University of Virginia Library

4. IV.

A few days afterwards I was at General Johnston's headquarters,
and ascertaining that he was about to send a flag through
the lines, thought it a good opportunity to return the Adjutant-General's
hat and coat. I therefore rolled up these articles, and
wrote a note to accompany them, thanking the Major for the use
of them, and begging him to excuse the little liberty I had taken
in appropriating them.

I went with the flag; and when the business of the interview
was transacted, gave the hat, coat, and note, to the Federal officer
who met us, and who was a gentleman of good-sense and breeding.
He laughed when I explained how I had procured the articles,
and informed me that he had already heard the story.

“I even heard there was a bet between you and General Patterson,”
he said. “Is that the fact, Captain? and what was the
amount?”

“It was not money, but a horse and equipments, which the
General has lost.”

“Then he will certainly pay, and he has some very fine
horses.”

“I am afraid he has forgotten me.”

“On the contrary, he has remembered you, Captain,” said the
officer, smiling; and at a sign from him a mounted man led forward
a beautiful bay, splendidly equipped, which every member
of the party had been looking at and admiring.

“The General requested me to send this horse to you, Captain,”
said the officer; “but as you are present, I deliver him in
person. He is a splendid animal, and I only hope I shall soon
have the pleasure of capturing you, and getting him into my
own possession.”

Everybody began to laugh, and admire my horse. I mounted
and put him at a fence, which he went over like a deer.

“Thank the General for me, Major; his horse is excellent,” I
said.

“I will do so with pleasure; this is really the poetry of war!”

And saluting each other, the two parties separated.

I have thus told you how I got my fine blood bay. He was
a magnificent animal. I will next proceed to inform you how I
lost him.

Two days afterwards I was riding out with Colonel Jackson,
when General Johnston, wholly unattended, met him, and the
two officers rode on, in earnest conversation, pointing as they
did so to the various hills and knolls which afforded good positions
for troops. I had fallen back some distance to allow them
to converse without reserve, when all at once I saw General
Johnston turn and look at me; then Jackson beckoned to me.
I rode up and saluted the General, who gravely returned the
bow, and said:

“Captain, I have determined to send you to Manassas with a
dispatch to General Beauregard, which I wish delivered at once.
The dispatch will be ready in two hours from this time, and I
would like to have you set off at once. Can you do so?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied; “this moment, if necessary.”

“Very good; ride back with me to headquarters, and I will
give you a message also.”

I followed the General back to Darkesville, waited an hour,
and then was sent for, and received the dispatch and instructions.
On the same night I set out on my bay horse, and by

morning was at General Beauregard's headquarters, and had
delivered the dispatch. An hour afterwards I was sound asleep.

I was waked by the clatter of hoofs, and rising, found couriers
going and coming.

“What is the matter?” I asked of an orderly.

“The Yankees are coming,” he replied, “and they are already
near Fairfax Court-house.”

I immediately hurried to General Beauregard, and found him
about to mount and ride out on the lines. At sight of me, he
exclaimed—

“Good! I was just about to send for you, Captain. The
enemy are upon us, and I wish General Johnston to know that
if he desires to help me, now is the time.”

“I will carry the message, General.”

“Will your horse hold out?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, tell General Johnston the condition of things here. A
very large force of the enemy are within a few miles of me, and
are still advancing. Say to the General simply this—that if he
wishes to help me, now is the time.”

With these words General Beauregard saluted me, and rode on.
I immediately called for my lorse, mounted, and set off at a
rapid gallop for the Valley.

General Patterson's present was now destined to be subjected
to a hard trial. I had already ridden him nearly fifty miles
within the last twenty-four hours, and was about to pass over the
very same ground almost without allowing him any rest.

I galloped on toward Thoroughfare. My bay moved splendidly,
and did not seem at all fatigued. He was moving with
head up, and pulling at the rein.

“Good! my gallant bay!” I said; “if you go on at that rate
we'll soon be there!”

I had not counted on the heat of the July weather, however;
and when I got near Salem my bay began to flag a little. I
pushed him with the spur, and hurried on. Near Paris he began
to wheeze; but I pushed on, using the spur freely, and drove him
up the mountain road, and along the gap to the river. This we

forded, and in the midst of the terrible heat I hurried on over
the turnpike.

My bay had begun to pant and stagger at times; but there
was no time to think of his condition. I had undertaken to
deliver General Beauregard's message; and I must do so, on
horseback or on foot, without loss of time. I dug the spur into
my panting animal and rushed on.

At Millwood some citizens gathered in the middle of the street
to ask the news. I continued the gallop without stopping, and
in an hour approached Winchester, where Johnston had established
his general headquarters.

Beyond the Opequon my bay staggered, blood rushed from
his nostrils, and his eyes glared; as I neared the town the spur
scarcely raised him; from his chest issued a hollow groan.

All at once an officer, followed by some couriers, appeared at
a turn of the road, and I recognised General Johnston.

In an instant I was at his side, and had delivered my message.

“Very good!” exclaimed the General; “and I am greatly
obliged by your promptness; but look at your horse, Captain—
he is dying!”

At the same instant my bay fell, and rolled over.

“You are wrong, General,” I said, as I sprang up; “he is
dead!”

In fact he was then gasping in the death agony, and in ten
minutes he was dead.

“Pity you should lose so fine an animal, Captain,” said the
General.

“Easy come, easy go, General. I got him from General Patterson—I
believe Colonel Jackson told you how.”

“Ah! that is the horse? Well, sir, I will give you one of my
own in place of him, for he has enabled you to bring me information,
upon the receipt of which the result of the battle at Manassas
depended.”

“I wonder if General Patterson contemplated such a thing.
General, when he sent me the horse.”

“Doubtful!” replied Johnston, with his calm, grim smile;
and saluting me, he rode away rapidly.

Six hours afterwards his army was in motion for Manassas,
where the advance arrived on the night of the 20th of July.
On the next day Jackson's brigade held the enemy in check, and
Kirby Smith ended the fight by his assault upon their right.
Jackson and Smith belonged to the Army of the Shenandoah,
and this will show you that without that army the battle would
have been lost.

I brought that army, my dear friend, by means of General
Patterson's bay horse!

Such was the narrative of Captain Longbow, and I would like
to know how much of it is true. The incident of the hard ride,
and the death of the Captain's horse especially, puzzles me.
That incident is veracious, as I have once before said; but a
serious question arises as to whether Longbow bore that message!
I have a dim recollection that my friend Colonel Surry
told me once that he had been sent to Beauregard; had killed his
horse; and the high character of the Colonel renders it impossible
to doubt any statement which he makes. I expect him on
a visit soon, as he intends to make a little scout, he tells me, to
Fauquier to see a young lady—a Miss Beverley—there, and
doubtless will call by; then I shall ask him what are the real
facts of this affair.

Meanwhile my friend Longbow is entitled to be heard; and I
have even taken the trouble to set down his narrative for the
amusement of the friend to whom it will be sent. If Colonel
Surry ever composes his memoirs, as I believe is his intention,
the real truth on this important point will be recorded. Until
then—Vive Longbow!