Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-11-09
" Young Folks Column. y

weary wanderer our father. He shook
us off as we rushed to embrace him.
His troop had been ambushed by the
Confederates, and, although they fought
desperately and cOurageously for a few
minutes, 1t was i'll vain, owing TO the
superior numbers of the enemy. Seeing
that resistance was useless, and wishing
TO save as many lives as possible, he
ordered retreat, and such men as
could escaped. leaving the majority dead
on the field of battle. My father, at
the time this tragedy occurred was car
rying some very important dispatches.
and his capture. therefore. would have
entalled serious consequences. There
fore he escaped, and Travelled for days
ana nights without any food or drink
except few roadside berries and water
from an occasional brook or spring He
arrived home. as has been stated. and
was helped into the house, where a cup
or tea and food were soon procured by
my mother and myself.
Robert l remember his words well.
as he sat there by the table with the
sun striking him upon kis strong and
noble features. Robert, | am the bear
or of very important dispatches, nay, /
may as well tell you, nearly the whole
Union would be endangered should these
papers fall into the hands of the South
ernerS. You are nearly IL now. Robert
ana old enough for the important mis-.
NAF'A hbAth Hui dibut u RnIrlSI 10
you. l am worn out and i'll. and were
to continue my journey | should be
| surely overtaken and captured. 1t is
nor that care for, however, he pur-
sued but II is the safety of the
Ills words were cut short by stiff1ed
scream from my mother. / looked nm
quickly. Through the window. on the
NIL, | saw three battalions of cavalry.
Their polished accouterments glittered in
the sun and offered n striking contrast
70 the dull and dusty foliage of autumn.
But what most startled me was the gray
OF their uniforms and caps. They were
after my father. People think quickly in
such emergencies. 1t would never de Ia
lei the papers fall into the hands of the
Confederates! | could destroy them, hut
- just then bright idea flashed into
my brain.
Father, quick! Here are the South
erners Conceal yourself in the cellar
ana give me the papers. | will hide
them. lie reluctantly complied 1t was
a somewhat bulky package. tied with
glarIng red tape and bearing the coat of
arms of Gen. Grant. | did not wait to
see him safely in the cellar. hut. rushing
over to where my three-foot sailboat was
lying. | ripped open the deck and thrust
the precious papers within | then fixed
the deck on again and the boat looked
like any other ordinary craft of similar
build, but that small sailh0at contained.
perhaps, the fate of nation. As
rushed into the open the clanking brigade
was already half way down the hill
Every minute was precious. | walked as
naturally as ] could to the mill pond be-
side the road, as the slightest agitation
would have been perceived by the soldiers
and then | heaved sigh of relief as
espled the boat sailing far out Of reach.
1t looked ordinary and commonplace. Al
though a string was attached II could
easily he thrown IN the water should the
soldiers suspect anything, which was very
unlikely. The troop came up to me in a
few seconds. and seeing me sailing the
boat, drew rein. My heart leaped to my
throat Say, sonny said an elderly
looking man, who was obviously an Off
Ger from his equipments, did you see a
man on this road few minutes ago."
Yes. sir | answered, truthfully
Where did he gof'
. i was here at the time. sir, and did
not observe him very closely, but | am al
most sure that he went to the right down
that hypath
Thanks, and the cavaIcade trotted
away.
Father and the government papers
were saved" Commercial Tribune.