Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-23
It win be seen that the colonel was yery

practical soldier.
For days the regiment marched steadily on
through the wonderfully lovely Blue Grass
region, toward the interior Of the state, with
out coming into the neighborhood of any
organized body Of the Confederates.
The turnpike, hard and smooth as city
pavement, wound over and around romantic
hills-hills crowned with cedar and evergreen
laurel, and SCARED with cliffs and caverns.
II passed through forests, aromatic with rip
enlng nuts and changing leaves, and glorious
In the colors of early autumn. Then its course
would traverse farms of gracefully undulat-
ing acres, bounded by substantial stone walls,
marked by winding streams Of pure spring
water, centering around great roomy houses,
with huge outside chinneys and broad
piazzas, and with train of humble negro
cabins in the rear. The horses were proud
stepping thoroughbreds, the women comely
and spirited, the men dignified and athletic,
and all seemed well fed and comfortable. The
names of the places along the route recalled
to Harry's memory all he had ever read of
the desperate battles and massacres and single
handed encounters Of Daniel Boone and his
associates with the Indians in the early his
tory Of the country.
AT last the regiment halted under the grand
old beeches and hickories of the famous
Camp Dick Robinson, in the heart of the
Blue Grass region. In this most picturesque
part of the lovely Kentucky River valley
they spent the bright days of October very
delightfully."-.
Nature is as kindly and gracious in central
a in ~ ,F @ha LII,
which her sun shines, and she seemed to be
on her best behavior, that she might duly
impress the northern visitors.
1t was the very poetry Of soldering, and
Harry began to forget the miseries of life in
camp of instruction, and to believe that
there was much to be enjoyed, even in the
life OF an enlisted man.
There was enough excitement in camp to
prevent any danger Of ennui. The proba-
bility of battle gave the daily drills an in
terest that they never could gain in Ohio The
native Confederates We're numerous and de-
faint, and kept up such demonstrations as led
to continual apprehensions of an attack New
regiments came in constantly, and were re-
ceived with enthusiasm. Kentucky and East
Tennessee loyalists, tall, gaunt, long haired
and quaint spoken, but burning with enthu-
locked to the camp, dotted their butternut
selves to defend the Union.
AT length it became evident that the Con-
federate "Army of Liberation was really
about crossing the Cumberland mountains to
drive out the yankees" and recover possess
sion of Kentucky for the southern Con-
federacy.
Outposts were thrown out in all directions
to gain the earliest intelligence Of the progress
OF the movement, and to make such resist
ance to it as might be possible, One of these
outposts was stationed at Wildcat Gap. an in
expressibly wild and desolate region. sixty
miles from Camp Dick Robinson, where the
road entering Kentucky from Tennessee at
Cumberland gap crosses the Wildcat range of
mountains
One day the startling news reached camp
that an overwhelming Confederate force
under Gen. Zollicoffer was on the eve of at
lacking tho slender garrison Of Wildcat gap.
The assembly was sounded, and the regi-
ment, hastily provided with rations and am
munition, was hurried forward to aid in the
defense of the threatened outpost.
Nature, as if in sympathy with the gather.
ing storm of war, ceased her smiling The
blue, bending skies were transformed into a
scowling, ieaden-visaged canopy, from which
fell chill, incessant rain.
When the order to prepare for the march
came Glen, following the example of his
comrades, packed three days cooked rations
il his haversack, made his blankets into a
roll, tying their ends together, threw them
scarf fashion over his shoulder and took his
accustomed place as file closer in the rear of
his company. He was conscious all the time,
though he suffered no outward sign to betray
the fact, that he was closely watched by the
boys who had been with him in western Vir-
ginia, and who were eager to see how he
would demean himself in this new emer-
gency.
He was shortly ordered to assist in the in
spection Of cartridge boxes and the issuing of
cartridges, and the grim nature of the errand
they were about to start on duly impressed
itself upon his mind as he walked down the
lines In the melancholy rain, examined each
box and gave the owner the quantity of
cartridges required TO make up the quota of
forty rounds per man.
Those who scrutinized his face as he passed
slowly by cav underneath the dripping caves
of his broad brimmed hat firm set lines about
his mouth and little more luminous light in
his eyes.
Harry Glen's screwing his courage to the
sticking point. He's bound to go through
this time," said Kent Edwards.