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

We puSncA on listening 1Of urlnR
ahead. The only sound was the iron
shoes of the horses beating on the
rocks. It 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 8
a dirt road. The way grew lighter, and ;
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, IL we
must 1t seemed during these last mo-
ments that 1 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. ii
not for breSch of etiquette. At last the
closing files before us were out of the
creek, and we followed. drew a long
breath OF relief and glanced at the
general. He took of his hat and looked
| upward. did not hear, but knew what
he said:
.'My God, thank thee"
Never was there a 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 il their
last files were but few hundred yards
around n 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 impotence outstripped the
rest of us, soon placed hundred PAGES
between himself and US, his figure
forming a silhouette against strip Of
: twilight on the horizon. The brjm Of
z his hat tapped with the trot of his
: horse, and the skirts of his overcoa
: futtered, while the animal was con
tinually throwing up his head TO catcl
=, at his bit, or lowering it to give tina
sputter peculiar to a horse trottini
along a good road.
The stars came out; the air was dry
and the spangIed heavens seemed NOR
than usually thick with bright point
:. of varying magnitude, from the fan
ing Sirius TO the faintest glimmer c
light. The general had a way OF lool
ing, as he rode, up at the heavens, ofte
=. Mt a bright star in the zenith, Alph
a. Lyra. and had noticed that when O
- one of his night forays and in n dai
- gerous position he was sure 10 ca,
= his eyes heavenward, as If invoking Il
aid of presiding diety. Tonight
saw him throw back his head for
accustomed glance, and ] knew tn
-. our position was critical
- General" said Wilton, who WI
vainly endeavoring to catch up wi
him, my horse is nearly done for. 81
~ the same is true of every mount in 4
70 command. We must halt for rest.
ns ut can't be done, colonel. We mu
put more miles between us and (
enemy"
Up "As you like, general. The men a
'"' dropping out so fast that you wiz so
ride alone"
The general made no reply. s.
sr him look up again at the star, as c
~, seeming danger will nervously fins
the handle of q weapon. At last, 81
denly coming TO a thick wood bes
the road. he gave az order to turn il
vo., IT, and, after gaining sufficient distal
from the road not to be readily 81
frcu it, we went into bivouac. v
dettes were posted, and the men
dered to preserve silence, in the h
'"P that our enemy, who was doubles:
our heels, might pass without obse
70, ing us.
~ Worn with \ fatiguing days Ct
paign. l rolled myself in my bIanl
4. and, with dirt pile for a pillow,
|, asleep almost before / had stretc
cav my legs.
How long / slept never knew.
,~st seemed to me that had but just
,a,,, myself when l was awakened by sh
US yells, every conceivable noise
as~- could be heard in fight. knew
o,,Id confederates were on MS. Through
! IN gloom l caught a glimpse of the
!, 81 eral already in the saddle riding am
80 our men. inspiring them with his I
,reD ence and gathering them togethe
-an,, the best formation practicable u
III surprise. Walter was with him, s
- ing TO him like wax, though there
- no opportunity to use staff of
while was separated from theI
a. some Of our own men who were
$50 ing to get into line. pushed forv
- but Just then troop of eonfedei
thei, came ganoping down, firing thei
= ~ volvers as they can.c-they had n
bers-and before / eGuld cover
- 30 space which separated me from
long si, -, .-s ~S,rs~ !,
IS. ..'s 'AS ,''i' - P,.-~,O
ing?" mem n''AAs - =, 80. :. 49, -,
lp." anu n"1nDe- 60 -rrnt
then Oh 'ne Uo.an'''''u. 1913 -
rounded us. and at the point of q
dred pistols our hands went up
we had been as many images work
wire springs.
Hurried to the rear, we waite
result of the attack. The fgh
shifting. and fancied that the
D eraI ad gathered what men he
~ and was cutting his way out. M
IN tation at finding myself hors de C