The National tribune., 1902-01-23

After l had eaten, I crept nearer the
crossroads. The rebels had gone. l ex-
| amined the road and found that all the
tracks in the mud We're pointing toward
| Ashland. | followed on, keeping for a
! time openly in the road, for | was as
! good Confederate as need he unless |
! should he overtaken by any of our own
/ men. considered now that this force
of the enemy was likely to establish con-
/ nection mt once with the main COnfed-
crate lines near Richmond, if indeed it
! had not already done so. and that If |
| should turn southwark l should be i'll dan
| GER of being forced into the ranks and
| questioned, so | decided to go north Of
Ashland. and determine ii possible the left
of the line. which would be, judged, the
extreme left of the whole Confederate
army.
In approaching Ashland had no trou-
bic; when | came in sight of the village
| began tC make n detour 10 the north
and about an hour after sunrise placed
myself i'll observation between the Fred
ericksburg Railroad and the Richmond
road, which here run parallel due north
and about half mile apart. | was fac
ing south.
About o o'clock in the morning | was
surprised to see TO the rear of my left the
Richmond road full of troops marching
sOuthward. j crawled up as near to the
road as | dared, and watched them. There
seemed TO be but one regiment, which was
Il large one. Three or -four officers rode
gt the head of the regiment; one. who |
supposed was Colonel, was large,
heavy-built man who sat his horse PROUD
ly.9 The, men marched at the route step.
The regiment was in fine order. In the
center We're two flags; one an ordinary
Confederate battletlag; the other an inn
mcnsc blue banner, cmblaZOncd with the
silver palmetto tree. | could not tell the
number of TIE regiment, although by this
time | had my glass fixed on the flag.
The CarOlinians passed on south and, ]
supposed, entered Ashland.
] still kept my place. observing the
roads narrowly. | remained III this po-
sition the rest of the 2Sth. but saw no
other movement. At nightfall | crept
up nearer to the village and found a com
Portable resting place in an old ha-stack.
east of the place.
The next morning | was slowly ad-
vancinG toward the railroad, with the
purpose Of ascertaning whether Ashland
was still occupied by the rebels. when
heard noises behind me, and, turning.
saw three Union soldiers on horseback
coming toward me. They saw me at the
same time. One of them shouted to me
to surrender, and / threw up my hands.
They belonged to Co. ID, of the 9TH L. S.
Cav. ! easily succeeded in proving to the
Lieutenant in command, who soon rode
name / learned was Watkins. that l was
a Union scout. The sight of Gen. MOrell's s
glass had its effect
told the Lieutenant that in my opin-
ion there was no strong force in Ash
land. We were AZ this time almost in
sight of the town. The Lieutenant mount
ed me behind n trooper; the company
made dash into the place; the rebels
fed, leaving two of their picketS in our
hands In the village were some stray
glerS who also were made prisoners. We
remained in Ashland for several hours,
the cavalry securing much property.
There were a good many horses taken.
one Of which the Lieutenant willingly al
lowed me TO use.
The cnemy's infantry had retreateG
nearer Richmond, and as all the country
to the east Of us was now in our hands,
there was nothing to hinder my reach
ing Gen. MOrelfs camp that night. The
General told me that they had given me
up for lost, and asked what had become
of me after sending Jones back. / gave
an account of my work, and he was
pleased to say that he approved of what
| had done. He told me that Jones had
recovered the horse that l had aban-
doned.
As I approached DIR. Khayme's tent
the Doctor was Just entering it; the tent
was dark / stood outside until he light
ed candle; then / called him by name.
He rushed out and embraced me. In n
few words i told him of my work, and
why ! had been away so long.
II will write at once to Gen. Grover
said he, "and TO Lydia, too, who is at
Porters field hospital; we have many
wounded from your battle"
(ro be continued.)