The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-05
CHAPTER I.
OPENING OF A CAMPAIGN.

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 stuffing knapsacks, rolling
blankets or swallowing from tin cups a
last draft Of invigoratina 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
ana tnero men are strapping blankets O.
ponchos behind saddles or cramming
r bacon and hard tack" into haversacks.
while strikers empty the contents of the
demijohn into canteens Each regiment
as soon as formed moves ont into the
road. the whole taking up the line Of
march by brigades and divisions
IL is the right or head Of the monster
that awakens first The main body Of
this wing meves disgonally toward the
front and left. while cavalry pushes di-
rectly south to conceal the movement
and produce false impression on the en-
envy 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, cursing of mules, words Of
command, bugle calls. picket firing, the
occasional boom OF gun, mingle con-
fusedly aud 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, n strange look
ing vehicle is going at breakneck pace
toward the south The horse is raw
boned animal with long legs and neck,
while the vehicle--a buggy--is so be-
spatterod 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 IL 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,
n pair of colored spectacles on her nose,
holds the reins and urges forward the
horse Yet strange looking as Is the
conveyance aud 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
a 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 GO Her
buggy careens till it is in danger Of GO
ing over; shn is bounced from her seat
with a prospect of being sent over the
dashboard; the mud flies, the horse
wheezcs. the buggy groans but there Is
no slackening OF pace.
"Go on, Bobby. go on!'
Turning cnrve in the road partly
hidden by traes. she sees cavalry camp
ahead In the road an officer stands talk.
ing to man in farm wagon, beside
whom, on board seat, its two ends
resting on the wagons sides, sits boy
of Ia, while ON u back seat, evidently
borrowed from more pretentious ve-
hicle, is young girl, perhaps three or
four years the boys senior.
The woman of the striped dress drove
mp to the group. and drawing rein listen
ed to what they were saying.
Cap said the farmer-all officers
In the Union army were called by the
people of the country either cap or gin
eral or mister-"cap, want ter 60
through the lines powerful bad. F."
We'll, Oh I'm thinkin. ine good man,
replied the officer, with the brogue of an
Irishman, that's exactly what old
Rosy wants 10 do unless be prefers to get
behind en- and bag EN- from the rear.
"Oh, don't mean fghtinl wants
ter go hum peaceful
Cant pass ye, me good man. Olive
orders not to pass any one south while
the army il movin. There's No need &C.
be tellin ye that all day Once ought C
be sufficient "
What's thct?" cried shrill voic
from the buggy "You don't mean &
ter tell me ! can { 90 hunY
"Oi fear. nc dear Teddy, that We car
If ye live beyond our lines.
"H'ml And SO you uns hev KEN dO'
hyar ter make war on women.
We'll, now that depends on the XII
OF war We've come down vi ot armi
as my old precoptcr at the univarsit
used TO say--God bless 'iin Like enoug
the vi is for the men and the armis fo
the women.
III don't keer, replied the woman
"NOu upa baipff e,ot pn b,o,,ooo Co. %,