The National tribune., 1898-01-13

ISL KLEGG FELL WITHOUT a GRoAN."
assistants were dealing out handful of
crackers and piece Of pork to each man as
he came up.
Mebbe / oughtn't to say it," said ST, as
he munched away, taking bite first off the
crackers in his right and then off the meat in
his left, but nothing that ever mother
baked tasted quite as good as this. ="
This does seem to be a specially good lot, !"
assented Shorty Probably n wagon load
that they intended for the officers and give us
by mistake. Better eat it all up before they
find it out"
The morning of Jan q 1863, dawned
bleak and chill, but this at least brought the
great comfort that the dreary rain was at
last over. The sharp air was bracing and put
new life and hope into the hearts Of the Union
soldiers. Many wagons had been gotten up
during the night, bringing food and ammuni-
ton for all Soon after daylight cheerful
fires were blazing everywhere, and the morn
ing air was laden with the appetizing fra
GRANGE of boiling coffee and broiling meet.
The sun began to rise over Murireesboro' and
the rebel camps, giving promise OF bright,
inyigorating day.
81 hope this thing III be brought to focus
to-day and the question settled as to who
shall occupy this piece of real estate" said
Shorty, as he and 81 finished generous
breakfast, filled their boxes and pockets
with cartridges, and began knocking the dried
mud off their clothes and rubbing the rust
from their guns. u want them gents in
brown clothes to clear ont and leave. 1t
frets me to see them hangn' round They're
bad neighbors
q hope" sid 81, carefully picking ont
the tube of his gun with pin, - we won't
put in to-day as we did yesterday-layin'
round making faces an shakin' our fists at
one another Let's have the thing out at
once"
Evidently the rebels were of the same frame
Of mind They saluted the dawn with a
noisy fusillade that ran along the miles of
winding line 1t was spiteful, crashing and
persistent, but as the Union lines lay beyond
good musket range and the rebels showed no
disposition to advance across the fields and
come to close quarters, the noise was quite
out of proportion to the harm done.
Then two rebel batteries on the opposite
side Of the river opened up a terrific fire upon
one of our batteries, and the air seemed torn
to shreds by the storm of bowling missiles.
The 2O0th Ind. was too far away to have
more than n spectacular interest in this
tempestuous episode. They stood around
their gun-stacks and watched and listened
while the hours passed i'll ineffective noise,
and wondered when the crisis of action was
going to arrive.
They seem to have lost their appetite for
close acquaintance with the 200th Ind - re-
marked Shorty ''1'hey found that Jordan
was a hard road to travel whenever they came
across the fields at us, and are tryin' to scare
| us out by maxim racket | think we kin
stand it as long as their powder kin. But
I'm gittin hungry again. Let's have some
thin to eat
Good gracious, it is noon," answered 81,
looking up at the sun. Il believe do want
some dinner"
They had scarcely finished dinner-eating
when the 200th Ind was ordered to move
over toward Stone River 1t halted on q
little rise of ground Oh the bank, which COM
manded an extensive view on both sides of
the river There was portentous flow in the
great darb-bue sea OF men The pillows,
crested with shining steel, were rolling east
ward toward the river.
Something's goin' to happen meetins
about TO break up; schools gon' to let out"
said Shorty, eagerly. Isn't it grand
sight"
. Gracious me - said ST, devouring the
spectacle with his eyes. How | wish that
father and mother and sisters could see all
this. It's worth going through Il great deal
to see this"
1t was by far the most imposing spectacle
they had yet seen. The whole Army of the
Cumberland was crowded into the narrow
space between the Nashville Pike and Stone
River. Its compact regiments, brigades, and
divisions showed none of the tearing and
mangling they had endured, but stood or
moved in well-dressed ranks that seemed the
embodiment of mighty purposes and resistleSs
force,
Around its grand array, half mile away,