The Portland daily press., 1877-08-04


sumed, ''that we reached Tennessee. The
weather was growing severe, and we suffered
great deal. We often had to wade streams.
when it was so cold that our wet clothing
froze, and we had no means of thawing it.
Tor we often burst not build fires, even when
we had the materials"
cit was hard scramble over the Cumber-
land Mountains. My boots had been worn
through long before, and had tied the legs
onto my feet, but at length they were gone
too. and had only rags to protect my steps
from the snow and frozen ground, when we
reached the first settlement at which we VEN
tured to show ourselves"
"The sun was shining brightly, that morn
ing, when we descended the mountain slope
into Crab Orchard Valley, and came sudden
ly in sight of large group OF men who
seemed to be cleaning their arms, for we
could see the flash of steel in the sunlight,
and busy preparations making for some
thing"
''We did not know whether these men
were friends or enemies, so we lay concealed
until child passed near enough for US to
catch her attention, and learned from her
that they were Union men, $50 they called
themselves) getting ready for raid upon
Morgan's guerillas, in the next county,"
SLOW like the forays of Roderck Dhu,
and his clamp exclaimed Kate, 81 should
think you would have fanced yourselves in
the Highlandsp'
'We faucied ourselves among friends, at
least" the Colonel said, "and did not learn,
until too late that the system of raiding was
system of plumber and butche2y."
"We went with the party into johnson
County, which we found nearly deserted,
and returning by night through a wild and
romantic region. bringing with us our spoils,
cattle, clothing and household utensils, found
the houses we had left, smoking ruins, burnt
by the very men we had failed to find.
AS soon as possible we left the midst of this
horrid warfare, and continued our journey to
Knoxville"
st was on Christmas night that we en-
tered the lines of our army. remember just
how the camp fires looked, stretching away
right and left. Really, it is impossible to give
any one an idea of our feelings when we saw
them, and knew that in a few minutes We
should be under our own flag and among
friends"
1--WE passed right through the guard, with
out being seen, we were so used to travelling
noiselessly, and were long distance within
the lines before we were challe nged by SEN
tinel."
"We were taken at once to Gen. Carter's
headquarters. never felt better in my life
than during the last few hours of our march
but that very night was seized with rheum.
attic fever, and I lay in the hospital six weeks
before I was able to start for home. That
fever came nearer to finishing me for this
world than all my accidents and hardships."
ut was brought on, suppose, by those
very accidents and hardsbips," remarked
practical aunt Rachel. IT only wonder that
you were able to go back to the army SO soon
as you were."
"You did not go back again after all that
sufferingP' exclaimed Kate, in establishment.
'Oh, yes,' said the Colonel, 81 had begun
the war. and wanted to see it through,
though of course it would have been very
pleasant to stay at home with my friends. 1
was in many battles afterwards, and at the
closing scenes of the war. was at Peters,
burg, and marched with Grants army into
Richmond"
How brave in you to go backp calculated
Kate, warmly.
There were Drawer men than I; the
bravest I ever saw were the New York 33i.
They fought beside US at Ante tam. Their
time had expired; they had written home to
their friends that they would. arrive on such
day, even by such train, when, in the morn
ing, came orders for an attack
"Their Colonel addressed the regiment:
You are already out of the SERVICE he said,
and the government can no longer command
you; but I am going into this fight. All those
who are ready to follow me, step forward
from the ranksp"
''They advanced in one unbroken line not
man Jagged behind; they went into battle
four hundred strong and only two hundred
and forty returned from the field that night.
Think" the Colonel said, with more feeling
in his softened tone than we had heard when
he spoke of himself, stink of the wives and
mothers at home, making ready for the re-
turn OF these men, certain of their coming:
think of the sadness that fell upon them, and
the desolation of their homes when, instead
of the husbands and sons came the news that
they had fallen! Those were the bravest men
ever saw. After they had done their duty
in many fight and had home and happiness
already within their reach, they gave them
up for their country. believe 1 could not
have done thatv'
Yet there was something in the Coloners
tone which belied his words, and we felt sure
had he been there, he would not have dis
graced the regiment which he served.
We all sat silent as the Colonel finished.
Aunt Rachel had too much good sense to re-
mind Kate of her words at the beginning of
the evening, but looked with kind smile,
on her flushed cheek, and the, dilated eyes
which had filed with tears at the last. cit
is customary, I believe" che said, sin the
Arabian Nights when the traveller has told
his adventures to offer him banquet" As
she spoke Frank appeared, bearing tray
spread with some Of Aunt Rache's snowy
linen, and set forth with crimson strawber-
ries almost drowned in the rich cream of
Uncle Bepjamin's famous Jersey COWS. As
we arranged ourselves to partake of this
lovely feast the Colonel quite naturally drew
his chair near Hates and their low voices
soon excluded the rest from their converse
ton. suppose the Colonel was continuing
his narrative, and Kate must have found in
it all the romance she desired, for her visit
that summer was prolonged far beyond the
usual time, and when next the honeysuckles
doomed and frefiesl glowed she left her
southern home to live as the Coloneps wife,
among the rocks and pine trees of Maine.
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