Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-01-22
A WAR CLAIM.
BY CHAs. T. MURRAY.

that crib! Lively, now Let the chick
ems go. Let en- alone, | say! Bring
out that cornr'
The commands of the young sergeant
were sharp and quick. Two or three
of his men who had been chasing the
frightened fowls about the backyard
hauled off grumbling with but single
capture To make that capture certain
the soldier who held the chicken had i'm
mediatey wrung its head off.
"Do you suppose we're sent out here
to steal chickens, you fooll" cried the
sergeant, kicking the Topping rooster
out of the way. 'In with that smoke
house door, Bring out the bacon and
anything substantial. Bacon and corn
that's the kind of grub for you!"
Crash! Down went the padlocked
door!
In half minute half y dozen men
were passing out smoked meats, bacon
and ham, while those who had attacked
the corn crib were actively Juggling the
well-tilled sacks down the shady path be-
tween the magnolias to the big army
wagon in the road.
An armed guard in charge of a corpo-
raj stood in or about the wagon still re-
tanning their loaded muskets, while the
teamsters bestrode their mules, keenly
alert for any manifestations on the part
of the scattering cavalrymen along the
country road and across the fields in the
distance.
The guns of The foragers at work were
stacked in the front yard and over them
stood another man in blue, Springfield in
hand, his eyes strained upon the house.
This soldier was myself. And to-
gether we formed detail of grand for
aging party, brigade of infantry, a
couple of squadrons OF cavalry and a bat
terry of light artillery-that day stretch
ing over wide strip of territory on
either side of the columns sweeping
down upon the field of Perrysvile.
The house was the typical Kentucky
farmhouse Of the middle class, backed
by the usual outhouses for slaves and
storage and fanked by Lombardy poplars,
magnolias and shrubbery. Off the main
road it had escaped the ravages of botf
armies that had swept and reswept tn,
neighboring region. Yet now the hous
seemed to be deserted. Our repeated
knocks had failed to arouse anybody
Even the negro cabins were tenantless
though all indications pointed to recen
occupancy.
''lf orders hadn't been 80 strict abou
to me, lingering his quartermaster'
receipts. Cpd get inside and see wha
kind of place this is. Lovely outsd
isn't it Now where's that young Peacl
and-Honey2" he shouted to the nois
group in the rear. 1t was the sobrique
of one of the foragers
Stealing honey, no doubt" grumbleC
Sergt. Hale. II never saw such fellow
for chicken and honey. Listen to tina
firing, too" looking anxiously across tn,
fields whence came the sounds of irrcgu
lar muskctry. The men also stopped tc
listen.
Come, boys, hurry up" fastening to
the rear. "Never m nd, nobody's shoot
ingat you! Where's that confounded ~
The sergeant was cut short by loud
noise in the house, as if in a struggle
heavy table had been overturned, and
then woman's piercing shrek.
"Guard Look alive, therew cried
Hale, and he made dive for the front
door, fixing his bayonet as he ran. As
he reached the door it swung open and
slender, white haired old lady ran out,
wringing her hands and wailing.
'For the love of heaven, gentlemen
Oh, take that man away Your man in
there-takc him away! You can have
everythingl Only let us alone Surely,
you do not war on helpless women and
childrenp'
The Sergeant had dashed past her, his
rifle in his sturdy grip, when she dis
covered me standing with mine at a
ready directly in front of her on the
lawn. The poor old laAy was so fright
ened she fell upon her knees, and, cover
ing her withered face with her tremb-
ling hands, begged me for Gods sake
not to shoot her. l was actually too
astonished at the idea of shooting n
woman to Teassure her, or even to tell
her to get up.
As if to make my temporary dumb
ness permanent just then young girl
rushed out, and with a loud, dcspairing
cry threw herself between the PROSTATE
lady and myself. She was of that love.
Iy, slender, ox-eyed type often seen in
ihe Blue Grass region. Her attitude of
protection and self-sacrifce her culver
ing figure, her flashing eyes, her dis
tended nostrils, her dishevelled hair
will never forget.
AT this moment an apparent hand to-
hand struggle inside attracted nv atten.
ton, and, remembering the sergeant
found voice enough to shout, ''StanG
aside! stand asidcl" waving my lcf
hand as | kneeled on one knee anC
brought my gun to bear on the doorway
IL couldn't have been over half
minute, and by that time all of the me
had iallen INTO ranks, taken their gun
from the stack aud had donloyod n