The National tribune., 1900-07-26

"Capt. McGillicuddy, Co. O, 2OOth In
diana Volunteer Infantry"
ville?"
First Squad, Fourteenth Detachment
north side"
His record seems all right, Captain"
said the check-man.
Thar Thar! That's my injineer,
now," said Lieut.. Turley, rushing for
ward. Come back, hyah, you yarmint.
I've done kotched you.'
THAT mans got the jim-jams," said
Shorty, calmly. He's bin drinking this
pine-top whisky, while he has got engi-
neers on the brain, and he sees engineers
wherever he looks, just as other men see
snakes"
Perfectly ridiculous" echoed 81, try
ing to lie, with Shorty's coolness and fu-
ency. Tom RadbCne never saw a loco
tive till he enlisted. He was raised out
IN Hoop-Pole Township. He never en-
Sineered nothing more'n a csst-iron plow,
with sOdcOulter, and didn't make a good
job of that: The wheel-coulter was too
much for him, and the plow kicked him
all over the field"
'I'm sartin that's my injineer," reit-
Grated Lieut.. Turley. Take off yo' hat,
thar, an let Inc see yer head"
Sergeant, does that man belong to
your company" asked the Union Cap
tain.
Surely" said 81, swallowing a little
guip of qualmishness. why, Tom Rad
bone enlisted with me-One o the first
men in Co. Q to put his name down
hes bin with the company right along
till we wuZ captured"
Corporal Elliott, is that Thomas Rad
bone, OF your company?" asked the Union
Captain.
Tom Radbone?' echoed Shorty, in a
tone Of intense surprise. If that there
amt Tom Radbone I've bin losing nv
money all these years to a ghost. Tom
q, or the regiment. for that matter, mad
we all know him as well as we do the
jack o diamonds
The rest of the boys were questioned
and under the admonition of Sis and
Shortys significant eyes, gave their evil
dence in favor of the engineer be-
ing no other than Thomas Radbone, of
their company, who had been captured
with them, and come from Andersonyille
with them.
The evidence seems conclusive, Cap
tain.' said the Union Captain
Every one O. them Yankees is a-lyin',"
yelled Lieut. Turley. .They'uns = all
jist fur the sake o lyin'. Why, my hull
company knows that injineer l kin
bring every one o them up hyah ter
swar ter him. He's bin a-carryin' us
back an forrard ever since we've bin on
this duty. I'll bring 'em up hyah an
prove hit. Hold him thar till 1 git some
O. them
He returned presently with some Is or
20 of his company, who promptly and un-
equlyocally recognized the engineer. 1t
was now Sis turn to protest.
What, take the word O. them clay-eat-
ing galoots asin a Union soldier, and
member o my company" he protested.
Why, them dumb steers IL do anything
their officer tells 'em to. They're afraid
to do anything else. He'll skin 'em alive
if they don't. It's an outrage to put
Union soldier at their mercy. They haint
no more soul than wolves. We've learned
all about that in Andersonville'
Make that yawping Yankee shet ND.
and 81 me my injineer," demanded Lieut..
Turley. I've done proved my right ter
him.
Captain" said the rebel officer, 81
must decide that the weight of evidence is
in favor of the Lieutenant, and shall have
to ask the return of that man."
Good morning, gentlemen" said a
pleasant, musical voice, the first notes of
which startled Sis and Shorty's hearts
with joyful throbs. II heard that some
of my men that l lost at Kenesaw were
coming through. Have you seen anything |
of themY'
why, good morning, Col. McGillicud- |
dy," said the Union Captain.
"Col. McGillicuddy," gasped 81 and |
Shorty, as they looked up at the weather. |
stained strawberry leaves in the riders |
shoulder-straps. He's bin promoted to |
Lieutenant Colonel. Good! Great! He |
deserved it, il ever a man did,
'Yes, Colonel" said the Union CAPTAIN. |
we've received several Of your men, al |
ready, and
Where are they? Where are they?" |
broke in the Colonel, impatiently. Il can |
hardly wait to see them. l lost some of |
the best men that ever shouldered a gun |
at Kenesaw, and I'm all wrought I'D as |
to who escaped, and have got back"
Good morning, Colonel McGillicuddy," |
said 81, with 4 strong emphasis on the |
Colonel.
Good morning, Colonel McGillicuddy," |
repeated Shorty.
The Colonel looked at the ragged, vast. |
ed, forlorn forms and faces, and his eyes |
filled with tears. my God, boys" he !
said, with a voice broken with emotion, |
Il ought to know you. Your voices seem
familiar, but l don't know you. Who are |
you?"
I'm Sergeant Josiah Klegg, of your !
old company, Colonel. Awful glad that |
you've bin promoted"
Pm Dan Elliott, Fifth Corporal"
And here's Monty Scruggs, Alf Rus |
sell, Harry Joslyn, Gid Mackall, Sandy |
Baker and Pete Skidmore," continued 81, |
pointing them out, one by one, "and this" |