I. A SCOUT ACROSS THE RAPPAHANNOCK. My friend, Lieutenant T―, is a beau garçon. is a beau garçon. He is tall, comely, about nineteen, and calls a very illustrious personage "Cousin Robert." He wears a hat with a wide rim, and an ebon feather "floating free" as becomes a cavalry officer; around his waist a black leather belt holds his pistol; huge horseman's boots reach above his knees, and afford him in his leisure moments a very great resource in pulling them up. Many idle hours have afflicted my friend lately in consequence of the cessation of hostilities. He has spent his time chiefly in whittling sticks, which proves an unfailing, though not exciting resource to him. While whittling he talks, and he is a gay and delightful companion; relating his adventures with a charming nonchalance, and laughing "in the pauses." Though still young, he has had numerous experiences of a stirring character. In Maryland, just before the battle of Sharpsburg, he was taken prisoner, and had a private interview with General McClellan, who had known some of his relations, and sent for him. The General, he declares, was a very pleasant personage, and very much of a gentleman; easy, bland, smiling; and asked "how many brigades of cavalry Stuart had." Whereto my friend replied evasively, when the General added, laughing: “Oh, I merely asked to satisfy my private curiosity—not to extract information." "Of course, General." "I have heard he had four brigades." "If you have heard that, of course it must be so, General." Laughter from General McClellan, and friendly termination of the interview. The General, he says, was "quite a gentleman," and ordered him to be released on his parole to return to and remain in the county of Fauquier until he was exchanged. Returned there; and was still at home when-McClellan's head having fallen-Burnside came along, when he was arrested as a suspicious character, and taken before the new commander, Burnside, portly, polite, not at all stern-rather good-humoured. T——— gave an account of himself, and was released and sent back to his home in Fauquier. Here he remained until a scouting party of his friends came in, when he had himself captured and returned to the army. He did not make this return journey on foot. He was mounted, as became a cavalier-but on a white mule. This white mule was not, however, a portion of his patrimonial property of a movable character. He procured it from a Northern friend in the following manner: he was wearily walking along the road, and saw a "blue-bird" approach him, mounted on the mule in question. He was unarmed, but so was my friend-and the Lieutenant immediately, in a voice of thunder, ordered him to get down and surrender. The bluebird obeyed, and the Lieutenant mounted-magnanimously permitting his prisoner to go free, inasmuch as he had no means of securing him. Having paroled him formally, he made haste out of the line. Such is the young Lieutenant who, having nothing to do, whittles sticks. He has a comrade whose name is Lieutenant H. This young gentleman is of about the same age, and his countenance is comely and smooth. His manners are unusually soft and mild, and he spends all his leisure in reading. He is familiar with Shakspeare, and quotes that great bard, going through all the attitudes, and astonishing the bystanders. Having mounted my horse some days since to visit a young lady, I was suddenly startled by the appearance of Lientenant H- , who, leaning one hand on my knee, struck an attitude, and broke forth, "Tell her she's the sun, and I the moon! Arise, fair sun, and shine upon my night!" Having entrusted me with this commission, my friend returned in silence to his literary pursuits. The Lieu tenant is so mild and comely of face, that he has been declared to be "like a girl." But he is a man, and a dangerous one, when after the blue-coats. He is devoted to these, and pays them his respects upon all occasions. He is fond of reading, but greatly prefers fighting. Happily married, and keeping house with his helpmate, in camp, he is still impatient at the idlesse of the times. Like his friend, Lieutenant T————, he is Tlonging for some movement, and sustains the dull days with difficulty. If the characters of my two friends are sufficiently indicated by the above sketch, the reader will comprehend with what pleasure they obtained permission in December last (1862) to go on a romantic little scout into the lines of the enemy, beyond. the Rappahannock. Burnside was then getting ready to cross at Fredericksburg, and his cavalry scouted daily along the north bank of the river, up and down-so the commission of entering King George was an exciting one, promising no little adven ture. But to procure information of the enemy's designs was only a part of their orders-the most agreeable portion remains behind. They were directed not only to spy out the land, and the position of the foe, but also to escort a young lady, then in King George county, through the enemy's lines into our own. the reader will imagine, this was far from disagreeable to the chivalric young officers; and they made their preparations with alacrity. As Leaving their swords behind, as calculated to impede their movements when they entered the enemy's country, as they must do, on foot, they took only pistol and carbine, and set out for a point down the river. The place which they chose for crossing was Port Royal, that lovely little village which nestles down prettily, like a bird, in the green fields-and here, leaving their horses at the house of a friend, they were taken across in a canoe, by a sympathizing boatman, and landed on the northern bank. From that moment it was necessary to bring into play all the keenness and ready faculties of the woodman and the scout. |