The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-29


1t. / have the most obedient and respectful
men IN the whole army. I'm afraid you did
something that provoked, If it did not Justify,
disrespectful conduct"
The Lieutenant would have been different
from the rest of the army if he had not been
very short of temper that morning. The
pangs that he was compelled to endure with
out the relief of scratching made him still
more irritable, and he forgot himself suffi-
GENTLY 10 answer:
: beg your pardon, sir, but you are in
error when you represent your men to be re-
spectful and subordinate. On the contrary,
they are the most lacking in that of any men
in the army. / am constantly yelled at by
them as | pass, and they say very insulting
things to me. I'm determined TO put a stop
to 1t, and i want you to begin with those two
men. Ii you don't | shall make strong re-
port on the subject to the General, which
may lead to your being placed under arrest"
Young man." said the Colonel severely,
as he calmly exterminated another one of his
torment0Ts, you are so infested with veTmin
that | them crawling out from your
clothes. 1t is an insult to me to have you
appear before me in such a condition Get
out of here at once. and never approach me
again in Such a condition, or / shall be COM
PEELED to deal with you as you Deserve
The Lieutenant marched away, holding
himself mole stiffly than ever, and the Colo
mel walked toward the other flank of the
regiment, looking so cross that no one dared
give the laugh he was bursting with until he
had mounted his horse and shouted the conn
mand = Forward"
The rain actually ceased, and the sun cam,
out for the first time in 10 long days; frorl
miles to the right and left came sounds {
infantry and artillery firing, gradually swe E
ing in volume Under these exciting Ia
fuenees, aided, perhaps, by a really fine
article of whisky, which the Surgeon had left,
Shorty rapidly recovered, picked up his gun,
threw his blanket-roll over his shoulders,
and announced his eagerness to move for
ward. The sOre-foOted men began to feel
that their feet were not really as sore as they
had thought, and they also hobbled forward
The road by which they had camped led
straight to Shelbyville, and they felt that by
following it they would have the best chance
of getting into the fight.
The road was filed with cavalry, and ST
and his squad worked their way through the
woods to the right to get up nearer the front
and find an infantry line.
"What in the world are they dOin' with
all these cavalry here?" said Shorty fret
Iully- lUey Cdu Z 10 0OtHl0 d1lu Jllc uuu
forts and big guns and miles o. beastworks
and abatis ard felled timber that the rebels
We bin putin out in front o. Shelbyyille for
the last six months. Horses are only in
the way for SIGH work. They must We put
infantry does the work Well git in ahead
o. the 'critter-eompanies' somewhere and find
the dOugh-bOys."
Inst thay- ont m a hill which
manded view of the country, and halted
with an exclamation of delight at the mag
nifcent sight spread out before them. The
sun was now halfway up IN the sky, and
shining with a brightness which seemed
divine after the long period of drenching
showers. It's light was reflected in brilliance
from thousands of saberS and accOuterments
and the waving of flags of the cavalry divis-
ions which filled the country as far as the
eye could reach Ascending the slope at the far
Their side of the valley was skirmish-line, two
miles long, of dismounted cavalrymen, from
which rose wreathes Of smoke as it pressed
steadily forward up the hill against the rebels
ensconced there. In the green fields on either
side of the road, and in the road itself, were
regiments and brigades of horsemen, massed
up solidly, impatiently waiting for the prog
ress of the skirmishers to bring about the
moment when they could be hurled against
the enemy in a mighty avalanche OF war.
Bugles were sounding flags flying, and all
was intense, high-wrought, exciting anima-
ton.
The bows gave a cheer of exultation at the
sight. Suddenly two little regiments sepa-
rated themselves from the rest, drew sabers,
and with bugles sounding the charge and the
men yelling rode straight at the Infantry
and the batteries defending the crest of the
hill The rebels broke before the cavalry
could reach them, and began wild flight,
with infantry, cavalry and artillery mixed in
wild confusion. and our horsemen swoOping
down on them, capturing horses, men and
cannon.
On everybody swept until the crest was
gained which commanded view of Shelby
Vile and its famous intrenchmentS. From
these cannon Numbered Out, and long lines of
infantry could be seen hurrying into the
works to repel the audaciOus hOrsemen.
ST and Shorty held their breaths, for it seemed
that nothing but destruction awaited the
cavalry in those artfulIy-panned deieEses.
But the cavalry Numbered on with head
long speed. Artillery galloped up on our
side. to answer that in the works, and the
BOYS lost speech in amazement at seeing the
horsemen tear through the wide abatis and
Jump the high breastwOrks, while the de-
tenders streamed back in rout into Shelby
vile, pursued every step with yell and blow
by the furious cavalry. Then came the noise
OF terrible fighting in the streets Of Shelby
vile. 10 Wheeler was massing every cannon
that could be brought up to him IN deSper-
ate effort to hold the town, at least, until
Forrest could come to his help, or he could
make an orderly retreat across Duck River.
But, bitterly as he fought, the Union
troopers fought still more savagely. They
simply would not allow the thought of sue
cessful resistance, and wave after wave of
fierce charges followed so rapidly that
Wheeler's men broke and fled for safety into
and across the river.
The boys yelled themselves hoarse rs they
saw the stream of rebel fugitives pour across
the river and seek safety in the country be-
You'd.
''Well, Shelbyville is ours at last, after all
this waiting and marching aud manuverlng,"
said 81, in a tone Of intense exultatlOn.
And the cavalry took it. Wish it had been
the 200th Injianny Volunteers. I've always
looked down on the cavalry, but [ won't do
so any more wish the 2O0th Iniianny was
My gracious, wasn't it grand the
way those fellers just galloped over every
thing iii NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., forts. batteries,
felled timber and lines of infantry"
Yes" assented Shorty. Il wouldn't
we missed the sight for the best farm in the
Wabash bottoms. 1t was worth marching
10 DAYS in the mud and raiL to see"