Year: 1869

an uneven, shutliing sound of feet in the
soft, thick dust, l hurried away after
my guide, and found him waiting for me
at the corner Of the house


This way he said, just few steps
more


I followed him behind the house,
through, the barn yard, and behind the
barn, where he halted


Where's the spring?' asked stand
ing close by his saddle. -,s-


Here" he answered, in tone OF voice
that startled me. l looked up to- his
face and found the nuzzie of cooked
pistol within two inches of my
own.


If the heavens had fallen I could not
have been more amazed. was too much
startled to say q word, but he spoke be-
fore ! could have said anything.


'silence' he whispered, you are my
prisoner; don't be silly enough to cry
out or make y loud noise or I'll kill YOU
instantly! Take the cap from your
gum


obeyed. l did not clearly see what
else could very we'll do under the cir
cumstances, aud considering the dan
gerous proximity of that savage look
ing pistol to my head.


Put the hammer down; unfix your
bayonet, sheath it, and walk toward
that clump Of trees mile or so over
yonder. lfyou can't see it then go
straight for the north star, and I'll steer
yoa AS We go, and l want you to under
stand that the least attempt to escape,
or raise an alarm, will put bullet
through your head. Now march,


The fellow spoke with provoking de-
liberation.


Then you're not a Union soldier:o'
l said, as l sulenly obeyed his or
ders.


Me? Not bit it. I don't serve
under any flag but that of the stars aud
bars, and don't obey any man but
Colonel Mostly and his officers; though
fancy l did play orderly to your Gen
eral Wright rather cleverly tonight.
ila! ha! very we'll done, now, wasn't it,
Mister Iankee?'


You may do it once too often,' + re-
torted, trudging along before him, the
most wrathy and unamiable soldier Just
then in blue.


I've done it already once too often
for you, it seems, was his rejoinder; and
| made virtue of necessity and swal-
lowed my anger in silence. The course
we were pursuing led us directly away
from the road which the army was TAX
ing, and there seemed to be no reasona-
bic hope for me; but, if you'il believe
me, Captain, in the first moment that
distinctly realized the frightful situation
l had foolIshly put myself in, | resolved
| that | would run any reasonable risk.
short OF certain obstruction, but would
get back to the army again before anoth-
er night. 1t was desperate determina-
ton; but think that settling my mind
upon it As did made me perfectly ready
to take the chance. When it came you
shall hear.


My captor was garrulous fellow, and
talked necessarily rs we went of the
smartness of himself and Mosby's men
generally they had done and
what they would do in the way of max
ing this campaign the most Troublesome
that the Yankees had undertaken


lasked him bluntly what would be
done with me, and lie told me quite as
bluntly that should reach the Libby
in due time; after which had nothing
further to say.


We had approached near enough to
the clump of trees which he had first
spoken OF to allow us to distingu uish
their trunks, when peculiar sharp
whistle came from them. My captor
Immediately replied with another, in
stantly repeated, and advanced with me
without parlcy. We found in this little
grove nine men, rs | counted them, all
clad in blue overcoats, with the service
cap of our army on their heads, and
nothing whatever, either in their faces
or their dress, to distinguish them from
hoOu y mon SOlulcTS. some were Slltlnp
on the ground and some standing; each
held the rein of a horse: and three more
had picketed their animals and were
keeping guard with carbines over six
prisoners. did not know any of the
latter, but saw by their badges that they
belonged, some to the Sixth aud some to
the Nineteenth Corps; and, being only
human, declare | felt better when |
saw that l was not the only deiuded vic
tim Of Mosby's gueriIIas that night.


I was turned over to the prisoners
squad, and ordered to sit on the ground
and keep perfect silence. My captor
Joined the others, and as | sat upright
against tree, with my head thrown
back, snoring, and otherwise feiyning
sleep, was enabled to catch some OF
their conversation. l learned from it
that the detachment had come from
. Upperville since the previous afternoon
and that they meant to return there inn
mediately; that the prisoners would be
sent to Richmond as soon as possible,
| a. n a. 4