The record-union., 1893-03-13

to town for the doctor "for ole missus."
de said 1t was "a mile or mo- from town
around de road, but cutabias 'cross de
neIs not more'n half mile-not dat"
brlbed him with dollar to hurry to the
tavern and tell them to send me another
morse, and he disappeared like rabbit
in the dark.
| sat upon the fence and waited. The
rain was pouring down. I was covered
Win mud and water, my little horse gave
no sign OF life, the night was waning and
my spirits. were sinking rapidly. But
the little darkey came, the forerunner OF
another white horse, which soon made
lts appearance. I was soon mounted,
ana as my little black angel received the
aoilar and let go my bride he cried,
"Golly, mos forgot, 1 mus run back
after de doctorw
AAhlHA Al AT CULPEPPER COURTHOUSE.
After nine miles more of spurring and
splashing l ran into James City, where
changed to tall, gaunt roam that car
ried me Valiantly the eleven miles to
Culpepper Courthouse. As approached
the town there was a suspicion OF light in
the direction of dawn, and the rain had
partially worn itself out. In all directions
hearo the drums of an early reveille and
encountered group of horsemen sitting
on their horses in the cleaning. l found
IL was General Dick Taylor and his staff,
OF EwelPs command. Learning that he
was ordered to march, and evidently in
the wrong direction, I suggested To him
Lhat ne should not move until he heard
from General Ewell, who, he said, was
encamped beyond Brandy Station. One
OF the staff kindly offered me a fresh
horse, and General Taylor ordered a
courier to lead the way and ride like the
devil" This the courier did and so did
L, put as l had been doing that thing
all night 1t was no novelty to me. We
rushed along like pair of John Gilpins,
ana as IL never seemed to occur to my
guide that i! might be nearly worn out 1
didn't mention it.
But we soon made the six miles to
Brandy Station. After several miles
more we drew rein at the Generals quar-
ters, Just as l was beginning TO be ex-
hausled beyond endurance. The General
was Just up, and l dismounted and
handed him the crumpled and saturated
olspatch. He read it. and quickly turn
!hg 70 me said "You don't say" But
the sentence was not finished. Seeing
me totter and about to fall, he caught me.
ied me TO a cot and laid me there; and
tnen the dear, rough old soldier made the
air blue with orders for brandy and coffee
ana preakfast-notf for himself, but for me.
JACKsoN's COOL RECEPTION.
My ride was done, and nature asserted
Itself by reaction and exhaustion. In
less than twenty hours | had ridden
ABOUT 100 miles. and since left General
jackson l had passed around the Mas
sanutton, over the Blue Ridge and.
through rain and mud and impenetrable
night' mad been on the strain of a cavalry
charge for more than eighty miles.
When revived and had sometime tn
eat and drink. the General sent me in his
an nDulance TO Culpepper Courthouse
Where L went to bed. There l remained
Tor twenty-four hours and began to re-
trace my steps to the valley of Virginia.
1t was weary ride, taking up my horses
as went, and at 10 o'clock the second
night l rode up to General Jackson,s
headquarters, near Conrad's store. 1t had
not ceased to rain for an hour since left
ana, except when in bed, had been clad
IN soaking garments from start to Iinish-
went into General Jackson's room to
report. 1t was empty of furniture and on
the hearth were some drying Goals of
WOOD hre: de was lying on the floor,
ket and asleep. l awoke him and made
my report. He listened politely, and
then, with Very good; you did get there
in time; good nightr' he turned over to
sleep and left the room. 1 will not at
tempt to describe my chagrin and indig-
nation at the cool reception. l felt that
my ride had been blank failure. Re-
Iusing to be comforted by the staff, who
knew the General better, threw off INV
heavy, soggy clothes and retired in griey-
GUS disappointment to an uncomfortable
bed. But after awhile tired nature and
youth took possession of me and slept
soundly.
APPOINTED ON JACKsoN'S STAFF.
The next morning the General sent for
me. He was alone, sitting on q camp
STOOL gazing into the fire. He arose. hold
ing In MS hand dispatch, which he had
Just received from General Ewell, and
then remarked: "Mr. Douglass. Colonel
Bayler leaves me to-day to take COM
msno OF the Stonewall Brigade, and
want TO assign you to duty as Assistant
lnspector-General on my staff" What
SAD OF thanks | cannot remember. but
pride and qualification healed ali nv
wounds, and thus | entered the military
family of Stonewall Jackson
The dispatch 1 had carried from Gem
eral jackson that night was the order to
General Ewell to put his division in
motion toward Swift Run Gap and be
ready to unite with the Army of the VAL
ley west of the Blue Ridge. Under that
order was made the initial move in that
great game of war in which Jackson.
sweeping down the valleys of Virginia
from ,behind the Massanutton, drove
everything before him to the banks of the
Potomac and Numbered at Harper's
Ferry until the threats seemed to lar the
capital at Washington, and then by fight
ing, confusing, defeating or eluding the
armies of Banks, Mcdowell, Fremont
ana Shields, he marched back again.
laden with spoils, and at Cross Keys and
Port Republic closed the campaign with
a clap OF thunder" Times.