Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-29


eral who was to execute it could keep
his enemy from knowing his intentions
long enough to throw an army on his
flank or rear.
Then in making circuit of tho town
Mark was impressed with the natural
strength Of the position. He gazed over
the plain eastward, his eye resting on
Missionary ridge, but did not dream of
the soldiers battle destined to take
place there a year later, when the men
in the Army of the Cumberland, disre
garding the plans of their superiors,
would start from tho bottom of that
mountain and defeat an enemy pouring
shot and shell down upon them from
the top.
"Why didn't our generals occupy this
place when they couldT" sighed Mark.
"Now 1t is too late"
While it was evident to Mark that the
enemy were concentrating for a move
against the Union lines, there was moth
ing to indicate where they would strike
except the mention Of the two brigades
as having gone to Knoxville. He knew
that they might strike any one of sew
eral points from Battle Creek to Knox
vile, and eagerly sought for some indi-
cation where it would be. He strolled
about with Jakey all the afternoon, the
two sufficiently resembling country
bumkins to avoid suspicion. Passing a
recruiting station, Mark went inside the
tent, where an officer was writing at
pine table.
Cap" he said, 81 ben thinker I'd
like ter jine the army"
you're just the man we want.
You've got plenty of bone and muscle.
should reckon you'd been in the ranks
afore this"
"Waal, ! don't want ter fight outen
my state f kin help it"
"What state?'
"Tennessee."
q reckon you'll have chance to fight
in it if you Join the army"
"Reckon so?"
"Yas; I'm recruiten fur Cheatham's
division. Thar all Tennessee REGIMENTS
in our division except the artillery n a
rigement O. Georgia and one . Texas in
faut1y."
"Whar is yer division:'
"Across the river AT Dallas or Poe's:
somewhat mp thar. Y better let me put
yer down fur my rigement, the til
Tennessee"
Thought hey ter 20 way down south.
NO fear O that jest now
/ What makes y calclate on 't?'
There's two divisions across now
ourn and Withcrs. V don't reckon their
goen ter cross the river fur the purpose
o marchen south, do ""
"Oh, don't know nothen bout mill
tary."
"Waal, will you join us?"
"Ef y reckon all the sojers here is goen
to fight in old Tennessee, reckon | will.
The abolition army hez overrun our state,
n want ter see en- driv out"
The way to do it, my good man, is to
take musket and help"
"Do ye reckon Tits what we're goen
ter dor
ready across, and happen to know that
all the transportation in the shape Of
cars and locomotives that can be found
are bein corraled hyar fur a further
movement. Come, now, my man, stor
taken and take yer place whar ye
ouGhter he. What's Yer nance
The officer took up pen.
All right, cap, count me in. I'll Jest
80 n git my bundle and be back hyar in
half an hour
The captain hesitated. Mark began
to fear that he was thinking of using
force rather than let so promising re-
cruit go.
Are you sure you'll come bach;'
"Sarten, cap"
alurK moved away, and it was not un
til he had got out Of sight that he real
lied he had run great risk for he saw
that the captain would have detaiue,
him had he not believed in his sincerity
about existing.
Mark went straight to the hotel anC
paid his bill. He feared the recrutin!
officer might send for him or have him
followed, SO without waiting to eat hi
supper he made package Of his pur
Chases. Jakey took his gun and stun,
his powder and shot flask over hi
shoulder. Then the two left the hOte
TO begin an attempt 10 leave Chatta
nooga. Their stay had been only iron
sunrise to sunset, but Mark had game
all the information he was likely to &C
quire and was anxious to get away wit
it. True, he did not know where tn
enemy would strike, but this he woul
not be likely to learn.