New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-01-23


hands in his pockets, 9 sure sign that he
was steadying himself for q conflict Of
wits and words. But the general was
not acquainted with the peculiar char
aoteristios of Jakey Slack and prepared
to question him as Qnconcernedly as he
would pump water from we'll
"What route did you conner" he ask
ed of the farmer. -~-s
II met the children at Galletin, " re-
piled Slack. II driv' 'em from thar
through Lebanon and Liberty"
"Sonny," said the general, turning
20 Jakey, Ibid you pass any troops on
tho way?''
Lots"
. "1nfantry?''
"What's thet?''
"Soldiers who walk and carry guns. {"
"Didn't see none o. them kind"
''Did you see any artillery?'
"Don't know what them uns air. 1"
''Men with great big guns-cannon. I"
''No, sir. Didn't see no 'tillery''
''Then what you saw must have been
cavalry"
Didn't see none O. them uns nuth-
er.'
The general looked surprised.
"Then what did you see? That's all
the arms Of the service ever heard of,
and am an old soldier.''
''Critter companies. -
'Oh, see!" exclaimed the general,
remembering the mountain Tennessee
ans name for cavalry. "How many SOL
diers belonging to the 'critter compa-
MES, as you call them, did you see?''
'Waal, counted 20, q thet''s S fur
as got at countin in skule.''
s2uri vas about to remind her BROTH
OF that he had proved himself one of
the best boys in the school at mental
arithmetic, but desisted.
"H'm! The general thought a mo.
ment and beat a reveille with his fin
gers on the arm Of his chair.
"What were they doing within the
Federal lines just before you left the
outposts?''
"Waal, only noticed one man, n he
war doin somep'n very partickeler.
"What was it?''
HE war lookin at the sky through a
fat round thing what looked like big
squashed apple"
''Not fieldglass, was it?''
mo, sir. Reckon 'twasn't thet.''
'"Was the man of high rank?''
"Reckon he war. he had stripes on
his arm.''
''Tut, tut, he wore chevrons. He was
only noncommissioned officer. Can't
you describe more nearly the object
through which he was looking?''
"Waa1, I think hearn some un call
1t q can-can'-
mot canteen?''
Eyes, thet's it,
The general looked sharply at the
boy, who looked stolidly stupid. He
determined to try another route through
which to lead Jakey's infantile mind.
"Were the troops you saw in camp,
or on the march, or in bivouac?''
'Don't know what thet ar last air,
but the trees n brush war so thick
oouldn' see plain.''
Cant you tell me if you saw any
infantry. Soldiers who walk and carry
guns, you know?'
II never looks at them kind O. So
jers," replied Jakey contemptuously.
II only notices 'em when th're on
critters backs.'
''That will do,'' said the general.
Then, turning to staff officer near him,
he said:
captain, you may pass these people
SOUTH" and added in an undertone:
"Ride over to division headquarters and
say that nothing has yet been obtained
OF the enemy's movements in this vicin.
ity by questioning citizens. Only one
party has come through-a farmer,
with his son and daughter. The farme,
and his daughter took an oath not tc
give any information concerning the
dispositions of the enemy, and the boy
is profoundly stupid.'
There was sound Of hoofs without
mingled with the rattle of wheels.
Looking through an open window, ar
officer was seen to dismount and hanC
woman from a mud covered, paint
rubbed buggy. All recognized Miss
Elizabeth Baggs. The general arose
from his chair and went out to meet
her at the front door. From there hi
conducted her into room where they
nould confer together alone.
what luck?"
II struck their wires within thei
lines midway between Murfreesboro ant
MacMinnville at midnight, and no on,
was near. I threw my wire over tn,
line and made my connections with m,
instrument. I waited till nearly day
light before any messages Of impor
lance came along, though dispatche
were passing all the while. At last on
came in cipher. I took it down, but a
we haven't the key fear it will avail
us nothing.' ... *.-.
"Let me see it, said the general.
Miss Baggs handed him piece O.
paper on which was written:
-. MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn, June q, 1868.
Volunteers Garfield with circling betwee,
you possession turn an be cob Bundle at t
| get that possible by move Benjamin pony chic
rapldity around that put Of the hours read
single to notice enemy's Tullahoma your poin
the by OF polliwog of plateau Niggard If desir
and hope forward to haha move we right
command and mountain order staff.
The general read the disnatch owe,