The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-03-07
SELECTED STORY.
A Ride by Night.

still looks SO young that few could sup
pose him to have served in the civil war.
Indeed he was in the army less than
fear. How he went out of it he told me
In the following narrative:
An orderly from the direction of Meade's
headquarters galloped into our parade
ground and straight for the man on guard
before the colonel's tent. That was pretty
late in the afternoon of bright March
day in 1865, but tho parade ground was
all red mud with shallow pools.
His rider never slowed till he brought
his horse to his launches before the SEN
try. There he flung himself off, with n
splash, caught up his saber and ran
through the middle opening of the high
screen of saplng pines stuck on end side
by side all around the acre or so occupied
by the officers quarters.
The day, though sunny, was not warm,
and nearly all the men of my regiment
were in their huts when that galloping
was heard. Then they hurried out like
bees from rows of hives, ran up the lanes
between the lines of huts and collected,
each company separately, on the edge of
the parade ground opposite the officers
quarters.
You see, we had a notion that the order
~ udtl DTOuSub Nlt NOIN w bItttN NdLlp
For five months the Army of the Potomac
had been in winter quarters, and for weeks
scarcely anything more exciting than We
dette duty had broken the monotony of
our brigade. We understood that Sheridan
had received command of all Grants cav
airy. We did not know but the orderly
had rushed from Sheridan himself
Soon, instead of the orderly, out ran our
first lieutenant, n small, why, long haired
man named Miller. He was in undress
unform-just blouse and trousers-and
bareheaded. Though he wore only low
shoes, he dashed through mud and water
toward us. plainly in a great hurry.
Sergeant Kennedy, want 10 men at
once, mounted" Miller said. "Choose the
10 best able for long ride and give them
the best horses in the company. You I'M
derstand-no matter whose the 10 best
horses are give 'em to the 10 best riders"
81 understand, sir" said Kennedy.
BY this time half the company had start
ed for the stables, for fully half considered
themselves among the best riders. The
laughed at their eagerness.
''Halt, boysp' he cried. Sergeant, I'll
pick out four myself. Come yourself and
bring Corporal Crowfoot, Private Bader
and Private Absalom Gray
Crowfoot Bader and Gray had been run
ming for the stables with the rest. Now
these three old soldiers grinned and walk
ed, as much as to say, 1--WE needn't hurry
we're picked anyhow" while the others
hurried on. l remained near Kennedy,
for was so young and green a soldier that
/ supposed had no chance to go.
"Hurry up. Parade as soon as possible.
One days rations, light marching order
no blankets-fetch overcoats and pom
chos," said Miller, turning, "and in choos-
ing your men favor lightweights
That was no doubt the remark which
brought me in. was lanky, light, bred
among horses, and one of the best in the
regiment had fallen to my lot. Kennedy
wheeled, and his eyes fell on me.
"Saddle up Adam, boy" said he. 81
guess you II do"
Lieutenant Miller ran back to his quar-
tiers, his long hair flying wide. When he
reappeared, Is minutes later, we were trot-
ting across the parade ground to meet him.
He was mounted, not on his own charger,
but on the colonel's famous thoroughbred
bay. Then we knew hard ride must be
in prospect.
"What One of the boysY" cried Miller
as he saw me. "He's too young"
Hes very light, sir-tough as hickory.
guess he'll do" Kennedy said
"Wel, no time to change now. Follow
me- But, hang it, you've got your car
binesl Oh, forgot Keep pistols only.
Throw down your sabers and carbines-
anywhere-never mind the mud"
AS we still hesitated to throw down our
clean guns, he shouted: "Down with them
--anywhere Sergeant Bryce, send men
for these carbines. Now, boys, after me,
by twos Trot-gallopr'
AWAY we went NOT man lack of ZIG
knew for where or what The colonel and
officers, standing grouped before regimen
tai headquarters volleyed a cheer at us. 1t
was taken up by the whole regiment; it
was taken up by the brigade; it was re-
peated by regiment after regiment of in
fantry as we galloped through the great
camp toward the left front of the army.
The speed at which Miller led over rough
corduroy road was extraordinary, and all
the men suspected some desperate enter
prise afoot.
Red and brazen was the set of the sun
remember it well, after we got clear OF
the forts, clear of the breastworks, clear
of the reserves down the long slope and
across the wide ford of Grimthorpe's creek
never drawing rein.
The lieutenant led by 10 yards or so
He had ordered each two to take as much
but we rode so fast that the water from
the heels of his horse and from the heels
of each two splashed into the faces of thu
following men.
From the ford we Hoped up hill anC
passed the most advanced infantry pick
cts, who laughed and chaffed us, asking
us for locks of our hair, and if our moth
ers knew we were out, and promised to re
port our last words to the folks at home.
Soon we turned to the left again, sweep
slose by several cavalry vedettes and knew
then that we were bound for ride through
a country that might or might not b
within Lees outer lines, then extended s.
thinly in many places that his picket
were far out of touch with one another
To this day do not know precisely wher
we went nor precisely what for. Soldier
are seldom Informed of the meaning O
their movements.
What do know is what we did while
was In the ride. As we were approaching
dense pine woods the lieutenant turned 4
his saddle, Stacked pace little and shout
ed. "Boys, bunch up near me-"
He screwed round in his saddle so IA
that we could all see and hear and said