Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-09

After breakfast he took Jakey and
strolled around the town. making pur
chases. He thought II prudent to &c,
some Of his greenbacks changed for Con
federate bills. He followed the sugges
tion Jakey had made at setting out and
bought some calico and tobacco and
the squirrel gun Jakey had modestly
suggested for himself. Mark was moi
unwilling to have the gun with them, q,
be thought It 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 fight or deception.
Mark was astonished at the number
Of officers and soldiers he saw In the
streets. He found q new general In
command. OF whom he had not heard q,
prominent leader. Braxton Bragg. III
made 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 Int
camp. Mark stood on the sidewalk hold
ing Jakey by the hand, looking at the
Confederates tramping along under the
stars and bars, their bands, when they
had any, which was rare. playing dis
c0rdantly "Dixie" or Tho Bonny Blue
Flag"
"what regiment air thet arr asked
Mark Of q soldier standing beside him
putting at rank cigar.
Eighth Tennessee.
"Whar they all come from
"Tupelo. Come from thar m'self q
spell ago."
"Whar y goeny
"Only old Bragg knows, and he won't
tell. Reckon we're goen moth to Knox.
vile ter foller tn two bhgades ez went
up spell ago."
"what troops air all these hyar and
them ez Is comeny'
"Waal, thar's Cheatham's and With
ers' divisions, and reckon Anderson's.
saw Gineral Polk ter,lay. n they say
Hardee's hyar. I'm In tn Twenty
fourth Tennessee m'self, and thet's
Cheatham's. Lays cavalry brigade ID
hyar. Thets all the cavalry knows on.
Mark was amazed. A large southern
force was concentrating mt Chattanooga,
and perhaps they would pour into Ten.
nessee or Kentucky by one Of the routes
pointed out to him by his general. II
was a splendid plan, provided the gen.
eral who was to execute II could keep
his enemy from knowing his intentions
long enough to throw an army on his
flank or rear.
Then In making circuit Of the 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 o year later, when the men
In the Army OF the Cumberland. disre-
garling the plans Of their superors,
would start from the 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 couldY sighed Mark.
snow It Is too late"
While It was evident to Mark that the
enemy were concentrating for 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 II would be. He strolled
about with Jakey all the afternoon, the
two sufficiently resembling country
bumkins to avoid suspicion. Passing
recruiting station. Mark went inside the
tent, where an officer was writing at a
pine table.
Gap" he said. III BEN thinker I'd
like ter jine the army"
"You're Just the man we want.
You've got plenty Of bone and muscle.
I should reckon you'd been In the ranks
afore this"
"waal, l don't want ter fight outen
my state Z I kin help It."
"What slater
Tennessee"
81 reckon you'll have o chance to fight
In 1t II you join the army"
"Reckon soY'
"Yas; I'm recruiten fur Cheathams
division. Thar all Tennessee rigeinents
In our division except the artillery n a
rigement O. Georgia and one o Texas In
fantry."
"Whar Is yer divisiony"
ACROSS the river. At Dallas or Poe's;
somewhar up thar. Y better let me put
yer down fur my rigement, the -th
Tennessee.
Thought hev ter go way down south
"No fear o. that Jest now."
"What makes y cal'clate on "
There's two divisions across now
ourn and Withers'. Y'don't reckon their
goen ter cross the river fur the purpose
O. marchen south, do yT
"Oh, I don't know nothen bout mill.
tary."
"Waal, will you Join usl"
"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 'em driv out"
"The way to do 1t, my good man, u to
take musket and help"
"Do 20 reckon Tits what we're goen
i,r dor
"I tell you that two divisions are al.
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 Q further
movement. Cane. now, my man, stop
taken and take yer place whar 70
oughter be. What's yer manner
The officer took mp pen.
"All right. cap, count me In. I'll Jest
20 n git my bundle and DO back hyar In
half an hour"
The captain hesitated. Mark began
to fear that he was thinking Of using
force rather than let 30 promising . 10
errAt 60.
"Are you sure you'll como back
"Sarten, cap"
Mark moved away, and II was NOS nm
tl he had got out Of sight that he real
ized he had run great risk. for hs saw
that the captain would have detained
him had he not believed In his sincerity
about enlisting.
Mark went straight to the hotel and
paid his bill. He feared the recruiting
officer might send for him or have hin
followed, 10 without waiting to eat hi
supper he made package Of his pur