The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-29
TWO ENLISTMENTS.


che regiment had been formed here.
pr As they marched down the street toward
Tho fair ground they were conscious that
they had lost the stride which had carried
them over many mile of Tennessee "bad
r,,ads," and that their backs were not so
struight nor their waists so trim as they
lad been back In the sixties.
But there were exceptions-General Beal
bone his years lightly. Pride and success
had kept the general crect-he was used
20 being observed, and 1t only served to
mako his stop firmer and his smile moro
serene.
Old Dick Bradshaw had brushed his
faded blue coat and buttoned II tight to
his chin. TO hide his fraycd shirt front; he
had given his limp hat pull over his
eyes. as he had worn ii between 1861 and
ls65, and he walked with a tremulous, yet
sssertive dignity, quite unlike his every
day slouch. These reunions were great
days for Dick-hc was never drunk until
evening. and he tasted again the JOY of
meeting other men as an equal.
1f,e ranks broke at the gate Of the fair
ground, and the old soldiers drifted into
groups. Dick met Cyrus McNally. "How-
dy do, Dck?" he said, holding out one of
his stubby hands, and taking Dicks stub
by one.
Cyrus was n master carpenter and was
upheld 10y the consciousness of his snug
sum i'm the home bank, but on occasion he
could afford TO unbend
ooh, I'm fair to middling," Bradshaw
replied. "How's that ball in your leg?"
1T don't trouble me much except i'm
wet weather" Cyrus said. Are you'n
mo the only ones of old Company G here
today2"
1.-The generals around somewhere; nc
was in the march, Dick answered. II
guuess we three are the only ones; G. has
scattered and died more than any of the
others"
General Beal stopped In front of them.
Cyrus suddenly felt himself to be moth
Ing but an Insignificant country carpenter
with no words at command, and Dick
pulled his old blue coat closer at the neck.
Both had known this man since boyhood,
yet his success made them feel awkward
and constrained.
"Ah, boys" tho general said blandly,
I'm glad TO see you. We ara the only
members of company G here Did you
come on the train, Cyrusg'
When he had shaken hands with them,
he laid his arm over Dick g shoulder with
the familiarity Of brother. Bradshaw
looked at him with n twinkle at the back
of his eye; ten days before the general had
passed him with nod 80 cold that it was
little less than "A cut, and Dick knew well
enough that ten days hence the same cold
greeting would be his portion. STILL this
present cordiality was sincere while it
lasted.
do you remember the day we enlisted,
Dickf" the genera asked. 'You came
running into my Office to tell me you'd
joined, and l threw down my law books
and jumped ont of the window To get to
the enlisting booth soonerS"
Don't Is' Dick cried. "And Cyrus
here had been kind n hanging off, hut
when be got the fever, he just scooted-
didn't you, Cyg"'
'I guess i did" McNally admitted,
with his deliberate smile. young blo0d's
impatient"
ave three couldn't seem to get killed."
Dick said, land poor Billy Roberts went
down in the first skrmish. You know he
joined the same day we did. d"
Cyrus was the first To spoak "Do you
recollect" he said, pushing back his stiff
hat and rubbing his hand over his chin,
edo you recollcct the night the rcbs got in
behind our lines--it was week or two
before Chickainauga? Dick, you was the
first lieutenant thCn and the general was
second
my God. Dick cried, "what fool l
was Why didn't { you fellows tell me 1 WAS
going to perdition? Why didn't you tell me
that in 30 years I'd bc "A bloated old loafcr
-.-that would lose my rank and finish as
n private after being first lieutcnant:"
but you wcre'- the general began.
The other gave no heed. "Why didn't
you warn me when you saw the drink
getting hold ON mey' Ho plared at his
two companions with fierce, bloodshot
eyee, arraieping them for his ruin. "What
% chanco Md / might "a been Colonel
Bradshaw instead of Tipsy Dick. had as
good q start rs anybody. Why didn't you
boys warn mc?''
General BCal looked him straight i'm the
eyes. ''How much interference would you
bavo stood froma second lieutanaDt?' he
asked And how much from private,
even though no was your best friends
Would you have taken advice from us, even
though we'd been boys together and en-
listed from the same town.
That's ~, 1" Cyrus put in. "You wasn't
a fellow to take advice, Dick"
That's true Bradshaw said, brghtea-
ing and feeling that unrcasoniDg pride we
cherish for some Of our faults. Il wasn't
a fellow 60 take advice. just bound Ia 90
my own way ii II was tn the devil. =" he
went on, rclapsing into bis dark mood.
why don't you reform, Dicks" the gen.
earl asked briskly. WED ala be glad To
give you helping hsnd.'
Reform Dick echoed bitterly. "Arc
you the light of the county bar and vet ask
question like THAR Reform at 5ss What
would you do with me aftee I was rc-
fermedf Neither you nor Cyrus would in
vito me TO your table II l lived for 40
years on salt and water"
This is areunion and not a'tsnperance
ibecting," bradshaw iDterposcd sar,lonic.
ally. How many Of the regiment have
shed since last year, gcnerals'
''rhirteen or fourteen. he replied sober
~. I'VE lose n larger percentage every
year. Before long there will be only ~
handful Of the old One Hundred and Fiji.
teth left"
Best regiment that ever marched from
lllinoy," Cyrus said. with the conviction
of 90 years in his voice