Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-11

seHaiut ready, m We gwins T wan taf
doomsday fore we git ready"
Arkansaw Tom was lying on the shady
side of q pile Of logs, his hands forming q
pillow, while he gazed mp at the sky.
''We've got ter git mo- men, an hev ZEN
better drilled"
sMo' men, jimmy" cried Corporal
got tents fur"
..They amt nun T. take them towns; be-
sides, we're not drilled"
"D-illed, wy, Ia help me, how much more
drillin' dye want. I've wore out my legs a
marchin', an my hands, arms an shoulders
. handlin' that blasted old gun"
81 wush ter goodness they'd let me q
tkept my rifle," said Arkansaw Tom. 81 kin
knock out center every time with it. but
with this blamed old musket it's much as q
bargain T. hit the side o. barn two hundred
yards"
General q. 8. Grant had superseded
General Benjamin 6. Prentlss at Cairo, and
was waiting for sufficient force to strike
some decisive blow at the enemy
Colonel Richard Oglesbv 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 q move which would detract them
from Oglesby.
For 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,
1851, he had taken his company as usual out
for drilling, and they were returning to
quarters when the adjutant told him to re-
port at the ColonePs headquarters. He
found most of the commissioned officers Of
the regiment in the Colonels tent.
"We've got marchin' orders at last"
said Colonel Smart, his face glowing with
excitement. "Be in readiness to go aboard
the boats tonight"
"Where are we goin'?" one of the officers
asked.
20, that's q secret with Grant and No
Clernand," and yet with knowing wink
he added: '.I'll bet know where we're
bound; get your men in readiness with
three days rations an forty rounds, an
We'll see."
Though no positive information 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 .
few lines to Lille, informing her Of the
dangerous expedition on which they were
about to engage, hoping he would come out
SAFE: II neuiu not tie mad 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
planks were 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 of 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 smolke-stacks, the engines pulled, and
the ponderous paddles were set in notion.
Ere long the transports were in the middle
of the stream, speeding down the great
dark river
As Luke gazedupon those gallant men he
began to wonder how many Of them would
return from the expedition. Some were
eating, some telling stories, and Arkansaw
Tom was lying upon the deck buried in
sound slumbcr, as il he was at his home or
hunting camp.
"How can he sleep-when tomorrow he
may die9' Luke asked himself. The young
Captain walked OF and gazed for q few mo-
ments on the receding lights of Cairo; then
he descended to the boiler deck, where he
was walking about, when some one touched
his shoulder. He turned, and, by the light
of the great furnace, discerned the ebony
face of the colored fireman.
"Don't We know me, NASSAU" he asked.
''Whatl Blackhawk! What are you doing
here?''
"Firin', massa.''
"When did you comet"
1.-TWO weeks ago.
''Did you run away from your mastef!"
ITS tryin' ter save dis Union, massa
Thought I'D do all I KIN, an come down
heah fur q job See you cherry day, nevsh
AuA away II Uu We!
Luke gazed at the black for few mo-
ments in stupefled bewlderment, and then
said:
''Blackhawk, what is this wonderful mys-
terry about youl Why do you follow me.
Who are you, any way!"
Yen know all bout it, mebbe, some day,
massa; but I can't told ye now, massa,"
and Blackhawk began shoveling coal into
the great furnace
Luke returned to where his men were
quartered lost IN wonder and mystery,
while the vessels sped down the river, con-
veylng those brave men to Belmont, car,
mage and death.
CHAPTER VII
BRIEF TRIUMPH.
A black night, the dark waters, the tall
smoke-stacks from which sparks occasion
ally rolled in showers, all tended to give an
awful solemnity to the scene. The awe-in-
spring silence Of those thousands of blue
coats was intensified by an occasional
whisper.
One bV one the lichfs ~ Cairo want ont