Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-17
CHAPTER ". X GUERlIfLAS : HONE.
\ dispatch for you, gcnlral. "

A UlSpdlCu lNI ULl, S-SiAN 4t'A'
 An aid-tle-camD entered, followed hy a tall, bronzcd Confederate cavalryman with very muddy hootS and southern sombrero on his head In :, his hand he carried sealed envelope, on the left hand corner of which was printed, Official business.
 Why not bring it yourself?' asked the general, evidently put out at being interrupted at dinner.
 '"The messenger says that he was in- structed to deliver it ono one but your self. It is from general headquarters. y Tho man stalked ill, his accouter- ments rattling as he did so, and remov- ing his hat handed the general the com munication. He opened it, and seeing that it was ill cipher handed it to member of his staff who possessed the key and directed him to unravel it. It read as follows:
 HEADCU ALTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
 June 2, lS62. To General -, Commanding Cavalry on Ex- trlmc Right:
 Mir rrwrc lr,ldrx n"Xrr lZi krXn III nbpy r:f>thse ut tixwrax dari sul mirwc gb igjq vvim kltvu GS lj~~-A lnikkinGmfy fc lvdzykwvgc. EgZi jwnXy tx b2gw. BRAXToN BRAGG, Com'd'g. 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 | tumble of letters. This, too, was taken mp by the cipher officer. In the course l 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 1 abandon my present line. Be ready to form 1 rear guard to troops retrcating by University. l Move south at once. Here is the second:
 En,,my'S telegram in cipher received. Can not Miss Bags secure information of the en- emy's intentions as to following this army 1 across the Tennessee? Such information would | enable Us Ia bc prepared if he attacks in con 1 Cvntratvd form cut him up in detail if he | 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 see her.
 When she entered, the general handed her the interpreted copies of the two dispatches.
 | 41Elt 4o 'l 4llO4N HI kOA hdA41 "SA n ASA you than any you have yet attempted, ' he said.
 She read both the dispatches and then thought few minutes
 II am ready to undertake it, gen eral, " she said, but without muct hope Of success. must first succeed il taking off message i'll which the plaI of the Yankees is given or hinted at sC clearly as to be inferred, and then i must be interpreted, for it will surely be ill cipher.
 If you could succeed ill both, yol would insure us victory i'll the west and that would be half the battle to tn causc.'
 II will undertake it.
 "You will br exposed to q frightfu danger.
 You knuw, general, that have de voted riy life to this work. I conside that as already sacrificed "
 We move from here at once, as yor sec by the order just received.
 II will go with you part of the wa and watch an opportunity slip bac behind the Union lines.
 With that Miss Baggs went out, an the general began his preparations t cover the retreat of the right of tn Confederate army.
 No further attention was paid | , Farmer Slack and his family. Evident lv there was business of greater impol tancc on hand. They went out on to th doorstep, where they stood wonderin what was going on about them. Ever |. one was stirring. An orderly dashed u , to the door leading an officers hor: saddled and bridlcd. An aid ran out ( '' the house. and mounting i'll hot has l, rode away. \ man from an upper vii !, dow called out to him:
 What < up:'
 "ThCv'Ve secured tine gaps. 70 "Which:"
 "Libcrty and Hoovcr's, All of 'em. IS "Wvll, what of it:''
 'What of it? It means retreat. Al before t!so last word was spoken he Wi & out of sight.
 30 In a few minutes bugle was hear Its tones had scarcely died away befo ' the camp was alive with men prepari1 ]. to move.
 g. The farmer determined to get h children into the wagon as soon as pc n' sible. He had been given his pas n. which, for the present at least, W n. likely to be of little use, as he wou
 simply follow the army. The party lc
 no time in getting to the wagon al
 into it and drove down the road. B - they were too late. The way was chok
 with horsemen and wagons, and tn
 were soon brought to halt. The ge
 eral dashed past, with his staff, al
 who should be by his side, her strip
 dress covered with gray riding ski
 a sombrcro on her head, with jaun
 cock feather encircling its crown, b
 Miss Bags. Seeing the farmer s wag 70, waiting by the roadside, she refined ct Bobby Lee beside Souri and took |
 hand.
 - "Goodby. my dear. 1 trust that yo
 innocent heart will not have to suf .. more than the rest of us during the cc .; tlnuance of this fearful struggle. | know We are all being tried ill fit Ii furnace. We'll meet again. 1 know 7, If you ever need any help or protecti
 when our army Is near, hunt up Be
 Bags.
 ''Whar's tn chicken coop?" call ,C Jakey as she rode away. 10 What chicken coop?"
 9Th one on wheels. "
 "Oh, the buggy. she said, smilil ga "I left that for the Yankees to pick sht when they come along"
 ''Rats'll be ridin inter it, I reckon
 If he can find it, he's welcome
 it," and with laugh she dashed af