Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-27
FROM THE RANKS.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.

the reservation the leading chiefs come
in camp to interview the officers, shake
hands, beg tobacco and try on their
clothes, then go back to their braves and
laugh as they tell there are only a hand
full, and plan the morrow's ambuscade
and massacre. Vac victisl There are
women and children among the garri-
sons along the Union Pacific whose
hearts have little room for thoughts Of
germans in the horror Of this mornings
tid1ngs. But Sibley is miles and miles
away, and, as Mrs. Wheeler says, aren't
you glad it wasn't ours?
Out at the fort there Is different
scene. The morning journals and the
clicking telegraph send thrill through
out the whole command. The train has
barely whistled out of sight when the
ringing notes of officers call resound
through the quadrangle and over the
broader drill ground beyond Wonder
ing, but prompt, the staid captains and
eager subalterns come hurrying to head.
quarters, and the band, that had come
forth and taken its station on the pa
rade, all ready for guard mount, goes
quickly back, while the men gather in
big squads along the shaded row Of
their quarters and watch the rapid as
sembly at the Office. And there old
Chester, with kindling eyes, reads to
the silent company the brief official Or
der. Aye, though it be miles and miles
away, fast as steam and wheel can take
it, the good old regiment in all its
sturdy strength goes forth to join the
rescue Of the imprisoned comrades far
in the Colorado Rockies. 'Have your
entire command in readiness for imme-
diate field service in the department of
the Platte. Special train will be there
to take you by noon at latest" And
though many man has lost friend and
comrade in the tragedy that calls them
forth, and though many brow clouds
for the moment with the bitter news Of
such useless sacrifice, every eye bright
ems, every muscle seems to brace, every
nerve and pulse to throb and thrill with
the glorious excitement of quick assem-
bly, and coming action. Aye, we are
miles and miles away. We leave the
dear old post, with homes and firesides,
wives, children and sweethearts. all to
|. the care Of the few whom sickness or
old wounds or advancing years render
unfit for hard, sharp marching, and,
thank God, we'll be there to take
hand and help those gallant fellows out
Of their corral" or to have one good
blow at the cowardly hounds who lured
and lied to theml
How the assembly" rings on the
morning airl How quick they spring to
the ranks, those eager bearded faces and
trim blue clad forms! How buoyant and
brisk even the elders seem as the cap
tains speed over to their company quar-
ters and the quick, stirring orders are
given: "Field kits; all the cooked ra-
tions you have on hand; overooat,
blanket, extra socks and underclothes;
every cartridge you've got; haversack
and canteen and nothing else. Now get
ready-Ivelyp' How irrepressible is
the cheer that goes up! How we pity
the swells of the light battery who have
to stayl How wistful those fellows look,
and how eagerly they throng about the
barracks, yearning to go, and, since that
is denied, praying to be of use in some
way! Small wonder is it that all the
hustle and excitement penetrates the
portals of Mr.. Jerrold's darkened quar-
ters, and the shutters are thrown open
and his bandaged head comes forth.
"What is it, Harris?' he demands Of
light batteryman who is hurrying past.
"Orders for Colorado, sir. The regi-
ment goes by special train. Major Thorn
toms commands been massacred, and
there's big fight ahead"
"My Godl Here, stop one moment!
Run over to Company B and see If you
can find my servant or Merrick or
somebody. If not, you come back quick.
I want to send note to Captain Armi-
tage."
IT can take it, sir. We're not going
The band and the battery have to stay
And Jerrold, with trembling hand
and feyerish haste, seats himself at the
same desk whence on that fatal morning
he sent the note that wrought such dis
aster, and as he rises and hands his
missive forth, throwing wide open the
shutters as he does SO, his bedroom door
flies open, and whirling gust of the
morning wind sweeps through from rear
to front, and half score of bills and
billets, letters and scraps Of paper, 60
ballooning out upon the parade.
"By heavenP' he mutters, that's
how it happened, is it3 Look at them
go!" for going they were, in spiral ed
dies or futtering skips, up the grassy
quad and over among the rose
bushes of Alice Renwick's garden. Over
on the other side of the narrow, old
fashioned frontier fort the men were
bustling about, and their exultant, eager
voices rang out on the morning air. All
was life and animation, and even In
Jerrold's selfish soul there rose respon-
sive echo to the soldiery spirit that
seemed to pervade the whole command.
1t was their first summons to active held
duty with prospective battle since ne had
Joined, and with all his shortcomings
as "duty" officer in garrison and Ills
many frailties of character, Jerrold was
not the man to lurii III the rear when
there was danger ahead. 1t dawned OH