Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-20

. didn'tsee that nigger last fall, after list cd in the sarvice."
 "It was only striking likeness"
 "Wall, that's what Colonel Morgan said, but I'd bet hundred dollars it war that ar same Pete."
 "The Morgans are very strong Southern CTS, are they not9"
 "Reg'lar fire-eaters. From the old man down all war Confederate. TT tell ye the truth, Captain, I war kinder on tn fence my self long time. Didn't like shootin' at the old flag, but they turned wo n hundreds O others"
 "Colonel Morgan has daughtera"
 "Ies, Elsie Morgan, an the pizenest lit tie rebel ye ever seed"
 ." met her once and saved her from ar rest and her house from being burned"
 "Her mother died ten y'ars ago, an she wouldn't stay up in Missouri when her father n brother come South"
 "Was she in Fort Donelsonf" "Ycs, till we larht Sou'ns war comin' an then she went to Nashville"
 "She will soon have to move from there, for General Grant will not stop at Fort Don- elson."
 "It do seem 's f you'ns hev 0 way O goin' just wherever ye want to. But if Buckner 'd had command at fust instead 9 Floyd an Pillow ye wouldn't a got in here so easy''
 "Were there any other ladies here from Missouri in the Sanitary Corpsa"
 "Yes, a hull passel."
 ''Did you know others than the Nor gansl" .
 'No, except the Jennings women, the Ryans and Oldhams."
 Luke thanked the wounded man for the information he had given him, hoped that he might soon recover, learned that his nict- SpnnS promcnS fo qas that he was well cared for.
 On leaving the hospital an orderly in- formed him that he was wanted at brigade headquarters. On reaching General Nc Clernand's tent he found him surrounded by his staff and so busily engaged that it was some time before he was recognized.
 At last the General saw him and said:
 Captain Mason, your regiment Is in q bad condition, and will have to reorganize and be filled with recruits, but this can not be done now, and for the present you will be placed in command of it. Muster your men as soon as you can and report to me how many answer to roll call"
 Hev they made ye Kernels' asked Arkansaw Tom, on learning that Luke had been placed in command of tho regiment.
 "No, have charge of the regiment, but am only q Captain
 "Got tn work without tn pay. 'Tain't 1dIT 1dlu lalT, SfOWleti lOu1
 Luke had each company call it's roll, and made out his reports, which he forwarded promptly to headquarters.
 One evening he was again summoned to brigade Headquarters. Generals Grant, Smith, Wallace and McClernand were there awaiting him. He was informed that on the Fist of the present month (February, 1S62) they designed moving on Clarkville, and seven days later to Nashville, unless orders to the contrary were received.
 What we want, Captain Mason,is is for you to make a reconnaissance along the roads leading to these two cities," said General McClernand. "The country is said to be overrun with bands of Confederates, and we want you with sufficient force to start tonight and go out at least a dozen miles and report to us tomorrow, or just as early as you can. Will you do it!'' II will try" he unhesitatingly answered. ''Thats all any man could ask," said the conqueror of Donelson. "How many men do you want!'' Fifty light horso will be amply sufi- cient."
 "Take your pick from the army" i After selecting the cavalrymen suited to i his service he chose ill addition his four tried and trusty friends-Arkansaw Tom, | Max, Snow and Cotton-and securing the best horses to be found, with a negro guide, 1 started at once upon their perilous expedi- 1 ton.
 ] The pickets were passed, and they were l in a dark road surrounded by forest. Tho dull splash, splash, splashing of horses feet in the muddy water was the only sound ! which broke the silence. The feet and legs ] of the soldiers werc covered with creamy ooze which penetrated to the skin and chilled them.
 The night was too dark for any object to be seen, and as Luke rode at the side of the guide he held a cooked pistol in his | right hand.
 1 "Is it woods all tho way to Clarkville9 P he asked the guide.
 Yes, boss, bout all de way, I reckin'," the negro answered. "Dar am some fields"
 "Are the people about here loyals'
 "No, boss; dey's all secesh."
 "Then we can expect no favors iron them"
 "Dey'd cut our heads off f dey could"
 "I heah bosses feet comin' down tn road Cap'n," said old Arkansaw Tom, who was just behind Luke.
 "How many do you think they areF asked Luke, checking his horsa
 "A hull passel"
 "Dey am not friens," said the guide.
 Luke determined to give them wide berth, and ordered the guido to take then to some safe spot at the roadside, where they halted and waited for the horsemen tt go by. The heavy splashing of horses feel could be heard by the Union cavalry.
 From the length of time it took the horse men to pass Luke knew there must be al least twenty-five of them. His strange guide declared there were thirty This guides voice seemed strangely familiar tt Luke He had not seen his features, as he had never met him by daylight, or even by the light of torch, or he would have recog nized him. It was not until he said:
 "Come on, now, Massa Luke!" that he recognized him.
 Blackhawk!" he gasped-
 "Yes, massa"
 "Why are you herea Where have 70. been?"
 "Tryin' ter help save dis Union, Masss Luke, 'n sot my chillun free. Iknows eber, foot O dis country, kase useter live heah but dey's gone now, massa, an we kin gt on."
 They had not gone moro than thre< miles when they came to a large, old fash toned Southern planters house, standing oI