Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-01-19

until nine tomorrow morning. Then,
do as You please"
With that he signaled his brother
and strode from the hall amid che
silence of his prisoners.
Once outside he simply closed the
Court House door as he had found it,
then called to Lieutenant Wiltshire
to bring up the sentinel, which was
promptly done.
II will take charge Of him now,
and await you all here al this door, IS
Lieutenant Wiltshire; saluting his
captain, left.
A few moments after q solitary,
pistol shot was heard clearly in the
foggy night air. Then a deeper
silence seemed 10 warp the court
house and the little town than before.
Not even dog barked in answer to
the unwonted sound.
Fifteen minutes after. a file of gray.
clad figures were conducted silently
through the gates of the Court House
to the steps whre waited the captain
and his brother with their prisoner.
Lieutenant Wiltshire, you will find
a stack of arms within that door.
We sadly need new rifles and more
ammunition. Arm every man, and
take the remainder, as well as our
old ones, and throw them into the
river yonder, not a hundred yards
away"
The order was promptly obeyed,
and then the whole party, led by
Captain Bowie, fled around the Court
House to the back and entered the
shed where splendid lot of trained
cavalry horses stood. They had been
well fed all the winter on the Cha rles
County planters oats and corn, and
had had only little exercise daily.
Now each man saddle and bride
horse, and bride another to lead; for
this raid into Maryland was partly to
get horses for Mosby's command.
Soon the whole company were swiftly
riding down the main street of Port
Tobacco. Away they dashed over
the level road, and up hill and down
dale; for this gallant raiding party
wished to make the length of Mary
land and cross the Potomac through
Montgomery County, where Colonel
Mosby was to meet them on its op.
posite banks.
Captain Bowie after while slack.
ened up and called Lieutenant Wilt
shire to his side and asked him "lf
their tagged and worn horses had been
let free as he had ordered ?"
"Yes. captain. and they went in
every direction, too, as we struck them
with the brides. Our citizen prison.
er as well as our negro walters left
also in different directions from the
town.
THAT is WELL" smiled Captain
Bowie, "our poor jaded and halt
starved horses will, have no doubt,
make their way to different farms,
and the farmers will care for them.
They will understand, as each horse
is branded with our army mark"
What did you do with your favor
lite, captain?"
81 took her with me last evening to
the hotel where procured the supper
and the walters. You must know
that the South has not a staucher
friend than this same hotel keeper
my fathers friend before mine. He
has promised me to take good care Of
my bonnie brown mare. and as soon
as he can, will send her by trusty
messenger to my home. She is in
need Of rest, and is quite lame in one
foot. But how l hate to part with
her. continued the captain after q
pause.-"She is as intelligent as q
human being, and no man can be more
faithful; how many wonderful escapes
I owe to her T.
Lieutenant Wiltshire smiled, for, be
we'll knew the fondness Captain Bowie
had for his handsome and wonderful
mare.
For two days and another night
they rode, stopping only long enough
to rest horses and men, and to get
food for them from the farmers. As
they approached q small town in
Montgomery County, nearly having
reached their destination, they saw q
body Of blue-coats coming toward
them. Captain Bowie knew he had
to meet a much larger force, and pro
badly fresh men and horses. Besides
they were numbered with the Id
horses. He looked about him anC
saw just to the right a sharp turn il
the road. and deep piece of pines.