The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-19

was soon effected. This establishment was
also barred and barricaded, but breach
was made and the beleaguered chickens
began to call for help.
Pop! came pistol-shot from the house.
Bang! bang bang! went the muskets in
reply. And then general retrograde move
ment began, not by the road-it might be
blockaded after such fusilade-but across
fields in the direction of camp, a mile or
more away. Arrived, they were greatly
surprised to see every body up and stirring,
| under orders to pack up and move imme-
diately.
And we moved, not only Immediately, but
| all night and all day, much to the disgust
of Jim and his "patrol," for there was no
rest and no chance for fried chicken.
Sometime in the Spring we found our
selves at Newport News. There opportunity
| to the ranks. at this time we were enjoy
ing the very luxuries of life. We had a
sutler, the Commissary regularly issued soft
bread and other danties, and better than
all, we were in the very heart of the land of
the oyster.
No one suspected that Jim needed food,
and yet it seemed that he was fairly starv-
ing for good victuals. On the night follow
ing the publication of his sentence he and
his confederates made raid on the Com
missary and relieved him of everything
movable except the tent. His program was
simple but effective. He knew the guard
would be changed at IL o'clock, midnight.
Fifteen or 20 minutes before that hour Jim
and his help (the help properly equipped
for guard duty appeared at the Commits
sary's tent, guns were crossed in the old,
stereotyped fashion, orders repeated, and
the sleepy sentinel went away to lie down
among his sleeping comrades in the guard
tent. OF what followed, or who or how
many were employed, or what was done
with the plumber, will never be known.
OF course, there was stir in the morning.
The Sergeant of the Guard was notified, and
the guilty sentinel was hauled up for in
vesigation. But his statement was so posi-
tive and straightforward that no action was
taken against him.
Within week after our new sutler had
an experience. At some time between dark
and daylight long slit was cut in the side
of his elegant new tent, and considerable
quantity of goods removed-wheDce no man
knew; at least, none but those concerned in
the job Bits of the wreck-a box-cover, or
cookie, or an empty can-were strewn
along toward the adjoining camp of some
New York Zouave regiments, who had a
certain epuation-uDjustly no doubt.
This clew was followed, but nothing came
of it at all.
A few more days of drill and camp guard,
| of soft bread aud oysters, and then we were
huddled into dingy old transport and
started for-when did soldier ever know
where he was going?
We finally reached Fort Carroll, with
Baltimore in the distance. By or 10
o'clock we were slowed in the box cars OF
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. We sped
away to the west, and in due time we
| found ourselves at the small town of Leb-
| anon, in the central portion of Kentucky.
We soon learned that our mission was to
| look after the raider, John Morgan, and
! that we might reasonably expect call from
him at any hour.
Gen. O. M. Poe "a Regular officer, and
afterwards Engineer officer on Shermans
| staff commanded our brigade
One evening the 18th Mich, with its bril-
gade, moved into Lebanon from the east.
The next day that regiments sutler was in