The National tribune., 1899-11-30

their haversacks and the ration and am
munition wagons was right close along
with each brigade. The whole army is
maxim big left wheel. just as they did at
Snake Crick Gap, to ketch old Johnston
somewhere where he amt expectin' us.
We're just givin' him big play TO amuse
him. and keep the time from hangin' heavy
on his hands, while the boys are gettin' on
his flank"
Something o. that kind is surely up
corroborated Shorty. 1--WE felt it in my
bones for two or three days. There's bin
entirely too much noise and blow. and too
little real hard knockin' for anythin q
serious. When II went back after cartridges
| saw there wasn't a soul behind us. A ii
the wagons was gone but the one with the
ammunition, and it started as soon as they
got through issuing I'm goin' to eat
something and then lay down. You kin
wake me if I'm needed. Come over here,
Pete"
But. Sergeant" queried Monty Scruggs,
'mayn't those fellows over there come out
and literally eat us up? There's enough
of them for that"
That's more likely" answered ST. But
hardly, either. The way we come out o.
those woods at 'em makes 'em believe that
there's just lots more where we come from.
and they're not likely t. jump us until
they've inquired around where our friends
are. This will take 'em nearly all night.
Their spies are probably now working in
through our lines. and if we're here we may
expect visit from 'em about daybreak.
But unless all signs fail we won't be here.
We're the last roses of Summer in this
out for Stilesboro, Burnt Hickory and
Dallas, and guess we'll follow suit before
many hours"
By that time every veteran in Sherman's
army had become General. so far as read
ing with tlnfailing skill the meaning of
| movements and signs around him.
| From the hill came unmistakable sounds
of the movements of troops. They could
| be seen passing in front of fires. and there
was a rumble of wheels of artillery. 1t
looked as if they We're massing for an
attack, and this was strengthened by their
cannon opening SpaSmOdlcally at times,
as if to herald charge.
| Shouldn't wonder if they're tryin' a
big game o. bluff, too" ST shrewdly re-
marked, as he led the boys back little
ways to the shelter of a rock and some
cedars, where they built fire, and boiled
had fried in the morning before going on
the skirmish line, and their hardtack.
| Shorty was walked up to give him a cup
of coffee, and then 81, breaking bunch of
cedar to serve as pillow, spread his blanket
down, laid his gun, cartridge-boX, and
] haverSack where he could put his hand
| on them the moment he was aroused, and
lay down. Composed by his example, the
boys, weary with the excitement and ia
tigues of the long day, initiated him, and
all, even the restless little Pete Skidmore,
were soon as sound asleep as if in their
beds at home, and not rebel within 100
miles. And they slept on, though heavy
rain came on, and splattered them with
red mud from the ditch they had dug.
About midnight the Orderly-Sergeant
aroused 81.
| "Get up" he said, "and get your boys up.
Don't make particle of noise. Be still as
cats. We're pulling out. The pickets We
| come in, and the rest O the brigade started.
You take your squad and act as rear-guard.
keep your eye peeled every minute"
1t was still raining with dash, but this
| helped to drown the noise of their movement
| from the eager watchers on the hill in front.
ST aroused the others, helped them roll
and adjust their wet blankets, carefully
counted them, and gathered them around
ment as it made its way back through the
woods.
| On the hill beyond the fires were smolder-
| ing, but figures could be seen passing
| them, showing that the rebels were still
| there.
Then followed weary tramping through
| the binding rain, and over roads that had
| been worked into the consistence of mortar
by the men and teams that had gone ahead
81 had to keep within hearing of the rogi-
ment, and yet watch sharply for any signs
of their being followed. For awhile he had
no difficulty in keeping track of the regi-
ment by the badness of the trail it left, and
the noise of the weary, sleepy men plunging
into mudholes, stumbling over stones, and
grumbling and swearing as they went
But some noises in the rear attracted his