The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-02
A Story Of the Late War;.
BY BERNHRD BIGSBY,
Author Of Loyal 1T Last" my Lady Faatss-
tdc," "Ellens Great Secret" Fell
Among Thiaves," Etc
Copyright 1891. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.

discreet as he is valiant y
The fact was that just before this
time, the whole Western region had
been remodeled into the MILITARY Di-
vision of the Mississippi comprising
the armies of the Ohio, Cumberland
and Tennessee, and Grant had been ap-
pointed Commander.
To resume the conversation of our
two friends, Hopkins and Besant:
''Now, Frank" said the former, 's1've
q ticklish bit of duty before me which
bothers me considerably. General
Thomas has decided to send dispatches
to Grant, and has done us the compli-
ment to direct me to select one of my
officers for the perilous duty. You can
not go, Of course; then, who shall it be?''
"Charlie Fulton, sir" Besant replied,
without an instant's hesitation.
The Colonels brow knit ominously.
ooh, sir, the young Major pleaded,
edo give him this chance---it will be the
making of him-besides, it will show
him that after all his indiscretion, you
still have confidence in him. May go
at once and send him to your
t'Vhat a staunch, true friend you are,
frank" Hopkins said, admiringly.
swell, for your sake ] will give him
the opportunity to prove your good
opinion Of him, SO go at once and send
him to my quarters
And Charlie Fulton accomplished his
mission SO well that within week
there came a telegram from Grant to
Thomas: II am coming. Can you hold
out till reach you?" To which the
hero of Chickamauga replied: II will
hold the fort till we starve to death at
our posts!'
! Meanwhile there was rejoicing
among Bragg's men, who looked down
from the hills that surrounded the be-
leagnered city with the keen satisfaction
OF knowing that ere long it's hungry de-
tenders must give up their hopeless
struggle. jefferson Davis himself came
to gloat on the prize SO near his grasp,
and was SO delighted with the prospect
that he withdrew Longstreet's corps
from the field, and sent hi1n eighty
miles away to wrest Knoxville from
the clutch of Burnside.
( But Grant and Hooker have come to
'the relief Of the beleaguered force, and
Sherman has tramped by forced march
Swo hundred miles from Inka to share
I'm the gallant struggle for victory.
What a lovely day was the 23d of No
vember! Who, that was present, will
forget the glorious sun, that glinted on
Thomas division, as his regiments mus
tered, as if ON parade, dressed in their
best uniforms, with flags flying and
martial music filling the air with boast
full strains? The Confederate pickets
leaned on their muskets on Lookout
mountain and Missionary Ridge, and
smiled as they beheld the picturesque
display. But suddenly their smiles are
turned to looks of alarm; for in min
ute the Union line breaks into a double
quick, and the gay review is changed
into a battle, and ere they can recover
their surprise, they are driven back, and
Orchard Knob is in thehands of a Union
force.
The next day Hooker charged the for
ti1cations on Lookout mountain, and
drove them beyond it's crest, winning
the famous ':battle above THE Clouds;
while twenty-four hours later he
charged their lines on Missionary
Ridge, with Sherman pounding on their
flank.
Grant stood on Orchard Knob watch
ing the turns of battle. With eagle eye
he saw that his enemy's weak spot lay
in his center, as he had to sacrifice it's
strength to support his TANKS. On this
he determined to launch Thomas corps.
The signal of attack was arranged
six cannon shots, fired at intervals OF
two seconds.
Then, in the words of B. Z. Taylor,
the poet-soldier: s'The moment arrived.
Strong and steady the order rang out:
Number one. fire! Number two, fire!
Number three, fire! It seemed to me
like the tolling of the clock of destiny.
And, when at Number six, firer the
roar throbbed out with the flash, you
should have seen the dead line, that had
been lying behind the works all day,
came to resurrection in the twinl1ling of
an eye, and leap like a blade from it's
scabbard!'
The order has been to take the rifle
pits at the foot Of the hill, but the
Fighting Fourth and all those glorious
ACEOeS Will GLCln lO1SCu W sup tliA>A
rally, and sweep with shouts of victory
up the steep ascent. All falls before
them. Grant catches the inspiration,
and orders charge along the whole
line; and dashing with broken ranks
across rocks and chasms, following the
bullet-torn flags that lead them, they
still go onward needless of the tempest
hurled upon them. The battle is won.
That night the Union ca1np-fres glis-
tened along the heights about Chatta-
nooga, and Bragg's men were h,lrrying,
under cover of darkness, southwark.
For Sherman's brave fellows, who
seven days before had marched two
hundred miles on two days rations,
without a change Of clothing, tent or
second blanket to any man from COM
mander to private, even now there was
no rest, for Grant ordered them, bleed
Ing and barefoot as they were, to march
over terrible roads ninety miles, to the
relief of Burnside. when they drove