The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-30

take care of TheO without his aid That
night he asked the chief surgeon how
soon he could go to the front, and the
surgeon answered by ordering him
back to bed
But now here he was once more with
his old company. but everything seem
ed changed. Gafney wounded and
gone Sloan, his friend and first ser
geant, sent back invalided to Savannah.
A man the Emmets hardly knew at all
made first sergeant in his place. And
the man Norman Holt knew to be his
INSCRIPTIONS enemy commanding the
company. BE on your guard, me boy
Gaffney whispered to him, as on his
way TO the front the young soldier had
bent over his wounded captains cot.
can. I'll be back wild the byes in a
month. Till then-mind yer eye
But a month is a long time in face
of the enemy No man can say what
a day may bring forth. The regiment
slowly marched on -tOWaTd COFinth with
the combined armies reorsanized I'M
der J deck, and presently found Itself
doine picket duty on an exposed flank,
its dog tents pitched in irregular fash
ion along d bare hillside; thick woods
surrounding them; toTtuOus country
roads twisting, Snakelike through the
timber: a little covering force of cav
airy off SOutheaStwaTd toward Iuka;
the comrade regiments of the brigade
punched in the woods to their right,
and here, in mOnOtOny Unspeakable the
men from the queen city were called
upon to kill time-their only recreation
cards, their only diversion occasional
scout, patrol or leng-range skiTmish
with parties of gray-jacketed cavalry
that kept up a perpetual stir along the
front. the only knowledge Of what
might be going on at home the Occa-
si0nal coming of mail with letters
and papers; their only participation in
the move on COrinth the hours of list
ening TO the dull, distant booming of
the guns. Drills, save by squad or
company in the manual, in which the
army of the Ohio was long since letter
perfect, were impossible Life under
such circumstances becomes stagnant.
It was tedium TO those who had letters
and papers from home; it was torment
to him. who for two mortal weeks had
nothing.
A spell seemed thrown over Norman
Hollis sad life in the early days that
followed Shiloh. The battle itself was
weIInigh done by the time they were
reached the Tennessee and were
thrown in on the left flank just at the
last despaiTing charge of the men in
gray It was all over in a few vOlleys.
The coming of BuelIS splendid diVis-
ions, drilled, disciplined and sea
sOned," had crushed the hopes Of the
! confederate leaders, already shattered
by the rally of the blue bTigades late
the previous day. and by the death Of
their heroic commander, Sidney John
I ston. What there was of the fight for
the Ohio lads they took with placid
ease. the EmmetS alone of the whole
: regiment showing disposition tC
break the line and pitch in for a Don
nybrOok" after their gallant captain
fell. The stern schooling they had had
] in Kentucky and on the march through
! Tennessee had brought them TO tht
/ front fit as fddleS." But now cams
( the reaction. With nothing TO do bu1
gamble and guard duty the best OF
men go stale. For their new command
/ ing officer they had no respect. He haC
/ lost the elements of his popularity. The
! first sergeant whom he had appointed
! was obnoxious to the company fol
| that, if no other reason, and the byeS'
! proceeded to make life a burden L
/ him In the fuTtheranCe of his de
} termination to be useful, to get ahead
+ to accomplish something, Norman haC
: offered his aid in making out the com
pany papers, but with odd cOnstrain
of manner the new first sergeant re
piled that he had all the help he need
/ ed Yet when day the adjutant him
self came over to Mr.. MallOy's tent dn'
/ swOre TOundly because the morning re
port was again all wrong, it was HOI
who Strengthened it out. at the ser
geant's request. TIA be glad if yOJ