Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29

back, and as some
were in blue clothes
and some In gray, and all carried weapons
of some kind, anyone who knew what
| spirit was>abroad in the land would know
| at sight that they were confederate and
| Union troopers.
There were not many Of them-only a
score or two in each party, but they were
| as active and determined as If each de-
| tachment was great army. There was
much more at issue than the general ami
| mus of the war, for each party wanted to
| get back to its camp. which the other was
| determined to prevent, and as, besides the
| main road, which each preferred to take,
there were a lot of wood roads and bride
paths which each party knew well, there
| was much determined skirmishing for po-
sition before a single shot was fired.
AS one of the party skirted the side of
field. across which could be seen the typical
Virginia farm house-a great, square, white
building, with a big red chimney at each
end. they suddenly saw an old man, bare
headed, on horseback, at the inner side of
the fence, and the commander of the de-
tachment shouted.
sake! There may be bullets flying here
pretty soon, and your family and neighbors
would miss you terribly
Il beg your pardon. SIR replied the old
What? 'Tisn't Sunday, is 1t? Well,
then, better the day the better the deed.
We're either going to take those Yanks
back with us, or we're going to get away
from them"
mo, sir; faint Sunday, sir. but It's the
Fo'th of July, sir. And l and some of my
old neighbors, sir, are having little cele-
braton in honor of the day. and do pro-
test sir, against your making a disturbance
on my premises sir. and marring the pleas
ant and patriotic nature of the festivities.
1t isn't gentlemany thing to do, sir,
| right on my own property here"
Go and tell the Yankees so. captain, and
persuade them to get out Of our way, so
that we can get back to camp; then there'll
be no more disturbance. You were a SOL
der yourself. good many years ago, and
you know that a soldier can't take account
of days and places"
Where are the Yankees?" asked the old
man, shading his eyes with his hands and
turning his head to scan the surroundings.
That's just what We are trying to find
out. But do get back to the house, cap
tain, and get your family and guests into
the cellar for safety's sake; firearms carry
much further now than they did in your
military days. and stray shots sometimes
make a lot of misery for non-combatants.
Upon my word, captain, if you don't fol-
low my advice, 1 shall have to detail two Of
my men to enforce it
Il see yellow braid"' shouted the old
man suddenly. Get up Selim" Away he
dashed. diagonally across his grounds.
| while the southern officer exclaimed:
"Confound him! He'll have to be buried
before the day ends, if he isn't careful.
Hurrah! see the yellow braid tool Now
| men. keep we'll together! The rascals are
just coming into the main road from the
woods. The trees along this fence-row will
| road. Don't fire shot until we get rignt
upon them; then fill the road and fire al
together before they can get time to aim.
Then every man for himself let's see if We
a W
Each mans gun was in his free hand
| most Of the men carried double-barreed
| shot guns-weapons at which some north
| ern troops sneered till they learned by
bitter experience that a charge of buck
shot at short range from such guns could
DO much more damage than scattering
shots from carbines and revolvers
AS the double gray line curved around the
angle of the plantation and into the main
road each gun was raised, but the officer
suddenly exclaimed:
stop! That Internal old fool Is right in
front of the Yanks."
"Charge-' roared the Union commander.
Get out of the way. my friend. or your
blood be upon your own hands,"
"Halt!' shouted the old man, placing
| his horse crosswise of the narrow road
and raising his hand, as he himself arose
in his stirrups. Halt! all Of you! I com
mand you'll, Capt. Freewood, commission
ed by the United States before either of
you We're born, command you to haltr'
1t was utterly ridiculous, of course, as
ridiculous serves as well anything IN
expected to make men uncertain for a
moment. Both parties halted SO suddenly
that many horses heels went up in protest
at having been trodden upon. The vet
eran continued:
II insist upon truce for moment or
two. Won't each of you gentlemen kindly
meet me here, midway betW cen your own
forces, for consultations
There seemed no way out Of it, tor
neither wished to draw the fire of the
other side upon non-combatant, who was
also an old man and an ex-soldier.
Il beg your pardon, SIR said the old
gentleman, saluting the young lieutenant
who commanded the Union party, but 1
have just explained to my friend here,
whom have known for a long time, that
I and my friends and neighbors. most Of
them women and children, although there
are two or three elderly men like myself,
are celebrating this glorious day, the Fo'th
of July, at my house, sir, and do most
respectfully but emphatically protest
against any disturbance being made upon
the premises, sir. You may not be aware,
sir, as my southern friend is, that all the
property upon which you gentlemen are
maneuvering is my property, sir.
Now. gentlemen, both, 1 have propo-
sition to make which hope may meet with
your approval. Our festivities have scarce
ly begun. so I beg that you will join Us
you and your entire commands. The &C.
casion is one to which both sides Can
heartily do equal honor. The refreshments
are ample; there are plenty of chickens
still left, and p'enty of servants to prepare
them, while n.y. apple jack and peach
brandy are the finest in the entire county.
1 regret that my dining room will not hold
the entire party, but the piazza is large
and every one shall be abundantIy served
in picnic STYLE
The commanding officers looked askance
at each other and tried to frown;. then the
southerner said:
Captain, you are the soul Of hospitality,
but-but-"
But this is the first time in my life sir,
that my hospitality has ever seemed to
be despsed. 1 am astonished. sir!'
The southern commander looked ancom-
Portable; the Union officer smiled q..izzical-
ly at him.
Gentlemen, I insist!' continued the old
man. You must agree ct once 10 accom-
pany me; you and your entire commands
Afterward you may betake yourselves to
your respective homes-camps, I should
have said, and # you fail out by the way,
after you are well away from my premises.
it will be your OWE affair. Give me your
word-shake hands upon it!'
Two or three men of each party had
worked their horses slowly forward, curl
Gus to know the meaning of scene so
unlike anything in their previous military
experiences, and little by little they had
passed the purport of their conversation
l