The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-03-19

No answer but the soft falling rain.
"That's mighty strange Seems to
me-why hello! what are you doing
th"-
Corporal Jones tongue was sudden
ly paralyzed, as he stopped slowly ard
felt the body at his feet.
"Good God! jim. He's dead. Some
Johnny's killed him."
Jim was down on his knee in an in
stant, with his hand over the dead
mans heart. his gaze peering down in
the darkness into the staring upcast
eyes.
"IIe's warm yet They've took his
overcoat, cap and gun Let's give the
alarm, Jones. Or, no! you go back
and I'll stay"
The excitement along the picket
line became intense, as the news passed
from lip to lip. A better soldier or
braver man than John Ricketts, never
lived. How it-happened that he was
thus overcome, and suffered his life to
be thus sacrificed, was a marvel to his
comrades.
With the strong daylight came the
conclusion that some prowling foe had
come upon him while neglectful of du
ty, or, perhaps when he was doing.
The dead mans defiant dying words
were as though they had never been
uttered. A doubt was cast upon the
grave Of one Of the worlds sgreat he
roes.
Il
A glaring, broiling, brassY July sun.
A group of half-naked, halfted, hol
low eyed wretches, parching with thirst
and fever in an open field. The shell.
ter, tattc ed and frayed blankets
stretched upon sticks thrust without
order into the ground.
The guard nearest the group leans
on his musket, and addressing the man
nearest him says:
Its rather hot, you end it?'
"When are you going to move US ?"
answered the man addressed, as he
turned around and walked toward the
guard. The guard sat dcwn lazily up
ON a box.
Dunno. It's drefful hot this. Dun.
no how you folks stan it. Sit down
Yank and be sociable."
The other squatted down savage
fashion. He felt like savage, frying
there in the hot sun now for two days.
"Wish you'd move us soon. Like
as not ShermaE'll come along and help
you with litt."
"P'r'aps. Though l scarcely think
SO, neither. Wars rough, Yank, ain't
it?'
This looks like it. Talk about fry.
ing eels. How long do they suppose
we can stand it out in this opeu field,
with the smell of the bodies blowing
over here from the battle. field. Rough!
It's barbarous. You folks ought TO
give US quarters" ;"
eyes, It's rough" said the guard,
meditatively, as he twirled his musket
carelessly between his feet. "But I've
seen rougher things. Yank, what's
the roughest thing you ever did since
you weAt to war;"
81 don't know--shot at man once. !"
"No foolin' Iank. III tell you the
roughcst thing | ever did. Twas when
we Nere going through the internal
fights on the Peninsula. l wanted to
get home Oh furlough. Colonel said
no. Couldn't come it, But | made it,.
Yes l did. You wouldn't guess how,
Yank ?"
The guard looked down soberly, and
began whirling his gun stock slowly.
The hungry captive eyed him listless
ly.
81 knew that any one that could get
any valuable information about your
folks would be considered. So | risk
ee going through the lines. An 't'cas
blamed risky. Took dark night for
it. Dark an rainy. worked my
way upto your folks line slowly,
mighty slow. Found 'em pretty we'll
watched. Tried it three times, Got
fired on once, and raised big racket,
better you'd believe.
Here the guard paused and spat Wig.
orously on the ground before him.
Give me a chew" said the listener
boldly. The guard drew out his to-
bacco and handed it to the captive,
who bit a corner off with n wrench OF
the head, and returned the plug in si-
lence.
80 l tried it again, and made it.
Got through safe, got some very val
liable information, got back safe, and
got two months furlOugh."
"How did you MANAGE said the
captive listlessly as he looked angriIy
at the brassy sun above him.
That is the story. l killed a man.
He challenged me. | was down on
all iours, playin' pig or possum, just
as you please. When he challenged
me fell fiat. Laid still. Never moved.
Didn't whimper. After awhile | grunt-
ed and rustlcd the wet leaves. | can
initiate n hog iectlc the best you ever
heard Tha; fooled the chappy. IN