Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-29

| tOrplu leUgtu uuNt ptcu hthhco u.
clusters Of white tents like the rings O
n gigantic anaconda. But now there II
| an arousins from its long period o
lethargy. The tents are being struck
the men are stuffing knapsacks, rolling
blankets or swallowing from tin cups !
last draft Of invigoratina coffee. Wagons
are being loaded with all kinds of CAM
eQuipage - .ents, camp cots. cooking
utensils, the pine tables and army desk
OF the statf departments. Here orderlie
are holding horses, waiting their riders
and there mca are strapping blankets or
ponchos behind saddles or examining
bacon and "hard tack" into haversacks,
while strikers empty the contents OF tho
| demijohn into canteens. Each regiment
rs soon ~ formed moves out into the
road. the whole taking up tho line oil
march by brigades and divisions
Ii is the right or head Of the monster
that awakens first The main body OF
this wing moves diagonally toward the
front and left, while cavalry pushes di-
rectly south to conceal the movement
and produce a false impression on the en-
emy. All day the infantry and artillery
work their way over dirt roads, tho men
marching at will, smoking. chatting.
laughing. the Irish regiments cracking
Jokes, the Germans singing, all with that
esprit which pervades an army just start
ing after n long period OF idleness on
n new campaign. A lashing OF artillery
horses, cursing Of mules, words oil
command, buglc calls, picket firing. the
occasional boom Of gnn, mingle con-
fusedly and in country used only tn
the peaceful lowing Of cattle or the
song of birds Throughout its whole
length the Army Of the Cumberland j.
in motion. advancing on that campaign
which is 10 maneuver the Confederatee
ont Of Tennessee and lead up To the bat
tie of Chickamauga
On road running parallel with the
Cumberland mountains. which flank the
Union army on its left. IA strange look
ing vehicle is going ut n breakneck pac'
toward the south. The horse is "A raw.
boned animal with long legs and neck.
while the vchicle-a buggy-is 80 be.
spattercd with mud that what paint re
mains on it Is invisible The bottom u
partly gone; the dashboard would LET
through a cannon ball without beins in
jured: tho springs are badly bent: the
ton. which Is let down-thcre are nt
props TO hold it up--is. shriveled anc
torn, its tatters flying behind IN tn,
wind. A woman in n striped calico
dress, a sulbonnet Of the same material.
a pair Of colorcd spectacles on her nose,
holds the reius and urges forward thf
horse. Yet strange looking rs Is the
conveyance and its occupant, for thai
time and region there is nothing unusu
al in the appearance OF either Tn.
country people inhabiting that portion
Of Tennessee are not cultured. and un
couthness is rather the rule than the eS'
ception.
Coming to place where she can gel
a full view for some distance ahead, The
woman glanccs over the intervening
space between her and the next rise il
the undulating ground. Seeing nothing
10 deter. she drives her horse on as rap
idly as she can force him 10 go, He,
buggy careons till il is In danger OF go
ing over; she is bounced from her seat
with prospect Of being sent over th'
dashboard; tho mud flies. the hors
wheezes. the buggy groans, but there l.
10 slackening OF pace.
"Go on. Bobby. go onv'
Turning curve in the road partly
hidden by trees she sees cavalry CANT
ahead In the road an officer stands talk
ing 10 n man in farm wagon, beside
whom, on q board seat. its two end,
resting on the wagon sides. sits boz
Of II, whilo on q back seat, evidently
borrowed from more pretentious We
hicle, is young girl, perhaps three oi
four years the boys senior.
The woman of the striped dress drove
up to the grodp, and drawing rein listen
ed TO what they were saying.
Cap" said the farmer-all officer
in the Union army were called by IN,
people Of the country either cap or gin
eral or mister-''cap. / want ter 81
through the lines powerful bad y
well, Dim thinkin. me good man,
replied the officer, with the brogue Of al
Irishman, that's exactly what ole
Rosy wants 20 do unless he prefers to gel
behind EN- and bag 'em from the rear
"Oh, don't mean fghtin! | want
ter go hum peaceful
Cant pass ye me good man. DIV,
orders not to pass any one south Will,
the army is moyin There's no need Il
be tellin We that all day Once ought Il
be sufficient.
What's thet?" cried shrill voic.
from the buggy lyon don't mean TO
ter tell me can't go hum?'
''Oi fear. me dear Teddy, thaty ye can't
il ye live beyond our lines. ="
HIN! And so you uns hev KEN dow'
hyar ter make war on women.
"Well. now. that depends on the kind
Of war We've come down vi ct arms
as my old preceptor at the university
used to say-God bless i'm! Like enough
the vi is for the men and the armis for
the women"
Il don't keer." replied the woman
"You uns hain't got no business fo' tei
come down hyar nohow. You're mis-.
able set O. black abolishioners. I'm
gal 'thout nothin ter fight with, and yor
uns"--
Beauty and the beast" interrupted
the officer, bowling.
"Now. see hyar. Mr.. Yank. got tie
20 hum. Pop he's away, and mothe
she's sick in bed "
The officer scratched his head am
thought
well, me friends" he said present
IL. "Oi'm thinkin Oil refer the case
all of yez to brigade headquarters
Would We moind sittin where ye are til
get All answer?"
Reckon not, from the farmer.
Hurry up" said the woman in tn
buggy. Mothers waitin fo' me-
The officer. stepped into his tent nea
by and came ont with pencil and tn
back of an old letter. With these b
proceeded to take down the informatio
required. Approaching the buggy, h
said:
"Will ye place favor me with you
patronymic''-he paused while he look
ed to see il she were young or old
''miss?"
my what?"
"Your patronymic.
"Oh, talk TENNESSEE