Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
HAD UNIQUE XMASES
,,.,,,,-KNowN MEN TELL OF n.y.
CONE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES.
VOW TIE DAY WAS CELEBRATED
,,tcrcsting stories of the Great An
vfVrrsary In Which Some OF Nir-
ainia'S Most ionorcd Citizens Play
conspicuous Parts.


of goodwill among men. The report OF
rife and The wasplsh ZOO Of the bullet
tsr0uch crisp and eager air at that holy
hour is sound TO shame Christian
civilization. Among the wild and frozen
his along the anluents Of the Potomac IN
lisa certain citizens in blue and divers
persons I'm gray garb were Indifferent 70
any homily on the sacred era. The rocky
ranges were repeating the ping of hos
me weapons as the dawn disclosed the
foe.
The Confederate forces were a battalion
If nountaIneers whose task was to pounce
down on the great artery of commerce
connecting Baltimore and the West. They
how % bridges wrecked trains. drove of
tho Guards. These mounted guerilla were
fmuiar with every bear trail kept 10000
s. lcral troops busy protecting this i'm
rortant thoroughfare.
Their ftats OF daring never had the
rfln.ed fame Of Mosby. He was in toucn
,..tb the press. They seldom saw a south
Dn newspaper and reporter never s'l"
r.n. Their exploits would add lustre 70
D.. mentioned in passing and then these
rreune heroes will be dismissed while 1
ea cn Wits my tale
Less than eighty Of these men rode
through the wooded region Of the upper
Potomac under cover of night. They
crossed that river 10 miles away from the
Ir.t Confederate picket. entered the city
.f Cumberland in Maryland. guarded by
N.l men, took the two generals out OF
fr.ir beds and delivered them TO Juhal A..
Y..1v in stanton, Va The captured
cu.ars were Major-Gcneral Crook ana
-alieT-General Kelly. Has modern ao-
venture in arms matched that achieve
unt2 1 knew the gay and gallant fell
l.ws that walked up the warriors IN epau-
l.ttes that night. They brought on, aiso'
na hcadquarter flags.
Pardon a bit Of romance. Crook became
-r. tough. alert. and victorious Indian
rslter in New Mexico Arizona, ct Unique
Ills cantor was Lieutenant Daily. After
tho war Crook was captured again. but
tv a fai- maiden of Oakland, hamlet IN
n- bills west OF Cumberland. She was
also a Daily. sister Of the Confederate
Guerilla. in good truth. he was investing
arI bcsleging the charming girl when her
brother "lt" on him 50 suddenly.
Allow a little episode. General Kelly
ha. removed MS artificial teeth on re-
.t-irc that night. In the haste of de-
re-ture he forgOt them on the mantel-
-f.ra. Il is said his appeal TO President
Davis. conjuring him by the tenderness
u foothless gums and the toughness of
fre Confederate beef, touched the Presi-
7.nt And though the cartel had ceased,
Kelly was exchanged and sent where
3, could recover his mastcators. For
give the garrulous depression.
About daylight on Christmas morning
or 1854 The shots Were singing a snappy
refrain. like tie spiteful hum Of a hornet.
General Kelly had made a night march OF
svtv miles bringing his infantry in
ambulauces He was sure Of surprising
the Confederates celebrating Christmas.
brave girl had been visiting the VII
lace where the blue-cOats were getting
ready for this raid. She hurried horse
Hrck fltv miles IN dead of winter. she
was exhausted by the forced ride. There
wac no moment TO be lost. she sent her
little brother across the mountain In the
Ca,k 20 the camp Of the southern troops
Tho lad barely gave the warning ere
our pickets were driven IL.
The headquarters" We're a deserted
SUGAR Cnaple) camp-a cherries place.
r.f. "a mile below. never dreaming the
.ronv would or could reach us so rapidly
me fi9inrs Of his approach never were
conveyed 10 me. 7 had invited myself TO
pass TIE night at a respectable double
lce dwelling by the roadside, the only
Midway in the narrow valley, hardy
hundred yards wide.
The winter night was long. l slept
rrt" and about day, dressed and came
down 10 the dig room where a log ilfe
POI Ted. Presently a stragsler, on the
scent for q hot breakfast came III ana
marked unconcernedly that there was q
r,-nor I'm camp that they were
coming" such rumors were chronic. lie
DIDN'T credit H. but got nigh the hottest
conner 70 sweat the rheumatic out OF
Le knee caps and ankles.
i walked out into the front porch, when
orarhung the road 0or the cabin chung
zoo .he side Of the mountain Ike oirt-
rrufer nest under the eaves). 20 take ~
some fresh air. but I'm fact TO look ana
r-fer 1 had not taken two steps before
~. mounted vidette dashed BY. glancing
lid at me. "Im the last man below ana
v-l had better skip out" As he was Ill-
i,, with both spurs busy, and laying hat
cI bis horse a. sure sign that Dullet "
e.rocted from the rear, l leaped PACK
.r-1 the house and rushed up the stars
Or nv ovorcoat 1-rs Dasher, my nos
.- through the half-open door ma
...rf tfo picket. She shouted shrilly 10
ler daughter;
.patsv. whars my silk dressY'
upstairs I'm the big chist, nanny
was the reply.
There were always renegade neignDofs'
who returned with the invaders % pun
..r and insult the people faitnful 70 me
south They even carried on the cNoioe
nrarel Of the women. That SIX dress
perhaps wedding gown mad WllhOut
question. cut a figure and gained laihe'
mad reached quickly the loft seized
r0v rraat coat. and came down the DARK.
narrow staircase 1.-TWO steps at jump
Airs Dasher was laboriously ana eAci'en-
Pa. lending. She vas 0f Dutch bulld ana
H.ol short and bullying. / had adVah-
tare o. grade. momentum. and niniDle-
ness There was n collision ana cohiu-
..on. Aftcr the fashion OF the German
women in the hills. she wore many petu-
r.ats ~ many colors. Painting. wneezing.
ana prone. she seemed like a feather-Dea
,,raDne8 in garish Turkish rugs witn a
lfeeksroith's bellows within and active
There was no time for apology. me
clrrror OF resOunding arms rose ABOUT
rrunfs and asthmatic gasps OF the We
tira OF the conclusion. ,,.,.
THE somersaut lost me by ati'uue
Tor a second. but catching up my senses
2 bounded 10 the stable and swung my
eoff into the saddle The animal unQer
me- was Of the breed that Slaughter
rickling. Esq. Of Albemarle. ENCOURAGED
Tho road was thronging with cavalry
mon with carbines II was not yet broad
day ] let her feel the rowel a num-
her az the troopers insisted upon my
raugin0 She dartcd Ike deer through
fho ranks % hOrsemen, and IN triee
with hot TANKS she sped into our lines.
] patied her neck and praised her ny
ing hoofs. I'M raising my eyes. saw the