The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-30

trenches presenting united front 10 lhe Joe.
The day wore on apace, Late IN the after
noon noticed signs 81 commoiion In camp.
I SAW the canvas helng taken rapidly from
the tops u the tents Pointing my finger
toward tie camp, ] shouted % another seHti-
mel lme distance away. Look.
Great Cesar!" he exclaimed. as he halted
sud2 My
How we wanted to get over there and learn
tie news vet wei we knew what ID meant
Tor months two great armies had lain idle,
save picket duty and the necessary prcpara-
tiOns l0r an extensive Spring campaign. Two
armies had been resting AXE mighty giants
gathering strength fpr the coming struggle.
which would decade the fate ~ the Federal
Union. Anxiodsly wc had waited Tor and yet
dreaaea the time when the conflict should be-
gin: and now the hour had come! Time had
been called, the cutt. p rung up. aud with tho
whole civilized world iTr an audience, we We're
about 10 take our q IONS up1n the stage Tor
tlis aBoghcr &C. in the So f drama Of war
An order soon came Tor our release from
runrd duty. aud we r.. .llei 30 camp, where
found my ten male- had already packed my
knapsack for nae read7 sr the march. Into
iiHe ant uG, across tna Eapp.haBaock ana To-
ward tho Rapidan,
MARCHING. HAirNG, RESTING,
marching again, ou ana q. ne 20 I'LL darkness
oveltakcs us. We seem o. alak, litie progress
now W a. iHlA AAlhit Alfttti fff VA ''''ii'a i
ranks, leaning upon our -uus aud speculate
upon what is ahrst, nHat +, being done boloIc
us and WHY the colul ll DON'T g.tAer 20 on or
go into birouac W. 1eaF ID si l8st;
"Attention Fplwan AaIch."
We proceed scare. a. ga eighth Of a mile and
stop again We hIN- heard no order to halt
but stop besRus- ihe maH ahead has stopped
We are among tiic bushes and il is SO dark !
We stand ana wall a.. roN 40 the delay. We
sit down, and in "A "a minutes TWO or three
have started little fires aud commenced 90 boil
coffee for as Yet VIC have ial no supper An
officer comes back 'n great excitement
Put out tl.ose fires; the enemy VIII see
them
The fires are put ou., aud we sit or lie upon
the ground and wait. While waiting j fail
asleep, to awake sometime later Nlih fright
fearing the command aas gone aud Ten mo- j
feel around And iiHd anulh-I C0mraae and hear
talking in a low tone some distance away. j
60 10 sleep again, and once more awake with
start, positive that The command has lett me
this time, and i an = .,raa. Ter IN The enemy's
country, soon 10 be prisoner and an inmate
Of Libby or Sal lishury,
The healthy snoring If three or f0ur com
r0des a few leei 4 siaul rings out fine glad
tidngs nf personal sI aud J adjust my
Rnapsacb beneath m' h.1 and once more re-
sumo my peaceful sluU ers When ] awake
again il Is dayli ht 70 lH Q. the men aro in
bad humor, My d .. Che officers ten us
that we would STAY GA spot 0. ground ioT
some b0uns and thei. c1uii have Npackea
and used our blaakr ie officers said we
were Ia luck that the ncDl -.tias al war hadn't
made IL worse than taal lor us
Parcels. did sou hr.lr tbg shooting in the
night? asks a c0mUaae.
No; nor you either"
Yes : did, says he and his statement is
confirmed by dozen .hc- witnesses
All tell the same story tlIt there WAS mus
kerry firing only gerry .hoft .ls aHrc away;
that only few shots Wer. fred ald hone Uf
tho bullets appeared u strike among us. Into
line and on we go, Lat ouiK f.W rods, which
brings us out Of the w0oi- Here is the Rapi-
dan and here is GerHaaaa Ford p0ntO0n
bridge is down and troop are already crossing
upon Il. Al il made pimB 1ow A few Con-
federato plckets were nR ne opposite side Of
the river. The pom .0an boats were qnletig
lowered into the waler .lII ii.ea with soldiers,
and tbey were pushea toward the either side.
The pirkets welcomed thesG with the contents
of their guns and thrn ..at. This was the
shooting which was too rpy 10 hear Com
pany N put down the bra while we waited
ar reserve in case 0uT E.r"s were needed.
We bivuuae upon the l4yar hank aud watch
the crossing Of the troops
THAT GRAND PENNsYLyANIAE,
Gen. Meade stands beneath tree surrounded
by his stafI, and they are - 8outly discussing
~
as near them AS ] dare bnt get no informa-
tion from their talk Rli day We watch the
troops crossing the river. Taey al have joy
ons-l00king faces aud nearit 4 are shouting
yelling. cheering Whal m kes them cheer?
They are, many Of Them, across ihe river and
close 20 the edge Of woods (which bounds The
cKtrGmiiy of hold AdiOlulnU tine river Are
they about to ch.rge the en -Hy ia the woods?
No, there is no enemy as u.ar is that They
must be initiating The small ~ who's said when
he went through the dark woods be Whisled
10 keep his courage up"
j admired the Western soldiers; they are
such large. strong fellows Blouzht up on the
praries, they bad plenty oi rolm TO grow.
Darkness comes and We lie uJDu our backs
and study the astronomical d ,Illuton OF the
stars withuut the him iance vi q ieut roof
Morning breaks. the rsea WAGON trains are
crossing aud ic@ sratft sed dctacbmruts OF
troops. Finally .hey ere all over. What
grand military pageant D. was! 4 know viii
never forget it, We he down agan and study
the stars.
wake up; pack up aud fan iu.r rings in
my rs my eyes b gin TO close u sleep.
ln iinC and across the Raplan Wc 20 after
the advancing army, while Com tauy X takes
mp the bridge. March. march, march; where
are We p0iugl cont know, / dou'l care. 1t
matters iItie to ma. ! am not ia command.
am onig private soldier. ] VIII keep close
10 the one ahead nna oat OF ghg Hay ol the one
behind We know FROM the weii-worn roads
thet we are taking the same route tic other
troops dad. Late ia the afternoon the Occs-
sipnal booming Of canaOn had come back to Us.
like the bayiug OF hounds 10 the huntsmrn in
the Tesr, telling rs that the palne had been
sighted. Now the occasional frlng uf pickets
confirms the report aud tells as tia we are
nearing the tOe. the march seems hard.
reflect that ] am u.le If the y1uu 1esi iu the
regiment. hnt am proud 90 know That physi-
callg ala NOT ouc oi TIE weakest can stand
~ ~ the Others can.
Hat stack aims Biyouac!" are wei
come words.
We estimate thft we have marched seven ar
eight miles. What Ol iAe ln0iroN aAd hpS
near thai picket firing is, are thoughts licn
60 Through 1nf minds as We spread oar hauk-
cts upon tine ground. J awake bow! idersd /
open my eyes, ID is fairy daylight. bat whai
means all ths2 What means
THIS AWFUL NOISE AND coMMoIIoNf
Have passed the barrier Of death and as. Ken.
ed in the internal reg0usl
Wake up and iail in mighty quick, says Q
Sergeant, as he shakes me by the shoulders.
IL b. All clear now. ghat which ! hear IS The
fhundcr ol cannon, the rattle of musketry and
thE cheers ~ the attacking column The bat.
tle 0f the Wilderness is raging.
We arc ln IN open space. a building or two
iE near by. One looks like a country store
PaFkers store. We grumble because there /.
no time FOR breakfast The other battalions Of
the 50th arc here also. We faii into line and
HOvc ont lntO a turnpike. j watch the head
Of the column Ia ii flies ripht tbtp yVa /. ',