Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-12
CHlCKAMAUGA.
By Captain F. A. mitchell.
Copyright, 1894. by American Press Associa-
tion.
CHAPTER w.
A 9UERRILLA's HOME

| AL tutttONt AoiAOWN' ~
a tall, bronzed Confederate cavalrymar
with very muddy boots and southern
sombrero on his head. In his hand h,
carried sealed envelope, on the lef
hand corner Of which was printed
Official business.
why not bring Ii yourselfs' asked
the general, evidently put out ut being
interrupted at dinner.
The messenger says that no was in
struc,ed to deliver it to no one but your
self Ii is from general headquarters. y
The man stalked in, his aocouter
men,s rattling as he did so, and remov
ing his hat handed the general the com
munication He opened il, and seeing
that it was in cipher handed 1t 20 q
member Of his staff who possessed the
key and directed him 10 unravel 1t II
read as follows;
gLADouARTIRs Army or TENNESSEE
June "a. lsi2 I
To General -, Commanding Cavalry on Ex
trrme Right:
Mir rrwec iridrx mcxrr izi krxn m nbpy
mfsfhso ut tixwrax dari SIN mirwc gb igiq win
| kltvq ~ iissga mikkingmfy fc lydzvkwvgc
| Egzi jwpxy TX bagw.
BRAxTos BRAGG Comds
Scarcely had the general given the
dispatch over for Interpretation when
another from the same source, which
had come by telegraph. was handed
him also, evidently an inextricable
jumble Of letters This. too. was taken
up by the cipher officer. In the course
| OF half an hour he handed interpreta.
tions Of both TO his chief. The first read
as follows:
The enemy having taken the gaps. | will
abandon my present line. Be ready 10 form
rear guard To troops reireaiing by University
Move south at once.
Here is the second:
Enemy's telegram In cipher received Can
| not Miss Bags secure information u the cn
| emy's intentions as 90 following this army
across the Tcnncss,-,i Such information would
enable Us 20 b. prepared II he attacks In con
| oentrattd form or cut him up in detail II be
| divides
The general gave the two messages a
few minutes consideration. and then,
dismissing the aid who had interpreted
them, directed him to inform Miss Baggs
that he would like TO SEQ her.
When she entered, the general handed
her the interpreted copies of the two
dispatches.
Here is more important work for
you than any You have yet attempted, y
he said.
She read both the dispatches and then
thought few minutes.
IL am rc.dy to undertake It. gen
eral, she said. but without much
hope Of success. must first succeed in
taking off message in which the plan
Of the Yankees is given or limited at so
clearly as 10 be inferred. and then it
must be interpreted. for it will surely
b. in cipher. "
If you could succeed in both. you
would insure us victory III the west,
and that would be half the battle to the
cause. ="
Il will undertake it. "
"You will be exposed to frightful
danger. "
You know. general. that have de-
voted my life TO this work. ] consider
that rs already sacrificed
"We move from here at once, as you
see 10y tho order just received =
Il will 20 with you a part Of the way
and watch an opportunity to slip back
behind the Union lines -
With that Miss Baggs went out, and
the general began his preparations 10
cover the retreat Of the right OF the
Confederate army.
No further attention was paid TO
Farmer Slack and his family Evident
IL there was business Of greater lmpor
tance on hand They went out on 10 the
doorstep where they stood wondering
what was going on about them. Every
one was stirring An orderly dashed up
TO the door leading an officers horse
saddled and bridled An aid ran out OF
the house, and mounting IN hot haste
rode away a man from an upper WIN
dow called out 10 him:
What's up?'
They We secured the gaps
Which,
Liberty and Hoover's All Of 'em
We'll what Of it'"
What OF IT. II means retreat - Ann
before the last word was spoken he was
out OF sight
In a few minutes bugle was heard
Its tones had scarcely died away before
the camp was alive with men preparing
TO move
The farmer determined to get his
children into the wagon as soon as pos
sible He had been given his pass.
which, for the present at least, was
likely to be Of little use as he would
simply follow the army The party lost
nc time in getting To the wagon and
into IL and drove down the road. But
they were too late The way was choked
With horsemen and wagons. and ;hey
were soon brought to halt. The gen
eral dashed past. with his staff, and
who should be by his side, her striped
dress covered with gray riding skirt.
o sombrero on her head with japnty
cock : feather encircling its crown, but
Miss Baggs. Seeing the farmers wagon
waiting by the roadside, she reined in
Bobby Les beside Souri, and took her
hand.
-"Goodby. my dear. trust that your
innocent heart will not have to suffer
more than the rest of US during the con-
tinuance of this fearful struggle. You
know we are all being tried in fiery
furnace. Well meet again. know it.
II you ever need any help or protection
when our array is near, hunt up Betsy
Baggs"
"Whar's tn chicken coop?' called
Jakey as she rode away.
"What chicken coop?"
9TH one on wheela
"Oh, the buggy, she said. smiling
"I left that for the Yankees to pick NJ
when they come along"
'Rats'll be ridin inter 1t. l reckon "
IF he can find it, he's'welcome te
1t" and with laugh she dashed after
| the rest.
Farmer Slack only succeeded In get.
ting few miles on the way before
nightfall. Then, coming to small vii.
lage. he made up his mind that 1t would
be better to sleep there than attempt ia
60 ON through a country being abandon
ed by one force to be Immediately occu
pied by another. He knew we'll the
crowded condition Of the roads and the
perils Of night travel So singing ou'
q house beside the road, which was the
/ - klo vlnno ouH caainO n