The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-28
"r.,, tr ,bout,a Horton, i,hs ono sud.

With evident suffering Horton ho6bled
! ont
| He's done for" remarked Tom. "l've
| promised him 10 go on To Fairfax Court
/ House for the wagon as soon as my pipe
| il finished It's seven miles oil, but
| don't mind that. Tell me OF the fight"
well, in the first place, Blake the ofi'
| Ger killed here, was the best friend ! ever
had. We were boys together went to
| New York at the same time, and when
| the war broke out took service in the
| same regiment Of New York cavalry.
| Blake had some reserves which ! never
fathomcd-mores the pity-they have tor
incnted me ever since Our regiment be-
lonaed to the army Of the Potomac. One
div when Cen. Mcclellan was in com
mand, the enemy aggressive, times dan
| gerous and orders had come for quick
march, Blake said to me:
"John, III never come Out Of this war
alive
| Nonsense | laughed You have
the same chance we all have.
"'You are mistaken, he interrupted, 4
| have not the same chsuce.'
| "'WhyF
Because au enemy is beside me, an
enemy bent on finishing NE, pitiless,
determined enemy in my own regiment.
I'VE were sitting on our horses ready
10 march, but | came closer to him and
said. What DO you mean, Blake"
81 wish had told you long ago, John;
there Is no time now, but you shall know
some day
"'You are gloomy, that's all, one does
get downhearted without any particular
reason for IT, You'll be IN better spirits
after a bit
"My words were soothing and sympa-
thetic. INV tone skeptical and indulgent,
but all the same, saw that Blake was
neither downhearted rs | said, nor fanci-
full as thought.
az am not gloomy, lie rejoined, in the
same emOtionless manner, but | know
that. sitting in his saddle at this moment,
is a man of my own regiment secretly
watching his chance to put a bullet
through my heart.
Don't give him the chance.
"'Hell find it for himself, went Oh
Blake, with quiet conviction You shall
know it some day, John. There is no
time now. but YOU shall know and see fol
yourself my deadly enemy
Forward, ordered the colonel.
I'VE moved on, and the opportunity
was lost am positive that Blake meant
to conhde his secret to me Naturally !
thought great deal of what he had said,
and recalled many inexplicable trifes AS
eorroborative evidence. Our regiment
was sent here 10 watch these crossroads,
and was quartered in this church. must
admit that the building was comfortably
supplied with seats, which fell prey
later on to more predatory occupants.
Night came on. | made the round OF
guard and outposts. The enemy was com
paratively distant, nobody knew OF any
raiding parties In the vicinity, the scouts
brought reports tending 10 an unexpected
degree of security. Still our vigilance
never relaxed.
About midnight walked down the
aisle again. Every one seemed in sound
sleen except Horton, whose eyes met
mine as | passed The pew serving him
rs bedchamber The night had become
raw and chilly. but made no long halt
before the fire. In spite of the pleasant
report of scout and picket, vague, IN
de1nable anxiety oppressed M" LETT
the church at once aud went on yondr
on the crossroads, unconscionsiy stfaihing
my ears to catch sound or sign Of n willy
foe. Intense, breathless silence reigned
abroad Not football, not the crackle OF
twig, reused the faintest apprehension.
Suddenly through the stiffness came
the sharp, cutting rattle 81 swift shots, a
rush of heavy, reverbefant hoo.s, mingled
with cries and shouts.
INSTANTLY knew that the enemy was
driving in our pickets, aud knew, TOO,
that our pickets were only one mile away.
Rushing into the chapel ran along the
aisles calling up the men. vdette
dashed up TO the door, yelling 'Mosbyl
Mosbyr Wecould hear them laundering
down the road In mad charge. Conster-
nation and confusion demorali2ed the men.
A wild rush Ior horses, cowardly break
for the bushes by some, and in less time
than 1t takes to tell it the church was
cleared | happened 10 be among the last
to leave, and was about to put my foot in
the stirrup when two pistol shots, one
after the other, at my very elbow com
pleted the panic and sent orr troopers
scuddng down the road. In one swift,
instantaneous glance saw man falling
and another half bent over him, firing the
second shot The fallen man was Blake,
with bullet through his brain, but the
dastardiy assassin vanished in the enguif
ing stampede, neither saw his face nor
recognized him in that one electrified
glimpse. Springng on my horse l gal
loped after my comrades. A moment
more and Mosby was down upon us. lie
drove us four miles, fighting holly, until
at the next crossroads the guerilla band
turned off and ambled away with a goodly
number of captured horses and some
prisoners.
Horton was among the wounded sen;
back to Washington. He went west as
soon as he recovered
Odd you find Blake's body" asked
Tom.
Yes we returned here the next day
and found him just where he had fallen,
with bullet through the brain and
another through the heart. His enemy
was, as Blake had said, 'pitiless, and his
moment had come when Mosby Numbered
down upon us, that night Of Dec. III,
1862"
'Apd the criminal has never BEEN dis
covereds" Tom said, intcrrogatively, while
he glanced around the dismantled chapel.
Never. 1 did my best, but Blake and
his foe had kept their secret too safely,
and the times were troublous. Poor
Blake he had said: You shall know it
| Il. l.<