The National tribune., 1899-08-24


veterans knew. Their courage, their will
ingness, their ability to go any distance,
fight and whip anything that breathed had
no limitations. They had the supremest
confidence in themselves and their leaders,
and no more doubt of their final success
than they had that the sun would rise In
the morning.
Vigorous, self-reliant manhood never
reached higher plane than in the rank
and file of Sherman'S army in the Spring
of 1864.
81 and Shorty had only partially un-
dressed when they lay down. Their
shoes, hats and blouses were with theiI
haversacks under their heads. Instinct
lively. as their eyes opened, they reached
for them and put them on.
That was little trick only learned by
hard service.
The partners started in to rouse their
boys. As soon as these were fairly awake
gone to sleep bubbling over with the mo.
nervousness of the coming day, and now
that day had opened.
There was frantic scrambling for
clothing, which it was impossible for them
to find in the pitchy darkness. There
their failure. They thought the enemy
were right upon them, and every instant
was vital. Monty Scruggs and Alf Rus
sell could not wait to dress, but rushed for
their guns the first thing, and buckled on
their cartridge-boxes.
Gid Maekall, you've got on my shoes,
nowhere. and laid 'em down right beside
me. Take 'em off this minute"
"Hain't got your shoes on; can't find but
one o. my own" snorted Gid in reply.
You helter-skelter little fiy-up-the-crick,
you never know where your own things
are. and you lose everybody else's."
.re, ve,l,< % ,nlH
he stumbled over one.
mo; that's mine. Let it alone-give it
to me-" yelled Gid, and in an instant the
two were locked together in one of their
usual fights.
ST snatched them apart, cuffed them,
and lighted bit of candle, which he kept
for emergencies, to help them and the rest
find their things. He improved the occa-
sion to lecture them as to the way they
should do in the future.
After awakening him, Shorty had calm
ed down the excited little Pete, found his
shoes and other clothes for him, and seen
that he put them on properly
Have everything all right at startin',
Pete" said he. "and you'll be all right for
the day. You'll have plenty O time. The
rebels'll wait for us"
Amt them them, right out there?" asked
Pete nervously, pointing to the banks Of
blackneSS out in front.
they WIZ when you went to bed. They
hain't changed a mite durin' the night,
except that they've got some dew on EN-
You must git over seein' bouggers wherever
it's dark Wen build fire and cook
some breakfast, and git good ready for
startin'. You must eat all you kin, for
you'll need all you kin hold before the days
over"
ST was employed the same way in quiet
ing down the rest, seeing that every one
was properly clothed and had all his equip
ments, and then he gathered them around
little fire to boil their coffee and broil a
piece of fresh beef for their breakfast. He
had the hardest work getting them to pay
attention to this, and eat all they could
They were so wrought up over the idea that
the battle would begin at any minute that
the sound of a distant bugle or any noise
near would bring them up standing, to the
utter disregard of their meal.
Take it cool, boys, and eat all you kin, Z"
he admonished them. Its generally a
long time between meals sich times as
these, and the more you eat now the longer
you kin go without"
But the boys could not calm themselves
There, amt that rebel cavalry galloping
and yelling?" one exclaimed; and they al
sprang to their feet and stared into the
darkness.
NO" said Shorty. with as much scorn
as he could express with his mouthful of
the last issue of soft bread that, he was to
get. "Set down. That's only the Double
Canister Battery goin' to water Their
Dutch bugier can't speak good English,
his bugle only come to this country at the
beginning o. the war; and he's got bad
cold in his head besides. Nobody kin
understand his calls but the battery boys,
and they won't have no other. They swear
they've the best brSgler in the army"
SET down. Set down, l tell you," ST
repeated sternly, "and swaller all the grub
you kin hold. That's your first business,
and it's just as much your business as it is
to shoot when you're ordered to. You've
got to lay in enough now to run you all day.
And all that you've got to listen for is our
own bugle soundin' Fall in!' Don't mind
no other noise"