The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02

longed was a little squad of 600 who
were hurried forward to seize and hold
Cairo for the Government.
when the sun rose in the morning
Walter saw by its position that they were
running due south, and soon the intelli-
gence became diffused through the cars
that the object of the expedition was the
occupation of Cairo-possibly the expul-
sion of the Secessionist troops, if any
were found there. The suddenness and
secresy of the movement were caused by
the receipt of information by the authori-
ties that the rebels were meditating a
similar demonstration, the successful
carrying out of which would have
moral effect quite equal to its military
importance.
Then, some of those alarmist idiots
who seem an inevitable component of
every military expedition, started a re-
port that the rebels had occupied Cairo
/ during tie night-coming up from Co
lumbus, 20 miles below, on fleet of
steamers, with an abundance of artillery;
that desperate fight might be expected
with them as soon as the train approach
ed Cairo, etc. The BOYS grew a little
pale as this disquieting story was buzzed
around, and took hold of their guns
with an expression of hardening deter
mination, a. if nerving themselves up for
the struggle.
Bronson's good common sense asserted
itself, and he spoke out go loud that all
in bis car could hear him:
"This is all nonsense. The authori-
ties who sent US know what they are
about. There is telegraph line to Cairo,
and they have somebody there watching
things If there was any force of rebels
there or near there, they would hear Of
it, and notify US at some of these sta
lions that We are passing to be IN readi-
ness. Or, if the telegraph should be cut
before there was time to send message,
we will meet an engine on the road
somewhere, sent ont from there to warn
US I'm sure that if there had been any
prospect of fight they wouldn't have
sent us out without cartridges"
This quoted the apprehensions of an
immediate attack by an overwhelming
force of blood-tbirsty Mississippians, but
there was no doubt that the reception of
the expedition by the Cairoites would
mot be very friendly, and there was a
possibility that the recent rough handling
OF the Massachusetts troops in the streets
of Baltimore might be paraileed.
The rich, almost treeless prairies in
which their journey began were now sue
ceeded by rolling ground, frequently
rising into considerable hills, and well
covered with trees. The neat white cot
tages of the northern part of the State,
with their trim door-yards, clumps of
evergreens, fower-beds, and well-painted
} fences, were replaced by slatternly, un-
painted frame houses, or hopelessly poor
log cabins, with shackling rail fences, and
door-yards occupied by loud-mouthed,
yellow dogs and long-nosed, sharp.
backed hogs 1t was the transition
from thrift to shiftIessness-from the
homes of Loyalty to the abiding places
of Disloyalty.
Late in the morning the train rolled
, across and along dismal swamp, and q
little while after came to halt in the
unpaved streets of a stumbling village
, From the car door Walter could see at 9
8 little distance the turbid yellow tide o.