The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-02-28
CHICkAMAUGA.
Stirring Story of Adventure Such
as All Lovers of Fiction
Like.
A War Story Written by an Author
thoroughly Fimilar With
War Scenes.

ShOl Ou9hhy t1hhI0l UiSh
War Scenes.
righted by American Press Association All
rights reserved.)
CHAPTER l.
& OPENING OF A CAMPAIGN.
The Army Of the Cumberland is
awakening. For months its 80 miles Of
torpid length have been marked by
clusters of white tents like the rings of
gigantic anaconda. But now there is
an arousing from its long period OF
lethargy. The tents are being struck,
the men are stufing knapsacks, rolling
blankets or swallowing from tin cups a
last draft Of invigorating coffee. Wagons
are being loaded with all kinds of camp
equipage - tents, camp cots, cooking
utensils, the pine tables and army desks
Of the staff departments. Here orderlies
are holding horses, waiting their riders,
and there men are strapping blankets or
ponchos behind saddles or cramming
bacon and ''hard tack' into haversacks,
while strikers empty the contents Of the
demijohn into canteens. Each regiment
as soon as formed moves out into the
road, the whole taking up the line of
march by brigades and divisions.
1t 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-
<0
and produce false impression on the en-
emy. All day the infantry and artillery
work their way over dirt roads, the 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 long period of idleness on
new campaign. A lashing Of artillery
horses a cursing of mules, words of
command, bugle calls, picket firing, the
occasional boom of gun, mingle con-
fusedly and i'll a country used only to
the peaceful lowing of cattle or the
song of birds. Throughout its whole
length the Army of the Cumberland is
in motion, advancing on that campaign
which is to maneuver the Confederates
out 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, a strange look
ing vehicle is going at a breakneck pace
toward the south. The horse is a raw
boned animal with long legs and neck,
while the vehicle-a buggy-is so be-
spattered with mud that what paint re-
mains on it is invisible. The bottom is
partly gone; the dashboard would let
through cannon ball without being in
jured; the springs are badly bent; the
top, which is let dOwn-there are no
props to hold it up-is shriveled and
torn, its tatters flying behind in the
wind. A woman in a striped calico
dress, a sunbonnet of the same material,
pair Of oolored spectacles on her nose,
holds the reins and urges forward the
horse. Yet strange looking as is the
conveyance and its occupant, for that
time and region there is nothing unusu-
al in the appearance of either. The
country people inhabiting that portion
of Tennessee are not cultured, and un.
couthness is rather the rule than the ex-
ception.
Coming to place where she can get
full view for some distance ahead, the
woman glances over the intervening
space between her and the next rise in
the undulating ground. Seeing nothing
to deter, she drives her horse on as rap
idly as she can force him to 60. Her
buggy careens till it is in danger of 60
ing over; she is bounced from her seat
with prospect of being sent over the
dashboard; the mud flies, the horse
wheezes, the buggy groans, but there is
no slaokening Of pace.
go on, Bobby, go onP'
Turning curve in the road partly
hidden by trees, she sees cavalry camp
ahead. In the road an officer stands talk
ing to man in a farm wagon, beside
whom, ON board seat, its two ends
resting on the wagons sides, sits boy
OF ID, while on back seat, evidently
borrowed from more pretentious We.
hicle, is young girl, perhaps three or
four years the boys senior.
The woman Of the striped dress drove
up to the group, and drawing rein listen.
ed to what they were saying.
"Cap," said the farmer officers
in the Union army were called by the
people Of the country either cap or GIN
eral or mister-''cap, want ter go
through the lines powerful bad"
"Well, Dim thinkin, me good man, !"
replied the officer, with the brogue of an
Irishman, that's exactly what old
Rosy wants to do unless he prefers to get
Highest Of all in Leavening Pa