The National tribune., 1899-12-28

CflACh, CiSAIh. w
works, and our gunners and infantry de-
sisted as soon as the rebels stopped.
The quieting down at the points of assault
was followed more slowly by the cessation
of the laundering along the more remote
parts of the line, where they had only been
making demonstration"
This gave the rebels Immediately in front
of ST and the remnant of the 20Oth Ind oppor-
tunity to concentrate their attention uDon
their prisoners. Looking across the ditch
at the slit under the head-logs, ST saw it
full of cooked muslfetS. aimed directly at
him and his men. and at that short distance
every bullet would find it's mark
ST and Shorty were too good soldiers to
make fools of themselves, especially when
their folly would he the death of the bows
for whom they felt responsible.
Therefore, without more than a hasty
glance back over the abatis, in which so
many of his regiment were lying dead and
wounded, and a longing look at the works
beyond whittier the survivors had run for
shelter, ST faced to the right and walked
along the path on the edge of the ditch
toward the log which crossed it and gave
admission TO the works. He was followed
in single file by. Shorty, Pete Skidmore,
Harry Josyln, Alf Russell, Monty Sc-uggs,
Gid Mackall, and Sandy Baker.
Come in, Yanks. Glad to see you" said
q tail, slender man, dressed in butternut
homespun, but of better make and fit than
the clothing of his companions. On his
collar were the two bars of Captain.
Sergeant, have your men pile your guns
and things right over there / see YOU
belong to the 200th Ind The 20Oth Ind.
are old acquaintance of ours We've
been in front of you ever since Stone River
but this is the first time that we've got any
Of you alive and unwounded We capt
ured some of your wounded at Stone River,
nd DU1ir1 NJ (fbiplra
Eve never expected to he ketched this
way" said ST, ruefully. but this has bin a
mighty unlucky day for the regiment
the very worst it ever seen. Pm afeared
that I'll never fight you agin. / think
near y, all of it's layin' over there in the
brush"
20, no." said the Captain consolngly
Lots of them got away. Your Color-Ser-
Geant. who is a gallant fellow, got back
with the cOlors, and saw a large number
go with him. He was right behind you
when he started back. We expected to get
your colors, and wanted them bad. But
when we yelled at YOU your Sergeant saw
his chance and whirled and ran back with
them, followed by lot of your regiment.
We couldn't shoot, because you were in the
way, and we couldn't shoot you when you
had surrendered"
We'll: there'ssome consolation, after all" !"
said Si more chcerfully. I'VE wasn't
wasted, anyhow, if we saved lot of the
boys and the colors ! was afeared the
colors was layin' back there in the brush
with n pile o dead men around them. I'd
rather be took myself than have you git
our colors."
"Fact s," said rebel Sergeant standing
near, Cap here, who's done bin in com
mand @ the riiimint sence the Cunnel an
Ma iah war killed, war good-humored. an
done stopped weuns'S shootin', or We'uns
dive killed powerful sight more o yo'uns
Fact is, we'uns d all done got tired o.
shootin youns down. Hit war too darned
easy-ist like a rabbit-drive. We'uns
didn't lose a man, an yo'uns had no more
show than wild turkeys in pen"
yes" added the Captain, "old Sherman
must've had one of his crazy fits again
when he iammed you up against such
works as we have here. We couldn't be
fixed better to receive you. | haven't lost
a man. Sherman must certainly be crazy"
We'll" said Shorty, irritated by their
elation over their victoby, for a crazy man
he gets away with your smart man john
ston in great shape right along. He's
skinned him out o. nearly the whole o.
north Georgia, and we've bin grabbin'
about County day away from you, in
spite o your mountains and your big
forts, and your dumbed abatis We've
hunted You out o your holes like lot a
woodchucks, and Sherman'll keep it up till
he runs you into the Atlantic Ocean. He's
just tldLy tllDuSl 10 WdlIZ jill AROUND you
every day in the week"
80, Johnston's Just drawing Sherman
on" said the Captain. Hes Just drawing
him back like the Russians did Napoleon
Mt Moscow. Every time we fall back we
get stronger, and Sherman gets weaker.
When we start back at him Wen grind
him to pieces, and it will be dead run to
the Ohio River and mighty few of his
men will ever get there. You're lucky
TO be taken in before the rush begins. All
of Sherman's army that's left alive will
soon join you"
DRAWN us. on" said ST hotly. "Yes,
you're drawin' lis on Just like YOU was
doin' at Tullyhomy and Chattanoogy.
You thought you was goin' to smash us
at Chickamaugy, with all the help you
could git from Lees army and the pris-
oners we paroled at Vicksburg. You're
drawin' us on just like you drawed us on
at Mission Ridge. just like you drawed
us on at Buzzard Roost. You put me III
mind of a man out on the Wabash who
thought he'd break a steer calf to the yoke
He put the calf's neck into one bow. and
his own into the other. He said after
ward that the calf hadn't made more'n
two jumps before he knowed that he'd
made a mistake, and as they went tearin'
down the road he was yellin', Stop us;
somebody stop us, for the Lords sake,
before we break our dumb fool necks."
"Yes," echoed Shorty, you're drawin'
lis on ike the man brought the bear into
camp"
The downcast boys began to perk up
when they saw the confident front that
ST and Shorty presented to their enemies
"Well, you're good stuff" laughed the
Captain. Sergeant, take them to the
rear, and find them something to eat. |
expect they are very hungry. Treat them
well, for they are brave men,"
"Thank you, Captain" said ST, saluting. |
81 hope we may have the pleasure of taking |
you prisoner some day, and returning the |
compliment"