Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-07-27
THE CANNON'S MOUTH.
BY +. A. Mitchell.


They said it was a forced march.
First, some soldiers on horseback
went tearing by with terrible
clatter, leaving cloud OF dust be-
hind them, then it was all quiet for
an hour. heard a tramping, and
looking up to the crest of rising
ground to the north, saw the road
packed with soldiers on foot. They
came quickly up, and l scarcely
had time to see what they looked
like before those in front had pass
ed. They didn't march ike sol
diers / bad seen in the city on a
gala day. when l was a little girl /;
they hurried along, each man walk
ing as he liked. l wondered how
they could 90 so fast, they were
loaded down 80. They carried
great heavy knapsacks and blank.
cts. and tin pans and canteens, be.
sides their muskets. They looked
more as if they were going to SET
up house keeping than to war.
While l was leaning on the win.
dow-sill, looking out and watching
them, saw a young officer ride in
to the yard, just as if he belonged
to the place-or, rather, as if the
place belonged to him-and back
toward the barn. Two soldiers
rode close behind him, and they
got down of their horses and went
into the barn. l thought at once
thew were after our horses. My
pony was there, and l made up my
mind they shouldn't take him with
out walking over my dead body
ran down stairs and out to the
barn. If | had been making q
/ forced march myself 1 couldn't have
gone faster. Before | got there
they had two horses out, and were
harnessing them to the farm wag-
on. marched straight up to the
officer and asked him what he was
doing.
He was a trife startled at seeing
a girl standing before him, looking
as If she intended to make a re-
sistance.
"We're pressing all the horses
and wagons we find along the
road" he said.
"What do you mean by pressing
them 7"
"We're pressing them into the
service"
"What for"
"To carry the mems knapsaks.-
They can march faster.'
"Do you think it makes it any
more respectable to call it press
ingW
The officers face was flushed. l
thought it was because he was
ashamed of bis work; but l soon
noticed that he was in a burning
fever.
"You shan't take my pony, any
way," 1 cried, going to a man who
was leading him out of the barn
and seizing the latter.
"Never mind that horse" 4" said the
officer; it's only a pony. Take it
back into the stable"
The man obeyed at once. They
harnessed two horses to the wagon,
and led the team into the road. AS
the soldiers marched past 1t they
threw their knapsacks on the wag.
on, and it was soon loaded, and
one of the negroes drove it away.
Just then an officer came along
with a number Of other officers and
a train of horsemen following him.
l noticed that he had stars on his
shoulders, and wore a straight
sword instead of a crooked one like
the rest. tiistl4lI Ati.
"Csptain," he said, looking at the
officer who had taken our horses
and wagon, "you'd better not try
to 60 any farther"
81 can 60 on general. It's only
intermittent
! The general cut him short with,
"Stop where you are.' He spoke
so sharp that | thought he was 60
ing to bite the captain's head off.
| wished the captain had the cour.
age to answer him, but he hadn't.
The general and those who were
with him rode on, leaving the sick
man sitting on his horse looking
after them. to take care of himself
as best he could. noticed he wore
the same ornaments on his cap as
those about the general-a wreath
and I concluded he was one OF
them.
There was an interval in the pass
ing regiments, and no one was near
but the captain and me.
"What are you gong to do y |
asked him.
/ was sitting on the fence, win
my feet dangling. 1t wasn't very
graceful position, but 1 was only q
country girl then, and didn't know
any better.
"I don't know, he said, YEARLY
81 suppose / must ride back to
N. There's hospital there.
If he hadn't been Yankee and a
robber, or a 'presser, which is the