The National tribune., 1901-04-11

captured. so 1 said good-by, and started
on my trip.
In less than half hour after | started
the command showed up at Brooks, COM
ing by the other road. Then the L:euten-
ant felt like kicking himself. Going 10
Lupton, my company commander, he ao,
vised sending detail to oYertake me ana
bring me back.
mo" said Lupton, mo detail can over
take him. for when he rides the grass
willis under his horses hoofs.
Not thinking of danger, l rode rapidly
till | had covered half the distance TO
Maynardsville: then | pulled up and let
my horse walk. intently listening for the
hoofbeats of the expected command.
On | rode. halffrozen in my saddle,
and wondering why some one did not
show up. Presently my horse threw up
his head, and seemed anxious TO 90. L
reined up and stopped. Listening, | faint
ly heard hoofbeats seemingly coming to-
wards me. Seeing band of cedar bushes
close to the roadside, | refined from the
road and took position in the shadow or
the bushes, pulled my six-shooter. and
made ready to bushwhack the approach
ing hOrseman il he proved to be an enemy.
On he came, quite lively, and just as
he got abreast of me | was about to yell
Halt" when, at the same moment, the
moon became unohscured, and beheld an
make railroad time.
The old negro never saw me, and d d
not say 4 word, but let him go on. l now
thought that the command had not yet
left and the old darkey, believing it was
about to move out, had started ahead OF
it.
Riding on, made good time till within
two miles of Maynardsville, and while
passing through a clearing where the
brush was piled in large piles on each side
of the road, ] saw five men coming to-
wards me. The moon was now shining
and as soon as the footmen beheld me ap-
preaching they jumped from the road ard
secreted themselves behind brushpile.
BushwhackerS sure, thought l.
Again drawing my revolver, | reined In
and let my horse walk till opposite the
brushpile, behind which the men were.
Keeping my "eyes peeled" / intended to
shoot if n head popped up i'll view, and
none appearing, | dashed spurs into my
horses fianks, and like an arrow he shot
forward.
Coming to near the road-fOrlls I heard
great yelling up towards the place wh"re
our command had encamped. Believing
il could not be our men yelling, ! hurried
on, and when at the forks, | saw by
smoldering fires that the command had
gone the opposite road from which | was
told it would.
EolHChiUS Spppu, HSIeHcu.
] heard hoofbeats of cavalry coming
from towards Maynardsville. Relieving
the enemy was coming, | told my horse to
go, and away we went, taking the right
hand road. Frequently / could hear hoof-
beats behind me, and I concluded that
some one was in as big a hurry as myself.
Urging my horse to it's greatest speed,
] soon dashed up to the force of men that
Graham had left at the point where the
road from Blain's Crossroads comes in. :
Finding out who | was. and where
was from / was asked if I had seen any
rebs.
NO" said I, "but l have heard an
army OF them, and they are coming, only
short distance back"
Riding on, before going a mile I hard
shots fired, back towards the pickets. Be
lieving they would be stampeded, made
good time, till came to Brooks.
Day was now just dawning as / rode
up TO where my company was busy max
ing coffee. and while I was telling Cant.
Lupton Of my trip. our pickets came
charging in. closely pursued by the rebel
cavalry, and the battle of Walkers Ford
was on.
Falling into line with my company, I
took part in the days fight. and the dis
patch l did not deliver til the battle was
ended. Then I handed it back to the
Lieutenant who gave it to me. thanking
him for sending for sending me on a Tom
fool errand.
I then resolved that the next time / vol
unteered to carry messages / would request
that a detail Of men accompany me
ISAAC G. DENNIS, Co. NJ, 14th Ill. Cav,
Eerndalp Cal