Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-11
InG CAPTAINS CHARGE.
rThe Areosyl
E1uaet from plstrIcl oraer.


Army Pay Department and requested
to be shown 10 Major Manley's room.
=" Good morning. SIR" said on being
admitted. am directed to report my
self 10 Won"
yes, Ellicott," answered the ever.
cncery chief who had always kindly
worcs Of advice and encouragement 10
oiicr those who served under ms orders
am about 20 detail You to a difficult
ana somewhat dangerous duty. Money
must be conveyed 60 Newcastle for the
payment of supplies. as The Bocrs refuse
10 receive our paper and even II the
GRATIS were accepted there is not sniff
Gent spccieiu the small country banks
20 meet all The demands that would be
made upon them. So | want 10 send
you mp with fifty thousand pounds in
gold to Ne handed over 20 Mr.. Martin,
now I'D comEIsssriat charge 30 Newcastle,
Who viii account 20 me direct fOra.l pay
mclts mace
8" Am J not 20 have theusual escort de-
tollct IN the Treasury Instructions -
asked.
"No; there's the pinch Orr losses
vera so great at lsouahlUaua that We
have not single man TO spare. All
clerks md employed i1on must take Their
turn of duty. Besides. / wish 10 ayoid
su escort as It woui2 only have tine eject
OF unnecessarily edvcTiisiuc iho matter.
In the pr, sent state of the country, with
shoals of doubtful characters about, tins
would be injudicious and almost invite
attack. So the General has fallen in
with my suggestion as 20 thc manner %
CONVEYANCE, taking the respOnsIbi'ity
of It's safe delivery. Now listen" And
be proceeded to unfold his plan.
The position appeared 10 he tins :
After our losses ON the 22d OF January,
and wniie waiting for endorsements,
there were barely enough men 20 enable
rs % hold our own On case OF a descent
upon the Colony bv CctewovO. Picter-
merfzburg had been put in a state OF
defence by erecting loopholcl barncadcs
10 the streets. ne courthouse was for
titled and laagors formed at various
strategic points, o. winch all the iuhahi-
tants were 20 repair upon given signal
the Hring OF three guns in quick success
sion from For. Napier. 81 the Cut.ying
posts and towns were also strongly for
titled This prohibited the withdrawal
of any men employed IN the duties OF
defence.
Ordinarily guard Of ono officer and
twenty-five mon IS provided Tor the os-
Cort OF treasure hut, os has been OK
planned. the present circumstances We're
uu'aycmble TO This course. and prompt
payment for supplies being imperative,
the following was decided on
The money was TO DO packed IN empty
ammunition boxes, with the usual de
srrptlye label OF contents remaining on
them. Then it was TO he loaded IN an
ordinary Cape cart IA marvel Of lichtncss
oni strength and placed under charge
of an officer. who, be was pleased to say,
should be a nan OF courage and re-
source passing 1t on O. the front, IS
was frequently done at the time, as Az
munltion. There was n great scarcity OF
stores Of all kinds after our losses ut
Isan3llVaua, where immense quantities
OF supplies had to be abandoned.
Now," lie went on TO say, the
greatest risk you will run is from the
swarm Of men who, under the Ruise of
somebody's Horse, on somebody elsc's
Raurcr4.' e hOc QcUUR Outra, ore
spread sll over the couutryat he present
time. ] don't al.ude I'd the gallant men
uuier tried leaders who nave done such
good aad loyal service, but To those
smaller bands under unknown men, 10
which ara attracted the usual hulc-s
spirits that alwayx crop UP under pres
3 J. IL. me-
YOU come across any of these, they
would make nothing of taking yorr lite
If they oot an mixing Of what you have
IN charge"
This was true enough.
"Now. Centqin E,icott, do You feel
equal to the risk ?' continued Major
Nenlev. Ny spirits rose at tie prospect.
The task was DO doubt difficult one,
hu. l reelected t1at this was a chance
that might never come i'm NY way again,
and felt a not objectionable pride in
the hope of obtaining little distinction
should / successfully carry ont the duty
now iutrusted to me.
al am your man, Major l replied.
When am 10 start? ~
Good he said, graspinc my hand.
" Your ready acceptance of what 70 be
plain with You, is hazardous under
taking. shall not gounreprcsen'cd Ia the
proper quarter.
Ia order to throw the loafer element
of the scent q paragraph was inserted
in "The Natal Witness stating that
CAPTAIN Ellicott, of the Niuctytourth
regiment was IN orders to JOIN the
Of his corps and take with
him n supply of reserve ammunition, the
transport department being directed to
provide conveyance.
The date of leaving was given as some
davs after that intended Tor my actual
departure; consequently 1 should be
well on the way before 1t was known that
l had started.
Two DAYS after the interview men
toned above the cart containing my
valuable consignment wound slowly mp
ward along ten miles OF steep hill Lead
ing 20 Howick. Tho HottcntOt driver
rrnmblcd now and then ut the weight OF
the ammunition, saying that IT ought to
he sent on an Ox-wagon instead OIL "a
mule-cart. lie was afraid the spuacs
would not hold out. / soo'hed nm,
however. with an occasional draught of
Roer brandy, with which ] had provided
rnvself-that fiery liquid so highly
priced by his class, upon whose head 1t
appeared not 20 make the slightest I'M I.
preston. After long and wearisome /
crawl upward we reached at length the /
level road which teral- /
mated al the hotel.
/ was disagreeably surprised on ami /
wi 10 find here a body Of volunteers, I
about forty in number. composed princi- /
pally, as it appeared to me, OF that /
dubious class known as the "cantcen 1
loafer. a product peculiar to some parts /
Of South Africa. They were under the +
Leadership of smooth-toDgued lndlyid- /
aal named Osierton, whom ! had FIRE.
1uentv met at Pietermsritzburg and /
,sbo was said 20 beycry well connected /
d reckless gambler, ready to bet on any
thing or everything, having the addi- /
fioual reputation OF being an utterly IN
80. ~.,.,rr. fraf