New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-02-27
CHAPTER XVII.

Ferry
CHAPTER XVII.
RATIGAN's MISSION.
The extreme left of the Army Of the
Cumberland, from whNis,C Corporal Rat
igan started to go through the lines,
was held only by cavalry and mounted
infantry, and these widely separated.
There was no regular picket line such
as usually exists between armies con-
fronting each other where the different
branches Of the service are represented
in one continuous line Consequently
the corporal had far better chance to
get through than under ordinary cir
cumstances.
Passing over the Pea Vine ridge, he
descended the other side sloping to a
small stream called Pea Vine creek. It
was essential that he slip through be-
tween the Union vedettes unseen, for if
observed he would be taken for de-
serter and either shot or sent in to the
headquarters of his regiment. The We
dettes were principally on the roads,
and the corporal, believing that they
would be looking for an enemy on routes
over which cavalry could best advance
selected one least advantageous for a
horse to follow. Wherever he could
find q thick clump of trees Or low
growth, a knoll, a ravine, indeed any
thing difficult for horse to pass, he
would 60 over or through it. Now he
would stop to listen for some sound such
as horse is liable to make, and now
would steal on his hands and knees or
crawl on his belly over some eminence
where, if he should stand upright, his
body would make silhouette against
the sky. On crossing bit of level
ground he suddenly heard a horses
"splutter. - He was near a olump of
bushes in which he lost no time in con.
cealing himself A cavalryman rode by
within so feet Of him, walking his
horse slowly, the butt of his carbine
resting on his right leg, and in a posi-
ton to be used readily. He was patrol
ling beat. Ratigan waited till he had
gone past, then darted onward to trees
which, from their irregular line, he
judged grew beside the creek. He was
not disappointed and was soon standing
in shallow water, resting for a few
minutes under low bank.
Once past the creek he felt that one
half his danger was ended. He had
doubtless got beyond the range Of his
own comrades, and now came great
danger Of meeting the Confederate
pickets. Leaving the creek, he assembled
a slight eminenoe and made survey Of
the surrounding country. All was ST.
Dent, except that he could hear an ooca-
sional sound like distant burst Of
laughter, or @ shout from the direction
of Ringold, in his front Presently he
heard the unmistakable rumble of a
train coming from the south.
lit will pass right down there be-
hind that clump of trees and go through
the cut, said the corporal ''Oi wonder
wouldn't it be a good plan to take adj
vantage of it's noise when it passes to
slip through the outposts- They'll be
.thinkin of the train, and Oh can follow
in its wake"
He advanced cautiously to the trees
beside the track ana waited for the
train. Presently the headlight of loco
motive shot out from around a curve.
The corporal had forgotten that its light
would reveal him to the engineer. He
crouched down out of sight with high
beating heart, and none too soon, for
had he staid where he was the light
would have shone directly on him. He
waited while the engine pulled slowly
by. 1t was drawing a long train of mix
cd passenger, cattle and platform cars,
every car crowded with troops
"They're preparin to give us a brush
in earnest. Like enough these are re-en-
forcements, - muttered the corporal.
Ratigan determined to follow the rail-
road north to Ringold, which he judged
to be only mile distant. The train
loaded with Confederate troops having
just passed, the guards he might meet
would probably not be very suspicious
of an enemy. He walked on the track
for short distance, expecting a chal-
lenge with every step.
He received one suddenly, just before
entering a wood. A man on horseback
aimed carbine at him and gave the
customary:
"Who comes thar?'
Ratigan at once threw up his hands,
which his challenger could distinctly
see and cried out, II want ye to take
me to Colonel Fitz Hugh.''
"What do you want with him?''
'Do ye know him?''
HE commands a regiment in our bri-
gade."
Seeing that the corporal held his
hands above his head, the man permitted
him to draw near. Once here, Ratigan
Uniformed him Of the nature of his mis-
sion and begged him for Colonel Fitz
Hugh's sake to send him to Ringold at
once. The vedette was convinced from
Ratigan's earnestness that he bore a
message Of Importance, and calling his
comrades ordered one of them to dis
mount. Then, taking the precaution to
blindfold the stranger, he mounted him,
and placing horseman on either side
of him sent the three Gathering toward