped
many of Crooks and Kellys soldiers,
little dreaming of the surprise the
morning should bring. Sentinels, too,
as unconscious as their slumberine
companions, whistled among the trees
or sung some low lullaby to the era.
die of their hopes, for they knew that
the great war.cloud was drifting
away. Some few, however, were
aroused at seeing this strange process.
sion passing in dark review before |
them and inquired:
Whose command? 2
Scouts going out
They had now reached a distance |
OF three and a half miles from Cum.
berland.
Halt who goes there p
vvuuurIeIs"
Bulls Gapr shouted Vandiver;
mo time to dismount; in a hurry;
enemy reported near; sent out by
Crook to watch movements.
Go on, then, cold night boys, to
be out
Yes, pretty cold !
Give the Johnnies HI, boys
oh, yes, we are the boys to do
that, replied Vandiver.
Crook was sittin' behind me, air,
an slapped my hand on his leg an
said, 'Gen'l, would you have liked to
have said something? Well, sir, ne
looked mad as a hornet, an said.
Too late now, sir.
Pushing on briskly, Romney, about
81 miles distant was reached, without
any mishap, though the rear.guard
reported some 60 cavalry in hot
pursuit, yellin' an shoutin like the
ID with whom a few shots were
exchanged, but they reached and
crossed the surging Potomac safely,
and soon found themselves within the
Confederates lines. Thus was accom-
plished this daring exploit, too lightly
and flippantly passed over by histo-
rians. Thus little band of 81 men
entered the heart Of the city Of Cum
berland, city Of nine thousand in
habitants-the majority of whom were
bitterly hostile, with eight thousand
troops encamped IN and around it, and
carried away their generals.
The old man, finishing his story,
said:
4 was born an raised in Hampshire
county, w. Va, sir; ] am 6 feet 2 and
a half inches tall, sir. I've five bull
let holes through my body. (Here he
displayed them Thars my watch.
nv pocket book, an three thousand
dollars in Confederate money with
Mime hole through them. They
saved my life sir, laying them quietly
E upon the table. Then, Strengthening
out his tall figure, and looking every
d inch a soldier, his eyes fired as h'
continued:
=. I was a good rebel, sir. an as goo.t
; a one now as ever. My father
house was burned by them fellows IN u
an nv old mother an sisters were turne
ont o. doors, houseless an homeless, whe
the snow was deep, an the winter win
- hovled. shivered ai midnight on the hill
Of Hampshire 4 tear glistened in the ol
mans eve as he murmur in broken volc
while his gaunt frame was shaking wit
the storms Of pathetic memories. 'Hous'
los, homclessl sir. Have you ever bee
il. homelessg God help you. may You new
be, was once, yes, wandering IN exi
through the western wilderness for eng
if wears. Yes, sir, an after they had parol'
me they offered reward for my boC
dead Gr alive. But I've home now
e. good wife, something 10 eat, an little
drink. an few good friends left, sir
III a pleasant place Is this little city amo