The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-12-20
THE sroRMINc OF FREDERICKSBURG

/
Winter was late that year, the sun shons
on those Virginia hills with the warmth Of
a Northern Indian summer, though the
nights were crisp and cold. The dawn oi
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.
manding officer.
81 have sent for you, Winthrop" said
Colonel Lichfeld, grayely, " on matter OF
life and death; for this dispatch must reach
General Burnside, who has succeeded Nc.
Clellan and now lies in front Of Fredericks-
burg, within twenty-four hours"
And you wish me TO carry it, sir,n
- do. 1t is a service of no mean danger,
which dare not intrust to younger sol
der You have sixty miles TO ride over a
hilly 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 sir.i
Yes, without even an orderly. Say, are
you well mountedlr
"No better horse than mine in the regi-
ment, Colonel was the proud reply. my
father bred him frcm the best strain of the
Blue Grass lands of Kentucky"
"WeIl, you will have to try his mettle
to-day; so, now, be off, and luck go with
you"
There is nothing so insplriting 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 u light
heart and longing desire for further dis
tinction, though occasionally thoughts Of
home would fit like shadows across the
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 gal
liant raid he had shared against Mosby's
men, and he could hear the tremulous words
Of his father; "My boy Harryr'
The country through which he journeyed
was wild and romantic enough. As far as
he could he avoided villages and crept
along the rugged lanes of the endless
woods, guided only by a pocket-compass
and the never-failing instinct of locality
which is essential TO good soldering But
these detours heightened the journey sad
ly, and the long rest of midday beside a
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--a stony path
leading through glen, whose frowning
Mills were clothed in somber trees.
"A little to his left he saw twinkling q
light in a cottage window. Should he press
on in uncertainty trusting to his usual luck,
or seek information at the humble dwellingg
Either alternative was fraught with
danger. Suddenly the deep baying Of
dog was heard and in moment the cot
tage door was opened and an old woman,
shading the light of candle by her hand,
peered into the darkness, while mastiff
bounded from her side in fierce fury down
the slope to where his horse was standing
A moment more and the crack of rifle
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 glimIner of lights and heard angry
voices. He turned to flee, 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 dash down the bed of
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 q
mad ride. Almost dark as pitch, trusting
only to his horse to find the way, torn by
the eoverhanging 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 ali sides, he reached at
last 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 1t 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.
$50 de Lawd, boss, hol' hard or yoll done
gone be in dem quich-san's,r cried voice
within dozen yards of HIM, and the wool
ly head of a negro lad peered from clump
Of reeds.
Instantly Harry drew the bride.
(Which way, then, boy, to the Fredericks-
burg pikei Five dollars, If you will guide
me there.n
He could see the lads teeth cleaning in
the twilight.
"Clar to goodness, boss he cried, ~
dassent. De road am full of rebs.n
g And the Union troops-have you seen
them.n
Naw,n was the unsatisfactory response.
u Derc amt none roun' desc parts.r
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 miracle the bullets OF tho enemys
pickets. Then the highway became impass-
able, and he was driven to skirt the fields
and woods again. Thus the long night
passed, wandering he knew not whittier,
but ever hoping to see the bivouac fires Of
his own people. To add TO his distress rain
fell in torrents, drenching him TO the skin
and chilling him so that he was obliged to
walk on foot to stir the circulation in his
nun.bed veins.
Then he mounted a little hill, and In the
valley beneath saw lights fiiclxering to and
'ros he heard the hoarsc challenge to sen-
tries, and knew that he was on the verge Of
4 camp-perhaps OF Union mon, but fer
more likely Of the enemy.
Dazed with exhaustion he led his horse