Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-08-25

self from being dragged down with his
slain enemy, he was obliged to let go
the hilt, and was then quite defenseless.
Another moment, and the brave fellow
would have been hacked to pieces; but
ere the maddened assailants could col
lect themselves to strike a short, sharp
cheer rang out behind them, and they
turned to see Herbert Leslie bearing
down at full speed and already within
thirty feet.
Supposing that they had only boy
to deal with, the half-trained soldiers
nonchalantly awaited the onset of this
new enemy. but were woefully unde
ceived when, with an easy motion, he
parried their downright, skilless
strokes, then sent the sword of one fly
ing from his grasp, transfixed the right
wrist of the other and, with deadly
thrust en- tterce, whirled the first dis
armed man to the earth-fnally riding
off with his captain, both unhurt, and
taking the wounded confederate along
as prisoner The two unionists then
busted themselves in aiding to rally the
demoralized battalions, in anticipation
of the coming of Sheridan, who, upon
being told of the affair after his bril-
liant victory that night, gave one Of
those peculiar smiles, which we boys
learned to know SO well. and taking a
snail notebook from his pocket made p
short memorandum therein.
''Be jabers," said old Sergeant Boyle,
a "naturalized" citizen, who fought for
the pure fun of the thing, Little PhiPs
got that down in black an white, sorra
a fear; and for a gossoon phwat was
picked up for dead at the Wilderness
plisantry, that bhy, Lislie's, got a
mighty sthrong arrum intoirely!"
'sTrue for you, Pat" replied a stall
wart Wolverine, ''and if he studied his
books at school half as much as he did
his fencing lessons, Private Leslie must
be pretty good scholar, too"
The future-provided he could live to
see it-did indeed appear to be full of
promise for our young New Yorker and
Tor one piece of especially brilliant serv-
ice, following upon his former record,
he was promoted, at one jump, to the
rank of second lieutenant.
This service consisted in carrying an
important dispatch from Gen. Torbert
to Gen. Crook across n line of country
where all the telegraph wires were cut
and which was at the time thoroughly
patroled by the enemy.
So desperate seemed the enterprise,
that volunteers were called for. From
among the crowd of brave fellows who
stepped forward, Herbert Leslie was
selected, and, having received detailed
instructions, he set out Mt once on his
perilous mission.
For several hours, with singular adj
dress, he avoided the outlying hostile
piclzets and having at length reached
the great military road leading through
the Shenandoah valley, felt secure OF
accomplishing his purpose.
Everywhere, as he rode along, the
fearful ravages of war were apparent
smoking ruins, deserted dwellings
slaughtered cattle and burning crops
were to be seen on all sides, and the
very soil itself seemed to smell OF
blood!
BY and by, in the heat of the day, the
solitary rider turned into a short lane,
at the further end of which stood al
empty house, and in front of this house
near the door of "a log stable, lay q
trough of water, supplied by a tiny
stream trickling through an old musket
barrel.
All appeared quiet; not sign of life
was to be seen anywhere about; and
the thirsty trooper, without dismounting
dipped up in his canteen "a copious
draught and imbibed it leisnrely, while
his good horse drank deeply from the
trough. just as the unsuspicious young
man had thrown back his head to drain
the last drop of the refreshing fluid he
heard slight shufiling noise and stimuli
taneously an ominous click. Half turn