Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-06


remarking that he was only surprised that
the home Government had not long before
shown their appreciation Of his valuable
services.
"Eh, but your mother, Grey" Winthrop
said, chidingly, she'll be proud woman
the day she hears of your promotion"
"God bless her, she willr' was the soft
response, as he strove In vain to hide the
tear which glistened in his eye.
CHAPTER ".
THE srORMING OF FREDERICKSBURG.
Winter was late that year, the sun shone
on those Virginia hills with the warmth Of
Northern Indian summer, though the
nights were crisp and cold. The dawn of
the 18th of December had hardly broken in
the clear gray sky than an orderly sum-
moned Harry Winthrop from his tent couch
to repair to the headquarters of his COM
mandinP officer.
81 have sent for you, Winthrop said
Colonel Lichfield, gravely, "on q matter Of
life and death; for this dispatch must reach
General Burnside, who has succeeded Mo
Clellan and now lies in front Of Fredericks-
burg. within twenty-four hours"
And you wish me to carry it, sir?'
4 do. 1t is q service of no mean danger,
which dare not intrust to q younger SOL
der. You have sixty miles to ride over q
billy country with the woods full of the
enemy. Be wary lad do not needlessly run
into danger, and above every thing, de-
liver your dispatches into the Generals
own hands"
"And start at once, sira"
Yes, without even an orderly. Say, arc
you well mounted2"
"No better horse than mine in the regi-
ment, Colonel" was the proud reply. "My
father bred him from the best strain of the
Blue Grass lands Of Kentucky"
Y-11s. -
to-day; SO, now, be OF, and luck go with
you"
There is nothing so inspiriting to soldier
as being employed on special duty, with the
conviction that he has been selected for it
as compliment to his skill and daring. Ac-
cordingly Harry rode away with q light
heart and a longing desire for further dis
tinction, though occasionally thoughts of
home would fit like shadows across tho
bright landscape of his present prospects.
He could see his mother wipe her glasses
and read the story of his rapid promotion he
could fancy sister Nell's eyes sparkling with
enthusiasm at the kind words the Michigan
newspapers had used in describing ga.-
LIANT raid he had shared against MOsby's
men, and he could hear the tremulous words
of his father: "My boy Harry''
The country through which he journeyed
was wild and romantic enough. As far as
he could he avoided villages and crept
along the rugged lcnes Of the endless
woods, guided only by pocket-compass
and the never-failing instinct of locality
which is essential to good soldering. But
these detours heightened the journey sad
~, and the long rest of midday beside q
mountain stream had greatly delayed him,
so that the shadows of night were closing
over the short day, when he approached
the worst part of the ROAD stony path
leading through glen, whose frowning
hills were clothed in sOmber trees.
A little to his left he saw twinkling
light in q cottage window. Should he press
on in uncertainty trusting to his usual luck,
or seek information at the humble dwellingf
Either alternative was fraught with
danger. Suddenly the deep baying of q
dog was heard and in q moment the cot
tage door was opened and an old woman,
shading the light of candle by her hand,
peered into the darkness, while q mastiH
bounded from her side in fierce fury down
the slope to where his horse was standing.
A moment more and the crack of rife
rang in the air, the Kissing bullet snapped
the branches of trees close to Harry's head.
In front of him, up the dark road, he saw
the glimmer of lights and heard angry
voices. He turned to fee, but the road be-
hind him was barred; for the tramp of
horses hoofs was coming in mad haste
upon him. One chance alone lay open to
him-tO make a dash down the bed of a
little stream, which lay between him and the
cottage, and run the gauntlet of the men
on the road above. The dog he sent howl
ing homeward with bullet in his leg, and
then setting spurs to his horse, bounded
over the bushes into the brook. 1t was
mad ride. Almost dark as pitch, trusting
only to his horse to find the way, torn by
the overhanging brambles, now nearly flung
from his saddle as the gallant beast half
fell over some big bowlder, with the crash
Of bullets ringing round him, and threaten
ing cries echoed on all sides, he reached at
last a broad, open swamp, into whose black
slime his chargers legs sunk knee-deep.
Here he thought he was comparatively safe,
and when he had got out of the shadows
of the trees It was lighter, so that he could
see something of the way he was going,
and, with sigh of relief, he turned his
horses head away from the stream.
Fo' de Lawd, boss, hop hard or YOU done
gone be in dem Quick-san's, - crled a voice
within dozen yards of hum, and the wool
" head of negro Lad peered from clump
Of reeds.
Instantly Harry drew the bride.
(which way, then, boy, to the Fredericks-
burg pike? Five dollars, if you will guide
me there"
He could see the lads teeth cleaning in
the twilight.
solar to goodness, boss" he cried, 81
dassent De road am full of rebs.''
And the Union troops-have you seen
them?" Er SETTER
sNaw," was the unsatisfactory response.
"Dere amt none roun' desc parts"
However, with the lads help he reached
the uplands, and once more set his horses
head toward Fredericksburg. Then night
came on in pitchy darkness. Twice he es-
capped by q miracle the bullets Of the enemy's
pockets. Then the highway became impass-