The National tribune., 1899-12-14
Copyrighted 1892 by the publishers of The NATIoNA
TRIBUNE.

Copyrighted 1892 by the publishers of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE.
A Mission of Vengeance by the East Tennes-
seeans Leads to the Breaking of the Rebel
Lines.
The point at which the 2O0th Ind. had
established itself was not more than ooo
feet from the rebels. The two forces were
SO close together that the murmur OF con-
versation could be heard, and words spoken
in a slightly higher tone were plainly
audible.
At that proximity, with the bright moon
light. and both lines filled with savaeely
alert men, the projection of so much as hali
an inch of the head, body, or limbs beyond
the sheltering log was sure to bring u
shot which would hit. The screen OF
cedar bushes proved better protection
TO the 20Oth Ind. than the head-logs We're
to their enemies. The Sits under the head
logs showed shifting lights and dark shad-
ows, when those behind rose up, or neared
them, which the Indianians quickly learned
to notice, and to get in fine shots. On the
other hand, the cedar brush was confusing
and the rebels soon grew weary OF ShoOtfS
at the shaking branches, when they real
lied that these were shaken purposely,
in order to draw their fire, and get them
to expose themselves TO return shots.
An angry outburst of firing had followed
the killing of the Colonel, but this was
more passionate than well-directed, and
cost the rebels far more injury than they
inflicted. The 2OOth Ind. kept closely
under cover, and took instant advantage ol
any wrathful recklessness on the part oil
their foes.
The number of casualties among the
rebels soon tanned them down, and their
firing ceased, except when the irrepreSSl-
BILE Pete, Sandy, Monty, Harry. Gid and
Alf would stir things up by shaking the
bushes, and talking loudly, as If the regl-
ment were preparing for charge. So soon
become accustomed to the continuous
close. bloody, desperate work of the long
Atlanta campaign that they regarded
tricking the rebels into firing fruitiess
volley as lively practical joke
There was none of this boy-play, now
ever, for the East Tennesseeans. There
was no room in their hearts for aught but
black, vengeful thoughts. At last had
come a chance to wreak their ranking
hatred upon men who had been perse-
cutting them and theirs for years. 1t was
unbearable to them that the men over there
actually lived, and when they recognized
a voice there came with it burning memories
of insults and wrongs that made them as
fierce, cunning, and artful as hungry
panthers to slay the men they heard speak.
"Ole Majah Ben Whitehouse's done
tuck command O. the riJmint,: Basil
Peters explained to ST, as they listened
to the orders. Hes mouty sight pizener
n ole Cupnell Bill Gilmartin. Bill Gill
martin could be half-white at times, speci-
ally when he had only about three jggers
o likker aboard, and felt jist good an
comfortable like. But Majah Ben White
house hain't no streak o goodness in him
at any time, no mOre'n rattlesnake has.
He's a lantern jawed, fiint-hearted lawyer.
with no more red blood in him than snake.
His front teeth. long and white, stick out
like a snakes when he's a-gwine ter strike,
an Ben's alters ready ter strike. He's
got little led eyes jist like snakes, fur
they never seem ter shet. Ben comes
from the po' white trash up on the head
waters of the Holston. Them big rebels
round Knoxville done tuck him up, an
made him. think that he wuz somebody,
an he done pays 'em by bein' meaner II
catamount ter respectable Union people
down in the valleys, who nacherully de
spised him. an his ornery, slng-diggin'
shif'les folks"
"Yo' must let me have him. Baz," said
Brice Wolf. with set teeth. "Yo' done got
Cunnel Bill Gilmartin, but ] must have
Ben Whitehouse. Yo' recolleck he done
burned my daddy's stable bekase he couldn't
ketch me, an arter he'd done kotched me
he tucked me up an whipped me-" The
thought of the cruel indignity.
"Yes, he's yore meat. Yo' kin have
him." returned Peters. "But be mouty
sho' yo' git him. feel as if we'uns orient
ter go ter sleep as long as he cumbers the
airth."
THAT'S his voice now" hissed Brice
Wolf, "but he's safe behind that e'er twin
oak jist beyant the works"
Thin, nasal tones fioated from the di-
rection indicated:
Keep cool, men. Don't shoot until
you're certain of hitting something. Lay
low, and save your cartridges. We hain't
none to waste, and no Yankee alive's
worth more'n one. Let him have it Just
where it'll settle him."
Pm laying fer yo', Ben Whitehouse
| yo' NANCY red fox, shouted Brice Wolf
I've got an account ter settle with yo'
| Hits me, Brice Wolf"
80, you needn't tell me who you are, you
Hiawassee alligator" returned the other
scornfully. "Pd know that dry-axle screech
of yours among thousand. Pm layin'
for you, too, and I'll get you, too. Stiggins
you and Mapes keep a special watch for
that Lincolnite deseTter, and put his light
| out at the first opportunity"
in obedience to this order, aiming at the
sound of VOLTS voice, who laughed sar.
donically at their failure to hit him.
He stuck his ugly mug out atween the
forks O. that ere twin oak when he gin
the order, Brice," said Baz. But he tuck
hit back so quick 1 didn't git no chance
to shoot. If he does hit agin, I'm a-gwine
ter git him without regard ter yore first
bid"
| The gentle wind that had been blowing
suddenly increased TO gust, which brought
up mass of black clouds. quenchinp
the bright moonlight in thick pail OF
inky. darkness. Then the rain began 10
| fall in torrents. 1t rained most of the
time on the Atlanta campaign. but this
was one of the deluges that came up un-
| eXpectedly, and seemed to drop oceans
of water within a few minutes. Every
one covered under it, to wait until it spent
its force. But it continued as if it Would
never quit. The men crawled out of the
bitches, and lay fiat on the ground. with
their guns and their precious cartridge.
boxes under them, as the best protection
they could give their ammunition. In
the midst of the noise of the dashing rain
came voice from the works in front:
"Say, Yafiks, air yo uns drownded out9'
mighty nigh" answered ST. "How
is it with your
Plumb drownded. What do yo'uns
say ter Kings ex till yo'un and we'uns
kin dreen off the water. No shootin' till
the rains over?"
"All right" answered 81 promptlv
"You stay inside your works, and We'll
stay inside ourn. We want to do a LITTLE
drainage ourselves"
"All right. Hits a go. No shootin'
now till we pass the word, and We'uns III
stay whar we air"
In a moment everybody on both sides
sprang up, and with shovels, picks. bayo.
nets, half-canteens, case-knives and what
ever other implements We're handy. began
cutting bitches to drain away the water