The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-04-04
CHAPTER VIII.
TERS THE ARMv

CHAPTER VIII.
JAKEY ENTERS THE ARMY
The two wayfarers started in the di
rection the cavalry had taken, but after
going short distance Colonel Maynard
reined in his horse.
"Stop bit, Madge," he said. II
want to consult my staff as to the
I think l know shorter route than
this
$50 do l."
''The one you and l took when we
went to Chattanooga before -
''Ter bring back information, added
Jakey proudly.
"We'l take it again. It's off the
main road, and we'll be less liable to be
murdered for our boots.
Reckon, said Jakey, wrinkling his
brow and drawing down the corners OF
his mouth with all intensely delibera-
tive expression, as though, the problem
having been submitted to him, it be-
hooved him to consider it carefully.
They rode back past the house, and
keeping on for about a mile turned into
a byway. This they followed till they
reached the Chattanooga road.
Colonel Maynard was III the most ex-
uberant spirits. He had turned over the
command of his brigade for day or
two to the colonel next in rank to him
self and was on his way to join his
young wife, from whom he had parted
a week after his marriage. The two act
ed on his spirits like champagne. He
laughed without having anything to
! laugh at; he bantered Jakey; he talked
lovingly to his favorite horse, Madge.
In short, Colonel Maynard appeared
4 just what he was in years, little more
| than boy.
His services as a scout had attracted
the attention of the army and had led
the general for whom he secuted to adj
vance him. He had stepped from the
ranks to high position on the staff,
and soon after cavalry regiment being
badly in need Of lieutenant colonel,
the colonel being inefficient and some
junior officer being needed to practical
ly command, Maynard was placed in
the position. When the colonel of the
regiment was got rid of, Maynard
was made colonel. Soon after his COM
mand was attached to brigade where
in he found himself the ranking regi-
mental commander. This gave him the
command Of the brigade.
He entered upon his duties with mis-
givings. He knew he was we'll fitted for
the duties of scout, but doubted if he
could command the respect of 5000
men. Besides he knew there lurked
within him spirit of antagonism to
conventional methods; he feared i'm
pulses that might wreck not only him
self, but his brigade-perhaps whole
army. True, there was often kind OF
Legitimate nobility about these i'm
pulses, but it did not render them any
the less dangerous.
On hearing the news of his appoint
ment to the command of brigade he
mounted his horse and dashed over to
the headquarters of the general to whom
he owed nearly all his advancement,
with view to protesting On arriving
there he stammered out reasons which
had no conference and was dismissed by
the general with the remark that he
was suffering from an attack Of ill tim
ed modesty, the general adding, ''You
are born soldier, Colonel Maynard,
and if the war lasts long enough to give
You an opportunity you will reach a
much higher command than that Of c
brigade.
Once on the road he and Jakey had
passed before on their journey together
to Chattanooga, Maynard took infinite
delight in talking over their ..cam-
| paign," as he called the mission they
had pursued. Jakey became more puff
ed up with pride at having been with
| the colonel on that occasion than hav-
ing ridden with him into Tullahoma
Others had been on his staff on the lat
! ter occasion, but he. Jake Slack, alone,
had been his boon companion, his con-
fidential friend, on his mission to Chat
tanooga. When Jakey considered this
double honor, he felt that he must GER
tainly have been born in uniform and
deprived Of it by some malignant fairy
soon after coming into the world. n
The Chattanooga road was by no
means deserted. Wagons under guard,
couriers, staff officers followed BY or
derlies, citizens, negroes, indeed all