The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-05-28

body of troops, whose main object was to
Hberate the Union prisoners, and to de-
stroy the public defenses of the Confeder-
ate capital. They believed that they might
do this, for they had trustworthy informa-
tion that the city was defended by only
few thousand militia.
Colonel Lowell, who was at the head of
the detachment, had high hopes of brill
liant achievement, and was proud to be in
the van of the expedition, from which
great results were anticipated. He was
felicitating himself on the fresh laurels he
might gather-an experienced soldier sell
dom thinks of defeat-when a volley OF
musketry from behind a knoll at the side
of the road threw his men into confusion.
The enemy was not visible. The flash OF
the guns seemed to come out of the earth.
Although sharply on the lookout the little
body was taken wholly by surprise. 1twas
evident that the hostile raid had been
learned and reported by some spy. The
cavalry had fallen into an ambuscade, and
in a few seconds two field pieces from
concealed position opened on the wavering
line and did considerable havoc.
The colonel saw several men, one of them
captain, reel in their saddles, and that
the confusion was approaching panic,
natural enough, because the troops knew
charge. The shots were rapidly taking
effect; q rout was threatened. Lowell was
trying to rally his command, when his
horse plunged wildly forward, nearly un-
seating him, and dashing toward bit of
wood half mile away. AT the same time
he felt a dull pain in the calf of his leg,
which made him think he had been struck,
and that perhaps the same bullet had
wounded the spirited animal he bestrode.
He could no longer control the horse, which
ran furiously, and, when near the wood,
stumbled and fell, the colonel having bare
ly time to disengage himself, and SO avoid
serious injury. AS it was, he was stunned,
his head striking the ground with much
force.
How long he remained unconscious he
could not tell But as soon as he recovered
his wits he found his poor beast dead-he
had been shot in a vital part-and that
ball had pierced the lower portion of his
own leg Albeit but flesh wound it felt
very sore, and prevented him from walk
ing There were no signs of the fight be-
yond the apparently lifeless bodies of a
number of horses and men deserted in the
dim distance He heard, too, at intervals,
some dropping shots, and fearing that he
might be captured-he had horror OF capt
ure, having read such distressing ac-
counts of Union prisoners at Richmond
and elsewhere-he dragged himself to a
clump of trees to await the protection OF
| the night before determining on further
| action.
If he wanted to get back to the Union
lines it behooved him to be in marching
order, and consequently to look after his
MANNED limb. Having had considerable
experience with wounds during the war,
| Re bathed his leg in a rivulet and bound 1t
| up with his handkerchief, which he tore
| into strips for the purpose, adding much
| to his comfort. Acquainted with the re
| gion, he knew that not far away were sew
| eral plantations and that if he could Ses
| to one of them, and communicate with any
| negro on the place, he would be aided IL
! getting through. He was aware that az
! northern man could count on the slaves l.
they were allowed to obey their own incit