The National tribune., 1891-06-25
THE GRAND PATROL.
An Experience on the Sacred SOIL OF virgin

OhlN green tnlug IN SiEHE WAS tho VITA onions,
on which tho cattle browsed. and which gave
such n delicious fragrance 70 the milk ped
died through camp each day.
When OF duty the men lounged about in the
shade, read the Washington daily papers. and
eagerly discussed the latest news from Pope's
army, which was then fighting Lee near Ma
nsssaS. We were all heartily sick and tired
Of the monotony Of camp life, and impatieutly
waited for the expected orders TO march 10
Pope'S assistance.
one day a mounted Orderly from Headquar-
tors gallopcd into camp. dismOun;ed, and with
an air of importance and great haste drew an
official document from his belt, and saluting.
gave il TO the Captain. After reading the dis
patch, the Captain Endorsed for its receipt
upon the envelope, gave il back to the Orderly,
who swung himself into the saddle, put spurs
10 his horse, and rode rapidly away.
] have a very vivid recollection OF the ex-
element that then prevailed in camp; all were
happy i'm the belief that marching orders had
arrived, and many began packing up for the
move
We were not kept long in suspense; the Bu-
gler sounded the assembly, and when the men
had formed line on the parade ground, the dis
patch was read to them. IL directed the Cap
tain 10 detail a Corporal and six men for picket
and patrol duty. They were 10 patrol the
country in the direction Of Falls Church and
Balls Crossroads, keep a sharp watch for guer-
rillas, search all wagons met on the road, and
arrest all suspicious persons and send them TO
Headquarters under guard.
IL was amusing TO sec the look of mingled
establishment and disgust that gradually spread
over the faces Of the men rs this astonishing
order was read 10 them, aud they wondered
how they could possibly be expected to perform
the required service.
The only arms they had, except cannon, were
sabcrs, aud 20 send them armed in that way
and on foot. 10 patrol section Of country said
10 be at that time infested by guerrillas, was
"A very ridiculous proceeding. as a single rebel
armed with a gun could probably have cap
tured or destroyed the whole party.
Evidently some one had blundeTed but right
or wrong, the order was there and must be
obeyed. Accordingly the detail was made. and
the seven unfoTtunates, Of whom / was one,
bucRled on their trusty long range death
dealing sabcrs, hooked the scabbards up on the
belt hooks 10 keep them from getting tangled
with their patriotic legs, and checrei by the
laughter Of their more fortunate comrades,
started sheepishly forth on their mission.
Oar orders were 10 remain ont until relieved,
which we i'm our ignorance Of picket duty sup
posed would surely be- before night, rs we had
not been ordered to take either blankets or ra-
tons with u.s. Moving as quietly and eau
tiOusly as possible, taking every precautiOu
not 20 be seen from the few farm-houses we
passed. we az length arrived at our destination,
and selected a spot among the bushes near the
roadside. The men were posted as advanta-
geously as possible, aud the watch began.
The afternoon passed quietly away. We saw
nothing suspicious, and there was no travel on
the road As night approached We found our-
selves IN full possession OF rayenOus appettcs,
and not in possession OF the Whcrewth TO sat
isiy them. We did not want the farmers 10
know Of our presence in the vicinity, 50 we
could not apply 70 them for relief, and there
fore waited until after dark. Then leaving
three men on guard, the others went in search
Of something 10 eat.
We tramped the fields and climbed the zig
zag rail fences, aud at length blpndcred into a
peach orchard. The peaches although Of good
size, were not ripe enough 20 be palatable;
they were hard aud sour, and totally unfit 10
eat in any quantity, so we picked few, and
chewing them as We went, passed on in search
Of more substantial prOyender.
Our search was uBayaiing we could find
nothing but the peaches so Tetracing our steps
10 the orchard we gathered quantity, and re-
turned to our comrades.
After a very frugal meal Of green peaches
the Corporal divided the squad into three re-
licfs; posted the first and the Others stretch
ing ont rs comfortably rs they could in the
grass by the roadside endeavored 10 get what
rest aud sleep they could.
.NhAA AlNAHluH NhGu NNG sun IO~c We
thought he shoue upon no more miserable party
than ours. Cramped and tired from the nights
exposure, hungry, and with no immediate pros
pect Of getting anything 10 satisfy our hunger
we deemed our case a pretty hard one. Aud
what added TO our discomfort was the belief
that so far as we were concerned the expcdi-
ton WAS an outrageous piece of folly.
A council Of war was called, and in Indian
fashion the Corporal produced his pipe. The
last ff his fgfgeef 4 NOT h.f
Gil il, and no other member Of the party had
any, so the Corporal said that our stomachs
were SO empty that smoking would probably
make Us sick any way, 50 he would sacrifice
himself for the general good, and do the smOk-
ing for the party.
The council then proceeded to deliberate
and endeayor to find ways, means and excuses
for our return to camp. Under the circum-
stances we were prepared 20 look with suspic-
ion upon any person who might have occasion
70 travel the road, aud decided unanimously,
that unless ratiOns were sent 10 US, or q relief
party arrived, that the first stranger who came
along should be taken to Headquarters, the
entire detail acting as escort.
About 10 o'clock, 10 our great JOY, we saw
horse and wagon approaching. IL was moving
very slowly, and we had ample time To make
all necessary preparations for its capture The
force was divided. Three Of the men crossed
the road aud concealed themselves among the
bushes, while the Corporal aud the others re-
NAMED where they were. All drew their
shining sabers and prepared for desperate work.
On came the doomed outfit, and as il drew
near we saw the SLOUGH halted driver, sitting
upon piece Of fence board laid across the
wagon box, and so bent over that his knees and
chin nearly bumped together every time the
wagon jolted. lie appeared 10 DO either asleep
or musing very deeply over something. The
old horse came slowly on, and at length placed
the wagon directly between our party.
Realizing that the fate Of the Nation posi-
bly, depended upon our prompt and vigorous
action, We neTved ourselves to the desperate
encounter. Alta signal from the Corporal who
seized the old horse by the bride, we sprang
upon the wagon, gave horrible and simulta-
neOus yell, and brandished our sabers wildly
around the head Of the amazed and awfully
terrified driver. His eyes bulged from his head
in terror. Our onslaught had been so sudden,
aud our yels so frightfui that he evidently
couldn't tell whether the Yanks. the rcbs or
the devil had him. As soon as ne could speak
lac begged MS not 10 shoot and We didn't. We
spared his life, and proceeded 10 search the
wagon.
Covered with an old horse blanket, we found
a box containing a quantity Of old rihe.bul-
lets, and the man informed Us that his children
had gathered them from where they had been
fired by troops IN target practice, and he was
then on his way 10 Washington TO sell them 10
some junk dealer, aud with the proceeds get
supplies for the family.
An ordinary everyday patrol would undoubt-
eddy have allowed him 10 pass, but we were not
that kind of patrol. We suspected that un-
der the plausible story there luTked some dia-
bolical plot So like brave soldiers, regardless