Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-23

present lOr uuty.
lyon say, said Maynard to Jakey
OH the occasion mentioned, that you
left her at the house to which told you
10 take her and took hand in the
fight"
Reckon"
Where did you get anything to fight
WITH
Dead sojer. Tux his gun n car
tridges. ~
Upon my word wonder the enc
my stood against such re-enforce
ment. "
"Waal, / sho. one Of 'em anyway.
We was tux by lots more N we uns n
was runnin. Student hearn man
say. Stop, thar. v little Yankee ras-
cali turned roun n sor ossifer on
horseback He called on me 70 ter sur.
render. n up n shot him.
"You don't mean it!''
Reckon.
"Then what did You do?'
"Waal. t'other uns, they went on, ',
l skedaGdled.
"Well?'
"Then went back to tn house p
found Jennie. n by thet time { was
gittin dark, n the army commenced tel
retreat. We uns retreated with tn rest
OH 'em.
"On foot?'
"Yas. part o. the way. Jennie she
got tired, so we sat down by ther road
till some cavalry (Jakey had learned
not to call them critter companies) came
along after the infantry he'd all passed
One on EN- said, Ef thet hain't Colo
mel Maynard's orderly IN with lit
tie gal, said another. Then tn fust on
'em tux mo on behind him N t'other un
tux Jennie on before him, n We uns all
covered tn retreat. "
"A valuable acquisition to tho rear
guard" observed Maynard, and he be-
gan to question the little girl He dis
covered that she was the daughter Of a
farmer living OH the battlefield who
had neglected 10 remove his family till
the last minute. Caught in the midst OF
fight, all became panic stricken, and
the child was separated from the rest.
While he was gaining this informa-
ton an orderly came to his tent and
showed him n letter postmarked Coun-
" Cavan, Ireland, and addressed to tine
man who had assisted in the escape OK
Caroline Fitz Hugh. But there were
features OF the address which led May
nard to doubt il Ii was not for some
other Ratigan.
where did you get this9" he asked.
"It came in with the mail. It's been
lying unclaimed for several days, as no
one knows who it is for. There was o
Ratigan in the -th cavalry. but he is
among the missing. The letter was TAX
EN- to the headquarters Of that regiment,
and Colonel Burke suggested that you
might know something about the man. ="
"Ah, yes!" said Maynard sadly. lyon
can tell Colonel Burke that l saw Rati-
gan killed. But this reminds me" he
added. II must see il / can regain his
body" Then to the orderly: Il wish
you would Say to Major Burke that If
he will give me IN escort I'll go out
under flag Of truce and see II ] can find
out anything about Corporal Ratigan.
whom / saw fall from his horse in the
enemy's lines. Ask him to make ont q
request for permission to send out the
flag, forward 1t and let me know the re-
suit.
The result was o permission to send
out "the flag" and the next morning
after an early breakfast, Colonel May
nard, accompanied by Jakey and the
little girl, whom Maynard hoped to re-
store to her parents, each mounted aud
all attended by q lieutenant and 20
men, set out from Chattanooga toward
Mission Ridge. They met the enemy's
pickets at the base Of the ridge and were
conducted to Rossville. Colonel May
nard mt once requested that he might be
accorded an interview with Colonel Fitz
Hugh, if that officer survived the bat
tie. A messenger was sent to summon
him, and rs he had some miles to go
"the flag" party dismounted, were tax
en- into a house, where they awaited the
officers arrival. Every attention was
shown them, and they were made a.
comfortable as possible. Two hours aft
or the departure of the courier Colonel
Fitz Hugh rode up to the door.
There was always q certain embar.
rassment between these two men, which
under the circumstances was quite nat
aral, but which was heightened by the
habitual dignity with which Fitz Hugh
bore himself. There was mucn 20 fofce
them apart and much to draw them to
gether, but it all resulted in constraint
Fitz Hugh lifted his hat to Maynard,
then advanced and put out his hand.
Neither seemed to think Of appropI late
words of greeting, and there We're few
moments Of silenc1 which were broken
by Maynard referring to his mission
Colonel, he said, Il am the bearer
of letter for Corporal Ratigan, though
the supersc,iption gives different title
than corporal-the man who assisted
me ON the mission which you doubtless
well remember. Isaw Ratigan fall from
his horse and suppose that he is dead.
Am l right?'
mo. sir. Corporal Ratigan lives. BE
was severely wounded by shot from,
your men. he managed to keep his sad
die till his work was accomplished,
when he tainted through loss Of blood.
For time his life hung in the balance.
We now hope for lis recovery"
"I am rejoiced to hear it Perhaps
this letter il for him. Will you attend
to its delivery?"
"If you will ride with me to Ringoid,
where he lies, you s;an deliver it ~ per-
son.
"That would indeed be pie Asure.
Can you get permission TO take me sc
ear within your hnsss'
II can Try"
In thai oass ! nay look b thsNA.