The banner of the South. (Augusta, Ga.) 1868-1870, August 06, 1870, Image 1

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p"atf. 1A VOL. 111. • The Gathering Home. They are gathering homeward from every land, One by one, As their weary feet touch the shining strand, One by one, Their brows are inclosed in a golden crown, Their travel-stained garments are all laid down, And clothed in white garments they rest on the mead, Where the Lamb doeth love his chosen to lead, One by one. Before they rest they pass through the strife, One by one; Through the waters of death they enter life, One by one, To some are the floods of the river still, As they ford on their way to the heaven ly hill; To others the waves run fierce and wild, Yet they reach the home of the un defiled, One by one. We too, shall come to the river side, One by one. We are nearer its waters each eventide, One by one, We can hear the noise and dash of the stream Now, and again through our life’s deep dream Sometimes the floods all the banks over flow, Sometimes in ripples and small waves go, One by one. Jesus, Redeemer, we look to Thee, One by one. We lift up our voices tremblingly, One by one, The waves of the rivers are dark and cold, We know not the place where our feet may hold, Thou who did'st pass through in deep midnight, Strengthen us, send us the staff and the light, One by one. Plant Thou Thy feet beside as we tread, One by one, On Thee let us lean each a drooping head, One by one. Let but thy strong arm around us be twined, We shall cast our fears and tears to the wind, Saviour, Redeemer, with Thee full in view, Smilingly, gladsomely, shall we pass through, One by one. Written for the Banner of the South I HENRY WARREN, ' OR, The Confederate Soldier’s Revenge. EY F. FAUNTLEROY, OF TEXAS. “Henry imparted to her, in as few words as would suffice, the facts in the readers possession, and told her his plans.” “I am very glad to know all this. It is a relief to my mind ; though I have great fears as to your safety, and I think it probable I may aid you in some way. “Listen and watch, Sallie; but be dumb. Particularly observe all strang ers. “Fear not.” ' Do our parents or friends here sus pect anything ?” “Your movements give them an un- defined dread. They see you have some object which you conceal. “Well, it can’t be helped.” As Ilenry intended to start before day light, he saw that double rations were given to Billy; and, wishing to have-a full rest, retired at an early hour. He mounted his steed before the dawn, and went out as he had gone before. He rode at a good pace, traveling the already understood route to Lone Rock. After the sun had risen, and the atmosphere was more dry, he stopped and carefully examined and capped bis six-shooter. Passing Lone Rock he diverged to the right, taking the direction to Pope moun tain which was over two miles distant. The country became more rugged and wild ; a region which seemed intended only for the prowling beast, and where a stranger might well suppose a civilized foot had never trod. He frequently stopped for a moment to listen, but heard no unusual sound. Soon we was at the base of the mountain, and rode to an elevated point which commanded an ex tensive view, particularly in the direction from which he expected the hunters. At this spot he remained for an hour or more, when he heard the winding of a horn in the distance. “I hope it will be your last trump, you villains,” he said to himself. In a short time again he heard the horn; and it seemed the person who blew it was approaching the eastern side. Warren was just in the act of standing to intercept the hunters when he heard the crack of a rifle in a more southerly direction. “That’s just what I want. They are separated aud I can find them one at a time.” He turned his mare and rode toward the spot whence the report came. When he supposed himself within a short dis tance of the object of his pursuit, he slackened his pace and advanced with as little noise as possible. He thought he heard a sound, stopped and listened. It was the step of a horse coming nearer and nearer. He adjusted his pistol and knife. The approaching horse stopped about two hundred yards distant. VVar ren could see no one for the intervening foliage. Just then another crack of the rifle disturbed the stillness and rang through the forest. Instantly seeing his advantage, he drew his pistol, spurred his mare, and in a moment was upon the man with an empty gun ; the hunter having dismounted and tied his horse. “Ila, devil! you are the man I want to see. Do you know me, Mr. Martin?” “Who are you?” asked the astonished and frightened man, not recognizing War ren in his disguise. “I am Ilenry Warren, you villain, seeking revenge for the wrongs to my family.” “You have the advantage of me, Mr. Warren ?” “Any greater advantage than you had of my sister, you hell-hound ?” asked Warren ferociously. “You may be mistaken about that af fair ?” “Dog ! don’t attempt to escape by ly ing,” said Warren cocking his pistol. Martin dropped upon his knees and begged for his life. “Did you heed the cries of my wife and sister ? Did you care for the plead ing of harmless and unprotected women?” “For God’s sake don’t shootim plored the quaking coward. “Who came with you !” “Ben Harris?” “Where were you to meet !” “At the Ledge of Rocks ?” With a lock of fiery bate, minded with an expression of triumph, Warren level ed his pistol and drove a ball into the brain of the wretch ; then dismounting, lie reloaded the rifle, unloosed the horse Martin had ridden, tide up the bridle and started him to the owner. Resum ing his place in the saddle he turned and rode toward the Ledge of Rocks. AUGUSTA, Gr-A.., AUGUST 6, 1870. “Thank God I have done a part of my work. There is one villain less to do service for the United States, and war upon old people, women and children. I have made a good beginning and hope to be lucky to the end.” He traveled to the left of the route he supposed Harris had taken. When he had gone about half the distance he heard the report of a rifle far to the right Seeing all was clear he rode on to the place of rendezvous, diverging to the left so as to get upon the upper side of the Ledge of Rocks. It was difficult to ride to the spot where he wished to con ceal his mare. He found a good footing on the mountain side, where she could not be seen from below, and their tied her securely. He then descended to the Ledge and took his position in a mas3 of tangled vines, near a fissure in the rock by which he could descend to the more level ground below. Here he impatient ly waited for some time, watching and listening, before he again heard the horn. The sound came nearer and near er, and he was satisfied Harris was now corning to the place of appointment, and was blowing to call in his dogs, and give notice to his companion. But Martin did not hear the signal, he had gone to answer for his base deeds, done in the bod}-. Soon the hunter with his hounds came up, expecting to meet a friend, not a deadly foe, and stopped below the place where Warren crouched in the vines. Harris had a fine Buck bound behind his saddle. He dismounted and tied his horse to a tree, placed his gun against another ; and, being tired, seated himself in the shade. The worried hounds stretched themselves upon the ground and rested. Warren felt some apprehension lest they should scent him and give him trouble. A quarter of an hour passed away without change. Har ris became impatient, and blew his loud est blast. The dogs were aroused, and, scenting about got upon the trail of some animal and dashed off. Now was War ren’s time. With the stealthy caution of a tiger, he emerged from the covert and descended without noise through the fissure. Keeping some bushes between himself and his intended victim, he moved with the softness of a spectre towards the spot where the man sat, unconscious of danger, leaning against a tree and facing the east. When within about thirty feet, to the left and rear of Harris, he stopped, and in a startling voice shouted— “ Hallo !” Harris sprang to his feet, turned and beheld a rifle leveled at his breast, in the hands of a wild looking man. , “Hold ! what’s the matter ? what do you want ?” “Do you know me ?” asked Warren in a smarting tone. “No. Who are you?” “My name is Henry Warren?” “What do you want?” “Want to send you after Martin, to your proper home.” The truth flashed upon Harris’ mind, and he shuddered. “You’ve got the drop on me. Give me a chance,” said he, in a falterine: voice. * “I would give a brave man a chance; but a brute who makes war upon de fenseless old men, women, and children ought to be shot like a dog; and so I dis patch you.” The keen report echoed upon the mountain side, and Harris sprang into the air and fell to the earth a corpse. Warren relieved the horse of his burden and turned him loose; and broke and bent the two guns to prevent their use by other villains and traitors. He went to his marc and started to his retreat, feel ing a grim satisfaction over the work he had done. Just then the dogs returned to the Ledge and set up a wild and mournful howl over the body of Harris. “He is not worth even the grief of dogs,” thought Warren. “Two of the Union heroes are settled; and I am sorry I can’t add others without delay. I wish I bad the power to crush the entire ken nel at one fell blow.” At about 12 o’clock next day, Warren saw someone on horse back just enter ing the lower part of the valley. He quickly brought up his mare, saddled her and mounted. He then moved to a point from which he could more plainly observe the movements of the visitor to this sequestered spot. As the stranger rode in the direction of the Lone Rock, he supposed it was old George. The old man rode around the shaft three times, and Warren darted off to meet him. “Well, Uncle George, what news?” “Good morning, massa Henry ; I has a letter from Miss Sallie.” George ripped a part of his oat lining and drew out a small packet, which he delivered. Warren read as follows : “My Dear Brother : Last evening the two horses got back without riders, one having blood on him, creating a strong excitement among the friends of the missing men and the Unionists generally over the neighborhood. Two of that class made a pretence to call here this morn ing. They spoke of the return of the horses and the suspicions entertained; but good Mr. Hopkins showed s > much honest surprise that I believe they went away, thinking no person connected with us had any part in the supposed tragedy. A party staried to search for the two men. Beware !” S,” ' “Follow me, Uncle George.” They walked back to the thicket where Warren talked with the old man. But ten minutes had not elapsed when War ren’s quick eye descried six horsemen ride into the valley, seeming to be on the track he had made the day before. He did not tell the old Negro so, for fear of frightening him. “Uncle George, we must get away from here, and the sooner the better!” “Good Lord, im.ssa Henry ! why so ?’’ “Never mind just now; follow me with as little noise as possible.” They passed quickly through the thicket, in the direction of a narrow and craggy defile, which not masy knew. Warren led the way and traveled so as to leave as little indication of his passing as possible. After emerging from the pass, Warren took every precaution to “break his trail,” and they made their way throngh the forest to a dense cane brake on a certain creek in which War ren had often hunted for bears. Here they rested until twilight, aud then started for Mr. Hopkins’ place. Know ing the country well, Warren avoided observation by circuitous traveling.— They arrived at the Parson’s back fence at a late hour, and Warren sent old George forward to reconnoiter the prem ises. The report being favorable, he proceeded to the house, where he found his friends up and in great anxiety on his account. They were keeping very quiet and using but very little light. The females were particularly fearful that harm would come to Ilenry. Mr. Hop kins was not free from apprehension. Sallie knew what was the matter, and the rest suspected the truth. Henry gave them what information the circum stances rendered necessary. The venerable man illy conceded his belief that Henry was doing wrong, and that there was danger of incurring the anger of his Maker. Henry’s reasoning with his own conscience was, that if it was Providential that such horrid calami ty should fall upon his family, it was equally Providential that he should work out a terrible reveDge; that if God per mitted the base acts of the Vandals he would permit the beneficial act of sweep ing them from the face of the earth. lie felt it was not only his duty to slay the villains as enemies of his country but as enemies of the human race—of all that was good—aud as destroyers of his peace and happiness. Both parties knowing that any discussion of the subject would be useless, but little was said about it. Henry told them they need not enter tain any fears in regard to his personal safety; that he would keep himself en tirely concealed. Much excitement prevailed, particularly among the Unionists, on account of the killing of the young men. The myste ries which enveloped the occurrence in creased the interest. They who were not in the secret wondered who on earth had done the deed. No stranger had been seen who could have dealt the blows, and no one lived in that region who could be regarded as the perpetrator. No re lief could be derived from attaching sus picion to any particular person. A lead ing Union man had declared that some “rebel” must have been the murderer; and that when discovered he would be treated as a “rebel” deserved. He fur ther said he would have the company to which the young men belonged sent to that vicinity to ferret out the matter and punish all concerned in the tragedy.— There was no sympathy excited among this hell-born set by the unprovoked and fiendish assault at Mr. Warren’s house— there were no tears to shed there; but now they were copiously flowing over two of the guilty perpetrators who justly died in consequence of their foul wrong. This news had been brought by a neighbor who had called at the Parson’s. He was fearful harm would come of it. The supposition on the part of friends was, that the affair was in some way connected with the maltreatment of the Warren family; and it was evident that enemies suspected as much. On the next day two individuals called at Mr. Hop kin’s house, under the pretense of getting water and enquiring after estray horses. They seated themselves and entered into other subjects, soon introducing the mat ter which was interesting the neighbor hood. While speaking of it they keeuly scrutinized the family, but failed to learn anything, and went away evidently dis appointed. Henry had seen the man approaching, and cautiously left the house so as not to be discovered; told old George to ob serve the strangers closely; and conceal ed himself where he could see something of their movements. When they had departed George in formed him that one of them was a brother of a member of the company he was in pursuit of. That evening Henry returned to his place in the cane-brake. A week passed without special inci dent. Old George heard at the mill that twelve of that company had arrived, and with the permission of the Union patrons and trustees of the neighborhood school, occupied the old school house, situated about five miles from the mill. This news was promptly communicated to him who needed the information. Ilenry told George to ascertain, through his brother, what the squad intended to do ; and if they were going on a scout; when they would return. In a few days the old man was informed that the party were quite active in making inquiries ’about the killing of Martin and Harris; had been riding over ttlie neighborhood, and intended visiting the Ledge of Rocks on the following Thursday, for the purpose of making a minute inspection of the place and vicinity, to be gone two days. Henry’s fruitful genin3 was at work. In his gloomy retreat lie had nothing to do but think and mature his plans.— With the assistance of the faithful old negro, he procured a gallon jug, more powder, and other materials which he needed, and made a torpedo for the bene fit of the twelve wrathful adventurers who wished to redress grievances—to avenge the wrongs committed against the “brave boys in blue.” After dark on Thursday evening Hen ry started for the school house, having his torpedo m a sack, and also taking matches and old George’s lantern. Kvery precaution was used to avoid being He traveled through the woods all the way. The greatest difficulty was to find No. 21.