The National tribune., 1898-10-13

Shorty, said 81 consolinsly. "Tlse crackers
was moldy and tie pork full o. maggots,
and the Surgeon has warned Us time and
agin against eatin' them greasy fried messes.
All the doctors say that b!ackberries is very
healthy, and they certainly taste NICE
Shorty's paroxysm of rage expended itself.
and he decided it wisest to accept Sis ad.
vice
. The berries is certainly fine. Si,1 he said
with returning good humor '.If | could
we only laid a foundation of crackers and
meat could we built very good breakfast
ont of 'em. / misdoubt, though, whether
they've got enough substance and stick-to-
the-ribs 20 make meal ont of all by them
selves. However, I'll fill up on 'em, and
hope they'll last till grub-cart gifts through
There ought TO be one here before noon"
lone consolation said ST; 1--WE won't
have to march on this peck. The Adjutant's
just passed the word that we're TO rest here a
day or two"
The rest of the regiment were similarly
engaged in browsing OFF the blackEerries that
grew in wonderful proiusion all around, and
were really of extraor .inary size. After
filing themselves as full as possible of the
fruit, ST and Shorty secured couple OF camp
kettles and gave their garments boiling
that partially reveugcd themselves upon the
insect life of Tennessee for the torments they
endured in the Tuilahoma campaign.
The better the day the better the deed, y
remarked Shorty, rs lie and 81 stood around
the fire. clothed in nothing hut their so,dierlv
character, and satisficdly poked their clothes
down i'll the scalding water. Thousands
must die that one may Re free-from gray
backs, ileas, and ticks. How could be better
celebrated the Fourth of July than by the
wholesale slaughter of the tyTants who drain
the life-blood of freemen and patriots? Now.
that's a sentiment that would be fine for your
orator who is making speech about this time
to your folks in Injianny.'
BY this time they were hungry again. The
blackberries had no staying power in pro-
portion to their filling qualities, and anxious
ly as they watched the western horizon no
feet of The mules bringing rations had been
seen beautiful on the mountains.
They went out and filled up again on black
berries, but these seemed to have lost some
thing of the delicious taste of those eaten
earlier in the morning.
They went back, wrung out their clothes,
and put them on again.
They'll fit better if they dry on u.s.
v.
warp, splinter, and check if we are exposed
to this sun any longer after all the soakin'
we've bin havin' for the past 10 days"
Comfortably full abdominally, with a deli.
cious sense of relief from the iiendsh insects,
the sun shining once more brightly in the
sky, and elated over the brilliant success OF
the campaign, they felt as happy as it often
comes to men,
The scenery was inspiring Beyond Elk
River the romantic Cumberland Mountains
raised their picturesque peaks and frowning
cliffs into a wondrous cloud world where the
radiant sunshine and the pearly showers
seemed in endless struggle for dominion,
with the bright Tainbows for war-banners-
When the sunshine prevailed, flmy white
clouds-fags of truce-;ioa;ed lazily froa,
peak to peak, and draped themselves about
the rugged rocks. 1t was an ever-changing
panorama Of beauty and mystery, gazing on
which the eye never wearied.
9'Rragg's somewhere behind them mount
aims, Shorty" said 81, as the two lay on the
ground, smoked and looked with charmed
eyes on the skyline. The next jobs to
90 in there and find him and lick him."
81 don't care q durn, if it's only dry
weather." answered shorty. Il kin stand
anything but rain. Id like to soldier awhile
in the Sahara Desert for change Hello,
what's that? A fight?''
gun had doomed ont loudly. The boys
pricked up their ears. took their pipes from
their mouths and half raised in anticipation
of the bugle-call. Another shot followed
after an interval, and then q third and
fourth.
They're firing National salute at Di-
vision Headquarters in honor of the Fourth
of July" explained the Orderly-Sergeant.
Every body Jumped to his feet and cheered:
Cheered for the Fourth of July;
Cheered for the United States of America;
CIIeered for President Abraham Lincoln;
Cheered for AIaj.-Gen. VIM. S. Rosecraps;
Cheered for the Army of the Cumberland;
Cheered for the Corps Commander;
Cheered for the Division Commander;
Cheered for the Brigadier General;
Cheered for the Colonel of the 200th Ind.
Cheered for their Royal Selves.
''Whew, how hungry that makes me, !"
said Shorty. as the ci.eering and the firing
ended, and he studied the western horizon
anxioiisv And not a sign yit of any mule
team comin' up from tue rear. They must
have religious scruples agin travelin' on the
Fourth o. July. Well pose there's moth
in to do but hunt up somc more blac!lberries.
But black berries is like mush. They don't
seem to stay with you much longer'n you're
eatin' 'em."
But they had to 90 much farther now 20
find bIackberries The whole hungry regi-
ment had been hunting bacllberries ali day.
and for more than mile aronud camp the
briers were bar 81 and Shorty succeeded