San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-19


western road, and, being repulsed, had dis
mounted, and were iisagreeing, in the usual
military manner, with the pickets, who had
fallen back TO Glennies breastworks.
"Blcss Glennie for the breastworksl" ex.
claimed our major in command, after he had
shouted Double quick-marchw
The resistance made by our entire force
seemed to disgust the enemy, for in a couple of
hours they ceased firing. A special roll call
showed that none of our men had been killed,
and only two or three wounded, but a captain
approached the major and said that Lieut..
Glennie was missing. He had gone nearly a
mile to the front, TO little elevation, where
he had thought howitzer might advan-
tageously be posted-gone two or three hours
before the enemy appeared
Captured, then, of course" groaned the
major "Confound it, gentlemen, for the
good of the service I'd rather have been cap
tured myself.
Most of us felt the same way, and we were
too dismal for the remainder of the day even
to rejoice at having repulsed the enemy
The entire force went out as skirmishers for
a mile or two, asking questions at every plan
tation house and cabin, but no one could tell
whether or no the enemy, as they galloped
away. had Union officer with them.
We felt so ugly at our loss that we feared
to face the natives when we returned to
town. What would they think of US, as sol
diers, when they learned that the officer
whom we all cheerfully acknowledged was
the ablest soldier among us, had fallen into
the enemys hands9 The major was SO
amazed that he actually bit off the mouth
piece of his pipe stem in a fit of anger; but
this severe action did not return to us the
flower of the regiment.
Just before sunset a sentry on the road
startled all of us, as we lay behind the works,
by shouting:
"Oficer of the guardI Flag of truce com
ing!"
We all sprang upon the parapet, and saw
emerging from the forest, nearly half u mile
away, a horse, a rider and tiny white rag.
The major raised his glasses, peered through
them a moment, dropped them and ex-
claimed:
"Well! I've heard that the Confederacy
had robbed the cradle and the grave, but
didn't imagine they'd been recruiting Anna
IONS. That flag is carried by a wOmanl"
Then all of us wishc. we had glasses. The
rider advanced slowly, until we could see
that she was not armc then that she had a
SOOu seal anu Il lluc l. ,uiSs anu uhdLJ IieiI
she was young and pretty.
"Wants protection for her property, sup
uose,n growled the major. Those raider.
are probably cleaning out the family's barn
and smokehouse, there being nobody at home
but women and children. What do they
suppose few infantry can do against no
body knows how many cavalryT
Nevertheless he went slowly out, alone, to
- -
claimed:
This isn't according to custom Who
knows but she's young man, disguised, and
will dror the major with pistoll Come Oh
boys" ="
Several of us followed him. AS we saw
him twirling the ends of his mustache and
tipping his hat slightly to one side, we fol
lowed his example in these respects also. We
overlook the major just as the rider halted,
looked very pale, and said:
at wasn't his fault, sr-really it wasn't"
"WhoSe fault, madame" said the major,
raising his hat.
Mr.. Glenne's," said the girl
ooh! Confound it,! | mean-so they got
him, did they"
'Oh, no, sir, but he wishes they had And
they would have done, only-only"-
''Well, madam
"Ouly they were prevented"
'Indeedl how was thatr
''Why, you see sir, he stopped at our
house, Just for a drink of water, and while
he was standing by the well, the Ran
gers
"Rangersr'
Yes, sir; the Texas cavalry-they came
across the hill just then. He started to run
this way, but-but"-
"Weuw
The girl looked down moment, colored,
raised her head, and said rapidly:
Il told him he never would get there alive
| said they were a hundred to one, and he'd
surely be killed. Pm a true southern woman,
sir; my father is Capt. Grayson, of the artil
lery battalion, but don't believe murder is
war So made him come into the house. He
declared he wouldn't; death was nothing to
duty But made him come in"
Indeed! What arguments did you USE
may aSkr'
Again the girl hooked down and colored
deeply. Some of the younger officers began
to exchange winks.
He declared he wouldn't" the girl re-
sumed but | made him. He struggled with
all his might, BUT
Il beg your pardon for interrupting," said
the major, biting his lip, ''but-he escaped,
thenp
Yes, sir; but not a second too soon.
hadn't more than got him into the hogs
head
'Hogshead"
YES, sir; a big sugar hogshead, in the Gel
lar, that we had meant to keep sweet pota-
toes in-when two of the rangers came in the
front door. They said they'd seen a Yankee