Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-01-06

As the soldier gazed down upon the
expansive view different expressions
lifted across his face. At ono moment
there was q serious look, such q men
wear on the eve Of battle; at another Q
shrinking expression; then . dreamy one.
he saw territory that lay beyond the
Union lines. He wondered what war.
like scenes were hidden down there
within the blending of rocks and rivers
and undulations, lying calm and sweet
before him that summer afternoon.
Were clusters Of white tents there?
Were brigades, divisions, army corps
marching?
Now he thought he could hear dis
sant cracking of caissons and gun car
riages. But he knew this could not be.
If they were there, they were too far to
be heard. The sounds never became
real. The young mans fsncies were al
ways broken by the actual rustic of the
leaves or some sound from the furred
Or feathered inhabitants Of the noun
tains.
Then scene he had passed through
the previous evening came up before
him.
He stood in the presence Of . general
Of division-the finest specimen Of phys
Ical splendor Of all the generals Of the
Union army-one who was . year later
10 achieve the title Of "the Rock Of
Chickamauga." The general was speak
Ing while his subordinate was listening
respectfully and attentively.
II am ordered by the department COM
msnder to find ont what II going ON ct
Chattanooga. Our accommodating par.
lies have thus far brought us nothing
ave that there IL no enemy very near.
We are liable to be Aanked and cut of
from east Tennessee. See here!" He
turned to . map spread out on pine t.
bic. Here is Chattanooga; here tho
Sequatchie valley; up here to the north
Is Knoxville, held by General Kirby
Smith for the Confederstes. Here u
Cumberland gap. II the enemy l. con-
centrating at Chattanooga, he may not
only hold it against . greatly superior
force. but can march right along here"
The traced the route with his 6ngsr-
Storm . junction with General Smith at
Knoxville. and into Kentucky. Louis-
vile and Cincinnati viii b In danger.
Forrest and Morgan are hammering ct
our communications; we get reports Of
immense forces Of the enemy ct Knox
Vile; everything points to this OF some
similar plan Of campaign On the part Of
The Confederates. II 20, they must b
somnou<vo kSv,r, ~ Nh.%<>vr<nup~ - . v,.Sv<
pf rendezvous"
Tho general paused; then looking the
soldier in the eye ssid impressively:
"You are the only man to whom I can
mtrust 20 important . mission. I can't
order You, - you know, beyond our
lines, except In uniform. Go - fAr -
you dare a. Q soldier; leave the rest 10
you. Will you undertake to bring me
the information we requirer
II will, general"
"very well. The fate Of this army,
the success Of the Union arms IN tie
west, perhaps the prolougation Of the
war, depend upon you."
The young man bowed, but said moth
ing.
"You will need . pass 10 get beyond
our pickets." The general drew . camp
chair beside . pine table and took up q
pen. "How viii you have It writtenr'
"'Pass Private Mark Malons'-thai
name will do a. well - any-'beyond
our lines at will"
The general wrote the pass and hand.
ing it to Private Malone, 'Go, and God
bless YOU" he said. He took his ennis.
sary's hand and pressed it heartily.
As the words, "Go, and God bless
you'll" rang again in memory the soldier
touched the TANKS Of his horseSlixhtly
with his great brass spurs and began to
descend the mountain.
An hour later he entered the little
town of Jasper. Riding up to the tavern
he refined in his horse and let him drink
at the rough wooden trough in front.
A number Of country people were sit
ting on the veranda, and every one fixed
his eyes on the soldier, who sat on his
horse looking about him with - much
apparent indifference as if be were with
In the Union lines. When the animal
had drunk his fill his rider cast the reins
to negro and dismounted. Then, de-
taching his carbine from where he had
hooked 1t to his saddle, he took it in his
hand and tramped into the house to the
jingle Of his spurs.
Not o word was spoken by those watch
ing in admiration the strarping young
fellow with 90 young . face set ON 80
stalwart frame. He paid no attention
to them, but walked into the dining room
and called for supper. After devoting
himself to Q plate Of bacon and corn
bread, with . cup Of chicory In lieu Of
coffee ror the blockade Of the southern
ports had stopped the flow Of the coffee
bean from foreign countries), he walked
out ON the gallery, and seating himself
on q wooden bench took . brierwood
pipe and q tobacco pouch out Of his
pocket and began to smoke.
Jasper was mo mans land" The peo-
pie living there and thsreabout were
nearly all Confederate sympathizers,
bat had learned TO look for Union or
Opnfedsrste troops with an equal chance
eitheg. From tho moment Of the eol-