The National tribune., 1899-11-09

avoirdupois of intelligent Western Reserve
pluck, courage, and sheer grit.
After awhile the enemy Withdrew from
sight and 10 a casual observer appeared 10
have left the field, as they had the night be-
fore; but We We're out looking for Morgan,
and had at last found him, and Pardee
thought that we ought not to leave the
place until We had learned more definitely
whether the whole of Morgans men We're
there or only few of them; for, notwith-
standing the report made by the citizens of
that town to us that the whole of his forces
were there, We somehow had got into the
way OF doubling some of the stories which
We heard from the inhabitants of that
country; not so much because we thought
they meant to deceive us, but because, like
poor Dutch" Bob, their mouths had become
so fearfully warped out of shape that they
couldn't just quite always tell the straight
truth, even when they tried real hard.
Now, / desire that the reader should get
a very clear and intelligent understanding
of my position in relation to this notion of
Pardee's. | want it distinctly understood
that ]. personally and individually, was not
doubling these honest citizens statements
as 10 the presence of Morgan, nor hankering
after any more information concerning the
number of men that he had with him; and if
had been | could have made inquiry at
any one of the neighboring houses, and
would not have bothered them to put their
statements in writing nor swear TO the facts
as alleged by them.
In short, / was perfectly willing to take
any old body's word for so trivial matter.
| was satisfied that Morgan was all there,
and that he had anywhere from a million
of men to a great, large army with him; and
it was little difficult for me to understand
why Dick Pardee, under the peculiar sur
rounding circumstances, couldn't have
taken a more liberal view of the matter. |
would have been perfectly willing to help
Exytt liz IL
camp with, just so that We didn't under
estimate the enemy's numbers, nor our own
intrepid skill and prowess in holding them
at bay on that open field.
A REGULAR CENSUS-TAKER.
But no! Nothing could satisfy Pardce
but to have every last one of John Morgan's
men counted by me, and a full, detailed
statement made as TO their entire strength,
their position, the number of field-pieces
they had with them, the length of their
wagon-train, the health and department of
the rank and file, and the approximate
number of those who could read and write
in the English language, and how many of
them had attended grammar school, and
thousand and one other fool things like
| that. So he requested me to let Lonne
| Williams hold my horse while went up the
road toward the top of the hill and ascer-
| tained what l could about them.
Of course, went; but didn I go because
i wanted togo. lwent because was afraid
that the boys would laugh at me if didn't
go. That's all the reason.
We were at this time sitting on our horses
drawn up across the road just little east of
town, and facing the top of the hill where
| the Confederate troops had been seen last
| This road was fianked on either side by
rail fence about as high as a mans head;
and after dismounting and turning my
horse over to Williams as directed, worked
my way along in and out of the corners,
| half-bent over, so as to keep out of sight of
the enemy as much as possible. And, be-
sides, it was clay hill and there had been
quite smart shower some little time before,
and the walking was horrid in the roadway
propec, it being exceedingly slippery and
difficult TO get along.
l carried my Colts revolving-rife in my
hand, for obvious reasons; and as my heart
persisted III coming up in my mouth | car
rled 1t there most of the time. The road
was straight, and there was not a single
foot of the way between me and the top of the
hill that was hidden from the gaze of any
one there who might choose TO look; and |
felt morally certain that at least $4,000
armed, blood-thirsty and desperate rebels
We're watching my every step and laying
their plans to annihilate me-
| But what could l do but go straight
ahead! There sat our boys in plain sight;
and every one of them watching me to see
j if possible, what might discover. | had
no chance to feIgn some great discovery, or
fire my gun IN the air, or at some imaginary
! foe, and run back to the command; for each
and every last one OF them would have been
onto my scheme too promptly, and would
have got the undivided benefit of their dis
coverY.
| A DISTASTEFUL JOB.
kept poking along slowly up the hill,
trying to keep my nerves quiet. and won
dering what the outcome of it all would be,
until | had worked my way up to within
about 100 feet of the stone wall. There !
stopped, for l could hear plainly the men
i CONTINUED on seventh parea