The National tribune., 1900-10-18

peat that I shall send you 100 frst-class
men, but they must be such men as | Sc
lect, and you cannot pick and choose as
you will among the men 1 have here. II
you want to appeal to the District or De-
partment Commander you have that rem
edy. Brown, Post Commander
We'll, that's socker," said 81. "The
Old Man uses bigger words, and lots more
of 'em than the Colonel, and l think he
has got away with him. l could under
stand nearly everything the Colonel said,
but not half the Old Mans. I'm afraid
we've got to stay here, after ALL"
Not on your payroll We haven't" an
bombarding Department Headquarters
now with their statements, and it's 10 to
l the Old Man gets laid out. The Colonel
belongs to the Sherman outfit, and the
Sherman outfit gets whatever they want,
everybody to the contrary notwithstand-
ing"
You're all right" said the telegraph
operator, coming TO the door and whisper
ing to Decide. IAN order has just come
from Headquarters to the Old Man to
send Immediately to Col. Bonesteel such
men as the Colonel may select, inasmuch
as it is of the highest Importance that the
pontoOns may be sent forward without de-
lay. The Old Mans pride is poulticed by
giving him authority to organize the re-
assign officers to them"
Presently on Orderly from inside in
formed Decide that the Post :Adjutant
wanted to see him. Said the Adjutant,
when Decide presented himself:
Sergeant, the General and l are very
sorry to say that our plans in regard to
you have miscarried. We wanted to re-
tain you here a little longer, and then get
you commission in that colored regiment
But we have received orders to send you
at once to Jeffersonvile, for duty with the
pOntoons. There are also orders for Serg't
klegg and the detachment of the 200th
Ind. You will find him over at d Bar
racks. Here are the orders for him. Go
over there and tell him to move quietly
out of camp, attracting as little attention
as possible, and occupy the first two cars
of the train that is waiting there. You
can go along with him. Good-by. Sorry
to have you go, and at any time that you
make application for duty at these head
quarters it will receive favorable consid-
Grafton"
1t took all of Deeble's self-control to
keep from going out on the jump: He,
81 and Shorty walked sedately until they
were out of sight, and then hurried joy
fully on to 6 ID Barracks.
AS they were approaching Jeffersonville
81 said:
'The first thing, we must go to Col.
Bonesteel's headquarters and thank him
heartily for all that he has done for u.s.
That was big fight he made, and some
thing that we couldn't've expected of a
mere stranger. and we can't be too much
obliged to him."
"Humph, much he cares about u.s. said
Ike Deeble. Hes a Regular, and an En-
gineer Regular at that, and cares about as
much for one man over another as he does
for one brick or stone over another. Men,
,..ly I.
tools, and to be thrown aside when he
don't want them any longer. He thinks
he's little God Almighty, and everything
in this worlds made for his use. He Just
saw a chance to play horse with the Old
Man, and show him that a Volunteer Gen
eral wasn't as big man as Colonel of
Engineers. Shad Graham's the one we
want to thank. It's all his doing. He
knew how to work old Fuss-and Feathers,
and did it up to the mark"
Il hardly believe that" said 81, whose
faith in human nature was boundless, and
who always wanted to believe in other
peoples special kindness and friendliness
to him. Il think he must've knowed us,
or he wouldn't've took such an interest in
us. Probably he's read the Colonel's praise |
O. me and Shorty in his reports, and about |
our being promoted for good conduct. He |
must've knowed what a good regiment the |
200th Injianny is. Seems to me I recol- |
ect him being about the regiment or the
brigade"
Seems to me so, too" echoed Shorty,
who had the same generous faith as ST. |
He wouldn't've gone to all that trouble
4 he hadn't knowed and liked us. Seems
20 me we ought to go right up to his head
quarters, make his acquaintance, and
hank him with all our hearts, What do
you say to starting subscription among
he boys to buy him a sword? I'll give
So"
80 will l." said 81.
They were coming into Jeffersonville by
his time, and as they piled off the train,
md got together on the sidewalk, they
saw a pompous-looking man, dressed in
'ull uniform, with a Coloners shoulder
traps, carrying little switch cane, and
egarding the men as he passed with less
;inship and interest than he would cor
al of horses.
That's Col. Bonesteel, of the Engi-
leers," said man who had been there
ome time, after he had come to atten-
ion and saluted. Great Scott, don't |
wish | had as many dollars as he thinks
le's big and important! Old Sherman
int marker to him in his own mind"
"COl RonpSteel - said 81 -s.Shorty Iat'S