The National tribune., 1899-06-08


the name Billings as soon as you spoke u b0t
couldn't remember any officer in my army q
that name. Now, Sergeant tell mo your
story"
General me and my pardner here began
81, have bin home on wounded furlough.
Wounded at Chickamauga, and promoted.
We got orders To bring on this squad o 70.
cruitS from Jacksonville, for our rijmift,
We got in last night and this mornin' me and
my pardner started out to sec il we could find
some one to direct us to the riimint, leavin' tho
squad alone for few minutes. While we wuz
gone this Teller. who's bin fired out Of our riu-
mint and another one that he was In. como
along and tolled our boys of, intendin' to
sneak EN- into anotder riiimint and git pay
for EN-. BY great good luck we ketched him
in time. just before you como up. You ldn
ask the boys themselves II hahn: told you the
truth
Good idea,' said the General, in his quick,
peremptory way You three Indicating 81,
Shorty and Billings) march of there 25 PAGES,
while talk TO the boys
Gen. Sherman for il was the Commander Of
the Military Division of the Mississippi, who,
with his usual impetuous, thorough way,
would investigate even the most insignificant
affair iE his camps, when the humor seized
him, now sprang from his horse and began q
sharp, nervous croSs-questioning OF the boys
as TO their names, residence, ages, how they
came there, and whittier they were bound.
you came down with this Sergeant and
Corporal, did you? You were recruited for the
| 200th Ind, were yOu7 You were put under the
charge of those men to be taken TO Your regi-
ment?" he asked Pete Skidmore, at the end Of
| the line?
@Ycs, SIR blubbered Pete And they are
always losin' us, particularly Me, durn 'em.
Spite OF all kin say to EN- they'll lose me,
durn their SKINS
"No, my boy, you shan't be lost" said the
General kindly, as he remounted. Stick to
your command, and you'll come through all
right. Billings, you thorough paced rascal,
| want you to get to the other side of the Ohio
River as quickly as the trains will carry you.
| haven't time to deal with you as you deserve,
but if have occasion to speak to You again
you'll rue il as long as you live. There's a
train getting ready to go out If you are wise,
you'll takeit Serg't klegg and Corp'I Elliott,
you deserve to lose your stripes for both of you
leaving your squad at the same time See
that you don't do it again. You'll find the
2O0th Ind. in camp on the east side of Mission
Ridge, about mile south Of Rossvile Gap.
Go out this road until you pass old John Ross
house about a half mile. You'll find several
roads leading off to the right but don't take
any Of them till you come to one that turns off
By sweet gum and honey-locust standing
together on the banks of creek. Understand?
A sweet gum and a honey locust standing
together, on the banks Of creek. Turn off
there, go across the mountain, and you'll find
your camp. Move promptly now
| Il declare said big Wagonmaster, as the
General galloped of, If that old Cump Sher-
man don't beat the world Henot only knows
where every regiment in his whole army is
located. but l believe he knows every man in it.
He's far-reacher, tell you"
Great Jehosephat" gasped Shorty, was
that Gen. Tecumseh Sherman?"
"As sure 8 you're a foot high replied the
Wagonmaster.
And told him to mind his own business
stammered Shorty.
@Yes, and if it hadn't bin for him you'd a.
lost us, durn it." CALCULATED little Pete Skid,
more.
| ITO be continued.1