Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-23

ing sent of. | lay for twenty minutes
within fifteen steps Of a camp fire, around
which several officers were waiting, and L
plainly heard one of them say:
" The old man Early probably knows
his gait but if Sheridan is the man we've
been told he is there'll be fun here In a
day or two"
He referred to Withdrawing troops in
the face of an impending battle, and this
prophecy was to be fulfilled to the letter.
/ had to 90 out at Early's left, which was
guarded by cavalry, and these troops must
have received orders to keep an extra
sharp lookout. | was creeping across the
field in which the county fair grounds are
situated, trying to locate the rebel vidette,
when a man came running out Of the
darkness plump at me. He came upon me
so suddenly and stealthily that | could not
dodge him, and as he pumped against me
we tumbled in heap.
/ had no doubt that he was rebel who
was seeking my capture and in half a
minute | was on top and had him by the
throat. He lost his courage at once and
made little resistance. Ny first thought
was to strangle him, but it suddenly oc-
CURED to me that he had neither musket
nor sabre, and | loosened my grip little
and whispered:
snake the least cutlery, and / will be
the death of you! What are you follow
Ing me for ?"
81 wasn't"
weren't you after me?
NO. didn't see you until l fell over
you"
"Do you know who am ~
mo"
'Where are you going?'
'Who are you ?" he asked in a caution.
way, after taking half minute Of rehec
ton.
'I'm Yanll"
NO Say, be you, honest? '
Yes
And you didn't mean to stop me ?7
"No."
Say, Yank, let me up; Pm reb-on,
of Rhoades' men-and | was deserving tt
you"
Il don't believe it."
It's gospel truth I'll 20 right int
the Yankee camp with you, for Pm sicl
and tired of this secesh business. You
needn't fear. hain't got as much as Jack
knife about me-
Do you know what troops left tn,
front little while ago?'
II do, every single regiment of 'em
and know they are going to Martinsbur!
to fight your Gineral Averill"
"And you know where the rebel cavalr,
pickets are?'
al do, and I'll take you through as slicl
as shooting. Mush but hain't glad yol
hain't reb Pm as weak as cat ovel
thinking | had been nabbed while trying t,
desert"
l felt satisfied that he was all right
but as matter of precautIon carried ;
revolver in my hand and made him g,
ahead He had been down to the cavalr,
picket on Early's left with teamster tn,
day before, and had no trouble in locating
it now. We tianked it to the left, crep
through the woods on hands and knees fol-
quarter Of a mile, and presently, as m,
foot broke a stick, voice challenged us
1t was a Union picket, and an hour late
we were ushered into Sheridan's tent. NJ,
man proved to be bonanza He was az
intelligent, Observing fellow, native o
of the country to perfection. He had /;
pretty accurate knowledge Of the strength
of each arm of service in Early's army
and could enumerate at least fifteen regi
ments He described all defenses, advised
as to how the approach should be made
and proved great prize to the commander
On the evening of the next day Sheri
dan put his army in motion, and | after.
ward saw that the man who had stumbled
over me in the dark had furnished the
plan of battle. Nearly all his suggestions
were acted upon and with the greatest sue.
cess. Early was caught mapping, sure
enough. His right went with a rush as
Sheridan struck it, and when he called in
everything to make his stand in front OF
the town, the absence of the force sent to
Martinsburg was severely felt. He made
stout fight-a better one than would
have been thought possible under the
circumstances foot by foot he wa,
pressed back on the pike, through the
graveyard, into and beyond the town, and
then his troops broke, and it was every
man for himself. Three or four days later
when Sheridan came up with him again at
Fishers Hill, | went into the fight with a
cavalry regiment. As we charged Early.
left l captured a Captain and got him and
his horse safe to the rear The first words
he uttered were:
Didn't l say there'd be fun if YOU
man Sheridan was the fighter folks said
he was? ''
He was the man whose voice haC
heard at the campfire on the night of the
17th.-Eechonge.