Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-02-06

pulsed the cavalry. The entire force
went out as skirmishers for mile or
two, asking questions at every planta-
tion-house and cabin, but no one could
tell whether or not the cavalry, as they
galloped away, had Union officer with
them.
We felt SO ugly at our loss that we
feared to face the natives when we re-
turned to town. What would they
think of us, as soldiers, when they
learned that the officer whom we all
cheerfully acknowledged as the ablest
soldier among us had fallen into the
enemys hands? The Major actually
bit off the mouth-piece of his pipestem
in a fit of anger; but this severe action
did not return to us the flower of the
regiment.
Just before sunset sentry on the
road startled all of us as we lay behind
the works, by shouting:
"Officer of the guard! Flag Of truce
comingl"
We all sprang to the parapet, and
saw, emerging from the forest nearly
half a mile away, horse, rider
and a tiny white rag. The Major raised
his glasses, peered through them mo-
ment, dropped them and exclaimed:
'"That flag is carried by woman"
Then all of us wished we had glasses.
The rider advanced slowly, until we
could see that she was not armed; then
that she had good seat and fine fig
ure, and finally that she was young and
pretty.
wants protection for her property,
suppose" growled the Major. "Those
raiders are probably cleaning out the
family's barn and smokeshouse, there
being nobody at home but women and
children. What do they suppose few
infantry can do against nobody knows
how many cavalry2"
Nevertheless, he went slowly out,
alone, to meet her, at which Glennie's
Captain exclaimed:
"This isn't according to custom. Who
knows but she's young man disguised,
and will drop the Major with pistol.
Come on, boys"
Several of us followed him. AS we
saw him twirling the ends of his mus
tache and tipping his hat slightly to one
side, we followed his example in these
respects also. We overlook the Major
just as the rider halted, looking very
pale, and said
ut wasn't his fault, sir really it
wasn't"
Whose fault, madan2" said the Ma
jor, rising his hat
"Mr. Glennie's," said the girl.
sob, confound it! l mean-so they
got him, did they?"
"Oh, no, sir; but he wishes they had.
And they would have done SO, only
only"
"Well, MADAME"
"Only they were prevented"
'Indeed! How was that?"
''Why, you see, sir, he stopped at our
house just for drink of water, and
while he was standing by the well the
Rangers"
''Rangers2"
eyes, sir; the Texas cavalry--they
came across the hill just then. He
started to run this way, but-but-"
"Well?"
The girl looked down moment, col
ored, raised her head, and said rapidly:
81 told him he would never get there
alive, / said they were a hundred to
one, and he'd surely be killed. I'm a
true Southern woman, sir; my father is
Captain Grayson, of the artillery bat
TALON, but l don't believe murder is
house. He declared he wouldn't; death
was nothing to duty. But made him
come in"
"Indeed WHAT arguments did you
use, may aslS?"
Again the girl looked down and col
ored deeply. Some of the young officers
began to exchange winks.
"He declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed, "but l made him. He strug-
glcd with all his might, but"
81 beg your pardon for interrupting,"
said the Major, biting his lip, "but-he
escaped, then?"
Yes, sir; but not moment too soon.
l hadn't more than got him into the
hogshead-"
'Hogshead?'
Eyes, sir; big sugar hogshead in the
cellar that we had meant to keep sweet
potatoes in, when two of the Rangers
came to the front door. They said they d
: seen Yankee at the well and wanted
him. ! told them he had seen them anC
made dash for his own lines. He
really did, you know, for step or two
when-when-"
"When you warned him of his dan
, ger?"
Eyes, sir. Well, they took my wore
when told them who my father was
) and they went away"
"Ah! Where are the Rangers now?'
They went back-T don't know
= Whereabouts ago."
And caught him as they went?n
; ''Oh, no, sir; they couldn't. But HI
| was in dreadful excitement. He sait
he had no right TO be outside the lines
: he could be oourt-lnartialed for it an,
disgraced, and may be shot. If thing
I went wrong in the fight. He went OIL
: so that wouldn't listen to him, and
was afraid that some of the Ranger
!. might come back and hear him, so
e wouldn't stay and listen TO him."
S But why didn't he return after the.
q rctired?"
I because he couldn't, sir. wouldn'
let him. didn't want him to be court
a p.artialcd and SHOT, ana ~ Q; thosr