Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-03
CHAPTER XII.
TUE ANpuSCAnE

over the joke Mrs. Glass perpetrated in her
famous ''Book of Cookery" when she an
nOunced that you must catch your hare be-
fore you proceed to cook him, and Harry
found himself in much the same position as
the worthy matron's readers. He must
first catch his hare. And the hare in ques-
ton proved to be of such shadowy char
acter, that after two days. hunting he was
compelled for the present to give up the
pursuit.
OF course he at once left Mrs. Platt's
house. He felt like a dlscordant element
in the home-circle, for it is not a very pleas
ant thing for a man to sit at the same table
with ladies whose son and brother he is de-
termined to bring to the gallows.
But, though he learned many particulars
concerning the widows son, who was de-
clared by several who knew him to be no
torious scoundrel, who had been drummed
out of the regiment in which he had en-,
listed, and was now Supposed to have
drifted utterly to the bad, he could CLEAN no
tidings of his present whereabouts. No one
had seen him. No one wanted to see him.
SO Harry went back to his regiment at
Harper'sN Ferry without bringing the
scoundrel to justice.
Then the cry was ''Sheridanr" Brave,
gallant, dashing Phil was to lead the troops
to victory. So under this renowned Gen
eral they turned their faces once more
was hot work for the cavalry. Little Phil
kept them well in advance, exploiting and
developing the enemy; but for a time not
closing with him-a delay which caused
Grant some anxiety, for he came in person
to see how matters stood, but was so salts
fed with his Lieutenant's perfect prepare
tons, that he went back to his post at
Petersburg.
But one day the crisis came. They were
near the quaint old city of Winchester and
struck the Confederate army at the ford of
the river.
''Threes about, men, charge !''cried Colonel
Brewer, who commanded Harry'S regiment.
and the gallant squadron dashed headlon g
on the foe, driving them back to the very
verge of the city. The infantry met the
Confederate cavalry, and their long line
never wavered. But suddenly from behind
a low wall uprose the enemy four deep, and
a literal sheet of flame flashed on the strug-
Cling horsemen, who fell back as best they
could, only to give place to the solid masses
of Federal infantry, which moved steadily
on, driving all before them. But in the
very flush of victory the gallant Brewer,
generous as he was brave, poured out his
life upon the battlefield. Harry stood by
| his side when the death-blow was dealt him.
| It happened thus: A man threw up his arms
| to surrender-an appeal that was never
made in vain to Brewer-and, even as he
| lowered his sword, shot him through the
heart.
This gave the command of the regiment
to Harry.
| In the days that followed they had many
| a brush with Moseby's guerillas, who how
| cred round them, ever ready to harrass them
| and impede their movements. In fact, be-
| tween Clusters brigade and these Virginian
| irregulars bitter vendetta existed, which
| entailed deeds of relentless cruelty on
! either side that the pen of the historian
would fain pass by in silence. 1t was moth
| ing strange to find a comrade dead on the
ground with q ticket marked ''BloOd fol-
Blood" pinned on his coat; though it is
| said that Moseby did acknowledge the sign
of Freemasonry, and many man owed his
| life to the fact that he belonged to the
| brotherhood.
The Union forces tried to make their way
| to Charlottesville, but found the gaps SO
| full of the enemy that the attempt failed.
! One day a man crossed the river, and
seeking audience with Custer. told him that
| he was Union refugee, and that at the
back of neighboring hill was rebel sup.
ply-train almost unprotected.
| Harry was ordered to take his regiment
| and capture it. He crossed the fort anc
rode mile along the river bank.
Suddenly he pressed forward to speak te
| the guide, who was riding beside the ad
| vance guard. AS he did so, the man
| dropped from his horse and made SIC
| cessful dash into. the wood, but not 81
quickly that he could not recognize in the
fleeing peasant the figure of the treacher
| Gus Canadian, Alphonse Lecroix. Instinct
| lively he halted his men to retire, but 8
| whole brigade of the enemy was pouring
| down the hillside to cut him OF from the
| ford.
Custer saw his dilemma and advanced t.
the rescue Just then q colored man IL
| rags and tatters ran to Harry and cried:
"Dere's a ford up de riber, boss, not twt
miles away. Char to goodness, boss, it.
true-rze no lynn"
Forward! Trot!" was the command.
| And surely it was as the negro had toli