The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-10-12
CHAPTER ..
A Dispatch for Lonestreet.

Wv lOOlS at WHICH ne sat du uuplducu
board. his seat a box. made softer by
folded blanket. His only compan-
ions were two aides. standing silent
beside the closed entrance, anxious
TO anticipate his slightest need.
He will abide In my memory for
ever as | saw him then-although we
were destined to meet often after
wards-that old gray hero, whose mas
terly strategy held at bay for so long
those mighty forces hurled on our con-
stRntly thinning lines OF defense. TO
ne the history of war has never con-
tHined his equal. and while live
shall love and revere him as can love
and revere no other man.
General Lee" said one Of the aides,
- | passed the single sentry and
drew aside the flap to step within.
this is Captain Wayne"
He deliberately pushed away the
Iaass Of papers which had been en-
gaging him. and for an embarrassing
moment fixed upon me a glance that
seemed to read me through and
through. Then. with simple dignity.
far more impressive than | can pic
turo 1t in words. he arohe slowly and
extended his hand.
Captain Wayne" he said gravely,
yet rstatning his grasp. and with his
eyes full upon mine. YOU are much
younger man than | expected to see
yet have selected you upon the spe'
cial recommendation Of your brigade
commander for services Of the utmost
importance. ! certainly do not hold
your youth to be against your sue
cess, but feel unwilling to order you
to the. performance Of this duty,
which. besides being beyond the regu.
lar requirements Of the service. in
wolves unusual risks"
Without inQuiring its nature"
said. hastily. 81 freely offer myself q
volunteer for any service which may
be required either by the army or
yourself"
The kindly face frightened instant
-. almost into smile, and new
look of confidence swept into the keen
gray eyes.
Il felt, even as | spoke" he said
with a dignified courtesy l have never
marked in any one else. that | must
be doing wrong to question the will
ingness of an officer of your regiment
Captain Wayne, to make personal sac
riflce. From our first day of battle
until now the south has never once
called upon them in vai5: You are
from the ranks, believer"
81 was a corporal at Manassas"
''Ah! then you have won your grade
By hard service. You take with you
one MANI"
Sergeant Craig Of my troop, sir, q
good soldier, who knows the country
we'll"
He lowered his eyes to the numer
bus papers littering the table, and
then, leaning over, traced lightly with
a coIored pencil a line across an out
spread map.
You speak of his knowing the coun
try we'll; are you aware, then, of your
destination"
81 merely inferred from what Col
onel Carter said that 1t was your de-
sire to reestablish communication
with General Longstreet."
THAT is true: but do you know
where Longstreet is?"
only that we of the line suppose
him to be somewhere west of the
mountains, sir. 1t is camp gossip that
his present base of supplies is al
MinerSVille."
Your conjecture is partly correct
although | have more reason to be-
iieve that the head of his column has
reached Bear Fork, or will by tomor
row morning. Kindly step this way
CAPTAIN Wayne, and make note of the
blue lines | have traced across this
map. Here, you will observe. is Mi
nersville. directly beyond the high
ridge. You will notice that the Fed
.eral lines extend north and south di
rectly between us, with their heavier
bodies of infantry along the Wharton
pike, and so disposed as to shut of
all communication between us and ouI
left wing. Now. the message | must
Aet into Longstreet's hands is impera
ave; indeed, will say to you. the
very safety Of this army depends up
on its reaching him before his ad
vance passes Bear Fork. There re
mains. therefore. no time for any long
detour; the messenger who bears II
must take his life In his hands and
ride straight westward through the
very lines of the enemy"
He spoke these words rapidly
earnestly; then suddenly he lifted his
eyes to mine. and said firmly: 81 am
perfectly frank with you. Are yoC
the man."
felt the hot blood leap into my
face, but | met his stern gaze without
tiinching.
"Tf live, General Lee, shall NEE
his advance at Bear Fork by day
bleak"
God guide you; believe you will.
His words seemed uttered uncon
sciously. He turned slightly, ant
glanced toward the door. ''Majol
Holmes, will you kindly hand me th'
dra.t of that dispatch?"
lie took the paper from the out
stretched hand of the aide. read /
oSer slowly and with great care
wrote word of explanation upon thu
margin, and then extended 1t to me.
Commit that to memory, word b.
word. to your memory; we must rul
no possible risk CT its ever falling int
the enemy's haIds."
can see it Low. that coarse yellow
paper--the CHAR. upright penmanshiT
the words hefe and there misused ant
corrected. the sentence scratched out
the heavy undermining of command
II L. 80