The Irish standard., 1888-10-13
LOYAL AT LAST.
A Tale Of Love and Adventure In
the Late Civil War.
BY BERNARD BIGSBY.
AUTHOR OF "ELLHN's SECRET" "FALLHN
AMONG THIEVES I" s'MY LADY FANrAs-
T1CAL," AND OTHER STORIES.

AUTHOR oT "ELLHN's SECRET "FALLEN
AMONG THIEVES s'MY LADY FANrAs-
T1CAL," AND OTHER STORIES
t0opyrt9lsted, 1854, BY tho a. NJ KeIlogg Neos.
paper ConspGny.1
1t was IN the spring OF "a that exclten1en'
began to bubble again in real earnest.
1t entered into the brain of Gen. Kilpat-
rick, who commanded a division, that il would
be possible for small force TO make q raid
around Lees army, attack Richmond and
release the Federal prisoners on Belle Isle
and in Libby prison. The idea, which was as
daring as twas original: found favor with the
younger officers, who were all afame fo1
distinction, but were pooh-poohed by those
higher in command as impracticable
Pleasanton refused point-blank to counter
ance the scheme Meade Indignantly de
clincl to listen to him. but Fitzpatrick was
a man not easily sat down upon; so having
ton for few days, he boldly laid his plans
before the Secretary of War, who. to his
inteuse delight, gave him a carte blanche to
carry out the project. The gallant Irish
man returned to camp iubilant.
IL reiy on you, Wlnthrop: he salo
cordially to our hero. "For you have an
Oll uC0u OH rOullS StiUOluCIE ttil0 L SoAA oA Wv
you"
Harry 1nurmurcd his appreciation Of the
compliment and boldly asked him what his
plans were
Well, don't know that there is any rear
son why should not tell you,' was the call
did reply :sWe shall be divided into two
parties--one under Major Dalgreen, will
strike the James river above Eichmond, the
other which I shall lead myself, will go dl-
rect to the city;
"The acheu1e is good one, sir. / hope
we shall succeed
Hope man; we must! I'll have all the
ola women in the army down On me it we
make null OF it. / tell you, Winthrop,
we've got to come through all right"
To have seen that cavalcade file out OF
camp that night, you would have thought
Che men were bent on some big picnic,
such high spirits they were in. During the
dark hours they rode steadily On, and so on
ali the next day, with brief delays for re-
freshnent Tor man and beast The second
night they rested, bat the dawn saw them
again ON the march. II was too dark to make
out objects distinctly, and as they ap-
preached q sign-post on the roadside. Harry
ordered one of his troopers, an lrishman, to
tlismount and clin,', it that he might read
the direction it gave.
"Well, what does IL say?' he demanded,
impatiently.
"Se7en moiles to Richmond, an divil
word less, sor!" was the prompt reply,
which brought faint cheer from the men.
They orept cautiously forward till the
city lay before them with its beautiful
hills ercwnad with pleasant homes. Sud
denly they struck the pickets.
"Close up, men Threes about! Charger
rang the word Of command.
The horses no sooner felt the spur than
they bounded nladly onward with an im-
petlls that brooked no checking. The first
line Of guards fell in broken disorder.
tOn, boys, on!o Iichield cried, waving
his sword to his men.
But the second line Of guards was
stronger, and resisted the attack with better
spirit. Five minutes Of a hand-to-land
fight and the bugle sounded the recall,
Meanwhile the burghers OF Richmond were
hard at work helping their soldiers to
throw up earth works, while the dust roll
ing in big clouds hid them from view Of the
enemy.
On, that Dalgreen would come? But the
precious hours passed by with no sign Of
him, and when heavy guns were trailed on
Kilpatriclzs little force there was no al
tentative left but retreat The gallant
leader himself headed one last charge OF
slzirmishers and then the rout began with
the Confeder;stes in force behind them.
They fell back in confusion to the main
body, but now g. fresh disaster met them.
Meadow bridge was burned, and advance
was next to impossible. Devin. who com.
manded the regulars, threw out his skir.
nishers when Custer came up with his
cavalry
stake those troops away, sir, and will
make the crossing"
Without waiting Tor reply he rode head
long down the hill, followed by his brave
Michigan horsemen.
The bugle sounded the recall. They heed.
ed it not; and afterwards excused their
disobedience by declaring they thought it
Custer's bugle, and it always meant :" &c
sahead!"
The rear was commanded by Lich6eld.
over whose devoted men shells literally
rained. General Deyin sent to know if he
needed help and got back the spirited mes.
sage: "No! We can hold the ground all day
against the whole rebel armyp
Later, when the Confederates fell back.
Iichdeld and little group of officers, in
Guiding Harry Winthrop, we're reconnoi
tsring, they came across q number of joylal
FELLOWS, recruiting their tired frames with
wine and food on the great stoop of q plant
er's house
swell, boys, we cleared them out, after
alll'' he said, cheerily, as he flung himself
from the saddle.
Guess notl' was the sharp reply, ss he
aud the half dozen next him were seized,
and to his dismay he found that he was sur.
rounded by Confederates.
AS for Harry, his good horse saved him.
With bound he leaped the fence, and,
while = score of pistol bullets showered
round him, dashed into the wilderness. I.
But he was lost Night came on and
found him struggling through the dense
brush-wood Of a seemingly endless wood,
dragging his tired horse by the bride and
vowing by all his saints that he would al
most rather take refuge with the enemy
than tramp the long night through.
The long wished for morning came at Last
"a bright, sparkling, sunshiny day, which
brought the song birds out in force. Harry
had thrown himself at the foot of big
tree, and having relieved his horse Of tho
saddle had allowed him to crop the young
grass, and was Just going to mount again
when he heard the thud of a horse's hoofs
~