The National tribune., 1900-10-25

1
covering the ground which has been wrest-
1 ed from il by such terrific fighting, and
striking for Chattanooga; Murfreesboro,
Nashville--possibly Memphis, Louisville,
Cincinnati, and no, one knew where else.
! Forests and Wheelers cavalry seemed
to be everywhere. and doing measurelcss
damage To railroads. bridges, depots of
supplies and trains. Tennessee, southern
Kentucky and northern Georgia suddenly
| became ferment of armed rebels, actively
| bent on mischief.
There were reports of the railroads he
| ing cut in score of important places, of
| garrisons repulsing furious assaults or
having to yield to them, of detachmehts
! being surrounded, of alarms all along the
Tennessee and the Cumberland Rivers,
| and of active preparations for defense"
even back OH the Ohio.
| There seems to he a hell'S mint of reb-
els nearly everywhere that we know" said
Ike Decide dejectedly.
Where i'll creation did they all come
| from, Si!' asked Shorty, in bcwlderment
Il thought that old Sherman had got them
that wasn't killed off pretty well cooped
up"
He did have 'em cooped up answered
81, but a little bunch % thcm's flew the
| coop. You know how it is when you're
penning sheep. You get 100 o them i'll n
pen, but 10 get away from you, and they
| make more trouble than the whole lot
would We done. i believe them rebels
down there's like whip-poor-wills, much
more noisy than numerous, and Id chance
marching this part o the 20Oth Injianny
Volunteer Infantry right down through
'em to find Sherman"
But where in the world is ShcrmanI"
inquired Ike Decide. why amt he
showing somewhere in all this ruction"
''Sherman'll show up somewhere, just
when and where the rebels least expect
and want him." answered ST, confidently.
"He amt the feller to let all this bobbcry
go on without his getting in his licks some
where. / half believe he's just turned all
this shivaree loose on purpose, just to get
rid of en-, and give the fellcrs in the rear
something to do taking care of en-
That's an idee, Sir said Shorty, new
light breaking on him. Il believe that
myself. Our plays to get right through
to him, in short meter, and pay no atten-
ton to this hullabaloo. The real fronts
where Sherman is, There's our place.
The surest and quickest way to get to
Sherman is TO stick to these pontOOns,"
said Shad Graham. s'Sherman's bound to
have them before he can go anywhere, and
he'll wait for them. I'm sure of that"
.'HurTah for the pontoons,' shouted
Shorty. We'll stick to them until there's
there's a thick coat7of ice in the place
where they'd burn up like feather, unless
we get to Sherman before"
Shorty's metaphors were somewhat
mixed. but they expressed the determina
ton of all concerned
'If / can managetto steer old Bonesteel
according to the compass, we're all right"
said Shad Graham calling 81, Shorty and |
Decide into private conference. 1.-The wind |
that fills his sails are,ideas as to red tape |
and his own rank and dignity as Colonel |
of Engineerss He's as tetchy on them |
points as if they We're boils, but keep u |
good, warm. soft popltice on them and we |
can do anything in reason. He don't seem |
to care a straw for anything else where |
they are concerned. / don't see how in
the world he ever got married. He must |
have proposed to his girl on paper of regU-
latiOn sizes. carefully folded three times,
and briefcd and numbered i'll red ink on
the back as TO its contents"
Probably makes his wife aud children
stand at attention. with their heels togeth-
err. and salute, when they speak to him."
ST.
VERY likely" answered Shad "The
way to get along with him is to never
seem to have an idea or opinion of your
own-youre only carrying out his ideas
and orders. Here he comes now. Watch
me do the trick When he comes to The
regulation II PAGES, come up to attention
as stiff as ramrods. and remain so while
he's here. and until after he's passed 10
PAGES. Mind your eye. now. Don't do, it
a second before he reaches the regulation
IT, paccs-that's about that old oyster can
there-nor after he's passed that far
.hat'S abcut that cigar-box lid. Don't say
a wcrd, unless he speaks directly to you.
which is not likely, and then chime i'll with
what he says
Apparently none of them looked at the
Colonel. but as his foot reached the oyster
can all four came to attention as If
touched by a spring, and stood there with
statue-like rigdity, each right hand, the
fingers well-closed. at the side of the cap, Il
with Shad Graham the prescribed one
pace in advance Of the rest.
Lieutenant he said frowningly. after
acknowledging the salute. Il had TO
come to you myself, instead Of sending for
yOU I've had to dismiss two of my order
les. and have the others on different err
randS. Tell that man on the left there
10 bring his heels together and turn out
his toes more"
Without turning his head or taking his
respectful gaze" off the Colonel, Shad or
Tered grufily:
Bring your heels together there. you
nan on the left. Turn your toes out
Shorty's able feet made the required
.hange of Il half-inch or more.
Lieutenant" continued the Colonel,
;avagely, do not receive any more ropes,
rordage or other supplies from that little
o come upon the grounds. Kick him off
f he attempts it. Do it without words :
~ mercy. DO not give him any informa-
ion as TO the work or hold any conversa-
ion with him. He had the insufferable |
nsolence to try to slip 500 bill under
NV bIotter Il few minutes ago. Simply ,
Dntrageous. To me, Colonel of Engi- l
neers, of all men! j promptly kicked !
him out of t,my office. with the in i
thattii Re ever dared to enter
lcain I'd break;his circumsized neck. Most
nfernal impudehce Fever heard of! Any
,ody but a Jew would have more respect |
or an officer of the Engineers. / always
and idetesfed him. Rigidly in In
;pect everything that he has so far fur
l:shed." q a IL
Yes. sir; know you did. sir" returned
shad. "You gave orders some time ago, {
,ou will recollect, for a most careful in i
,pection of everything furnished by Held {
.nheimer, and it was done. You will find
ny reports, Nos. 81 and 312. in obedience l
o orders, of articles rejected, on file in s
rour Office" II
L will examine and act upon them to-day. I
By the way. as must have another or ,
lerly. you will order that man on the left !
q report to my office in an hour for such I
luty. l shall be back from breakfast
hen"
sYou man on the left" ordered Shad. 8
,eeping his eyes straight to the front, ere
,ort TO the Colonel's Office in an hour, for |
orderly duty. Brush up your clothes and !
AVE some style about yOu." !
II knew that little Jew was trying to d
nonge the Government all along" re-
marked Shad Graham, after the Colonel {
lad passed his Is PAGES onward, and they r
we're all able to "stand at ease" once more. y