The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-01-05
CHAPTER l.
20 MANS LAND.

no MANS LAND.
Il was the twentieth Of August, eight.
cen hundred and siNty-two. Corinth had
been evacuated more than two months
before. The Army of the Ohio had moved
eastward into northern Alabama. The
president and eminent Union generals
were anxious as to east Tennessee. where.
it was rumored. the Confederates were
preparing for some new move.
High in the Cumberland mountains a
soldier in the blue and yellow uniform
of private of cavalry sat on his horse,
looking down on the valleys OF the Sc
quatchie and the Tennessee. A carbine
was slung over his shoulder: Colts re-
chair beside a pine table and took up
pen. ''How will you have it written"
'''Pass Private Mark Malone that
name will do as well as 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
touched the tanks of his horse lightly
with his great brass spurs aud began to
descend the mountain.
An hour later he entered the little
town of Jasper. Riding up to the tavern
he reiEed 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 as much
apparent Indifference as if he were with
in the Union lines. When the animal
had drunk his fill his rider cast the reins
to negro and disIaounted. Then, de-
taching his carbine from where he had
hooked it 70 his saddle. he took it in his
hand and tramped into the house to the
jingle Of his spurs.
Not a word was spoken by those watch
ling in admiration the strappins young
fellow with SO young face set on so
stalwart frame. He paid no attention
to them. but walked into the dining room
and called for supper. After devoting
himself to plate Of bacon and corn
bread, with cup of chicory in lieu Of
coffee (for the blockade of the southern
ports had stopped the dow Of the coffee
bean from foreign countries,. he walked
out on the gallery. and seating himself
on a wooden bench took brierwood
pipe and a tobacco pouch out of his
pocket and began to smoke.
Jasper was mo mans land" The peo-
pie living there and thereahout We're
nearly all Confederate svmpatiiz. rs.
but had learned to look for Union or
Confederate troops with an equal chance
of either. From the moment of the sol
dier's arrival they had discussed bis
coming in whispers. Soldiers of either
side usually came in numbers. 1t was
seldom that a single trooper had the.
/. hardihood TO enter the town Of Jasper
alone, especially one wearing the blue.
Presently an old man dressed in but
ternut'' got Mp from his seat among the
loungers and approached the stranger
for the purpose Of reconnoi5er:
Reckon y come from Decnerd
Yank:'
"Therea bout
Over the mountains:
Eyes"
You ms got many Sojer< over thar
"Where?"
AT sparty."
No"
''Murfreesboro:'
|. Il don't know"
Reckon thar's powerful sight a.
McMinnville:'
"A division perhaps
the man paused q moment and then
went on:
"Tnet'> an all fired pert rifle O yourn.
Wouldn't mind letten me handle it.
woul.l ~
Mark cooked the piece, took off the
cap and handed it to his interrogation.
He still had his revolver, while the man
had q weapon which corl,l not be fred
without percussion cap.
''Waal, now. thet's quar-"
The man looked from the rifle to the
soldier, not knowing which to admire
most-the mechanism of she former or
the coolness OF the latter. Then he
handed it back
You amt no Yank."
why not:"
"Yanks don't come down hyar all
alone. Besides Yankee sojer wouldn't
ride blooded mare like that a-one.
Morgan's men rides them kind O critters
and wears them uniforms sometimes"
Mark smiled knowingly.
"You think I'm one of Colonel Nor
gan's men, do you:"
Reckon yer one o. ourn anyway"
And the man walked away well satis-
fed with his penetration.
The soldier got up, went into the tav-
ern and paid for his supper with one of