The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-31

which both belonged, with the pretended in
tention Of having steps taken to rescue the
suffering member from the outrages.
Of course John would expostulate with
Sam for the over-weaning solicitude, but
Sans well-assumed Indignation that his
friend should be thus put upon could do
nc less than increase Johns gratitude to
Sam, while the post and lodge being in the
Joke, also had much quiet amusement in
the trick, poor old John being the uncon-
scious butt.
Continuing the conversation begun at the
outset of this chronicle, John said
"Yes, l have had my romances, but this
last one is not mine, though | am inter
ested in it.
"You remember that poor girl brought
back from Knoxville in the spring of 64?"
well, should think ought to remem-
Der her. I've always thought she was the
cause of your losing your hair, and"
Never mind ny hair, you blamed scamp"
81 don't mind it. Nobody does. 1t amt
n anybody's way"
"Sam Nelson, I'll hurt you yet"
Don't John. But what about the girl?
She's got over being girl by this time"
81 should say she had She's well on the
way to being grandmother"
you don't say!"
II just did say"
"How do you know"
"Lemme tell you
That's what I'm waiting for"
Before repeating what John now told Sam
il is necessary to say that the two were
n.embers Of the same Illinois regiment Of in
fantry in East Tennessee in the winter of
1854, until after the campaign that involved
the siege of Knoxville, and that Johns son
John was soldier in the Cuban war, hero
of Santiago and one of the invaders of Porto
Rico.
After the siege Of Knoxville had been
raised large body Of the federal troops fol-
lowed Longstreet's retreat into Virginia as
far as Strawberry Plains, Tenn, wher. the
| federals went into camp for some weeks IN
| the most uncomfortable bivouac that was
known in the history of the war. The
weather was, for the most part, intensely
cold, food was pitfully scarce, and what
| little there was was bread made from sick
wheat" and bad corn, and beef from lot
| OF unfed cattle that were so poor and thin
end feeble that the butchers had to hold
| them up to knock them down.
| The pitiabe herd was daily driven across
ditch, and those that were too weak to
get over, and therefore fell in, were killed
for food, while those that could get over
we're held IS being able to live until the
next killing time.
The men were half clad, in dirty, ragged
clothes, and were without shelter, but there
| was wood enough to make big fires.
During this time occurred tie famous Cole
New Years day." January |, 1864, remem
bered all over the country as the coolest
day that has ever been recorded in the
nited States.
1t was on that day that John Saxton-
the John row bald, that these chronicle!
have been speaking of-then a duty ser
geant, brought into camp girl of Is OF II
years whom he had found, almost starved
and frozen, in a cabin among the bleal
hills. Her mother lay dead on the one mis-
cradle bed in the cabin; the father, Ton
Marley, had been killed year before il
the confederate army, and the girl was too
weak to leave the place alone, and there she
too, would soon have died Of cold and star
walton.
The foraging party, Of which Sergt. Johr
Sexton had charge, wrapped the girl up a
best they could in some rough sacks an,
Johns deplorably ragged overcoat anC
placed her in one OF the wagons that wa
partly loaded with eornfodder and othe
forage. They dug shallow grave in tn
dirt floor Of the cabin, buried the dea,
woman there and took the girl into camp.
John Saxton appointed himself Samanth
Marley's guardian, and upon the arrival o
the party at camp she was carried to tn
only tent in all the vast encampment. Tn
tent belonged to a stray sutler who wa
there by means the details Of which are no
necessary to this record. With the suite
was his wife, husky woman who was ply,
itally the superior of her husband. Thi
canvas abode and shop was kept comfort
able by means Of sheet iron stove. and i