The National tribune., 1889-07-18

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in the direction Of Berryvile. After the rcgi-
ment was ready to start the General altered
his mind, and concluded il would be better TO
start the party later ia the afternoon, and he
babe Mai Wagner wait couple Of hours.
Finally the regiment got of, and while the
Major. with a vigilsnt adyance-guard half
mile ahead, was plodding along through a
pleasant valley he overlook 4 boy of ten or a
dozen years driving a couple Of cows.
Sonny" said the Major, how far is it to
Smiley's Mill?"
Not more nor a mile. What kept you
Yauks 50 late? Dad sed you'd be hyere three
hours by sun"
"How did your dad know when we would
be along?"
Dug Fletcher told him, 'spOse. Him or
Jim mostly does
"Who is Dug Fletcher, and who is Jim?"
asked the Major with increasing interest.
Why don't YOU know Dug Fletcher and
his brother jim They knows all you 1anks,
and wear clothes just like your'n."
The hoy was communicative, after his kind,
but unable to tell much about the FletcheTs,
beyond the fact that they lived "over yander"
towards the mountains. aud told his father aud
the neighbors when the Yanks were coming
and they were always in hurry.
There was some Of our soiers here. but
when they hesrn thst yOu uns was comm they
went on mp TO the mill"
Mai Wagner, who knew nothing Of the
standard anuorance at headquarters, believed
be was in luck. and, using greater vigilance
than before. kept on towards the mill. when
one Of his scouts rode back and reported that
there was picket post Of the enemy not more
than half q mile up the road. The Major
moved cautiously forward, and the rebel
picket when the Yankees were seen. fred on
the advance and disappeared. The Major and
his men then came down the road with a rush,
y - ! Ill.
valley. on the other side Of which, in the dusk,
he discovered az least full regiment Of Con
federate cavalry drawn mp ready 10 receive
him. There WAS q rush of horses and a rattle
Of arms behind him. and at the same time the
enemy Ia front began To move forward.
Realizing that be had fallen into the clum-
Eiest kind Of a trap, Mai. Wagner ordered
:" Len wheel into column and started over
fences and through fields down the little val
ley. under a raking ere from the enemy on
both sides. who started in headloBg pursuit.
ia as little time il takes "a tell the 10th was
flying for life before an enemy Of unknown
numbers. Capts. lands and Hardacre were
both wounded and taken prisoners, along with
about 50 Of their men. while the remainder Of
the command found their way back TO the
Union lines IS best they could.
When the disastrous affair was reported 20
Sheridan. along with he incident Of the COM
municatiye boy, he fairly turned the atmos-
phere around the headquarters blue Here was
az last paiEable evidence Of how his plans were
being frustrated and yet ho could not for the life
Of him see how he was 10 get bis itehing fingers
Oh the cnlpFits.
Some Inquiry led to the discovery that the
lst n. Y. Lincoln Cav. had several men who
IN previous campaigns up and down the Valley
had shown very considerable ability scouts.
Thee men we're sent Tor. and the ease WAS laid
before them. OF the six men who reported
only two, Serg't Magic and Private DRnham,
had ever beard Of the Fletchers, and none OF
them knew where they lived more definitely
than u was somewhere mp IN the mountains.
Nagie and his men set 20 work. not very hope
fully. il must be admitted. They found that
the Fletcher h0Fs were the sons Of M0Tdecai
Fletcher. who kept tavern at Jamcsburg, up
IN the North Mountain. nearly on the line
between BeTkley and Morgan Counties, w. Va.
The place was al least 40 miles away. and the
chances Of catching the boys at home were
very remote, indeed. while the chances Of the
scouts being caught themselves were decidedly
favorable. Securing disguises that could very
readily be made 10 pass muster as a country
mans outfit or a Confederate uniform. Serg't
Maggie aud his party reached MaTtinsburg.
After collecting al that could be learned Of
the habits and movements Of the Fleichers, they
started after dark FOR the North Mountain aud
Travelled al night. never putting their horses
on u a walk. The next day they lay by IN
the woods. and the next night reached and
crossed tbe North Mountain and kept on To-
wards Oakland until they got into rile Sleepy
Creek Bills. some - miles northwest Of and
beyond JsmeEbuTg. Here they were directed
by colored man 10 the house Of q Unionsi
named ROtts who advised the young men to
80 back. old Fletcher. be said, had the repu-
taiiOn Of heinE terrible fighter, and could in
few minutes raise men enough 70 OverpoweI
the Sergeant aud his party. He drew for them
map u the roads. and posted them with re-
gard 20 many persons and localities in Preston
County, from which they iBtended 70 repre-
sent themselves as being on their way 10 IOiI
Imb0aen Ia the Shenandoah Valley. Afiel
being well rested and refreshed Eagle, with
Boyle, one q bis men, started leisurely dowf
the road towards Jamesburg, leaving the othe
men Of the party 10 follow IN the afternoon I
these two did not return.
II was near noon when Sagle and Boyle rod
up 70 the hiichiBg- rail az FIetcber's Tavern
Old M0fdecai, who was sitting on the porei
with half dozen louBgerE around him, callet
ont Hospitality:
Light down, boys; light down and com
in," adding az they came on the porch, a. Now
where might you be from. boygf"
'OyeF ID Preston" said Maggie, and as W
know Hank ireiord and one or two more Q
your friends over there we thought we'd sto
aud have a feed with you"
"An right, boys; all right. Hunting crit
tiers, are youT"
"AO. sir; we're hunting Yanks-or Ieastway
We expect 70 be as soon as We reach Uncl
John"
Uncle JChn-Jobn Imboden, do you meanf
Yes, sir: that Is where we are bound for
Bss with him before aud got hurt; but not
I'm going back, with some of my old schoo
mates along with me. There's four more {
them back Oh the road. They went OF 10 bi
EoOd-by TO their gals up Oakland way an
promised TO meet Us here"
Now, that's what ] call first rate hou
you'll have good luck and want you 10 giy
two o. three Of the Hanks thunder on my a.
count. Come and hist in a dose Of corn iuic
and we'll have dinner IN jifg."
The corn juice WAS duly histed % the dir
neT eaten, and Maggie and Boyle sat on th
porch with the old man while be put theI
through series Of questioning 10 satisfy him
self Of their identity. While they thus take
young woman, much above the usual high
OF women, Of fine form and evidently musculs
build, aud pleasing features, came to the doc
saying:
Father. Jim wants 10 see these hnys."
AL right, Hetty; ali right girl Wake the
The two scouts were ushered into pleasai
room at the back Of the house, where on a
Old-fssbioned cushioned settee lay a your
man, who at the first glance seemed almost Il
counterpart Of the girl.
How are your" said this youth. "Y0u'
excuse me, but heard you were from Presto
0H your way 10 join ImbOden, and / though
10 like 20 speak 10 you, If only TO wish 70
luck. j got chunk Of lead from some infern
Rank over on the BerryFille road the 9TH
night. In don't amount TO much, but il max
me feel law for A WhfleD