The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24

put her in commission, making with Longs
quite a little ffotllla. | found the boys
waiting rather impatiently for our return
and when I informed them of the chanse
made in the programme. those who were
left out in the detail grew indignant
gave them my regrets and the I,euten-
ants order TO the sergeant in command
to return to the Colonel. My detai, on
the other hand, were in high siee, ana
after taking leave of our comrades ana
the Tenants. we were soon aboard OF
our boats and off for the Maryland
shore, reaching there, according to
promise, ait II o'clock The Lieutenant and
Randolph were snugly tucked in on bed
of shueks, sleeping the steep OF the
..oabes in the woods I disiked SO much
to disturb them, but the military neces-z
sfty still confronted US. A touch on the
shoulder and a call in low voice were
sufficient to call the Lieutenant to his
feet. 'Ha. no. boys, are you here SO
soon?" was his greeting. Yes we are
here" was the reply. Fall in: forward
march, came next. Although sleepy and
tired we marched to within two miles of
Port Tobacco by morning, where we
camped until the following night, when
we again took up the line OF march for
Port Tobacco, arriving there between
and O'Clock. A good supper was served
us at the Hotel Rrawner by its proprietor.
one of the gentlemen VINO called on US up
the river. We had a jolly good time. tell
ing war stories TO our Maryland trlends
| until the dead hour when all good soldiers
| are supposed to have had taps and turned
in for the night. The Lieutenant had got
ten full particulars concerning the dis
position of the garrison from friend IN
the town.
THE CHOICE OF PLAN.
In his usual quiet way. he in
formed us that we had a pleasant task
before us There were twenty of the
Eighth Illinois Cavalry uuartered in the,
Courthouse and to capture them and
| their horses was necessary to the sue
cess of the expedition. This could be done.
| ne added. by straSaEem storming the
castle. We could choose either plan The
former seemed to carry a charm about 1t,
and it was adopted without dissenting
voice. Here the guerilla idea of war was
| carried out in it's strictest sense. AS
quietly as possible, we took up position
in front of the Courthouse, under cedar
| tree. From this point We could see the
/ guard around the horses walking his beat
| Leaving the rest OF the men, the Leu
| tenant and I walked directly to and cap
f! tured him with perfect ease. The pris-
] oner was put in charge of George Smith.
! The rest of us walked briskly to the
| Courthouse door. where Charlie Vest was
left with orders to allow no one to pass
| out. Randolph, Haney, O'Bannon and
| Radcliffe were ordered to remain with
! Vest until they heard the enemy stir,
+, when they were to rush in with a furry.
! wiltshire, follow me-" was the next
/ command. Elbow to elbow, Bowie and
| walked to the center of the floor, when
| the former lighted match and held it
| over his eyes, revealing the presence of
| twenty as brave men as were in the United
| States Army, sleeping peacefully. Not
| a man stirred UP to this moment. By the
| aid of this and another match, we found
! our way to the judges stand. Here the
| stiffness of the moment was broken by a
] big German sprinsing to his feet and ram
: ming his pistol against the Lieutenant, ex-
claiming: by dams, me shoots" As these
words issued from his lips. put my ps-
tol against his ribs, saying with q slight
! emphasis of profane adjectves: Surren-
! der. or I will bore YOU through" Finding
! such strong objections TO his carrying his
/ threat into execution, the Teuton fell
back in bed, declaring. 'hy dams me no
shoots At this juncture, the big four
/ rushed in. making more noise than the
| whole of Mosby's Battalion would have
done. Surrender! Surrender, Surren-
der!!! came from the Confederates-
i FEDERAIS' SURRENDER.
Believing that no small party would at
tack them, the Federals surrendered with
Won't making the slightest resistance. They
/! we're made to saddle and briddle nine of
their horses for our use and that OF the
Governor. While this was being done, the
/ Lieutenant was arranging a parole with
the Federal officer that required the pris-
I oners to remain in the Courthouse until
| sunrise the next morning" Mount your
horses. forward. lrot, march ordered our
j commanding officer. we can make the
Big Walnut by daybreak' This, OF
course. was 4ruse- Instead of going by
no Vol,
ton of Upper Marlboro, travelling hard
until sunrise. when we halted in the
| woods until the following night, when we
took up the line of march for Colonel W.
! w. Bowie's, the IIeutenant,s father, ar
irving there about A. NJ. where we were
Joined by Bruno Bowie, then home on fur
Tough. After a short sleep and refresh
| ments, we were introduced to the Bowies,
WHO received us in good old Prince George
style, and gave US a very delightful day.
I At nightfall, having paid our respects TO
the ladies, and received the Colonel's bene-
/ d;ctfon. we sauntered along the pathway
leading to our horses. waiting for the
Lieutenant and Bruno. who had tarried a
while in the hall 10 say goodbye and re-
j ceive mothers blessing, to join US The
bright eye that we had just left under the
i chandelier in the great hall of ''E,sIington''
evidently had impressed the knights.
BoWIEs PLEASANT VISIT
/ Looking back at the group IN
the hall, Randolph said: How
pleasant the day as been spent.
1 Z shall always recall our visit to
I the Bowies with pleasure, This seemed
i to touch dear old Charlie Vests poetic
q! center, for he thought a moment. and said:
Eyes. their voice ike the blessings of a
j a-enctlanting one to them In
memory GBannon was about to sup
plemerit what had been said with one OF
1 his graceful speeches. when the Lieutenant
with Bruno. In his intenseiy-practica1 way.
4 broke In upon the muses., saving: Come.
! boys, let us get TO our horses and be
off,. Once IN the saddle. we drew rein
4 for Hardesty.s Store, near Annapolis.
4 Hherew Ne camred In the woods for few
days. while the Lieutenant ard Charlie
q Vest secuted the Governor 9 house. Find,