The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-09-28


1t was long, dark ride. Part of the
time they had q road and part Of the time
none, plunging through thickets, and cross
ing creeks and ravines, all the time sur
rounded by dense forest. Day had begun
to dawn when they came in sight of q camp
on hillside, in a woods pasture. The stars
and stripes were floating from pole stuck
up near wagon.
Blackhawk refused 10 go any further, and
Luke, dismounung, walked into camp. A
guard halted him ard demanded to know
what he wanted. Luke informed him that
he wanted 10 see the Captain, and was con-
Quoted TO wagon, which was the chief Off
GERS headquarters. There were almost a
hundred men in the camp, and very little
discipline was shown. The arms were
chiefly the ordinary firc-locks, shot-guns
and rifles, and they were wholly without
uniforms.
When Luke had told his story to Captain
Smart the latter said:
off it's yer intention to fight fur the
Union, ye needn't go any further, fur l
want thrco more men here now, and Ill en-
roll he and sw'Gr ye right m"
1t was sudden change, but sudden
changes were common, and in few min
utcs Luke Mason was enlisted as recruit.
An old waite haired man, dressed half in
bucl1skin and half jeans, came to him and
invited him to his mess, as they just lacked
one more The old fellow was known as
Arkansaw Tom, was bravo Us lion, with a
heart tender as a woman's.
Luke found this beginning Of soldier life
far from agreeable The coffee was black,
3ka In, ha a bor ri 81 nd dry
The ncwly-made soldiers were lying about
upon the grass, some already complaining
of the hardships and others narrating re-
markable adventures, of which the narrator
was always the hero.
Captain Smart was man Of pluck and
common sense, which in a measure made
amends for his lack of military Skill He
had United States drill book and Hardee's
tactics, over which he had been pouring
every idle moment for three days. Immedi-
ately after breakfast he brought his COM
pany upon a green spot, devoid of trees,
to instruct them IN the manual Of arms.
After an hour spent in these exercises
they gathered up all camp equipage and
took up their line of march, intending to go
to Lexington.
Peoplc came to their doors to see them,
and as they went by they thought they
must be great army.
About the middle Of the afternoon they
reached Saggct, small place Of half q
dozen houses, one store, blacksmith shop
and post-ofilcc to give it the appearance of
aviilage. The houses were scattered over
the crest of hill. In u woods pasture
north Of them, to the left of the road, Cap
tain Smart said they would encamp to
await the arrival Of other companies Of re-
crults.
About fifty men who had come the night
before were already encampcd among tho
trees which covered the hillside, and dur
ing the day Il hundred more came in. The
superabundarcc Of commissioned officers, or
men who would be commissioned officers if
the Governor would sign their commits
sions, gave no little trouble about who
should rank the others. But after much
parleying, the honor OF command was con-
ferred on Captain Smart.
The men were under very slight restraint,
and the enforcement Of military discipline
was almost impossible
Luke's acquaintance, A,kansaw Tom
seemed to take considerable interest in the
new recruit.
Don't spoct sojcr life III agree with ye al
fust, Tom said.
"No, ( don't think it will, but hopo tc
get accustomed to it," Luke answered
ooh, vas; Teller kin git use ter most
any thing guess, But we'll meet some e
them johnny Rebs afo' we go catortopin
very long bout heah."
tine country must be full OF theml" sait
Luke.
Thicker n hops" answered the old man
tan all cGlogiu' ter LeXin'ton, where we'r(
agwine. 1t will DO red hot when we ge
thar
Luke made no answer; he sighed, cas-
his eyes upon the ground and mentally
asked himself how long it would be ere j
was dyed with human blood. Would he ever
SEQ again that bright-eyed rosy-choeket
girl, whose kiss seemed still warm on hi!
lips. Was life's bright Young dream to ent
in fire, smoke and carnage!
8, "Come on, Luke Mason, and give hant
hcrai" cried one Of his new comrades.
They were trying to RAISE rude ten
(which they had constructed from som,
wagon sheets. Luke's experience witt
tents for fishing and hunting parties stool
him in excellent need on the present occa
sion. He showed them how to arrange tn,
center-poe braces, wings, flies and stays
and in Il few moments they had quite re
spectacle tent.
"Thort yed never been in tn sarvice''
said one.
az never Was,n no answered,
sob shuol3, We needn't tell that, W
know better" said member of his mes
called Ned Cotton. mo 'un who hain't seel
sarvice could yauk tent about that way
Ned Cotton, Bill Snow, Arkansaw Tom
Luke and two more occupied the new tent
and spent most of the afternoon lying c.
the fresh, clean straw with which they ha
carpeted the earth.
The day wore slowly by; the routine Q
camp life had not yet become sufficient
old to be monotonous. Men wero drilln
by companies, platoors, squads, or eve
singly
eyer on fur picket t-night," said
corporal, coming to the door of the tent an
LAYING his hand on Luke's shoulder. &c
en- 7 seven"
GLOW long 60 | stay on guards" aske
Luke. ~ had but little sleep last night"
"Only two hours, then comes first relief,
san IorToral MUM WHO hiu III lnc Iast lc
DAYS imGIbcd world of military know
edge. Corporal Max was a chrome grun
bier. but a very rigid disclplinarian so ia
as he krcw.
At the appointed hour Luke and thre
others. under CORPORAL Max, shoulders
their guns and went some three or fou
miles from the camp, where the roa
parted. and there sat down under larg
tree This was the extreme picket pos
and but slender guard was left about II
camp.