Rebels on Hatcher's Run

HARPER'S WEEKLY

[NOVEMBER 19, 1864

748

ARMSTRONG'S MILLS AND REBEL WORKS ON HATCHER'S RUN, CAPTURED BY THE SECOND CORPS, OCTOBER 27, 1864.--SKETCHED BY C. H. CHAPIN.—[SEE PAGE 741.]

The door of a small hole. Is breathlessly questioned by the traveler.

" Train leave ? Eight minutes," responds shirt sleeves, pointedly, and buries himself in the hole. And now the ticket-window is thrown up with a loud squeals, a few people appear, an engine leisurely enters the depot and attaches itself to a car. Some one gives the wheels a ringing bang. somebody else, remarks "all aboard," and the stirring city of Middletown is left behind. All wearied out, John re-enters his home, and perceives Sam sitting at a well spread table, eating what he calls a heavy tea, and relating his adventures to his admiring family.

`Hollow, John !" cries he, " where to next, my boy?"

" Hasn't Mollie come yet ?" gasps his brother.

" Lost your Mollie ? Capital joke, " says this unfeeling man, taking a great swallow of coffee. " She is somewhere in Hartford," returns John, grimly. " I'll go to every house in town—" "Wait a bit. Sit down and eat some supper," returns Sam, composedly. " Then I'll help you. Be calm. We must learn to regard these matters philosophically."

Philosophically !" began John, angrily, but swallowed the rest of the sentence with a bite of hot buttered muffin. Then he discovered how hungry

he was; for since breakfast he had eaten nothing but the peanuts.

"I came up in the Spread Eagle myself," said Sam, " but didn't see Mrs. Popkins, not expecting the pleasure, you know. Besides, I was occupied with a forlorn little miss going to boarding school, or something of the sort. By George, what a smile she had! and such a jolly little hand. She was in a terrible state of mind. Expected somebody to meet her who didn't. I made myself as useful as possible, but didn't dare too much. I'll see her again though. But what is the use ?" and he ended with a sigh, thinking of China.

A little after 9 o'clock there came a rap at the door

of No. 46 -- House, rousing Mollie from a distressed doze, and after it John Popkins victorious. " My brother is waiting for us," says John ; "he

he is very impatient to see you (?) Come, Mollie."

Then Sam sees John proudly approaching with a little creature clinging to his arm.

"This is my brother Sam," introducing Mollie's polite acquaintance of the morning. "And this," with illconcealed satisfaction, " is Mrs. Popkins."

On which the elder brother for the first time in his life lost countenance, blundered in his greeting, but finally recovered himself with a desperate attempt at festive welcome—" Long live Mr. and Mrs. Popkins I"

GENERAL CRAWFORD CONDUCTING REBEL PRISONERS TO HIS REAR, OCTOBER 27, 1864.---SKETCHED BY C. H. CHAPIN.—[SEE PAGE 741.]