The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-24
,CHAPTER xxIv-Continued. n
eosva,o~r 1899 ~ A~ts,eAs 1ssss Assos Nf,ssAI

gray hsteIS lOr tne souuu OF guns III tno
hands Of those he has ordered to begin
the attack at daylight and which are to
be signal for others The streak broad
ems; day comes; the sun rises; IL is 8
O'Clock. Still all is silent along the line.
1t is only mistake. only an order not
received or understood by the general
who was to lead off, but in that mis-
take is involved possible failure. With
all the Wanted generalship on the field
of battle what is ii, after all, that turns
the tide except the mistakes?
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 charge at the head CT his bril-
gade and was approaching bis COM
mandef to report % glorious success;
that the general said to him after thank
ing him for bis achievement, "Colo.
mel, it will give me pleasure to recon-
mend you for promotion to the rank Of
brigadier"-
''Geneyal!'
He awoke and saw Jakey Slack look
ing down on him. 1t was he who had
spoken the word "Generalp'
General. I" said Jakey as he saw his
friends eyes open, ''it's ben d---d
hard fight.
For heavens sake, my boy, where
have you beon, and what are you doing
here? The battle will open soon again
this morning. wonder it hasn't open
ed already. You must get back"
II thort war sojer.
well. Jakey. you are soldier,
that's fact and I'm not.
Reckon I'll git cashyered. I ben
away 'thout any furlough."
",=', ore?''
WAL. thort I'd go n see Souri,
Store tn fight cos l moughtn't hev no
chance after it. i mought git killed, n
then wouldn't be no good nohow"
Have you seen her?''
"Yas.",
"And Larra?" he started up
"Yas."
''And you told her.
Reckon.
Maynard paused in his questions He
dreaded TO know how his wife had re-
ceived tho news Did she condemn him
with the rest?
Jakey put his hand in the pocket OF
his coat and took out q card on which
was picture of Laura holding her
child Maynard seized it, and in mo-
ment his eyes were riveted ON it to the
exclusion of all other objects. Els mind
drank in thirstily all it suggested.
Mark he exclaimed suddenly,
''for these you must win back your
spurs. -
Reckon she uns nd like TO- ter hear
y talk thet away" put in Jakey sym
pathetically
''Jakey, I'm changed man. feel
that am to have chance to yindicate
myself on the field today. For two days
! have been fighting in the ranks. /
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 on those who
lead the victim. Today-today"-
"Somep'n'll turn up sho', y bet. "
Come, we must get some breakfast.
We'll need it soon. This day will de-
eide the fate of the Army of the Cum
berland y
s Going 60 a group of soldiers near by,
from whogb campfire emanated the
pleasing oGor Of boiling coffee, the two
asked and received u breakfast
A fog hung over the valley Of the
Chickamarga which screened the two
arInies from each other. Maynard and
Jskey were ignorant Of their surround
ings a hundred yards distant, SO they
munched their hard tack" and swal-
lowed their coffee, quite willing to be
hidden froa Confederate fire while they
were doing so. Meanwhile Jakey gave
his friend an account OF his trip and
how no had arrived on tho field at noon
the day before.
'.How did you find me, Jakey'" ask
ed tho hearer
"Waal, asst good many sojers, N
none of 'em knew whar y war. Bout
dark ! heard one o. tn cavalry Of tn
old brigade. our brigade, thet knew y
He was a-tollin how y went with 'em
In charge. They all liked ter hev yer
do thet away. asst him whar mought
find y, n he reckoned he sor y goin
up this way. SO KEN n found y
Thet's ALL +"
AS he finished Maynard exclaimed
Look"
The fog haG suddenly lifted. They
were on ridgo which had been forti-
fed during the night. tho works resem-
bling horseshoe. Their position was
on tho left side of the shoe and COM
manded view up the Chattanooga road,
which ran directly north from where
they were. There short distance east
of tho road and overlapping the Union
left tho lifting mist revealed line OF
Confederate gray. As Maynard spoke,
with q shout they rushed forward and
took possession of the prize they had
been trying to grasp for two days. They
were between the Union army and Chat
tanooga.
Leaving Jakey where they were and
instructing him TO stay there till he
should return, Maynard went down 10