The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
The VaIIey of pesolatien.

TATHILE Early's troops were NfNf still running and Sheridan's
 reveling. the customary sad
 truce was declared in order to permit the removal of the wounded from the field and the decent disposal of the dead Not only soldiers, but civilians from far and near hocked upon the scene. From Winchester, Kernstown, Newtown, Mfddletown, up from the valley and down from the mountains came mens and women, searching amid the heaped up horrors where late the battle lines had stood Some came for love and some-alas- for loot Sunset reddened the ghastly deld; then fell the inky pail of night, end the lanterns of the ghostly minis trants twtnkled in the gloom far be yond the circling camps.
 Gertrude EIlingham, Madeline West and Jenny Buckthorn. led by Sergeant Barket and followed by the faithful Josephus, made up one of the most in defatigable groups of rescuers. They had ascertatned that Kerchival West was not among the living Federal troops, either in the celebrating camps or in the hospital tents. Now at last they sought a pitiful, uncertain com fort in satisfying themselves that he was not among the dead on the field.
 General aaveriII told me- said Ger trude. that although our-I mean the southern-troops were defeated they managed to carry of a considera ble number of prisoners. I believe Colo nel West is among them.''
 "'I know Captain Heartsease is,' murmured Jenny forlornly.
 If nothing worse has befallen my brother than that" added Madeline, "I suppose ought to be thankful, as at least he will now be out of the awful fighting. But it is a cruel injustice if that wicked wretch, Captain Thorn ton, is still to be at large"
 They rode on in sflence-for General Buckthorn had seen to it that they were provided with mounts-until at last Gertrude exclaimed:
 'EI can't rest anyway. Pm going on Josephus will follow me. You girls will be all right-won't you, dears ?"
 Where are you gofng?' cried the other two aghast.
 ''On to the ford, and then to Fishers hill, or Strasburg, or wherever they have gone. Don't mind me. I'll bring you comforting news, or I won't come back at all. Good flight
 And before they could persuade her that was what she fled from now, as from unbearable torture-she rode off exultantly into the darkness of the mountain shadows like another Val kyrie bearing her stricken warriors soul tor the glorious and blissful Val haIla.
 Belle Bosquet was deserted. For miles around stretched the heart sick aning panorama of fenceless. tramp1ed fields, ruined farms and empty grana- -ies.
 For Sheridan had accomplished only too literally the fearsome task assign ed him by General Grant:
 "In pushing up the Shenandoah val ley it is desirable that noth- Ing should be left to invite the enemy to return Take all provisions, forage and stock wanted for the use of your command Such as cannot be cOnsum- sd destroy"
 The same destitution that compelled Early to retreat as far as Newmarket, ,ortyefs1iIes south of Cedar Creek, to SUD- ply and reorganize the broken Confed- crate forces prevented Sheridan from following them into this region. His cavalry, however, during this pause in the movements of the main army was set about a campaign against the guerrilla bands of Mosby and Gilmore.
 It was not until fortnight after the battle of Cedar Creek that Gertrude ElIingham And the small party of friends and neighbors who journeyed with her and likewise followed the path of necessity, as well as of duty md affection. In moving southward aft sr the army, came up with the corps that had been General Ramseurs and which included her brother Roberts egiment. -~-.
 But General Ramseur had been kill pd. the cavalry was for the most part usmOunted. and Colonel EIIingham's precise whereabouts could not be