The National tribune., 1910-10-27

of peanuts. We dug lot, and had
fresh-roasted peanuts. About p. m.
our scouts returned and reported that
they had found a strong line of pickets
a few miles down the pike. Our regi-
ment was then ordered to throw out
do,lble line of pickets on all trails and
roads Ny company CID was marched
off about a quarter of a mile from the
main road to the left, and about half
of the boys were taken ahead ana
strung along in sight of one another.
The rest of US formed a small reserve.
The moon came up as big as a cart
wheel and made things quite cheerful.
Some of the boys found a rail or two,
and we built fire and had our coffee.
Barker, our Lieutenant, had been cut
posting the boys, and came back and
told US not to keep up our fires longer
than necessary, as we were more than
likely to have visitors. About 10 p. m.
the balance of US We're ordered to re-
Ieve those on picket. and Serg't Muir
dock started out with us. Myself and
q comrade, McMannus, were stationed
on an old dirt road, which came up
out of a little valley and skirted along
the old field where the reserve was and
intersected the main road quarter of
a mile to the right We were instruct
ed to keep our eyes peeled and to fire
upon anything that looked suspicious
coming from the front. Where the
plCheIS ld0 DeeH pOSlGu hdS OH Ii5Hl
I'm daytime, allowing q clear sight in
any direction, but at night, with only
the road to watch il was different
proposition We were conspicuous sit
ting on horses out in the open, so we
decided TO move ahead few RODS to
where the timber shaded the road, so
we could see and not be seen. We
could see down this road some distance,
where at the bottom OF the slope was
a small clearing, which gave us fine
show of seeing anything moving in the
bright moonlight.
Indications of Danger.
We sat there for an hour or more,
when a rumbIing could be heard back
of us off towards the main pike, which
soon died down and all was still. With
our carbines across the pummel of our
saddles we simply leaned forward half
asleep, occasionally opening our eyes
TO take look at our horses ears. Amy
old cayalrynan knows what sure in
dicator of danger those ears are; if they
wag back and forth regularly all is well,
but If theysuddenly come to front point
and he becomes restless there's some
thing moving. He either hears or sees
what you do not, and you can begin to
look out for breakers at once My
mare was a thorobred. and when she
began to get nervous l knew there was
something doing. We could see or
hear nothing for at least 10 minutes,
when all at once a dark mass moved
out in the opening at the foot of the
hill. Ed. said: Infantry Let's give
them a dose and skip" We fred, and
were off like the wind to where we ex-
pected TO find the company, but no one
was in sight, only few stray Goals of
their fires left.
We had to move quickly. for we had
stirred up a hornets next. We moved
in an oblique direction, so as to hit the
road some distance ahead. Across this
old field we flew, thru a small strip OF
woods and into another clearing, and
ran pop into mass of rebel infantry
and artillery, halted as tho they in
tended TO stop for daylight. We were
on them so close we came to a walk
and passed right thru an opening and
were on the pike, which was lined with
infantry as far as / could see They
We're lying down in all directions. A
few mounted men seemed to be work
ing to the front. and we went with
them until we had a chance to switch
off into some timber on the side of the
road.
We dared not ask questions, but
kept moving along parallel with the
column until we overlook a cavalryman
who was diSmounted. fixing his saddle
l ventured to ask his regiment. "4tf
Va" says he. How far ahead are
they?" ! asked. Just a little wavs
he answered. That settled it As soor
as we could safely do so we held an.
other council Of war. The moon gave
US more uneasiness than anything else
we kept our reVolVers ready, and de-
cided 10 make run for il.
Putting on our ponchOes to cover our
prass buttons on our ovcrcoats, which
In the bright moonlight looked as large
as our HSt' we started back for the
pike. As luck would have il. we care
out some distance ahead of the main
column, as far as we could see. and we
took the pike boldly and were congrat-
ulating ourselves on striking a clear
trail. when we fetched up on squad
of about 80 dough boys stretched out
beside the road Instinct seemed Ia
tell US that this was the advance guard
~ the crowd behind, so we rode right