The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-08-10

partment of the Gulf, ordered old Doodle
jack, chlet at our post-you know who and
where medn-to send force up on the
other side OF the river to clean out lot of
busnWhacking thieves and murderers, tho
scum and dregs left there after the dis
bandment of the Reb armies, with lot of
Tlllalnous deserters from ours side.
>'Ihere were about two hundred of them,
al mounted on the best stock that was to be
had for the stealing of it, and all armed to
the teeth. Life and property were at their
mercy, and very little mercy they showed
TO either. Citizens up there complained
continually. but when an official went
among them they We're afraid to give infor-
nation or aid for fear of after-ccnsequences.
So Little Phil ordered them to be taken,
dead or alive, the former preferred.
"What, then, does old Blunderhead do but
detail me, as usual, with sercnty-tve mon,
to do the job. Great Scott! ?ThinaF of it!
Seventy-hye infantry to rundown and kill
two hundred mounted, armed desperadoes,
IN that sort of country, bayous and forests
and underbrush, and they knowing every
trail and ford better than their A B C's.
ltwas just like old Jinglebrains, and Just
my luck or his spite that sent me, and away
went with my seventy-1ive foot and two
subs, and with never q sawbones, hospital
steward or ounce of doctor stuff
1--WE chuckcd our camp and garrison, am
munition and commissaries on the first
boat up and started. Now, there was a cask
OF brown sugaron the lower deck of that
boat that had gotten wet and the head had
been taken out when it was up. ended sc
that the stuff could dry, and my men filled
themselves and their haversacks with that
brown sugar, and drank the muddy, warm
Mississippi water on top of it during all the
trip.
eve got to our station about four o'clock
IN the afternoon, climbed over the wharf
boat with our impedimenta, and the men
stood in line while prospected q little fo1
a camping ground There were two or
three stores, grocery and about dozen
houses near the landing. l was approached
by citizen who with many apologies, told
me he had been sent by Mr.. Mat KING
the leader of the outlaws (who with his
men were just outside, hidden by the cane
and bnushes), to notify me that must take
mysefian men back to where came from
by the next boat going down. If T so did
he would not'hurt me, but if I refused he
would drive us all into the river.
"My reply was that Mr.. Mat King and his
men might go to some place a good deal
hotter"than China, and not near so celestial.
J
come for Kings scalp and that it was to be
fight to the death. likewise informed
ihe,ambassador that any man who came to
Insult me witha like message or order l
would hang by the neck until he was dead,
dead, dead
''Then I placed a strong guard and went
into, camp on the river side Of the levee, so
as have that fine earthwork between US.
''The officers tents were up and I was
sitting be fore mine watching the men in
the company street, when I saw crowd
gather near the lower end. Presently Il
sergeant came up to me. was Captain
then.
'"(Captain,' he said, there is something
wrong with Markley; will you please come
look at him!'
III went down. Markley was dead. There
was the wrinl1led finger skin. the several
signs I knew only too we'll from old Florida
experience.
'''Choleral
'"'What had this man been eating other
than his rations!' l demanded.
Thrown sugar, sir; got it on the boat, ;
several replied.
Is" He drew death with that ration I said.
'"'Carry him so far over on the other side
Of the .levee as you can to be within easy