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

"CdD," he said, 81 BEN thinker Td like
ter Jjne the army"
At the first sign of dawn Mark awak-
ened his companion, who was sleeping
so soundly that it required a good shake
TO rouse him. Jakey sat up and rubbed
his eyes with his fists while Mark looked
about him. He could see down the river
for half mile, where he noticed bluffs
to the waters edge, and thought it was
lucky he had not been forced to land
there. Beyond were the Raccoon noun
tains, while close to the southwest Look
out mountain lowered above him.
After Jakey had completed his fist
toilet-the only toilet either made-Mark
led off on the railroad ties to Chatta-
nooCa. The railroad soon left the river
bank, and they proceeded in a north
easterly direction, striking the town
from the south.
A great many tents were in sight as
they passed along, and Mark judged at
once that there was a large force con-
centrated there. He was tempted to
turn and retrace his steps, for he knew
already what he was sent to discover,
but to get out was more difficult than to
get in, and he was not willing to risk an
attempt in the daytime, so he entered
the town in which citizen and soldier
We're alike asleep, and without meeting
a soul walked about till lie came to "a
hotel called the Crutchtield house. AS
he approached the door opened, and a
negro boy with broom III his hand
stood in the opening
"Can git ROOM asked Mark.
"No, sab, not till de proprietor wakes
up"
My little brother is tired; he must 90
to sleep at once"
The boys eyes opened wide at a dollar
bill slipped in his hand. Without a
word he took key from the rack above
desk in the Office, and in a few min
utes both travellers We're safely lodged,
with no one but the negro having seen
them enter the town or the house.
$50 far, so good, said Mark. Now
comes the real racket. BY this time to-
morrow morning | shall be either safe
across thu river again, or | wouldn't
give a Confederate bond for my life"
After few hours sleen be rose and,
calllIg Jakcy taey made toilet and
went down to breakfast. Mark had pur
posely neglected to write his name on
the register and hoped that the land
lord would not notice the omission. But
he did, and the guest entered his name
as Mark Slack, Jasper, Tenn.
After breakfast he took Jakey and
strolled around the town, making pur-
chases He thought it prudent to get
some Of his greenbaCks changed for Con-
fcderate bills, He followed the suggeS-
ton Jal1ey had made al setting out and
bought some calico and tobacco and
the squirrel gun Jakey had modestly
suggested for himself. Mark was not
unwilling to have the gun with them, as
he thought II might possibly be OF serv-
ice in case he should get hunted and
cOrnered; but in that event he counted
very little on any means Of defense ex-
cept flight or deception.
Mark was astonished at the number
of officers and soldiers he saw in the
streets He found "a new general in
command, of whom he had not heard as
prominent leader Braxton Bragg. He
made Il circuit Of the town and an esti-
mate Of the troops, but this was Of little
value, for upon the arrival Of trains
regiment after regiment marched into
camp Mark stood on the sidewalk hold
ing Jakey by the hand, looking at the
Coufederates tTamping along under the
( stars and bars, their bands, when they
/ had any, which was rare, playing dis
/ cordantly Dixie" or The BOnny Blue
/ Flag"
"What regiment air tibet ARP asked
Mark of a soldier standing beside him
putting at rank cigar.
Eighth Tennessee"
"Whar they all come FROM"
"Tupela Como from thar mself a
spell ago"
"Whar y goen?"
"Only old Bragg knows, and he won't
tell. Reckon were goen moth to Knox.
vile ter foller tn two brigades ez went
up spell ago"
What troops air all these hyar and
them ez is comon?"
"Waal, thar's Cheatham's and With.
ers' divisions, and l reckon Anderson's
| saw Gineral Polk terday, n they say
Hardee's hyar. I'm in tn Twenty.
fourth Tennessee m'self, aud tibet.
| Cheatham's. Lays cavalry brigade il
hyar. Thet's all the cavalry knows on.
Mark WAS amazed. A large southern
force was concentrating at Chattanooga
and perhaps they would pour into Ten
nessee or Kentucky by one Of the route,