The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-07

THE LAD WARNING GEN. KELLEY.
In the dramatic episode, that he had been
silent But the lady is dead, and now the old
General is gone. 1 therefore feel at liberty
to repeat the story.
Just after Lees defeat by Meade at Gettys-
burg, in the second great
CONFEDERATE INVASION OF THE NORTH
Gen. Kelley received orders from Halleck, the
Commanding General at Washington, to con-
ceutrate his L, 600 men on the north side of
the Potomac. within striking distance TO the
westward of Lees retreat 1t was the intense
desire of Mr.. Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and
Gen. Halleek that Gen. Meade should let his
great army follow up its victory with decisive
stroke, which should destroy Lee before he
reached the Potomac, aud thus crush the re-
bellion. Meade was urged strongly from Wash
ington to make the attack. but he hesitated
and hesitated. until, 10 days after the last
fighting at Gettysburg. Lee crossed the Peto-
mac and escaped, to galvanize the Confederacy
into nearly two more years of life.
Kelley had orders to advance with his vet
-erans and attack Lees flank when he heard
the first gun of Meade's action with the re-
treating Confederates For three DAYS Keiley's
force lav on their arms along the crest of South
Mountain. anxiousv awaiting the signal. It
was known that Meade and Lee had been in
close quarters three or four days, and
THE THUNDERs OF BATTLE
were expected any moment. Kelley's veterans
were wrought up TO the fighting pitch. aud
were literally srniling to get at the Johnnies.
This WIS especially so of Muligan's famous
Irish Brigade.
On the morning Of July Ii, Gen. Kelley.
unable longer TO stand the suspense, sent a
scouting troop from the Ringeoid Cavalry TO find
out why Meade had not delivered battle; and
he was both amazed and disguised when the
troop came in. two hours later. with inforna-
ton that during the night Lee had crossed the
Potomac Kelley immediately marched with
oct orders 10 Willismsport. the point Of cross
irfg. hoping to catch belated brigade or two;
but he only got few stragglers and some
abandoned property.
An order reached him here from Gen. Hal
1eck 10 proceed TO Cherry Run, seven miles
above cross the river and harass the enemy's
right flank. This order came near losing the
whole Of Kelley's force to Lee. for Evell's
Corps when across, had gone 10 or II miles up
before striking back into the country, and
Kelley's crossing at Cherry Run placed him,
not on the enemV's right flank, but between
two OF the retreating c0nmns
Kelley marched np Back Creek seven miles
in the night of July 1916 and went into camp
IN q gan Of North Mountain, with Headquar-
tiers in the pretty little village Of Hedgesville.
Lees troops
WIRE STRUCK WITH TERROR
when they found that the Yankees were IN
force al Hedgesville. They thought it was
Meade's army in hot pursuit, which had thus
caught them saddle bagred across North Mount
ain. Bot there was JOY IN the rebel camp when
the report cane that it was only Kelley's little
army. instead Of Meade's host of 100000 and
plan was Immediately made to capture it.
a council Of war WIS held on the night Of
the 10th al the residence of Charles James
Faulkner. one Of Buchanan's Ministers to
France. which was temporarily Lees Head
quarters. The Faulkner homestead is known
as Boydvlle and is near Martinsburg.
1t was arranged that Gen. Jubal Early should
take large force and move swiftly through
Bakers Gap. IS miles above Hedgesvile and
thence down Back Creek within reach of
Kelieys rear lines. to be ready to attack at day
Light on the 18th, while Gen. Ewell was to en-
gage Kellev in front. The plan was well laid,
and Gen. Kelley told me it would have been
pretty certain 10 result in his destruction had
he not been saved by almost miraculous cir
cumstance as he would have been overwhelmed
The council Of war was attended by a negro
man servant belonging to Dr. Z. Boyd Pendle-
ton, who had been loaned to the Faulkner
household on account Of his talent as
A codPOUNDER OF MINT JULEPs.
70 wait on the distinguished officers While
Of Southern hospitality the darky kept his ears
open. and be picked up enough TO see what was
going on. When the council was over he went
home and told his mistress Mrs. Dr. Pendleton.
what he had heard. This lady was strongly
loyal, and at great personal sacrifice she had
held out. alone and fearlessly, against all her
people in maintaining her Union sentiments.
On hearing Of the plot to crush Kelley she re-
solved TO apprise him OF his peril, and she sent
her faithful black man with the message: but
Ewclrs pickets would not let him pass and he
came back 10 his mistress. Then. with n
woman's ready tact, Mrs. Pen3leton decided TO
send her son Nathaniel, 10 years old, to warn
Gen. Kelley.
She gave the lad small basket and told him
20 say to the guards that be was going out to
pick blackherries. The picllets RATED him On
the head and Jet him through. telling him to
watch out for snakes and Yankees and not to
forget to come home 1t was but half mile 10
the Federal line and here little Nat told the
officer in command that he wanted TO see Gen.
Kelley, but 10 amount of quizzing could draw
srom the lad what his errand was Finally the
officer
TOOK THE ROY on HIS HORSE
and carried him to Headquarters. The General
was alone. When the picket officer retired the
bright little follow told Kelley be was going TO
be killed The General was naturally sur
prised at this abrupt and startling information.
lie asked the lad how be knew il. The boy re-
piled, archly, that he knew it because his
mamma had said so. Then. with returning
self-possoss;on. he remembered more of his
message, and he tod the General sententiously
that all the Yankees.were going to be killed
too
The Generals surprise gave way to amuse-
nent. He thought he had found a funny case
In the youncster. lie took the prattling child
Children GsM SesE