The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-23

asfonished by this news. But Mr.. Peory
and his companions troubled themselves
little as TO whether or not they were winning
the golden opinion OF Bronson, o. Neill and
that lot. They had other things of more i'm
portance 10 them to engross their attention.
Troops were being hurried forward from
all parts of Illinois to Cairo. The 600 which
had first occupied the place were now in
creased to 10 times that many.
Walter began to- understand what was
meant by the pomp and circumstance OF
glorious war. Fort Defiance that had at
first consisted OF slight breastwork around
an old distillery, which served as quarters
for the garrison-had become an imposing
stronghold, constructed in the highest style
Of engineering art, with massive redoubts,
deep bitches, and a score Of heavy guns,
whose black mouths eTinned in every direc-
ton across the broad, placid bosom OF the
Ohio, into the steaming fcns Of western Ken
lucky down the turbid tide of the Missis-
sippi to where the rebel feet was gathering
under the guns OF Columbus, across the
bluish-yellow eddies of the Father OF Waters,
into the cypress boys Of Missouri upon the
gentle elevation of Birds Point, where now
appeared, under the lofty pecan trees, an
other strong fort, with more yawning guns
and a city OF white tents.
Wherever the ground rose above the sur
rounding swaInps were seen the embrasuTed
embankments of forts. the ominous muzZes
OF heavy artillery the regular rows Of white
tents, regiments Of infantry drilling indus
trlously in battalion and brigade manuyers
on level parade-grounds, squadrons of cav
airy sweeping hither and thitlier in obedi-
ence to the ringing notes of sweet-vOiced bu-
giles, and batteries of field artillery, whose
bright brass guns flashed in the hot sun as
they wheeled from battery into line and back
into battery again. The placid waters Of the
Ohio were covered with feet Of towering
white steamers, and at either flank lay sui
len-looking gunboats at anchor.
Neat blue uniforms aud patient drill had
changed the disorderly mob we saw at Camp
Yates into masses of compact, symmetrical
battalions, that stood like wall and moved
like some enormous blue milliped whose
back was covered with an armor OF shining
steel points.
Officers boomed out into wonderful effior-
essences Of bright gold-in buttons and epau-
lets and brilliant sashes. 1t was as if the
hot sun was developing them into human
sunfowers with coroilas of FURNISHED yellow
metal
Gen. George B. Mcclellan, with a gorgeous
staff and fresh laurels Of victories won in
Western Virginia, came TO inspect the forces.
The great cannon of the gunboats and the
fort Numbered out Major-Geneal's salute,
the flags fioated, the bands PLAYED. the regi-
ments paraded and the boys cheeIed until the
welkin rang. The commander Of the forces
at Cairo-Gen. Prentiss-made an ardent adj
dress, IN which he begged that he might be
allowed 10 lead his men TO the field. Gen
Mcclellan responded with equal enthusiasm.
assuring him that they should all soon be
gratifed III that respect.
Some weeks afterWaTd Gen. Fremont came
down from st. Louis with still more gor-
geOus staff and feet OF nine gaily- hammered
steamboats,. Again the ponderous guns
roared Major-Gencrai welcome again the
flags Heated and the regiments paraded and
the men cheered. and Gems. Prentiss and
Fremont made antiphonal patriotic speeches.
This was pomp and circumstance galore.
year later the boy veterans sneered at the
superabundance there had been of it.
But now it came in to help patriotism
reconcile them 10 the routine of weary DAYS
spent In toilsome drill and still more arduous
labor with the pick and spade in building
Publications, in unloading the great guns and
dragging them to their places, in carving
endless quantities of heavy iron shot up the
dusty levees. All this under torrid sun
that poured down upon the blazing banks and
seething swamps. Few places habited by
white men are hotter in summer than Cairo.
Then came the musketoes-active as the
hosts of iniquity, and more numerous than
the sands Of the sea