The National tribune., 1886-03-18
81 KLEGG'S SUNDAY,
And How the Day Was Spent by the
200th Indiana.

"To-morrow's Sunday, We know" said the
Orderly OF Company Q one Saturday nlght at
roll-call.
This was in the nature of news to the boys.
But for the announcement very lew OF theh
would have known it. The Orderly was not
distinguished for his pety, and it's not ilkely
that the approach OF Sunday would nave oc-
CURED TO him if the Sergeant-Major had not
come around with orders from the Colonel for
a proper observance Of the day. The Colonel
himself would not have thought Of 1t, either,
if the Chaplain had not reminded him OF 1T.
Everybody wondered how even the Chaplain
could keep track Of the days well enough to
know when Sunday came-but that was chiefly
what he wore shOUlder-straps and drew his sal
ary for. IT was the general impression that he
either carried an almanac in his pocket, or else
a stick in which he cut notch every day with
his jack-knife and in that way managed 10
know when a new week began.
"Therell tie guard-mOuutin at o'clock"
continued the Orderly, "regimental inspection
at TO- preachin' at IL, an dress parade at D In
the evenin'. All of ye wants 20 tumble out
right promplyat revelleean' git yer breakfast,
an then clean up yer guns an put all yer traps
in apple-pie order cause the ColOnel's goln TO
look at EN-. He's got sharp eyes an reck n
he'll be mighty PertiCkler. III there's anything
that aint jest right he'll see it quickern litenin.
Ye know we hant had any inspections yet, an
ye've got 20 scratch around lively III the morn
In"
"Say. Shorty" said Corporal Klegg, after
the company had broken ranks, seems to me
there want no use in the Ord'Iy teliin us to
scratch around fer we're dOin' that purity
much ali The time, now that the graybacks is
gitfin' in their work OF u.s."
Shorty smiled family at what he seemed to
consider a rather feeble joke, even for ST.
The 200th Indiana had been in the field
three OF four weeks, but it had been continu-
ally cantering about the country, and the Gem
erals had kept il particularly active on Sundays.
Probably this regiment did not manifest any
more than the average degree OF enthusiasm
and fervor in religious matters but there were
many in Its ranks who at home, had always
sat under Gospel ministrations, aud to tramp on
Sundays. the same as other days was, at frsU,
a rude shock to their moral sensbilities. These
were yet keen: the edges had not been worn
off and hunted and battered by the hard
knocks of army life. True, they could scarcely
tell when Sunday came, but they knew that
they kept right along every day.
shorty said 81, after they had curled up
under the blanket for the night, "'Pears 10
me it II seem sort o nice to keep Sunday agin.
At the rate we've bin gOin' on we'll all be
heathens by the time we git home-if we ever
do. Our Chaplain haint had no chance to
preachify yet The boys Of Compny y. wat
make Us ali feel better to have him talk TO us
once. 'Twont do us 10 harm, nOhow. I'd like
to be home to-mOrrer n 90 TO church with
mother, N sister Marer. N -er-I mean the
rest of the folks. Then I'd jest eat all the
afternoon. / amt goin' ter git homesick,
Shorty bat fellcr can't help feein' leetle
streaked once II a while. Mebbe its p good idee
fer 'em TO keep Us on the jump. fer then we
don't git no chance to think bout it. / don't
suppose I'm the only boy n the regiment that
ID be glad to git furlow jest fer to-morrer. l
sh'd want ter be back bright n ariy to tall in
Monday mOrnin', fer I'm gon' TO stick TO the
200th through thick m thin, if ! don't git
knocked out. Say, Shorty, how dye feel, any
way?"
But Shorty was already fast asleep. 81
spoened up to him and was soon, i'll his dreams,
away up il Posey County.
The sound of bugle and drum, at daylight,
fell upon unwilling cars, for the soldiers felt
the same indispoSition to get up early Sunday
morning that is everywhere one OF the charac-
teristics of modern civilization. Their beds
were hard but TO their weary limbs no couch
of down ever gave more welcome rest than did
the rough ground on which they lay. But the
wild yell of the Orderly, Turn cut for roll
CALI" with the thought of the penalties for
non-obedience-whichs some of them had album
dant reason 10 Temember-quickly brought out
the laggards.
81 and Shorty were, as usual, among the first
to take their places in line They were pleas
antly greeted by the Captain, who had come
out on the run at the last moment, and wriggled
himself into his coat as he strode along the
company street. The Captain did not very
often appear at morning roll-call. But one
officer Of the company was required to be pres