The Irish standard., 1899-11-11
rvicc, to report in person at head

them out by twos, apportioning the
neighboring territory among them,
with view to discovering the posi-
tons occupied by the different bodies
of the enemy. After they had left, he
directed me to bring Corporal PUNK,
his favorite Scout long lean Indianian,
whose principal occupation during the
days when the prairies of his native
state were being opened by the plow
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 it's rider over
rocky trail. lie sometimes secuted
in uniform, but was quite as likely to
go out in the garb OF citizen. 1t was
not long before had him standing be-
fore the general, not at attention, for
such a position was not possible with
him, but lettering awliwardly 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-
emys position, and that before mid
night. This is the most important
service on which I have ever sent you.
Take the best horse in the command
and CO."
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 i, instead of preparing
for What was to come, as we should
have done, spent the time in game Of
shinplasters. 1nveterate gamcster as
I was, on this occasion l 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, I yielded. Once we'll
started in the game, I forgot Margaret,
the approaching operations, every
thing but the cards, and at 10 o'clock,
when the scouts began to come in and
the general needed me, he had to call
twice before l heard him.
The reports We're 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 purposcly mislcd 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 lIiwassee on
the west bank, ] ran afoul of Il rebel
camp. 1 counted animals and laadc
out purity nigh onto six hundred.
Right opposite, across the river, We're
some more, and I judged by their
camp fires purity nigh as many"
"That all?"
GAIL L could find"
"What guard across the Hiwassec?"
zone company With two small can
non."
"Cood." And the corporal was dis
missed.
The general called his officers to his
tent, and, spreading a map on a pine
table, lighted by tallow dip, informed
them Of his plans.
"Here, gentlemen" he said, point
ing to the position Of the confcdcrates.
care two bodies of the enemy. Yon see
here, just above the junction of the
two rivers, a bridge crossing the Ten
nessee. 1t is still held by Il 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"
general interrupted Snafilc,
"you talk as if you were in command
of the rebels instead of us. How do you
know all this?''
MAJOR" replied his commander,
chow don't you know all this? There's
the map, here are the separate bodies
of the enemy, and your eyesght is
good"
Snafile made no reply for awhile. lie
studied the map with an expression of
great wisdom. 81 suppose" he said,
presently, 1.-The proper thing to do is
to engage the main force on this side,
trusting to b-b-beat il before the others
can cross"
"That is not my plan. I shall go
straight for the BRIDGE
"W-w-what are you going to do at the
p-b-biiiSt:
"Take it,"
Then what??"
eco over it."
''.And get c-c-corncred on that point,
with river on each flank, and i'll rear?'
eve will hold the bridge
Snail!c scratched his head. "G-g-gcn-
eral,' he said, II don't remember ever
having seen a campaign like that laid
dchvn in any of the boolls.''
cts very simple, major. Your plan
of attack on the main force up here
would never do. The others would
cross the bridge, unite, and you would
have to fight them all together. Cen
tlemen. you understand what we have
to do. Let US be off,
AS I look back on all that was ac-
complished on that eventful morning,
l wonder if the general did not wave
a magical wand over the enemy to COM
pei him to his purpose. / remember
the night march to the bridge; our men
moving stcalthily as we approached it,
to surprise the guard, and springing
up suddenly before the two pickets
who drowsily watched; then our whole
force Gathering across, the main guard
surrounded in their tents, the little
knot OF prisoners huddled together in
the gloom