Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-17

of them as wandered toward certain
thicket near the edge of the forest.
We were soon to learn the mean
ing of this.
| For in that thicket a frightful secret
was hidden!-a secret which II discov-
cred, would doom that guide to a
shameful death-a death Of infamy, Of
nameless horror-his sepulcher the
gibbet-his unburied flesh a loathsome
meal for those evil birds which BAN
quet on the dead.
Was there some provision Of this
in that swift glance which he cast to-
ward the open country as he half turn
, ed in his saddle and took firmer grip
on the reins?
There were those among Us who
thought so, afterward. Yet he must
have known that escape by flight was
impossible.
In a moment, however, the startled
gesture was gone, and there was again
about him that same air Of negligent
repose. that same tranquility Of spirit
which was enhanced rather than i'm
| paired by the amused and half scorn-
full smile with which he regarded the
scrutiny Of those around him.
While we thus observed him, there
was a sudden commotion among the
troops. Soldiers with grave faces, and
some with flashing eyes, were hurrying
| from the eastward road. They had
found a dying mana Confederate dis
patch bearer, who had been dragged
into the bushes and evidently left for
dead He had gasped out few brok-
en- words-his dispatches had been
taken; torn from his breast pocket; he
had been shot by one Of our own
men,"
The situation was now plain enough!
That pretended southern guide was in
reality a northern spy!
General Hood drew his brigadiers
aside. The guide, or rather spy,
glanced toward them, but remained
unshaken. There was certain plac-
i'd fortitude in his manner which SEEM
ed incompatible with ruthless deeds.
There was something Of devotion in 1t,
and self sacrifice, relieved, indeed, by
just a touch of bravado, but without a
trace of fear.
None knew better than he that that
group of stern-faced men was drum
head court, and none better knew what
the award Of that court would be. He
had played boldly for mighty stake.
He had lost, and was ready with the
penalty!
There was a strip Of forest where
the roads forked, and among the trees
was a large post oak with spreading
branches.
General Hood pointed to the tree,
saying that any Of its limbs would do
A Texas soldier remarked that there
was no better scaffold than the back Of
a horse, and the spy, approving the
suggestion, sprang lightly up and stood
on the saddle Half dozen men were
soon busy in the tree, fastening a
bride rein at one end and adjusting a
loop at the other. AS they slipped the
moose over his head the spy raised his
hand impressively:
"Stop!" he exclaimed. II have three
more words for you. I am neither
Frank Lamar Of Georgia, nor Harry
Brooks of Virginia. am Jack Sterry,
of the Jessie Scouts. I did not kill
that rebel, but I was with those VINO
did. His dispatches by this time are
safe enough! I should like my COM
rades to know that I palavered with
your army for a good half-hour while
General Pope was battering down your
precious Stonewall. Now, men L am
ready!-and in parting, will simply
ask you to say, If you should ever speak
Of this, that Jack Sterry, when the
Rebels got him, died as Jessie Scout
should"
He folded his arms, and his horse
was led from beneath his feet. Cen
eral Hood turned aside, and in sub
dued voice. gave the order to march,
and the column moved on.
Then, says DR.. Ward:
Hood took the right hand road. pass
ed Thoroughfare Gap and joined forces
| with Jackson. The Confederates, now
| reunited, closed in on General Pope
and pressed him to the very walls Of
Washington. Such was the brilliant
close Of that fierce struggle, which
| combined every attribute and resource
of defensive and aggressive war-Sec-
| ond Manassas.