The National tribune., 1899-12-21

he Cf1AikpE LIN
"we've heard all that story about awful
strong works before, and no;hin' came
of it. We had 'em at Tullyhomy, and then
agin at BuZzard Roost, and they didn't
amount to shucks agin us. Pap Thomas's
| and Pm goin' to bank on him for whatever's
ahead. He gifts paid for worryin' about
that sort o things. j don't. The 81 a
month extra git for bein' Corporal isn't
more'n enough to pay the wear and tear
OF my mind in managin' the reliefs when
| Pm Corporal o. the Guard"
! The Orderly-Sergeaat came up from the
rear, and his face and manner at once
arrested ST and Shorty'S attention. His
couutenance bore a look Of deep solemnity
| instead of the captious austerity that was
| his prevailing mien, ard his walk was
changed from his usual brisk rlilitarineSS
| to quiet thoughtfulneSS. BY an almost
| impercepthle movement Of his head and
| eyes he indicated to ST ard Shorty that he
wanted to speak with them apart, and
they quietly rose and followed him behind
| a clump of bushes.
| BOYS" he said, in quiet, even tones
| without a trace of his usual snappiSh
asperity, cts at last up to us. It's as we
| have been hearing for the last two DAYS
as the reason for the concentration OF the
troops around us. Tomorrow morning
| the army's going to make a square butt
dStlltlSl lIit Oi No anu u
break old Johnston in two in two places
and grind him to pieces. Old Sherman's
got it up his nose that this flanking business
is played out, and he's going to try to bust
Johnston wide open, and be done with it.
"Not bad idee," said 81; 81 second that
motion"
HAS he found the weak place that we've
bin loOkin' for all Summer" inquired
Shorty.
"There's Just the point" said the Orderly
Hes got tired of looking for a thin place,
and has got it into his head that his men
are so much better than Johnston's that
we can smash them anywhere we choose to
hit them. This army's to bull right over
those heavy works out there, while Nc
Pherson, with the Army of the Tennessee,
is to smash them on Little Kenesaw, a
mile to our left"
"Well, what's the matter with that?"
asked ST, puzzled at the subdued. hope
lacking expression of the man who WIS
usually keeniy Sanguine as to the success
of any movement. ''lf any army kin do it
the Army o the Cumberland kin. It's
ncyct Wit bucked up agin ANYTHING that il
hain't downed. Them works look mighty
strong. but ! don't know as they're any
worse'n Liberty Gap. If they are, all
about it is for us to buck a little harder"
"What makes You look so down in the
mouth, Jim?" asked Shorty curiously.
@lf | didn't know you so well, I'd think
this amt TO wuss than hundred things
I've seen sou sail through with head and
tail up. Ain'i you well, JIM"
Boys" said the Orderly earnestly, 81
wouldn't say this to a soul but you, but this
is going to be the awfuleSt slaughter this
divisions ever had, not even excepting
Stone River and Chickamauga. It's going
to be torn all to pieces in that Internal
abats, and we're never going to cross those
works. We're going to be piled up in front
Of them, and Pm going to be one that'll
"Nonsense, jim" said ST cheerfully.
you're going through all right We're
all goin' through Wen plant the flag
o. the 200th lnjianny on the works inside
o Is minutes after the signals given. and
you'u he throwin' up your hat and yelling
when it is done"
"Why, jim" added Shorty, whats
given you the blues now? You've had the
best kind o luck so far. You haven't
had a scratch, though YOU was right along
side o me and ST when we was laid out |
Better go to the Surgeon and git big slug
o. whisky and quinine. That'n fetch |
You around all right, and you'll be as
chpper as any o us"
"Tain't nonsence, and 'tain't the ague."
said the Orderly, with calm insistence. |
81 don't know how | know it, but | know
it just as | know that this is the 26th day
of June, that before noon tomorrow I'll |
be laying in the middle of that abatis. |
with bullet-hole in my head and a pile |
o Co. @ around me. Somebody else II |
call the roll of Co. Q tomorrow evening, |
but there won't be many to call"
Jim, you certainly are coming down |
with the ager-the reg'ler Wabash ager,"
expostulated ST. at always commences |
with that creepy, skeery feelin' that makes |
a man feel like as if he was goin' to be bit |
by a mad dog, or fall down a WE'LL or his |
hoss kick his head off. I've had it. Go
up to the Surgeon and git some quinine."
at amt ague l tell you," said the Or
derly. 81 know the symptoms of the ague |
as well as you do. / amt ratified. You /
know me well enough for that. / know
just what's coming, and am ready for it"
why don't you tell Capt. McGillcuddy, |
and he'll be sure to send you off on some |
duty, and not let you go in the charge |
You're too good an Orderly for him to run
any risk o losin'."
The Orderly's cheek Redeemed. DO
you suppose. 81 Klegg, that I'd put up any |
story like that to keep out O. the charge? |
Where did | ever allow you fellows to go
that | didn't go with you? No, Pm not !
doing any whimpering around the Cap
tain. Pm only telling you boys, because
you are my best friends, in spite of all the
little tiffs we've had, and because Pm sure
you're going to get through. Yo've had
your dose, and there amt anything more
coming to you. I've escaped SO far, and