The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-23
On the stormy Banks of Stone Rivcl


serve to the brigade, which lay in line Of
battle.
After having got the train safely into camp
the regiment felt that it was incapable of
moving another foot.
While their coffee was boiling 81 and
Shorty broke off n few cedar branches to lay
under them and keep them out Of the mud.
The rain still drizzled, cold, searching and
depressing, but they were too utterly tired
to do anything more than spread their over
coats on the branches, lay their blankets and
ponchos over, and crawl in between.
In the few minutes which they allowed TO
elapse between getting into camp and going
to sleep they saw and heard something of the
preparations going on around them for the
mighty battle, but body and brain were too
weary to properly sense these. They
hardly cared what might happen tomorrow.
Rest for to-day was everything. They were
too weary TO worry about anything in the
future.
at certainly looks. Shorty" said ST, as he
crawled in, like as if the circus was in town.
and the big show'd come off tomorrow,
without regard to the weather"
GO let it come and be blamed to it. ~ snorted
Shorty. They can't git up nothin' wuss'n
we've bin hayin' to-day, let them try their
durnedest But tell you, Mr.. ST Klegg, |
want you to lay mighty still tonight. If
you git to rollin' around in your usual
animated style, and tanglin' up the bed
Clothes I'll kick you out into the rain and
make YOU stay there. Do you hear me?"
You bet I'll lay quiet" said 81, as to-
gether they gave the skillful little kick only
known to veteran campaigners, by which they
brought the blankets snugy up around their
feet ''You could sooner wake up fence
rail than me- / want to tell you, too, not to
git to dreamin' of pryin' wagons out of the
mud, and chasin' rebel cavalry. l won't
have it."
The reveille the next morning would have
promptly awakened even more tired sleepers
than 81 and Shorty. Even before the dull,
damp drums began rolling and the flies
shrieking the air of enforced gaiety along the
sinuous line of blue which stretched for
miles through red, muddy cotton-ields and
cedar tangles wet as bathroom sponges, there
came from far away on the extreme right
deepening roll of musketry, punctuated with
angry cann0n-shotS and the faint echo OF
wells and answering cheers.
That's A1cCooll opening the battle" said
the officers answering the anxious looks Of
the men. Hes to hold the rebels out there,
while Crittenden sweeps around on the left,
captures MurfreesboTo, and takes them in the
real"
Miles away to the left came the sound Of
musketry and cannons, as if to confirm this.
But the firing there died down, while that TO
the right increased with regular crashing
yolleys from muskets and artillery.
The 200th Ind. was in that exceedingly
irving position for soldiers where they can
hear everything but see nothing. The cedar
thicket in which they stood shut off the
view in every direction. The Colonel kept
officers and men standing strictly in place,
ready for any contingency. ST and Shorty
leaned on their muskets and anXiously
watched the regimental commander as he
sat rigidly in MS saddle, with his fixed gaze
bent in the direction of the awful tumult.
The Adiutant had ridden forward q little
WAYS to where he could get better view.
| The other officers stood stiiily in their
places with the points of their drawn
swords resting on the ground, and their
hands clasped on the hits, and watched the
Colonel intently Sometimes they would
whisper few words to those standing near
them. The Captain of Co. @ drew geometric
figures in the mud with the point of his
sword.
Constantly the deafening crash came
nearer, and crept around farther to the
right.
81 gave a swift glance at Shorty His
partners teeth were set, his face drawn and
bloodless, his eyes fixed immoyably on the
Colonel.
Awful fghtin' goin' on out there, Shorty"
said 81, in hushed voice. Pm afraid
| they're lickin' our fellers."
.'Confound it - snorted Shorty, "why
in thunder don't they move US out, and give
us something to do? This is hell standin'
| here listenin' !"
A teamster, hatless and coatless, with his