Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-01-13
A Ride with 4 Phantom.
From the Diary Of Confederate Cavalry
man,

From the Diary Of Confederate Cavalry
mani
Many of my readers will remember
that the cavalry soldier from old JEFF
ferson would come home when he want
ed to. No matter how thick the Yankee
pickets were. he could always slip in, and
was seldomcaptured. My parental home
had long been pile of ashes. burned
by the dastardly hand of a relentless foe,
and / was wondering where was to pro-
cure winter suit and an overcoat, when
news was brought me by one of the boys
who had made flank movement home,
that the necessary materials awaited me
at the home of relative. So next day.
armed with the kind of furlough and pass
that Baylor's men carried, which con-
sisted solely of cheek and an ability to
stand off any provost guard we might
meet with, rode out of camp and turn
ed my horses head in the direction of
home, TWAS two days ride to my des-
tination, and the first night out / spent
at the hospitable home of Capt, Dave
Undertake, in Warren county. Dear
old man-what soldier that ever passed
his way but what remembers him-the
truest type of the old Virginia gentleman.
Dispensed the hospitality of his home
with lavish hand despite the fact that
he had been served by the Yankees with
a written notice that if he fed rebels his
property would be burned. But brave and
loyal to our cause, he never turned away
tired or hungry rebel.
1t has been many years since | was at
the old home the last time MY COM
panion was the late H. d, Beall, but
learn that the fires have never gone out
upon the hospitable hearthstone, and
under the ownership of his son, the gal
liant Tom, they burn as brightly as in
days of yore. The next day brought me
safely to the home of my lzinsman where
Ispent the night and the next day, and the
night following, loaded with many COM
forts, l mounted my horse and started to
again join my command. / had passed
Summit Point and was making for a
road known to but few, that passed
through the Page Brook farm in Clarke
county, and had just entered narrow
bride path t. at ran for at least two miles
through dense forest. My thoughts
were sad ones. was thinking of a
youth who but few weeks before had
ridden with me upon the same road, who
was now filling soldiers grave of his
broken-hearted mother and sisters, and
his untimely death--when all at once |
realized that had company. that some
one was riding with me. So firmly was
l convinced of this that cried out who
are your? No answer came. / could
see no one, but still felt their presence,
and reached out my hand, but only into
vacancy. But still the phantom was
there, and on we rode, knee to knee
knew that it must be nearly daylight
and eagerly watched for its first gray
streaks. A little further on we emerged
into an open field, and saw in the east
the first dawn of a coming day. My
travelling companion had vanished. If
/ ask you, dear reader, who or what it
was, you would say that had been asleep
and dreaming. But such was not the
case. A soldier who travels lonely
road at night, expecting any time to run
into scouting party of the enemy, never
goes to sleep. l believe that the spirit
of my dear young friend rode with me
that dark and starless night and perhaps
guided me the better way. But l will
never know for certain until l am called
to attend roll call OH the other side and
meet him face to face Then he will
tell me and shall know.