The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-07

PLAYED Our.
Ammunition also was furnished. and bayo-
nets that would fit, so the boys felt little
more like soldiers. 1t was, however, Tues
| day evening before the baggage of the regi-
ment reached the camp. Just why Uncle
Sans mules that had been assigned the
| honorable position of baggage hauiers for
this new regiment proved themselves in
efficient at this time has never been satis-
factorily explained. We are of the Opinien
the mules should be court-martialed for
showing the white feather in the presence of
the enemy.
At last a tolerably fair camp was estab-
| lished and the soldiers life began in earnest.
AT about this time volunteer detail to 20
on picket was called for, and the writer was
enc of the majority of the regiment who for
the first time went on picket.
| At this time the writer had had little OBJ
serva,ion and experience in judging charac-
ter, and was inclined to rate soldiers
bravery according to his ability to shoot off
his mouth" On the march toward the
front veritahle hero-as the writer sup
pssed-gave IN detail his plan for subduing
the Confederacy. Being only private, he
could work only upon the rank and file Of
the enemy he might confront, or perchance
upon an officer of low grade. snow, bows"
he said, if I were to meet a reb, would
take deliberate aim at his chest / would
not try to hit his head, but would aim some
where between here and here" indicating at
the larger part of his body, you see. l
would keep just as cool, and take deliberate
| aim, and bring my man every time"
| Thus this hero went on, giving instruction
upon instruction. until the writer had drank
IN much that was valuable for new soldier
| to know.
At last the picket-line was reached. It
| was the third from the front. Some dis
lance In front of this line was another line
of infantry pickets, and beyond them the
cavalry outpos,s. The line lay just in rear
of rail fence, and had much the strength Of
| a iine-0f-battle.
| All was quiet in front when the line was
formed, but the writer noticed the verb0sity
| of the hero was less than it had been previ-
ously. This, however, was supposed to be
the natural result of a rundown condition
of the motive power of the individual. All
eyes were front, without an order to that
effect The new soldiers seemed to have no
interest in the landscape in other directions.
In the distance could be seen squads Of
cavalry in motion. Some having better oc-
cular powers than others, asserted the far
Their squads wore the gray. Be this, how
ever, as it may, bat little time passed before
| puffs of smoke were seen rolling up from
some of the squads, and the movement be-
came more and more brisk. Soon distant
firing could be heard, and without stretch of
the imagination it could be seen there was
activity in the outer line of infantry pickets.
The activity of the outer line proved con-
| tagious, and soon NEST of the boys aban-
doned their coffee and began in haste to
bundle on their acc0uterments, and nerv-
ously discuss the probability of brush with
the enemy. Some with knapsack on and
gun in hand considered the best way of get
ting cut of there while others deliberately
finished their coffee and waited orders from
the commanding officer. who was closely
watching the boys and noting their different
conduct
The writer remembers the hero was among
the first to desert his coffee and bundle on
his traps, and then snuggled down in cor
ner Of the fence. Others stood with gun in
hand, waiting orders. The commanding
officer was an old soldier. He deliberately
rode along the line then, turning to the new
troops, in language sharp and stern. he re-
buked some for unsoidierly conduct and
praised others for their GOODNESS.
The skirmish at the front was of short
duration. The detail returned to camp.
The hero was quiet The next day the
hero deserted, and was never again seen in
the ranks of cur regiment.
1t is not the purpose of the writer to carry
this narrative beyond the time when he, as
one of the country boys, became fully
equipped soldier. At this time the regi-
ment was fully armed and prepared to take
the field. 1t had endured hardships. 1t
had scented the battle from altar, and in
after years did credit to the place assigned
them among the Nations defenders.
The writer has only penned that which is
true history, as born BY his memory, aided
by his old letters home his war journal, and
the regimental history.--WM. e. LoRING.
Sergeant, Co. L, 141st Pa, AZ South First
street, San Jose, Cal.
Wheat's purity high" said the post
master.
We noticed it," replied Farmer
Corntossel.
"It's quite er s'prise."
Not ter me-"
"fou mean ter say you thought twas
goin' up?"
Yep"
"What made YEP"
q didn't raise none."- WASHINGTON
Star.
"Is it true that Pidger is financially
embarrassed 2"
He is awfully in debt, but it doesn',
seem to embarrass him Chicago
Record.