The National tribune., 1898-12-01

DETA CHMENT.
rebel army was out on the Chickamauga
some miles from Chattanooga, and savagely
attacking the Union army to drive it away
and recspture the to IN.
The news was generally very encouraging.
Every attack of the rebels had been repused,
though our own loss had been heavy But
every man was needed. The rebel lines ex-
tended far beyond those of the Union army
in each direction. and still they had enough
for heavy aSsaulting columns. Everybody in
the neghborhood of Chattanooga had been
ordered mp leaving only the meagerest pos
sibIe guards for the trains and communica-
lions.
This increased the burning impotence of
the boys to get where they could be of serv-
ice But it was far into the night when
they finally skjrted the frowning palisades of
Lookout Mountain. and went into biv0uac
on the banks of Chattanooga Creek. All of
the squad wanted gsns. and ST and Shorty
had been desperately anxious to get them for
them.
At the stopping places were squads of
guards, men more or less sick, and men on
detached duty Wherever ST or Shorty
sharp search could Cad a gun not actually in
use, or not likely to be, it was pretty sure,
BIZ soMe means or another, either openly or
surreptisieusiy, to be gotten into the hands
OF one of the squad. In this way by the
time they arrived at Chat anooga, they had
nearly half thor men armed and had given
them some preliminary instruction in hand
ling their guns. The Indianians needed
little SO far as loading and firing, for they
were all natural marksmen, but to the Eng
lshnan and his Irish squad the musket was
thing Of mystery and dread.
"An is that the geen for me?" said one of
the Jrishmen contemptuously, as ST proudly
handel him a trusty Springfield he had found
unmatched somewhere. THAT fool thing
wild bore no bigger'R gimlet hole? Fwhy,
ont in the onld country, fwhen we 90 man
hunting we take n COON wild a mouth like
funnel, that ye can put hat full av balls
inter. To the divil wild such COON as
this"
Fix your mind on earnin' the kinks o.
that gun, Barney" advised Shorty tone
ball fran it pat in the right place II do more
than a hat full from your old Irish blunder-
buss. A n,an that gifts only one from it won't
need nothin more'n a headstOne and his
name crossed effen the roster Git a good
squnt at him through them sights, Jest below
his belt, hold stiddy while you pull the trig-
ger, ana his namell Sc mud"
But fwhere is the powder to make the
ball go?'' persisted Barney, locking at the
cartridge which Shorty had put in his hand.
{: The powder is behnd the ball in that
paper bag" explained Shorty. "You tear
the paper with your teeth this way, and pour
the powder into the muzzle"
Fiat. F." said Barney contemptuously, sur
veying the cartridge. "There isn't enough
powdher there to throw ball as far as Oh can
a pebble. Fwhy, Oh used to put whole
handful % powdher in the old blunderbuss.
Oi wud do betther to whack man wild a
shllelah. And fwhere is the flint to strike
foire?"
80, the fiint-lock's played out, you flannel
mouthed Irishman," said Shorty irritably.
. It's as Out-oi-date as bow and arrer.
This's percussion-lock; don't you under
stand? This is cap. You stick it right on
this nipple, an when the hammer comes
down off goes your gun. Don't you see?"
Well, you can say, maybe, an maybe you
can't. But Oh can't. Take your old COON. !
Oil none av it. May the divl fly away wild |
it, an wild you too. Old rather have a good |
shtick. Wild shtick in me fist, Oin take |
care of ony spalpeen fwhat'll stand up in |
front av me. But wild fool COON loike that |
Did be kilt at vance"
While 81 and Shorty were still worrying |
about.what to do for arms for the remainder !
Of their men, they heard what seemed to be
about company marching toward them
through the darkness.
= suppose we had better stop here and
stack our arms out of the way" they heard
,he officer say who seemed to be in COM
nand. We've got an all-night's Job before
is, fixing up that bridge, and getting those
wagons across Stack arms, boys, and leave
Four belts and traps with them There's
OTIS of work down there for u.s."
They conld see dimly the men obeying the
riders, and going down the bank to the
reek, where they started large fires to light
hem at their work
They have got job ahead of 'em, - re-
marked Shorty, looking in the direction of
he fires.
It'll take 'em all night and large part
Tomorrow" said ST, significantly, as a
bought entered his mind. II