Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-08-23

want. but Jdiy one pair o boots.
II vas pain that the wagons were
iuli OF supplies. not only 10y the power
required l., the muics 10 haul them.
tli through ,hr front of rear openings
H. the covers | couid see the property
stacked ~ inside
Having learned all | wished TO know.
! continued my way 10 the rear end OF
the tram. iarn turned into n wood
v here | lost myself for awhile. II was
uoW my object 10 ride northcastward
10 Gencral q; corps aud deliver my
order White was waiting | heard
rumble and cr,Yking IN the road and
recognized sounds made by artillery.
II ! had needed further evidence of re
treat this would have confirmed my
opinions. for the next thing 10 supplies
rctreaiing army moves is its heavy
guns that Is. unless pressed so hard
by an enemy aS 10 need them for de
Tense
The direction | WIS now 10 take fore
ed me To cross the road | had just left.
rrcferrlng 10 move through woods.
Kept on among the trees as long rs pos
sihlc. then turned into the road. having
a stretch Of u quarter OF n mile before
me- bef,ge striking other timber. While
making this interval heard the quick
thud of horses hoofs behind me and
turnin. my head. saw troop Of Con
fedrrate cavairy coming. | turned into
the wood on the north side of the road
and. though | did not alter my gait. !
continued my course heard Hello
thar from the troop. but. pretending
not 10 hear. kept on AS | disappeared
In the wood there came a sharp Halt
you. thar"
must make quick decision In
Federal uniform | could not expect to
deceive an officer rs | had deceived a
teams,cr would he obliged to give
nm account ~ myself and would doubt
less he detained II the generals or
ders were found on me my Federal
uniform might not save me from the
Iallows. for. although II was simply an
order. II was evident that II was based
on my observations OF Confederate
movements | was certainly not on n
direct line between the Federal general
who had written II and the officer for
whom II was intended This would
prove me secret service man.
All This was but flash IN my brain.
Ny decision was made upon the i'm.
portance OF getting the order through.
II Succeeded IL would give our troops
great advantage: II ! failed fine
opportunity would be lost determin
ed TO run for It. Having passed out OF
sight. put spurs TO my horse and.
though was Obliged 10 dodge the
trees made good progress was In
hopes that those who had seen me
would not consider me of sufficient i'm
po-iance Ia chase But these hopes
were blasted by hearing one ar more
horses crashing through the under.
growth behind me.
\ lightning flash before me indicated
that the wood hid no great extent and
| would soon be iH the open II was
evident that | must soon fight or sur
render while was thinking about
IL came Ia the end of the wood and
looked back 10 see by how many ! was
pursued l:nt one man thus far had
left II" wood rode on nj break
neck pace iur about half u mile then
looked back again only the one pnr-
suer was IN sight. This decided me
determined 10 light.
But. realizing that was more likely
to he taken alive than killed. after
drawii: my revolver took the mes
sage from my holster What would
do with II: II | threw II away the
man chasing me- would see II and look
for ii Stnrcd II In the muZzle of
my pistol then refining IN my horse.
| faced hlui toward the Confederate,
lie WIS wiiuIu - hundred yards of me
NJ the time and drawing his weapon.
came on. My norSc was standing still.
which ruahlrd me 10 take Il good aim.
When ne ran. within range we both
fired almost simultaneously. His bul-
let cni the rdsc Of my ear. though ]
did not know II NJ the time My bul-
let pierced his brain.
No sooner had the man fallen from
his hors. ANA | saw blood oozing from
his forehead than | bethought myself
Of the >iriation II no more confed-
crates came for me and ! could find
the dispatch | might YET carry II TO
General u calculated that on nc.
count OF itS light weight II had not
gone more than n few yards from my
pistol and. calculating the direction OF
the wind began Ia hunt for II Seeing
bit of paper. ! took II up and found
II 10 be the Dispatch II had been
partially opened 10y pressure against
the atmosphere Had II not been for
this ! doubt II | should have found
II. since IN lis globular form II was
very small and backencd by powder.
My first act afiet finding II was TO
look 10 see II any more pursucrs were
emerging from the wood None ap-
peared Noticing & : a branded on
the troopers horse | decided TO take
him inStend OF ms own ! also took