Year: 1866

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the watch for the enemy The day wore
slowly on, and to our anxious minds it SEEM
ed as if night would never come. Gradually,
however, the sun sunk behind the lofty
peaks of the Blue Ridge, kissing the tops
of the grand old oaks, as if to bid them o
chaste good night, and leaving everything
on the mountains in solemn and quiet
gloom At this moment the faint blast of
a bugle met my ear, and every man sprung
to bis horse, placed the bit in his mouth,
and frightened his saddle girth. As my no.
BILE animal rubbed his frontal on my should.
der I parted the name on his arching neck
and whispered you must stand up to it to.
night my bonny bay, for you may have
double weight to carry.


In few minutes the tramp of horses
mingled with the clanking Of sabres, and
the coarse jest and laugh Of the riders met
our listening ears, and We now only waited
for an opportunity to measure our strength
with theirs.


Arrived at the gate, they dismounted
and fastening their horses to the fence, en-.
tered the yard, and I heard them thun.
dering at the door for admittance. Gradual.
ly the voices died away as they entered the
house, and next I saw lights glance from
window to window, as they searched the
premises. My men we're now burning with
impatience to advance, and each man stood
with his hand wreathed in bis horses name
ready to spring into the saddle at the first
word still l hesitated to- precipitate mat
ters. I wanted them to leave the house
quietly if they would and attack them on
the road for the sake of the family. While
I stood hesitating thus, pistol shot rung
out from the house and the next moment
the back door was flung wide open and a
woman's screams pierced the air.


"Charge!" l shouted, spriuging into the
saddle, and dashing over every object that
intervened in tie direction of the house
My men were as quick as myself, animated
with I know not what apprehensions. At
that thrilling scream We spurred our horses to
their topmost speed and dashed onwards.-
Hearing our approach, the yankees broke
from the house and attempted to reach their
horses. The movement was we'll thought
of, but it twas too late The ringing pis-
tolls shots, the sharp whistling of the bull.
lets, as they sped on their death mission
mingled with cries for quarter and the
shrieks and groans of the wounded and dy-
ing, as our maddened horses sprung upon
them and trampled upon them, made up a
scene more easily imagined than described.
The affair hardly lasted ten minutes. Fa
vored by the darkness Of them sue
ceeded in reaching their horses, and es
capped; the balance lay on the field Two
of my party we're wounded, whether by their
friends or the enemy was not Known
Throwing myself from my horse entered
the house. The old farmer lay 10 one cor
ner bound hand and foot, the mother lay
fainting on a sofa, while her daughter bent
over her trying to resuscitate her. Near
the middle of the room lay the body of a
young man in the uniform of a federal cap.
tain, stone dead. The bullet had been
sped by sure hand, and he died without a
struggle. Fastening to release the old man
I went next to the daughters assistance, and
very soon we had the satisfaction of seeing
the old lady come to, and raise her head.
fastening out 1 told two of the men to get
the farmers horses, and by the time they
arrived, the good lady announced herself
able to travel Placing hsr on one horse |
told one of my best men to stay BY her and
sustain her. The farmer mounted the other
horse, and then came the daughter. Lead
ing my horse up to the step, assisted her to
mount and springing into my saddle before
her, told all hands to follow, and dashed
off at gallop. As We cleared the place,
asked my fair companion, who had killed
the officer 81 did," she replied calmly.
mThe scouudrel laid his hands on me, and
I killed him."


Scarcely had she finished speaking when
a shout in our rear apprised US that our
retreat was discovered and party in pur-
suit The pace now became tremendous,
and cheering my party on, dashed ahead
letting my gallant bay take bis own road.
My gallant comrades acted splendidly two
at time would pull up and as the leading
files of the enemy would come up, they
would pour a volley into them and in the
confusion dash after us,-thus retarding
the pursuit. now knew that we must be
nearing the ford on the Shenandoah, but it
was 80 dark that could see nothing. Once
across that we were comparatively safe, for
a few moments would place US inside of our
lines. l listened for the rush of the river,
but the thunder Of our horses feet drowned
it. Finally it broke upon my ear, and at
the same moment my horse rose with
bound like rocket, and spraug into the
stream. A cheer of triumph broke from
my lips as felt the water splash in my
face, reckless cry from my old comrades
answered me, and forming into line on the
bank they prepared to cover the retreat.
The old farmer and his wife followed me
across, and as we climbed the opposite bank
I pointed to the lights of New Market
shining across the old fields and told them
to spur on. Turning again to the river
bank, waited for my men. Even with
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