The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-06-05
CHAPTER XVI.

| Tho Army OF the CulnDerlilnu mas Wlth-
! drawn to Chattanooga, safe for the
present at least behind breastworks
Their enemies are looking down upon
! them from the heights that encircle the
town, awaiting for them to fall an easy
prey through starvation. Colonel May
nard is awaiting the result of army red
tape in the matter of his court martial
The papers in the case Were lost i'll the
rout of the right and were forgotten i'll
. his efforts to save the eft. Atnny rate,
no one seemed to care anything about
them. ,Jakey and Jennie had ridden
! from the battlefield, each behind a
| cavalryman.
One morning an orderly came to
! Colonel Maynard's tent and showed
him letter postmarkcd County Cavan,
Ireland, and addressed to the man who
had assisted in the escape of Caroline
! Fitz Hugh. But there were features
| of the address which led Maynard to
doubt if it was not for some other Rati-
gan.
Maynard determined to go in quest
| Of Ratigan's body, or Ratigan himself,
]
! with him. He made a request fer a
flag of truce" which was EaRte4
and the next morning, after an cary
breakfast, Colonel Maynard, accon-
panied by Jakey and the little girl,
whom NJ ynard hoped to restore to her
parents, ch mounted and all attend
| ed by lieutenant and 20 men, set
ont from Chattanooga toward Mission
| Ridge. They met the onemy's pickets
at the base of the ridge and were con-
Quoted TO Rossvilo. Colonel Maynard
at once requested that lie might be ac-
corded 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
"tho flag" party dismounted, were TAX
en- into house, where they awaited the
officers arrival. Every attention was
shown them, and they were made as
comfortable as possible. Two hours aft
er the departure Of the courier Colonel
! Fitz Hugh rode up to the door.
There was always certain embar-
rassment between these two men, which
under the circumstances was quite nat
ural, but which was heightened by the
habitual dignity with which Fitz Hugh
bore himself There was much to force
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 appropriate
words of greeting, and there were few
moments of silence, which were broken
by Maynard referring to his mission.
Colonel, " he said, " | am the bearer
of a letter for Corporal Ratigan, though
the superscription gives different title
than corporal-the man who assisted
me on the mission which you doubtless
well remember. l saw Ratigan fall from
his horse and suppose that he is dead.
Am right"
mo- sir. Corporal Ratigan lives. lie
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 his recovery"
Il am rejoiced to hear it. Perhaps
this letter is for him. viii you attend
to its delivery"
"If you will ride with me to Ringold,
where he lies you can deliver it in per
son"
"That would indeed be a pleasure.
Can you get permission to take mo so
far within your linest"
81 can try. "
In that case may look, by the way,
for the homo of this little girl. res
cued her from the battlefield, where she
was lost. "
Colonel Maynard was required to
| give his parole not to use any informa-
tion ho might acquire on the way and
was permitted to go forward.
1t was singular party that crisp Oc-
tober morning, cantering down the
Chattanooga and Lafayette road, the
recent bone of contention, toward tho
now deserted battlefield Maynard ana
Fitz Hugh rode together ut tie trent
Then came Jakey and Jennie, both
mounted like the rest, while troop Of
Confederate cavalry formed the escort
The two colonies talked on everything
except what was uppermost in their
minds. Fitz Hugh several times at
tempted to guido the conversation upon
Maynard's service 10 his sister in order
that he might make a proper acknowl'
edgment, but Maynard, foreseeing his
intention, always made Some remark by
way Of thwarting him.
"My pop lives down thar, " said Jen.
ME pointing TO cabin "a mile below
them.
They were approaching the "horse-
shoe.
Leaving the Chattanooga road. they
followed another leading arounl the
ridge, soon striking a third leading 70
Reeds bridge. When they came 10 the
house pointed out by Jennie, a man was
sitting ON the fence, or one section Of
1t which happened not to have been
taken for firewood like the rest. whit
Ting stick. Catching sight Of tho child
as the party rode mp. he went to her,
and taking her In his arms covered her
with kisses. Tho mother, hearing the
EXPLANATIONS, rushed out and repeated