Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-02-16

YES rather to dash down upon some
outpost or poorly guarded wagon
train. and retreat with a rapidity rem
dering pursuit hopeless. = was parti.
san warfare, and appealed to many
ill-adapted to abide &c stricief zig
alpine of regular service. These bor-
a. rangers would rendezvous under
some chosen leader, strike al unex.
pecte:l blow where weakness had been
discovered. then disappear as quickly
a. they came, oftentimes gathering
some fresh assault 1t was service
not dissimilar to that performed dur
ing the Revolutionary struggle by
Sumter and Marion in the Carolinas,
and added in the aggregate many a
| day the contest of tt Confederacy.
! Among these wild. rough riders be.
! tween the lines no leauer was more
favorably known of our army, nor
more dreaded by the enemy, than
Mosby. Daring to the point of reck-
lessness yet wary as a fox, counting
opposing numbers nothing when
weighed against the advantage of sur
prise, tireless in saddle, audacious in
resource. quick to plan and equally
quick to execute, he was always
where least expected, and it was
seldom he failed to win reward for
those who rode at his back. Pos
sessing regular rank in the Confed-
crate Army, making report of his op-
erations to the COMMUNICATIVE his
peculiar talent as partisan leader
had won him what was practically an
independent command Knowing him
as did, was not surprised that he
| should now have swept suddenly out
of the black night upon the very verge
| of the oattle to drive his irritating
sting into the hard-earned Federal vic
| tory.
| An empty army wagon. the ~. 8
A. yet conspicuous upon its canvas
cover, had been overturned and fired
In front of the hospital tent to give
light to the raiders Grouped about
beneath the trees, and within the glow
OF the flames, was picturesque squad
OF horsemen, hardy. tough-looking fell
lows the most of them, their clothing
an odd mixture of uniforms, but ev-
cry man heavily armed and admirably
equipped for service. Some remained
mounted. lounging carelessly in their
saddles, but far the larger number
We're on foot. their bridle-reins wound
about their wrists. All alike appeared
alert and ready for any emergency.
How many composed the party was
unable to judge with accuracy, as they
constantly came and went from out
the shadows beyond the circumference
OF the fire. AS all sounds of firing
had ceased, concluded that the work
Planned had been already accom-
pllshed. Undoubtedly. surprised as
they were, the small Federal force
left to guard this point had been quick
ly overwhelmed and scattered.
The excitement attendant upon my
release had left me for the time being
utterly forgetful as to the pain OF my
wounds, SO that weakness alone held
me to the blanket upon which | had
been left. The night was 0ecIdey
chilly. yet | had scarcely begun to
feel its discomfort. when man strobe
forward from out of the nearer group
and stood looking down upon me. He
was a young fellow, wearing a gray
artillery Jacket, with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees. no
ticed mis- firmly set jaw. and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly in
his belt. but observed no symbol of
rank about him
rs this Captain Wayne?" he asked.
not unpleasantly
| answered by an inclination of the
head, and he turned at once toward
the others.
"Cass. bring ehree men over here.
and carry this officer to the same
wagon you did the Others" he com
fnanded briefly. Fix him comfort
ably, but be in hurry about it."
They lifted me in the blanket, one
holding tightly at either corner. and
bore me tenderly out into the night
Once one of them tripped over a pro-
jecting root. and the sudden jar of his
stumble shot a spasm of pain through
me, which caused me to cry out even
through my clinched teeth.
Pardon me, lads" painted,
ashamed Of the weakness, but it
slipped out before / could help it,"
Don't be after mentionin' av 1t.
yer honor" returned rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got so mixed CUP
that ! wondher | didn't drap ye en-
toirely."
IF We had, Cheney" said the man
named Cass. grimly. Il reckon as how
the Colonel would have drapped you"
At the foot of narrow ravine. lead
ing forth into the broader valley. We
came to a covered army wagaz. to
which four mules had been already at
tached. The canvas was drawn aside.
and was lifted up and carefully de-
posted in the hay that thickly covered
the bottom. 1t was so intensely dark
within could see nothing of my i'm
mediate surroundings. but low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present Outside
heard the tread of horses hoofs, and
then the sound of Mosby's voice.
Jake he said. drive rapidly. but
with as much care as possible. Take