Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-02-11


of proper food-all had contributed to
make this little command somewhat
nervous and shalky.
'The men who were not on post
slept to horse'-that Is, laid down in
front of their horses, fastening the
bride reins to their wrists or belts
Recognizing the spirit of nervousness
plainly apparent on the outposts, l was
almost afraid to dismount; but at
length, overcome by fatigue, did so.
1 had not been seated long when
heard great racket going on up
the road toward the outposts. l had
just time to swing into the saddle and
call the reserve to attention when all
the videttes came charging in at full
speed. Making a suitable disposition
for defense, l set about trying to find
out what it was that had led to the
abandonment of their posts by the
| videttes. l was assured by the two
men who had been on the extreme out
posts-and l had long regarded them
as much above the average for GOODNESS
and courage-that persons were NOV
| ing through the woods on both sides of
the road. They had been unable to
see them, but had frequently and dis
tinctly heard them walking on the
fallen leaves.
Not caring to send any report to
the infantry commander in rear until
it had been properly verified, / waited
a little while to see that no one had fol-
lowed the piclSets in, and then started
back to reesta blish them. This was soop
done, and, although / spent some time
at the outposts with the men, | failed
to perceive any Indications of the
enemy or to note anything unusual
returned to the reserve post and gave
the men permission to lie down again,
and all was quiet for perhaps nearly
an hour, when another stampede oc.
Cured. Again 1 went to the front,
this time taking Murphy-who was
mounted on my spare horse-along
with me. He was more nearly than
any man / have ever known absolutely
devoid of fear, and this appeared to be
| a time when such a man was most
needed. Carefully approaching the
place near which the outpost had been,
it was again established, I, with Muir
ply. remaining there.
For a long time nothing was heard
even the sound of marching troops
on the river road had ceased. At
length, however, l heard what seemed
to be a football among the leaves very
| near me, then another and another far
away. Murphy was by my side, and
as his ear was an acute one, and his
judgment sometimes good, whispered:
What do you think it can be?' The
answer, deliberately given: Faith
don't know, unless it's thin black
guards O. ribils,' was not reassuring.
We listened; the sounds came at times
from the roadside so near that one felt
he could have reached the spot with a
saber, and again from places several
rods distant While trying to fathom
the mystery, and while every stir in
the leaves was becoming more distinct
ly human footsteps, l felt the pressure
of a hand on my arm, and Murphy's
voice came to my ear: 'Liftinint, if
yen hould Bill mint I'll ship off
and find out phawt the divil it names. ;
took Bills rein and heard his rider
slide to the ground.
LAS / now had an extra horse to
hold, l began to think that if an infnn-
try Johnny should invite me to alight
and take walk into the confederacy
with him, i, perhaps, would not be able
to decline in terms sufficiently Impress
i've to induce him to excuse me. If any
of you have ever been so situated as to
be wholly under the influence of the
terrors of the Imagination, and are no
more courageous than 1 am, you may
appreciate my emotions. Murphy was
gone u long, long time. 1t seemed
hours to me: and when l began to fear
that he would not return, but had been
quietly taken in by the enemy, some
one grasped me by the leg in couvul-
sive sort of way, and in stage