Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-03
 Tny Srnpl,EG OF FREDERICKSBURG

nights were cflSp and cold. The dawn Of | the l2th of December had hardly broken in tho clear gray sky than an orderly sum- moncd Harry Winthrop from his tent couch to repair to the headquarters Of his con- nanding officer.
 "l have sent for you, Winthrop" said Colonel Lichfield, gravcly, on matter of life and death; for this dispatch must reach General Burnside, who has succeeded Mo- Clcllan and now lies ill front of Frcdcricks- burg, within twentyfour hours" " And you wish me to carry it, si:i' "I do. It is 6 service of no meau danger, which dare not intrust to a yo,agcr sol dicr. You have sixty miles to rdc over 0 hily country with tho woods full of tho l enemy. Be wary lad do not nee'llessly run into danger, and above every thing, de- l liver your dispatches into the Generals own hands,"
 "And start ai once, siri'' |" Yes, without even an orderly. Say, are you well mounted"'
 "No better horse than mine i'll the regi- ment, Colonel" was the proud reply. My father bred him from the best strain of the Blue Grass lands of Kentucky '"W Well, you will have to try his lnettle to-day; so. now, be of, and luck go with you"
 There is nothing so inspritin3 to q soldier as being employed on special duty, with tho conviction that he has been selected for 1t as a compliment to his skill and daring. Ac- cordingly Harry rode away with q light heart and q longing desire for further dis tnctiOn, though occasionally thoughts of home would fit like shadows across the bright lal dscape Of his present prospects. He could zee his mother wipe her glasses and read the story of his rapid promotion he could fancy sister Nell eyes sparkling with m hll nt kind ,r,c,ic tho N,o1,;,rnp newspapers had used i'll describing gal lant raid he had shared against Mosby's men, and he could hear the trcmulous words of his father: My boy Harryr' The country through which he journeyed was wild and romantic enough As far as he could he avoided vijagcs and crept along the rugged lanes of the endless woods, guiocd only by 2 pocket compass and the nevcr-failing instinct of locality which is essential to good soldering. But these detours heightened the journey sad ly, and the long rest of midday beside a mountain stream had greatly delayed him, so that the shadows of night were closiny ' over the short day. when he approached the worst part of the road-a stony path leading through glen, whose frowning hills were clothed in somber trees. A little to hls left he saw twinkins 8 light in cottage window. Should he press on in uncertainty trusting to his usual luck, or seek information at the humble iwellingf Either alternative was frouaht with danger. Suddenly the deep baying of C dog was heard and in a moment the cot tage door was opened and an old woman, shading the light of 0 candle by her hand, peered into the darkness, while mastitf bounded from her side in fierce fury down the slope to where his horse was standing A moment more and tho crack of q rifo rang in tho air, the hissing bullet snapped the branches of trees close to Harry's head In front of him, up the darh road, he saw the glimmer of lights and heard angry voices. He turned to flee, but the road be- hind hin was barred; for the tramp of horses hoofs was coming ill mad haste upon him. One chance alone lay open to him-to make a dash down the bed cf 8 little stream, which lay between him and the cottage, and run the gauntlet of the laen on the road above. The dog he sent howl- ing homeWard with bullet in hls icg ;;nd then setting spurs to his horse, bounded over the bushes into the brook. IL was g mad ride. Almost dark as pitch, trusting only to his horse to find the way, torn by tlie overhangng bramoles. now nearly flung from his saddle as the gallant beast half fell over some big powder, with the crash of bullets ringing round him, and threaten
 
 last broad, open swamp, into whose black slime his chargers legs sunk knee -deep Here he thought he was comparatively safe. and when he had got out of the shadows of the trocs it was lighter, so that he could see something of the way he was going, and, witA sigh of relief, he turned his horses head away from tho stream. "Fo' de Lawd, boss, hol' hard or yo'u done l gone be in dem quick san's," cred voice 1 within 9 dozen yards of han, and the wool ly head of q negro lad pcercd from clump of reeds
 Instantly Harry drew the bridlc
 (Which way, then, boy, to the Fredericks- burg piket Five dollars, if you will guide me there"
 He could sec the lads teeth gleaming in l the twilight.
 "Clar to goodness, boss," he clied, "I l dassent. Dc road am full of rebs'' "And the Union troops--have you s>sn them!'
 "Naw," was the unsatisfactory response. l "Dore ain't none roun' desc parts.' ! However, with the lads help he reachcd l the uplands, and once more set his horses l head toward fredericksburg. Then night l came on ill pitchy darkness Twice he es- | capped by a miracle the bullets of the enemy's plckets. Then the highway became impass- ! able, and he was driven to skirt the fields and woods again. Thus the long night passed, wandering he knew not whither, but ever hoping to sec the bivouao fires of
 his own people. To add to his distress rain
 fell ill torrents, drenching him to the skin and chilling him so that he was obliged to walk on foot to stir the circulation in his numbed veins.
 Then he mounted little hill, and in the l valley beneath saw lights fickering to and fro; he heard the hoarsc challenge to son.
 tries, and knew that he was on the verge of
 a camp-perhaps of Unlon men, but far
 more likely of the enemy.
 Dazed with exhaustion he led his horse
 forward with blind trust that be would be
 right.
 "Who goes there.' rang out voice in 6
 rich Irish brogue.
 l "A friend ," he called
 Advance friend and give the counter, l sign!" was the stern demand.
 But Harry's limbs refused to move With
 a dull groan he sank to the earth-yes, this
 big. strong soldier lad-in as helpleso 6
 swoon as ever stole the senses of tender
 schoolgirl in an owe rhcated ballroom. | When he came to him of bo fopp6 Aho>