The Red Cloud chief., 1889-09-13

Ken " " RCuCuoot XOG tO0 vOluUl0
50 early n childood that he was adept in
the art long before he reached his majority.
So, Of course, In our humdrum camp-life
he was really an indispensable necessity.
And at NO other time was he more so than
when we were in winter quarters at DAN
vile. KY, in 81.
how, laying around in the horizon, coming
only to elude Us until We felt that We Wero
actually spelling for q fight"
In the few days stop at Lexington, before
reaching our winter quarters, Jack had
time to brush up the old yarns and even
manufacture some new ones II necessary
And We imagined he did, for during the
On Us from about the middle of November
like . nightmare until we left Danville,
there was no break n our routine like the
sound OF Turner'S musical voice.
But there came q time when even Jack
grew disguised with trying to kill the nnui
Of nothing to do, and his hair-breadth es-
capes and blood-curdling incidents grew 70
be few and far between.
There was no chance Of fighting, and the
Northern mettle was getting rusty and
cranky because Of NO orders to march to
the front. The boys grumbled and growled
and found fault, and some of them began TO
discuss the matter as to whether there was
really any war or not.
So things wagged on In the Danvillo
quarters until One day the whole regiment
was thrown into excitement by the receipt
Of . dispatch from Louisville. It was sup
posed to have been sent by the commander
in post, General Thomas, who was COM
mander Of the whole western division,
and it said we were to march to Crab Or.
chard and intercept Rebel General Bra2g's
men. who wanted to get by or through DAN
vile on their way to Louisville.
We must start ut once and head them OF
n hold position at the Orchard, and force
them to retreat II possible.
Whoop! Hurrah! Here was . splendid
chance to thrust that miserable enemy
through and through, and the boys in-
tended to make the best Of the opportu-
nifty.
Willing feet and nimble fingers busted
themselves making preparations for TO-
morrow's march. 1t seemed more like
getting ready for . picnic than any thing
else.
Jack Turner put away his storytelling
propensity willingly and let his volubility
branch out in bOasting Of what tomorrow
would bring forth, IS It, Of course, should
fairly smother in ~well-earDed laurels.
"We'l surprise them completely" he
chuckled, land put u loyal thumbs down
on them, SO to speak; then we'll brag over
Bragg. Um-m"
The next morning BY four O'Clock va
were all ready and in line Of march. Oh,
such ef9ervescence of loyal vimi We fair.
~ grew nervous with the excitement and
champed our bits in expectation; . iollier,
more eager set Of blue coats never kept
step on the classic grounds Of '-Ole Kahn
than u regiment a. we left Dan
vile, sleepy Danville, behind us on that
winters morning before daybreak.
Jack Turner fairly stood ON his head i
ranks. fguratively speaking, 70 elated
over the long silent chasm and of put
1--WE got the notion that they aren't look
tonight down there" sand he, land some
ground"
fools errand'' we were in for, or that we
9sAOOAu GOSuAA " SAx0 A4AOI " y VOI QUAR- l
ters akin to the roverbial fisherman, only \
} great deal more disguised.
Night found US several miles from the
imposed battle ground; but we pressed on
Is ever to tlngle somebody's
,ars before next day il possible. At about
eleven O'Clock At night We halted 1t Crab
Orchard and cast about for those Bragg fel
What did it mean; this stiffness Of the
midnight watches hanging over this empty