Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-10
~ RANDALL PARRISH

tramping along the rocky pathway, and
when once attsHptedd 10 glance back to
sergeant advised Iae,, with an oath, to keep
my eyes to the front. I obeyed him.
1t was a most tfresome march in the
hot sun over the rough mountain roads
There were times when we left these al
together, and crept along half-obliterated
trails leading through the dense woods
and among the rocks. I learned from
scraps of conversation floating about me
as we struggled onward that these pre-
cautions were not taken out of any fear
Of meeting with confederate troops, whose
nearest commands were supposed to be
considerably to the westward of where we
were, but because of desire to avoid
all possibility of conflict with those armed
and irresponsible bands that ranged at
will between the lines of the two great
armies Already they had become suf-
ficiently strong to make trouble for small
detachments.
1t must have been nearly the end of the
afternoon. We had certainly traversed
several miles, and were then moving al
most directly south upon a well-defned
pike, the name of which never knew.
All the party were travelling close together
when the scout, who throughout the day
had been kept few hundred yards In adj
vance came back toward us on a run his
hand flung up In an urgent warning to
halt
What is it, steele?' Brennan questioned
squirting forward to meet him. Come
speak UP, mani
the pike, sir, from the dirt road that leads
toward the White Briar," was the soldiers
painting reply. and could get glimpse
there's heavy infantry column just be-
hind them. They're rebs, sir, or don't
know them.
"Rebs?" with an incredulous laugh.
why, man, we've got the only reb here
who is east of the Briar.''
Well returned the, scout, sullen1y,
they're coming from the west. and know
they amt our fellows
He was too old soldier to have his judg-
ment doubted, and he was evidently con-
WINGED Brennan glanced quickly about
However he may have sneered at the re-
port, he was not rash enough to chance so
grave mistake. .....--
Get back into those rocks there on the
right" he commanded, sharply. Hustle
your prisoner along lively, men, and one of
you stand over him with cooked gun; If
he so much as opens his mouth, let him
have it,
Rapidly as we moved, we were scarcely
all under cover before the advance cavalry
guard came in sight, the light fringe of
troopers, dust-begrimed and weary. resting
heavily in their saddles. and apparently
thoughtless as to any possibility of meet
ing with the enemy. There were not more
than a troop of them all told yet their
short gray jackets and wide-brimmed light
hats instantly teld the story of their serv-
Ice. Their rear rank was yet in sight when
we heard the heavy tread of the approach
ing column, together with the dull tinkle of
steel which always accompanies marching
troops. Peering forth as much as 1 dared
from behind the thick brush where I had
been roughly thrown. face downward, I saw
the head of that solid, sturdy column swing
around the sharp bend IN the road, and in
double front, spreading from rock to rock,
come sweeping down toward us.
The command was moving forward rapid
ly at the rout STEP that long easy, swing
ing stride SO peculiar to the southern infan-
try, with the merest semblance of order in
formation which is the Inevitable result of
hard, rapid marching b Every movement
bespoke them veteran troops. They were
covered with dust, their faces fairly caked
with 1t, their uniforms almost indistin-
guishable, their drums silent, their colors
cased, their wide -brimned hats pulled low
over their eyes their guns held in any posi-
ton most convenient for. carrying, and with
stern. wearied faces set doggedly upon the
road In their front No pQmp and circum-
stance of glorious war was here, but these
We're fighting men. Newer before, save as I
watched Picketts charging line sweep on to
death at Gettysburg, did l feel the stern
manliness of war as now.
File upon file, company after company,
regiment following regiment. they, swung
sternly by. Scarcely SO much as word
reached us, excepting now and then some
brieny muttered command to close up, or a
half-1naudfble curse as shutting foot
stumbled. 1 could distinguish no badge no
insignia of either corps or division; the
circling dust enveloped them in choking,
dsfguring cloud. But athey were confed-
crates! marked them well; here and there
along the toiling ranks even noted IA
miliar face. and there could be no mis-
taking the gaunt North Carolina noun
taineer, the sallow Georgian or the jaunty
Louisiana creole. They were confederates
Packers division of Hills corps, l could
have almost sworn-eastbound on forced
march, and I doubted not that each
crossroad to left and right of us
would likewise show its hurrying gray
column, sturdily pressing forward The
veteran fighting men of the left wing Of
the army of northern Virginia were boldly
pushing eastward to keep their tryst with
Lee. The dispatch intrusted to my care had
been borne safely to Longstreet.
The keen joy of 1t lighted up my face,
and Brennan turning toward me as the last
Hmping straggler disappeared over the
ridge saw it, and grew white with anger.
You rebel cur!'' he cried fiercely, in his
sudden outburst4 of passion, what does all
this mean? Where is that division bound?"
Some change in LOngstreet's 'front.' I
should judge" l answered coolly, too happy
even to note his slur
You know better" he retorted holly.
THE way those fellows march tells plainly
enough that they have covered all of ff-
teen miles since daybreak. 1t is general
movement. and by heaven! you shall an
sWer Sheridan, even if you won't me-
Go be continued tomorroW.)
CAPT. FRENCH'S DEATH.