The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-11-30
CHAPTER X
TILE HAMrLEas REGIMEN1


THE EAMELEss REGIMENT
"Major Winthrop 20 report at headquar-
tcrs.n
The army was lying before Petersburg,
the advanced post Of Richmond, when Grant
was bccagucrng Ice 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
self, "and take charge OF two thousand
dismountcd men who will be conveyed in
transports 10 Washington via Baltimore.
Major Briggs will share the command with
you. You will report 10 Colonel Gamble Mt
Rcmount 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 q
mob Of men, ragged and tattercd, hatless
and shoeless, and what was worse, tainted
with the lawlcss 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 n thousand men, and
they set sail for Baltimore. The men
drank in fresh life from the ozone-laden
brcezes Of the Atlantic; though many
gallant fellow who had ridden, without
quailing, through the battlefield, found his
heart sink when the rolling vessel warned
him that his time was come TO pay tribute
10 Father Neptune, for all Of them were
from inland homes and the ocean blllows
were TO them a new and painful experience
So, when they presented themselves before
Colonel Gamble, have no doubt they APP
pcarcd in the eyes of that gallant officer as
sorry brigade as the illustrious regiment
OF Bombastes Furioso, whose men were all
| tut MprnpVnr tbprn tyu n
ways an inclination on the part of the rcgu-
lar army officers to look with n certain
supcrciliousncss on tho "Ctizcn sOldicrs,n
! so he may be forgiven If there was "a slight
| tone of contempt In his voice as he gave
! Harry an order on the quartermaster for
their mount and equipment.
! "And Major Winthrop he added, as q
parting injunction, ''if you ever do get these
| fellows in marching order, report at once TO
me-"
Harry salutcl and withdrew, smarting
| somewhat under the ilippant tone OF tho
command and resolved TO astonish this
! hypcrcritical gentleman before many hours
! had passed.
! He had all day before him. Luckily for
! him, too, he found the uartermaster quick
and prompt On the voyage, moreover, he
had as far as he could secured the names
and antcccdcnts Of his men, and the conse-
qucncc 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 now uniforms, in high spirits,
who would recognize in these soldierly
ranks the mob of castaways OF the previ-
Gus dayl Harry drew them up in line be-
fore the Coloncrs quarters.
For 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.
"Au ready, srr' said Harry, saluting
and trying in vain TO conceal the flush of
conscious prldc that mantlcd his check
have no doubt the Coloncfs conscience
smotc him, but he was too good n soldier to
let n word Of surprise escape his lips.
"You 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 tho city Of
Washington, past tho capitol, out 10 Fort
Stevens Already tho streets were alive
with people, for the most intense excite
mcnt prevailed in the city. The enemy was
at i'.s gates. Even rs they trampcd past
the halls of legislature, they could hear tho
rcvcrbcration of tho rebel musketry. Cen
cral Early had beaten Wallace at Monocacy
river, and now lay before the almost de-
fcnsClCss 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 baroheadcd as they
rode before him.
At a glance he was recognized, and a
mighty cheer went up from tho ranks, Tor
the man bowng and smiling on them was
the idol Of tho Nation--Abraham Lincoln.
An odd sight met Winthrop's view ss he
dismountcd end entered the fort The
ranking officer, German, sat coolly smok-
ing his cigar, whilo beside him rcposcd a
bottle Of champagne in basket OF ice.
Harry presented his orders, whilo there
flashed across his mind tho contrast Of the
boan-coifeo and hard bread Of tho field
camp and the Sybaritish luxury OF city quar-
tCrs.
"You are in Clusters bTigadol" tho OH.
Ger asked, languidly.
81 have that honor, sir," wes Winthrop's
short reply. Hc was getting tired Of being
patronised.
"Aw-ycs- well. rvo heard good dcaI
Of you Michigan fellows. Guess you'd bet
ter go up on tho fort aud take birds eye
Wow Of the Rcbs, and then tell nc what
you think you can do"
Harry took him nt hls word As hS
stepped out on the parapct bullets whizscC
by his head, for the Confederate skirmish
ing line was oil before him, while In th'
ditch lay number Of clerks, convalcsccnt'
and citizens gathered there for good Of
evil purpose.
Winthrop took the whole scene in az I
glance.
"well,~ said tho officer when he returned
"what do you think OF theml Can yo'
drive them backl"
81 can try, sir"
"wcll. how would you set about itf"
In all his life Harry had never met 80 coo
and composed a gentleman.
"Dismount my mcn-thcy ar" armc'
: with Spencer ercarbincs-form them in doubl
; columns-cross the bridgc-dcploy-
! out n skirmishing line in the rear an
drive the citizens away, for half OF theu