The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-05
A FILE OF IRFANTRYWEN.
"Fcr Three Years During the WarAtHome in Shelter
Tent and Abroad with Three Days Rations
and Forty Rounds of Ammunition"

BY JOHN McELRoY

luster. He handed this TO the negro, who
wrapped il in some tobacco leaves that he
took from his pocket, and, clamberine
down into a boat on the other side, was
rowed ashore, and disappeared from view
lin the dark woods.
paper and wrapped in tinfoil, which you
saw the Admiral hand the niger, said
a young Midshipman, addressing an Off
Ger standing near Walter. 1T seems
were in a devil of a fix. The rebels are
lcutting down trees across the bayou be-
bind us, and there is talk that we will
| have 10 blow up all the boats and take to
the swamps. Hear them at work-there
goes Il big cypress.
As he spoke tree fell with a roar that
woke the stiffness of the evening, and
the roar and splash with which it came
down was answered by the exultant shout
of the rebels lurking in the recesses of the
Swamps.
Why, is that behind us2" said an Off
Ger. 1T seems as If ahead of US"
That's all one can tell about anything
in this internal Chinese puzzle of mud
water. and Expresses said another.
That's not half mile away; but it's
back about eight or 10 miles-about where
we were day before yesterday.
But who's the message to-!
90 it's TO Sherman, who's back some
where in this labyrinth. God only knows
where The niger thinks he can find
him. He's lived iii these swamps always,
and knows them as well as rabbit the
paths through the briarS. The Admiral
has promised him his freedom and 500
If he finds Sherman and gets him up here
| in time to help us out. But they re
mighty dubious about its Icing done,
and are awfuliy down hearted. There
goes another tree.
At tn is moment came an order to mus
ter all the infantry and marines and send
trU <
| the tree cutting in the rear
1t was intensely dark. 1t seemed as
| If they had To push away the awful black
| ness before them as they painfully forced
their way through the norasS and cane
bushes and over the legs to where they
could get in range OF the tree -choprers.
They were guided by a negro, who went
confidently ahead without doubt or heSi-
tation, although not one that followed
could see the man in front OF him. The
officer in command only kept his course
by holding one end OF bitter sweet vine,
the negro holding the other.
How in God s name you can find your
way through such place as this, when
il IS darker than all the pitch in North
Carolina is more than | can understand,
said the officer, as they stopped To let the
struggling column come up. "You can't
have cats eyes, and, If you did, you
couldn't see such night as this
"Lor' bless yer, eyes amt no good
now " replied the guide. aye knows dat
yer han kin fin its way ter yer mouf de
darkest night. 1t jes' knows de way, an
OATS all dere is bout it. J. jes' knows de
way, an OATS all der is of dis"
st last they came to where the rebels
were at work-sOme chopping, some hold
ing torches of pine knots to illuminate
the work, some resting; an officer was
carrying around pail OF whisky, from
which he dipI ed with a small gourd and
handed to the toilers.
Now, yer 'nsemter, ger promised me
plenty o. time ter git behind a tree afore
yer begins ter shoot, said the guide.
yes, hut hurry, ard don't go far, as
well want you TO pilot us out OF this
Egyptian dar kness."
Tie light OF the torches revealed the
iact that the rebels were as formid liable il
hunters as the party that were to attack
them. How many more were concealed
by the darkness it was impossible To con-
lecture. The detachment had come
attack them, and attack them il would.
A semblance of a line was formed, and 1,