The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-08-01

rlgnted by American Press Association. AL
rights reServed)
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 tbe head Of his bri-
gade and was approaching his COM
mander to report glorious success;
that the general said to him after thank
ing him for his achievement, "Colo-
mel, it will give me pleasure to recon-
mend you for promotion to the rank of
brigadier''-
General"
He awoke and saw Jakey Slack look
ing down on him. 1t was he who had
spoken the word "General!'
General" said Jakey as he saw his
friends eyes open, ''it's ben a Id
hard fight
"For heavens sake, my boy, where
have you been, and what are you doing
here? The battle will open soon again
this morning I wonder it hasn't open
ed already. You must get back"
II thort war sojer.
"Well, Jakey, you are soldier,
that's a fact, and I'm not.'
Reckon I'll git cashyered. l ben
away 'thout any furlough."
"Where?'
"Waal, 1 thort I'd go n see Souri,
afore tn fight cos I n1oughtn't hev no
chance after it. mought git killed, n
then I wouldn't be no good nohow."
''Have you seen her?'
"Yas.''
"And Laura?" he started up.
"Yas."
''And you told her.
"Reckon.
Maynard paused in his questions. He
dreaded to know how his wife had re-
ceived the news. Did she condemn him
with the rest?
Jakey put his hand in the pocket OF
his coat and took out a card on which
was a picture Of Laura holding her
child. Maynard seized it, and in a mo-
ment his eyes were riveted on it to the
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
"Reckon she uns nd like fo' ter hear
y talk thet away" put in Jakey SYM
pathetically.
"Jakey, I'm changed man. I feel
that am to have chance to vindicate
myself on the field today. For two days
have been fighting in the ranks.
have had only a 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.
Well need it soon. This day will de.
eide the 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 a breakfast.
A 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
munched their 'hard tack" and swal
lowed their coffee, quite willing to be
hidden from Confederate fire while they
were doing so. Meanwhile Jakey gave
his friend an account OF his trip and
how he had arrived on the field at noon
the day before.
''How did you find me, Jakey?" ask
ed the nearer.
"Waal, asst good many sojers, r
none of 'em knew whar y war. Bout
dark I heard one o. tn cavalry of tn
old brigade. our brigade, thet knew y.
He was a-tellin how y went with 'en
in charge. They all liked ter hev ye1
do thet away. asst him whar I mough
find y, n he reckoned he sor y goir
up this way. So I KEN n found y
Thet's all. -
AS he finished Maynard exclaimed:
"Look!"
The fog had suddenly lifted. They
wese on ridge which had been forti
fed during the night, the works resem
bling horseshoe. Their position wa
on the left side of the shoe and com
manded view up the Chattanooga road
which ran directly north from wher
they were There short distance eas
Of the road and overlapping the Unio1
left the lifting mist revealed line o
Continued on 8th page.)