Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-05-16

%h 81 W. -
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SHE SEIZED BROOM
| his expense and old Tom recovering his
plug, just as goose was running after II,
| laughed himself at the it,furiated woman.
Breakfast was prepared under many
difficulties and quickly dispatched, and the
soldiers, loading themselves with pro
visions, babe their unwilling hostess fare
well She. wishing them in lower and hotter
regions, slammed the door after them.
Next day Cairo was reached. Here they
| found General U. :. Grant with consider
able force. They drew arms and uniforms,
producing 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.
81 don't see why in thunder they don't go
/
Max, whose propensity To grumble seemed
/ to increase.
I'VE haint ready yit,' Arkansaw Tom
answered.
"Haint ready, ar we gwine I wait till
doomsday fore we git ready"
Arkansaw Tom was lying on the shady
side of pile of logs, his hands forming a
pillow, while he gazed up at the sky.
We've got ter git mo- men, an hev 'em
better drilled"
mo men, JIMMY" cried Corporal
Max, ''why, we've got mo- men now n we've
/ got tents fur"
sSThey amt nuff T. take them towns; be-
sides, we're not drilled"
"Drilled, WY, la help me, how much more
drillin' dye want. I've wore out my legs q
marchin', an my hands, arms an shoulders
handlin' that blasted Old gun"
~ wush ter goodness they'd a let me a
kept my rife" said Arkansaw Tom. Il kin
! knock out center every time with it. but
with this blamed old musket it's much as q
bargain Z 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General u S. Grant had superseded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 force 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 to
make a move which would detract them
from Oglesby.
For a month Colonel Smart's 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 Ia
quarters when the adjutant told him to re.
port at the Coloners headquarters. He
found most of The commissioned officers OF
the regiment in the Colone's tent.
"We've got marchn' orders at last,''
said Colonel Smart, his face glowing with
excitement :" BE in readiness to go aboard
the boats tonight
"Where are we gon'!' one Of the officers
asked.
30, that's secret with Grant and Nc
Clernand,n and yet with knowing wink
he added: ''Tll bet 1 know where we're
bound; get your men in readiness with
three days rations an forty rounds, an
we'll see."
Though no positive IN formation 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 Lille, informing her of the
dangerous expedition on which they were
about to engage, hoping he would come out
safe; ifhe did not he had the glorious con-
ISOLATION of dying for his country.
The troops were gotten in 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
planksRwere thrown out, 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 pilots 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 GOODNESS 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 pulled, and
the ponderous paddles were set in motion.
Ere long the transports were in the middle
of the stream, speeding down the great
dark river.
AS Luke gazed upon those gallant men he
began to wonder how many of them would
return from The expedition Some were
eating, some telling stos les. and Arkansav
Tom was lying upon the deck buried il
sound slumber, as if he was at his home o
hunting camp.
"how can he sleep-when tomorrow h,
may der Luke asked himself. The youn,
Captain walked off and gazed for few mo
ments on the reeeding lights Of Cairo; thel
he descended TO the boiler deck, where b
was walking about, when some one touches
his shoulder. He turned, and, by the lgh
Of the great furnace discerued the ehon
face OF the colored fireman.
Don't We know me, nassau he asked.
what Blackhawk! What are you doinl
herei"
"Firin', massa.'
"When did you comet"
1.-TWO weeks ago
"Did you run away from your masteri"
"Ps tryin' ter save dis Union, massa
Thought Id do all l KIN, an come dow
heah fur job. See you cherry day, neyal
fur away frum ye.
Luke gazed at the black for few me
ments in stupefied bewilderment, and thel
said
"Blackhawk. what is this wonderful mys
terry about youi Why do you follow me
Who are you, any way"
"Ye'll know all bout it, mebbe. some day
massa; but can't told We now, massa,
and Blackhawk began shoveling coal int
the great furnace.
Luke returned 10 where his men wer
CHARTERED lost IN wonder and mystery
while the vessels sped down the river, con
veylng those brave men 20 Belmont. car
mage and death.
To BE CONTINUED
GREAT BATTLE
Is continually gcing un in The hunal
49,.