The National tribune., 1899-10-26

Skldmore, but with face as black as char
coal. pulled off the leather bag in which
cartridges are carried from the timber to the
gun, and handed it to one Of the cannoneers,
who said:
well, good-by, II you must be going.
You done well. You ought to belong to the
artillery. You're too good for a dough-
boy. I'm going to ask the Captain to have
you detailed to u.s."
\ similar scene was taking place at the
next gun, with a little blackamoor about
the size of Sandy Baker
The boys picked up their guns and belts
from the ground. and fell in with Co. Q.
Hello, Corporal said Pete, with
his face. We've just bin having lots o.
fun"
pete, you aggravatin' little brat" said
Shorty, giving him cuff that started the
boys tears to making little white streaks
through the black, where in the world
have You bin and what've you bin doin'?"
Why" whimpered Pete, me and Sandy
crept forward to a rock where we thought
we could see better, and then we thought We
could see better from another, and we kept
a-goin' until we got clear up to where the
limbers was. afore we knowed it. just
then couple O. them powder-monkeys, as
you call 'em, come runnin' back for car
tridges, but they was both hit, and was all
bloody, and both of 'ern fell down and
couldn't go no further, when they got the
and Sandy thought it was too bad that the
men up there at the guns shouldn't have no
cartridges, when they was fighting so hard,
so we picked up the boys bags and rup up
to the cannon with 'em. The men there
was so glad to git 'em, and told US to lay
down our guns and run back for soms more.
They kept US goin' till the rebels was
knocked out, and we thought We was doin
right and helpin', and they told US we was,
and now you slap me; Boo-hoo-hooI
atn II
Shorty, melting instantly, and putting his
arm around the boy. You done right, and
| you're brave, good little boy. Only you
| must not go away from the company with
| out letHn' me know"
Good God" groaned the Colonel, as ne
halted the regiment down the slope, and
studied the opposite side with his glass.
| There's another abatis, and it looks worse
| than the one in which we have Just left half
the regiment. But We'll go through il
| over the works. 1 don't suppose that We
are any better than those who have already
died, or got any better right TO live.
This is the dumbedest country. for
| cuttin' down trees the wrong way" 81
sadly remarked, as he surveyed the abatis.
'It's meaner'n n midnight murder. I'd like
t., t. git hold o the plzen Whelp what invented
"The devil invented abatis, just after he
| invented hell, and as an Improvement on 1t,
and just before he invented secession,
Shorty judged hotly. When we git
through them abatis there Pm goin' to kill
| everything I find, Just to learn 'em to stop
sich heathenish work. It's sneakin' MUIR
| der, not war;
when we get through" murmured Az "
Russell dolefully. How many OF US Will
ever get through"
who'll be the Jim Humphreys and Gid
Mackall this timer" said Monty Scruggs,
looking at the tangled mass of tree-tops,
Can you see any path through this
! abatis, Sergeant?" nervously asked Harry
"No, Harry" said 81, kindly and en-
couragingly. But we'll find some way to
git through There's probably path that
We kin strike, Stay close by me- and we'H
try our best"
seWeIl, / for one am goin' through, and
Pm goin' to take Pete and Sandy with me,
said Shorty, in loud, confident tone, to
brace up the others. I've always gone
through every. one O. them things Iye
struck yit, and this amt no worsen the
while they're shiverin' over the shellin' we
give 'em. They must be shakin' up there
yit like dog on January mornin'. why
don't we start, wonder?"
The batteries behind them began throw.
ing shells slowly and deliberately, as If
testing their range, before beginning a
general cannonade. All along the crest, 10
their right and to their left, could be seen
regiments moving up and going into line
of battle.
sure" said ST. "And the 2OOth Inianny,s
got front seat at the performances. Wen
show them how to do it, and we're Just the
ones that kin. Brace up, boys, The eyes
Of the whole army's on us. They expecs
big things from U.s."
Here She goes, guess" he continued, as
bugle sounded at headquarters. Every
body git ready to Jump at the word, and not
stop goin' till we're inside the works"
The lines stiffened, every one drew a
long breath, gripped his gun. and braoed
himself for the fiery ordeal. There was an
anxious wait, and then the Adtutant came
walking quietly down the line, with his
horses bride over his arm.
at seems" he explained to Capt. Nc
Gillicuddy, loud enough for the company
to hear, that we are not to make an assault,
after all. There's enough rebels over there
in the works to eat us up without salt. We
are ordered to only make demonstration,
and hold them, while the rest work down on
their fianks toward Calhoun, which Is six
miles below, and get In their rear: You
can let your men rest in place till further
orders"
Captain, walking off with the Adtutank -,
"'Tentionl Stack arms! Place rest!"
commanded the Orderly.
The revulsion OF feeling among the
keenly- -wrought-up men was almost pain.
full.
Demonstration be blamed" said 81,
sinking upon a convenient rock. Il always
did hate foolin'. Gracious, how tired
am"
"Only a demonstration-only powow,
noise, show and bluff, sneered Shorty,
flinging his gun against the stack. why
didn't they tell us this an hour ago, and
save me all this wear and tear that's maxim
me old before my time? When git ready
for fight want it to come off, without any
postponement on account Of weather.
Come, Pete, let me- wash your face and
hands, and then We'll spread our blankets
and lay down. I'm tireder N mule after
crossin' Rocky Face Ridge. don't want
to take another step, nor even think, I'LL
git a e I'd sleep
I'VE don't have TO 60 over that brush,
then?" said Af Russell, with an expression
of deep relief "I'm so glad. Great JeYu-
salem, how my wound begins to ache again.
You fellows oughtn't to laugh at my wound:
You don't know how it hurts 70 have all
those delicate nerves torn up.
SO it was with every one The moment
the excitement Of the impending fight
passed away, every one was sinking with
fatigue, and all his other troubles came
back Monty Scruggs suddenly remem-
bered how badly he had been hurt, and
started to drag himself of in search Of the
Surgeon, while Harry Joslyn and Sandy
Baker, cumming together for the first
time, snuggled together in their blankets,
and sought that relief from the excitement
and fatipues Of the day which kindly