Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-01-18

JACK at very small cost. L consented
to go with him, a. he sid 1 coul(
ovettake the regiment before it would
get off The mountain on the opposite
side. 1t vas nearly shutdown whel
we entered this dark, lonesome, for
bidding hollow. On our Journey, al
frequent intervals, we could hear the
discharge of firearns IN tho mountain
side. This firing, l afterwards learned
at the still-house, was done by deser-
tiers, who in 'o-ted these secure noun
tain as'nesses. and who heralded the
approach Of soldiers by firing guns to
warn those who had not discovered us
to be en- th>i. guard. I never thought
anything of the matter, or that we were
in danger of being ambushed, until the
man who controlled the stilI-house said
ttat we were in imminent danger of
being shot any moment. Mel those
days were not easily "skeerod out, and
after we had obtained what we went
for we departed. 1t was very dark aud
raining slightly, occasionally our pa h
being lighted up with sheet lightning
playing all over the heavens. 1t was
discovered by Rosaer's man that we
were out Of the path, after wal dering |
around for some time, and he said we
would better wait until daylight, in
which suggestion acquiesced.
A small baystack was visible about
30 feet from where we were. 1t had a
rail fence around it, and over to il we
went and picketed our horses, built
fire out of some Of the rails, fried some
"middling," and ate some srackers and
lay down, with our saddles as pillows.
bad an oilcloth to serve as a cover,
and l invited my companion to share
1t with ME to protect him from the
rain, as he had no cover
whatever. BY "spooning" VIC kept per-
'ectly dry. roth of us kept our re-
7olvers and sabres on, as was the Gus
ON, Ny new boot, made my feet in
eDsely hot and pulled them off and
placed them near my head. In a very I
hort time | 9th Of us were sound q
sleep Some time near daylight I s
7as awakened by my companions fir
ng his revolver in rapid succession
lrectly over my head. | Immediately a
anne TO sitting posture, s1d asked t
In what was the matterl He ex- t
laimed: "The deserters ere stealing .
verything we have" In a second 1 .
unprecedented the situation from what n
lie men at the still-bouss had said and
turned my eyes toward The ro,d
could see the forms of four men
ealthily going from US. l drew my
'volver and commenced filing, when yc
ley increased their speed to quick al
n, and Don passed out OF sight. 1 su
ggestt d to my friend that We had &c
tier change our camp, to which he ~
adily consented l looked for nv IL
OTIS and they were gone Ny friends trc
was gonel He explained TO me Gu
IN how be awoke, and just in the y
k of limo. These deserters bad ~
81 to turn him over TO get his re- fb,
yer, and in doing 50 Lad caught ma
d of his wounGed n, the pain Nc
lkening hiw. 1t they had sue tie
de !, no doubt l wol 4 not. have
N here to-day to arIa'e his little ism
y. We moved short distane and he
up the rem aiming part OF thenight,
when daylight came we walked
to where we had camped. Our L
had been good for there wa, blood pois
he fence, and one of my boots was WA tna'
g just over the fence. But he, hat tec,i
and half shoeleas, we rode out in D
le gorge, never 10 return. reached you
egiment in the early morning, but mus'
,e road I met an old farmer 10 h Ioio !,
q l gave So for his shoes, and born
ever became OF Roaser's man l the
learned, nor have I heard from New
n any way to identify him. 1 was Inc "
that never knew his name or n LUZ
lent, as afterwards learned that the m
ere IN more perilous position None
either one of us conceived. A chill tie frt
Tor courses itself along my YER In
when I think OF how near we Wena
o being murdered by these de- nsylya
T. the oil
v, as to thu sequel of this short the de
1t is this: AS / stated in the
ing, property acquired by mis- 0N'
falsehood, force, or So n
uate compensation, in the end have b
t benefit it, owner. as evidenced every