Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.
A Night Ride Of the Wounded.

Doentirely unacquainted Years of cav
tualry scouting, bearing me beyond the
!; patrol lines Of the two great armies,
had frequently brought me into con-
tact with those various independent,
r, irregular forces which, cooperating
with us, often rendered most efficient
70 service by preying on the scattered
AFederal camps and piercing their lines
OF communication Seldom risking an
engagement in the open, their policy
1y4Iwas rather to dash down upon some
Eloutpost or poorly guarded wagon
train, and retreat with rapidity rem
'eldering pursuit hopeless. 1t was parti-
ef san warfare, and appealed to many
all-adapted to abide the stricter dis
scipl1ne of regular service. These bor-
wilder rangers would rendezvous under
q some chosen leader, strike an unex-
pected blow where weakness had been
y discovered, then disappear as quickly
= las they came, oftentimes scattering
widely until the call went forth for
some fresh assault. It was service
not dissimilar to that performed dur
Ting the Revolutionary struggle by
\ lSumter and Marion in the Carolinas,
i and added in the aggregate many
lday to the contest of the Confederacy.
\ Among these wild, rough riders be-
tween the lines no leader was more
fifavorably known of our army, nor
more dreaded by the enemy than
p Mosby. Daring to the point of reck-
llessness. yet wary as fox, counting
| opposing numbers nothing when
! weighed against the advantage of sur
[ prise, tireless in saddle, audacious in
JFesource, quick to plan and equally
quick to execute, he was always
4 rwhere 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 commander-in-chief,h his
! peculiar talent as a partisan leader
had won him what was practically an
independent command. Knowing him
as did, / was not surprised that he
kshould now have swept suddenly out
(Sof the black night upon the very verge
of the battle to drive his irritating
sting into the hard-earned Federal vic
itory.
An empty army wagon, the "U. S.
"a" yet conspicuous upon it's canvas
cover, had been overturned and fired
I'm front of the hospital tent to give
Tight to the raiders. Grouped about
beneath the trees, and within the glow
lof the flames, was a picturesque squad
OF horsemen, hardy, tough-looking fell
lows the most of Them their clothing
an odd mixture of uniforms, but ev-
Iery man heavily armed and admirably
equipped for service. Some remained
mounted, lounging carelessly in their
saddles, but far the larger number
Iwere on foot, their bridle-reins wound
about their wrists. All alike appeared
lalert and ready for any emergency.
How many composed the party 1 was
unable to judge with accuracy, as they
{constantly came and went from out
ithe shadows beyond the circumference
fof the fire. AS all sounds of firing
had ceased; concluded that the work
yplanned had been already accom-
plished. Undoubtedly, surprised as
they were, the small Federal force
left to guard this point had been quick
1y overwhelmed and scattered.
4 u ne 0AClLcuSuL dll6uuduI upon Ivy
release had left me for the time being
utterly forgetful as to the pain or my
wounds, so that weakness alone held
me to the blanket upon which l had
been left. The night was decIdely
chilly, yet I 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 young fellow, wearing gray
artillery jacket, with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees 1 no.
ticed his firmly set jaw, and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly In
his belt, but observed no symbol Of
rank about him.
"Is this Captain Wagner" he asked,
not unpleasantly.
answered by an inclination of the
head, and he turned at once toward
the others.
"Cass, bring three men over here,
land carry this officer to the same
wagon you did the others" he com
tmanded briefly. Elk 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 pro
, jecting root, and the sudden jar OF his
stumble shot spasm of pain through
tme, which caused me to cry out even
Through my clinched teeth.
Pardon me, lads" painted
ashamed of the weakness, "but II
slipped out before could help 1t"
"Don't be after mentionin' av it
yer honor" returned rich brogue
Sure an me feet got so mixed oul
chat I wondher I didn't drap ye en-
toirely."
'Tf ye had. Cheney" said the mar
named Cass. grimly. Il reckon as how