Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-27
CHAPTER x.
THE NAMEI.Eaa REcrnsrrr

"Major Winthrop to report at headquar-
ters" SIS 80 -
The army was lying before Petersburg,
the advanced post of Richmond, when Grant
was beleaguering Lee with the bulldog de-
termination to hang on till the Confederate
legion was annihilated.
''YOu will go to City Point said the Ad-
jutant-General, when Harry presented him
saalf, land take charge of two Thousand
dismounted men who will be conveyed in
transports to Washington via Baltimore.
Major Briggs will share the command with
you. You will report to Colonel Gamble at
Remount Camp and await further orders"
When Major Briggs and our hero reached
City Point and mustered their new COM
mand, they found themselves in charge of a
mob of men, ragged and tattered, hatless
and shOeless, and what was worse, tainted
with the lawless spirit which always affects
large bodies of men when discipline has
been for time in allegiance. To
even up the responsibility, each officer
took charge of thousand men, and
they set sail for Baltimore. The men
drank in fresh life from the ozone-laden
breezes of the Atlantic; though many
gallant fellow who had ridden, without
uuailing, through the battlefield, found his
heart sink when the rolling vessel warned
him that his time was come to pay tribute
20 Father Neptune, for all Of them were
from inland homes and the ocean pillows
were to them a new and painful experience.
So, when they presented themselves before
Colonel Gamble, 1 have no doubt they ap-
peared in the eyes of that gallant officer as
sorry brigade as the illustrious regiment
OF Bombastes Furioso, whose men were all
rags and tatters. Moreover, there was al
ways an inclination on the part Of the regu-
lar army officers t. look with certain
superciliOusness on the "citizen soldiers"
SO he may be forgiven if there was slight
tone of contempt in his voice as he gave
Harry an order on the quarternaster for
their mount and equipment.
And, Major Winthrop" he added, rs "a
parting injunction, ''if you ever do get these
fellows in marching order, report at once to
me-
Harry salute1 and withdrew, smarting
somewhat under the 1ippant tone Of the
command and resolved to astonish this
hypercritical gentleman before many hours
had passed.
He had all day before him. Luckily for
him, too, he found the quartermaster quick
and prompt. On the voyage, moreover, he
had as far as he could secured the names
and antecedents Of his men, and the conse-
quence OF his rushing preparations was
that he was enabled to parade the command
the next morning at the early hour of three
O'Clock. Well mounted, clean in person,
with bright new uniforms, in high spirits,
who would recognize in these Soklierly
ranks the mob of castaways of toe prevt-
GUS day! Harry drew them up In line be-
fore the Coloneps quarters.
For q time his servant refused to arouse
him, but Winthrop was Imperative, and
presently the astonished officer came forth
rubbing his eyes and staring in wonder on
the gallant array before him.
LAD ready, sir!'' said Harry, saluting
AM 4yying in vain to conceal the flush of
conscious pride that mantled his cheek.
/ have no doubt the ColonePs conscience
smote him, but he was too good a soldier to
let word of surprise escape his lips.
'sYou will take your men at once to Fort
Stevens" he said, coldly, but as his eyes
met Harry's there was glance of admira-
ton in them which fully compensated the
young citizen soldier for his hours of toll.
So out they marched in the gray dawn
through Fourteenth street into the city Of
Washington. past the capitol, out to Fort
Stevens. Already the streets were alive
with people, for the most intense excite
ment prevailed in the city. The enemy was
at its gates. Even as they tramped past
the halls of legislature, they could hear the
reverberation Of the rebel musketry. Cen
eral Early had beaten Wallace at Monocacy
river, and now lay before the almost de-
fense1ess city with twenty thousand men.
As Harry's troopers left the suburbs be-
hind them, an ambulance for the moment
stopped the march, then suddenly drew on
one side to let them pass, and tall figure
stood upon the seat bareheaded as bV
rode before him.
AT glance he was recognized, ana !
mighty cheer went up from the ranks, for
the man bowling and smiling on them was
the idol of the INSTRUMENTATION Lincoln.
An odd sight met Winthrops view as he
and entered the fort. The
ranking officer, German, sat coolly smok-
ing his cigar, while beside hun reposed
bottle of champagne in = basket of Ice.
Harry presented his orders. while there
flashed across has mind the contrast Of the
boan coffee and hard bread Of Tho 6Aldr