The National tribune., 1898-10-27

complete surrender.
On the other hand, their enemy had evaded
battle when they offered it to him on the
place he had himself chosen, had eluded
their vigorous pursuit, and now bad his
army in full possession of the great objective
upon which the eyes of the Army of the
Cumberland had been fixed for two years -
Chattanooga.
1t was to Chattanooga that Gen. Scott ulti-
mately looked when he began the organiza-
tion of forces north of the Ohio River. 1t
was to Chattanooga that Gems. Anderson,
Sherman and Buell. looked when they were
building up the Army of the Ohio. 1t was
nearly to Chattanooga that Gen. Mitchell
made his memorable dash after the fall OF
Nashville, when he took Huntsville, Bridge
port, Stevenson, and other outlying places.
1t was for Chattanooga that the Engine
Thieves made their thrilling venture, that
cost eight of their lives. 1t was to Chatta-
nOoga that Buell. was ordered with the Army
of the Ohio, after the siege of Corinth, :"
and from which he was run back by Bragg s
flank movement into Kentucky. 1t was
again toward Chattanooga that Rosecrans had
started the Army of the Cumberland from
Nashville, in December, 1862, and the bat
| tie of Stone River and the Tullahoma
campaign were but stages in the journey.
President Lincoln wanted Chattanooga, to
relieve the sorely presented Unionists Of
East Tennessee. Military men wanted Chat
tanooga for it's immense strategic Importance,
second only to that of Vicksburg
| The men Of the Army Of the Cumberland
wanted Chattanooga, as those of the Army
of the Potomac wanted Richmond, and as
those of the Army Of the Tennessee had
wanted Vicksburg as the victor's guerdOn
which would crown all their marches,
skirmishes and battles.
But between them and Chattanooga still
! lay three great ranges of mountains and a
broad, navigable river. Where, amid all
these Notifications of appalling strength,
would Bragg offer them battle for the Con-
/ federacy's viRils?o
Il don't care what Bragg's got over there, !"
said 81, looking up at the lofty mountain
peaks, as he and Shorty discussed the prob
abilities. {" He can't git nothing worse than
1 the works at " ar Trace and Shelbyville, that
he took six long months to build, and was
| Just goin to slaughter us with. And if we
go ahead now he won't have the rain on his
side 1t looks rs ifit has set in for long
dry spell; the country III be so We kin git
around in it without trouble. If the walkin'
only stays good we'd find a way to make Mr..
Bragg hump out of Chattanooga, or stay in
there and giteaptuted."
Yes assenied Shorty, knocking the
ashes out of his brierwood pipe, and begin
ming to shave'down plug Of bright navy to
refill it, g and I'll put old Rosey's brains
and git there agin all the mountains and
rivers, and forts and breastworks, and thing
amajigs that Bragg kin git up. Old Rose
Grams is smarter any day in the week than
| Bragg is on Sunday. He kin give the rebels
cards and spades and run 'em out before the
fourth round is played. Only hope he
won't study about it as long as he did after
Stone River. | want to finish up the job in
warm, dry weather, and git home.'
| And his eyes took on a tfar-a-way look,
which ST had no difficulty interpreting that
| 'homen meant a place with a queer name
in distant Wisconsin. -
| WE'LL" said ST re6ectively, cold Rose
Grams didn't study long after he took COM
mand of us at Nashville, before plunking us
squarely at the Johnnies on Stone River |
think he's out for fight now, and bound to
| git it in short meter"
| But the impatient boys had to wait long
Summer month"; until the railroads to the
rear could be repaired, to bring up supplies,
and for the corn to ripen SO as to furnish
forage for the cavalry. ;.
But when on the 10th Of August, 1863,
Rosecrans began his campaign of magnificent
strategy for the possession of Chattanooga,
the 200th Ind had the supreme satisfaction
of leading the advance up into the mountains
of living green to find the enemy and bring
him to bay.
| few days. march brought them up onto
the Cumberland Plateau. They had now
left the country of big plantations with cot
| ton-fields, and come upon one of small farms
and poor people, ST, with a squad, had been
marching far ahead all day as an advance
guard. They had seen no rebels, but all the
| same kept constant and vigilant outlook for
the enemy. They were approaching log
house Of rather better class than any they
had seen since ascending the mountain. AS
| they raised the crest of hill they heard
horn at the house give signal, which set
them keenIy alert and they pushed forward
rapidly, with their guns ready. Then they
saw tall, slender young woman, scarcely
more than a girl, dart out of the house and
attempt to cross the road and open ground to
the dense woods. ST sprang forward in pur-
suit she ran like young deer, but ST was
swift Of foot, and had taken the correct angle
to cut her off. He caught her flying skirts
and then grasped her wrist
Where are you gon', and what for 2" he
asked sternly, as he held her fast and looked
into her frightened eyes, while her breast
heaved with exertion and fear
Il amt gwine nowhar, an for nothin', )"
she answered sulenly.
eyes you was, you young rebel" said ST.
"You were goin' to tell some sneaIlin'
rebels about us. Where are they ?"
Want gwine to nothin' o the kind"
she answered between gasps for breath
81 don't know whar thar's no rebels.
Thought they gns had all done gone away
down the mounting till | seed you 'uns.''
Come, girl, talk sense" said ST roughly.
Tell me where those rebels are that you
was goin' to, and do it quick. Boys, look
sharp" = q,
A tall. very venerable man, with long,
snowy-whte Rar; and whiskers came hob
bling up assisting bis steps with long staff
with handle Of aianrled and twisted rams
| horn. ~
Gentlemen" he said, with quavering
voice, : Leg you'uns won't harm my grand
daughter. She han't done nothin' wrong,
I'll sw'a ar it, t. you 'uns. We'uns IS for the
/ Union, but that han't no reason why we uns
should be ulolested. We'uns IS peaceable,
law-abidin' folks, and hain't never done
nothin agin the Southern Coniederacy. All
our neighbors knows that. AK any o.
they uns. If yo'uns must punish someone,
| take me. I'm the one that's responsible for
| their Unionism. I've learned 'em nothin'
else sense they'uns wuz born. I'm very
| old NJ hair lonr