Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-19

mounted force bearing down upon US In
n beadlonr charge Just then, one OK
our men. whom we called Zenock, was
seen dismounted, and having no little
trouble with his horse. His horse, he
said. was staggering. looked as II he
couldn't stand up. He can't bold me IN
the saddle" ne said; so Z.nock was or
dered 10 hasten TO the rear. and off he
went at a double-quick. leading his III
horse.
The shock OF the enemy's charge was
quickly met, and they turned back. Some
OF the Yankees, however. in their head
long dash. went through our ranks, and
then. throwing down their arms, were
hurried backward as prisoners. While
this was happening Zenock looked be-
hind him and saw these blue-coats gal
Looping towards him. II looked as X they
were full armed and making a dash for
him. Then, in q twinkiing. did Zenock
bound into his saddle. and the way in
which he made the dust ~ on his dis
abled horse was a sight 10 see. We have
read OF John Gipin's nimble steed:
"Whose trot became a gallop soon,
In spite Of curb or rein;
THAT like an arrow swift he few,
Shot by an archer strong"
We have read Of Tam o. Shanter's gray
mare Meg. swifter tran the witches OF
Kirk Alloway: We have read Of Phil.
sheridan's famous ride from Winchester.
When. through the fash OF the morning
light,
A steed. as black as the steeds OF night,
Was seen to pass with an eagle flight:
but I venture the assertion that not
one Of these ever made a livelier move
ment than Zenock accomplished that day
on his. horse with the blind staggers, es-
Gaping from those unarmed prisoners.
HATED TO BE CALLED DEAD"
a phase OF army life among cavalry, In
which the laughable and the serious were
often mingled, was found in connection
With outpoct duty. This was often seri-
Gus business, because OF exposure 10 the
enemy, exposure 20 the weather without
shelter, and because horses must be kept
constantly saddled and bridled, and arms
at hand ready for instant use. No Won
der that sometimes, when the dangers and
discomforts were so great. and escape
seemed SO easy, some Of our men out on
the dreary picket post would talk OF de-
sertion. remember once hearing Of how
one Of our brave troopers out on picket
said to his companion that he was getting
very tired of the war, and added: Il would
run away and get out OF 1t IL L could
honorably. But I hate so much TO be
called a deserter." His companion, who
was also revolving deep thoughts II his
mind and wearing a deeply solemn air,
replied: but what I hate so much is TO
be called dead man." II was not a
great while afterwards before the letter
d was entered on our roll after the name
OF the man who hated so much the
thought Of being killed but that letter ID
didn't stand for dead"
AN ABRUPT DISPERSION,
The last incident OF our life on out
post duty that / recall. In which the grave
and humorous mingled largely, was down
on the lines below Petersburg. in the au-
tumn prior to the collapse Of our cause,
and the final furling OF our banners. one
OF our leutenants, who had twenty-four
men out on the picket-line, sent in a re-
quest. saying that some girls near the
picket-line had gotten up q molasses (or
sorghum stew, and had invited him TO
attend with his guard, and asking Il
there would be any improperly in his
going with the men. The reply was sent
that such a thing mustn't be thought OF;
that the picket was a gravely important
post Of duty, and every man should DO
Kept IN his place.
After this message had been sent was
haunted with the feeling that that candy
pulling would be Irresistible. and that
the lieutenant and his guard would BE al
lured from their camp by the double
sweets-the fair, young girls and the
boiled sorghum. Accordingly, / mounted
my horse and rode down & where the
reserve pickets had their bivouac. There
were the horses and arms; there were
Corporal Marmaduke and four men. All
the others were gone. They were in the
house across the field. They were pulling
candy with the girls.
Very quickly a plan was formed 10 ride
down the plcket-lne and put the senti-
nels on guard against any yelling or
firing that might be heard IN their rear.
Then, with such men as were available.
we returned, and. getting well between
the house where the merry making was
going on and where the men had their
horses and arms. We charged doxgh on
the house. yelling, and firing our pistols
like a regiment Of Yankees making a
nfght assault. The surprise was COM
plete and overwhelming. Never was n
house emptied Of its guests more rapidly
or unceremoniously In an incredibly
short time the lieutenant and his men
had exchanged the lighted halls and merry
voices OF that festive home for the under
brush, seclusion, and darkness Of the
swamp in the rear, where they founl a
hiding-place.
One man sought n nearer shelter OF
secrecy. He ran upstairs. and, doubling
himself UP In the fre-arch,. had one OF the
girls 10 replace the screen, so as to
conceal him. Learning OF his where
abouts. we went up into the room where
h was. The sound OF our feet filled him
with concern. He felt that his hour had
come. Visions Of capture 90 weary
mouths at Point Lookout disturbed hin.
How his heart quivered when hand
was laid on the screen 10 remove ~
And how the serious gave place to che
humorous when he saw the familiar face
OF his own officer looking in on himl
Our men, who had fed TO the woods.
were called forth like scattered par
tridges whistlsd from their hiding-places.
and accepted good-naturedly the rough
Joke that had been played on them.
One uniooked-for incident gave n Sc
rious turn 10 this episode In our picket
life. A clergyman. It seems, had come
the evening before 10 the house next to
the one where the party was held. BY
entreaty Of the family he had been In
duced 20 spend the night. He had been
assured that our picket-line was milo
or two distant. and that he was entirely
secure. He had undressed himself and
lain down, and was In he embrace or
peaceful slurbers when our pistol-shotS
and yelling aroused him Instantly he
sprang up, and waiting not 10 dress,
rushed wildly for the woods in his night
clothes. Satisfied that the hated enemy
were at hand, he spent the night In the
damp thicket with the moequitoes His
thin night-shirt INVITED and encouraged
the attacks OF these ravenous insects.
The mounted charge which we had made,
ana from which he had SO precipitately
Ned was but the harmless sport OF
friends; but the buzzing assaults which
kent him painfully busy through the
night hours proved. indeed, a bloody