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

fragments would rally at widely separated
places and renew the fight, only to be pushed
pacS again toward the Nashville Pike Regi-
mentS and brigades that had remained nearly
intact had been rapidly shifted from one
point to another. as they were needed. until
the mind could not follow their changes. or
where nIghtiall had found them. or whittier
they had been shifted to form the new line.
AT last 81 succeeded in picking up another
overcoat and blanket ont of the mud and
started to go back to the regiment.
But where was the regiment? He had
long since lost all track of its direction. He
had been SO intent upon studying the ground
Tor thrown-away clothing that ne had not
noticed the course he had taken.
1t suddenly dawned on him that he was but
one drop IN that great ocean of So 600 men,
sufging around on the square miles lying
between the Nashville Pike and Stone River.
ne looked about, but could see nothing to
Suiue him- His eyes rested everywhere on
9 ss misses oil moving men. Those imne-
"y around MN were inquiring weariedly
LOT their own regiments; they had no patiepce
TO answer inquiries as to his own n;scor,r-
aged, ne determined to walk as STRAIGHT ahead
rs possible III the direction which he had come
and see where that would bring him He
was so tired that he could scarcely drag ons
1901 after another, bat he plodded Oh At
length ne drew out of the throng little. and
saw that he was approaching the banks of
large stream. This diSheartened him. for
lhey mad not been within miles of Stone
hlVer during the day. He saw a proup OF
men huddied around q larger fire than had
peen permitted near the front This. too,
was dlscouraglng, for it showed that he had
Deen forging toward the rear But he went
up to the group and inquired:
DO any o you know where the 20Oth
Ind. is?"
The men had become wearied out answer
ing similar questions and were as cross as
soldiers get to be under similar cireum-
stances.
The 200th Ind, y snapped one; "better
go back to the rear-guard and inquire The
stragger-ketchers We got 'em"
Mo- said another; they skipped out
before the Tear-guard was formed and were
all drowned trying to swim the Cumberland -
They say the Colonel went on loot" said
athird. and was the first man in the regiment
to reach Nashville. Made the best long dis
lance run on record"
- You internal liars roared ST: .'if
WASH so tired I'd lick the whole caboodle of
you. But III say this: Any man who says
that the 20Oth Ind. run, or that our bravo
Colonel run, or that any man in it run, is a
iow-down, meaSly liar, and hain't grain o.
truth IN him, and be daresn't take it up"
1T was comprehensive challenge, that
would have met with instantaneous response
at any other time, but now the men were
too exhausted for such yanities as fsticuffs.
%, go off and find your rattIed lousy
Hoosiers," they shouted in chorus Go
talk to the Marshal about 'em. He's
got the most of EN- The rest are breaking
for the Wabash as fast as their legs can carry
them. Don't be b0thering us about that
eorn-cracking agery crowd"
Where'd you leave your regiment, you
chuckle-headed straegler?o
;. You were so ratified you couldn't tell
which way they went."o
Where's your gun %
Where's your eartFidse-box and haver-
sack ?D
Where's your cap?"
lou were so scared you'd n throwed
away your head If it'd been loose
Clear out from here, you dead-beat"
81 was too sick at heart to moro than re-
solve that he would remember each one OF
them, and pay them off at some more con-
yenient time He turned and walked back
as nearly as possible in the direction in which
he had come. He knew that his regiment
was at the front, and he had been forging to-
ward the rear. He knew vaguely that the
front was somewhere near the Nashville Pike,
and as he YEARLY wound around and through
the bewildering masses, he inquired only for
the Nashville Pike.
He reached the Pike at last. just as he was
sinking with fatigue The dreary rain had
set in again and he had determined to give
the thing up, and sit down and wait for
morning. He saw feeble glinmer of Light
ut distance, and decided to make one more
effort to reach it, and inquire for his regiment.
Partner, have you any idec where the
200th Ind is " he said meel<ly to the man
who was crouching over the tire in the hole
Hello, ST." said Shorty. =" had given
you up long ago. OF course YOU went of
and got lost in that mob as | told you you
would Next time you'll have sense enough
to mind what | say"
30, shorty" groaned 81; don't say
nothing. I've nigh walked my legs often
me- l think I've tramped over every foot Of
ground betwixt here and OyeralFs Criek.
But I've brought back two oyercoats and two
blankets"
That's bully" answered Shorty, mucA
mollitied. ''Say, I've got an idee. Dyou
see that white thing over there? That's
wagon. The mules we been taken away, and
it's been standing there for an hour. I've
seen the Lieutenants and the Orderly-Ser-