Evening star., 1901-02-16

springing from their chairs, stood almost
spellbound as Wing launched his furious
denuncation' at the luckless Malloy. Major
Lane alone remained seated as though
stunned, his, face concealed for a time In
his hands. Vainly had Malloy stormed,
protested and countered. 81 shall demand
a court of inquiry at once. general SAID
he "And as for this gentleman he shall
answer to me personally for this infamous
affront." Then he had begged permission
to- retire that he might instantly make his
demand in writing. and not hand was
extended either to support or to withhold:
That was their last lcok on the face OF
Burnett MalIoy. &
When early in the morning a staff officer
rode to the camp of the -th Ohio. with
orders to place the major in close arrest
there was no such functionary to be found.
A light was burning in his tent when his
one friend, the colonel, returned, stunned
and silent, from that dramatic arraignment,
but he could not stomach having to speak
with Malloy again. The only man Of the
regiment to see him that night was lone
sentry, pacing his post on the flank of
camp back Of the field officers tents. The
major had given the countersign and passed
out about 3 o'clock in the morning, carry
ing a thing like bag" The surrounding
camps, the town. the road to Lookout were
searched, the whole neighborhood secured,
for there were several officers, notably Maj.
Lane, who thought that in Malloy's despair,
realizing as he must that his career was
ruined, that his resignation could never be
accepted, that dismissal in disgrace and
probably incarceration in some penitentiary
would be his fate. the cornered man had
committed suicide.
But the following night the pickets out to
the southeast brought in two ragged Geor-
gians who had slipped away from the south
ern lines In which they declared they were
unwillingly serving, and they united in the
statement that Yankee officer major,
had been captured by their outposts about
4 in the morning. Everybody saw at once
what that meant-Malioy had deserted to
the enemy.
1t was week of episodes and excite
ments on Doth sides. Bragg's Headquarters
at the time were on the summit of Mission
Ridge, straight to the east from Sheridan's
line, and overlooking the valley and the
Union camps. What happened there could
not be known to Sheridan's division at the
time, but can readily be told here. The
picket lines of the opposing forces in front
of Chattanooga were but few yards apart,
and stretched from the Tennessee at the
mouth of Chitico creek, mile east of the
town. down through the open country mid
way between the Union intrenchments and
a heavily wooded mound called Orchard
Knob, until they faced each other along the
banks of the Chattanooga creek at the
south. and SO on to the point where at the
northern base of Lookout mountain. the
creek empties into the Tennessee. Now, 1t
was no easy matter for any man to slip out
across that line except on a dark night
but, once across, 1t was very easy thing
to attract the attention of the enemys sem
tually turned out Maloys method of
procedure Just where he managed to cross
the Union line, and how whether by brib-
cry or adroitness, could not be ascertained.
But the Georgia pckets claimed the cred
it of gobbling Yankee major who, when
brought to Bragg's headquarters In broad
daylight. declared he had wandered be-
tween the lines while making the rounds,
had lost his way and found himself right
under the muzzles of the southern Enfields.
The sharp, stern order. Come in here,
Iank." brought him to his senses all too
late. He obeyed because there was moth
ing else to do. The story sounded plausi-
BILE for the time being jor Malloy gave
his name, rank and regiment without hesi-
tation. begged that his comrades might be
informed by flag Of truce that he was
safe, uninjured, and that he urged them to
exert every influence to effect his exchange
at once. He courteously asked to be ex-
cused from giving any information. In
deed he really had none, especially about
Sherman s movements or the coming of
reinforcements. In point of fact, Major
Malloy made very pleasant impression
until, as luck would have It, a cynic ap-
peared in the person of Major Henry Holt
of the commanding generals staff. Up to
the moment of that officers entry the pris-
oners manner had been calm and self-pos-
sessed; then it became instantly nervous
and embarrassed. Up to that moment, too,
the manner Of the confederate officers had
been courteous. though somewhat cold and
formal, but the expression in Holt's face
as he stood sternly gazing at the new
conner was too significant.
You gentlemen seem to have met be-
fore" said the general looking quickly
from one to the other.
YES" was Hollis instant answer land
there's only one way, general, In which
desire to meet that-genteman again.
Explanations, Of course, followed. and
that evening Malloy was on his way to
prison, minus boots and reputation. Henry
Holt, In a few words, had punctured the
latter, to the end that no officer was at
hand to save when a rude trooper relieved
his prisoner Of the former. Such transac-
tions under the cloak Of fair exchange"
were already q military necessity In an
army where sole leather was at premium.
| One caution went with the guards OF the
! self-sacrificed major on his southwark way.
It was considered wise to keep him for the
present aloof from certain other prisoners
| from Ohio and kentucky-COnnoily having
by this time spread abroad the story OF
| the majors crime. 1t was we'll, too, that
| there was little likelihood OF his coming
| in connection with DR.. Holt or Norman.
| 1t was odd that, though Norman declined
| to accept parole and was now quite strong
| again, he had not been sent to join the
luckless array Of Union officers captured at
Chickamauga or previous engagements, ana
| now numerous In the several soldier prls-
ons II, Dixie The fractured bone had knit
| the wound was healing, and, enjoying the
| best of care and attention, ne was restrict
| ed to the limits of the hospital square IN
|
| to counsel and supervise, the recovery
had been rapid. The doctor had h1red a
| buggy. picked up horse too old FOR mill
| tary service. and with these was able to
give his boy occasional drives, both being
''on honor" of course, at such times, to
| take no undue advantage OF the privilege
Early in September. when McCooks corps
reached Alpine, only few miles away,
| the post commander took alarm, ana pro-
posed moving his prisoners southwark, but
| McCook speedily marched on toward the
Chickamauga valley. The great battle fol-
| lowed. The invading army was securely
penned up at Chattanooga, and vigilance at
Rome and Dalton was relaxed. Henry sent
his body servant, one OF the Bel!ev1eW
boys who had been devoted to the broth
ers from their babyhood, to wait on his
| father and do what he couid-do every
| thing he could, in factor Marse Norman.
And this was the situation so far as the
Holts were concerned at the time OF NAL
loy's voluntary move into hostile territory.
| Norman and he must not meet, said
| Major Holt, to his friend the chief Of staff,
| as the disgraced officer was led away.
| .What If Malloy and Norman Holt should
meet" was the suggestion that occurred to
! Enyart. who lost no time in writing to
| Kate Ray Of Malloys collapse. What II
| Malloy and Norman do meetf said CAM
ney and the surviving Emmets, filled with
| Htbernian concern at thought of missing