The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-01

Wncfe an Ordcr soon followed to place
her in close confinement.
There's going to be the devil TO pay"
suid Walter, half an hour later. THE
general has got one of his fits on"
Even the men seemed to know that
something was in the wind. Old salts
Of the sea could not more certainly
predict foul weather in the sky than
the troops could see hard fighting in
the generals face. About dark we got
the first fash of the coming storm.
The general called me to him and or
derCd me to ride to the headquarters Of
the different commands, directing each
commanding officer to send two of his
best men, especially fitted for scouting
service, TO report in person at head
quarters. | gave the order. and the men
reported as directed. The general sent
them out by twoS. apportioning the
neighboring territory among them.
with "A view to discovering the posi-
tions occupied by the different bodies
of the enemy. After they had left, he
directed me TO bring Corporal PUNK,
his favorite scout, n long lean Indianian.
whose principal occupation during the
days when the prairies of his native
state were being opened by the pillow
was shaking with ague. He had his
own way of doing everything, and
could no more be induced to follow
plan laid out for him than a mountain
horse could be guided by its rider over
n rocky trail. lie sometimes secuted
in uniform, but was quite ms likely to
go out in the garb of a citizen. 1t was
not long before | had him standing be-
fore the general, not at attention, for
such n position was not possible with
him, but lettering awkwardly till the
general, who was intent upon a map.
spread out before him, should notice
him.
Corporal" said the general, sud-
denly, you must bring me the EN-
emy's position, and that before mid
night. This is the most important
service on which | have ever sent you.
Take the best horse in the command
and 60"
Having dispatched his scouts, the
general lay down on his cot, a signal
for us all that we might turn to rest or
amusement
Walter and l, instead of preparing
for what was to come, as we should
have done, spent the time in a game of
shinplasters. Inveterate gamester as
was, on this occasion | tried to beg
off, for my heart and mind were full
of Margaret Beach. But Walter sus-
pected the cause of my unwillingness
to play, and, not wishing him to see
any further than necessary into the
state of my mind, yielded. Once well
started in the game forgot Margaret,
the approaching operations, every
thing but the cards, and at 12 o'clock,
when the scouts began TO come in and
the general needed me, he had to call
twice before | heard him.
The reports were conflicting and OF
little value. Most of the men had gath
cred their information from citizens
who either did not have any informa-
ton to give or purposely misled them.
About one o'clock PUNK came in, slow
ly ambling on his nag, bearing all the
information required.
Bout three mile above where the
Tennessee runs into the Iiwassee on
the west bank, / ran afoul of n rebel
camp. | counted animals and made
out purity nigh onto six hundred
Right opposite, across the river, were
some more, and l judged by their
camp fires purity nigh as many"
"That all?"
"All | could find"
"What guard across the Hiwassee?"
zone company with two small can
nom"
Good" And the corporal was dis
missed.
The general called his officers to his
tent, and, spreading a map on a pine
table lighted by a talow dip, informed
them of his plans.
"Here, gentlemen" he said, point
ing to the position of the confederates,
"are two bodies of the enemy. You see
here, just above the junction of the
two rivers, a bridge crossing the Ten
nessee. 1t is still held by a small rebel
force with two guns. The two forces.
will meet at the bridge, and, moving
in separate columns by these two.
roads leading to our position here"
"G-g-general," interrupted Snaffle,
''you talk as if you were in command
of the rebels instead of us. How do you
know all this?"
Major replied his commander,
'how don't you know all this? There's
the map, here are the separate bodies
of the enemy, and your eyesight is
good"
Snaflle made no reply for awhile. He
studied the map with an expression of
great wisdom. 81 suppose" he said,
presently, "the proper thing to do is
to engage the main force on this side,
trusting to b-b-beat It before The others
can cross"
THAT is not my plan. | shall go
straight for the bridge"
"W-w-what are you going to do at the
b-b-bridge?"
Take it,"