The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-07-24
an, golly, m jest take yo thar in no time

none, plunglnB JnrOugu Jnlchets, anu OiOo'-
ing creeks and ravines, all the time SUR
rounded by dense forest. Day had begun
to dawn when they came In sight OF camp
on hillside, in woods pasture. The stars
and stripes were floating from pole stuck
up near wagon.
Blackhawk refused t go any further, and
Luke, dismounting, walked into camp. A
guard halted him and demanded TO know
what he wanted Luke informed him that
he wanted TO see the Captain, and was con-
Quoted TO wagon, which was the chief offi-
cers headquarters. There were almosta
hundred men in the camp, and very little
discipline was shown. The arms were
chiefly the ordinary tire-locks, shotguns
and rides, and they were wholly without
uniforms.
When Luke had told his story to Captain
Smart the latter said
| "If it's yer intention to fight fur the
Union, We needn't go any further, fur l
want three more men here now, end I'll en-
roll he and sw'ar ye right IN"
It was o sudden change, but sudden
changes were common, and In few min.
utes Luke Mason was enlisted as recruit.
An old white haired man, dressed hall In
bucksliin and half jeans, came 70 him and
invited him to his mess, as they just lacked
one more The old fellow was known as
Arkansaw Tom, was brave as lion, with
heart tender as woman's.
Luke found this beginning Of soldier life
far from agreeable. The coffee was black,
the meat burnt and the bread hard and dry.
The newly-made soldiers were lying about
upon the grass, some already complaining
OF the hardships and others nsrrating re-
markable adventures, Of which the narrator
was ALWAYS the hero.
Captain Smart was q man Of pluck and
common sense, which In q measure made
amends for his lack Of military skin. He
had United States drill book and Hardee's
TACTICS, over which he had been pouring
every idle moment for three days. Immedi.
ately after breakfast he brought his COM
pany upon o green spot devoid OF trees,
10 instruct them in the manual OF arms.
After an hour spent In these exercises
they gathered up all camp equipage and
took up their line Of march, intending TO 90
10 Lexington.
People came TO their doors TO see them,
and as they went by they thought they
must be O great army.
About the middle of the afterooH they
reached Sagget, q small place Of half
dozen houses, one store, blacksmith shop
and post-ofice 10 give 1t the appearance OF
a village. The houses were scattered over
the crest OF hill. In q woods pasture
north Of them, 10 the left Of the road, Cap
tain Smart said they would encanp to
await the arrival OF other companies OF re-
crmts.
About ffty men who had come the night
before were already encamped among thc
trees which covered the hillside, and dur
ing the day hundred more came In. The
superabundance 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 undervery slight restraint,
and the enforcement Of military discipline
was almost impossible.
Luke's acquaintance, ArlKansaw Tom,
seemed TO take considerable interest in the
new recruit
Don't spect sojcr life II agree with ye at
fust," Tom said.
get accustomed 10 IL" Luke answered
"Oh, yas; feller kin git use ter most
any thing guess. But we'll meet some Q
them Johnny Rebs afo' We 20 catertopin
very long bout heah."
sThe country must DO full Of them" saiC
Luke.
'Thicker N hops" answered the old man
',an' all calogin' ter Lexin'ton where weir
, a Rwine. II will be red hot when we &c
thar"
! Luke made no answer; he sighed, cas-
his eyes upon the ground and mental
asked himself how long II would be ere
! was dyed with human blood. Would he eve
see again that bright-eyed, rosy-cheeke,
girl, whose kiss seemed still warm on hi
Z lips. Was life's bright young dream TO en-
0 in fire, smoke and carnagel
{ "Come on, Luke Mason, and give han
= herer' cried one Of his new comrades.
0 They were trying 10 RAISE q rude ter
5 which they had constructed from som
wagon sheets. Luke's experience wit
tents for fishing and hunting parties stoc
him In excellent need on the present occ
!. sion. He showed them how 10 arrange u
>, center-pole, braces, wings, flies and stay
y and In few moments they had luite
spectacle tent
n "Thort ye'd never been in tn sarviceI
% said one.
"Inever was" he answered
"Oh shucks, ye needn't tell that, v
know better,n said q member OF his me
called Ned Cotton. "No' who hain't SCI
saryice could yank a tent about that way
Ned Cotton, Bill Snow, Arkansaw Tor
Luke and two more occupied the new Ten
and spent most OF the afternoon lying
tho fresh, clean straw with which they hi
carpeted the earth.
The day wore slowly by; the routine
camp life had not yet become sufficient
old 10 be monotonous. Men were drillii
by companies, platoons, squads, or ev'
sfngly. -.
TYer on fur picket t-nignt," said
corporal, coming TO the door Of the tent al
laying his hand on Luke's shoulder. "
on v seven"
show long do I stay on guardp ask
Luke. ~ had but little sleep last night y
. aOniy two hours, then comes first reliei
said Corporal Max, who had In the last Il
DAYS imbibed O world Of military know
edge. Corporal Max was chronic CRU
bier, but q very rigid disciplinarian 80
rs he knew.
70 At the appointed hour Luke and thr
others, under Corporal Max, shoulder
nd their guns and went some three or 10
miles from the camp, where the no
parted, and there sat down under q lar
W, tree. This was the extreme picket po
ny and but q slender guard was left about
camp.
sre The picket amused themselves tell
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