The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-05
The DISPATCH BEARER.


'S"Ny oSCupIcu ny u SINAI infantry
regiment OF the enemy, who had hastily
thrown up carshworks ON tho side nc.
ccssiblc by land. So .hc captain made
II halt and sent back nm orderly to the
colonel for rc-cnforccments or orders.
Tho night was spent in digging trenches
and raising n rude temporary fortiiica-
ton within musket shot OF the enemy.
All the next gray, sunless day the op-
posing forces l%rrcgularly ratified forth
their mutual malcvOlCnce across neg
lccted fields, like two dogs barking ut
each other from behind fences on oppo-
alto sides OF n street.
At o'clock, when the dusk was
gathering, u man was wanted TO risk
his life. The mounted orderly return
ing with the colonel's dispatch from
another direction than that in which he
had set out, had foolishly ridden up
across the line Of the cnemy's fire.
When within 4 few hundred Yards OF
the trenches he had thrown back his
head, clapped ono hand to his side,
held his message aloft in the other
hand, and fallen iorward-dcad-upon
his horse. Fifty feet nearer the animal
had plunged in pain and rolled over
upon his bleeding rider. Both lay in
the dust, and the captain cried:
~ volunteer to bring in the coloncl's
dispatchw
-Four tired and dusty privatcs
shambled forward. The captain looked
from one to the other OF the .gaunt
faces. Before he had made Il selection,
y shrill voice was heard from some.
where crying:
I'm off, captain!"
At the same time 4 form was seen to
scramble 10 the top OF the cmbankmcnt,
to leap forward, and to disappear out
side.
Some ones gone without orders, cap.
tain" said the sergeant.
The captain thought for q moment,
then addressed the four volunteers.
Wait till We see how this M makes
out. Who is he, scrgeant?'
The sergeant stood at one OF the en-
brasures That had been scooped in the
parapet, his eye fixed upon the small
perspective OF country visible through
the opening. Others pccred through
other embrasures. The captain stood
near the sergeant, but did not expose
himself to the small chance OF being
entered by n bit OF lead that might
stray through the opening.
Il can't make him out" muttered
the Sergeant, in reply. ats too dark
to sec plain. He's down on his belly
crawlin' along towards the orderly's
body like u snake"
That takes time, grumblcd the cap
tain.
But ii he ran for it on two feet their
sh~arpshooters would bring him down,
sure" observed the sergeant.
They don't seem to notice him" said
the first lieutenant, who had posted
himself ut an embrasure. They've
stopped firing altogether
"Havc they sent any one out to bag
the dispatch :" inquired the captain,
apprehensively.
Il can't SEC; their works are SO Jar
away, and it's quite dark over there,
except where 4 few OF their lights move
about, No one has come in sight, any
how" replied the first lieutenant.
This happened when warfare was vet
primitive as compared with possible
military operations in these days OF
tremendous guns and search-lights and
other means which make it easy for
battles TO occur between armies several
miles apart.
The captain was thirsty but wished
not to leave his place ut the embrasurc
until the dispatch should be in his
hands. He sent 4 private for his can
Teen.
Get it from Billy,"he directed. Billy
was q boy he had recently taken from
the ranks to be his personal attendant
a youth OF 10, who had enlisted when
the company had been formed, having
succeeded in being accepted by the re-
cruiting officer in spite OF his non-con-
iormity with the requirements.
The private came back without hay
ing found Billy, but with the cantecn,
which i corporal had picked up in u
trench.
81 wonder where the scamp's, gone"
said the captain to the first lieutenant.
Deserted, I'll bet! He was 4 young
coward. l told him so the other day,
when he was afraid to 20 out to the
Ncll lOl NNtcl ullucl MT. #
- know" said tine lieutenant, with
drawing his eyes Tor n moment from
the embrasurc. "Billy told me about
it himself. 1t nearly broke the yourc-
stcr's heart. l found him lying with
his face TO tho ground behind your tent,
crying like 4 baby. What's tho mat
ter?" ! asked. He wouldn't say for
while, but ut last it came out. You'd
told him he'd never make 4 soldier"
"And he never will" gruntcd tho
captain, interrupting.
"But wait" said the lieutenant, on
| ~tinuing. what you said broke him all
up, he told me, for he really wanted to
be Il brave man. and to fight, for his
country. That's what his mother had
allowed him to come out Tor. 1t amt
that Pm afraid he said, it's because il
l was gone mother'd have no one lett
All! what's that?"
The licutenant's abrupt breaking of
was due to the sound OF firing, which
began suddenly. He returned to the
cmbrasurc.
They've 'spied our man." exclaimed
the sergeant. That's what they're
blazin' away at"
whats he doing?" asked the cap
tain.
Hes reached the body, an he's on
his knees this side the horse, l~oosenin'
the dispatchfrom thedead fellows hand.
Now he's got it, an now he's skinnin'
back on all tours! The dispatch is in
his mouth"
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