The National tribune., 1901-10-31

we can. It's our day for frills. We lead
the procession"
Yes" echoed Shorty, thrashing the
clay out of his overcOat, against enc of
the posts of the shed. IF we 90 in look
ing this way they'll claim we're real es-
tate that amt paid no taxes, and sell us
out on the delinquent list"
Everybody had off his clothes at once,
and was whipping the mud out of them.
After this followed vigorous rubbing and
brushing. 1t was hard work making the
garments look at all presentable, and for
the first time the boys realized what a
tattered and frayed rabble they We're.
What was most characteristic was that
the tails of every overcoat had been
burned off by the chilled boys backing up
to the campfires
well, you are Il scorched set o bunty
ROSTERS" commented Shorty. surveying
the fire-blasted rear elevations "All of
you looks as if you'd only been saved with
difficulty after the whole fire department
had been turned out, and the insurance
company had to pay the total loss. What
re you going to do? Take up collec-
ton for the great fire sufferers in Sa-
vanny? Tell 'em that you just escaped
with your lives from the burning of At
lanty?
six weeks of marching through
Georgia is certainly hard or ,'othes,' re-
fiected 81, looking at his own clothes, and
those of the rest. 1T makes business for
the wooden mills, though, and Uncle Sam
must have Il weaving shed about as big
as a County"
well, between tatters, stains burnt
out places and holes where modesty is
crying for patches. commented Shorty,
Eve don't seem fit to show ourselves in
a barn-yard, let alone on the streets of the
greatest city of Georgy."
"Well, we'll do the best we can-that's
all that's expected of anybody" said 81.
fishing around in his blanket roll for towel
and soap. From the looks of the rebels
we've seen around here the people of Sa-
vanny We got pretty well used to ragged
men. Wen show 'em something they
amt accustomed tO-men with clean faces
and hands. Les go over to the canal and
take a good wash"
Needles and threads were everywhere
in earnest demand. There was hurried
closing of rents, and patches were cut
from the less-essential portions of gar
ments to do duty where more imperatively
needed, gun-barrels were hastily frightened
from the accumulated rust of six weeks
of field-service. and by the time the as
sembly sounded the 200th Ind. looked al
most as smart as when it started on the
campaign. 1t only looked so. however.
by comparison with the frazzled and
stained uniforms of the others.
''Sergt klegg, commanded the Colonel,
''So back and get your horses, and precede
the regiment as advance-guard."
They hurried back, and found their
horses had been kept i'll excellent cOndi-
ton by Uncle Ephraim and q squad of ne
groes he had pressed into the service.
Uncle Ephraim brought the headquar
ters horses over, the Colonel and the
field officers mounted, the brigade band
came down and took position on the right,
and prouder than he had been since the
day he called Annabei wife, 81 led his
squad out ahead OF all.
As the bugle sounded Forward the
band struck up,
20, amt | glad to get out of the wilder
ness?
Out of the wilderness:
Out of the Wilderness
and a great cheer rolled up fIGm all the
regiments in the long line of circumvalla-
tion and the bright sun gleamef on their
shining gun-barrels, as 81 ant Shorty rode
forward. leading the army into the great
city of Savannah.
They marched rapidly along fine shell
road, between lines of wide-arching live
oaks.
Cooking utensils, caDteens, haversacks.
articles of clothing, even muskets and
cartridge-boxes scattered along showed
that the retreat of the rebels had been
very hurried.
As they neared the suburbs they caught
the noise of a tumult and gimpses
through the brush of figures rushing back
and forth. 81 lifted his hand in a warn
ing gesture, the horses were at once slowed
down to walk, and every one brought
his gun to ready" They came warily
out from the screen of the woods to see
mob OF hungry whites and blacks cutting
a rebel warehouse of its store of food.
Men and women of all colors, ages and
social conditions were yelling and fighting
over the spoils they were getting or try
ing TO get. Those who had managed to Sc
cure big loads and struggle ont with them
had to make another battle with those
who were waiting to plunder them rather