The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-02-22

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w reveling, the customary sad
truce was declared I'm order
to permit the removal OF the wounded
from the field and the decent disposal
OF the dead. Not only soldiers. bur
civilians from far and near fiocke0
upon the scene. From Winchester.
Kernstown, Newtown. MIddletown. W
from the valley and down from the
mountains came men and women,
searching amid the hcaped up horrors
where late the battle lines had stood
Some came for love and some-alas--
for loot. Sunset REDEEMED the CHASTITY
field; then fell the inky pail OF night
and the lanterns OF the ghostly minis
trants twinblcd IA tile gloom Tar be.
Isyond the crciing camps
Gertrude Ellighan. Madeline West
and Jenny BuckthorD, led by Sergeant
Barket and followed by the faithful
Josephus. made up one OF the most in
defatgable groups OF rescuers. They
had ascertained that Kerchival West
was not among the living Federal
troops, either In the celebrating camps
or in the hospital tents. Now Mt last
they sought pitiful. uncertain com
fort In satisfying themselves that he
was not among the dead on the field.
General Haverill told me-" said Ger
trude, that although our--I mean the
southern-troops were defeated they
managed TO carry or a considerable
number OF prisoners. / believe Colo
mel West is among them"
II know Captain IIeartsease IS"
murmured Jenny forlornly.
IF nothing worse has befallen my
brother thnn that" added Madeline. ~
suppose l ought 10 be thankful. as AZ
least he viii now be out OF the awful
lighting But II is a cruel injustice
IL that wicked wretch. Captain Thorn
ton. Is still 20 be az large
They rode on In silcnce-for General
Buckthorn had seen TO II that they
were provided with mounts-until az
last Gertrude exclaimed:
II can't rest anyway. I'm going on.
Josephus viii follow me. Yon girls
will be all right-won't you, dearsT'
"Wherc are You going% cried the
other two aghast
"On 10 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 | won't come
back at all Good night"
And before they could persuade her
that was what she fled from now. az
from unbearable torturc-she rode of
exultantly into the darkness OF the
mountain shadows like another Val
kyrie bearing her stricken warriors
soul 20 the glorious and blissful Val
halla
Belle Bosquct was deserted FOR
miles around stretched the heart sick.
ening panorama OF fenceless. trampled
fields. ruined farms and empty grana
ries.
For Sheridan had accomplished only
too literally the fearsome task assign
cd him 10y General Grant:
"In pushing up the Shenandoah val
ley IL Is desirable that moth
ing should be left TO invite the enemy
TO return. Take all provisions. forage
and stock wanted for the use OF your
command. Such ms cannot be consum
ed destroy"
The same destitution that compelled
Early TO retreat as far as Newmarket.
forty miles south OF Cedar Greek, 10 sup
ply and reorganize the broken Confed-
crate forces prevented Sheridan from
following them into this region His
cavalry. however. during this pause
I'm the movements OF the main army
was set about campaign against tina
guerrilla bands of Mosby and Gilmore.
IL was not until fortnight after tht
battle OF Cedar Greek that Gertrude
Ellingham aud the small party ~
friends and ncighbors who journeyed
with her and likewise followed the
path or necessity. as well as OF duty
and affection. In moving southwark aft
er the army. came up with the corpe
that had been General Ramseur'a and
which included her brother Roberts
regiment.
Continued Next Week