But still, a chance shot might disable the horse, or wound him, and if he fell into their hands no mercy would be shown him.

But what a night that was to me ! I was alone with my children, without any protection save that which the house afforded, and that I knew to be but little, when these brutal men were around. They would stop at nothing to accomplish their purposes. If lock and bars offered an effectual resistance, they would not hesitate to burn.

And my husband was hunted like a wild beast, for no other reason than that he was faithful to his country. Did they not succeed in overtaking him, I had great fear lest they might return and abuse me. I threw myself upon the bed, but the little rest 1 obtained was disturbed and unrefreshing. Many times 1 started in my sleep, feeling sure that I had heard his death cry. He escaped, but it was a very narrow escape; that ride came near being his last ; several times he was almost overtaken, and many bullets passed uncomfortably near his head.

Some mouths after, when I saw him, he told me that once or twice lie was on the point of stopping his horse and surrendering, feeling that escape was impossible. Then the thought of life, of home, and of country, again urged him forward. They pressed him so hard that his

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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

horse began to show great signs of weariness. And when at length R rode into camp, worn out himself, his poor tired beast, though the night was intensely cold, was covered with foam."