The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-30
CHAPTER Xxx.

1t seemed as if Bill Hoslins and his com.
panions could never eat enough Bountiful
as had been the supply set before them they
ate up every crumb, and gnawed at the
bones as long as there was a particle of meat
upon them.
Sartiniy they 'uns must We bin starvin', y
said Robert Inrule aside to the Elder
yes, replied the Elder 1.-The DEVILS
service is hard and his wages are sorrow,
shame and death. But many there be who
viii serve him."
" Hit goes agin my grain, maitily." said
1nrule, . but Pm gwine T. give these fellers a
dram O. whisky ali around T. loosen their
tongues. We may git outen EN- news OF
importance"
- think you are shrewd. brother. but I'll
not countenaBce you in it. You can do so
while I'm out looking after my horse"
When the Elder came back, HosIins and
the rest had each been given a generous
gourdful of corn whisky, and were in the
mood for talking. Inrule nodded to the
Elder to open up the conversation and draw
them out.
Where were you wounded, Hoskins :"
he asked.
In the Leg replied Hoskins, with a
piteous grOan. "I'll show YOU
AT the crossin' of the Cumberland. Yo'
done seen Us when we went through here ?'
Yes, was watching you from the top of
Sassairas Mountain. / was not particular
about your seeing me- though"
Well, did yO' ever in all Your born DAYS
see 50 many men as we had? / had no idee
thar wuz 80 many in the 'yarsaI world. I
thought We uns bad enough e. whip al crea-
t'on, let alone jest the Yankees. I won
dered why Zoilicoler done tux along so
many. When we'd come Z the ton of a
mounting could see 'em as fur ahead as 7
could see an as fur behind as / could see
an they WIZ on the night and left lest as
thick"
% Yes. the sight depressed Brother Inrule
greatly, but j babe him be of good cheer.
Tie Lord has always more under his banners
than the devil has. But where did you 60 2"
We wuz marchin' for the Cumberland
River an Z run the Lincolnites clean ont of
KaiItncky. i wuz sho' we'uns ID do hit
without no trouble. Occasionally we'd see
little passels 81 Yankees in blue clothes.
1hey'uns d be watchin' us from the hill
tops, an d run when we come a-nigh. |
thought ] never seed SIGH towards 1t wuz
lots o fun runnn alter they uns an shoot
IA at they uns L make EN- run faster |
NHpNSsbb NC '~SNS@ HdI EnjuC nave u reg
lar battle
% But when we got L the Cumberland thar
was more o. they 'uns, and theyuns wuz
much sassier. Theyuns wouldn't run so
easy. They uns q line the river bank. am
shoot over at US powerfully. ] got so IS /
olah like T. go 4 the river, fur you didn't
know snow but go Inout git Lincoln bullet"
ies' Yes, said the Elder eagerly
hat happened ncxf9'
The Yankees had cannons an shot al us
WIN them. Jineral Iollicoffer'd shoot back
=. tney ans with cannons, am make thev'uns
u' up an 90 away. Bimeby we went
aolost tbe i1Ner, am thar JineIsl ZoIlioofier
sei Us bgildin' the biggest fort in the world.
iiiI WIZ bigger than a halfdozen a. yonr
farms, Mister lnrule We'uns dug d;,.J,as
an urowed up banks all 'rouna am, .nt
down trees IN front. an, mt M c,n,,o,,
he'uns couldn't understan' hit al all Nv.
slought ole Z0llicyfler wuz opnecessarily
skeered all to wunst What yuz The nee =,
hSln all them e'er things up arin the Van
kees II we vuz a-gwine T. run they'uns outen
,i,e untry, jest as weuns had bin a-dejn ,
why didn't We 90 right ahead as we had
we unsd licked they'uns every time
they unsd stand an show fght. Weuns
\ naon Jlned the army come Down thar am,
an chop all day long in the rain