The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-18
4 BRAVE Ride.
Southern Boys Adventure in the Early
Days of the Civil War.
nv. stuart Mosby in philadelphia TImes.l

all odh JTtGi raul lay WUtcnlnE IHe CORK DOD-
bling up and down on the water at his feet.
Far off in the distance n misty haze hung like
a veil over the dark mass of trees on the noun
tain side. Over the fields of yellow grain
swept gentle breeze, waiting from the distant
meadow the soothing swish of the reapers'
scythes and the drowsy clack of the clumsy
farm wagons as they toiled up the long hills,
laden with the golden harvest.
The quiet rustling of the leaves, the subdued
sound of the distant reapers' call, the low
droning of bees mingled into soft drowsy
music, and Paul's eyes closed nvountarily
The cheerful tune Of the supper horn, tho
whirr of larlS's wings close to his ear and the
sudden splash of the fishing pole into the water
were unnoticed.
This was the first summer of the civil war.
North and south were ablaze with enthusiasm !;
the country was full of marching regiments,
and troops of cavalry with singing buges at
their heads would dash through quiet village
streets and speed away in the darkness to the
distant battlefield.
Very quiet it was this sutry afternoon, and
no who looked at the peaceful farm house and
the busy slaves harvesting in the fields would
haye imagined that q few miles away were
two armies ready to begin the terrible drama
of war.
alderberry bushes heightened across the road.
The COWS came slowly up from the pasture
tinkling their mellow bells dreamily as they
waded in the brook. The reapers, with their
scythes across their shoulders, came homeward
across the new-mown meadow singing some
low sweet lullaby of old slavery days
Presently there was u sound of horses feet
on the hard pike road. Closer and closer it
came and the loud hoof-beats awoke Paul from
10 lbar "a al nm lha,v
and peered through the tall grass to see who
was coming.
Suddenly loud yell broke on the still even
ing air. Paul sprang to his feet. Over the
top of the hill Just in front Of him dashed four
confederate horsemen, their horses reeking
with sweat and fecked with foam. Almost at
their heels charged half dozen union cavalry
men. Three pistol shots rang out simultan-
eously, and one of the confederates threw up
his arms, reeled for moment in his saddle
and then fell on the dusty wayside. The rest
dashed forward with the union men close in
the tear.
Down the rocky road, enveoped in cloud
of dust, they went, urging on their tired horses
sent laden messengers whizzng past their
heads. So pursued and pursuers galioped out
of sight leaving the poor fellow mortally
wounded by the wayside with his faithful horse
standing near.
Paul sprang over the low stone fence and ap-
preached the wounded man.
The confederate courier, for such he was lay
on his side, onehand supporting his head and
the other clasped tightly to his heart His face
was CHASTITY pale, the dark eyes quiyered his
breath came slow and painfully and a violent
tremor shook his frame. From a wound near
the right temple little stream of blood trick
led slowly down, staining the gray jacket and
settling in n crimson pool in the road
Paul knelt by his side, raised his head tend
erly and rested it on his knee. The man
closed his eyes for moment, then opened
Thorn and fixed them on Pauls frightened
face.
"Oh, SIR" gasped Paul family, lis there
anything / can do for your"
"Nothing, nothing" murmered the man.
Its all over with me now" and no pointed to
the wound in his forehead.
Let me run to the house and get something
for you or have them bring you up home ON a
wagon" pleaded Paul, as he wiped away the
blood with his handkerchief
mo. no; let me lie here-I haven't long to
live" he gasped. "But the yankees will soon
return and they will find my dispatches on me.
They are important ones and had to be deliy-
cred by ten tonight, on else--we would lose the
battle tomorrow"
Couldn't they be sent, ?" quered Paul.
anxious to relieve him.
"There's no one TO take them--at least no
one | could trust" murmured the soldier.
And besides, the distance is over thirty miles
and the yankees are before rs on the road"
bright thought struck Paul.
II will take them, SIR" he said quickly.
'"To whom are they to be delivered?"
"Colonel Kaynor, Forty-third Virginia cav
alry, at Rockville. But could you really UNI
dertake such ride-thirty-five miles in four
hours2" and the dying soldier locked anxious
ly at Paul.
Eyes, sir / promise you will do it," an
swered Paul bravely.
The man pointed to his vest pocket Paul
drew out from it a blood-stained packet Of dis
patches.
The man was very near the end now. With
a grateful smile at the young face bending
over him. he whispered family:
"Thank you, Oh, thank you--you will save
the men. Tell them why could not come.
Send my watch TO my mother whose address
is on this letter. Tell them how / died-and
bury me here-bere."
The eyes closed, the hands dropped, the
head fell back, and the brave courier Law dead
by the roadside Paul spread the cavalry
cloak over the still form, thrust the dispatches
in his pocket, sprang on the waiting charger
and started down the road
II was now about six o'clock, II he wished
20 keep his promise there was no time TO lose.
Should he 90 home first IL would be great
delay and perhaps they would not let him 20
at all. So he determined to start Immediately.
lie called negro man who stood IN a field
near by, telling him to run TO the house, in
form the family Of what had happened, and
have the soldiers body cared for Immediately.
Then touching the fiery horse with his heels,
he dashed off down the road.
The horse, DlOOde0 animal with archlng
neck, slender limbs, plunged forward as sf
stung ond swept on at hard galop. Down
the road they clattered past the farm, over
the wooden bridge, then out into the level road
once more. IT was growing dark rapidly. Low
in the east were great banks Of dark clouds,
through which the lightning flashed, and in
the dittance could be heard the low rumble Of
thunder
They neared dark forest that loomed up
before them
Paul was a brave boy, but he could not help
glanciug anxously at the deep shadows vi the
woods at the tall trees fitting by and listen
ing 20 the dismal echoes his horses footballs
awoke. Suddenly there came a flash Of light
ming and tall oak, shvered from top u bot
tom, fell across tho pathway At the same
time u loud clap Of thunder shook the ground
and died away IN low reverations over against
the distant mountans.
Pauls horse reared on It's launches, para
lyzed with fear then, trembling In every limb
with q wild neigh Of terror, II made flying
leap over tho PROSTATE tree and darted down
the road with dying feet
Paul knew his DANGER but ho was accus-
toned 70 riding, and he chung 10 the saddle