Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-07-18

| feODlo came 10 their doors 10 see JneHs
and as they went by they thought they
| must be great army.
| About the middle of the afternoon they
reached Sagget, small place of half
dozen houses, one store, q blacksmith shop
and post-off1ce to give it the appearance OF
a village. The houses were scattered over
| the crest of hill. In a woods pasture
| north of them, to the left of the road, Cap
| tain Smart said they would encamp to
| await the arrival of other companies OF re-
cruIts.
About fifty men who had como the night
| before were already encamped among the
| trees which covered the hillside, and dur
| ing the day a hundred more came in. The
| superabundaEce of commissioned officers, or
| men who would be commissioned officers II
| the Governor would sign their commits
| sions, gave no little trouble about who
should rank the others. But after much
| parleying, the honor of command was con-
| ferred ON Captain Smart.
The men were under very slight restraint,
| and the enforcement of military discipline
was almost impossible.
Luke's acquaintance. Arkansaw Tom,
| seemed to take considerable interest," in the
new recruit.
"Don't spect sojer life III agree with ye at
| fust," Tom said.
"No, / don't think it will, but hope to
| get accustomed to it, Luke answered.
"Oh, vas; Teller kin git use ter most
| any thing guess. But We'll meet some o
them Johnny Rebs afo' we go catertopin'
| very long bout heah."
'Thc country must be full of theml" said
Luke.
Thicker n hops" answered the old man,
tam all . calogin' ter Lexin' ton. where we're
gwine. 1t will be red hot when we get
thar"
Luke made no answer; he sighed, cast
his eyes upon the ground and mentally
asked himself how long it would be ere it
| was dyed with human blood Would he ever
see again that bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked
girl, whose kiss seemed still warm on his
lips. Was life's bright young dream to end
in fire, smoke and carnage!
"Come on, Luke Mason, and give hand
here." cried one of his new comrades.
They were trying to rxse a rude tent
which they had constructed from some
wagon sheets. Luke's experience with
tents for fishing and hunting parties stood
him in excellent need on the present occa-
sion. He showed them how to arrange the
center pole. braces, wings, flies and stays,
and in a few moments they had quito a re-
spectacle tent.
sThort ye'd never been in tn sarvice?"
said one.
81 never was,'' he answered.
"Oh shucks, ye -sedn't tell that. we
know better" said a member of his mess
called Ned Cotton. mo 'un who haint seen
sarvice could yank tent about that way"
Ned Cotton, Bill Snow, Arkansaw Tom,
Luke and two more occupied the new tent,
and spent most of the afternoon lying en-
the fresh, clean straw with which they had
carpeted the earth.
The day wore slowly by: the routine of
camp life had not yet become sufficiently
old to be monotonous. Men were drilling
by companies, platoons, squads, or even
singly.
Eyer on fur picket t'-night." said n
corporal, coming to the door of the tent and
laying his hand on Luke's shoulder. $50
on u seven.''
chow long do stay on guardH asked
Luke. 81 had but little sleep last night"
'Only two hours, then comes first relief"
said Corporal Max, who had in the last few
days imblbed 4 world of military knowl-
edge. Corporal Max was chrome grum-
bier, but 4 very rigid C.sclplinarian so far
as he knew.
At the appointed hour Luke and three
others, under Corporal Max, shouldered
their guns and went some three or four
miles from the camp, where the road
parted, and there sat down under IA large
tree. This was the extreme picket post,
and but slender guard was left about the
camp.
The picket amused themselves telling
stories and commenting on the situation,
while Luke sat q little apart from the
others, his mind filled with that dark,
strange mystery of his life. What hand
had launched that cradle upon the bosom of
the flood which bore his infant form, and
what was the purposes Was his destruc-
ton sought because he was q living testi-
mony Of sin. Then, again, who had stolen
the large yellow handkerchief and for what
purpose. But as these reflections were
painful he tried to cast the I'm aside and
listen to the chatter of his companions.
81 don't think they'll done come t. fight
u.s." one of the guards, who was lying on the
grass gazing up at the stars, boastfully re-
marked. WED lick 'em too quick"
They're concentratin at Lexington"
said Corporal Max. Il don't see what sense
thar is in hangin' around here. Why not 90
thar an clean 'em up? Thar's no danger
t. night Mess a straggin' gang runs in on
u.s."
They'll be sorry if they do" the boaster
asserted.
The relief camc, and Luke, weared in
body and mind, was glad to return to lie
down in his tent, for long rides and sleep
less nights were beginning to tell upon him.
While dragging his weary feet along the
road to camp it seemed as if every step must
be the last Reaching his tent worn out
with anxiety and fatigue, he threw himself
on pile OF straw and was soon in the land
of dreams.
In the slumbers of midnight his mind
gradually drifted back to the pleasant days
he had spent at the old farmhouse in COM
pany with Lille. That angry cloud which
for u moment had flashed from Albert Neff's
brow seemed Il blur upon their happiness,
which was rapidly growing into terrible
storm-cloud, obstructing the light and glad
ness of the sun.
Lightning flashed from the dark cloud and
peals of thunder, sharp and incessant, like
musket shots, rang out. He saw Lille at
his feet struggling in death.
He had stopped over her, when he felt
himself being dragged somewhere by the
heels.
NY God! What's the matter!" he cried,
wide awake.
'Glt up they're ightin'!'' roared Ar
kansaw Tom in his ear.
Distant firing affirmed the assertion.
Nh