The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-01-03
CHAPTER VI

The violets ha6 began to lift their heads
in the Virginian dells, the trees to blossom,
the birds to herald the approach Of spring,
when once more the hills reverberated with
the storm Of battle.
Burnside had been transferred to Tennes-
see and General Hooker was in command of
the Army of the Potomac. Leaving Sedg
wick TO carry the intrenchments at Freder-
iclsburg, he pushed forward the main
army, q hundred thousand strong, across
the Rappahannock to meet Lee at Chancel-
louisville, where the scouts had brought word
he was lying with sixty thousand men.
All night long Harry Winthrop had been
in the saddle on accommodating expedition,
and at dawn had flung himself to rest beside
the campfire. The heavy tramp Of infant
ry the clash of moving squadrons, the dull
roll Of artillery made sleep impossible; but
it was something to be grateful for to
stretch the weary limbs and rest.
Then as the hours rolled by there came
from the woods the sharp decorating re-
ports Of musketry and the booming thunder
Of artillery, and Winthrop knew that the
battle was begun.
Suddenly there was the sharp crack Of O
rifle in the opposite direction, and in min
ute or two one of Harry's own men dashed
in mad haste among them with the cry:
"The rebs in force in the woods yonder are
closing upon usln The command was in the
saddle almost before the words had left the
mans lips. In reckless haste they rode to
carry the unwelcome tidings, but the warn
ing came too late; for hardly had they
reached their lines than the enemy was
upon them twenty thousand strong, and
though the men fought like heroes, the Union
right was routed.
1t was another Of Lees master moves
on the chess-board Of battle. Relying on
the dense woods to conceal his movements,
he had risked the perilous chance of send
ing jackson with third of his army to
attack the enemy on the rear.
That night Hooker took new position.
The next day the battle ragged with renewed
fury.
AS General Hooker stood leaning against
a pillar of Charlottesville House cannon
ball crashed against it and hurled him
senseess to the ground; and for moro than
an hour the Northern troops fought with
out leader. But Winthrop saw none of
this. He was riding in hot haste on the
road to Fredericksburg, seeking for aid
from Sedgwick.
Nor had he far to go, for that gallant |
General had taken Fredericksburg, and was
now 1inging himself on Lees rear, OF the |
moment that the Southern forces were |
forming for q grand attack. The tide of |
battle turned on the newcomers, who were
driven across the river, and the army Of the |
Potomac withdrew to its old camping
ground.
1t was during the heavy march in the |
night that Harry Winthrop, in command Of |
the rear-guard worn with the two-days' |
fighting and loss of sleep, listlessly followed |
his troop along the dusty highway. By |
his side rode his friend and comrade Frank |
Barclay, who was even in more exhausted
for not only was he half dead
with fatigue, but he suffered from saber-
cut ON the arm and the faintness consequent |
on much loss Of blood
"Cheer up, old fellow" Harry said, af-
ave shall soon be under can
vas again, and long rest will put you all
right
81 don't know about that, was the cheer |
less reply. sOf course don't think that |
this little scratch I've got is going TO be my |
death-blow, but I've clean lost heart and |
my mind wanders off to the wife and BARNS |
ut home. A man with family carries q
heavy mortgage On him when he goes
.You are WORN out and discouraged
that is all, y Harry claimed, while his COM
panion relapsed into moody silence.
They were approaching part Of the road
which lay at the edge Of o deep ravine,
whose side was overgrown with rank
weeds and scrubby bushes. Every now
and then they had passed some struggling,
infantry man, who had fallen out
Of ranks. and was dragging his weary
limbs along as best he could. 1t was just
such figure as this that they overlook as
they reached this dangerous spot in the
rugged road 1t was not utterly dark, for |
the stars were out, but 1t was not light
enough TO distinguish the uniform the man
wore: in fact, Winthrop never gave him |
second thought beyond turning his horses |
head little to the left SO that he should not
trample on HIM.
AS they got abreast of him the man
turned upon him, grasped the bride Of his
horse, and the flash of the pistol blazed
straight at Harry Winthrop's face. In
stinctlvely he stopped to grapple with tho
assassin, and the action saved his life, for |
the bullet plowed through the housings OF |
his saddle and buried itself in the breast Of |
his comrade, who fell with groan to the |
earth. Poor Barclay his premonitions were |
soon realized.
In an instant the murderer flung himself |
down the steep declivity, and though
score OF brave fellows dashed recklessly |
after him, he was lost in the darkness. !