eport, that the Yankees have come.

Company A has orders and in an instant a dozen troopers have dismounted,
thrown down the stake-and-rider fence, and away goes the company across
the plain in hot pursuit--horse-flesh vieing with steam! But the
iron-limbed courser had the best bottom and whirled along amid a shower
of bullets--escaping for the time, but only to become prey to the
detachment up the road. Another whistle sounds and another train comes
in sight. Simonson's bull dog again barks--again ineffectually. A
repeated effort is more successful, and a shell crashes through the cab.
The cavalry company is on hand this time, and bang! bang! crack! crack!
go the carbines and revolvers and the balls whistle about the engineer's
head and rattle against the cars. The train stops and the passengers,
rebel soldiers and officers, leap to the ground and endeavor to escape.
A few succeed, but the majority are taken. The train is boarded and
brought back. Meanwhile the column dashes onward and goes whirling into
Huntsville. At the station is another train just leaving, with troops
who are going "on to Richmond." A cocked pistol held at the engineer's
head has the effect of shutting off steam and the train is placed under
guard. The regiment gallops up the street and through the town. Pickets
are thrown out on all the roads.

Black faces were at every door and window; blacks were at the gates, and
blacks were on the streets; but the "Chivalry" had evidently deserted
the place, except the few who viciously peered at us through the blinds,
robed in white. Perhaps it was too early for _white folks_, and our call
was untimely on that bright April morning--the clock had not yet struck
six--and perhaps they were too high toned to suffer Yankees to look upon
their faces. After reconnoitering the streets and gathering in a few
wearers of the gray the regiment was apportioned to various duties.

Another train had just pulled in, all unconscious of the reception
awaiting. This, too, was filled with soldiery from below, bound for
Richmond--four officers and 180 privates. At one of the hotels a Major
and three Captains were taken, and others at other points in town. The
full result of the early morning's work was 800 prisoners, 17
locomotives and a large number of cars. The locomotives themselves were
of incalculable value, and more than paid for the expedition if there
had been no other fruits; for they enabled Gen. Mitchell to push his