Year: 1866

they ever lay hands on you again


There was party of. them here this


morning hunting you and they behav-


ed shamefully. The officer spoke


very insultingly to me, and L am
afraid the next tine they come, they
will burn the house. 1 heard them
talking to themselves after they left
the house, and I think they intend
to retnrn tonight, so you had better
be on your watch"


"Nevcr fear, Mdlle. If they come
back they may meet with a warm re-
ception. Where's your father and
mother %


'Thcy have both stepped out but
will be in again soon-what do YOU
intend to do Z"


t'l intend to way-lay this party and
cut them off," 1 replied. s'They will
know any how that I've been here and
may punish you. [ shall conceal my
men in that thicket of pines and un-
der growth yonder-across the field,-
and when they leave here I can cut
them off in the woods about half a
mile from here and bushwhack them,
you have still two horses left have you
not2


eyes, what about them"


"They must be saddled up and con-
cealed with my party, for if by any
chance this party escapes us, they will
return and take vengeance on you.
SO you must be prepared to retreat in
to our lines with me-"


AS | finished speaking the old farm
er and his wife entered, and after the
usual greetings, [ unfoldcd my plans,
which met the old gentleman's cordial
approval. Every thing was done as I
directed, my men moved down to their
ambush, the horses were tattered, and
the farmers two horses were caught and
saddled and led down to the place of
G. IT,. The old lady and her
a dinner for us. After seeing that our
was perfect, and that
every preparation to insure success
had been made, 1 walked back to the
house whore 1 learned that a strong
picket reserve of yankee cavalry, was
camped about two miles from the
house, and that it was from them that
the party had come who visited the
house in the morning.


"By the way, Captain" said Miss
Mollie, eff there is any fighting to be
done, you had best let me take hand.
1 have that little pistol you gave me
yet. l keep it loaded, and on occa-
sion like this, / think L could use
it."


"Best keep out of the way" I re-,
piled. "I don't doubt your courage,
but we can't spare you. You are one
of my best scouts and must be cared
for accordingly"


BY this time the dinner was ready
and with the assistance of the old gen
tleman. his daughter, I carried it
down to my hungry squad, who camp
fashion, soon showed their apprccia-
tion of it, by their deeds AIlittlc
forage was shaken down to the horses,
and after that every thing was on the
watch for the enemy. The day wore.
slowly on, and to our anxious minds 1t
seemed as if night would ever como,
gradually however, the sun sunk be-
hind the lofty peaks of the Blue
Ridge, kissing the tops of the grand old
oaks, as if to bid them chaste good
night, and leaving everything on the
east side of the mountains in solemn
and quiet gloom. At this moment
the faint blast of bugle met my ear,
and every man sprung to his horse,
placed the bit in his mouth, and tight,
ened his saddle ~girth. AS my noble
animal rubbed his frontal on my
shoulder 1 parted his arching neck
and whispered you must stand up to it
tonight my bonny bay, for you may
have a double, weight to carry.


In a few minutes the tramp of hors-
es mingled with the clanking of sa-
bres, and the coarse jest and laugh OF
tho riders met our listening ears, and
we now only waited for an opportuni.