The National tribune., 1904-01-14
CHAPTER XXX.
WHERE GLORY LED.

And hath as oft a SlanderouS epltaph
As record of fair fact" -Shakspere
AT o'clock Dahlgren halted his column
on the Westham plank road within view
of the Richmond intreRehments and made
preparation to attack the Confederate
Capital with his 500 men. The crowds
of negro refugees were sent off toward the
north, with a prudence that seems to re-
veal Dahlgren's hopelessness of success III
his present attack: as for his officers, they
obeyed his commands.
Squire now had good rest. He was
gloomy. but he knew how to rest He
had already begged Morgan to take meas
ures for his own safety. begged even while
he knew that his advice would be scornedi
yet the Lieutenant was far from beiievlng
the negro's opinion unwarranted, and ne
would go forward without hope.
''You are going to wait for me, Uncle
Squirrel -. =
"Oh, yessah; you gwine to fine me right
sheah, sah-leastways eff you gifts back
With a line of skirmishers right and
left the column moved forward on the
road, and soon disappeared in the dusk.
Squire was not alone; there were WHITE
men and black men lingering here IN the
rear to await the result, and he heard
their speech, and not one expressed hope;
the only spoken opinion was that Dahl
gren was but losing time that should be
used>fn retreatipg The old negro's head
was greatly muddled. In regard to HIM
self had he one intention beyond that OF
waiting? one purpose that was not merely
involuntary? Without the will or even
the seeming need for thought. there must
have fitted through his brain an incoher-
ent succession of ideas unconsidered be-
cause of apathy akin TO that which is the
effect of a certain drug. From his talks
with Serg't Morgan afterward. we know
that the death of Barney had almost un-
settled the old man; i'm a daZed condition
he was living moment by moment, with
his own future a thing that gave him no
interest. True, there were times when
his thought of Barney joined fast hold
upon thought Of DIR. Lacy: but these times
were as brief as these moments when he
thought of the rain, or of the wet earth,
or of aught else too trivial to continue.
Instinct alone upheld him, the instinct OF
loyalty; he had promised; he must keep
his promise, for Mains Dan, this other
Mahs Dan, was one of his people-the
only one who could now receive his SER
vice. Even while he heard shots from
the advancing skirmishers, and heard the
answering yolleys of the Confederates, the
old man sank to sleep; and when he awoke
he found Dahlgren's command about him,
recognizing for further march, and Nor
gan standing over him in the rain.
How Junior got through that night he
never Knew. uuStS OF WIFI TORE
the woods. The rain, the snow. the sleet,
the darkness, the struggling, disheartened
column, the impress of defeat, the almost
certainty of capture. were confused into
one overwhelming horror against which
naught save the influence of discipline
might furnish a rallying-p0int for resist
: anlce. Dead and wounded abandoned, the
knowledge thatEKilpatriek' Division had
marched away after dismal failure to eff
feet more than panic of citizens; the 90
perhaps 100-miles to march il safety
should eyer be reached. the swollen rivers
to cross where elated enemies must be
met; the stumbling horses, the silent rid
ers, the pain, the torture, the ignemlny-
all these, who shall tell!
About midnight DahIgran reached
: Hungary Station, eight miles north OF
Richmond. The column closed. The col
umn? There were but hundred men;
where were the 400?
The Colonel and his few remaining Off
GERS held consultation. 1t was clear
that Capt. Mitchell at the head of the
detachment of the ID n. Y, had been I'M
able to follow in the darkness; 400 men
had turned off upon some other road, to
the right, or left, who could say?
LII was agreed that to wait would be too
hazardous. The next thing to decide was
the best route into safety. DahIgren laid
before the little council all that was
known, especially the fact that Gen. But
Ter, near Yorktown, had been ordered to
send a force toward Richmond for the
support of Fitzpatrick, and the opinion
that KiIDatrick's Division with the enemy
following. had marched eastward to meet
the force of Buffers. Only three courses
were possible to consider: first, to march
: back nearly in the way they had come;
second, to endeayor to reach Fitzpatrick
by marching down the peninsula toward
: Yorktown: third, to make across the Pa
at-er- Tnf@ n,,I
down TO Gloucester Point opposite York
town.
Of these propositions Morgan gave his
voice for the second: and urged his rea-
SONS with force. He commended that the
first was in reality outside OF considera-
ton. Staart's cavalry were now alert,
and every ford OF every river would be
guarded: the command would be captured
long before the Rapidan could be reached;
the third plan involved a journey almost
impossible even il no enemy should inter-
vene in their front; the least hope to out
strip their pursuers in a march of 80
miles, their own horses already weakened,
was too great; besides. they must make
:. their way across two rivers at either of
which they might easily be arrested; the
second course offered a possibility, in that.
once escaping the enemy who were sup
posed TO hang upon kilpatrick's rear, an
!. enemy not sufficiently strong to block all
Tire iUatiss cdtSlg. Uc lUuuu Nlluftl
single day.
The final decision was made: they must
attempt to reach Gloucester Point; the col
umn was again in motion.
Now Morgan called the negro to his
side, and said, "Uncle Squire, we have
long march to make, and I'm going to
bid you good-by. Yon can easily get back
to Your people, and I'll keep you no longer
Good-by, Uncle Squire"
The negro's face was invisible, and
Junior could perceive no change in his
tones; perhaps he had already become ut
terly Indifferent TO his own fate; he an
swered, NO, Mahs Dan, gwine to stay
wild ju; amt got nobody no moe to stay
wild but shu; an | gwine to stay tell
can't stay no moe" And Morgan wruns
the slaves hand and prayed God to bless
him, for he knew that Squire believed
all the Federals would soon be in prison
yet was determined 10 be faithful unit
the final disaster should separate them
Soon after the column had crossed thu
Chickahominy train OF ambulanees was
met. the Federal wounded Of Fitzpatrick.
Division being taken TO Richmond, ane
from these men Dahlgren learned definite
~ that fitzpatrick, attacked by body O
Stuart's cavalry under Hampton, had re
treated eastward, making down the Pen
Ursula.
Az dawn <ho oof.r,n anpr,a nf,ns a..