Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16

ina t'fc ptUeral EAU W MIN aitcf thohhF
ing ain for his achievement, Colo
mel, It ' III give me pleasure to recon-
mcld you for promotion to the rank OF
brisadicr"-
"Generall''
He awoke nnd saw Jakey Slack look
ing down on him. IL was he who had
spoken tho word "General"
General, said Jakcy rs he saw his
friends eyes open, Its ben d----d
For heavens sake, my boy, where
have You been, 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. +"
81 thort ! war sojer. "
"Well, Jakey. you are q soldier,
that's fact, and I'm not
Reckon I'll git cashyered. ] ben
away 'thout any furlough.
"Where!"
"waal, | thort I'd 60 n see Souri,
afore th fight COS l moughtn't hev nc
chance after ii. mought git killed, Z
then wouldn't be no good nohow."
Have you seen herr"
"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 card on which
was a picture Of Laura holding her
child. Maynard seized II, and in mo-
ment his eyes were riveted Oh 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 TO- ter hear
y talk thet away" put in Jakey SYM
pathotically.
"Jakey, I'm changed man. i feel
that am &c have chance to vindicate
myself on the field today. For two days
| have been fighting in the ranks. /
have had only private's opportunity,
and that il 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"-
"Snmepn'll turn up sho', y bet.
Come, we must get some breakfast.
Well need it soon. This day will dc.
eide tho fate of the Army Of the Cum.
berland ~
Going to q group Of soldiers near by.
from whose campfire emanated the
pleasing odor Of boiling coffee, the two
asked and received 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 n hundred yards distant, so they
munchcd their "hard tack" and swal-
lowed their coffee, quito willing TO he
hidden from Confederate fire while they
were doing SO. Meanwhile Jakey gave
his friend nn account of his trip and
how he lad arrived on the field at noon
the day before.
How did you find me, JakeyF' ask
cd the bearer.
"Waal, | asst q good many sojers, II
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.tellin how y went wit5 'em
in q charge. They all liked ter heV Ter
do thct away. asst him whar mought
find v, n he reckoned he sor y go'1
up this way. So / kem n found y
Thet's all. "
As he finished Maynard exclaimed:
Look
The fog had suddenly lifted. They
were on ridge which had been forti-
fed during the night, the works resem-
bling horseshoe Their position was
ON the left side OF the shoe and com
uanded view up the Chattanooga road,
which ran directly north from where
tley were. There q short distance east
Of tine road and overlapping the Union
lef, the lifting mist revealed line OF
Confederate gray. AS Maynard spoke,
with 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 to
take hand in the fight. He found a
dead soldier, whose musket and car
fridge box he seized, and pushing on to
the line Of firing took position with an
infantry regiment. The enemy, unsup-
ported, were driven from the Chattanoo-
ga road to ridge near by, where they
halted and gave their pursuers desper'
ate fight Then the regiment to which
MAYNARD had allied himself was order
ed to another part Of the field, and he
went with them. Passing through q
thick fire OF bullets, which were mingled
with the larger missiles Of cannon, he
encountered sight that has seldom
been seen ON the field of battle. Crouch
ing under log was little girl about 6
years old, who. having got caught IN
among tho disputants, was right In the
midst of battlefield. Maynard never
forgot the contrast between the terrified
child and the unmerciful scenes sur
rounding her. Being q volunteer he
was under no mans orders except as no
chose to obey them. Falling ont OF the
ranks, he went to the child, took her up
in his arms, and while bullets pinged
about them and shells screeched above
them carried her to the rear, to where
he had left Jakey.
Here, Jakey," he said, setting her
down by the boy. "it's time you have a
sweetheart, so I've brought you one.
She comes TO you from tho field Of bat
tie and probably won't stand any non.
sense. SO you must treat her with proper
Difference.
"Gollyr" exclaimed the boy, squar-
ing himself before the weeping girl,
with his hands in his pockets.
"Take her to that house down there
and wait till / come-that is. If ever
come, and il ! don't tell ml wife tn
look ont for this little one. and II nec-s
sary provide for her. ! must 90. There
is hard fighting at the front"
Jakey took the little girl by the hand
and led her away. while Maynard went
over to the south slope Of the ridge TO
see what was going on at the right.
Standing on an eminence, he looked
IL Inn EraCa l0Hxs aEd