The Red Cloud chief., 1895-03-01
CHAPTER XVII.
~RATIGAN'S MISSION.

MAILMAN . NlSSiONs
The extreme left of the Army Of the
Cumberland, from which Corporal Rat.
igan started to 90 through the lines,
was held only by cavalry and mounted
infantry. and these widely separated
There was no regular picket line sucn
as usually exists between armies con-
fronting each other where the different
branches Of the service are represented
in II continuous line. Consequently
the corporal had n far better chance to
get through than under ordinary cir
cumstances.
Passing owe the Pea Vine ridge. he
descended the other side sloping to a
small stream called Pea Vine creek. 1t
was essential that he slip through be.
tween the Union vedettes unseen, for il
observed he would be taken for q de-
serter and either shot or sent in to the
headquarters Of his regiment. The We
dettes were principally on tho roads,
and the corporal, believing that they
would be looking for an enemy OH routes
over which cavalry could best advance,
selected one least advantageous for q
horse to follow. Wherever he could
find q thick c,ump of trees or low
growth. a knoll, q %ravine, indeed NY.
thing difficult for a horse to pass. he
would go Owe or through it. Now he
would stop. to listen for some sound such
as q horse Is liable to make, and now
would steal ON his hands and knees or
crawl on his belly over some eminence
where, il he should stand upright, his
body would make q silhouette against
the sky. On crossing q bit Of level
ground he suddenly heard q horses
''splutter." He was near q clump Of
bushes in which he lost no time in con.
cealing himself. A cavalryman rode by
within 80 feet Of him, walking his
horse slowly, the butt Of his carbine
resting OH his right leg, and in u posi-
ton to DO used readily. He was patrol.
ling a 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 q few
minutes under a low bank.
Once past the creek he felt that one.
half his danger was ended. He had
doubtless got beyond the range Of his
W comrades, and now came q great
danger OF meeting the Confederate
pickets. Leaving the creek, he assembled
a slight eminence and made o survey Of
the surrounding country. All was ST.
lent. except that he could hear an occa.
sional sound like a distant burst Of
laughter. or a shout from the direction
Of Ringold, in his front Presently he
heard the unmistakable rumble Of a
train coming from tho south.
1T will pass right down there be-
l n that clump Of trees and go through
the cut. said the corporal. "Oi wonder
wouldn't it be o good plan to take ad.
vantage of its noise when it passes to
slip through the outposts. They'll DO
thinkin OF the train, and Oh can follow
in its wake"
He advanced cautiously to the trees
beside the track and waited for the
train. Presently the headlight Of q loco.
motive shot out from around q curve.
The corporal had forgotten that its light
would reveal him to the engineer. He
crouched down out Of sight with a high
beating heart, and zone 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. II was drawing a long train of mix.
ed passenger, cattle and platform cars,
every car crowded with troops.
They're preparin to give us o brush
In earnest. Like enough these are re.en.
forcements," muttered the corporal.
Ratigan determined to follow the rail
road north to Ringold. which no judged
to be only O mile distant. The train
loaded with Confederate troops having
just passed. the guards he might meet
would probably not be very suspicious