The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-07
CHAPTER ~.

CHAPTER ~.
A GUERRrILA's HOME.
"A dispatch for you, general"
An atd-de- camp entered, followed BY
tall, bronHed Confederate oayalryman
with worry muddy boots and a southern
sombrero on his head. In his hand he
carried a scaled envelope, on tho left
hand corner Of which was printed.
"Omoial business
why not bring 1t yourselfs'' aaked
tho general, evidently put out at being
interrupted at dinner
Tho messenger snys that no was in
.struoted to deliver it no one but your
self. It Is from general headquarters. "
The man stalked In, his acoouter-
ments rattling as he did 30, and remoy-
Ing his hat handed tho general the com.
munioation. He opened 1t, and seeing
that 1T was in cipher handed 1t to q
member Of his staff who possessed the
key and directed him to unravel It, It
read as follows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY 9r PET THss1ssssE, ~ ,ss5
To General -, Commanding Cavalry on Ex-
Gflr rrweo lrddrx mexrr LII krxn m nbpy
mfsfhso ut tixwrax dart SIN mirwo gb igjq WIN
Egzi jwpxy tx bagw.
BRAxroN BRAGG, Com'd'g.
Scarcely had the general given the
dispatch over for Interpretation when
another from tho samo source, which
had como by telegraph was handed
him also, evidently M inextrioable
jumble Of letters. This, too, was taken
up by tho oiphor officer. In tho course
Of half oil hour he handed intorpreta-
tions Of both to his chief. The first read
as follows:
Tho enemy having taken tho gaps, I will
abandon MY present line. Bo ready 10 form
renr guard to troops rctreating by University.
Move south ut onco
Hero Is the second:
hemy's telegram in cipher received Can.
not Mss Baggs socuro information Of tho On.
emy's intentions Ms 10 following this army
across tho TcnnossoeP Suoh information would
onablo us to be prepared II he attacks In con
contracted form or cut him up In detail IL ho
divides.
The general gave the two messages a
few minutes consideration, and then,
Diminishing tho MD who had interpreted
them, directed him to inform Miss Bapus
that he would like to SEQ her.
When she entered. tho general handed
her the interpreted oopies Of the two
dispatches.
Hero 1s q more Important work for
you than any you have yet attempted,
he said.
She read both tho dispatches and then
thought few minutes.
Il am ready to undertake it, gen.
eral,' she sNid, "but without muoh
nope OF sucoess. must first succeed In
taxing OF q message III which the plan
or the Yankees is given or limited at SO
oAoarly as to be inferred. and then It
must be interpreted, for 1t will surely
DO in cipher "
'lf you could succeed in both, you
would insure US victory In the west
and that would be half tho battle to the
CAUSE
II will undertake it,"
"You will bo exposed to q frigh$ful
danger"
"You know, general. that have do
voted my lffe to this work. I consider
Shat as already sacrificed.
"We mevo from hero at onoe, as you
500 by the order JUST received "
II will go with you part Of tho way
and watch an opportunity to slip back
behind tho Union lines
With that Miss Baggs went out aud
tho general began his preparations to
cover the retreat Of the right Of tho
Confederate army.
No further attention was paid to
Farmer Slack and hts family. Evidont.
ly thoro was business Of greater impor-
tanco on hand. They went out on to the
doorstep, whero they stood wondering
what was going on about them. Nvery
ono was stirring. An orderly dashed up
to tho door leading an officers horse
baddled and bridled. An aid ran out Of
tho house, and mounting In hot haste
rodo away. A man from an upper win.
dow called out to him:
whats up2''
'"They'vo secured tho gaps"
"Which?"
'Liberty and Hoovor's. All Of 'em. "
"Well, what Of it2''
what Of itp 1t means retreat" And
before tho last word was spoken he was
out Of sight.
In few minutes buglo was heard.
aus tones had scarcely died away before
the Damp was alive with mon preparing
to move.
Ihe farmer determined to got his
onlidren into tho wagon as soon as pos.
sible. He had been given his pass,
which, for the present at least, wae
likely to be Of little use. as he would
simply follow tho army. The party,losi
no timo In gotting to the wagon and
into 1t and drove down the road. But
they were too lato. Tho way was checked
sAiAh haraaman and wagons. and thap