Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-09
CHICKAMAUGA.
fCopyrisht, 1904 BY American Pres Assoeis'
toni
CHAPTER XXI.


THE FIRST GUN AT CHICKANAU0A.
Mark Maynard was passing the first
night after his sentence. Jakey had left
him, after their discussion Of the cam
paign, to relapse into gloom. He blew
out his candle and threw himself on
his camp cot Sleep would not come.
The events Of the past few days caracol-
ed Enthusiastically before him like an ar-
my Of cavalry goblins in review. They
had scarcely got by before they turned
and came cantering back again. Thus
they marched and countermarched till
midnight, and still no sign Of sleep.
MAYNARD tossed and turned and pined
for day And what would 1t bring forth!
Surely battle could not be much Ion
ger delayed, and with o battle there
was n chance for oblivion.
Scratching match, he reached for
his watch. It was IL o'clock. He felt
that he could no longer bear those low
peaked canvas walls above him. Flo
must get out under the broader canopy.
Lighting his candle, he noticed the uni-
form Of Private Flanagan, in which he
had aided the escape OF Caroline Fita
Hugh He put it on, and, throwing back
the tent flaps, stepped out into the night
The sky was covered with thin clouds,
behind which the moon shone, giving
n light between darkness and moonlight
He set ont toward the front Passing
out Of his own immediate camp, he as
cended the slope Of Pea Vine ridge.
which stood dark against the eastern
sky. Climbing to one OF its highest
points, where he could overlook the
Pea Vine valley. he seated himself on
rock and gave himself over to medita-
ton. Around him was the dark circle
OF the horizon, while above was the
great dome. Beneath him, on the east
ern slope Of the ridge, were the Union
outposts, beyond which slept Confed-
crate army. Back Of him. in the valley
Of the Chickamauga, were the Union
troops, the two armies making in all
100, 900 souls.
There came distant rumbling from
the south. II grew, faded, was lost and
reappeared, the unmistakable rattle oi
q train. II came ON slowly from dis
tance Of several miles, the rolling OF the
trucks, the painting Of the locomotive,
growing louder the while till 1t reach
ed point directly east Of where no was
sitting and few miles south Of Rim
gold. There it could not only be heard,
but seen by him. He watched 1t move
on up the road, and at last it was lost in
Ringold. He listened to hear IL it went
farther. but the sound did not recon-
mence.
Scarcely had the train stopped when
another was heard coming from the
same direction. 1t, too, came on, was
lost for time in the tunnel, and pass
ing north stopped where the other had
stopped. Then came a third and fourth
all moving in the same direction. In
less than an hour Maynard counted five
trains, all of which stopped at Ringo!d.
He rose from his seat. There" he
exclaimed. pointing to Ringold, lis
point from which, il am not mistaken,
there will soon come an attack on our
lines. They are bringing troops in those
trains 10 mass them on our left, where
there is so little to oppose them. IL the
trains were going south. il would argue
that the enemy were retreating Com
ing north means that they are going to
take the offensive. II looks to me as II
this rapid moving Of men at this hour
meant daylight attack right here on
the left. II so. there is no time to lose.
| must get back and give warning.
He walked rapidly in the direction OF
Reeds bridge, and coming to the head
quarters Of the commanding officer OF
the troops he sought found an aid who
was on duty oil night, the general being
apprehensiva in his exposed position
and wishing 10 be called ut the slightest
sign Of an attack. To him Maynard re-
counted what he had seen, and the gen.
eral was awakened and informed. He
turned willing ear to Maynard's eau
ton and at once ordered that the men
be aroused, the horses fed and breakfast
prepared. Then the horses were sad
died, the artillery harnessed and the
baggage loaded into the wagons.
After imparting his information May
uard went to his own camp, called for
his horse, and buckling ON his saber
and pistol rode back to the camp he had
left He arrived just in time to join a
accommodating party starting to ride
over the ridge in the direction OF Rim