The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-23

McGillicuddy; amt that it?n said 81
eagerly It's from Capt. McGillicuddy.
Read it, Maria
McGillicuddy. Well, of all the names -
said that deliberate young woman :" Do
you mean to say that any man has really
such name as that?"
Mandy, take that letter away from her
and read 1T. commanded 81.
Well. I'm goin' to read your old letter
for you, if you'll Just gi' me time. rsmon-
strated Maria What are you in such a
hurry for, old cross patch? Lee me see:
HEADQUARTERS Co. Q, 20OTH INDIANA
VOLUNTEERS INFANTRY, CHATTANOOGA,
Tenn, Nov. 20, 1863
SERGEANT JOSIAH KLEGG.
DEAR kLEGG: have not heard from YOU
since you left, but | am going to hope that
you are getting well right along All tho
boys think of you and Shorty, and send
their love and their hopes that you win soon
be back with us. We all miss Won very
much.
l have some good news for you and
Shorty. On nv recommendation the Col
onel has issued special order promoting
you Sergeant and Shorty Corporal, for GAL
liant and meritorious services at the battle of
ChIckamauga, in which you captured a
rebel flag The order was read ON parade
this evening. So it is Sergeant Klegg and
Corporal Elliott hereafter, and they will be-
obeyed and respected accordingly You will
take poor Pettibone's place, and Elliott will
take Harney's
I do not know where Elliott is, but ex-
pect that he is with you. If so. give him the
news, and also the inclosed letter, which
came to me. If not, and you know where he
is, write him.
Write me as soon "a you can We are
all getting along very well, especially since
Grant came up and opened our cracker line.
My little hurt is healing nicely, so that / can
90 about with cane. We are all getting
ready to jump old Bragg on Mission Ridge.
and am going to do my best to 90 along at
the head OF Co. Q, though have been Acting
Major and Lieutenant-C Colonel since got up.
Regards to your father, and believe me,
sincerely your friepd,
j. 7. MCGLLICUDDY,
Captain, Co. @, 2OOth Ind. Inf Vola''
Maria passed the letter over to 81 to read
again, and without more ado opened the in
closure. AS she did so, glance Of recogni-
ton of the handwriting flashed upon Shorty,
and he started to take the letter from her
hand, but felt ashamed to DO so.
Why, this is from woman, " said Maria,
and she writes an awful bad, scratchy
hand" Being woman's letter she was
bound to read it without loss of time, and
she did so:
BAD AK, Wis, Nov. 10.
CAPT. MCGILLICUDDY.
DEAR SIR: | believe you command the
company, as they call it, in which there was
a gentleman named Mr.. Elliott The papers
reports that he was kid at the battle of
Chlckamaugy. | had some correspondence
with him, and | sent him my picture
Would you kindly write me the particklers
of his death, and also what was done with
SIGH letters and other things that he had I
would very much like to have Won return me
my letters and picture if you have them.
Send them by express to Miss Jerusha
Briggs, at this plais, and / will pay the
charges. will explain to you why / want
them sent to difrunt MAIN than that which
| sign. Upon learnin' of Mr.. Elliott's deth
| excepted the actresses of Mr.. Adams whose
wife passed away last Summer. You may
think was in a hurry, but widowers always
meme bizniss when they 60 a-courtin' as you
will know if ever you was a widOwer, and
he had two little girls who needed mothers
care. My husband is inklined to be jelous,
as widowers usually are, and | don't want
him to ever know nothin' about my letters
to Mr.. Elliott, and him havin' my picture.
| am goin' to ask you to help me, as a
gentleman and Christian. and to keep this
confidential Very Respectfully,
Mrs. BENZ. f. ADAMS.
They all listened eagerly to the reading Of
the letter, and when it was finished looked
around for Shorty. But he had gone out
side, where there was more air
Ito be cOTttnucd)