The National tribune., 1901-05-23

an6 Front Royal Turnpike. Nhen With
IN probably two miles of the road the
guide became confused and finally admit
ted that he was lost. We halted on
plateau, wind-swcpt, cold and bare, and
scouts were sent forward to ascertain
where we were at
While waiting on that desolate high
land the troops experienced some of the
sensations of men freezing to death. we
dared not build fires, as we had heard
that Gen. AIcCausland fought cavalry
battle with the enemy at Cedarvllle that
afternoon. We were supposed TO be
near Cedarville. and. for aught we knew,
the FcderaS might he in possession, thus
cutting rs off from the Front Royal ROAD.
A FRAGRANT BREATH AND TWO CAN
TEENS.
Something happened--unexpectedly' OF
course While my teeth were chatterlhS
opd nv frail form was shaking like an
aspen leaf. the bugler cautiously ap-
proached me- placed his arms affection
ately around my neck and-blew his
breath in my face. That breath was laden
with the fumes of 'moonShlne brandy.
Wonderingly. but unquestioningly, need
ed the good Samaritan's mute signal,
.'dropped on all fours,'' and, following his
lead. crept TO a pack-mule belonging to
the Brigade Surgeon. | knew, instinct
iveIy, that / was in the immediate pres
ence of the elixir of life Two can
teens dangling from the pommel OF the
saddle gliStened i'll the pale moonlight.
The dis"overer of that elixir, assuming
a half-erect position. inverted one OF the
canteenS and the contents thereof flowed
in an uninterrupted stream down MS ap-
preciative esophagus. No words were
spoken. None We're necessary. Initiating
my comrade ! paid my respects TO the
q
ing and exhilarating effect, of course.
reserve. ad referendum, the language
that made sulphurous the circumamblent
atmosphere when the Surgeon discovered
the vacuity in those canteens.
A WEIRD SCENE.
Having been gone probably two hours,
our scouts returned and reported that the
Federals had passed beyond the point
where We were TO come into. the ROAD.
we ascertained that the enemys yldets
were only a mile distant.
Marching toward Front Royal, we
passed over Gen. McCausland's battle
field. 1t was a dreary, dismal march;
The houses were filed with wounded
mon. In one Law McCausland's Inspect
or-General. mortally wounded. BY the
roadside. in the woodlands and fields, lay
.fbe frozen bodies of the dead-rebel sol
diers. Piteous and CHASTITY appeared ther
wan faces in the moonlight. Dead norses'
saddles brides hats, coats, sabers, guns.
wagons and a burning caisson mutely told
fbe story of the sanguinary conflict be-
tween 4 McCausIand's Brigade and the
Federal cavalry. commanded by ten;
Powell. whom McCausland. belllcose and
wicked, always called That - one
eyed Powell. >,
The battle had been fought principally
in open fields, where McCausland had
rashly made stand only to be run over
by the Federals, a part Of Ayerlii s Dl-
vision. the same that had met Morgan,
near Wytheville, in May: McCausland;
driven back across the Shenandoah, had
lost two Colonels and other officers, many
of his men and two pieces of artillery.
Recrossing the Shenandoah ourselves,
we passed McCausland's lone yldet stand
ing specter-like, peering over Guard Hlh.
McCauslands broken brigade at nidhlgnt
was guarding the fords of the Shenan'
doah The Kentuckians relieved the Nlr-
gipians and guarded the front until morn
ing.
For some days we marched and coun-
fermarched Small cavalry fights were of
daily occurrence, but McCausland o1t-
times antagonist, that - one-eyed
Powell" made no serious attempt to cross
the river and assail Guard Hill.
"Come. stack arms men! Pile on the rails,
Stir up the campfire bright;
No matter if the canteen fails
Well make a roaring night.
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong
To swell the brigades rouslng song
OF Stonewall Jackson's way.
GEN. EARLY's OPINION OF THE CAVALRY.
Our stay in the Valley was brief. In
the latter part of November we were Or
dered TO report to Gen. John Z. Breck-
inridge then in East Tennessee. zen.
Early himself selected our route, direct
ing Gen. Cosby to go by way of Warm
Springs and Lewisburg. Grimly smiling,
dOld Jubal" remarked 10 Cosby that the
people on the route he had selected had
more horses to spare than those lVlhg
along the much-traveled thorougbfare-
the Valley Pike.
Gen. Early had never been ali admlrer
of the cavalry, and was wont TO say,
"1hey are only good to stampede ana 10
steal horses: nobody ever saw y dead man
wearing spurs" However, recent events
had made him somewhat modify ms opli-
ion. His hOrsemen had done good ser
vice when his infantry was routed at Ce-
dar Creek. and Rosser and his merry cav
alIymen had just made dash INTO fled-
mont. resulting in the capture OF aDont
1000 Federals, l,5oo horses, zgyo caIaiG' I n
eight cannon and innumerabie small
arms, all of which capture had been
brought 10 New Market and presented
to the cynical old General as trophies oi
the RenpralShip and esprit Oe corps vi
the cavalry-especially Of Rosser's Laure
Brigade.
FAREWELL TO THE VALLEY.
The reader will please pardon me if
here indulge in a depression. Standing II
the open portal of the 10th century mem
ory brings the light of other days arouns
me" | hear a faint and weird bugle cal
from Away down South in Dixie" ae
companied by the dying notes OF the oi'
musicians hsrp-eyen the strains OF ol'
Sambo's banjo.
Retracing my steps through the van
isbed years, / come TO the distant blu'
mountains that border the Virginia val
lev. In the shadow OF the Blue Ridge
near the Shenandoah River, stands mas
siye mansion built in Colonial style. II
That old Virginia home a number OF Con
federate officers and myself are guest
for night Although the fair Valley !
an armed camp, as, in truth, is the entir
Southland, no longer 'the South opulen
In the mimic snow of the cotton, in tn
rich plantations of rustling cane, and i
the golden robes of the rice fields" ther
is yet the open door of generous Nirgini
hospitality There is song and story
prose and poetry, merry jest and muc
good cheer. The warm hearts and sml
Ing faces of the venerable host an
hostess and fair daughters-the sons ar
on duty In the army-make the kentucl
isns feel that they are at home in tn
NGo,ho, Tiroinin With tl