The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-06


ding was necessary, as the horses were not at
all fiery in their natures, and had been good
deal reduced in flesh by the experiences Of the
campaign.
There were no adventures of consequence on
the Journey the presence of the Captain and
the white flag that futtered in front of the
vehicle being sufficient to protect 1t from any
kind of moestation. The Colonel suffered
considerably with the jolting of the ambu-
lance, and more than once he half wished he
had remained in captivity long enough to
allow the wound to heal. But on the other
hand, he WIS eIated at the prospect Of soon be-
ing among his own friends and you can be
sure he was received with open arms by his
fellOw-oificeTs.
As for Jack, he was person Of great conse-
quence when he returned 10 camp and told the
story of his adventures among the rebels. His
first thought was for Harry, whom he hunted
up with she least possible delay. In fact the
two youths were hunting for each other, as
Harry had heard of Jacks return with Col.
Heron from a soldier who had seen the flag of
truce on its way TO the headquarters of Gen.
Curtis and recognized Jack as the driver of the
vehicle.
Leave Of absence was granted to Col. Heron,
and he returned to St Louis and thence to his
home in Iowa, where he remained until he was
restored to health. As soon as he could do so
he went into active service again, and long be-
fore the end of the war he uniform was adorned
with the double stars OF a Aaj0r-General. Bat
be never forgot his experiences in captivity
after Pea Ridge, nor the devotion of Jack
through all those days of suffering.
Jack offered to 90 with MIN as far as Rolla or
even 10 Iowa, if he desired but as the Colonel
had his own servant with him, and was TO be
accompanied by one Of the newspaper c0rre-
sp0ndents, who was returning to st. Louis he
declined the offer, as he readily OWNED that
the youth had no desire to 90 home just then.
In spite Of their numerous experiences, both
Harry and Jack thirsted for more their appe-
| tites having been shaTpened rather than dulied
by what they had gone through.
Wonder what Wen do now?" said Harry
one morning as they were strolling about the
camp.
That's for the General to say replied Jack,
and tho most we can do on the subject is TO
guess"
Well, here's for guess" said Harry, and
the pair sat down f0r council of war on their
own account.
From several things that were dropped in
my hearing said Jack, " while / was at Van
Buren, / shouldn't wonder if the most of Van
Durn's army was sent off to the east of the
Mississippi to join the rebel forces in Tennes-
see. This will leave Arkansas with no army
large enough to oppose US, and so we can go
where we please"
That may be so' said Harry, musingly !;
but where's all our supplies to come from
We're long way from Bolla now, and if we
get down into the interior Of Arkansas We'll
be farther still. Well have to live on the eoun-
try. and must do as the rebels do. Well get
along without tea and coffee and other luxu-
Ties, and settle down TO cornbread and bacon.
But before We start we've got TO replenish our
stores of ammunition, and make up for what
was consumed at Pea Ridge. In my opinion
that's what the General is waiting for, and we
sha' nj get orders to march until everything is
ready. 1t won't do to go down into the mid
die Of Arkansas without being well heeled,' as
they say in this part Of the country"
/ Yes, but where do you think Wen go when
/ We start F" QGeried Jack.
/ "We'u go for the Capital of the State, and
/ PH bet on it, said Harry. When we have
/ taken Little Rock we shall virtually have the
/ State in our possession, and that viii be a blow
/ to the rebels. OF course therel be parts of it
/ still in their hands. but the possession Of the
/ Capital is a strong point on our side"
The youths mentioned their belief to some
of their comrades, and the latter repeated it to
others. The story grew witheach repetition. and
/ by the end of the day il was currently reported
t throughout the camp that the army was about
| to advance on Little Rock, and was only wait
4 ing for supplies and reinforcemeuts. Inasmuch
as that was the objective point that Gen. Curtis
/ then had IN view, he was naturally puzzled to
| to him. Careful and close inquiry traced 1t t6
| Harry and Jack, who promptly Acknowledged
| their authority to be nothing more nor less
than gBeSsEoFk.
There was a vast amount Of this amateul
Genezalship during the war, and it was by nc
means confined TO the men in the field. Every
cross roads grocery and every place in fact
where men assembled TO the number of half
dozen or more, was q center Of strategy, il
| which campaigns innumeFable were laid out
and battles without number were fought, and
always won by the side on which the sympa
thies of the strategists were enlisted There
was hardly an editor Of newspaper who did
not feel himself fully competent to direct the
Generals in the field how to conduct their cam.
paigns, and if all the editorial advice anC
criticism Of the war could be gathered anC
printed IN a book, il would form probably tht
largest, aud undoubtedly the heaviest, volume
ever known.
IL was no more than natural that the soldier
In the field should put their brains at work Il
discover what moves were intended, and very
! often the Generals were obliged TO use a good
deal OF deception to prevent the premature
woTking-out Of their plans. Some of the Gen
erals lest their temper whenever they learned
that any one besides themselves had been thu
using their brains, bat the majority of them tool
it good naturedly, and regarded it as the evi
dent outcome ofan army drawn from the intelli
/ gent population of the North Gen. Curtis wa
one OF those men of broad views, and he ha
hearty laugh TO himself when he found tha
the camp rumor was founded upon the amatea
strategy Of Jack and Harry.
by the way" said Jack to Harry, do yo
know what the difference Is between strateg,
and tactics2'
"a / can't say exactly" was the embarrasse
reply; only ! think strategy is a good dea
bigger than tactics. and means more"
There's one more syllable in it, anyhow,
said Jack; i" but that don't tell the whole story
Here Genes Dir. Fayel, the correspondent {
the Missouri Democrat; let's ask HIM"
Harry agreed to it, so the momentous ques
tion was propounded to the good-natured gen
tleman, who had been with the army since il
: departure from Springfield.
Harry was right" said Mr. Fayel "whe
he thought strategy was larger, and include
. more than tactics. Strategy is the art Of nov
ing armies through country and conductin
! q military campaign. it is the science of mil
tary command, or the science OF directing grea
movements. On the ether hand, tactics is tn
: : science of disp0siBg military and naval force
: IN order of battle and performing military an
naval evolutions. 1t was strategy to bring tl
army heFes from Roila, and to fall back to I'll
position on Sugar Greek and get everything j
| shape for fighting The General showed b
tactics in handling the troops on the BATTLEFIELD,
and by winning the fight he showed himself
successful tactician"
: Ever so much obliged to you for the e.
: planation," said Harry, to which Jack adde
: / his vote Of obligation