Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-12-03

tctSlI9 asaISHeu 10 inc coHlill'hu
- Of the Army of the Cumberland,
my encamped on the nashville turnpike
almost within herring of the church bells
OF MurfreesborO. Directly in front ana
shielded by the dense cedar tilickets rest
~ the army OF the Confederate General
Bragg. Ihe rebel defense described a
seihlclrcuiar llne between K0secrans ana
stone iuYer in a country admirably
adapted to a running fight toward Muir
IreesbOro, the rebel base. simultaneous
W the commanders of the opposing forces
were planning attack, RosHrronS Desired
TO gam possession Of MurfreesbOro
bragg pan was defensive and night
after night he made weak demonstrations
On the Union front, which were recog-
alzed by Rosecrans at their true value.
Unless Bragg dislodged the Federal
troops massing in front on his right
FOLK corps must be Withdrawn behind
the river ana Murfreesb0ro abandoned.
wal slumbered in the air. The soldiers,
fatlgued by continuous campaigning,
hy stretched about the camp in resting
thousahdS, nor did the crack of the out
posts rifles nor the vollPys of cavalry car
pines cause so much as the biink of IN
eyelld nor the raising of a head in the
camp. Familiarity had bred contempt
for the muskct shot and the roar of the
cannon in the distance may have caused
Il curl OF the lip-no more. The powder
stained h0rdes felt the breath Of coming
Mttie, but it gave them no concern, and
Iney huddled snugly together in their
blankets, for they feared the shivering
blasts of December more than the puny
oullets OF the enemy.
Back IN the cedars in a house whose
portlco raised its head above the SILVER
ing bare branches, General Rosecrans
pored over his plans of campaign against
Bragg. 1t was essential to drive the
reDel general beyond the river and gain
possession OF Murfreesb0ro and the I'm
ION commander KNIT ms brows and pom
aered over MS contemplated plans of at
'"ch'
Inc door opened and a young and intel
nseht looking oillcer stepped inside. His
shoulder straps showed the rank of first
,'u'tna-'' TOT IN instant ne paused ut
ene entrance he seemed to know his
superior was worried and he hesitated to
advance Inc general was unmindful of
We plesr.oe' ror an instant longer the
'V""E '"'tr "aiteu' thell as Il determln-
w eNp'eSS'oh appeared on ms face he
''rpPeu resoiu'elE forward.
"eneral' III SAID
NosecranS looked up ana a smile broke
"uous" lhe cIouaS on ms race.
an lieutenant he sand with a sigh,
pushiilg ASIDE ms troublesome maps,
s"u W see Sou' OH down. What's on
you n'lhd!
% Hn' nS n'"u On MS mana and
'ooN'u ul'"inlS from the window. He
was "l"'e interested Ill MS WI thoughts
n'"" !" ""at 'he young oiicer was say
"si
nn' Whit! ne exclaimed, suddenly
ar"uSihE IKE one from II dream, what
W rn"' you are SAYING
me lieutenant looked him in the eye
""u 'epiIeN' was asking permission,
general TO absent myself from camp for
perhaps forty-eight hours"
"eheral i'oSecrans stared at him in
annazenieht.
cannot comprehend the meaning of
sue" Il request, he said. finally. "In less
lha' iorty-elght hours | expect to engage
General Bragg. | haven't a doubt in the
worlu ne is planning II similar attack on
my FORCES a herce conflict is inevitable.
ana yer you have the tcmerity on the
threshold of battle to ask for leave of
absence. | repeat | cannot understand
II, and, moreover, | am doubly surprised
that such n request should come from -
trusted officer like YOU
a flush mounted to the temnle of tho
lieutenant. He felt the sting or tho ,,any
erals reply.
Pardon me. general" he soid with
Just II touch of resentment "Yonr sus
PIGEONS do me injustice, You have povor
known me TO finch from dut,, ore 60 mm
bic in the face of the cncmy."
The general measured him c,osolv ora
a worried look passed over his f,cn "'
81 have spoken of no snsnicinns. l.,