The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-01-26

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"C0p," he said, ~ ben thi1oken I'd like
ter ji11e the dr7oy."
toi1et-the only toilet either made-Mark
led off on the railroad ties to Chatta-
nooga. The railroad soon left the river
bank, and they proceeded in 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 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
were alike asleep. and without meeting
q soul walked about till he came to a
hotel called the Crutchfeld house. As
he approached the door opened, and a
negro boy with broom in his hand
stood in the opening.
''Can l git room?" asked Mark.
''No, sab. not till de proprietor wakes
up"
my little brother is tired; he must 20
to sleep at once"
The boys eyes opened wide at dollar
bill slipped in his hand. Without a
word he took key from the rack above
a desk in the Office, and in a few min
utes both travellers were safely lodged.
with no one but the negro having seen
them enter the town or the house.
$50 far, so good" said Mark. Nov
comes the real racket. By this time to-
morrow morning shall be either safe
across the rlver again, or wouldn't
give Confederate bond for my life."
After few hours sleep he rose, and
calling Jakey they 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
federate bills. He followed the sugges
ton Jakey had made at setting out anG
bought some calico and tobacco ant
the squirrel gun Jakey had modestly
| suggested for himself. Mark was no.
unwilling to have the gun with them. a:
he thought it might possibly be of serv
ice in case he should get hunted ant
cornered; but in that event he counted
very little on any means of defense ex
cept fight or deception.
Mark was astonished at the number
of officers and soldiers he saw in tin
streets. he found new general il
command, of whom he had not heard a.
a prominent leader, Braxton Bragg. FL
made a circuit of the town and an est
mate of the troops, but this was Of littl,
value, for upon the arrival Of train
regiment after regiment marched int
camp. Mark stood ON the sidewalk hold
ing Jakey by the hand, looking at tn
Confederates tramping along under tn
stars and bars, their bands, when the
had any, which was rare, playing dis
cordantly "Dixie" or THE Bonny Blu
Flag"
What regiment air tibet arr" aske'
Mark of a soldier standing beside hin
putting at rank cigar.
Eighth Tennessee"
"Whar they all come FROM
''Tupelo. Come from thar m'self
spell ago."
"Whar y goen?"
"Only old Bragg knows, and he won
tell. Reckon we're goen moth to Knox
vile ter foller tn two brigades ez wen
up spell ago."
what troops air all these hyar an
them ez is comen?"
"Waal, thar's Cheatham's and Will
ers' divisions, and reckon Anderson!
saw Gineral Polk terday, n they sa
Hardee's hyar. I'm in tn Twenty
fourth Tennessee m'self, and tibet
Cheatham's. Lays cavalry brigade
hyar Thet's all the cavalry knows on.
Mark was amazed. A large souther
force was concentrating at Chattanoog;
and perhaps they would pour into Tel
nessee or Kentucky by one of the route
pointed out to him by his general.
was q splendid plan, provided the gel
eral who was to execute it could kee
his enemy from knowing his intention
long enough to throw an army on h
flank or rear. ~.s
| Then in making circuit Of the tow
Mark was impressed with the natur,
strength Of the position. He gazed ov,
the plain eastward, his eye resting q
; Missionary ridge, but did not dream
the soldiers battle destined to tai
place there . year later, when the nae
in the Army Of, the Cumberland, disr
Egarding the plans Of their superior
would start from the bottom Of ,th'
mountain and defeat an enemy pourir
shot and shell down upon them fro
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