The Irish standard., 1888-10-13
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY. OCTOBER 13.


we're to them new and painful experience.
So, when they presented themselves before
Colonel Gamble, 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 to look with certain
superciliousness on the s'citizen soldiers"
10 he may be forgiven if there was 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, elf you ever do get these
fellows in marching order, report at once to
me-"
Harry salutel and withdrew, smarting
somewhat under the fippant 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
bad as far as he could secured the names
and antecedents of his men, and the conse-
auence 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 sOldierly
ranks the mob Of castaways of the prevl-
pus day? Harry drew them up in line be-
fore the Coloners quarters.
For q time his servant refused to arouse
him, but Winthrop was imperative, and
presently the astonished officer came forth
rubbing mis- eyes and staring in wonder on
the gallant array before him.
Gall ready, r!'' said Harry, saluting
ard trying in vain to conceal the flush Of
conscious pride that mantled his cheek.
have no doubt the Colonel's conscience
smote him, but he was too good a soldier to
let q word Of surprise escape his lips.
tYou will take your men at once to Fort
Stevens,'' he said, coldly, but as his eyes
met Harry's there was glance Of admirar
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 i'll the city The enemy was
| at it's gates. Even as they tramped past
the halls Of legislature, they could hear the
reverberation of the rebel musket,;y. Cen
eral Early had beaten Wallace at Monocacy
river, and now lay before the almost de-
fenseless 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 g tall figure
stood upon the seat bareheaded as they
; rode before him.
At q glance he was recognized, and q
mighty cheer went up from the ranks, for
. the man bowling and smiling On them was
(, the idol OF the Nation--Abraham Lincoln.
An odd sight met Winthrop's view as he
dismounted and entered the fort. The
ranking officer, a German, sat coolly smok-
ing his cigar, while beside hlm reposed q
bottle of champagne in basket of Ice.
Harry presented his orders, while there
flashed across his mind the contrast Of the
bean-cotfee and hard bread Of the field
camp and the Sybaritish luxury OF city quar-
! ters.
"You are IN Custer's brigade?" the ctf-
Ger asked, languidly.
~ have thai honor, sir" was Winthrop's
short reply. He was getting tired OF being
patronlsed.
"Aw-yes-well, Ive heard a good deal
of you Michigan fellows. Guess you'd bet
ter go up on the fort and take birds eye
view of the Rebs, and then tell me what
you think you can dos
Harry took him at his word. AS he
stepped ont on the parapet bullets Wllizzed
by his head, for the Confederate slirlnish-
ing line was all before him, while in the
ditch lay number of clerks, convalescents
and citizens gathered there for 81 good Or
evil purpose.
Winthrop took the whole scene in at a
glance.
! ';Weil,n said the officer when he returned,
"what do you think Of them? Can you
drive them back!"
81 can try, sir."
HWell, how would you set about it?'
In ail his life Harry had never met so cool
and composed a gentleman.
sDismount my men-they are armed
with Spencer carbines-form them in double
columns--cross the bridge-deploy--thr
out skirmishing line in the rear and
drive the citizens away, for half of them
, sympatl,ize with the South: on'tdoubt."
"All right, sir; go ahead!"
And with this brief order, Harry went to
WORK to relieVe The CITY OF w aSninglon.
Much has been written about the mistake
that Early made in delaying his attack, but
there is no doubt he was under orders from
Lee not to enter the city, his object being
simply to distract General Grants attention
from Richmond.
Meanwhile Briggs came up with his men,
and the little force made fair headway
against the encroaching enemy. All
through the hot hours Of the day they kept
the foe at bay, and afternoon saw them
famished with hunger and wasted with IA
tigue. Suddenly the scouts ran in with the
unwelcome tidings that the enemy was ad-
yancing down the pike in force and was
about to charge upon them.
In this extremity he sent for orders from
the ranking officer, for, in addition to their
exhau sted condition, their ammunition was
failing them. Harry fairly ground his teeth
with rage when the word was simply