Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-29
3 s.5sr ..5sFs.! Sept. %. 2 P. NJ.
Lieutenant General Longstreet.
Commanding Left Wing.

| JOuA AuAI InaHCTy command Oy Gay
break, September Goth. Let this gu
persede all other orders. propose t,
attack In force in the neighborhood O
Sailors ford. and shall expect you I,
advance promptly at the first sount
OF our artillery. 1t is absolutely essen
tial that We form prompt connection
Of forces. and to accomplish this re
suit will require quick, persistent at
tack upon your part. You are hereb,
ordered to throw your troops forwart
without reserve. permitting them t,
be halted by no obstacle. until the.
come into actual touch WIN my col
umns. The success or failure of m,
plans will depend utterly upon your
strict observance Of these orders, L
sr., ;sys;z,:+ ''R. E, LEE, !.
r. General Commanding"
handed back the paper, and lifted
my hand In salute. 81
you have memorized it,"
Word for word, sir"
Repeat 1t to me-" :.
He held the paper before him as i
did so. and at the close. lifted his eyes
again to my face.
"Very good" he said, quietly. 'Now
let there be no mistake: repeat it over
to your companion as you proceed un
til he has memorized it, and one Of
you must live long enough to reach
Longstreet. l advise you to take the
Langley road-it 10 the most pro
tected. and not try to pass beyond
the old Coulter plantation until after
dark. or you will run the risk OF be
ing observed by the enemy's pickets.
Beyond this l must leave all to your
own discretion" ~f.>@-
He, paused. and / still fingered,
thinking he might have something
more to add.
Are you one of the Waynes OF
Charlottesville?" he asked gravely.
Colonel Richard Wayne was my
father, SIR - -
"Ah. indeed! remember him
well;" and his face lit up with most
tender smile. We were together in
Mexico. A Virginia gentleman of the
old school. He Is dead, believer"
He was killed, sir, the first year
Of the war"
Il remember; it was at Antietam.
And your mother? II my memory is
not at fault she was a Pierpont?"
"She is now in Richmond, sir, and
the old plantation is but ruin"
War is indeed sad he said slow
ly: land / often feel that our southern
women are compelled to bear the
brunt Of it. What hercines they have
proven! History records no equal
to the daily sacrifices have witnessed
In the past three years. God grant 1t
may be soon ended"
Then, as II suddenly moved by the
impulse Of the moment. he again ex-
tended his hand.
well. lad" he said kindly, the same
grave smile lighting his face, "our
country needs us. We must not
waste time here In conversation. am
very glad to have been permitted to
meet the son OF my old friend, and
trust you will remember me to your
mother. But now goodby, captain. and
may he In whose hand We all are,
guide and guard you. know that a
Wayne of Virginia will always do his
duty" .,n
Bareheaded and with proudly swell.
Ing heart backed out OF the tent as
! might have left the throne room Of
an emperor. but as grasped the re1ns
and swung up into the saddle. l be.
came conscious that he had followed
me. Craig flung up his hand in quick,
soldierly salute, and then. with sin
gle rapid stride, the general stood at
his horses head.
Sergeant" he said-and l was
struck by the incisive military tone
Of his voice, SO different from the gen.
tleness shown within-"l am Informed
that you are intimately acquainted
with the roads to the westward"
Every bridle-path. sir. either BY
night or day."
Then possibly you can inform me
whether the Big Hickory IL fordable
at Deer Gap"
AVN AOA SAA04SAy 81 4A6N "oI01s
sir; but there Is another ford two
miles north where it Is never over
waist Deep" ..... -
"That would be at Brixton's mill r.
mo. sir; the other way"
Lee smiled, and rested his hand al.
most earessingly on the troopers
knee. - ..t ~
You are q valuable man for us "a
risk on such q ride" he said kindly.
But l desire you to understand, ser.
geant, how. deeply l value the service
you are about to render. and that
shall never permit it to be forgotten
or 60 unrewarded. And now, good
night. sergeant; goodnight. Captain
Wayne" ~
AS we turned into the main road
riding slowly, l glanced backward
The general was yet standing there
In front Of his tent, gazing after: US
the rays of the westering sun CLEAN
ing on his gray hair. "
!! /. :. CHAPTER Il * vs.. 81. 81:
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