The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-29

al DECLARE, I'M ALL ON FIRE"
Shorty had some strong black plug tobacco
He cut this up into small pieces, while S
found an old tin can into which they wer
put. and then the can filled up with boilin!
water.
LETS make her good and strong, ST,
said Shorty, putting in some more tobacco
9 for these felIers are sockdolagers, and i
will take horse dose to kill 'em. They'll
lust enjoy a little taste o. terbacker, Max,
it strong enough TO bear up an aig. Now
let's git our clothes off while it's coolin
down. You drench me, and I'll drench you
and we'll salivate these gallinippers in a way
that'll surprise EN-"
The surprise seemed to be mostly on the
other side. Shorty's skin was raw from head
to foot from the depredations of the various
tribes of "epzoa," as the physicians gen
eraliZe them. He gave a yell that could be
heard through the whole regiment as the
acrid biting tobacco Juice struck q thousand
little punctures in his skin inside of a second.
Every body rushed up to see what was the
matter, and stood around, laughing and COM
menting, while scratching and slapping at
their own colonies of tOrmentOrS. Then
Shorty began the most vehement stream OF
profanity, and showered maledictiOnS on
everything in the State of Tennessee, which
was only breeding place for fleas, wood
ticks, jiggers. graybacks, niggers, rebels,
traitors bushwhackers, guerrillas, thieves,
robbers and murderers, and other spawn OF
Jeff Davisism. Presently he grew violently
sick at the stomach, turned deathly white,
and finally tainted. Frightened, ST rushed
for the Surgeon.
"Only tobacco poisoning" said the latter,
after he had looked Shorty over carefully.
You made that solution too strong, and the
lot of little puncture5 took it directly into
his circulation. You might have killed him
if you had made it stronger, or got more OF
it on him. | never saw such Tapscallions as
you boys are. You are always trying TO kill
yourselves or one another, in spite of all that
can do or tell you. A man that's Surgeon
OF this regiment has to earn his money, | tell
you. But he will come out all right pretty
soon, only he will be very weak. I'll send
you down some whisky to give him."
Real old rye, Doctor?" said Shorty very
family, and opening his eyes feebly. ''None
of your Commissary stuff. This is a power
iul bad case, and need the best"
- You shall have it, F" laughed the Surgeon.
81 know you. You are ali right when you
are all right. But you won't be able to
march with the column to-day. III give you
an excuse from duty. And you Ito Si) had
better stay with him. I'll speak to your
Captain"
The bugles were sounding the assembly,
everywhere, and the men, slapplng and
scratching as if they would tear their flesh
and their clothes off, were hastily swallowing
their last mouthfuls of hot coffee and bread
and pork, snatching up their guns and
blankets and falling in.
''Shelbyville is only six miles away"
said the Orderly-Sergeant rs he lined up Co.
O. and clawed around his clothes ut his per-
secutors "Therell be 4 circus to-day, and
no pOstpOnement on account O. the weather.
It'll either be the gol-darnedest fight that the
200th Iniianny Volunteers ever got into or
the cusSedest foot-race that wuz ever run.
Here, Bles, consarn you, leave that fire and
your munching, and fall in. You're like 4
cows tail-always behind"
Shorty made violent effort to rise up and
Join the company, but he was manifestly too
weak ST was in sore distress. He didn't
want to leave him, but he was desperately
anxious to be with his company
Corporal Klegg," said the Captain COM
ing down the line, and giving frequent
possibly 90 with us to-day. I'm awfully
sorry, but there is no use talking about 1t.
You must stay behind and take care of him,
and take charge of these sore footed men who
will be unable to keep up. The Colonel
orders you to command the whole outfit.
You keep them together, keep up as well as
you can, and if you see any place that you
can be useful 90 in. / know and the Colonel
knows that you can be trusted to do that"
This made 81 more reconciled to being left
behind and he mentally resolved that though
he might not lie with his beloved regiment
he would manage TO do his full share IN the
impending battle for Shelhyvilie.
The "SccOaa Lieutenant and Abide
Camp" came up. 1t was noticed In the dis
lance that he was suffering from the same
causes as the others, but rs soon as he came
into the immediate presence of the men his
official dignity asserted itself, he refrained
from nervous pursuit of his yerminiierous as
sailants, and walking stifily up to the Colonel,
saluted, and said:
Colonel, / came to report the conduct of
a couple Of your men who came under my
command right before last, and who, while
doing very we'll in some resrects, were 50
grossly disreSpectiul 10 me that they shoald
be given a sharp lesson. Unless this is done,
it will tend to impair discipline and diminish
the respect which men should show their
officers
The Colonel looked straight ut the young
officer, and noticed an unusually large insect
emerge from his collar and walk deliberately
up his neck onto his cheek. 1t must have
been intensely annoying, but dignity tri-
umphed, and the Lieutenant stood stit1ly as a
ramrOd.
Pm very sorry to hear that any of my
men should seem wanting in respect to their