The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-01-17
CHAPTER x.
s<Ah -
THE EAMEIEss REGIMENT.

THE NAMELEss REGIMENT.
"Major Winthrop to report at headqusr
ters.n
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,n said the AID
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.n
When Major Briggs and our hero reached
City Point and mustered their new CON-
mand, they found themselves in charge of a
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 q 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 a
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 a new and painful experience.
So, when they presented themselves before
Colonel Gamble, have no doubt they ap-
peared in the eyes Of that gallant officer as
sorry brigade as the illustrious regiment
OF Bombastes Furioso, whose men were all
rags and tatters. Moreover, there was al
ways an inclination on the part of the regi-
lar army officers to look with a certain
superciliousness on the ''citizen soldiers
so he may be forgiven If there was a slight
tone Of contempt in his voice as he gave
Harry an order on the quartermaster for
their mount and equipment
a"And, Major Winthrop he added, as q
parting injunction, ''if you ever do get these
fellows in marching order, report at once to
me-"
Harry salute1 and withdrew, smarting
somewhat under the fiippant tone of the
command and resolved TO astonish this
hypercritcal 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 antecedents 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 now uniforms, in high spirits,
who would recognize in these soldierly
ranks the mob Of castaways Of the previ-
GUS day. Harry drew them up in line be-
fore the Coloneps 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.
"All ready, sirr' said Harry, saluting !
and trying in vain to conceal the flush OF |
conscious pride that mantled his cheek.
have no doubt the Colonel's conscience |
smote him, but he was too good soldier to
let word of surprise escape his lips.
"You 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
ooCNCuo. <AuCouJ tuO otIctJS WtT6 HilVc
with people, for the most intense excite
ment prevailed in the city. The enemy was
Ut 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-
fenseless 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
me side to let them pass, and tall figure
stood upon the seat bareheaded as they
rode before him. f-isI
At a glance he was recognized, and
mighty cheer went up from the ranks, for
he man bowling and smiling on them was
he idol of the Nation-Abraham Lincoln.
An odd sight met Winthrop's view as he
iismounted and entered the fort. The
'anlSing officer, German, sat coolly smok-
ng his cigar, while beside him reposed
,ottle OF champagne in basket of ice
Harry presented his orders, while there
dashed across his mind the contrast of the
and hard bread Of the field.
amp and the Sybaritish luxury OF city quar-
ers.
You are in Custer's brigadeln the on
er asked, languidly. aaI
81 have that honor, SIR" was Winthrops
hort reply.s He was getting tired Of being
"Aw-yes-well, I've heard good deal
Il you Michigan fellows. Guess you'd bet
er go up on the fort and take birds eye
Iiew Of tho Rebs, and then tell me what
Tou think You can do.p
Harry took him at his word As he ,
topped out on the parapet bullets whizzed
" his head, for the Confederate skirmish-
ng line was all before him, while in the |
itch lay number OF clerks, convalescents
md citizens gathered there for good or
vii purpose.
Winthrop took the whole scene in at
lance.
"Wcll,r said the officer when he returned.
what do you think of themi Can you |
rive them baekln
81 can try, sir.''
"Well, how would you set about it?',
In all his life Harry had never met so cool
nd composed gentleman.
"Dismount my men-they are armed
With Spencercarbines-- them in double
the bridge-deploy-- throw
ut diminishing line in the rear and
rive the citizens away, for half OF them
with the South, Idon'tdoubt.r
g AL right, sir; 60 aheadin
And with this brief order, Harry went 10
york to relieve tho city Of Washington
r.. 49, 49, - I