The National tribune., 1889-01-24

a JOKE on THE sPIEs-woNDERFUL SHELLS
THE ARMY REACHES CLARENDON.

a JOKE on TIE sPTEs-woNDERFUL SHELLS
THE ARMY REACHES CLARENDON.
A fag Of truce came during the evening, but
was not admitted. The bearers were informed
that the dead were being buried by our own
men, and the wounded receiving every atten-
tiOn. The next morning another flag of truce
came, and as there was no good reason for il,
the General naturally suspected that it was a
preteEt to learn something about our forces
and position.
He admitted the bearers Of the flag and kept
them inside his lines ali day, so thatsanything
they might learn by the use Of their eyes
would not be Of any advantage TO their side.
The suspicion that the burial Of the dead and
the care Of the wounded was not the real cause
Of the visit was strengthened by the inquisitive-
ness Of some Of the men, and the fact that one
Of them was discovered making notes of certain
conversations when he thought he was not OBJ
served.
Harry was the dfscoverer of this note-taking,
and reported the circumstance to General
Eandever.
q If that's what they're after" remarked the
General, wen give 'em all they want"
So he had the visitors transferred from the
tent where they were at the time and placed
in a room IN one Of the outbuildings not far
away. There was another room in the same
building, and the partition between the two
was lul OF cracks. Sc that conversation could
be heard with ease from one room 10 the other
The General instructed Harry as to what he
was to do, and then he went with his Adiutant
and two or three other officers to the room adj
joining the one where the truce bearers were
held.
Here we can talk without being disturbed" /"
said the General. Ny Orderly knows where |
am, and If I'm wanted he'll call me-"
Everything was perfectly still in the adiOin-
ing room, and j was evident that the men
there were using their ears TO the best adYan-
tage.
Vow said the General, to begin with. I
suppose you don't understand why we re march
Ing south and along the White River"
There was a pause. and then he continued: /:
We're not strong enough 10 go TO Little
Rock now, be said; " but the $4,000 men with
% pieces Of artillery that viii join us IN the
next week viii put Us on the offensive, and
then Little Rock must look OUT
how are we going there?" queried one Of
the officers.
Gen Curtis told me this morning that we
should 90 across the country to within about
30 miles of Little Rock, or perhaps 20 miles.
and there be should divide the force Two
thir1s Of 1t viii cross on ponto0ns which are
being brought along by the new army. and
there Viii be enough Of them TO Law three
bridges over the river al once. While they
oppose us at one place we III get over at another.
SIDE yill be safely landed. Then they'll 20 10
the rear Of Little Rock and lay siege to If,
waile the other third OF our strength viii fire
away ~ IL from the other side Of the river
There VIII be four batteries Of heavy siege.
guns playing on the town all at once and they
are bringing 1000 shells loaded with Greek
Ire u burn up every house IN the place if nee.
essary IWenty-fouF hours win be allowed fol
sending out women, children and other non.
combaIaIts, and then the battle will begin"
But won't they be likely TO interrupt Us on
the way with Gen. Rust's army and othel
troops they can get togetherP"
They may try, but it'll be bad for 'em.'
was the reply. The Government has sent n
some Of t-e new shells invented by Yanke,
somewhere in Massachusetts, that have don,
wonderful work IN Virginia"
u bat are those2 / haven't heard Of them
Wei, we've been keeping it pretty quiet
was the reply as we don't want the rebels o,
this SIDE OF the Mississippi 10 find il out if W
can help II. These new shells are loaded viii
a composition that spreads out when ii ex
plodes, and kills everybody within 20 wards
It's secret composition, and the G0Vernmen
pays 200 Tor each she'll be delivers, aud h
guarantees that II two Of these shells are fire
where there Is a regiment, IL viii kill ever
man I'D 1t They are not wounded at ali
but Jus, iall dowa as though they'd bee
struck by lightning. Here's an account {
what they'll CO."
The General took a document from hi
pocket and pretended TO read a wonderful
story Of bow the entire garrison Of a rebel for
on the James River WAS killed by one Of thes
neW-iangied shells which had been droppe
into u from a mortar fully mile away. II
told his friends they pust keep the matte
secret, as il was known only TO Gen. Curt
and few Of his higher officers and they wer
particularly DESTROYS that the informatjo
shouldn't leak out "There'l be 300 of tloE
shells, said he. and half of them will B
enough 10 kin all the rebels IN Arkansas
Then be went on with other wild warns wit
the utmost seriousness, and at length was II
terrupted by Harry, who delivered some di.
patches just received by Gen Curtis from Gei