Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-02-14
CHAPTER z.

agreeable character to Mr.. Alphonse Le-
croiX.
CHAPTER K
THE NAMELESS REGIMENT.
'sNIajor Winthrop to report at headquar-
ters."
The army was lying before Petersburg,
the advanced post of Richmond, when Grant
was beleaguering Lee with the bulldog de-
termination to hang ON till the Confederate
legion was annihilated.
''You will go to City Point,'' said the Ad-
jutant-General, when Harry presented him
self, land take charge of two thousand
dismounted men who will be conveyed in
transports to Washington via Baltimore
Major Briggs will share the command with
you. You will report to Colonel Gamble at
Remount Camp and await further orders"
When Major Briggs and our hero reached
City Point and mustered their new com
mand, they found themselves in charge of q
mob of men, ragged and tattered, hatless
and shoeless, and what was worse, tainted
with the lawless spirit which always affects
large bodies of men when discipline has
been for a time in allegiance. To
even up the responsibility, each officer
took charge of thousand men, and
they set sail for Baltimore. The men
drank in fresh life from the ozone-laden
breezes of the Atlantic; though many
gallant fellow who had ridden, without
quailing, through the battlefield, found his
heart sink when the rolling vessel warned
him that his time was come to pay tribute
to Father Neptune, for all of them were
from inland homes and the ocean pillows
were to them new and painful experience.
So, when they presented themselves before
Colonel Gamble, I have no doubt they APP
peared in the eyes of that gallant officer as
of Bombastes Furioso, whose men were all
rags and tatters. Moreover, there was al
ways an inclination on the part of the regu-
lar army officers to look with a certain
superciliousness on the ''citizen soldiers"
so he may be forgiven if there was slight
tone of contempt in his voice as he gave
Harry an order on the quartermaster for
their mount and equipment.
''And, Major Winthrop" he added, as q
parting injunction, elf you ever do get these
fellows in marching order, report at once to
me-"
Harry saluted and withdrew, smarting
somewhat under the fiippant tone of the
command and resolved to astonish this
hypercritical gentleman before many hours
had passed.
He had all day before him. Luckily for
him, too, he found the quartermaster quick
and prompt. On the voyage, moreover, he
had as far as he could secured the names
and autecedents of his men, and the conse-
quence of his rushing preparations was
that he was enabled to parade the command
the next morning at the early hour of three
O'Clock Well mounted, clean in person,
with bright new uniforms, in high spirits,
who would recognize in these soldierly
ranks the mob of castaways of the previ-
Gus days Harry drew them up in line be-
fore the COlonelS quarters.
For time his servant refused to arouse
him, but Winthrop was Imperative, and
presently the astonished officer came forth
rubbing his eyes and staring in wonder on
the gallant array before him.
s'All ready, srI' said Harry, saluting
and trying in vain to conceal the flush of
conscious pride that mantled his cheek.
l have no doubt the Coloncrs conscience
smote him, but he was too good soldier to
let a word of surprise escape his lips.
'sYou will take your men at once to Fort
Stevens he said, coldly, but as his eyes
met Harry's there was glance of admira-
ton in them which fully compensated the
young citizen soldier for his hours of toll.
So out they marched in the gray dawn
through Fourteenth street into the city of
Washington, past the capitol, out to Fort
Stevens. Already the streets were alive
with people, for the most intense excite
at its gates. Even as they tramped past
the halls of legislature, they could hear the
reverberation of the rebel musketry. Gen
eral Early had beaten Wallace at Monocacy
river, and now lay before the almost de-
fcnseless city with twenty thousand men.
AS Harry's troopers left the suburbs be-
hind them, an ambulance for the moment
stopped the march, then suddenly drew on
one side to let them pass, and tall figure
stood upon the seat bareheaded as they
rode before him.
At a glance he was recognized, and a
mighty cheer went up from the ranks, for
the man bowling and smiling on them was
the idol of the Nation-Abraham Lincoln.
An odd sight met Winthrop's view as he
discounted and entered the fort. The
ranking officer, German, sat coolly smok-
ing his cigar while beside hun reposed
bottle of champagne in basket of Ice
Harry presented his orders, while there
flashed across his mind the contrast Of the
bean-coffee and hard bread of tho field
camp and the Sybaritish luxury Of city quar-
tiers.
"You are IN Clusters brigade?" the off,
Ger asked, languidly.
81 have that honor, SIR" was Winthrop's
short reply. He was getting tired OF being
patroniscd.
"Aw-yes-wcll, I've heard a good deal
of you Michigan fellows. Guess you'd bet
ter go up on the fort and take birds eye
view of the Rebs, and then tell me what
you think you can do.''
Harry took him at his word. As he
stepped out on the parapet bullets whizzed
by his head, for the Confederate skirmish-
ing line was all before him, while in the
ditch lay number of clerks, convalesceuts
and citizens gathered there for good or
evil purpose
Winthrop took the whole scene in ct
glance.
WELL" said the officer when he returned,
"what do you think Of thema Can you
drive them baek2"
al can try, sir"
"Well, how would you set about it?"
In all his life Harry had never met so cool
and composed gentleman.
"Dismount my men-they are armed
with Spencer carbines-form them in double
columns-cross the bridge-deploy-- throw
out skirmishing line in the rear and
drive the citizens away, for half of them
sympathize with the South, Idon't doubt"
" All right, sir; 60 aheadr'
And with this brief order, Harry went to
work TO relieve the city of Washington.
Much has been written about the mistskD