[...]and carry a message to a command at the village of Tipton. Instantly my mind was excited with the hopes of an adventure. I don't kw, even w, just why I was selected for the venturesome undertaking. I knew there was scarcely a road and t a house in the whole distance. I knew, too, the whole country was full of murderous guerrillas. But nevertheless I was full of elation. This was the kind of a thing I had hoped for when I enlisted. Light flakes of sw were falling when, with exultant spirits, I started from the camp. The trip outward proved uneventful, for thing happened to me on my way. As I was returning, however, at a point halfway across the prairie I was surprised to see a man in gray, probably a guerrilla, ride out of a long slough or hollow to my left and gallop into the road directly ahead of me. He was in complete gray uniform, wore a saber, and had revolvers at his saddle[...].