The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-31


was now out Of mind for the time being.
Having heard Of the occupation Of the town by
our forces, il occurred to me that | might make
a little break on my own hook, and ride up to
Fredericksburg.
ISTERCEPTING MESSAGES AGAIN.
I said something about it to one of the staff
officers, who replied that I'd better hold on
and 90 along with the rest Of them. Getting
impatient at this point where it seemed as if
we were hiding ourselves aud horses in the
woods suggested going out to our advance, in
hopes of finding q telegraph wire to tap for
news.
This was readily agreed to. Twas furnished
couple Of men and directed to the nearest main
road" This. as now recalls was road running
west from Richmond toward the Valley. Ny
impression-g gathered from the cOlOred people
was that the road led To Lexington or rStaunton.
Anyway, ! followed it out some way until we
found an old-fashioned telegraph line. ! mean
by this one Of the early kind built along the
highways.
There seemed to be but little travel along
that route just then, so we had a good chance
10 get at the wire without being seen. One of
the men held our horses and kept guard while
another climbed or reached up to the wire
from fence.
( felt sure from its dilapidated appearance
that it was some abandoned old wire. 1t was
rusted so deeply that II snapped asunder at the
first touch Of the nippeTs, While hastily draw
ing 1t together again ] felt the Shock of live
current in the hand which held the wire. This
satisfied me that we would get something for
our trouble.
After had inserted my instrument into the
circuit, the delicate little armature was at once
strongly attracted 10 the magnet. Adjusting my
spring. discovered to my surprise that our cut
tiugOfthc wire had interrupted some dispatches.
That they were important ! gathered from the
-.
know why he should be stopped so long in such
an important dispatch. let the two operators
fight II out among themselves for a few mo-
ments on that line, each accusing the other of
being responsible for the delay. When they
got started again quietly listened to the ticks
/ Of the sending operator. The first words
I seemed 10 be giving an account Of battle, in
which certain friends had been injured.
Not being able 10 restrain my curiosity, and
knowing, too, that we occupied dangerous
ground on that highway, broke in at the
4 FIRST chance II say:
/ Are the Yauks in Fredericksburg?"
Not much" was the answer that came to
/ my ears and made my heart sink.
why, / heard they were there"
They were there, but Uncle Bob scattered
/ them al back and they are running on Wash
/ ingbon. Who are your"
"Oh, I'm a strange operator from New Or
! leans. ] stopped in at this Office to get the
J LGhs ana lDNuA AuE operator out.
/ Well, the news Is, the Yanks are all gone
/ 70 H. again, and Gen Lee is marching on
/ Washington"
! don't remember whether ] thanked the
Richmond man or not; it's likely not, as | was
so much worked up that l didn't know what
was doing. hastily told my companions what
/ ] had heard.
They Indignantly denied the truth Of the
story, and insisted that the rebel operator was
fooling me. On being taunted with this insin-
uation ! returned to the key to ask further
questions.
In the meantime the ticking kept up, and
when ! again directed my ear 10 it, / heard
/ that which convinced me OF the truthfulness
I OF the report. report or long dispatch was
being sent explanatory of stonewaIl Jackson's
being wounded, etc Without again question
( ing the operator. / learned beyond a doubt, in
a convincing way, that there had been battle
and that the
REBELS CLAIMED A VICTORY.
That was enough for that day; we didn't
stop to fool any longer with that wire, but left
il open on the ground. took to our horses and
galOped back TO the big house. The General
and stan were ia the dlning-rOom. i gave nv
information breathlessly 10 one Of the staff who
comm nnicated il TO the General. At once officers
were ordered TO 20 IN certain directions, to con-
firm, ii possible, this report. In very little
while my report WAS so far confirmed by other
scouts that the mass Of the force then scattered
over that country WAS ordered 10 move back
rapidly under cover Of the coming night.
7 We at headquarters lay around the house
|, 4 until dark, the General and officers assuming
al air Of cheerfulncss and Indifference they did
not feel.
In order to deceive the landlord and any
rebel spies that might be hanging around about
Us. an order was openly issued for large de-
tachment 70 move forward, or in the advance
10 Richmond. The officer in command was /
think, Custer. He understood his business and
quietly let il be known, through his men and
the cOlored people about that they We're all
going ahead. AS matter OF fact, his orders
were 10 move cautiously IN that direction and
10 conceal bis force IN the woods. Al dark he
! was to retrsce his steps aud follow US, becom-
ing our rcar-guard on the retreat.
ITO be c5ffizttsdl