The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-30

couple Of Yankee spies he told them
that was just the reason he was alone.
His sergeant, with six men, had gone
out to look for them, too, in conse-
quence of telegraphic dispatch that
had come down about 8 O'clock, and
he expected to hear from them OH
their way back pretty soon. Wouldn't
they wait till the sergeant came in?
They thanked him, but thought they
would ride over toward Sussex Court
House. Did he have the countersigni
Yes, he had ii. but didn't know abou
giving 1t. Hogan assured him that ii
was of no Importance. He didn't want
it anyhow; it would soon be daylight
If he chose to give it, though, he could
satisfy himself that he was giving il
to a commissioned officer, and it would
be all right. Guard didn't like to be
disobliging to an officer and finally said
"Lynchburg"- in his ear. and the two
men rode off into the darkness.
No sooner were they beyond hearing
from the station than they changed
their course and bore off to the north
for Disputanta, on the Norfolk and
Petersburg road, and were getting
along finely until about five miles from
Stony Creek, when, as they came to the
edge of long stretch Of piny woods,
q gruff voice called .out
Halt! Who comes thereW
1t was too dark to see whether the
challenge was Confederate or Federal,
but our two gentlemen were not long
LIT, hot,
them as Confederates anyhow. II they
turned out to be q Federal party. the
matter could be fixed farther along.
and Hogan sung out:
can officer and orderly, mounted"
"Dismount one. advance and give the
countersign."
"By what right do you demand the
countersign? At any rate. ! can't yell
it out to you from here"
"Pll satisfy you about the right tar.
nal sudden If one Of you uns don't dis
mount right smart an give that coun'
tersign If you've got it,"
And the persuasive click of firearms
became painfully distinct. whcreupon
Morgan slid off his horse and. walking
gingerly forward in the gloom, found q
cavalryman looking at him along the
barrel of a carbine inquringly.
"Lynchburg." he whispered as neal
to this fellows ear as he could get, and
as soon as the challenger said All
right" he at once asked:
What are you-grand roundsW
ND; patrol out after n couple Of
Yankee spies. but guess it's water
haul"
That's our errand, too. an we are
goin' to give it UP an get back to
Realms"
The party proved to be the sergeant
and his men from the station, and they
were anxious their new friends should
come back with them and rest until
morning. and it was only by the most
persistent lying that excuses sufficient
ly powerful could be advanced for go
Ing AS they parted the sergeant call
ed after them. You'd better turn off
to the left before you get to Disputan
ia, or else you'll run into the plaguy
Yanks." Then they thanked him and
rode off. Daylight was just breakin
when they came to the railroad. whic.
they crossed and were about laying
their course direct for City Point when
they heard horses coming behind them
at Il rate that BODIED no good. Without
hesitation they took the first bride
path that led off the road and followed
it with all the speed there was in the
tired horses. After half an hours hard
riding they ventured to stop and listen
for horses hoofs, but instead they
heard the sharp crack of couple OF
carbines. whose bullets sang uncom-
fortaby near Our two gentlemen
wanted no more information in that
neighborhood, but left without further
hint and never drew rein until they
crossed the headwaters of the Black
water, where just as the sun was ris-
ing blue coated cavalry vedette pull
ed up his carbine and yelled "IIalt" in
tone that meant to be obeyed and
added second after:
"Hello, Johnny! Where be you folks
off to in such darnation hurryy'
1--WE want TO come inside the lines"
Eyes. an | calkilate you'd better
come in right quick too. Throw up
your hands an come in nice an quiet
now"
And, with the vedette and his partner
carefully covering them with their car
bines, they were welcomed inside the
lines and. being taken before the of
6cer in charge. were sent to the Sixth
corps headquarters and after a short
rest reached Grants headquarters at
City Point in little less than forty
Columbia.