Dodge City times., 1890-12-12

boy came to my quarters with the letter
from which the foregoing is an extract
The boy was we'll mounted, and his
spattered dress and the flanks of the
animal, which were covered with Grim
son foam, told how hard he had ridden
Jessamine County, seventy miles to
the north, was my old home, and on the
other side of the Lexington pike from
my fathers house was the fine blue
grass farm of the Widow Brent, the
black boys mistress and the mother OF
Miss Carrie Brent, whose remarkable
letter l had just read.
"Have You come straight from Mich
olasville, Ike?" asked the boy, after I
had directed an orderly to have the horse
cared for.
81 came ovah from Nicholasville last
nigh, sab, wild Miss Carrie, an 1 done
left her dis early mawnin' wild Massa
Frank at camp Dick Robinson, whar dey
tole her SO how you was jes' bout ovah
heah; so she tole me to fine you an git
you dc lettah," said the boy.
ordered my cook to give Ike some.
thing to eat, and then 1 took a turn
about the camp to think over the situa.
ton.
1t was early November, 1858, and word
had come North that Longstreet was
hard pressing Burnside at Knoxville.
Troops were being hurried South, by
way of Cumberland Gap, to the help OF
the Ninth Corps, and as the rest of my
regiment was in East Tennessee, my
orders were to push through and join il
without any unnecessary delay.
II had not received this letter
should have been riding for the South
east within an hour; but was suddenly
of ammunition for our recently-received
Spe- ers, and that time would be gained
by going to Camp Dick Robinson to ge,
fresh mounts for about half my men. Il
was not . violation Of orders to e
by this route, and after had made ul
my mind, which did not take me many
minutes, tried to make myself believe
that the hope Of again meeting Carrie
Brent had nothing to do with my change
Of plans; but looking back after the
lapse Of these many years, l am conf
dent could have reached East Tennes
see without fresh horses or more am
munition.
l loved Carrie Brent Is heartily .
I disliked her brother, but my dis
like for Frank was not because he was
Confederate; for many Of my deares
kinsmen and friends had enrolled them
selves under the same banner. Captai,
~
missioncd- commanded, before his ar
rest, an irregular troop who had givel
themselves the name Partisan Rang
crs." These men had shown thenselve
to be experts in gathering up horses
while thcy were cruel in their treat
ment Of tho non-combatant Union me,
of the State. Unfortunately such con
duct was not pesuliar TO the Souther1
side.
When it w.s found that Kentuck,
must take sides and that her valleys AM
hills were b b battle 6elda, Efanl
Brent and 1 parssd in anGee. he to g
South with john Morgan and his LEX
ington Rifles" and to don the blue IN
yellow and fight under the old nag. HI
had been reokleoay bold IN his coming
and his going, and, as consequences
he had brought on himself the capture
which 1 regarded as incvitable nom tn
first and he was now threatened with ,
aexth which msRy believed he deserved
The following afternoon found M
with my troop 1t camp Dick Robinson
whom st onoe reported to the oom
mandAnt my old friend. General Boyle
The General had known Frank Bren
since thss unfortunate young mani
childhood, and found him In sore dis
sress over the execution, which vas q
take place before ton O'Clock ~ fellow
ing morning.