The Red Cloud chief., 1895-04-12
CHAPTER XVI.

The battle of Chickamauga is over.
The Army of the Cumberland has with.
drawn to Chattanooga, safe for the
present ut least behind breastworks.
Their enemies arc looking down upon
them from the heights that encircle the
town, awaiting for them to fall oil 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 in the
rout OF tho right and were forgotten IN
his efforts to save the left. At any rate,
no one seemed to care anything about
them. Jal;cy and Jennie had ridden
from the battlefield, each behind a
cavalrynianL
One morning an orderly came to
Colonel Maynard's tent and showed
him u letter postmarked County Cavan,
Ireland, and addressed to the man who
had assisted in the escape Of Caroline
Fit2 Hugh. But there were features
OF the address which led Maynard to
doubt IL il was not for some other Rati.
gan.
Maynard determined to go in quest
of Ratigan's body, or Ratigan himself,
il he were not dead. taking the letter
with him. He made % request for %
flag Of truce" which was granted,
and the next morning. after IN early
breakfast, Colonel Maynard, accom-
panied by Jakey and the little girl,
whom Maynard hoped to restore to her
parents, each mounted and all attend
ed by 10 lieutenant and 20 men, set
out from Chattanooga toward Mission
Ridge. They met the enemy's pickets
at the base Of the ridge and were con-
Quoted to Rossville. Colonel Maynard
AZ once requested that he might be ac-
corded an interview with Colonel Fitz
Hugh, il that officer survived the bat
tie. A messenger was sent to summon
him, and rs no had some miles to &c
"the flag" party dismounted, were tax.
on into u house, where they awaited the
officers arrival. Every attention was
shown them, and they were made rs
comfortable rs possible. Two hours aft
er the departure OF the courier Colonel
Fitz Hugh rode up to the door.
There was always q certain embar
ih'ShiNIt w WV hiNhb ~
under the circumstances was quite nat
ural, but which was heightened by tn,
habitual dignity with which Fitz Hugh
bore himself. There was much to fore,
them apart and much to draw them to
gether, hut IL all resulted in constraint
Fitz Hugh lifted his hat to Maynard
then advanced and PIT out his hand
Neither seemed to think Of appropriate
words Of greeting, and there We're u fov
moments of silence, which were broker
by Maynard referring to his mission.
Colonel. " he said, Il am tho beare
Of u letter for Corporal Ratigan, thougI
the superscription gives q different It'll
than corporal-the man who assiste
me on the mission which you doubles
well remember. saw Ratigan fall froi
his horse and suppose that he is dead
Am l right"
mo, sir. Corporal Ratigan lives. II
was severely wounded by u shot froi
your men. He managed to keep his sac
die till his work was accomplished
when he tainted through loss of blood
For a time his life hung in the balanc,
We now hope for his recovery"
81 am rejoiced to hear it. Perhal
this letter is for him. Will you atter
to its delivery"
If you will ride with mo to Ringol'
whore he lies, you can deliver it in pc
son."
THAT would indeed be q pleasur
Can you get permission to take me
far within your lines?'
~ can try"
I'm that case ! may look, by the wa
for the home Of this little girl. l rt
cued her from the battlefield, where s
was lost"
Colonel Maynard was required
give his parole not to use any inform
ton he might acquire on the way a
was permitted to go forward.
1t wa a singular party that crisp {
tober morning, cantering down I
Chattanooga and Lafayette road, I
recent bone Of contention. toward I
now deserted battlefield. Maynard a
Fitz Hugh rode together at the fro
Then came Jakey and Jennie. b,
mounted like the rest, while @ troop
Confederate cavalry formed the esco
The two colonies talked ON everythi
except what was uppermost in til
minds. Fitz Hugh several times
tempted to guide the conversation VI
Maynard's service to his sister in or
that he might make a proper ackno
edgment, but Maynard, foreseeing
intention, always made some remark
way of thwarting him.
"My pop lives down thar" said j
ME. pointing to a cabin q mile be,
them.
They were approaching the "ho
shoe