The National tribune., 1899-11-30

of the enemy with much angry cannonade.
much Spiteful rage of muSketry, much show
OF massing and marching men, many
vicious little squabbles between Yankee
skirmishers. and rebel outposts.
The Wahoo Brigade" to which the 200th
Ind. belonged had prominent share in
these demonstrations" with which Sher-
mans men became so familiar i'll the course
Of the Atlanta campaign.
1t cleared out all the rebels from the wood
i'll which it was camped, and pushed its
skirmishers to the edge of the timber, from
which they kept up noisy, long-range
pickering with the rebel SkirmiSheTS,
lodging around among the sparse growth
of pine and cedar, and the rocks on the long
slope which led up to the crest of the hill.
There all the timber had been cut down
into abatis, and above this rose high thick
bank of red clay, which, to the right and
left swelled into Fashioned forts. On the
higher mountains behind could be seen
still heavier forts, with larger guns, that
| commanded the works in front.
ST and Shorty, with their squad. had
been with the rest of Co. Q on the brigade
skirmish-line all morning. and for awhile
had thrown their whole souls into efforts to
bring down the rebels dodging from one
shelter to another. But, as they did not
| seem to be doing execution proportionate to
the ammunition expended, they had lot their
| firing die down to desultory shots when
some daring rebel should offer the chance
| for gooi long-range shot.
With loaded rifle ready, 81 leaned up
| against an oak sapling, and attentively
studied the ground in front, and the works,
with view to the assault that was probable.
Shorty leaned against another, ana thought
of Maria and her letter. Occasionally he
would admonish Pete and Sandy about
| being too reckless i'll exposing themselves.
| Harry Joslyn and Monty Scruggs initiated
their example, while Gid Mackall satisfied
| his ever-raging hunger from his haversack
and Alf Russell took the opportunity to
| again view the cicatrice across his cheek
by the aid Of his pocket looking-glass, to
determine how much of permanent scar
it was likely to leave
| Orderly" commanded Capt. McGilli.
cuddy, send back for a couple boxes OF
cartridges, and issue them out Then tel
/ shooting, and keep it up as lively as they
can. Let them shoot at anything or moth,
| ing, but shoot as fast as they can. We've
got to make big demonstration"
In few minutes a most terrific uproar
broke out along the whole line, with every,
| body banging away as fast he could load
and fire.
| The rebels revived their firing, and the
| fort Joined in The din was accentuated by
batteries to the right and left reopening
| fire on the rebel forts.
BY the time the musket-barrels Were
getting too hot for handling, the buglt
sounded Forward" and the skirmish-lint
dashed out ipto the opening, and halfway
| across. Immediately behind came the
brigade in line-qf-battle. The front rank
| pushed forward into the skirmish-Iine, and
reinforced its fire with their fresh guns
while the rear rank, carrying picks, axes
and shovels. fell to work constructing q
line of rife-pits close behind the firing-Iine
Everything was done with feverish
energy, and !, in an incredibly short time
logs, stones, chunks and dirt were massed
together in q rude embankment, high and
thick enough to protect men lying behind
from direct musk ket-shots from the rebels in
the works.
Then, while the rear rank got ready tc
fire, the front line quickly sprang back and
lay down behind the shelter, and a volley
blazed out from those who had been hand
ling picks and shovelS.
But before the front rank fell back they
saw long lines OF rebels coming from the
hills to reinforce those in their front
did you see all those men swarmng
down, Corporal?" asked Monty Scruggs
with staring eyes and drawn face. as they
adjusted themselves behind the hasty in
trenchment, and began throwing over
whatever they could find to strengthen it
''The whole Southern Confederacy seems
out for noon over there"
YES" answered ST, and he and Shorty
brought up log from the rear and laid il
as l can guess, there must be full division
out there. Possibly two"
Its two divisions, more likely" answered
Shorty, picking up an ak to drive some
stakes to hold the log in place. But the
more the better. When they're there they
| amt somewhere else. and we want 'em ont
] there just now. Gid, you and Alf take