Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-27

iii sTORMING or FREDERICKSBURG.
Winter was late that year, the sun shone
on those Virginia hills with the warmth Of
q Northern Indian summer, though the
nights were crisp and cold. The dawn of
the 18th of December had hardly broken in
the clear gray sky than an orderly sum
moned Harry Winthrop from his tent couch
TO repair to the headquarters Of his COM
manding officer.
II have sent for you, Winthrop said
Colonel Lichiield, gravcly, " on Il matter Of
life and death for this dispatch must reach
General Burnside, who has succeeded Nc
Clellan and now lies in front of Fredcricks-
burg, within twenty-four hours.n
"And you wish me to carry it, sirg'
81 do. 1t is u service of no mean danger,
which l dare not intrust TO a younger sol
der, You have sixty miles to ride over a
billy country with the woods full Of the
enemy. Be wary lad do not needlessly run
into danger, and above every thing, de-
liver your dispatches into the Generals
own hands,"
"And start at once, sirg'
Eyes, without even an orderly. Say, are
you well mounted!a
mo better horse than mine in the regi-
ment, Colonel" was the proud reply. MY
father bred him from the best strain Of the
Blue Grass lands of Kentucky
"Well, you will have to try his mettle
to-day; so, nov, be off, and luck go with
your
There is nothing so inspiriting TO a soldier
as being employed on special duty, with tho
conviction that he has been selected for it
IS a compliment to his skill and daring. Ac-
cordingly Harry rode away with a light
heart and longing desire for further dis
YlnatnOn fhaunh Aannafnnn11rs Ig.NaIt1 -
home would fit like shadows across the
bright landscape of his present prospects.
He could sec his mother wipe her glasses
and read the story Of his rapid promotion he
could fancy sister Nell's eyes sparkling with
enthusiasm at the kind words the Michigan
newspapers had used in describing a gal
liant raid he had shared against Mosby's
men, and he could hear the tremulous words
of his father: my boy Harryr'
The country through which he iourneyed
was wild and romantic enough. As far as
he could he avoided villages and crept
along the rugged lanes Of the endless
woods, guided only by "A pockot-compass
and the nevcr-failing instinct of locality
which is essential to good soldering. But
these detours heightened the journey sad
~, and the long rest OF midday beside a
mountain stream had greatly delayed him,
so that the shadows of night were closing
over the short day, when he approached
the worst part Of the road-a stony path
leading through a glen, whose frowning
hills were clothed in somber trees.
A little 10 his left he saw twinlling "a
light in a cottage window. Should he press
on in uncertainty trusting TO his usual luck,
or seek information atthe humble dwcllingP
Either alternative was fraught with
InnLWgs GfIlnsIvr Al, I,a4. 1E.ue.~ - =.
dog was heard and in a moment the cot
tage door was opened and an old woman,
shading the light of a candle by her hand,
peered into the darkness, while a mastif
bounded from her side in fierce fury down
the slope to whore his horse was standing.
A more and the crack Of q rife
rang in the air, tho Kissing bullet snapped
the branches Of trees close to Harry's head.
In front of him, up the dark road, he saw
the glimmer Of lights and heard angry
voices. He turned TO fec, but the puad be-
hind him was barred; for the tramp OF
horses hoofs was coming in mad haste
upon him. One chance alone lay open to
him-to make u dash down the bed Of q
little stream, which lay between him and the
cottage, and run the gauntlet of the men
on the road above. The dog he sent howl
ing homeward with a bullet in his leg, and
then setting spurs 10 his horse, bounded
over the bushes into the brook. 1t was a
mad ride. Almost dark as pitch, trusting
only to his horse 10 find the way, torn by
the ~overhanging bramblcs, now nearly Gang
from his saddle as tho gallant beast half
fell over some big bOwldcr, with tho crash
of bullets ringing round him, and threaten
ing cries echoed on all sides, he reached at
last a broad, open swamp, into whose black
.lsAAA Lie glnWprgafa 1gaw asaslg Iuann Inuva
Here he thought he was comparatively safe,
and when he had got out Of the shadows
Of the trees it was lighter, so that he could
see something Of the way he was going,
and, with a sigh Of relief, he turned his
horses head away from the stream.
$40 de Lawd, boss, lol' hard or yo'l done
gone be in dem quick-san's,n cried a voice
within a dozen yards Of Inn, and the wool
~ head Of a negro lad pcered from a clump
Of reeds.
Instantly Harry drew the bride.
(which way, then, boy, to the Frcdericks.
burg pike Five dollars, if you win guide
me there.''
He could sec the lads teeth cleaning in
the twilight.
"Clar to goodness, boss he cried, II
dassent. Dc road am full Of rcbs."
"And the Union troops-have you seen
theml"
"Naw,n was the unsatisfactory response.
"Dere amt none roun' desc parts.M
However, with the lads help be reached
the uplands, and once more set his horses
head toward fredericksburg. Then night
came on in pitchy darkness. Twice he cs-
capped bya miracle the bullets Of the enemy's
pockets. Then the highway became impass.
able, and he was driven TO skirt the fields
and woods again. Thus the long night
passed, wandering he knew mob whittier,
but ever hoping to see the bivouac fires Of
his own people. To add TO his distress rain
fell in torrents, drenching him TO the skin
and chilling him so that he was obliged 10
walk on foot TO stir the circulation in his
numbcd veins.
Then he mounted a little hill, and in the
valley beneath saw lights Pickering TO and
fro; he heard the hoarse challenge TO SEN
tries, and knew that he was on the verge Of
a camp-perhaps Of Union men, but far
more likely Of the enemy.
Dazed with exhaustion he led his horse
forward with a blind trust that he would be-
right.
"Who goes thereW rang out a voice in a
rich Irish brogue.
IA friend.n he called.