The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-04-17
s ssaSs GAIT.
A Story Of Love and War.
BY MAJOR ALFRED r. CALHOUN.
CONTINUED
CHAPTER VII.

fires, and threw up breastwork abou
the Enclosure where the horses ant
wagon mules were feeding. 1t was hal
past three In the morning, and / was
with the pickets to the southwest OF the
camp, when, from the direction OF
Knoxville, l heard the beat OF hoofs,
coming on at walk and the unmistak-
able clatter OF chains and scabbards.
Soon the black forms Of horsemen, like
spectral silhouettes, come to light
against the stars. II these were Con-
federates, reasoned that they either had
the boldness OF great strength or else they
were not aware OF their proximity To a
Union force. When the foremost horse
man came within hail. shouted
"Haltl who goes thereP"
In the unmistakable accent OF the
Cumberland mountains, the answer
came:
"Mebbe friends and mebbe foes. Who
the blazes are youp"
"Dismount and advance---one at a
time" commanded, as the dark horse
men appeared to rise from the ground
all about me.
As the strangers did not show a dis
position to comply. was about to give
the order to fire, when voice, that had a
familiar ring in 1t, called out:
"Hello, thar; Is that Harry Watts?"
"Thats my name" replied. "Who
are you?"
"Wolford's Fust Kaintuck. A ightin'
fob the Guv'ment, by gosh!" came the
thrilling reply.
''Is that you, Ford?"
""Tain't no ono else"
"And Wolford?"
He'll be up shortly with the reg
ment. Thunder! we're out huntin'
Brents damn partisans, and thought
we'd jumped EN-"
The speaker threw himself from his
horse, and running up | found myself
In the arms of my gallant friend, Cap
tain Ford, of the famous First Ken
lucky Cavalry, or calvary" as half the
men called themselves.
Before daylight the whole regiment
was up, but instead OF advancing on one
line, they swarmed in from every point
OF the compass.
Colonel Wolford was at this time in
command Of the brigade to which my
regiment was attached. So as soon as
he appeared l reported formally and
turned over my command with great
sense OF relief.
Then and till this hour Frank VOL
ford has been my beau ideal of scout
and leader of irregular horse, and IL
there ever was Drawer, more ubiquit-
Gus or more irregular body OF cavalry
L. l. Il NIaN a
First Kentucky, history has failed to
mention IL.
Although typical Kentucky mount
aineer, Frank Wolford always impressed |
me as fine type OF the Puritan horse
mana rough rider of Cromwell's era,
living two centuries after his time. In |
the prime OF life, OF medium height, |
strong as bull, tireless as the wind,
stubborn and set in all his opinions, |
with the eye OF hawk and the fearless
ness of tiger, he was just the man to
lead that wonderful band of horsemen.
He was one OF them; he dressed and ate
as they did. He called his officers and |
men by their Christian names, and even |
the buglers addressed him as Frank"
I never heard q man whose oaths |
sounded less like profanity. He walked |
with limp, the result or wound, and
IL was said that his men, from love and
limped also.
In addition to his own regiment,
Colonel Wolford had with him four
,quadrons OF the Eleventh Kentucky,
md he said that Major Brown was near
by with three hundred Of the Seventh
During breakfast told him about
frank Brent. and he replied;
~ reckon that fellow amt lying this
line. But the other side have hung
OTIS OF better Union men; why should
'ou bother?"
/ frankly told him the secret OF my
interest and repeated the promise had
aade General Boyle and the condemned
mans sister.
"rn help you, 7" said the Colonel, "but
QUILL allow it's q bit strange to see one
( our people fretting himself to save
uch fellow" +