The National tribune., 1898-08-25

1.-THE adventures Of 81 Klegg and his tall
friend, Shorty, both of the 20Oth Ind, were
so numerous and so interesting during their
service in the civil war that it will take the
author a long while to relate Them and the
| sketches will appear in many issues His
friends have seen their graduation from raw
recruits to veterans, and have followed them
in their campaigns to Murfreesboro', after the
battle of Stone River, and there they have
been quartered for the Winter. They are
now on the Tullahoma campaign, moving
towards Shelbyville.
Second Day OF The Advance to shelbyvills.
"shelbyviIIe Only 1s Miles Away"
Never was there 80 wild storm but there
was wilder one; never such downpour of
rain but there could be greater deluge
Seemed to me yesterday" said ST on the
morning of june %, as he vainly tried to
peer through the dashing drench and locate
some of the other regiments of the division,
that they was gvin' US one of Noah's
Deluge days that they'd happened to have
left over. Seemed that it couldn't be no
worse. but this one beats it. / don't thint,
that standin' under Niagara Falls could be
no worse. Howsomeyer, this can't last long.
There amt water enough in the United
States to keep this up great while"
| Don't be so sure O. that" said Shorty,
handing 81 the end of blanket, that he
might help wiring it out. ~ believe the
Lord sometimes thinks that He didn't divide
the land and water jest right in the first
| place, and that He'd better've made a big
lake o Tennessee instead o. these old clay
| knobs for rebels and niggers to roOst on, and
| He starts i'll to carry out that idee. | wish
He'd finish the job at once, and turn the
whole blasted region over to the navy 1t
looks as If He had that in mind now"
WE'LL" said the ever-hopeful ST, "the
Bible says that the rain falls on the just and
| The unjust alike. If it's tough on US. it's
just as tough on them. Their guns wouldn't
so off any better'n ours yesterday. If that
regiment in front of US could've shot like
they can on n dry day they'd've made a
sick time for u.s. :"
About 60 900 Union soldiers and 45, 900
rebels struggled through the deluges of rain,
the tOrrential streams and fathomless mud
those June days, when it seemed that every
water-gate of the heavens was ride open as
it had never been before.
The calamity that ST and Shorty had fore
seen came about. The 200th Ind. lost the
advance of the brigade and brought up the
rear, which meant long day of muscle
straining temper-wrecking struggles with
stalling wagons, discouraged mules and
stupid teamsters. And as Co Q was the left
of the regiment. it caught it worst of ALL
The 200th Ind. had scarcely pulled out of
camp when its troubles became acute At the
foot of the hill which had been carried the
day before ran a brook, ordinarily quite a
modest stream, but now raging like mill
race. The two other regiments OF the bri-
gade and all of the 200th Ind. but Co. Q had
managed to get across by means Of trees
which had been feled over the stream at
various places. Co. Q was left behind to see
that the teams got over, while the rest of the
200th Ind. was halted on the farther bank,
to watch the operation and give help If
needed. ST, with squad iii which was
Shorty, was ordered to take the first team,
which it happened Grounding drove, down
into the stream and start it across
Now, be very careful with that wagon +"
called the Adjntant across the stream. THAT
has the Headquarters things and papers
Don't let any water get into the bed Cross
at the shallowest place. u
81 and Shorty found some poles, and prod
ded around as well as they were able in the
crossing to find the shallowest place If there
was a part so shallow that the bed could be
kept above water it was very narrow, and
would require exceedingly skiIlful driving to
keep on it. The whole regiment stood
round, like blrnyard full OF turkeys on
wet day, and looked on with an air of soppy
melancholy.
"Groundhog," said 81, approaching that
functionary, was you watchin' carefully
while me and Shorty was pickin' out the
shallow places 3"
"Naw," answered he, insoIently; wasn't
watchin' nOthin' but my mules. Got enough
to do takin' keer o. them without watchin'
couple o. fools projeckin' around with poles
in a mud-hOe. No sense in it, nohow We
never kin git acrost that ERE tail-race Only
thing to do is to go back into camp till it
quits rainin' and the water runs out"
Groundhog," said ST resolutely, "youre |
not goin' back to camp; you're not goin' to
wait till it stops rainin'. You're goin' right |
over now, as sure as my names 81 Klegg, or
I'll break every bone iii your karkss"
81 can't go over" persisted Grounding.
Z" amt no fool. / know better what kin |
be done with an army wagon and six mules |
than airy Injianny galoot that ever wore
stripes or shoulder-straps. You simply can't |
Git wagon across that branch, and | amt |
Solu 10 Try
Groundhog," said Shorty, "you've bin
itchin' to be killed for at least year, that |
know of-probably as long as you've lived |
You ought've had a stone tied to your neck |
and bin flung into the crick as soons you was |
born. Fve promised myself a good many |
times that I'd about murder you whenever |
had time, but something's always made me |
neglect it. Pm in the KILN mood to-day, |
and I'd like to begin on you. l certainly |
will unless you drive that team straight |
acrost, and don't git drop O. water in the
bed o the wagon"
Come. hurry up, over there" shouted |
the Adlutant. eve can't wait all dav. |
What's the matter with you? Get move
on you"
''All right sir; We'll start at once, SIR"
said 81 with ostentatious alacrty.
Shorty slapped his bayonet on, and brought
the point very near Groundhog's abdomen
ri jab this thing clean through you in a
holy minute, you pusilianimous Eastwood
cullin; you pestiferous pile o. pizen, rotten
punk" he said savagely. "Git on your
wheel-mule and gether up the lines"
Impelled by this, and the vigorous clutch
of 81 upon his collar, Grounding climbed
clumsily into the saddle and sullenly bran
dshed his whip.
The mules made a start and went down the
bank, but at the edge of the turbid torrent
the leaders set their legs as stffly as if they
were the supports of sawhorse. They did