Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-23

II don't know that 1 am account
able to you for where I 60"
''Oh. yes. you are I'm your older
sister"
She slipped the pistol in her pocket
We had pockets in our dresses then
relying on her superior strength alone.
OF course the revolver was all gam
mon. She wouldn't use it on anybody,
especially on her sister. She kept
tight hold on my horses rein. and it
seemed TO me that my object was sure
! " thwarted when suddenly saw
group of horsemen coming, and by the
dark color Of their uniform | knew
they were Federals. Carey saw them
too. 1t was too late for her to turn
back with me, and there was no road
by which to evade them.
When we met them and they saw
girl holding another girls bride rein,
leading her along forcibiy, they looked
very much astonished.
please release me, gentlemen" I
said. I'm Union. and this girl is
Confederate. I'm her prisoner"
The absurdity OF the point didn't
strike Carey or me. but the troopers
burst into a laugh. Then I smiled.
but Carey looked awfully savage. She
knew the fortunes Of war had turned
against her.
Well. told my story to the officer
in command of the troops and showed
him the partly burned paper. He
seemed much impressed and decided
to take it to his general Considering
that Carey knew something about the
So Erh - cit ha
concluded to take her and me with
him
So we all rode together to the head
quarters OF the general commanding,
and I gave him the paper. He and
several of his aids undertook from
their knowledge of the Confederate
force confronting them to restore the
burned words. This is the result OF
the attempt:
The men will be under arms at daylight.
Reynor's division on the right flank at
Crosby's crossroads Williams next on the
left on Brigham's farm Calhoun comes
next. his right wing touching Williams
left; then Harker on west side OF the HILL
constituting left flank. On signal OF one
gun fired by Watriss' battery Reynor
feints on eneny's right flank then
There was nothing more that was
legible. but nothing more was needed
to show that a dawn attack was to be
made and the disposition and inten-
ton Of the attacking force given.
When it was to take place there was
nothing to show, but the Union troops
were ordered to be under arms every
morning at / o'clock and in line of
battle. Carey and / were detained at
the Union headquarters that the Con-
federates might not know that the
Federals had information of the in
tended movement We had not long
to wait, for the very next morning the
Confederates attacked their enemies.
They found the Federals waiting for
them and instead Of gaining victory,
suffered disastrous defeat.
won a double victory, the one l
gained for the Federals-for the Union
general said that without the informa
ton 1 brought him he would have
doubtless been taken unawares and
defeated-and in the fact that, the
Confederates having been driven off
their ground, Carey was separated
from her lover, while 1 was united
with mine.
1t is hard for me to realize that half
a century has passed since those event
full days; that 1. who am now white
haired. wrinkIed old woman, was then
rosy checked girl. and of all who
were enacting that particular page in
the voluminous history OF the civil
war 1 alone remain. And now, as the
half century anniversaries of the
events Of that struggle are coming
round. l am living them over again,
not in reality. but in feeling.