The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-28
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Va 1900. And Men and Women
Live Near Natures Heart.....-
By JOHN McELROY.

can't out travel weunS, nor mountInS XIV
rered with rebel forts stop weuns
Don't be impatient: learn to be soldiers, .
said the General: land can promise You that
we shall start for there before great while
Back in camp once more, the old contention
broke out afresh. Gen. Nelson, whose ideas
of discipline had been learned in the stern
school of the e'd-time quarter-deck, wonid
make regular soldiers out of his men. Regu-
lar soldiers tie mountaineers stubbornly re-
fused TO become.
They were there ready, even anxious, to
fight The rebels. They were eager to do any
thing to advance the cause OF the Union.
But they utterly refused 10 understand how
this could be better done by their standing
perfectly erect, putting their fingers down
the seams OF their pantaloons and bringing
their heels together.
1t Was still more impossible for them to
understand why q camp guard should be
maHta ned TO keep in men who had trudged
huI dreds of miles across the mountains to get
there.
Tley knew perfectly we'll how to take care
Of themselves when out in the woods in all
sorts of weather. Why, then, all this tire
some nonsense about setting tents on a
line OF mathematical straightDess with 50
many inches Of space between them? Why
not let each squad make themselves as conf
Portable rs possible in their own way?
Why all this lireSome fuss about coats but
tored 10 the chin, hat-brim tnrned up Oh the
left SIDE. placing The eft thumb near the first
band OF the gunbarrel, and the right hand
beneath The guard for salute, and loading
in nine times.
. Show me, Mister, how any o. these ere
things Ill fetch a rebel shorer than my own
way drawled Web Brain I'D. an I'll set
up all night t. Pam hit. But do yo' s'pose
! he's gwine & wait on me while I'm gwine
through all this ere aub-bub? No, Stree.
He's a-gwlne t git in his shot Ell quick Ell
he kin, an I'm a-gwine t save my hide by
gitiin' in mine aiore he does his un. I'm
toliable sartln O my own way o shootin'.
I've done tried hit agn bars an painters an
rsttlcsnakes. hain't got no faith in yours.
/ Hits too slow entirely, Mister"
They regarded Gen. Nelson vehement in
sistence upon these absurdities as the aberra-
tons and eccentricities of an otherwise eX-
cellent man. They obeyed when too incon-
yenient or troublesome to do otherwise, but
there vas strong mental protest all the time
against Ii: and IN most things no force could
change them.
Fortunately for possibly also for
Gen. Nelson-for the disputes sometimes
dangerously neaIed the fighting point-ihe
country round about was constantly dis
turbed BY rebel manuvers-the organization
OF bands OF men for the rebel army,
and demonstrations intended to oyeIawe the
Union men and carry the State into seces-
sion. Appeals for help from various locai-
ties came into camp daily, and were re-
sponded 10 by sending bodies Of men to the
threatened places. The Tennesseeans were
always ready for this sort of service 1t
took them out of camp, interiered with the
enforcement Of the obnoxious drilling and
discipline, and lessened the friction between
their nnaiterable character and Gen. Nelson's
in1exible will
About the middle Of September there was
an unusual connection in Camp Dick Robin
son. News had come that Gen Nelson had
been relieved, and assigned to another post of
duty, and that he would be succeeded BY Gen.
George II. Thomas, of whom nothing more
could be learned than that he had been a
Major in the Regular Army was Virginian
by birth, and had greatly distinguished him
4 self IN Mexico
While every man III camp felt some per
! soDal grievance against Gen. Nelson vet all
parted with him with genuine regret. His
/ vehement caines.ness III his work fascinated
them While he nagged at and cursed all.
/ yet they were not slow to see that the great
weight of it fell upon those who deserved it.
and there was 80 Soitening it Tor rank The
higher the officer the worse he WAS likely TO
catch IT. He was intoleiable toward laZiness,
shiitiessness. and inefiicieney
While he haTshiy insisted on men learning
and performing the every minutia of their
duty as soldiers, he was sayagely resoute
I that the officers should take every possible
care OF their men, and provide for their wants
! TO the last cracker and the last button
! When he met his untimely END, a year later
1 there were no more genuine mourners any
| where than the men whom he had cursed
from one end TO the other of Camp Dick Rob
inson.
All were agog to see the new commander.
and there WAS much speculation rs to his
probable qualities.
:" Reg ar Army ossifer, is hep" said Web
Brainard same breed ez Old Joab, ONLY
land lnstid of 4 sea dog. Only difrunt stvlc
o cusslD Sw'a like teamster. instid o
like sailor Only hope he's got ez good
foutin' temper ez t'otherr
The new commander arrived promptly, and
one bright afternoon. as the Tcnncsseeans were
lounging arc md their tents, discussing the
eternal theme OF when the army was going to
start for Tennessee, they saw approaching a
large dignitied man. with a full red beard
and leonDe cast OF countenance They had
| learned enough to know that the single star
on his shoulder-straps indicated him to be Il
Brgadier-General and the new commander
lie walked slowly, and his deep gray eyes
seemed to take in every detail around him.
While there was nothing of the military ex-
qulsIte about him, every particle of his cloth
ing was strictly according TO regulations rich
IN material, scrnpnlously neat, and worn as if
lie was accustomed 70 it,
lns;inctlvely, the Tennesseeans rose and
gave him an awkward salute. There WAS
something in his look and manner that more
lmpelied them To be soldierly than all of Gen.
Nelson's storming He returned the salute.
and said III calm, wei-moduatcd. strong
voice
Good morning, men. You are Tennes-
seeans. / believe. -
=" We'uns air, F" said Pollock.
I'm glad to have you here. You will
make good soldiers You must begin.
though. by getting your camp in better
order. When great many men come to-
gether they must do things differently from
what they do at home. They must not let
things go as they would there, for their own
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