Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-06

S.
wool, came strutting consequenially forward. Hi
linen was scrupulously neat and Clean, and tn
bosom of his shirt was fastened with bright gold
studs. His blue broadcloth coat was as stiff a
padding and buckram could make it. and his mill
tary tailor had evidently exhausted all the resour
ces of his art in getting up suit which shouie
render his patron as stiff and uncomfortable as posi-
bic. Even "Stonewall' Jackson would have shrunl
from appearing before his veterans in a militar.
outfit that untitled its wearer for anything save
solemn review in Hyde Park. At any other time
the apparition Of an object displaying su,h an e1
cess Of military tailoring would have been the sg
nal for jbes and jests from the plainly and coarse
ly clad veterans of the army. Butnow, in the Sc
riousness of the crisis his supremely ridiculous up
pearance would have passed unchallenged, had h
not unfortunately obtruded himself into notice
He seemed ike turkey cock strutting IN full feath
er, among barn yard of moulted game cocks.
He paused within few feet of the line ant
throwing up his pug-nose, looked to the right ant
left, and remarked aloud, with a patronizing ar
"Quite fine body Of men, upon my honor; ,bu
rather too much undersized to make brilliant o
imposing show" ~ - !.
''Good day, Major" said Giles Shorter, salutinl
the new conner with quite deferential air. TN
glad to see you, sir; / thought WEI have no hell
in fighting for Petersburg but it does my hear
good, and it will be mighty encouraging to tn
boys, to see an officer like you on hand"
II thank you, sir, replied the officer pomp
ously. "Oficers are nothing, however, withou
men, and my regiment is too small to do NIL that
expected of us. We cannot ensure the safety o.
the city, with the mere skeleton Of a regiment"
lis your regiment in the city, Colonel p asket
Giles, still more deferentially, and giving the un
known officer higher title The men in ranks
who were eagerly awaiting the denouen'ert of thi
colloquy were nudging one another, and-we shame
to say it-tittering in the officers face. However
he did not observe it, but with conscious pride
fancied himself the observed Of all observers. o'
'sNo, our regiment is not in the city, blandly
replied he. "It has been marched across ,tht
river, and put in position on the road tg which
the enemy is expected to make his attack. 1t is
mere skeleton-not more than ninety or one hun
dred men, and the enemy are coming by thousands
We are few, but full of the right spirit, and fea
we will all be dead or captured before sunset"
Judging your men by you, replied Giles, 81
feel mighty sure the enemy will never get them
They won't fall into the enemy's hands while Col
Giles is about.
The lieutenant that was really the rank O
the militia offcer-seemed somewhat taken by sur
prise that what seemed at first compliment tt
himself, should be finally converted into compli
ment for another. ".
''You seem to have great confidence in YOU
Colonel, !" replied he '1s he good fghter?
"Well, can't say as to that" replied Shorter
seeing we've never yet had a chance to spread our
selves in fair, open-feld fight; but your regi
ment will never fall into the enemy's hands while
he is about." .... -... ... ... .-.f .. - =,
81, for one, think we can take care of ourselves,
rejoiped the officer, whose vanity was LITTLE
piqued; "but should we fail, would like to know
how your commander proposes to do for us wha
we cannot do for ourselves"
eff their regimentals is all like yourn, retortet
Giles, preparing to give his blow I'D say the enc
my stood no more chance agin you, than an ow
with box cooter. But here what mainly de
pend on. I know from your looks you belong tt
the militia, and if the Colonel is whipped out, hi
will not leave Petersburg, until he's burned NJ
every bogshead of bacon, and every militia regi
ment in the place. He don't leave such thing
behind to fall into the enemy's hands. That
how he'll save you COL Giles don't leave home
guards and provisions, apd such jewelry rs you "
got about you, to be gobbled up by the enemy, o
long as there's rosin or pine-knots lying around ;
Notwithstanding the anxiety weighing upol
every mind, yell of laughter-we can iesignati
the explosion that followed by no other name
greeted the sarcasm of the saturnine old soldier
while the luckless militia officer, blushed to tn
tips of his ears Such finale of the coloquy, hi
had not been shrewd enough to anticipate Al
within hearing enjoyed his confusion and discom
fture with the keener relish because, though
stalwart and able-bodied young man, there was nj
stain of the camp on his magnificent dress-parad
uniform Covered with confusion. he made an un
dignifed and precipitate retreat, without firing
shot in return.
Col. Giles soon gathered all the information tina
; could be obtained in regard to the enemy, and a
once put his men in motion for the depot Of tn
Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, to take tn
train to intercept the enemy at Walthal Junction
which appeared to be the point which they wer
marching to strike. a.-...''"s5p a"f'''.'
1t was desperate step, to attempt to h6l'
thousands of the enemy in check with the weaI
force under his command, yet his conduct was no
liable to the charge of fool-hardy rashness. Their
is wide interval between the knight LaManeh
and Leonidas. 1t was necessary for the success o
the military operations in Virginia, to fight tn
enemy at every hazard. There was scarce o sol
dier in the ranks, who did not fully comprehen'
the imperative necessity for the step, ard, at th
same time, its desperate and hazardous character
As they hurried through the city, to take the car
for the Junction, which the enemy were rapidly ap
preaching, each man felt that he formed one of
, forlorn hope, marching to death or to victory.
j The news of the arrival of this body Of troop
had spread through the city with electric rapidity
The telegraph had heralded their coming, and tn
shril whistle of the locomotive, as itroled alon
the iron road announced, to large portion of tn
city, the actual arrival. There was tumult o
Joy and hope,. throughout the city. Timid maid
ems who had shrunk away in terror, to the silepc
and retirement of their chambers to weep, to pray
and to struggle with their fears; and old men VIII
sat in their hospitable homes with faces as sa
and stern, and almost as majestic, in their sorroy
as those upon whom the followers of Brenne
stared with sayape wonder in the Roman Capito]