Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/218

 210 Southern Historical Society Papers.

little darkey came, the forerunner of another white horse, which soon made its appearance. I was soon mounted, and as my little black angei received the dollar and let go my bridle he cried: " Golly, I mos' forgot, I mus' run back after de doctor! "

ARRIVAL AT CULPEPER COURTHOUSE.

After nine miles more of spurring and splashing I ran into James City, where I changed to a tall, gaunt roan that carried me valiantly the eleven miles to Culpeper Courthouse. As I approached the town there was a suspicion of light in the direction of dawn, and the rain had partially worn itself out. In all directions I heard the drums of an early reveille and encountered a group of horsemen sitting on their horses in the gloaming. I found it was General Dick Taylor and his staff of Eweli's command. Learning that he was ordered to march, and evidently in the wrong direction, I suggested to him that he should not move until he heard from General Ewell, who, he said, was encamped beyond Brandy Station. One of the staff kindly offered me a fresh horse, and General Taylor ordered a courier to lead the way and " ride like the devil." This the courier did, and so did I, but as I had been doing that thing all night it was no nov- elty to me. We rushed along like a pair of John Gilpins, and as it never seemed to occur to my guide that I might be nearly worn out I didn't mention it.

But we soon made the six miles to Brandy Station. After several miles more we drew rein at the General's quarters, just as I was be- ginning to be exhausted beyond endurance. The General was just up, and I dismounted and handed him the crumpled and saturated dispatch. He read it, and quickly turning to me he said: "You don't say But the sentence was not finished. Seeing me totter and about to fall, he caught me, led me to a cot and laid me there; and then the dear, rough old soldier made the air blue with orders for brandy and coffee and breakfast not for himself, but for me.

JACKSON'S COOL RECEPTION.

My ride was done, and nature asserted itself by reaction and ex- haustion. In less than twenty hours I had ridden about 105 miles, and since I left General Jackson I had passed around the Massanut- ten, over the Blue Ridge, and through rain and mud and impenetra-