The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-08


spend the Winter doing garrison duty, an
thus get the mucll-needed rest from march
md manuver. fighting and fatigue, skirmisli,
picket and pioneer work. We were encour
aged in this belief by our officers. who were
rs weary and worn as the rank and file. Be
ing thus encouraged, we lost no time in cut
ting and splitting out shakes. gathering ma
teriai and building comfortable Winter
quarters.
A CHAPTER IN CONTRARIEs.
These were nearly completed when on
evening dress parade an order was read from
Headquarters directing us to he in light
marching order at sunrise next morning.
This was received with poor grace, and we
returned TO our quarters disheaItene and
more discouraged than at any other time
since our enlistment. Our ranks had been
depleted by nearly one-half their original
number, and we thought we had earned ard
Justly merited the rest which had seemed 50
near.
Before sunrise the next morning the long
roll and bugle-call awoke us TO a sense OF the
solemn situation. Directly thereafter we
were ordered to fall In and draw rations. and
also the familiar notice was given that we
could have only three-Gfths Tations. But
what then seemed TO add insult to injury. We
were told that regiment of colored troops
would take cur place in tie fort. For even
The army still held the negro in contempt,
Bni some of the boys did not rate them much
above livestock 1t WAS probably due to
this cruel judgment that very soon after
We had left oar coy quarters they were
Eeen TO lie on fire, and were totally con-
sumed.
i. q I q =
we were ordered 10 return 10 our camp in the
fort Every face was picture OF chagTin
and despair. Little was said and that little
was lot designed for the Claplain's car
Cur TeinOrse was now rs great Is our wrath
Lad been ut the order of the previous even
ing; bat, heartsick and homesicI. we dogged
~ retained, broiiea our bacon and boiled
our coffee on the sniouldering embeIs OF our
ruined quarters.
We were seated in groups. munchin. our
bareback and slipping our coffee with poor
relish. when again VIC heard the bugle-cail TO
. fail in" For once we welcomed the call
and with brisk sep and higher head than
when we had returned We gladly marched
out of Inc camping ground we had SC re-
luctantly left few hours previously. We
went 10 the river, boarded steamer, and
were soon out Of sight of Saint Charles,
where we left, as nearly as possible, ali re-
membrane of the place
Up the river we were again landed at Du-
walls Bluff, whence we went to Little Rock
Ark, where we received royal welcome from
the 9Th Wis.
CHOSEN FOR DANGEROUS SERVICE
Next morning we went into a clnp that
had been vacated by other troops. Here
again we were led TO believe that we would
spend the Winter; but after few DAYS in
camp, about % Of our company u were de-
tached from the regiment Tor special service
Ours was company OF tall, athletic young
men, and for volunteers we were well drilled
III the manual of arms, aud quite conscious
that we made good appearance We were
frequently called on for special service. especi.
ally when appearance was part of The reauire-
ment. But this time il was for active serv-
ice and not for ornament. We were TO 90 as
guards on a beat loaded with army supplies
mostly rations upto Fort Smith, on the east
ern boundary of the Indian Territory. The
remainder of our regiment was little envi-
Gus, thinking we were again favored by
having soft snap. Notwithstanding q boat
OF like character and cargo had started re-
Gently for the same place and been captured by
l&ud OF guerriIlas when about halfway
there. 1t was fired into, a steam-pipe sew
cred, and the escaping steam scalded many 10
death, while others, in attempting to swim
to shore, were shot by their capt0rs, who had
neither time nor use for prisoners The cargo
was taken and the boat sunk. Knowing
these facts, it was with some forebodings that