The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-03-07

outpost or poorly guarded wagon
train. and retreat with a rapidity ren.
dering pursuit hopeless. II was parti.
san warfare, and appealed to many
ill-adapted TO abide re strlcter dis
cipllne of regular service. These Dor.
de- rangers would rendezvous under
some chosen leader strike al uneI.
pected blow where weakness had been
discovered, then disappear as quickly
Il. they came. oftentimes scattering
widely until the call went iort.I for
some fresh assault 1t was service
not dissimiar to that performed dur.
ing the Revolutionary struggle by
Sumter and Marion in the CarOliuas.
| and added in the aggregate many
! day to the contest Of 1! ConfcdoraCy.
Among these Wild rough riders be.
tween the lines no lCauer was more
fayorably known OF our army, nor
more dreaded by the enemy. than
Mosby Daring to the point Of reck.
lesGness, yet wary as fox, counting
opposing numbers nothing when
weighed against the advantage of sur.
prise tlrcless in saddle, audacious n
resource, quick to plan and equally
quick to execute. he was always
where least expected and II was
seldom he failed TO win reward for
those who rode at his back Pos.
sessing regular rank in the Coined.
crate Army, making report OF his up.
eratlous to the commander in-g4ief, 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 battle to drive his irritating
sting into the hard-carncd Federal vic.
tory.
An empty army wagon. the ~. S.
A." yet conspicuous upon It's canvas
cover, had been overturned and fred
In front OF the hospital tent to give
light TO the raiders. Grouped about
beneath the trees, and within the glow
of the iiames, was a picturesque squad
OF horsemen, hardy, touEh-looking icl.
lows the most Of them, their clothing
an odd mixture OF uniforms. but ey.
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 10 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-
plshed Undoubtedly. surprised as
they were, tho 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 forGettul as to the pain or my
wounds. 30 that weakness alone held
me to the blanket upon which | had
been left The night was uncidcly
chilly, yet | had scarcely begun to
feel its discomfort, when man strobe
forward from out OF tho nearer group
and stood looking down upon me. tic
was a young fellow, wearing gray
artillery jacket, with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees no
ticed his firmly set jaw. and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly In
his belt. but observed no symbol Of
rank about him.
Us this Captain Wagner" he asked.
not unpleasanty.
answered by an inclination OF the
head and he turned at once toward
the others
'Cass. bring three men over mere,
and carry this officer to the same
wagon you did the others" he com.
manded 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 tcnderly out into the night
Once one of them tripped over 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 a mentionin' av It.
yer honor" returned rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got so mixed CUP
that l wondher | didn't drap ye en-
toirely"
IF ye had, Cheney" said the mar
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 covered army wagon. 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. II was so intensely dark
within could see nothing OF my i'm.
mediate surroundings, but a low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present Outside
heard the tread of horses hoofs. and