Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29

the rope and keeping the guard busy
crying for the corporal TO rescue cast
off portions Of feed and tie up undone
halter straps.
The routine Of cavalry camp was al
together new to lady's saddle horse.
and must confess that the novelty OF
the experience fascinated me to
forgetfulness of what 1 should
otherwise have regarded as my
very unpleasant situation. The bugles
seemed TO blow constantly, and there
was abundant evidence that the horses
understood the calls quite as well as
the men. At that particular blast,
which / afterwards learned to be "ooots
and saddle" there was a general COM
motion at the rope. and the scrouglng
and biting Of the animals in anticipa-
ton Of packing and girthing were
speedily Quieted by the troopers, who
charged on them In twtnkling and
scattered them through the camp, each
to his Individual load.
My particular equipments were put
on by Jim, who seemed to be captivated
by the stir and novelty Of our surround
ings. | observed that my saddle and
blanket were somewhat fiser than those
worn by the other horses, and that my
outfit was not disfisured like theirs by
bundles OF clothing, sacks Of grain and
pots and pans.
Twas the chosen mount of the cap
tain commanding, and this distinction
was so gratifying to my vanity that
was altogether on my good behavior.
When the line was formed and the
troopers stood to horse l proudly car
ried my officer, who was no great
weight, to the front of the line; the bu-
glers tickled their lips and moustaches
with the mouth pieces, and, At nod
from the captain, blew an ascending
duet, when the troopers rose together
into the heavy saddles and filed past as
by twos, the long column rafting and
jingllng with the peculiar sounds to
which afterwards became quite accus-
toned.
It was still scarcely full daylight
when the winding column picked Its
way across the field like a great snake
with loose iron scales and buried It's
small head In the thin fog overhansing
the road and drifting against the woods
beyond. Butternut Jim brought up
the rear, mounted on the captains
handsome black and leading another
horse, grotesquely decorated with camp
kettles, COTE pots, grain bags and all
the varied and unsightly articles OF an
officers bedchamber and mess kit.
To my great surprise, for l bad not
seen him since leaving the woodchuck
pasture, there walked Botherum, bleat-
ing and wagging his stumpy tall In JOY
full recognition OF my presence, as good
a soldier ana as green 8 recruit as the
newest OF us. Wherever he had kept
himself up to this time, he was OF the
opinion that his proper place was In my
company, and, but for the restraint
Jim was forced to put upon him, he
would have joined the bugiers OF the
captains little staff.
A little farther on horse battery
was drawn up in the field at the road
aide. the cannonesrs all mounted and
ready TO take their places at the rear
When bad finally settled down to the
monotony of the slow march my nina
naturally reverted TO my young mis-
tress. whom | had often borne at
swif.er pace over these same roads. ana
as I thought OF her passing into the
twilight with Lion by her side my 1ckle-
ness and Inconsistency stung me with
nanr of remorse. l had not only for
gotten her during the excitement OF the
morning, but had joined myself to the
fortunes of her enemies.
We made brief halt for feed and wa
ter at noon, and then pushed on until
nearly nightfall before we found camp
and unsaddled. An advance guard had
been thrown well forward during the
afternoon, and frequent messages about
the roads and crossroads al the front
CANA back to the captain. We had
evidently been in pursuit OF something
that we had not yet found, out IL was
equally evident that we were near II.
whatever it might be, for the ougles
were not blown and great care was
taken 10 extinguish the fires before
dark.
Somewhere about 10 o'clock the moon
came up; the pickets were drawn In
from the TANKS while we were being
saddled, and we TOOK the road again,
moving as silently as possible. and fire.
ouently hating for information from
the advance guard. Once We came to
river where the bridge had been burned,
but a cotton wooded old dsrkey showed
us the way TO shallow ford, where the
gun carriage could easily follow u.s.
The overhanging bushes sparkled
with the dew, and the odor OF ihe wet
grass was almost irresistible IS We
trampled il under our iron-shod feet
The full moon overhead SHOWN on US
IS we breasted the stream, plouEhing
flashing furrow Of light across its
swirling current; and when we reached
-. o,nosits hank we halted 10 read