The National tribune., 1898-08-18

cavalry close to them. There was much
swapping of damp gun-caps on both sides,
few unavailing shots were actually fired,
and they caught glimpses between the rain
gusts OF the rebel horsemen galioping up the
muddy road toward the rising hills
They pushed forward with more spirit
now. They came TO insignificant brooks
which were now raging torrents, through
which they waded waist deep. first placing
their treasured ammunition on their shoulders
or heads.
As they were crossing one of these, 81 I'M
luckily stepped into a deep hole which took
him IN over his head. His foot struck
stone, which rolled. and down he went.
Shorty saw him disappear, made n frantic
clutch for him, and went down himself
For brief, tumultuous instant they bobbed
around against the legs of the other boys
who went down lie tenpins. Nearly the
whole OF 20. q was at once houndefing IN
the muddy torrent w th the Captain, who
had succeeded in crossing, looking back in
dismay at the disaster. The Orderly
Sergeant and few others at the head of the
company rushed in and pulled out by the
collars such of the boys as they could grab.
81 and Shorty came 20 the bank little ways
down, blowing and sputtering, and both very
angry.
All your internal clumsiness," shouted
Shorty. You never will look where you're
goln'. No more sense than blind boss"
Shut up" said ST, wrathfully. Don't
yon talk about clumsiness. 1t was them
splay feet o yCur'n that tripped me, and then
you downed tie rest o. the boys Every mite
of our grub ard ammunition 3 gone"
How far the q iarrel would have gone can
for NJ hot INF NJ
rebels, which had been pushed ont in ad-
vance, tried to open fire upon the 2e0th Ind.
from behind rail fence at the bottom of the
hill. Only en- ugh of their wet guns could
ne gotten eff to announce their presence.
The Colonel Of the 200th Ind. yelled:
Companies left into linei"
The sorgy men promptly swung around
Fix bayonetsl Forward, double quickw
shouted the Colonel
1t was a sorry double-quick, through
the peiting rain, the entangling weeds and
briars and over the rushing streams which
Hooded tie field, but it was enough to dis
courage tie rebels, who at once went back in
heavy-fcoted run to the works on the hill,
and the rebel cannon doomed out to cover
their retr at
Lie DOWN." shouted the Colonel, as they
reached the fence, and she'll struck little
in advance, filling the air with mud and
| moist fragments of vegetation.
As they lay there and recovered their
breath, there was much splashiDg and splat-
tering of mud, much running to and fro,
much galloping of Aids in their rear The
200th Ind. was ordered to hold its place, and
be ready for charge upon the hill when it
received orders. The brigade's battery was
rushed up to hill in the rear. and opened
fire on the rebel guns. The other regiments
were deployed to the right and left, to out
flank the rebel position.
| ST and Shorty and the rest of Co. @ put in
the time trying to get their guns dry and
borrow ammunition from the men of the
other companies. Both were jobs of diff
| fculty and doubtful success. There could
be no proper drying of guns in that inces-
SAINT drench, and nobody wanted to open up
his stock of cartridges in such a rain.
| In the intervals between the heavier
showers glimpses could be had OF the
"Kankakee Suckers" and the ''Maumee
Muskrats " working their way as fast as they
could around toward the rebel TANKS. The
rebel artillery, seeing most danger from them,
began throwing shells in their direction, as
they could be caught sight of through the
rain and the opening in the trees.
| Why don't they order US forward with
the bayonet ?" fretted ST. 1--WE can scat
ter them. Their guns amt in 10 better shane
than ours Ii they hold rs here, the Illinoy
and Ohio fellers II git all the credit"
| The Colonel's orders are explicit said
| the Adjutant, who happened TO be near,
"not to move until the head of one of the
other regiments can be seen on the hills to
the right or left. Thec we're all to go for
ward together"
YES" grumbled Shorty, and Wen Jest
| git there in time to see them 1llinoy Suckers
hog everything You kin see 'em limberin'
up and preparing to git. Just our dumbed
| luck"
| 1t turned out Just as Shorty had pre-
dicted. The rebel commander had kept a
wary eye on the other regiments, and as he
saw them gain the point of vantage In the
open, where they could make q rush upon
him, he ordered quick retreat. The other
regiments raised yell and charged straight
home. By the time the 200th Ind. could
reach the gap the other regiments were in
| full possession, and the rebels out of musket-
shot in the valley beyond.
| 81 told you So snorted the irate Shorty.
Now we've lost the advance. Tomorrow
| wei have to take them other fellers' mud,
and pry their teams out o. the holes"
81 wonder how many o. them % miles
| toward Shelbyville we've made to-day?"
asked ST.
81 heard the Adjutant say" said one of
his comrades, that we'd come just six
| miles
"Jewhillikins," said Shorty, sorrowfully.
Thus ended the first day of the Tullahoma
campaign.