The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-02

punctual of the three, strange to say since
he is a full-blooded southerner.
Where can he be?" said one of his COM
panions.
''Where?" echoed the other. and then
they discussed their respective thirsts for
a time.
Where can he be?" Number One would
suddenly break out again, and Number
Two would respond each time a little more
emphatically, 'Where?" Then they dis
cussed and compared their liquid capaci-
ties some more.
AT last Mr.. Johnny Reb appeared. He
came shutting in unconcernedly and took
his own big armchair
well, boys" he drawled, looking from
one white-haired veteran to the other,
whats the news to-day?"
'Why are you so late?" asked Number
One.
where have you been? You have never
been late before since we began to meet
here said Number Two, giving the usual
order, two manhattans, dry, and a whis-
ky straight"
well, reckon 1 am little late" ad-
mitted the southerner. But you see
met a fellow from home and we got to
talking about old times and 1 forgot, to
tell the Lords truth
Y GU should have been here" said Num-
Der One. You knew we wanted to decide
on our seats to see the Grant parade"
Il don't know as 1 want to see that pa
rade, after an said Mr.. Johnny Reb,
with great show of stubbornness.
Not see the paradeH' calculated Num-
Der Two in amazement. 1.-THE devil you
say! The idea of not seeing that parade,
when we refused to march in it because
you wouldn't, and we wanted to sit with
you. That's a fine game. What made
you change your mind?"
Been talkin' over war times with my
qF rod
looking them square in the eyes. I'm all
stirred up, boys. 1 can't help it, HEAPS
o times when you fellows get to tallxin'
about the war l boil up inside until it
seems to me as if l would choke to death
and then l take a few extra glasses. 1t
acts as sort of counter irritant and YOU
chaps do me a great injustice when YOU
accuse me of liking the stuff too well. /
just naturally hate the taste of LIQUOR.
wen, as l was sayin', l met this friend.
and he says to me: Say, Jim, amt thew
making a great to-do over putin up a
monument over Gen. Grant and / had
10 admit that that was the truth Then
ne reminded me of as brave a deed as
confederate soldier ever accomplished on
the very day when Gen. Grant massed
some 1900 troops for the purpose of pierre
ing our line near Spottsylvania Court
House, Virginia"
Here Mr.. Johnny Reb deliberately SION
PED and blowing his nose viciously, be-
gan to talk about something else
Tell US about it," insisted his two
friends. He thought few minutes and
then went on:
wen, reckon will, for it's the story
OF hero well worth teliin' II was an
May Is, lovely day, in 1864. AS l said
Gen. Grant was after us hot and heavy,
put ne struck US at strong point, and the
s o,'rl columns We're engaged in a deadly
Cross hrlh' Bullets whizzed around like
snoWflakes do in blizzard times in these
parts. We repealed your first advances
gentlemen, with fearful loss. Before we
knew 1t you made another gallant CHARGE
against us, ana we gave you a stiu warm
er reception. Your lines melted away
1 can see EN- now-under the storm NJ
musketry, grape, and canister that swent
tne ihlerVenln space. oh, IL was a dav
OF days! Your troops fell back. gentle
men, and you didn't stay 10 remove vour
dead and wounded from the smokln' ieId
You had business which required your i'm
mediate presence further on. At once our
sNirmish line was thrown out to watch \
your movements, and was located an
point where the slaughter was most fear
luL our men had hastily dug rife pits
70 project them from the sure aim of the
FEDERAL sharpshooters, and dead ana dv-
Ing men were heaped up even to the edge
OF those pits. e0
In one OF the pits we're found four or
nVe members OF Company II. First Regt. |
ment South Carolina Volunteers. An I'M |
calmly angular. red-headed lad was |
among them. His name was John NJ.
Nichols, and he hailed from spartanbure
: little Carolina town I'm the beautlfu; |
Piedmont belt. The wounded had been
yin for hours unattended. The ein |
oeamed hotter and hotter upon them, ana /
.hey were sunerin' terribly from pain. loss /
't blood, and thirst. Their groans ana |
'urses were sickenin' TO hear. Not fifteen /
Get from the rifle pit protectin' the south |
,arollnlans lay mortally wounded FED |
rial officer.
Water. waterv he cried. VIII no one
five me water? Just one drop. that,s ali
IN dying for want OF water
As the day wore on his cries instead |
y suosidin', grew more pitiful, and ID was |
lvident that he was sunerln more ana |
more Finally Nichols could stand n |
10 longer lie was one OF those efferves-
ent boys, who was always lookin' out for
- al "a.