The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-25
BAYARD'S COURIER.
Continued from first ;psge.,


when his old friend Hansonssecured for
him an appointment ON the staff of Gen,
Cooke. The appointment, il Is true, was
small: there was no rank. nopay beyond
that of cavalry private; and the expires,
sion STAFF used above, must be taken
in very broad sense, for Morgan's duties
were those of an OrderlyJshnd courier
rather than those of titled representa-
tive of military authority. u
YHs.
On the morning of June 12l Capt. Irwin
Gregg, 9th q. s. Cav, w;tse ordered to
make a reconnaissance north and west OF
Hanover Court House. In tue afternoon
of the same day, Gen. Cooke called Nor
gan and handed him a sealed envelope.
Deliver this at once to Capt. Gregg
beyond Hanover Court House. said the
General.
Now, from the cavalry camp near
Gaiues's Mill to Hanover Court House is
IL miles, and he might be compelled to
go far beyond Hanover. Morgan knew
that hard riding was before him, and he
asked:
Must l return at once, sir?'
The General seemed to reflect mo;
unless you have some important report to
bring back, you may give your horse
rest"
Morgan saluted, and turned his horses
head northwest. He had ridden over the
ground before-ground entirely in posses
sion of the Union troops since the 9th OF
May, when Porter's column had smashed
Branch at Peake's Turnout. His road
led by Walnut Grove Church, by Humid
ley's Corner, by Pole Green Church, by
DR.. Shelton's, then northward for eight
miles; if he had gone as far west as the
Central Railroad it might have been posi-
BILE for him to see the dust raised by q con-
siderable column Of cavalry that day
marching north toward Ashland. under
Stuart, but he rode on unconscious of the
rebels enterprises, and reached his des-
tination at nightfall without having seen
an enemy or heard shot.
Did you ever observe the impossible ra-
pidity with which impending trouble will
be heralded without cause? When Capt.
Gregg received the dispatch from Nor
gan, he said at once, before tearing the
envelope, Which way did you Gomez
by Walnut Grove and Pole Green,
replied Private Morgan.
No alarm in that direction:"
None at all, SIR"
you heard nothing of any movement
going on farther to the west?'
Nothing whatever"
81 wish yon could have crossed the rail
road" said the Captain; he was looking
quite serious, and his abstraction, which
for Il few moments caused him to hold,
without opening it, the sealed dispatch
from his superior, made the courier think
that movement against our post had
been detected.
Whats going on, Captain" asked
Morgan.
Il don't know" was the reply; that's
just what's troubling me-" and he tore the
envelope.
Vigilance" he muttered; Eyes, vigil
lance. vigilance and he put the dispatch
in his pocket. Morgan expected to hear
more concerning the nature OF the mes
sage, but was disappointed Capt. Gregg
said nothing in respect to it; dc had our
courier well taken care of for the night,
and at once set out on a tour of inspection,
his piciets being stationed on the roads
to the west, north and south.
Morgan slept well. True, he was walked
twice in the night by the noise of rapid
riding but You know that such noise is
always to be heard he slept well for Il
cavairyman. On the morning Of the 18th
he rose late, got a hospitab!e breakfast,
and was preparing to start on his return
to Gen. Cooke when a horseman dashed
up to Capt. Gregg, and shouted. 1.-THE reb-
els are comingw
where? How many?" fhps
The little bivouac was already astir--
men saddiing, men gathering effects, Off
GERS rushing hither and thithers
Toward Taylorsvilie; only half mile
away
Prepare to mount! Cavalry?'
.'Yes-a regiment or more: they have
already driven in our yidets."
The company was forming. Morgan
mounted.
Il will wait awhile. Captain said he;
snpc -ioI, To 1ll afh ipo
TO your report
Eyes. certainly; stand by me till We see
what's up, at least
Now came the kets-four-seurryin
back. No shot had yet been heard. A
Corporal reported that column of cav
airy could be distinctly seen from the
next turn Of the road. A retreat was Or
dered, and the company started south at
a trot, the Captain and Morgan marching
with the rear guard. There was no Wig
orous pursuit so far as could be seen; but
soon cavalry showed themselves on the
western flank; it looked as though the
rebels We're trying to reach our rear, and
the Captain ordered change of direc-
ton to the southeast. The column
moved on, the Captain and four men lin
gering on the hill. Capt. Gregg had his
glass to his eye.
by Gadr' says he, "that rascal in front
is certainly rider, and he is magnificent
ly mounted. Do you see him, Morgan?
Look at that, will you?" as the leading
hOrseman of the rebel fanking party
leaped rail fence, which his followers
began to lower. WHATS the
matter with you, man!'
Morgan had Strengthened himself to his
full hight in the saddle, and was staring
fiXedly. "What is it!" repeated the Cap
tain.
AS yet Morgan gave no answer; the
officer could see that his attention was
strained and took no offense at his failure
to respond to the question; you know how
it is when You see a man so greatly alb
stracted as to defy laws of social etiquet,
even; the Captain waited; he was inter-
ested. The rebel party was gaining the
flank, but the company was yet in sup
porting distance, and the rear guard might
still have little time. Suddenly Morgan
his hand toward the Captain,
and said, Your glass, il you please"
Capt. Gregg handed him the glass
very quickly, but at the instant the squad
of rebels disappeared in n depression of
the ground. The rear guard was at once
ordered to continue its retreat. And now
Morgan remembered hearing the Captains
questions.
II beg pardon, Captain" said he, 'but
I'm almost certain that that horse was
once mine. He was captured last Novem-
Der. l would give anything to get him
again, and l would give almost as much
to get good look at his rider.'s
Shots were heard toward the rsouth; the
became q run: the rebels could now be
cpau nm both AonES haa rin dnvyn uno,,