The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-11

The interest and excitement Of the marcI
were not SO great rs to keep us from pleasantly
| comparing the lovely country through which
we were passing with the drcary mp.lang
in which most of our campaigning had so fa1
been done The frm solid roads. the clea
streams rich cornfeds and comfortable houses
I of Maryland were delightful change from Tho
1 drcary morasses Of North Carolina. The dus
and the heat were very trying in the daytime
but the C4mps at nightall ou the springy turf
Of meadows beside purling brooks, with
/ hraciug GOODNESS in tho September air, were
very pleasant.
We were heading for Frederick. whore it was
reported the rebel army was in force, ready tc
give us battle FOR possession of the State
At every hilltop we expected that we would
SEQ their outlying forces in battle array, but
not untGl we got 10 Newmarket, little town
six miles from Frederick, on the afternoon OI
the llth, did We see any number OF the enemy.
Even then IL was only n small body, stationed
| IN observation, and which retreatCd very
promptly after receiving a scattering fire from
l our skirm ishcrs. We moved forward a short
! distance, and went into camp in iine-Of battle,
| II readiness for "A night nttaCk, or to move for
ward in the morning and engage the rebels,
! should they be found in position and mood for
| battlc. The day had been fatigung we'll as
| exciting, and as soon rs we had supper Ian,
4 Herman and ! spread our blankets Oh tho sod,
with our feet TO tho fire, and wero soon fast
asleep. 1t must have been near midnight
when was awakened by determined shaking
4 OF my shoulder
j. this you Tracy?" asked voice, which
recognized rs Jobs.
Yes, ! answered, slccpily, but Weakening
! rs ] comprchcuded who il was.
/ Where arc Ian aud Hvrman?' asked job.
Lying right here beside me. How in the
! world did Won get here. Job?'
/ SIS sh Don't speak so loud Move along
| n lttlc, SOS we can lay down alongside o you.
! QUiu's with me. We was determined to go
! into this fight with you boys, if it cost Us our
! ngCks. Ne couldn't think OF von being in
battlc without Us, Besides, VIC felt sure that
this is going 10 be the last battle o the war
/ aud we wouldn't miss il on that account for
1 anything. We've been at the QuarternaSter
/ for hours, bcggiu' and cOaxiD him TO let us 70.
! We promised him everything, on our sacred
/ word of honor; pledged him that soon rs
! the fight was over we'd report right back TO
/ him if we come through all right. If we're
! killed, Il won't make much difference TO him
! or anyone else, except ourselves The Colonel
/ d be mighty glad TO get ri Of rs that way
/ We want You TO 20 10 Ezra GrimsIed first thing
! IN the morning and tell him we're here ana
! what we done. ASK him TO be kind enough
10 take no trouble 10 See us Wen keep in
the rear rank, and ont o sight - much a5 pos
siblc, SOS thcTci bc no actual need o his
KNOWN that were present for duty"
An bcdad, Oi think that ould Bark-an1
Blow, bad .loock to him, !" said Quin " will hcv
ali that he can attind to luckiug out for the
riimiut widOut puyin' no attintion 10 Us.
It's the first tonne he's ever taken 10 into n
battle, and he'll he SO badly ratified that he'll
80; know whother he's afoot or horseback
whether ha's tin min wild him. or tin thousand.
/ The curse av the bogies on the ould scarecrow.'
IL seemed II me that ] had scarcely COTTON
aslcpp again when / WAS awakened with tEs
rest by Bert CunnOrs, aud ordered 10 fall into
line with my gun and equipments, 10 be pre-
pared FOR any surprise thai the rebels might
attempt. 80 sleepy aud tired that tie thought
o! so much IS opening an eye-lid seemed tor
turc, We leaned weaUly on our rifles. and
waited for the day 10 break the rebels -
come. Oar VTecaUti0n was unnecessary. No
sounds broke the stiffness IN front but the
Growing uf cocks and the strideDt notes Of the
fc.G-cfickets. The slowly increasing light OF
4 EiorIous September morn devclopt the pur-
tvutous masaUs of blacKness before Us nlo
nothing more dangerous than line ol grace
inl willows bordering "A creek aud hays.acl.8
aud wheat riel,s or the crest beyond Then !
sought Ezra Gfimsted, and told aim Of The
presence oi Job AND gain.
iii not sec thcW 81 / can help myself Tell
them not 10 faakl tAulascivcs any taore con-
srcG0us than s absolutely necessary be am
sreIel, and ordered the company TO break
lf'fl.As HEl bItta a.lnL AA AA44 baANhEA4t
atnfy Tor 'he days work.
We were sa5e tIat q Sight igas only a cues
. tiuu Of . few holFs. Already sharp attIiug
Of shots came from the distant right ani left,
where the cavalry was engaging scouting par
tics Of the enemy. Regiments aud bTigadrs in
dirly brown could be sfeu forming on distant
. emiueuces, and the cannon began booming Gar
away. Is $50 moved forward. vita every man
iH his place, aud every heart Leaf high with
anticipation.
They are falling back behind the Mouoc-
aey.' said Ezra GIiHIstsH. ls the batta-iues
,yu saw iH frput dissolved aHd disappeared be-
hind TIC bills. Tbs Colonel says they vii
probably FcaIsL our passage gi that river, which
Is liitC over two miles away"
J looked al Col. SausE,ee ] bad noticed
biin once before while Ue wcge rolling our
blankets. Then De- was seated oH . pile Of
rails being carefully shaved by Bles, his col
oFed servant. / sax that Hg wore a st2rcbcd
/ shirt 81 dazzling Whif.uesF his crAyat Eas
neatly tied, and lis coliar fresh and firm.
We're jest sho' 20 have a big fight ter day.
boys' said Iiias, - Ae stopped Z moment in
passing Us. De kunuels Ixiu up So Hes
allus very ';ic.sler bout hisse.l, bur be gets
rnOHs'sous.y ticker when he thinks he's gHine
inter "a GgAt, an / never knowgl him ter be so
ticker bout dTe-sil' as lac is dis Dressed
ngrHin'"
As ] saw him nosg. hc was seated Tigidly erect
On hIs superb horse, EzuHLirlcd, WITH every de-
tail ~ lis uniform Ia perfect order riding
some distance ia front Of tho regiment with
has eyes Gznd on the enemy. Much reason ~
/ / felt had for disliking him. WAS compelled
70 admit 70 myself that had never seen 4 lnau
in appearance more Ol Tie ideal soldier aid
commander.
Wen soon see bow be acts under fire.
( said Ian 10 whom ] bad expressed something
/ Of thls That's tie lest. handsome is as
handsome docs"
The haze-crowncd SUBMITS Of the Catoctin
I Mountains, looming mp toward the blazing sky,
/ drew nearer IL every step.
90 10 may be that they'll fall back to them,
and 81 Us battle there" said Ezra Gritnsted
] pointing 10 the blue submits Itd be more
! like the reptiles 10 avoid meeting us in the
( open field. aBd make a stand among the dens
o. their icilOB-rspllies, tbs Taitlcsnakes and
! cDppeTleaGs.'
Well overcome them wherever the devil
/ prompt them 10 fight" said Ian soicmniy
The God Oi Battles will deliver thela into our
! hands though mountains be their bu!wagks
! and eternal rocks their shicils"
We were now moving through gently
siup!ag meadow that borioTed tie Monocacy
/ River, with the Colonel riding fully $50 yards
1 ahead, accompanied only by his buglcr. Sud
/ denly pufs Of smoke shog ont of fringe of
there vas a rattle 81 sbols bullets sang over
our heads, and the Colouelg horse, slung by a
4 bullet in his flank, reared Up, but wa. brought
back by tIic riders firm grasp on the roins
Jehovah, there they are, sure enough" ex-
4 claimed Ezra Gr.uIated
The Colonel turned Us deliberately in his
saddle 80 II sge had issfu sft d,,Bf aud tig ,,,