The National tribune., 1884-09-11

lying BESIDE the water which separated the
Islands Ct AlatagoTda and St. 10.
The soldiers had turned hunters in the fore
noon, and many deer had taken his last look
eft earth aud sky and water, while the supply
of beef wss quite sufficient for the demands of
the blue-bl0used soldiery. And that speaks
great dead for the number of cattle which, to-
gether witt about three inhabitants, possessed
the islands.
no ENEMY YET.
As yet we had not found any enemy except
the sharp stiff grass and countless buTs that
sadly inter.ered with the pleasure Of a rest es-
pecially in onr state Of uniform. ] verify be-
lieve 4 never saw more ragged set of soldiers
in nly life. We had iust come from the long
fruitlcss march on the Fcche. and had gone on
shiph0ard before orr demands on the Quarter
master had been complied with. Ahi those
burs stick IN my memory stiil. For against
fheir sharpness not even our rubber-blaDkets
would afford Us perfect Immunity
On the night of the 18th we crossed TO
Matasoraa Island, and ] remember how well
satisfied Kge gere when Informed that we would
stop al the end Of two miles. Marching IN the
night time, even in Texas. was most disagree
able way Of serving ones country. BY and by,
as the two miles seemed about ct an end, the
soldiers began TO pick up wood, for it was not
plenty, and many took liberal quantities. as
they came TO ii, feeling sure Of a good ire at
the CAMP. Seems TO me this is q mighty long
two miles, said one little Dutchman, under
load bigger than he was. but, having faith, he
went by il still though now and then you
c0uls hear the thump Of the timber thrown on
the ground by other soldiers, and, am sorry
70 say. something like swearing.
At last and last OF all, our big-little man
waxod mad and threw his burden away saw
agely. Even yet no freight from the advance,
IL camp flashed pleasantly before US. Never
were miles so elastic In fact, we thought
their stretch unmerciful, but at o'clock In
the morning we found the limit.
On the map hanging there on the wall, see
& narrow mark about the sl2e Of my pen. You
could not tell from that what place for mill
tary glory Matagorda Island was For so the
map names It, Yes, yOu Insignificant blot,
around yOu cluster many recollectioRs. On
you we nearly froze; on you we had sand in
our coffee; on Won was our meat as gritty as
any soldier needed; on you we looked with
sand in cur eyes; on you We trudged with
sand in our clothes, In our hair, in our knap-
sacks, ia our shOes-it We had any!
il was the 9th OF November that we closed
up0n Fort EsperanZa, situated at the upper
end Of the island and defended by 600 Texans.
The evening was fair and the breeze pleasant,
Es our uniforms kindly gave us every chance
% know. About midnight Of our first evening
there ] was aroused from my usual happy and
innocent slumbcr by a feeling Of ehiliiness.
accused my fellOw-wanderer IN the land Of
dreams of pulling Of ;he blankets but found
on investigation X was the other way +; and yet
] wasn't warm. There was rain falling. and
We began to feel that we had the Norther"
which had been promised by grsy-headed
inhsbiiant when We first landed
A SORTHER
Stronger than the impression Of 8 first love
Is that ii the old Norther on me still. By the
way, have written the above not as a positive
experiences. but TO make the latter part EN-
Tyaaiic, for ] feel sure fhat the frankness of my
confession viii cause people TO wonder, and
thus my denial viii make them dwell on the
subject proper-the GOODNESS, the almost deathly
chiAiness Of that Texas north wind. The same
accommodating spirit which moved our uni
forms 70 ALLOW us 10 enjoy the pleasant south
wind al too kindly offered the same opportunity
for having sensation from the NOrther
We ehattered through it though, and the
last time ] saw the place the excavations in the
sand gave evidence Of our having been there
Into these holes We had tumbled, and though
the sand was flying we enjoyed ourselves hugely
a. our achievements Of 50 cieverly initiating
that cunning and lordly animal, the hog Yes,
we had tumbled in, bat not all. not all; for
some had 70 be out digging rife-pits. and day
and night We slowly advanced on the fort
There was enough Of noise from cannon and
rifles 10 assure US al was right-that we had
an enemy, and 50 had he-and so the rest Of us
eheerfuilF. One L5eutenant-an aid from the
33d lll.-Was shot. and died in day or two;
but this was the only one Of the officers in
jured. i do not know how many Of the men
were hurt but the loss was small.
On the morning Of the Both we were aroused
By tremendous sound. The great and the
small oene forth and formed IN line OF battle,
marched down 70 the fort and in the carly
light Of day saw il beneath the old flag Pieces
of cordwO0d and big timbers were now aad
then coming with q vengeance to the earth
down from the air, into which from the ex-
exploded magazine they had been sent with
every appearance OF haste / walked over the
Tsmpsr5s tO view the ruins and on my retarn
ehronicled IN my journal; One poor yellow
dog dead Like many other war statements
81 was false. lie the dag) afterward recovered
the use OF It's faculties, and may be alive even
70 this day. II he can be found. he VIII be
living witness 70 the errors incident to strife.
THE ENEMY HAD EETREATED
in TIE night leaving two mon 10 fire the maga-
Eines and these were captured.
IEDIASoLA
Is situated shout ID miles above the fort. On
the evening OF q bright day in the latter nart
OF DeeeI5 Der We entered its streets, landing
from the Matam0ras. Darkness came before
we were Et bone in the many vacant houses
but, then, We sept comfortably IN what proved
the bost-apToiutod quarters Of our experience.
eooa TIE place was astir With life. ihe houses
tnll Of blae-clsd men, suffers and Quarterluas-
tcrs not excepted
] cannot tel what ] would Ike about this
lonely. trecless but 10 us pleasant village and
our llie in i without ienglhening into details
whose end ! see not ~ Eay yellow-Eaged diary.
but there are two more incidents / notice here.
and, relating them, shall take leave for the pres-
eEt o. our Texas expedition. The first Is one OF
our military achievements in the late Winter
nlaer special command OF Brighten Henry
tltz Narrcn- Out from the town we marched
ln aouble lie, each nian as far from his fle
Header as was consistent with comfort and
oeslgn until our small eight regiment.
must have bad the appearance OF a respectable
srnly ~ one unacquainBed. A large numbei
OF wagons followed. All that day we marched
tiA evening found us on the third side OF !
house which we had been circIng tie u
hours. Atter driving back some Texans astrsr
ard capturing large white house. out Of who's
window Aoated a great white table-eloth. sup
posed y bean emblem Of peace, il not Of plenty
after ali that,
We AAD TIKI WAcoSs CHANGED PLACES
They took the front and charged. as the sol
diers said ol BaBkss Red River expedition
But here u was only harmless pile of lumber
winch, VITA the aid of q detail. they withon
much oIfbcnlty vapqBisbed After 8 SOUND
nights siccV We felt invig0rated enough 10 re
treat and ihis we did with all safety tho oni,
danger being from the great horned cattle Tia.