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VOL. 111.
From the Southern Home.
Midnight Cross-
CORDELIA !
The light hath lost its summer tints, —
The world with woe hath whitened,
since
The shrouded April, long ago,
That laid our Lily in the snow !
The star that trembled down the west
Returns not from its sacred rest:--
Aid if the dawn awake the flowers
They shine for other eyes than ours.
And yet in grace of deed and thought
That linger where her hands have
wrought,
W e see the April of her eyes,
And wait her summer to arise 1
Waiting the dawn with spice and myrrh,
We tairy by the sepulchre;
While still the sentry’s sullen tread
Insults the victor, not the Dead;
’Tis a proud pinnacle to rear
By this bowed pathos of Judea
This Roman Eagle, with his eyes
Watching lest Righteousness arise.’
The white palms crossed in perfect
rest; —
The book of God upon her breast,
In witness of the good she sought,—
In token that her task is wrought.
Watch Roman ! for a tale is told
Oi slumber o i thine eyes of old; —
Os triumph, blind : of tears that
kept
The better vigil that they wept.
F. 0. Ticknor.
Torch Hill.
'Written for the Banner of the South j
HENRY WARREN;
OR,
The Confederate Soldier’s Revenge.
BY F. FAUNTLEKOY, OF TEXAS.
(concluded.)
These soldiers belenged to the South
ern order; and they told Henry the
Brotherhood had not only spread rapidly
in the army, but also among the citizens
throughout the country; that wherever
the troops marched they actively extend
ed the association to aid the great cause;
and many lodges were established for the
protection and benefit of the citizens.
They came with authority to form a lodge
in that section. A night was appointed
for a meeting, and Henry attended it.
He enjoyed the pleasure of assisting in
the initiation of several of his old
ir ends; After which he communicated
what he had done. All of the brothers,
and particularly the new members, were
filled with astonishment by the thrilling
narrative. The latter were entirely una
ware of the fact that Henry had been in
that part of the country. Some appre
hension was felt in regard to his safety,
but they warmly assured him that no
matter to what extremities he might be
reduced, if within reach, t s aid fiud
them true to their obligati as, -~ad sin
cere friends ; that he shou .i have all the
assistance they might be able to extend.
Their hearts were with him in all his
adventures against the blue coated van
dals. Henry expressed his fervent thanks.
The morning arrived when he must
start for his regiment. He took an af
fectionate farewell of parents rind sister,
and the excellent family under whose
hospitable ruof they dwelt, and com-1
rnenced his journey.
He re-entered upon his military duties, j
not with the bouyant energy and hope |
which iiad before characterized this good j
soldier, but with intense hatred instead, j
which urged him to the performance of'
every act within his power which might
injure the public enemy.
LoDg months were passed in march
ing and fighting, scouting, and other
martial duties, with occasional intervals
of rest.
In the course of ever changing mili
tary operations, Warren found himself
under the command of that famous hero,
Gen. B , whose fighting qualities
were such a terror to the enemy. It was
very important in the opinion of that
great warrior, that information of the
precise situation of the Yankee Gen.
be obtained. He asked Gen. ,if
he could send him a wily, shrewd and
cautious man, who would make a good
scout; one who feared no danger. Gen.
man, and summoned Warren. The latter
promptly reported himself, received his
instructions, and started on his mission.
It was a perilous one, but he was no
stranger to such work. He traveled to a
horse mill, some miles out of his route,
of which he had heard, and when be
met the owner he made a certain sign
which to his delight was recognized and
answered in such a manner as to prove
that the miller belonged to the Southern
order. Every assistance in his power
was warmly offered Warren, who told
him lie wanted to visit the Yankee camp,
and for that purpose wished tu exchange
his horse and his clothes for a day or
two. The miller gave him an old suit
of his own which was well besmeared
with meal, and an old mare; referred
him to a Mr. Rayard, who resided near
the Yankee camp, as one of the order,
and told Warren they were all professed
Union men, and made the deception pro
fitable; they were fully protected, and had
the benefit of trading with the Yankees,
lie said he had furnished the blue coats
with many a bushel of meal. Warren
took a sack of meal, placed it on the
back of the old animal, mounted upon
it and started for the hostile encampment.
The picket guard allowed him to pass
after questioning closely, Warren pre
tending to be in the employment of the
miller, and he went on and peddled
out his meal. The old man was well
known to the Federals, and Warren
played his part skillfully as an ignorant
and good Union man. It would have
exhausted all the poultry yards in the
country to furnish the chickens and tur
keys he engaged to the different com
panies. He paid particular attention to
everything he saw or heard ; noticed the
size, character, and number of the guns
which came under his observation ; con
versed with the men, and drew forth
much information as to numbers, extent
of the line, the situation, spirit of the
men, &e. He obtained a passport to re
turn to the mill, and learning the way to
Bayard’s, rode to that gentleman’s house.
Here he found many Federal officers,
richly dressed, and seeming to enjoy
themselves finely. He beckoned to a
servant and told him to inform his mas
ter that a man wished to see him for a
moment. When Mr. Bayard came to
him Warren gave proof that they were
brothers. The former said in a tone to
be beard :
“You wish to see the pony, Mr. Wil
son ?’’
Warren, carrying out the deception,
answered:
“Yes, sir, I want to sec him so as I
can tell Ml*. Hawks about him.”
They went to the stables, and Warren
explained his mission. Mr.Bayard said:
“I can furnish you with important in
formation. You take the road which
runs around my fence, and when you get
to the branch turn into the thicket on the
left, if you do not see any one about. I
will join you there within fifteen minutes.”
Warren went his way and the planter
returned to the house, and sent to the
parlor fur Mary, who, excusing herself
to the gay officers she had been enter
taining, went to her father.
AUGUSTA, GA., AUGUST 18, 1870.
“Daughter, I want that plan and those
notes you have.”
She went to her room and quickly re
turning, handed the papers to her father.
Mary, a beautiful and talented girl,
with whom a staff officer w r as deeply in
love, and who was ingeniously playing
her part, had artfully made him draw a
detailed plan of their intrenchment and
position, and had conversed with him
freely in regard to the officers, the
strength and spirit of the army, and of
which she had made careful notes All
corresponded with her father’s observa
tion. Mr. Bayard made his way cir
cuitously to the thicket, explained the
facts to Warren, and gave him the papers,
which were cunningly hidden in his
clothing. Mr. Bayard pointed out a
road that led into the one by which War
ren had come, bade him God speed, and
they separated.
It was dark when Warren again rode
up to the miller’s. He paid the good
man the proceeds of the meal, aid told
him he had met with unexpected success.
The clothes were re-exchanged, and tak
ing a plenty of corn for his mare and
some food for himself, he went to the
place where Betty was concealed. Here
he spent the night. Just at daylight he
was surprised to see the miller bringing
him a smoking breakfast with good coffee.
Soon he was traveling at a sprightly
rate to tlio ooutLward. Hft had gOQfi
about ten miles when he saw a man in
Federal garb, approaching on the the
same road. He was at once on the alert,
and soon recognized the man as Jo. Bates,
one of the most desperate of Warren’s
particular foes—a large, homely, and
savage looking individual. When with
in thirty paces of Bates, Warren halted
and exclaimed:
“I am Henry Warren, villain!”
‘‘Ha! Mr. Warren, you are just the
man I want to meet.”
“I am at your service.”
Each drew his six-shooter and fired
about the same time. Warren received
a slight flesh wound in the left arm, and
his ball grazed the cheek of his foe,
tearing away his right ear. Again they
fired. The clasp of his pistol belt saved
Warren’s life, and Bates would have
died hid n t his horse thrown up his
head and received the ball which would
have slain the ruffian. The horse fell
dead, and his rider’s pistol was thrown
from his hand. Warren instantly dis
mounted. Bates sprang to his feet
and came like t an enraged tiger,
with a drawn bowie knife. Warren
dropped his six-shooter and drew an
equal blade. He had learned on the
Texas frontier how the Mexicans use
their sombreros in fighting with knives.
He grasped his hat in his left hand, and
when Bates made a furious thrust he di
verted the weapon and planted his own
in his enemy’s side. As the man fell
Warren gave him a savage cut across the
face.
“Die, wretch, by the hand of Henry
Warren!”
“D n you!” mattered the prostrate
foe. He shuddered and was a corpse.
Warren, suspecting him as a spy,
searched his pockets and clothes for pa
pers and found a small packet. He un
fastened the pistol belt of the dead man,
and picking up the weapon placed it in
the scabbard; and as he was recovering
his own six-shootes he heard the clatter
ing of horses feet behind him. Turniug,
he saw half a dozen Yankee soldiers
galloping in that direction. He mounted
bis faithful and well trained mare, and,
uttering a wild yell of triumph that an
Indian would have envied, dashed off.
The vandals being then within a hun
dred paces fired at Warren. The latter
turned in his saddle and gave them a
farewell shot, and was soon out of sight.
When he reached the Confederate en
campment he immediately reported to
Gen. B , delivered the papers given
him by Bayard, and those he captured
from Bates, and gave all the informa
tion in his possession. The General was
highly pleased, and dismissed him with
a compliment he well deserved.
The papers taken from Bates proved
him to have been a spy, in possession of
important information for the Yankees;
implicated several citizens in the vicinty,
and discovered some spies and traitors in
our army. The citizens were arrested,
and the spies shot by order of the Com
manding General.
With the light before him the Confed
erate leader put his army in moving or
der, with his wonted energy ; soon gave
the Yankee General battle, and gained
a signal victory. In this engagement
fifteen of the vandal Capt. T ’s com
pany were slain and five captured.
Warren adroitly managed to have the
five prisoners turned over to his com
pany for safe keeping. They were quick
ly placed where they could do no more
harm to a omen and children.
To Warren’s great gratification, Gen.
by a staff officer who belonged to the
Southern Order) to make a raid through
certain parts of the country, which would
require the command to pass through
the section in which Warren resided. At
once it occurred to him that he might
get up a scouting party when they ar
rived in the neighborhood, for the pur
pose of striking a blow against his espe
cial enemies if opportunity offered He
upoLo to W wished to compose the
party. They were active, daring spirits,
all belonging to the Order before men
tioned, and eagerly entered into the
scheme proposed. Lieut. , a fiery
soul promised to lead them if permitted.
The rapid march was begun; and in
its progress Gen. performed those
feats for which he w T as remarkable, add
ins: more lustre to his name which was
already carved on the tablet with that of
the brave and lamented cavalier, Gen.
Stuart, of Virginia.
At the proper time and place Lieut.
applied for and obtained a scouting
party, consisting of twenty-five men, and
they dashed away like fresh hounds on a
warm trail. Warren was chosen as the
guide. After a long and rapid ride they
camped near the Lone Rock. That night
Warren pushed on to the Parson’s to see
his friends and learn if any of his foes
were in the vicinity. Old George in
formed him that twenty of Capt. T ’s
company had been in the neighborhood
for some days, and it was said they were
to meet together and camp on the West
side of Plum Creek, above the Grant
Crossing, on the next evening, and would
start to their command on the following
morning. With a warm glow in his
veins Warren returned to his companions
and reported the welcome intelligence.
They agreed to wait where they were
until the succeeding night. Daring
the next day they put their arms in
the best order. About the hour of nine
at night they saddled up and started
cautiously through the woods on the en
terprise before them. They halted with
in two mile3 of the ruffian camp, and
Warren and another as wily as himself,
made reconnoisance. They first found
the horses, and, avoiding them, ascer
tained the exact spot where the guilty
wretches lay asleep. A few shining
coals of the camp-fire were to be seen,
and they heard the snoring of some of
the slumberers. A prompt report of
the facts were made. Trie Lieutenant
advanced his party to within half a mile
of the Federal and rested. Just before
dawn they moved forward, halted and
formed a line, the men six feet apart,
three hundred yards from the creek, and
remained in the saddle. At the first
blush of day spurs were applied, and
“quick as a flash’’ the grey jackets were
in crescent form around the terrified
and confused enemy, Warren remaining
in the rear. No resistance was attempted.
When Warren saw that their arms were
surrendered and secured, he rode up;
and several cheeks blanched when he
was recognized. The Lieutenant formed
his men compactly, and ordered the
vandals to fall into line. They obeyed.
“Warren do you wish to say anything
to those fellows ?” the Lieut, asked.
The former advanced and said :
“You now see before you, not a gray
haired man and wife and two young
females, a little unoffending boy and a
few negroes; but, villians, you see the
injured and enraged son, brother and
husband, who has come, with his friends,
for a revenge which will be as terrible
to you as sweet to him.”
They cried out in alarm:
“Don’t shoot us down like dogs. We
are United States soldiers; have sur
rendered to you as prisoners of war, and
have no show.”
“United States devils! Were you
United States soldiers when you visited
my father’s ? You are assassins and
highwaymen, savages and thieves—worse
than dogs; and your blue coats will af
ford you no protection now.”
“We will give you a little ‘higher
law,’ ” sneeringly added the Lieutenant.
Warren took his place in the line. The
Lieutenant commanded :
“Ready*, aim, fire ! .
Fifteen of the vandals fell dead ; three
took to their heels, but were followed
and quickly despatched, and two dropped
upon their knees and implored for
mercy*. V arren spurred forward and,
saying “my poor sister begged you for
mercy', Rnicu wwwvwi..
own hand. He threw up his arms and
with deep emotion exclaimed:
“Thank God, 0, I thank God, lam
almost revenged!”
With their booty the party returned
to the command. Warren followed the
fortunes of the Confederate Army until
that saddest of all events, the surrender
of our glorious arms to the Vandals of
the North—a surrender which made his
and all true Southern hearts ache, and
which brought us, as he predicted it
would, to desolation and shame. Deter
mining to avoid all humiliation by con
tact with those whom he had fought with
so much energy, he fled to the mountains,
where he maintained himself fer some
months by working on a small farm.
Knowing he could not live in peace
where he had resided, he resolved to
make Texas his home for the second time.
But he must see his relatives and near
friends before undertaking the journey.
With his craft it was easily accomplished.
While at the good Parson’s he .was
glad to learn that two more of his ene
mies had been sent by Confederate bullets
to the other world; and also heard that
two others of his foernen—Duncan and
Burke—were at home not far distant.
The small hours of night found him ap
proaching the place where the former
lived. He concealed himself in a copse
near the man’s field, and in the morning
saw fresh furrows withiu the enclosure.
His patience was but little tried before
he saw a laborer start his plow on the
opposite side. Resting his trusty weapon
on a limb, he anxiously watched the
coming of the toiler, whom he soon rec
ognized as the one he sought. At the
end of the furrow the plowman stopped
to turn his horse and implement, but he
never groved the earth again. The an
gry bullet pierced his brain, and Warren
lied through the woods, resorting to in
genious artifices to present pursuit by
means of his tracks. He retreated to a
mountain gorge, from which he did not
emerge for several days. Much excite
ment was the necessary consequence of
this homicide, and great pains were taken
to discover the arm which dealt the blow,
but in vain. Warren retreated to a
mountain gorge. He was determined to
add the other man, Burke, to the list of
his victims before leaving the country.
The moon was nearly full at this period,
and tlie night clear and beautiful. A
late hour, when a majority of persons
had long been travelling in the land of
1 dreams, found our hero traversing the
No. 22*