Year: 1869

BAGGlNG THE BUSHWHACKERS.
Arrived at about halt mile from where
they had bivouacked for the night, from
| the top of hill over which the turnpike
ran we could plainly see their large camp
fire glimmering through the tree. but
could distinguish nothing further. lm.
agining that they must at least have taken
the precaution of stationing n sentinel on
the road. instructed one of The darkies
to creep forward aud ascertain the fact.
while with my squad cautiously advanced
about quarter of mile further on. Ned
soon returned. and reported that there
was man slowly walking up and down
the road about hundred yards from camp
each way, though he seemed to be doing
rather drowsy duty.


Upon this intelligence formed my plan
of attack At the suggestion OF one ofmy
sergcants took down sufficient wire from
disuscd line of telegraph, and selecting
two favorable trees, growing on either
| side of the road, leNtcndcd the wire thrice
doubled across it. some two feet from the
ground, so rs to trip up their horses ii.as
they would probably do, they should at
tempt TO escape along the road. This spot
was about two hundred yards from the
camp. Leaving my best sergeant with
six men to guard this pit-lall, with full in
structions how TO proceed in every
emergency could imagine, | then, with
the rest of my men, and guided by Ned,
made long circuit around, so a 10 strike
the road about the same distance beyond
the camp. Here set up similar wire
trap, and left another six men and a
sergeant to guard that, with the same
instructions. All this we were fortunate
enough 10 accomplish without attracting
the attention of the sentinel, who seemed
to be more than half asleep, and WAS pay
ing ~ little heed 10 outside matters rs he
WAS unsuspicious OF danger.


then led the rest OF my men by another
circuit. still under Ncd'S guidance, 10 the
rear of the camp. SO as TO fall upon them
from the side opposite the road, and
obligc them TO take flight towards one or
| ,h. .,tLn,. az my t,y, snarpS


Thus far all had succeeded admirably,
and began to feel elated in the prospect
ofcapturing the whole party without firing
shot, when a miShap occurred which
came near marring our whole plan. One
of my men, u kind of 4 nervous, excitab!e
| fellow, though brave and reliable III other
matters, seemed to be constantly anxious
lest hi, piece was not loaded or primed
right, and pcrpetually fussiag with it to
be sure of its being in proper condition.
And Just in the nick oftime, rs such things
always do happen, when we were within
hundred yards of the quietly sleeping
party, bang went the idiots gun. could
have pummelled him sounlly then and
! there. but we had no time 10 lose. The
shot. of course, alarmed the BuShwhack-
ers, who unIuckily seemed to be resting
on their arms, and all prepared for n
contingency in everything but watchiul-
ness; and although | ut once gave the
order. and we rushed forward with cheer
the instant after the shot fell, every man
of them was in the saddle before we
reached the spot. But they were sui
fcicntly taken by surprise to have no idea
of resistance, and when we stopped at
about twelve yaids and poured volley
into them, they every man but one, whose
horse was shot under him, wheeled about
and galloped down the road towards my
second ambush. This was all wanted,
and we followed on at a run, shouting
with all our might and main.


By the time we had got about half way
towards my trap we heard the regular
tramp OF The horses turned ihlo kiiiu Oh
confused, scrambling noise, mixed with
oaths and screams, and Immediately fol-
lowed by volley and a rousing cheer
from my six boys who were watching it.
The other party, according to directions,
now came posting down to join us, and
when | reached the spot few seconds
after, found perfect pile OF horses and
men in the road, who had scarcely re
covered from their surprise and stunned
tumble. We made rush upon them,
and clubbing such as offered resistance
with little pains captured the whole party,
for so completely paralyzed were they by
their topple over the wire that they fired
but six or eight shots before we had dis
larmed them all.