The Monticellonian., 1895-08-09
SHADOWY FORD.
BY CHARLES ". CLARKE.

f 6 they hesitated after Corporal Chadwick said good-by at the foot of the flag staff.
 "Is there something more?" asked the corporal, leaning on his crutch.
 "Yes, Uncle Chad. l wanted Myra to see Gen. Reeve and hear about Shadowy Ford, said Newton, clasping with one hand the plump fingers of his cousin Myra. and with the other little Clint's rosy wrist.
 The corporal shook his head sadly. Gen. Reeve is dying, boy. He tells his tale no more. You will find him sitting on the west porch. He likes to be there in the sun. But he don't know his friends. He doesn't know even me. So let Myra take look at him and then run home"
 Newton led them wondering down the broad gravel walk toward the wide front gate. They looked back to the fiuttering flag, the vine-elad walls, the veterans grouped beneath the trees; and on the side porch they saw the stout figure of the general, seated in an armchair.
 Newton had been awed when he heard that the general was dying. But Gen. Reeve appeared as natural as ever, sitting quietly in. his chair. They strolled around the great facade until they stood at the foot of the steps.
 The general opened his eyes and looked down on them pleasantly. "Geme over and play with me, Ben," he said.
 Newton glanced behind him, and then all about in much perplexity. He saw none near. To whom, then, was the general speakingP
 Come up here, Ben. Your mother won't care," said the general, beckon- ing feebly to Newton. So they all went up and stood around his chair. Myra looked curiously on his wrinkled face and snowy beard, in such con trast with the new hat and glittering cord, the neat blue uniform, and the brilliant c6lors of the grand army badge on his breast. Newton was a little timorous, aud little hurt. The general had known him we'll, and now 
 tured to say, forgetting that the cor poral had told him not to stop there.
 This is my cousin Myra come to visit us. And l wanted her to hear your story about Shadowy Ford"
 ''Shadowy Fordw The general lost his pleasant smile, and instead look of pride appeared upon his face.
 "Yes, sir am the officer who held Hoods army back for twenty-four hours at Shadowy Ford It won me my brevet as general"
 And facing about he spied the clump of daises Myra bore in her hand. and to which she had clung during the hour of her visit at the home.
 The general put out his trembling fingers and took them from her. He held them up in the sunlight, smelled them, and dropped his hand in his lap. The general was cryingi This seemed so strange, so terrible, that Clinton looked at Newton, and Newton looked at Clinton, and both had mind to run away.
 What was Shadowy Ford?" asked Myra. She felt instinctively an inn pulse to talk of something that might help to hide the generals emotion.
 ''Shadowy Ford was a place down south somewhere. A river And he kept anybody from crossing for day. And it saved the army. And there is where he got his wound," exclaimed Newton.
 "1ll tell you why fought so hard at the ford, Ben" said the general in a whisper. "Iuever told any body before, but you'll keep it to yourself. We are chums, and always going to be, and so you ought to know. And you're differ ent from the other boys You don't make fun when any of us try to do what Is right. They all say it was be- cause l was as brave as lion and born hero, and thought of my country. But 1t was no such thing. was frightened when heard Hood was so near us, and only the river be- tween. And I'd have retreated fifty been for just one circumstance. never told any body of this before, and don't you repeat it. We were three miles from the river, six hundred of us marching south, @hen saw from the highway fine old house set back on a knoll among the trees. At the side was well. It was hot morning and l was thirsty. The sight of that well made my mouth water So I galloped in all alone. An old darky woman brought me gourd, and I had good drink of as delicious water as l ever tasted. While I stood at the curb one of the sergeants who had been scout ing ahead rode in to me, accompanied by a mulatto on a mule. This mulatto was very bright, and told me Hoods army, forty thousand strong, was mak- ing forced march toward the ford; i; and his advance guard was not more than ten miles away. After question ing him closely I believed the story So I said to the sergeant: You send Lieut.. Col. orton and Maj. Upham. I'll wait right here. And tell Capt. Hullbert to halt the troops where they are had no mind to oppose an army of that size with my band. I was under discre tionary orders It was probable that Hood was attempting to flank our main army, which was man. euvering thirty miles southward, and my course would be to send down word, retreat north, and keep out of the way of his rush. My heart shook as I sat there on my horse waiting for the major.
 ''Then l heard little cough and