Gunnison news-champion and tribune., 1905-08-25
CE EsErER w


si..s 49, fssriscts al rf~bt A. /. "a .to-
q Prccz ri.'u 80 ees..in.-,.i..iss.d tse "a sss
ir,-. ans tnr"~ sy : D. g.as4 4s.ssss assss.s
Tue iaclos...re where .a % sr~es and
~sgon es were frra az. is~A- aaIs
psss shsce in the morning and : ~a~
SitA she plcscs~ H. the s-ss. SO " s..ss of she
csssN whea- tr"sa ihe asres.ssssa of
ksssville. ] heara the bro; of ho.,ss.
coaiag - 81 . walk. s~a the uams~sssk-
shAs cssssrs ~ chains and scsh&~rs.s.
ss0o The black forms IT kcrsemen. like
spscsrsi ssihoaestcs. cosne ~ light
against tke stars. II these VIEW Con-
tederase~. ! rea~oast tina, they either had
the eoisnes~ of great strength or elise they
weve n~s aware of their proximity " =
I nioa force. When the foremost horse
u'sa came within hail. I shouted.
'1hslt who e...s thereg-
In the unnsl-taka able accent ef the
CunstserisRd mountains. the answer
came:
''A6ct,sre friends and mebl,e foes. Who
the blszes ar. yeu?''
'-lssmoaBt and advauce---one at q
tlme," 1 commanded, a. the dark horse
Hen apsssared to rise from the ground
all about me.
As the strangers did not show dis
position 10 comply. ] was about to give
the order 10 fire. when voice. thai had a
familiar ring in it. called cut.
''Hello. thar; is that Harry Wautse-
That's my name" ] replied. Who
are yeu?''
"wolford's Eus, Kaintuck A figh,in'
fob the .'av ment. by gosh.- came the
thrilling reply.
lis that you. Ford?"
"'Tain't no one else"
And Woiford?'
Nell he up shortly with the reg
ment. Thunder! we're out huntin'
brent's damn psrtisans. and thought
we'd jumped EN-
The speaker threw himself from his
horse. and running up I found myself
in the arms Of my gallant friend. Cap
tain Ford, of the famous First Ken
lucky Cavalry. or calvary" as half the
men called themselves.
before daylight the whole regiment
WAS up. but instead of advancing on one
line, they swsrmed in from every point
u the compass.
Colonel Wolford was at this time in
command Of the brigade te which my
regiment was attached. SO soon as
he sppesred ] reported formslly and
tssned over ny command with great
sesse u selief.
rhea snA till this hear Frank VOL
ford he's tseeh my beau ideal of a scout
and leader Of irregular horse. and il
there ever was Drawer, mere ubiquit-
Gus or more irregular body of cavalry
in the world than that same splendid
First Kentucky, history has failed to
mention it.
Although a tvpical Kentucky mount
aincer. Frank WolfOrd always impressed
me as a fine type of the Puritan horse
mana rough rider of Cromwoll's era.
living two centuries after his time. In
the prime of life. of medium height.
strong as = bull. tireless as the wind.
stubborn and set in all his opinions
with the eye of a hawk and the fearless
ness of tiger. he was just the man to
lead that wonderful band of hersenen.
lie was one OF them; he dressed and ate
as they did. He called his officers and
men by their Christian names, and even
the buglers addressed him as .'l'rank.
never heard man whose oaths
sounded less like profanity. He walked
with limp, the result OF a wound, and
it was said that his men, from love and
sympathy. limped also.
In addition to his own regiment.
Colonel Wolford had with him four
suuadrons of the Eleventh Kentucky.
and he said that Major Brown was near
by with three hundred of the seventh
Pennsylvania.
During breakfast | told him about
Frank Brent. and he replied:
Il reckon that fellow amt lying this
time. But the other side have hung
lots of better Union men; why should
you bother?"
frankly told him the secret of my
interest and repeated the promise had
made General Boyle and the condemned
mans sister.
I'm help YOU" said the Colonel. but
you'll allow it's bit strange to see one
of our people fretting himself to save
such fellow"
While we were talking. Mckee came
into camp. seemingly much excited
introd uced him to Colonel Noifold.
and without waiting to be questioned.
he said:
.sThar's camr of the Partisan Rang
ers with bout twenty men In hit. back
in the hills not more n hours ride
or
The Colonel questioned the old man.
and all his answers were clear and
prompt.
Watts. you're moro interested in
those internal Partisans than ! s.rl; how
wou a You like to go over and gobble
'em?- asked the Colonel
Nothing could suit me better. | re
piled: adding: that is, if Mckee will
guide me"
Mckee promptly consented and
within twenty minutes | was riding for
th.. hills at the head of forty OF my own
men.
CHAPTER VIII
oJ s,h hr of nr.suai