Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-07

over he ordered Walter TO ride to the
commanding officers and direct them
10 get ready to march in two hours. 1
secured the generals permission TO go
with the command, a change of duty
which especially delighted me.
Promptly at the appointed hour the
men were drawn up on the road,
mounted and ready to move. We made
straight for the railroad, throwing out !
administers to the frontand tanks. On /
every avenue our scouts reported |
watchful bodies of confederate cavalry. |
In vain the general tried one road after
another. All were guarded. All day
we were advancing by different roads.
invariably to be stopped by the sound Of
firing ahead. Fooled everywhere the
general determined to return 60 the
plantation The distance was consid-
cradle; wa were greatly fatigued, and
he gave an order for a brief rest before
| setting out
| We were halted on a hillside Be
| meath us three roads met, a fourth lead
ing over the Hill in our rear. The men
were oil back in the woods, the general
a few rods in advance with field glass.
1 was lying on my stomach on the
ground opposite Walter, who was in
the same position, with pack OF cards
between us-I always carried cards in
my saddle pouch. Walter had won n
pot of fractional currency, and was ralS-
ing it in, when l glanced aside at the
general, intent on the lower country
. to the south.
''Great guns, look there"
On every road column of confed-
crates was coming TO eat us up. There
was little of the confederates TO be seer
for the dust, but here and there the SUI
1 shoneon their accoutrements and arms
as they moved along the roads, looking
for all the world like gigantic snakes
At thar moment Wilton and Snafh'
rode up and refined in behind a cluml
of underbrush.
"Rebels on every road, and fore
coming down the mountain from tn
rear"
u 81 t-t-t-ell you. Wilton, the mans
f-f-feol to get us into such a f-f-fix."
81 consider him genius"
"a They did not see the staff engaged q
- cards, or they would never have dii
'e cussed the general SO freely in OF
hearing.
"a g-genius! I've read every boo
20 on the science of war;. and damme
~ 1 cen find anything he ever does
the index. He violates every princip
- laid down from julius Caesar to n
poieon."
: 81 don't remember that either
. them paid much attention to the a
. thorities Of their day. Waita momen
- ne has caught on to something"
The general was looking intently
the dry bed of creek on the rigi
'o' running parallel with n road. alol
- which a column Of cavalry was oomii
"A Mt canter.
Colonel"
The word rang out in the came sha
4. key as a rifie-baIi that just then c
- a tmig above our heads
ice EYES, general"
- "Move your men back of that cluI
of trees. down into the bed OF yont
~. creek. Major, you follow. No bugi
:, ;, Whisper the orders. Quick"
Ii Two officers dashed backward il
a I the thicket.
"a "ualloo, there; where's the stat
: o. 1t was the general calling.
/ grabbed the cards and the shinpl
s,1l tiers ut the same time, and made
= - bound for my horse tethered to S
ling.
Here, general" said, saluting-
TO-. ride quick to Col. RourSe and n
80 Ping and tell them to follow the c
rov- ers into the bed of the creek"
III go to Rourl1e, you to Ping
e~s4 shouted to Walter. We were of
ans fast as the ground would let us. Il
i1bt ing the general peering at the
preaching columns. 1 got back Fl
cted and the general rlotioned me to k
n on to the rear. Wilton's regiment
nta- filing down over stones and un
wore brush to enter the creek bed. We C
II see only few files as they passed
e 10 and the enemy could not see ther
copd all. In trice had the generals
stin He was intending to screen the
behind the high banks of the CT
tho moving them out of the trap, "
rites the confederates on the road run
dow parallel with the creek were moviT
es. of an opposite direction to capture u
yaret viii the men all get in before
had rebels come up? 1t is desps
hat chance. If we have the luck tc
Md / through without their getting
would eyes or ears on us, we may escap'
hat 1t they catch us there we VIII oe sio
grave tered like cattle in pen. Thei
lie re- Snaffe's troopers, but there is
Iivion break between Rourke's ana ring
whats the matter with ri
elk to called the general Hurry him u
placed 1 dug in my spurs, but just
GIFTED Pings head of column entered
- s., g