Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-17

/ III SANBo. L lOhhN Aht AO0~f N--N
was soon in front OF a white farm
house. A few well-directed shouts
brought an astonished masculine head
out Of an upper window. appealed
to him for a horse. l fancied saw
him smile satirically as he declined,
but he politely urged ME to dismount
and "coIne in out of the wet" l
then knew l must play trumps and
said plaintivsly, my dear friend, l
am an officer Of Stonewall Jackson's
staff, carrying an important message,
and | must have fresh horse
The devil - was all the response l
had, and down went the window.
But Immediately heard him at the
back OF the house. with rising infiec-
ton, Saul, Saul, say Saul-drat
that sleepy nigger-there you are
run, you woody head, bring out the
big black mare, and be quick about
it, He soon appeared with Saul and
the horse and a lantern, and helped
to exchange the saddle and bride.
As | climbed from the fence on the
mare and rode away he threw the
| light Of the lantern on my face, and
said, in a tender voice Good luck,
for have boy, may be about your
age, with Stonewall Jackson"
NV new beast was as tall as a drom-
edary and as | steered her through
the deep mud she seemed to plough it
| like gunbOat and knew just as little
about a riding bride. Madison Court
House was fifteen miles from Stan
ardsville and by the time we reached
! it she was worn out. There. fortu-
nately, was a courier station and | ex-
changed her for a little gray horse.
Gathering through the streets OF that
slumbering town | was soon in the
open country and on another deep
mud road. Suddenly my horse slipped.
gave groan and was down, and |
rolled off into the mire. | jumped up
and asked him to do the same, but he
never moved and was apparently
dead. Taking of the saddle | stood
by the roadside in hopeless bewilder
ment. l looked about me and could
see no habitation, no light, nothing.
Just then little imp jumped into the
road on the opposite side with
Good Lordy, what's dat?' EIplana-
tions followed He was on his way to
town for the doctor for ole missus.
He said it was IA mile or mo- from
town around de road, but cutabias
cross de fel's not more'n half mile
not dat" | bribed him with dol
lar to hurry TO the tavern and tell
them to send me another horse, and
he disappeared like a rabbit in the
dark.
l sat upon the fence and waited.
The rain was pouring down. was
covered with mud and water my lit
tie horse gave no sign of l'fe, the night
was waning and my spirits were sink
ing rapidly. But the little dark'y
came, the forerunner OF another white
horse, which soon made its appear
ance. l was soon mounted and as my
little black angel received the dollar
and let go my bride he cried, "GoIly,
mos forgot, mus run back after
de doctor ~
After nine miles more OF spurrinE
and splashing | ran into James City,
where l changed to a tall gaunt roam
that carried me valiantly the eleven
miles to Culpeper Court House. As
approached the town there was
suspicion OF light in the direction OF
dawn and the rain had partially worn
itself out. In all directions l heard
the drums of an early reveile and en-
countered a groupof horsemen sitting
on their horses in the cleaning. |
found it was General Dick Taylor and
his staff OF Ewell's command, Learn
ing that he was ordered to march,
and evidently in the wrong direction,
suggested to him that he should not
move until he heard from General
Ewell, who. he said, was encamped
beyond Brandy Station. One Of the
staff kindly offered me fresh horse
and General Taylor ordered courier
to lead the way and ride like the
devil This the courier did and so
did |, but as l had been doing that
thing ali night it was no novelty to
me. We rushed along like a pair OF
John Gilpins, and as it never seemed
to occur to my guide that | might be
nearly worn out | didn't mention it.
But we soon made the six miles to
Brandy Station. After several miles
more we drew rein at the Generals
quarters, just as | was beginning TO
be exhausted beyond endurance. The
General was just up, and | dismount-
ed and handed him the erurUpled and
saturated dispatch. He read il. aud
quickly turning to me he said: You
don't say" But the sentence was
not finished Seeing me totter and
about TO fall. he caught me, led me to
a cot and laid me there; and then the
dear. rough old soldier made the air
blue with orders for brandy and cof-
-. onJ braaGfaet-uOt for himself
but for me.
NY ride was done, and nature as
serted itself by reaction and exhaus-
ton. In less than twenty hours L
had ridden about 10j miles, and since
| left General Jackson | had passed
around the Massanutton, over the
Blue Ridge and through rain and mud
and impenetrable night, had been on
the strain Of a cavalry charge for
more than 80 miles.