Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-10

illustrates in q forcible manner the
ease with which man may be the
architect Of his misfortunes.
When the forces under Buell. pushed
their way up the Tennessee River, after
the battle Of Shiloh, the advance, un-
der Gen. Alex. Med. McCook, halted
at Battle Creek, camping on the right
bank of the Tennessee, few miles
below Jasper. The Confederates had
exercised rare presence OF mind by
burning the bridge at Bridgeport, SO
that all that was left for the contend
ing forces for season was to select
camps on opposite sides Of the Tennes-
see and recuperate after the undecisive
battle of Pittsburgh Landing.
The ground the Federals camped on
was in the form of fat-iron.
About mile and a half, as the crow
flies, from General McCook's head
quarters mountain spur rose. The
assistant signal officers attached to
General McCook's staff, looking up at
this spur, thought it would make a
fine signal station. Acting on the
hint, the General instructed them to
take as many men as they deemed nee
essary, surmount the spur, and estab-
lish an outlook. A regiment with axes
climbed the spur and cut tremen-
dous swath through the forest in such
way that the officers on the noun
tain top could be seen from headquar.
ters, yet be wholly concealed from the
view of the Confederates on the Other
side of the river. The trees interyen
ing were a sufficient screen.
This was good thing to do. A sta
tion was made speedily, and the sig
nal officers communicated freely dur
ing part Of one day. Lieutenant A
was on the mountain top. Lieutenant
4 J. was at headquarters. That night
while Lieutenant j. was playing cardl
with some brother officers, his atten
tion was directed to q light on th'
mountain. He ordered his men tx
light his torch, and communicated witt
his brother officer on the mountain
toy. What passed between them his
tory saith not. It was shrewdly sur
missed from the brevity of the com
munications and the manner in which
Lieutenant j. ordered his assistant t,
extinguish his torch that the gam,
was not worth the candle.
Subsequent events showed that tn,
torch on the hill indicated to watchfu
Confederate eyes where game was i
be found. Lieutenant A. remained Of
the mountain top two or three days
At first the orders to the men he post
ed we're very strict. But the ute
silence of the mountain-top, the seem
ing vast distance from the thousand
Of Confederates lettering Throughout
the sultry days in the camps on tn
opposite side of the river these an
other considerations caused Lieutenan
A. to relax the vigilance that we ar
told is the price Of liberty.
The berries were ripe. To men re
stricted to soldiers fare they wer
tempting. 1t was not strange tina
Lieutenant A. should gather berrie
ON the mountain-top, or that his assist
ants, seeing him wander hither an
thither in quest of berries, should inn
N tate him, or that the guard shoul
gather their share of berries.
One day a boy strolling near th
Lieutenant was accosted. He was th
genuine mountain growth, but he kne,
U where the ripest berries were to
found. AS he led the way, one Of th
Lieutenant's assistants said: .
How about rifles, Lieutenant
Hadn't we best take them along wit
us
A But Lieutenant A. Thought thel
was mo- necessity. So half doze
men in blue strolled three or four hui
( dred yards from the station, the Liel
tenant leading, when suddenly thrt
men in brown rose up before Lieutel
a ant "a. and pointed their shot-guns /
y him. His assistants did not remain
witness the sequel. Every man ra
\ for his Life. They rushed back pei
NELL to the signal station. tore the tie
escope from Its socket In the tree, an,
without waiting to gather up the
til z lI rs