Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-03


gentlemen, for the good Of the service
I'd rather have been captured myself. "
Most OF us felt the same way, and
we were too dismal for the remainder
of the day even to rejoice OF having re-
pulsed tho enemy. The entire force
went out as skirmishers for a mile or
two, asking questions at every planta-
ton 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 re-
turned to town. What would they
think Of us, as soldiers, when they
learned that the officer whom we all
cheerfully acknowledged was the
ablest soldier among us had fallen
into the enemy's handsp The Major
was SO amazed that he actually bit of
the mouthpiece OF his pipe-stem in a
fit OF anger; but this severe action did
not return 10 US the flower OF the reg
iment.
just before sunset sentry on the
road startled all OF us, as we lay be-
hind the works, by shouting:
"Officer of the guard Flag OF truce
coming!"
We all sprang upon the parapet, and
saw emerging from the forest, nearly
half a mile away, a horse. a rider and
tiny white rag. The Major raised
his glasses. peered through them a
moment, dropped them and exclaimed
well, I've heard that the Confed-
eracy had robbed the cradle and the
grave, but didn't imagine they'd been
recruiting Amazons. That flag is car
ried by woman!"
Then all Of us wished we had glasses.
The rider advanced slowly until we
could see that she was not armed; then
that she had good seat and fine fig
ure, and finally that she was young
and pretty.
wants protection for her property,
l suppose, growled the Major.
Those raiders are probably cleaning
out the family's barn and smoke
house, there being nobody at home
but women and children. What do
they suppose few infantry can do
against nobody knows how many cav
alryP"
Nevertheless we went slowly out,
alone, to meet her, at which Glennie's
Captain exclaimed:
This isn't according to custom!
Who knows but she's a young man,
disguised, and will drop the Major
with his pistolP Come on, boysr'
Several of us followed him. As we
saw him twirling the ends Of his mus
tache and tipping his hat slightly to
ofes side, we followed his example in
these Respects also. We overlook the
Major jusSNas the rider halted, looked
very pale, and said;
1T wasn't his fault, sir-reallr it
wasn't
Whose fault, MADAME" said the
Major. raising his hat
mr.. Glennie's,' said the girl.
ooh! Confound i'll mean-so they
got him, did thcyP"
"Oh, no, sir, but he wishes they had.
And they would have done, only
only
"Well, madam?n Y
Only they were prevented a
''Indeedp how was that?"
why, you see, sir, he stopped at
our house, just for drink of water,
and while he was standing by the well,
the Rangers
"Rangers?'
Eyes, sir; the Texas cavalry-they
came across the hill just then. He
started to run this way, but--but-n
'Well?h
The girl looked down moment,
colored. raised her head and said rap
idly;
Il told him he never would get there
alive. said they were hundred TO
one, and he'd surely be killed. I'm a
true Southern woman, sir; my father
is Captain Grayson, OF the artillery
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.
IndeedP What arguments did you
use, may ! sskP"
Again the girl looked down and coll
ored deeply. Some OF the younger of
fcers began to exchange winks,
He declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed, "hut l made him. He
with all his might, but"
81 beg your pardon for interrupt
ing," said the Major. biting his lip,
"but-he escaped then?"
Yes, sir; but not second too soon.
] hadn't more than got him into the
"HoGshcadpn
"Yess sir; big sugar hogshead in
the cellar, that we had meant to keep
sweet potatoes in--when two OF the
rangers came in the front door. They
said they'd seen a Yankee at the we'll
and wanted him. told them he had
seen them and made o dash for his /
own lines. He really did, you know.
for a step or two, when--when-"
when you warned him OF his
aangerP
Eyes, sir. Well, they took my
word when | told them who my father
was and they went away"
"Ah! Where are the Ran0era
nowPn
"They went back. don't know
where. hours ago. =
And caught him as they VENT"
"Oh, no, sir; they couldn't. But he |
was in dreadful excitement. He said /
be had no right to be outside the lines;
be could be court-martialed for 1t and
and may be shot, II things /
went wrong in the fight. He went on
80 that ] wouldn't listen TO him, and l /
was afraid some Of the Rangers might
come back and hear him, so wouldn't
stay and listen to him."
"But why didn't he return after
they retiredP"
Because he couldn't, cir.
let him. didn't want him
70 be court-martialed and shot, and all
Of those dreadful things, so l thought
I would be only right to come and tell
7ou il wasn't his fault
1.-THE enemy has been gone several
hours, said the Major, turning with