The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-07-12
THE CAMP FIRE.


Army rode by the cnarrcd ruins OF "a
lonely house In the valley. One OF
the squad happening TO ride across
part OF ashy debris discovered that
the hind legs OF his horse had sunk
through a half-charred trap-door.
Calling TO his comrades he finally
succeeded in extricating his horse
from the trap. when they found a
wooden staircase down into a subter-
ranean opening. AS they wound down
the wooden staircase they found below
rocky strata cool cavern 20 feet
deep, 80 feet wide and about 200 feet
long, having an opening on the Shen-
andoah under the bluff. This cavern
was still partially strcwn with straw,
which had undoubtedly been used as
bedding for horses and was divided
off, by slanting poles in some instances
swung by ropes In the top OF the cav
ern. into stalls for horses. In several
OF these stalls rude boxes were placed
at their head and stray remnants OF
hay were discovered. showing plainly
that large number OF horses had
been quartcrcd there. The cavern
was ventilated at intervals by
wooden shafts running up 10 the roots
OF trees and arranged in such way as
10 defy detection. On the walls OF
this cavern hung large iron rings,
showing plainly that the cave had
been lit by lanterns. The stable sure
ly could not be that OF "A private house.
There were stalls enough in il TO hold
easily between two and three hundred
horses and more, II crowded.
Following the cavern along, they
came al length 10 the throat of the
cave that opens out on the river. This
opening was obscured by well ar
ranged rocks, interlacing vines and
shrubbery on its banks. IL was mar
row and only wide enough for one
horseman TO enter at a time. The
water at the mouth OF the cave was
about three feet deep. The mystery
Of Mosby's sudden disappearance was
solved. IL was at this very spot that
he had been so often seen suddenly To
Could there be devised more mas
terly retreat? An underground stable,
out OF which at one end a stairway
should lead up into house. which
was undoubtedly Mosby's headquar-
tiers. where he and his officers drank
their healths to those who we're look
ing all about for their horses just over
their heads. planned their nightly at
tacks, slept with their guards posted
about them. and laughed, Us well they
might, at the long joke which they
had played upon the whole Northern
army. TO fight, 10 wheel, TO hang on
10 the outskirts OF an enemy. and,
after seducing him for miles in weary
pursuit. suddenly To disappear, and as
suddenly To feed, TO sleep. TO hear
nothing of tho sounds of war save
mufiied footsteps scurrying overhead.
What a joculose tacticl And still
what could possibly be betterP
Suppose the house is surprised. The
staircase opens and the trap in the cell
lar closes on IL tightly. Who would
dream OF trap there? But suppose a
human ferret or bloodhound scent the
fine line and lift the trap. What OF itP
The whole iile OF 200 horses in an In
slant could pass out OF the other end
and swim the river. or rush upon Lou
don Heights. Or the riders could
leave their horses and drop down the
Shenandoah by boat TO place OF safe
". or better yet, they could stand
In the dark OF the cavern and pick
of all who could possibly come down
that staircase one by one, killing all,
and losing none. And they could do
the Same thing at the other end. where
only one could enter at "A time. What
4 a place In the hot summer was that
river, at the very mouth Of the cavern,
! TO lead horses 20 water. How easy OF
transportation was hay, or oats. or
/ corn or straw, or forage generally. The
bales all came down the river In the
night by boat, and were quietly towed
/ right In through the mouth OF the cave
into the cave stable. And best OF all,
J Il was a threadless clue.
There were no prints either going
out or coming In. for as fast as they
! were made the tracks OF the horses
! hoofs were all washed away by three
feet OF flowing water And that open-
/ ing on the river. Would any human
] being suspect IL unless his attention
was called 20 Up Aperson passing by
IL In boat would think IL but small
cave between the rocks.
From all that have heard and seen
have very little doubt but that In
vestigaiion would lead TO the discovery
OF n similar cavalry quarters under
ground on Loudon Heights and also In
the Louray Valley. Az both these
spots about the mouth OF these caves