The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-04-25
Vol. 5.

nandS or those he has ordered 20 De8ln
the attack at daylight aud which arc to
be signal for others. The streak broad
ems; day comes; tho sun rises; 1t Is 8
O'Clock. Still all Is silent along the line.
It Is only q mistake, only an order not
received or understood by tho general
who was to lead of, but III that mis-
take Is involved possible failure. With
all the vaunted generalship on the field
Of battle what is 1t, after all, that turns
the tide except the mistakes2
Mark Maynard on that Sunday morn
ing was lying with his body in the dirt
and his head on the root Of tree. he
dreamed that he had just come in from
making a charge at tho head Of his bri
gade and was approaching his COM
mander to repoxt glorious success;
that the general said to him after thank
ing him for his achievement, "Colo-
mel, it will give me pleasure to Secom-
mend you for promotion to the rank Of
brigadier''-
"Generalr'
He awoke and saw Jakey Slack LOOK
ing down Oh him. 1t was he who had
spoken the word "Generalp'
General" said Jakey as he saw his
friends eyes open, "it's ben d---d
hard fight"
"For heavens sake, my boy, where
have you boen, and what are you doing
here? The battle will open soon again
this morning. wonder it hasn't open
cd already. You must get back"
Il thort I war sojer.
"Well, Jakey, you are a soldier,
that's q fact and I'm not ;,
Reckon I'll git cashyered. l ben
away 'thout any furlough."
"Where2"
"waal, / thort I'd 90 n soc Souri,
afore tn fight cos 7 moughtn't t hev 10
ohance after it. l mought git killed, N
then wouldn't be no good nohow."
Have you seen her?''
"Yas."
And Laura?" he started up.
"Yas."
"And you told herr
"Reckon.''
Maynard paused in his questions He
dreaded to know how his wife had re-
Coived the news. Did sho condemn him
with the rest?
Jakoy put his hand in the pocket Of
his coat and took out card on which
was a picture of Laura holding her
child. Maynard seized it, and in mo-
ment his eyes wero rivcted ON it to tho
exclusion of all other objects. His mind
drank in thirstily all it suggested.
"Mark," he exclaimed suddenly,
"for these you must win back your
spurs.
'Rockon sho uns ud like TO- ter hear
y talk thet away" put in Jalzoy SYM
pathotically.
"Jakey, I'm changed man. + feel
that am to have n chance to vindicato
myself Oh tho field today. For two days
I have been fighting in the ranks I
have had only private's opportunity,
and that is to furnish material for the
sacrifice demanded by the god Of war,
while the god only smiles Oh those who
lead tho victim. Today-today'-
'Somep'n'll turn up sho', y bet. "
"Come, we must get somo breakfast
We'll noed it soon. This day will do
oido tho fate Of the Army of the Cum
berland."
Going to group Of soldiers near by,
from whose campfire emanated the
pleasing odor Of boiling coffee, the two
asked and received breakfast.
fog hung over the valley Of the
Chickamauga which screened the two
armies from each other. Maynard and
Jakey were ignorant OF their surround
ings hundred yards distant, so they
munohed their "hard tack" and swal.
lowed their coffee, quite willing to be
hidden from Confederate fire while they
woro doing So Meanwhile Jakey gave
his friend m account of his trip and
how he had arrived on tho fold at noon
the day before.
"How did you find me, Jakey?" ask.
ed tho hearer
"Waal, I asst good many sojers, n
mono Of 'em knew whar y war Bout
dark I heard one O. tn cavalry of tn
old brigade our brigade. thet knew ~
He was a-tellin how y went with 'em
in charge. They all liked tor hev yor
do thet away. I ast him whar T mought
find y, n he reokonod he sor y goin
up this way. So I KEN n found y.
Thet's all"
AS he finished Maynard exclaimed:
"Look!"
Tho fog had suddenly lifted They
were Oh ridge which had boon forti.
fled during the night, the works rescm.
bling horseshoe. Their position was
OH tho left side Of the shoe and oom.
manded view up tho Chatt nooga road,
which ran directly north from where
they wore. There short distance cas-,
OF the road and overlapping the Union
left tho lifting mist revealed q limo OF
Con1oderate gray. As Maynard spoke,
with shout they rushed forward and
took possession Of the prize they had
been trying to grasp for two days. Thoy
were botween tho Union army and Chat
tanooga. 'n" o'''''
Leaving Jakey whore thew wero and
tnstraoting him to stay there % III, "' h9
should return, Maynard went dow, .te te
take hand in tho fight. Ho mm Sonr,, " =.
dead soldier, whose musket ana ui,u naa
fridge box he seized, and pushino ~, ~"t =,
the line Of firing took position VIII M y, y,
infantry regiment. The enomy. unsnm
ported, were driven from the Chattanop
ga road to q ridge near by, whore tho,
halted and gave their pursuers despor
ate fight. Then the regiment to whici
Maynard had allied himself was ordor.
ed to another mart of the field and h,