Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-17

laughed himself at the infuriated woman.
 Breakfast was prepared under many difficulties and quickly dispatched and the soldiers, loading themselves with pro visions, bade their unwilling hostess fare well. She, wishing themin lower and hotter regions, slammed the door after them.
 Next day Cairo was reached. Here they found General U. s. Grant with consider able force. They drew arms and uniforms, producing a wonderful change, as they be- gan to look like soldiers.
 The officers received their commissions, and the men were immediately put under military training and discipline.
 Though the men were tired enough when they reached Cairo, a few days of camp life made 1t irksome to them, and they were anxious to be upon the march again. At Columbus and Belmont the enemy were strongly posted to prevent the passage of Union forces down the Mississippi. 'I don't see why in thunder they don't go down n take Columbus," said Corporal Max, whose propensity to grumble seemed to increase.
 "We haint ready yit," Arkansaw Tom answered.
 "Haint ready, ar' we gwine t wait till doomsday fore we git ready"
 Arkansaw Tom was lying on the shady side of a pile of logs, his hands forming a pillow, while he gazed up at the sky.
 ''We've got ter git mo- men, an hev lem better drilled"
 ''Mo' men, jiminy," cried Corporal got tents fur'
 ''They ain't huff t take them towns; be- sides, we're not drilled"
 "Drilled, wy, Ia help me, how much more drillin' dye want I've wore put my legs a marchin', an my hands, arms an shoulders handlin' that blasted old gun."
 "I wush ter goodness they'd let me a kept my rifle," said Arkansaw Tom. 'I kin knock out center every time with it. but with this blamed old musket it's much as a bargain t hit the side O barn two hundred yards"
 General U. S. Grant had superseded General Benjamin s. Prentlss at Cairo, and was waiting for sufficient fosce to strike some decisive blow at the enemy.
 Colonel Richard Oglesby was still in Mis souri guarding point which it was thought necessary to hold, and General Grant, learn ing that Oglesby was threatened by force of rebels from Columbus, determined tc make move which would detract them from Oglesby.
 For month Colonel Smarts regiment had been lying inactive at Cairo, and, with many of the others, Luke was growing i'm. patient.
 On the morning of the 9th of November, 1861, he had taken his company as usual out for drilling, and they were returning to quarters when the adjutant told him to re- port at the ColonePs headquarters. He found most of the commissioned officers of the regiment in the Colonels tent.
 "We've got marchin' orders at last" said Colonel Smart, his face glowing with excitement. "Be in readiness to go aboard the boats to-nightA
 sWhere are we goin'?" one of the officers asked.
 70, that's secret with Grant and Nc Clernand," and yet with a knowing wink he added: ''Tll bet I know where we're bound; get your men in readiness with | three days rations an forty rounds, an we'll see.''
 Though no positive information had es- capped from headquarters by which they could possibly determine the intent of the commanding officers, yet it was understood that the expedition was either upon Bel mont or Columbus.
 Going to his tent Luke hastily penned a | few lines to Lillie, informing her of the dangerous expedition on which they were about to engage, hoping he would come out l safe; if he did not he had the glorious con. solation of dying 1sr his country.
 The troops were gotten ill readiness that evening, and the transports with their decks and yards fenced in with logs brought in close to shore. The soldiers were mus tered to quarters an hour after dark and marched down to the river. The gang planks2were thrown cut, and they went aboard. Luke's regiment took quarters on the upper deck, where the men stacked arms and sat down.
 The night was dark and foggy, but they had experienced pNots who knew every foot of the river, and men and officers had the most implicit confidence in them.
 One delay followed another until it was near midnight before the transports finally pushed off and steamed down the river The coolness of the men made some of the officers ashamed of their nervous uneasi ness.
 The great black smoke issued from the tall smoke-stacks, the engines puffed, and the ponderous paddles were set in motion Ere long the transports were in the middle af the stream, speeding down the great dark river. -.....
 As Luke-gazed upon those gallant men he began to wonder how many of them woulc return from the expedition. Some were l TT "G {" n {" h