Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-24
CHlCKAMAUGA.
By Captain F. A. MITCHELL.
ICopyright, 1894, by American Press Assoeia-
 tion.1
CHAPTER XVII. RATIGAN S MISSION.

was held only lcy cavalry and mounted infantry, and these widely separated There was no regular picket line such as usually exists between armies con- fronting each other where the different branches of the service are represented in one continuous line. Consequently the corporal had a far better chance to get through than under ordinary cir cumstanceS.
 Passing over the Pea Vine ridge, he descended the other side sloping to small stream called Pea Vine creek. It was essential that he slip through be- tween the Union vodettes unseen, for if observed he would be taken for de- serter and either shot or sent in to the headquarterS of his regiment The ve- dettes were principally on the roads, and the corporal, believing that they would be looking for an enemy on routes over which cavalry could best advance, selected one least advantageous for a horse to follow. Wherever he could find thick clump of trees or low growth, a knoll, a ravine, indeed any thinG difficult for horse to pass, he would go over or through it. Now he would stop to listen for some sound such as horse is liSble to make, and now would steal on his hands and knees or crawl on lis belly over some eminence where, if he should stand upright, his body would make a silhouette against , the sky. On crossing bit of level ground he suddenly heard a horses "splutter. - He was near clump of bushes in which he lost no time in con- | cealing himself A cavalryman rode by | within 90 feet of him, walking his | horse slowly, the butt of his carbine resting on his right leg, and ill posi- tion to be used readily. He was patrol ling 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 1 not disappointed and was soon standing in shallow water, resting for few minutes under a low bank.
 Once past tho creek he felt that one. | half his danger was ended. He had 1 doubtless got beyond the range of his own comrades, and now came great danger of meeting the Confederate 1 pickets Leaving the creek, he ascended l a slight cminence and made a survey ot the surrounding country All was si- lent, except that he could hear an occa- sional sound like distant burst ot laughter, or shout from tho direction of Ringold, in his front. Presently he heard the unmistakable rumble of q train coming from the south.
 Tt will pass right down there be- hind that clump of trees and go through l [ Ia, wouldn't it be good plan to take ad vantage of its noise when it passes tC slip through the outposts. They'll bt thinkin of the train, and Oi can follow ill its wake "
 He advanced cautiously to the tree; beside the track and waited for tht train. Presently the headlight of a loco motive shot out from around q curve Tho corporal had forgotten that its ligh would reveal him to tho engineer. Ht crouchcd down out of sight with higl beating heart, and none too soon, fol had he staid where ho was the igh would have shono directly on him. H, waited while tho engine puffed slowl, by. It was drawing long train of mix ed passenger, cattle and platform cars every car crowded with troops.
 They re prcparin to give us brusl in earnest. Like enough these are re-en forccment>, " nuttrred the corporal.
 Ratiran determined to follow the rail road north to Ringold. which he judged to he only a milo distant. The trail loaded with Confederate troops having just passed, the guards he might mee would probably not be very suspicion of an enemy. Ho walked on the trac for short distance, expecting a ohal lengc with every step.
 He received one suddenly. just befor entering a wood. A man on horsebac ) I customary:
 'Who comes thar?'
 } Ratigan at once threw up his hands which his challenger could distinctl see, and cried out, II want ye to talk me to Colonel Fitz Hugh"
 0 What do you want with him?''
 Do ye know him?"
 He commands a regiment in our bri :. gade. ''
 !. Seeing that the corporal held hi
 hands above his head, the man permitte him to draw near Once here, Ratiga l. informed him of the nature of his mi: |. sion and begged him for Colonel Fit
 Hugh's sake to send him to Ringold {
 once. Tho vedette was convinced frol
 Ratigans earnestnesS that he bore - message of importance, and calling hi
 comrades ordered one of them to li
 mount. Then, taking the precaution
 blindfold the stranger, he mounted hin
 and placing a hOrseman on either sic
 of him sent the three clattering towar
 Ringold. It was not long distance 1
 the town, but all distances, all period
 of waiting. seemed long to the corpora ,I Was not the terrible event to take plaC { at sunrise? And now it must be ne:
 midnight
 = What is the timer he asked of h
 conductors.
 Twenty minutes to II. " e Let's go faster. Colonel Fitz Hug f would be as anxious for me to get on l Oi am meself if he knew me errand. ''
 All right Let's light out, Pete.
 And Ratigan felt the motion of gall(
 in the horse he rode. And now can - a Halt from guard and an answe c followed by Advance and give u c countersign. One of the men goes fo
 waru HUT the purpose. rnen the pal
 goes on again, but what they pass ,. where they are going Ratigan kno ht nothing about He only knows tl
 they are moving, and that they are I
 moving fast enough to suit him. Pr
 ently they stop, and the corporal c
 hear one of the men dismount. There
 a stroke of clock evidently from \ church spire. He counted, "One, tv ,, three" and on to eleven.
 "Dismount
 = He lost no time in throwing hims :: from his horse and was led forwa