Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-05-28


that was just the reason he was alone.
Bis sergeant, with six men, had gone
out to look for them, too, In conse-
quence of telegraphic dispatch that
had come down about s o'clock, and
he expected to hear from them on
their way back pretty soon. Wouldn't
they wait till the sergeant came int
They thanked him, but thought they
would ride over toward Sussex Court
House. Did he have the countersignf
Yes, he had it, but didn't know about
giving it. Hogan assured him that II
was of no Importance. He didn't war.t
it anyhow; 1t would soon be daylight
If he chose to give 1t, though. be could
satisfy himself that. he was giving it
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 of 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,
a gruff voice called out:
'sHalti Who comes thereW
1t was too dark to see whether the
challenge was Confederate or Federal,
but our two gentlemen were not long
in making up their minds to recognize
them as Confederates anyhow. If they
turned out to be Federal party, the
matter could be fixed farther along
and Hogan sung out:
"An 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
1t out to you from here"
"I'll 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. whereupon
Morgan slid off his horse and, walking
gingerly forward in the gloom, found
cavalryman looking at him along the
barrel of carbine inquiringly.
'Lynchburg," he whispered as near
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 roundsT
"No; patrol out after a 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
Reams."
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 breaking
when they came to the railroad, which
they crossed and were about laying
their course direct for City Point when
they heard horses coming behind them
at a 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
carbnes, whose bullets sang uncom-
fortably 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 yedette pull
ed up his carbine and yelled Haiti! in
tone that meant to be obeyed and
added second after:
Hello, Johnny! Where be you folks
off to in such darnation hurry"
1--WE want to come inside the lines"
eyes, an l 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
ficer in charge, were sent to the Sixth
corps headquarters and after short
rest reached Grants headquarters at
City Point in a little less than forty
eight hours after they left Sheridan at
Columbia.