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

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It was the Lieutenant's purpose to board
this boat at a given hour that night,
but shortly before the appointed time TO
carry his purpose into execution, ne de-
cided that he could conduct his expedition
more successfully with a smaller force
than the one he started with from var
GINA; therefore he would not neeo
larger boat than Longs for his purpose.
Five more men were needed to complete
our party After short conference with
Randolph and myself as to the most suit
able men for the specific work before US
George O'Bannon, Charles Vest, George
Smith, Haney, an ex-lieutenant in the reg
uar army, and George Radcliffe We're ue-
tailed from those left in Virginia Stra"s
were drawn to determine who should go
after the detail. He who drew the longest
straw should enjoy this prerogatlVe. DE-
fore the StrawS were drawn, EnoWeVeA,
HURRIED COUNCIL.
Randolph and held a hurried council OIL
war and determined that in the event OF
the longest straw falling to the com
mander,'' I should take his place. AS fate
decreed il and we anticipated, the duty
fell upon him. And he, as though there
was an exquisite pleasure in store LOT
him, set about to perform It, Long, ps
order, was bringing his poat from us
place of concealment, and the Lieutenant
was Just in the act of boarding the little
craft, when our attention was called to
two gentlemen approaching US from the
( recuon OF Port Tobacco, driving pair
of splendid black horses. They proved TO
be friends of the Lieutenant from the lat
ter place, whom he received most cordial
ily. Quite a lengthy confidential chat foi-
lowed, for they had much in common to
interest each other; during which time
Randolph and 1 looked the horses over.
They were indeed things of beauty per-
feet at every point and shone like two
blackheart cherries, altogether tempting to
a horseman enough to make one break the
comma ndments, indeed l fear 1 did COM
nit a msdemeanor to the extent of feel
ing how I could adapt myself to the one
on the near side. The other John Kan
dolpt eyed most GENEROUSLY. Seeing that
John was sinking as deep in the mud as
was in the lnire, 1 whispered: Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbours horse but
this gentle reminder of the scriptural in
junction did not remove the mote from
Johns eye. Here the Lieutenant and his
friends joined US, leading to an episode
that might prove interesting. After the
usual Introductory remarks on such &C
casions, a significant "black BOTTLE was
brought from its place of hiding In the
corner of the buggy, and introduced to
the armed presence, it made the diplomatic
bow of courtier, and with an air of
suspicion asked why this armed force on
the sacred ground of the grand old Com
monwalth Of Maryland? After being as
sured by the Commander" that our visit
to Maryland was of a friendly character,
most cordial relations were established
between us at once. But all pleasures
must have an endns-a military necessity
confronted US, and Bowie was not one to
sacrifice duty upon the altar of pleasure
BADE THEM GOODBYE.
He now babe his friends goodbye and or
dered Long to bring his boat ashore that
ne might go aboard. Just as he was in the
act. of doing SO, however, as previously
agreed upon by Randolph and myself. /
eaped into and pushed the boat off, say
ing: Lieutenant, will return at IL
o'clock Tonight" Bowie smiled and said:
THAT fellow Wiltshire is the devil" l
was then, for the first time in my life,
commander of gunboat, and I showed my
authority by ordering Long to pull for the
Tenant Landing. 1t was still light, and
had not gone far from under the bushes
along the shore. when 1 discovered that
it was too light for our safety. So we had
to rest on our oars until darkness covered
US, for the enemy's gunboats were active
! Iy securing the river in search of blockade
runners. We again pulled for our OBJ
| jective point, making the run in good order
and without incident. On landing, much
to our surprise and delight, we discovered
| a beautiful little cutter lying high and
| dry on the beach, as though she were
| put there for our spec.a- use At any
| rate, SO construed the providence. and
l