The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-04

fight, but tho Colonels idea seems to be that
that is about the last thing n soldier ought ia
do. IL the rebellion could be crushed by pol
| ishing guns and belt-plates, we would have il
! put down long ago"
The appearance of the camp and the men
confirmed all that they had said. Everything
| and everybody was as rigidly neat precise and
| military as iucessant labor could make il and
| him. Not n straw or a leaf was to be found on
the parade or in the company streets. The
tents were aligned as exactly as if n carpenter 5
! ChatK line had been snapped down TO guide the
4 work. There was not an inchs difference in the
! space between thom; every peg was set in pre-
cisely the same angle, and every rope stretched
/ the same.
Everybody slept about in strict military
! iashion-he8d erect, eyes TO the front, little
| fingers down at seams of pantaloOns.
Buny Nisty, il makes my head aChe--all
! this stiffness and style" said job, rs we stood
together after breakfast, waiting the time TO
report TO the Sergeant of the Police. Pa
rather spend year rasslinE in the sand with
/ them old s inch nortars than month of this
frills and millinery"
Burt Conners with poorly-Concealed grin
over our modification, called on us TO fall in,
when he marched us up 10 the Sergeant of the
Police, who gave us n brush-broom apiece, and
set us TO sweeping the parade ground.
We were so angry that we swept away as If
Als ground were lne n3ieU AolNNei, ana inc
dust on il the obnoxious Burt Connors, on
whom we wero wreak ing our spite Never since
/ the camp was established did tho same number
1 of men go over so much ground so thoroughly,
/ Our temper was not improved by the spectacle
! of the Colonel-in fullest of uniloTm-with
! gantleted hand on hilt of sword, striding up to
us, and closely scrutinizing our work. We sa-
! luted him stitlly, and went on sweeping rs If
! ourlivcs depended upon il, though job gave him
a look as if he meditatcd striking the stalwart
commander across the head with his broom
! The Colonel returned the gaze impassyely, aud,
| turning to the Sergeant, said
After you have thoroughly cleaned up the
parade, you will lot the men have dinner and
then this afternoon take them into the woods
with wagon, and cut boughs enough to finish
those shelters for the horses. Iwant the shade
for the horses made perfect. If you work as
you should, you can get it well done before
parade"
looked at Jobs face; it was livid.
:" ] will not be made a niger of by any man."
he muttered to me SO loud that feared tho
Colonel would hear. Pm an American and
soldier. Before I'll be n servant Tll-"
trim, sprightly Orderly, spick and span in
his neatness, which included even white gloves,
came up TO the Colonel and handed him letter
which he drew from his belt There was some
thing in his manner which denoted matter Of
unusual import.
The Colonel opened the letter and read it
deliberately, with Frightening eyes.
Sergeant" he said as lac finished. al am
informed by note from Col. Bradnor that
boat has arrived with the news that Gen.
Mcclellan has defeated the rebels and captured
Richmond. You will dismiss your squad for
tho day"
The Colonel strodo of TO his quarters, and as
soon as be reached them the drummer on duty
beat the officers call. As we walked back to
Hi.a L..
tenants of the regiment hurrying toward head
quarters, buttoning mp their drcsscoats and
puttng on their swords rs they went. They
soon came back with the agreeable news that
We bad already heard, and the additional pleas
ant intelligence that all drills and other duty.
except guard, would be suspended for the rest
OF the day, in order that we might have the
time for celebration of the great event.
From that until tattoo put an end To the rev.
elry everything in the camp that would mako
noise was worked 10 its utmost capacity.
Tho band started in by playing the Star
SpaBPed Banner" " Hail Columbia" "John
Browns Body etc. butafter awhile IL suffered
from the general disorEanizatioD, and went to
pieces Ia a most discordant way. The cOrnet
was leading one band Of yelling madcaps, with
their biouses on vro1g side out, while the
trombone WAS hOar5ey footing in front of an.
other, attircd ia uniforms found in the rebel
Quartcrmastcr's stores.
Finally, a burlesque dress parade was organ
lied, with Job as Hi-Muk a. Muk of the Last
Ditch, in command. aud Quin as Adjutant.
All manner Of ridiculous orders were given.
aud when QnIn commanded Troop beat Off"
every one OF the instruments insisted on going
different way and playing different tune.
QuiD marched the pretended officers up TO
salute. Job had concealed under his arm
new tangled rubber cauieen, which someone
bad been trying 70 introduce This he had
filed with water, aud fitted with a squirt gun
nozzle. While grayely lecturinR the officers"
as 10 their duties, he squeezed the canteen and
filled the face Of the man in front Of him with
water. Ihis man tript mp Quin, who sprawlcd
beadlong and job broke his huge wooden
sword across the most exposed portion of his
person, and the parade broke up i'm general
scnfle, with everybody yelling and laughing
and the instruments footing hidcOusly.
About the middle Of the next forenoon the
" officers call sounded again. and when the
Captains and LieuIenants came hurrying back
from headquarters, after brief interview with
the Colonel, their faces told Of bad news even
before they opened their mouths.
" Men said Ezra Grmsted as we gathered
in the company street 10 meet him, the news
last night was false. A fast steamer has lust
come in with the information that Mcclellan
has been defeated before Richmond aud is IN
retreat. We arc ordered 10 leave here at once
70 20 70 his assistance. Pack up Immediately,
for We must be on board the transport in an
hour"
Then there was hurrying 10 and fro. No time
70 discuss the evil tidings, only 10 get ready.
When tho Colonel said an hour" he meant
exactly 60 minutes, and in that space Of time
be was At our head marching on to the dock.
where we embarked on tho transport, and
were soon steaming for Hattoras.
We are now hYaded for Washington. In com
pany with quits feet Of transports laden with
troops, 10 help defend the Capital against the
victorious rebels, who are reported 10 be march
ing on IL IN overwhelming numbers
As 10 the truth OF iasencss Of this report tho
papers will tell you before this letter reaches
you. For my part, am full Of faith that we
will meet and drive them back, winning a
glorious victory and perhaps ending the war
God send that it shall be 80, and that ] shall
soon seen you.
Your aleetonatc son, TRACY.
He Has Not Figuring on Solid Shot.
Home aud Coliitryl
The story is told Of a private named Williams,