Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-07-09
THE FATAL PASS.

up ~ infftANtllf we anu ~ 'vhir' haH
had bat little experience In military af'
fain. Ills intelligence Ia general mat
ters was fully up 10 the average, and his
courage was undoubtcl. for, young a. he
Nas. BE- had been several times under
fire. and had always behaved gallantly.
Il vas known that S,onewall jackson,
with a considerable lo,ly ~ cavalry and
infantry. and very large supply u ar
tillcry for that section. was on his march
b. the valley We could hear from him
occasionally at various points. Now
anil then reports reached us - his sue
ccssful dashcs.
We were placed. unfortunately, under
the disadvantages II being surrounded
ty citizens 10 whom jackson was tee ac-
knowlcdgcl hero AMI iloL Ito was al
uiost worshiTcd by sinner and saint alike.
wait ull jackson comes," sail one
oil grayh.ari. as be- leaned on his cane.
JACK -on's got God Almighty onr, and
you may dcrend out he's bound 10 COT.
quer"
"They threaten % burn Winchester,
vas thc news broughi In ono day 10y one
~ oar soldiers
They can't DO Il while stoncwall
Jackson lives. was the quick reply u a
bysianicr.
"Why noif
Ills prayers viii ave us.
And thai b. the ut % hero be- was
might, In prayer. and ] believe the
t.oplc thought moro - that than they
dld ~ his lattlc. They sosmcd to have
r-rf~ct faith in his Christian character.
a. indeed thcy might. fur. leaving en-.
tircly out u the question his power as a
miliiar, l,ascr. he vas a good man.
Tho great want - our army at this
point was artillery. We had muskcts
enough. salcr. enough. horsss and men
snough for immediate defense. but In
long range guns We were hmcniably
deficient.
We knew that u jackson should sweep
up the valley with his large pack of Ma
polcons. our infantry, unprotected by any
iortincaiions. would H. at his mercy.
Every movement Ne made was likely to
ls discovered. and the information 81 it
quickl, furnished To the advancing gen
cml. Even the pretty. delicate boarding
school misses were ready to 10 dangerous
duty. and IN some eases did goOd service
to their cause.
II was "a gloriou. day when one morn
ing sailed from my quarters. Win.
chester was full of gardens, and the tres
were bright with birds, who sang un.
checked by any fear Of approaching dan
ger.
Very lclsurcly went 10 the Office ~
the commandant Of the po-t. Everything
was arranged according to usual mill
tary precision. Tho officer was seaici ai
his desk In his inner room Opposite
him AT stranger. a beautiful young
lady. dressed for a journey. and who was
evidently using all her flscinations 10
attract and hold his attention.
By l,cr eide was a youthful looking OF
deer In the Union drcs-. who evidently
was schooling him-elft 10 composurc. Ny
suspicious were at once aroused that he
was not what be- seemed.
Tho appearance % the lady was very
striking. She was g,sticulating grace
fully as she continued her conversation
with our commandant over her hand
-ome face fitted bcwitching smiles. But
there was hXelness of purpose In her
manner, n calm composure, approaching
At times to sternncss. that was not alto
gr,her congcnial with the buoyancy and
ilippancy II her general bcaring and
sr~rch. She was intensely earnest In her
appeals "a the commandant. and az times
appeared to b. tenderly and coqucitishly
besecching favor. which be seemed to
hesitate 90 gfani.
The officer who accompanied her AT
silent In his chair. idly turning his capin
his hands. and looking on the road with
such strange expression that II clearly
proved him 20 be out % headquarters and
ON contemplated journey.
A horse and light Virginia carryall.
with seats Tor two persons, was standing
at the door. guarded by an orderly. The
curtains Of the carriage were drawn
closely down and securely fastened.
The conmandant at length roso from
his table. aud giving me an intelligent
glance. We passed together into an adj
Joining private room. Tho moment we
reached 1t ho broke the silence.
"Suppose We hold a council OF war.
This il new business To me. Here l. this
Young woman sent to mo from llarper's
Ferry by the commandant there, with n
request that she 10 permitted 10 pass our
lines TO the front. She has been placed
In charge Of this Union officer, whose
papers and answers seem all right. and
her papeIs are all straight. She u de-
sirous of going To visit her kindred, with
medicine and clothing for the sick and
needy CoifedoTates among them. have
caused the carriage 90 bo thoroughly
searched, and find nothing at all suspi-
cious there. As an action with jackson
may he impending, my intuitions imPei
me To deiain the young lady till the hat
tie l. decided. But my beneyolence
prompts me 20 send her forward with
her escort. What Is your opinionF
That your duty as soldier Is para
mount" said l. respectfully. IL feel
impressed as you do. Like you also, /
feel the promptings Of humanity, and
on that account would like TO see the
young lady passing our lines; but ! can
not overcome the suspicion that under
her fair exterior she may be Confeder-
ate spy"
That's the way IL strikes me-" re
sponded the commandant; but i find
that her papers. after having been ex-
amined and indorsed at Harpers Ferry,
have been re-examined at Martinsburg.
The gentleman who Is with her has the
official Union commission. They both
tell the same story. Ihave examined
the carriage, and find nothing contra
hand OF war"
my opinion is," added. "that this
handsome young woman herself IL de-
cidedly contraband Of war"
"she isdecidedly beautiful. responded
the oommandant, quickly. lie was quits