The Irish standard., 1888-10-27
: al al. Last | |
Thrilling lI|l and I,oman an! Stcly
Of the Late Civil War.
BE ARD BIGSBY,
AurHoa OF .E1LHS's SECRET 'FALIiRN
AMONG THIEVES - 'sNfY LADY FANTAs-
TICAI.S' AND OTHER STORIES.

But one day t.e crisis came They were
near tho quaint old city of Winchester nnt
struck the Confederate army at the ford ot
the river.
:. Three, about, men, charge cried Colone
Brewer, who commanded Harrv's regiment
and the gallant squadron dashed headlons
\ en- the fee driving tilc,,: '>acl. To the yer,
ssrge of tho city. The intaury met the
!. .@pnfederate cavalry. and their long line
sver wavered. But suddenly from behind
low wall uprose the enemy four deep, aud
literal sheet OF flame flashed on the strug-
hing horsemen, who fell back as best they
ould, only to give place to the solid masses
Federal infantry, which moved steadily
u, driving all before them. But in the
cry flush of victory the gallant Brewer,
fe upon the battlefield. Hurry stood by
is side when the death-biow was dealt him.
thappened thus: A man threw up his arms
o surrcnder-:.n appeal that was never
oade in vain to Brewer--and, even as he
pwered his sword, shot him through the
eart-
This gave the command Of the regiment
Harry.
In the days that followed they had many
brush with Moscby's guerillas, who how
rec round them, ever ready to harrass them
nd impede their movements. In fact, be-
woen Clusters brigade and these Virginian
rregulars a bitter vendetta existed, which
mlailed deeds Of relentless cruelty on
hther side that the pen OF the historian
you'd fain pass by in silence. 1t was moth
hg strange to tiud q colnrade dead on the
,round with q ticket marked BLOOD for
3lood" pinned on his coat; though it is
aid thnt Moseby did acknowledge the sign
Il Fl'ecuasonry, and many a man owed his
fe to The fact that he belonged to tho
otherhood.
The Union forces tried to make their way
. Charlottesville, but found tho gaps so
Ill Of the enemy that the attempt failed.
Ono day man crossed tho river, and
,elsing audience with Custer told him thah
u was a Union refugee, and that at the
ack OF = ,ieighboring hill was rebel sup
J-train almost unprotected.
Harry was ordered to take his regiment
ad capture it.. He crossed the fort and
ode mile along the river bank.
Suddenly he pressed forward to speak to
he guide, who was riding beside the adj
rance guard. AS he did 80, the man
Cropped from his horse and made sue
4ssful dash into the wood, but not so
quickly that he could not recognize in the
3eeing peasant the figure Of the treacher-
,us Canadian, Alphonse Lecroix. Instinct
xely he halted his men to- retire, but a
whole brigade of the enemy was pouring
lown the hillside to cut him of from the
lord.
Custer saw his dilemma and advanced to
he rescue. just then a colored man in
'ngs and tatters ran to Harry and cried:
''Dcre's a ford up dc ribcr, boss, not two
niles away. CLAIR to goodness, boss, it's
ruc--I'2e no lynn"
Forward! TrotI' was the command.
And surely it was as tho negro had told
in2. They reached the spot in safety, got
pack to their own lines again, and moved
towards the east
Oh, the stern necessity Of war! To pro-
!ect the city Of Washington, all the fair
galley of the Shenandoah must be stripped
hnd laid dcsolatc, houses and barns burned,
Stops and stores destroyed; till.as Sheridan
himsolf said, "jf a crow wants to fly down
the valley he must carry his own provisions
with him." Harry Winthrop's heart ached
Is he saw the ruin around him.
So,with Carly at its heels, the Union army
Eci! back to Fishers Hill, where Sheridan
Nrned at bay. The village was in flames,
md half the time the men were fighting fire,
- that the position was untenabje. They
withdrew to Woodstock. and there Shcri-
Ian, like lien tracked to his lair, rushed
apoR his foas. With roar of rage the
ranks were thickest, the enemy resisting
With tho stubborn courage Of men fighting
tor the last spot of ground. So impetuous
was the charge OF the Federal squadrons
that they stopped not till, piercing thedeuse
mass Of retreating columns, they reached
the open ground beyond, and Early's host
was ''sent whirling up the valley of tho
Shenandoah"
Ona piece Of the enemy's artillery alone
remained to rain death ON tho victors. Har-
~ Winthrop heard Sheridan's cry: "The
man who captures that shall have six
nonths' leave and years payp' aud
rushed with his gallant troopers to the
sharge, saber,ng the heroic gunners as they
stood to the last at their post.
Then oil was quiet for time, and Sheri-
dan, called by Important affairs, went to
Washington, leaving General Wright in
command. It was during his absence that
Early, who had been enforced, marched
once moro to the conflict
Moru.ng ul,,Ke. Il dense fog hung over
tie valley, so thick that you could scarce dis
Germ objects few yards distant. and
through tho sulien vail OF mist Earlys host
poured like an avalanche on the Union lines.
Hour after hour the battle ragged, but the
Federal troops could not recuperate from
the shock OF that first terrible charge, and
ut last, with one hopeless effort for VIC
tory, broke in flight.
But hark!. Along tho road from Win
shcster-fourteen not twenty miles away,
as the history books say-came Gathering
the iron-shod hoofs Of . horse, and gallant
Phil Sheridan rides ct headlong speed to
the rescue, with the cannonading of the bat
tie ringing in his ears. He meets the hur-
rying fugitiyes, and, waving his sword,
cries:
6 Back, nenl Backi Turn with me and
you shall sleep in your own camp tonight, I
sweor.'
What magic there is in his presencel
The demoralized force halts, reforms, and,
led by that splendid soldier, rushes on the
enemy, who nrs plundering the camp, and
{ Ntarally whirls them from the scene; and
when night comes men and horses, just
worn out, fall asleep upon the battle aed.
50 y s:.if.5. CHAPTER XIII
ID :S.Sl 1gs THAT NlGHrAT RICHMOND.
G 5.lt was the 27tA day of February, 1868
Z grtLg !f1GS 800