Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-08-08

creek. The general stepped back to
where an orderly held his horse,
mounted, and sat for moment with
On eye on the confederates pouring
along the road, while we could occa-
sionally catch a glimpse through the
trees of our own fellows down in the
waterway moving in the opposite direc-
ton. The confederates came on till they
got to within 600 yards of where we
were standing, then halted and formed
line OF battle, never doubling that they
had us bagged. A man rode out with
a white flag to demand surrender. l
noticed a smile fit over the generals
face. He took off his hat and ran his
fingers through his hair, habit with
him when pleased. Then we both rode
down to the bed of the creek.
What followed seemed ages. The
men, crammed into q narrow channel,
the horses stepping on smooth water
worn rocks, were obliged to go slowly.
Surely we will be caught in this slaugh-
ter-pen, this death-trap, this dead
mans trench; and if the enemy choose,
not man will come out alive.
We pushed on, listening for firing
ahead. The only sound was the iron
shoes OF the horses beating on the
rocks. 1t seemed that their tread
would surely be heard. But the banks
held the sounds. Soon the men ahead
began to leave the creek and enter upon
dirt road. The way grew lighter, and
l caught sight Of our foremost files,
trotting up the road. A few moments
more and we would have an open field
in which to fight for our lives, if we
must. It seemed during these last mo-
ments that I must spur ahead Of the
slowly moving men, but there was no
room, and / would never have dared
to pass before the general, for shame, if
not for breach of etiquette. At last the
closing files before us were out of the
creek, and we followed drew long
breath of relief and glanced at the
general. He took off his hat and looked
upward. did not hear, but knew what
he said:
MY God. thank thee"
Never was there clearer case of
playing at corners in the game of war.
We had gained the very road by which
the confederates were marching to cap
ture US, and as we entered 1t their
last files were but few hundred yards
around bend to our left. Dashing
Off to the right, we lost no time in
putting distance between them and
US.
The night was coming on, and the
general, who took his place at the
head of the column, and whose horse
and whose impatience outstripped the
rest OF US, soon placed hundred PAGES
between himself and us, his figure
forming silhouette against strip of
twilight on the horizon. The brim of
his hat tapped with the trot of his
horse, and the skirts of his overcoat
fluttered, while the animal was con-
tinually throwing up his head to catch
at his bit, or lowering it to give that
sputter peculiar to horse trotting
along good road.
The stars came out; the air was dry,
/ and the spangled heavens seemed more
than usually thick with bright points
OF varying magnitude, from the fam
Ing Sirius to the faintest glimmer of
light. The general had way of look
Ing, as he rode, up at the heavens, often
at a bright star In the zenith, Alpha
Lyra, and had noticed that when on
one of his night forays and in dan
gerous position he was sure to cast
his eyes heavenward, as if invoking the
MD of presiding diety. Tonight ]
saw him throw back his head for his
accustomed glance, and l knew that
our position was critical.
General said Wilton, who was
vainly endeavoring to catch up with
him, my horse is nearly done for, and
the same is true of every mount in the
command. We must halt for rest"
ut can't be done, colonel. We must
put more miles between us and the
enemy"
"As you like, general. The men are
dropping out so fast that you will soon
ride alone"
The general made no reply. I saw
him look up again at the star, as one
seeming danger will nervously finger
the handle of weapon. At last, sud
denly coming to thick wood beside
the road, he gave an order to turn into
1T, and, after gaining sufficient distance
from the road not to BIZ readily sect,