The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-04-08


"Sir: You will advance your entire
force by the Connection and Sheffield
pixies, so as to reach Castle Rock with
your full infantry command by day
break, September Goth. Let this su-
persede all other orders. l pr-yose to
attack In force in the neighborhood OF
Sailors ford. and shall expect you to
advance promptly at the first sound
OF our artillery. 1t Is absolutely essen
tial that we form prompt connection
OF forces. and to accomplish this re-
suit Will require a quick. persistent at
tack upon your part. You are hereby
ordered to throw your troops forward
without reserve, permitting them to
be halted by no obstacle. until they
come into actual touch with my col
umns. The success or failure Of my
plans will depend utterly upon your
strict observance Of these orders,
'R. E. LEE,
General Commanding"
| handed back the paper, and lifted
my hand in salute.
You have memorized it?"
Word for word. SIR
Repeat 1t to me-"
He held the paper before him as
did SO, and at the close lifted his eyes
again to my face.
Very good, he said. quietly. Nov
let there be no mistake: repeat 1t over
to your companion as you proceed un-
til he has memorized 1t, and one OF
you must live long enough to reach
Longstreet. advise you to take the
Langley road-it is 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 must leave all to your
own discretion"
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
wells" and his face lit up with most
tender smile. I'VE we're 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; 1t was at Antietam.
And your mother? II my memory Is
not at fault she was Pierpont?"
she is now in Richmond. sir. and
the old plantation is but ruin"
War Is indeed sad" he said slow
ly: "and l often. feel that our southern
women are. compelled to bear the
brunt Of it. What heroines they have
proven! History records no equal
to the daily sacrifices Ihave witnessed
in the past three years. God grant it
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
Wayne Of Virginia will always do his
duty"
Bareheaded and with proudly swell
ing heart backed out the tent as
! might have left the throne room OF
an emperor. but as grasped the retns
and swung up into the saddle. | be-
came Conscious that he had followed
me. Craig flung up his hand in quick,
soldierly salute. and then. with sim
gle rapid stride. the general stood at
his horses head.
Sergeant" he said-and / was
struck by the incisive military tone
Of his voice, 80 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
the Big Hickory Is fordable
at Deer Gap"
mot for infantry at high water.
sir; but there is another ford two
miles north where 1t is never over
waist deep"
THAT would be at Brixton's mill!"
mo. sir; the other way"
y Lee smiled. and rested his hand al
most caressingly on the troopers
knee.
You are valuable man for US to
risk on such . ride" he said kindly.
But ! desire you to understand, SER
seant. how deeply | value the service
vOu err about to render and that 4