Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-28
CHICKAMAUGA.
By Captain F. A. MITOHEL.
ICopyright, lsol, by American Press Asso la
 tipn.l
CHAPTER XVII.
THE rrrsr GUN AT Culc.AmAuGA.

THE FIRST GUN AT CllIth ANACGA.
 Mari, 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 flow days caracol- ed fantastically before him like an ar my of cavalry goblins in review. They had scarcely got hy 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 it bring forth? Surely battle could not be much lon- ger delayed, and with battle there was a chance for oblivion.
 Scratching match, he reached for his watch. It was l2 o'clock. He felt that he could no longer bear those low peaked canvas walls above him. He must get out under tho broader canopy. Lighting his candle, he noticed the uni form of Private Flanagan, in which he had aided the escape of Caroline Fitz Hugh. He put it on, and, throwing back the tent flaps, stepped out into the night. Tho sky was covered with thin clouds, behind which the moon shOnc, giving a light between darkness and moonlight. He set out toward tho front. Passing out of his own immediate camp, he as cendcd tho 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 Vino valley. he seated himself on a 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 n Confed- crate army Back of him, in the valley of the ChickamauSa, were the Union troops, tho two armies making in all 100, 900 souls.
 There came a distant rumbling from tho south. It grew. faded, was lost and rcappearcd, the unmistakable rattle of q train It came on slowly from a dis. tancc of several miles, the rolling of the trucks, the panting of the locomotive, growing louder the while till it reach. ed point directly east of where he was sitting and d few miles south of Rin. gold. Thorc it could not only be heard, but seen by him. He watched it move on up the road. and at last it was lost in Ringold. He listened to hear if it went farther, but the sound did not recom- mence
 Scarcely had the train stoPV9d wher another was heard coming from the same direction. It, too, came on, wa: lost for time in the tunnel, and pass ing north stopped where tho other hat stopped. Then came third and fourth all moving in the same direction. II less than an hour Maynard counted fivt trains, all of which stopped at Ringold He rose from his seat. There" h' exclaimed pointing to Ringold, lis 1 i point from which, if am not mistaken | there will soon como an attack on oul lines. They arc bringing troops in thost 1 trains to mass them on our left, whert there Is so little to oppose them. If tn, | trains wcrr going south. it would argu that the enemy were rctreating. Com | ing north means that they arc going t, | lslht lIlC OH ilSlNt IL lttOhS lO l1lS SlS I this rapid moving of men at this hou meant daylight attack right here ol the left. If so there is no time to lose i 1 must get back and give warning" "
 He walked rapidly ill the direction O
 Reeds bridge, and coming to the head l quarters of tine commanding officer 0 the troops he suught found an aid wh
 Was on duty all might, tine general bein 1 apprch.2lsive ill hl@ ,NpuSrd positio
 and wishing to le' c.il, Ii at the slightcs
 sign If an attack IT, him Maynard ro
 counted what h" hld Srtn, and the gen ! cral was awakened and informed. Fl
 turned willing ear to Maynard's eau
 tion and at once ordered that the me
 be aroused. the horses fed and breakfas | prepared. Then in" horses were sad l died, the artillery harnc$scd and tn
 baggage loaded into the wagons.
 After imparting his information May
 nnrd went to his oWN camp, called fC
 his horse, and huCkIing on his sabC
 and pistol rodO back t0 tno camp he Ina
 left. Ho arrived just in time to join
 reconHoit6ring party starting to rid
 over the ridge ill tho direction of RiI