Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-10-11
XII.

~@G"fF
4 found himself in much the same position as
the worthy matron's readers. he must
first catch Lis hare. Aud the hare in qucs-
ton proved to be Of such a shadowy char
actor, that after two days hunting he was
compelled for the present to give up tho
pursuit.
OF course he at once left Mrs. Platt's
house. He felt like a diaeordant element
III the holao-circla, for il Is not a very pleas
ant thing for d nan to sit at the same table
..eh ladies' whose son aad brother he is de-
ternlinel to bring to the gallows.
But, though he learned many particulars
concerning the Widows son, who was de-
clared by several who knew him to be a no
toriols %scoundrcl. who had boon drumrlcd
out of the regiment in which nc had en-
listed, and was now supposed to have
drifted utterly to the bad, he could CLEAN no
tidings OF his present whereabouts. No one
had seen him. No one wanted to sec him.
So Harry won't back to his regiment at
Harper's Ferry without bringing the
scoundrel TO justice.
Then the cry was "Shcridan - Brave,
gallant, dashing Phil was to lead the troops
10 victory. SO under this renowned Gen
eral they turned their faces once more
westward along the Shenandoah Valley. II
was hot work for tho cavalry. Little Phil
kept them well in advance, exploiting and
developing the eaamy; but for a time not
closing with him "a delay which caused
Grant sorne anxiety, for he came in person
to see how matters stood, but was so salts
fled with his Lieutenant's perfect prepare
tons, that he wont back to his post at
Petersburg.
But ono day theorists came They were
near the quaint Old city of Winchester and
struck the Confederate army ct the ford of
the river.
''Threcs about, men charge 2 cried Colonel
Brewer, who commanded HerrY's regiment,
and the gallant squadron dashed headiong
Oh the fee, driving them back 10 the very
verge Of the city. The infantry met tho
Confederate cavalry, and their long line
never wavered But suddenly from behind
q low wall uprose tho enemy four deep, ana
a literal sheet Of flame flashed on the strug-
Cling horsomcp, who fell back IS best they
could, only to give place to the solid masses
Of Federal infantry, which moved steadily
on, driving all before them. But il tue
very flush Of victory tho gallant Brewer,
generous as he was brave, poured out his
isfa upon tho battlefield. Harry stood by
his side when the death-blow was dealt him.
1t happened thus: A man threw up his arms
to surrender an appeal that was never
made in vain TO Brewcr-and, even as no
lowered his sword shot min through the
heart.
This gaze the command of the gesimant
to Harry.
4. IN the Aaya that followed they had many
Q brush with Moseby's guerillas, who how
cred round them, ever ready to harrass them
and impede their movements. In fact, be-
tween Custer's brigade and these V:rginlaI
1uaaar-rln-r - Ef4f,n -.-.a a. y Z
cntailcd deedp OF relentless cruelty on
either side that the pen Of the historian
would fain pass by in silence, II was neth-
ing strange to flnd a cornr;.de dead on the
ground with q t,ekct marked BLOOD for
Blood pinned Oh his coat; though it is
said that Moseby did acknowledge the sign
Of Frocmasonry, and many a man owed his
life to the fact that he belonged to tho
brotherhood.
The Union for e t!lel % make their way
I harlottesvillo, bat found the gaps so
full Of the enemy that tho attempt failed.
One day q man crossed the river, and
seeking audience with Custer, told Inn .ls4a
he was a Union refugee, ..Aa that al the
back Of 2 Gesaueoring Hill was a rebel sup
iIStraln almost unprotected.
Harry was ordered to take his regiment
and capture it. He crossed the tort aud
'N~ !" lily '1|NE. t3A AttSi. Bduh-
SuadenlS te pressed forward 10 speak to
tLsg guide, yyh9 was Y;ding beside the adj
NaaGe guard, As he did so, the man
dropped from his horse and made a sue
ccssful da5' into the wood, but net no
quickly thu he coGld not .e,ogai4o in the
fleeing pea t,.C fguco OF the trcachcr-
G.as canadian, Alphonse Lecroix. Instinct
lively lac halted his on to retire pot
whole brigade Of the Gusu5 was pouring
down the hillside " cut him Qf FROM inc
toid
custer saw his dilemma and advanced to
the rescue. just then a colored mar in
rags and tatter5 ran to Harry and cried:
"Dere's a ford up dc ribcr, boss, not tvs
miles away. Clar to goodness, boss, it,8
truc-I'zo no lyiu'H
"Fogwafdl% Trbtl' was the command.
And surely it was rs the negro had told
him. They reached the spot in safety, got
back to thcir own lines again, and moved
towards the east.
Oh. the stern necessity Of warl 10 pro.
teet the city OF Washington, ali she fair
valley of the Shenandoah must be stripped
IL laid d~esoiqte. houses aud barns burned,
crops and stores destroyed till, as Sheridan
himself said, If u crow wants to fly down
the valley lie must carry his own provisions
with him. Harry Winthrop's heart achcd
as he saw the ruin around him. n
So,with Early at its hec,s, size Onion army
fell back u Iishef5 Hin, where Sheridan
turned ct bag. Tho village was in flames.
and half the time the men were fighting fire.
SO that the position was ~untenable. The,
withdrew to Woodstock, aul there Shcfi5
dan, like a lion tracked 10 his lair, rushed
upon hrs foes. With q roar Of rage the
Union army dashed forward vhere the
ranks were thiczest, the enep2y resisting
with the stubborn courage Of men lighting
for the last Spot Of ground So impetuous
was the charge Of the Federal squadroas
that they stopped not till, piercing thedense
mass Of retreating columns, they reached
tho open ground bcyond,cAd EarIy's host
was sent whirling up tie valley of the
Shenandoah"
One piece of the enemy's artillery alone
remained to rain death on the Yictors. liar.
~ Winthrop heard Sheridans cry: " The
man who captures that shall have six
months leave and . years payp' and
rushed with his gallant troopers Ia the
charge, saber1ng the heroic grnners aatheI
stood to the last at tLair post
Then an was DUCT for q time, and Hheri
dan, called by important affairs, went to
Washington, leaving General Wright in
command. II WINS during his absence that
Early, who had been rc-enforced. marched
once more TO the conflict
Winthrop and his men were on picket
duty, and were the first t. eealiee this ua.
expected attitude Of tho enemy, whose ad.
yaReed GUARD suddenly charged upon him
and put HE men 10 flight. And in the melee
lhis story wasnearly coming toan end as far
as its hero was concerned, for Harrro ncrse
il its mad career lcapcd right intothe race
of a faill-dam with him; dis1ocating his
shoulder and half drowning him. Even As
his pursucrs were on the bank. he ercps "a
the mlller's hohses where, luckily for him, a
Northern woman rcIgned as mistress.
"Quick.' she cried, into this barrel