Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-04-09
THURM0NT Frederick County, Mayad Thursday April 9, 1896.

war experiences, for we both felt 1t was
all too sad to be resurrected. On rare
occasions, however, we fought our bat
ties over again, and tonight l felt as
though I would like to hear Harry tell
some of his experiences, and so referred
to the revolver thinking to draw him
out.
At my question, Harry looked up at
the revolver for fully a minute before
replying.
THAT revolver is connected with one
of the saddest moments of my life.
never like to think of it, and that is
why l have never told you about it.
Knocking the ash from his cigar and
settling himself comfortably in his arm
chair be said:
AT one time during my four years
service l was adjutant on Burnside
staff, and one day he gave me important
orders to be delivered to the command.
ing officer of regiment located about
fifteen miles distant. Before I started
the general said:
''The pickets report small company
Of Cavalry somewhere along the route
So take your best horse and see that
your orderly is we'll mounted. Deliver
your orders with all possible dispatch,
for they are important
THE horse l chose was small, wiry
clean limbed animal whose speed and
endurance | had tested before, and my
orderly mad one almost as fleet. Oul
preparations were soon made and We
started off at a swinging, easy pace
saving our horses for anyemergencv thai
might come up.
We were about four miles on oul
Journey, VIXEN suddenly the orderly ex
claimed Look to the right, quick !
| did 50, and saw, at distance of per
haps three. quarters of a mile, several
mounted Rebels.
WI hope they haven't seen us, / said
but at that moment we saw six of then
detach themselves from the group anc
ride directly for US. touched my littl,
horse with the spur, giving him fret
rein, and he stretched himself into thu
long swinging gallop peculiar to him
and which | knew he would hold for {
long time. The orderly kept pace will
me for short distance but could SEE
his horse couldn't keep it up for any
length OF time, and knew that unles
something happened in our favor
should have to leave him behind.
AS we came to bend in the road
pulled my horse in long enough to lie
him come up with me az said: 'They
are gaining on US Billy. Their hors 's
must be mighty good ones. We mus
do something to give our horsesa breath
ing spell, and although six to two il
great odds, we must run our chance anc
exchange a few shots with them.'
Billy was plucky little fellow anc
the odds diln' seem to alarm him mucl
for he said: alright, adjutant; whenevel
you say
u looked ahead for a convenient am
bush, and saw that about half mile
farther on the road seemed to turn anc
enter grove Of trees. THAT is good
place said |, pointing to the bend
When we get there pull out on the
right and let them have it,
We got our revolvers ready and put
our horses to their fastest pace; but the
Johnnies were gaining on us and now
were sending along a few scattering
shots which came uncomfortably close.
Just before we reached the woods we
found there was stream that ran across
the road, over which hadbeen thrown a
roughly built bridge of logs fastened
together by few boards, something
like corduroy road. How it hap
pened I never knew, for | was
leading and got over all right, but I
heard a crash behind me and looking
over my shoulder saw that the orderly I
horse had stumbled and both We're on
the ground 1t was very hard for me
to urge my horse on and leave him to
fight it out alone, but my orders must
be delivered. and my duty was clear.
AS the orderly lay quite still, conclu.
ded he had been killed by the fall, but
soon heard shots and knew the plucky
fellow was giving q good account ol
himself, holding our pursuers single
NY first if he would fam succeed,