The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-28

leading from Cumberland Ford, to seize adj
vantageous points, watch the forward move
ment, and resist it as far as they were able.
The General sent for Pollock to come to his
tent
Il think | am not mistaken in you, )" he
said Us Pollock entered and saluted. s. / be-
Iieve that | can make better use of you and
your companions than by putting you in a
regular regiment What we need most is ac-
curate information as to the numbers and
movements of the rebel force. In other
words, / want you to act for the present at
least as body OF independent scouts.
1.-The people of the country into which
Zollicoffer is advancing are loyal enough, and
willing enough to give US information. But
their accounts are confusing and contra
dictory. They are not familiar enough with
large bodies of men to Judge them with any
accuracy, and they generally hurry away 50
fast at the first sight Ola rebel force that they
cannot tell whether 1T is q squad out scouting
or a large command making q movement in
force You've been around here long enough
to be able to tell company from a regiment
when you see it, and / hear gratifying ac-
counts of your bravery and skill in encoun-
tering forces of approximately your own
strength.
which give you your status as United States
soldiers acting under my command These
will insure you proper treatment, supplies,
ETC., from any United States officer into
whose camp you may come / want you to
put yourself into rs close touch with the
enemy as possible watch his movements
constantly, and supply information to the
officers nearest you They will send it to
me. Your first duty is t, get information.
/ don't object to your fighting when there
is chance of gaining something, but your
main business is to watch the enemy care
fully and get accurate information Do you
think You understand"
. know do, Jineral, " said Pollock, con-
fidently. Hits TEST the kind of sarvice
we'uns'ye bin wantin. We'uns'll 90 right t.
ole Iollieoffer's camp. IF any crowd that
not too big comes out we uns'll lick hit back
inter camp. Eff hit air too big fer we'uns
t tackle, we'uns'h skip back T. the next
Union camp an git help. An we'uns'll not
git ratified and see two rebels whar thar's
only one. VEINS know 'em too well t be
fooled by they'uns. Yo' kin bet on jest
what we'uns tell yo' bout they'uns."
again" said the General, 81 want to re-
mind you that you are rather to avoid
fighting, when you cannot see clearly that any
good result will be gained. To many men |
would not give that caution. But think it
is necessary to you. You are disposed to be
rash. Remember, now, that you don't belong
to yourselves, but to the Government, and
you ought to take as much care OF yourself as
of anything else that belongs to the Govern
ment If you see that you can gain some
thing for the Government by risking and
throwing away your lives, do it without the
slightest hesitation. Millions of lives such
as ours are not too much to give for the
preservation of this glorious Government.
But let the thought of how much good you
may be able to do by taking care of your
selves keep you from taking any unnecessary
risks"
"I'll keerfully remember all that yo' say,
Jineral," said Pollock, doing his best toward
a salute Hits good 100 miles t whar
ole Zollicoffer Is, but We unsll be thar in
three days, an then yoll begin to hear
something, an hit'lI be something that yo'
kin depend yo'r life on. Good day, Jineral."
To be continued.