The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-10-10
The order TO Assault the Works Around
Savannah-The Boys Write Some Letters
The First Line Gained.

Savannan-Ine BOYS WTtCe some LeLteTS.
The First Line Gained.
We'll, gentlemen" said the Colonel. on
he evening of Dec. IS, to the officers of
he 200th Ind, as they lined up before
lim and saluted, after the Adjutant had
dismissed the parade. 1T seems that it's
,ur move next. Gen. Hardee has replied to
sen. Sherman. declining to surrender Sa-
and the next order of business
$ to apply moral suasion to him. We
will leave the reserve in the morning and
AXE our place in the line for an imme-
late advance upon his works"
The officers clapped their hands enthu-
at the announcement
The bugle will sound reveille an hour
earlier" continued the Colonel, and i'm
nediately after breakfast we shall take up
he line of march, starting not later than
o'clock. You will have an inspection
If cartridge boxes, and issue enough am
nunitiOn to make up 80 rounds per man.
Three days cooked rations will be taken
II the haversacks."
There was the usual excitement of
orders and preparation for bat
lie. though not so demonstrative as in the
older days. The 200th Ind. were now
veterans, to whom marching orders had
,ome so often as to lose their Intoxicating
novelty. But though not nearly so noisy
n his getting ready. 1t was serious bust
ness, rather than Il matter for yelling.
There must be no mistake now about hav-
ng n sufficiency of ammunition and three
full days ratiOnS. Clothing, arms, and
equipments must be in best condition for
hree full days of arduous service, with
probably a severe battle. Any SlackneSs
II defects likely to be the source Of bit
er repentance later on.
Therefore, everyone was silently intent
IN making his preparations as complete
is possible, and getting to bed, to have
Ill the sleep he could before the reveiile
,ame to arouse him to something Of which
10 one knew'the end.
CommisSary-Sc rgeants called out for
he different companies to come and get
heir rations; Sergeants hurried back with
supplies of cartridges; cartridge-bOXes
we're inspected and filled, and the air was
'ull of the odor of cooking meat.
After having attended to their haver-
sacks and cartridge boxes, nearly everyone
sat down around the fires, with board in
lis lap, and wrote brief letter.
Sis read.
My Deare Little Wife:
This is a postscript to the letter |
wrote you yesterday. Old Hardee has
hardened his hart, like Pharaoh. and in
lis wicked pride refuses to surrender Sa-
Fanny, and tomorrow morning we move
mt TO put the bud to him and make him
,hanje his mind. Wele do it all right,
.hough he has fortified from here till
Christmas, and it looks as if we was 60
ng to have mighty tuff job. The 2OOth
Injianny Infantry Vols. has got its old
post in front, and we are going to make
strong push to be the first regiment into
Savanny. Doant be at all afraid about
me- The rebel bullet haint bin nodded
.hat'll separate you and me. The Lord
liddent give so good a thing as you to me
Just to snatch it away again.
with lots of love. 81"
Shortys RAM
Deer Maria: Yore sweet letter filled
ne so with happiness that | haint had
Dom for nothing else. / don't want room
for nothing else. Happiness is good
,nough filling, and lie talk it strate. Spe-
tally the kind of happiness you give.
What | started to say was | was feeling
30 wonderfully good, that | diddent want
to do nothing but sit around and feel
good. / tried hard to write to you at
,nce, but THAR was so many things push
ng to be said first, that l Good not make
Up my mind whair to begin. | Good rite
you letter as long as the Declaration of
say half that is crowding up.
we are ordered to move in the morn
ing to bust HaTdee, and talk Savanny,
and we're going to do it, sure's little APP
lles. All the boys is riting to THAR girls.
dassent say it even to myself that you
are my girl. but if you really are then
I've drawed the biggest prize that ever a
nan did in the whole world, and | would
lent change places with even Gen1 Sher-
nan for minnit. / feel that l cant live
ong enuf, nor do half enuf to pay you,
Iut all of me that the United States doant
claim belongs to you, and whenever the
Government lets go its hold line all yours
ill deth.
THAR goes tattoo. l must stop.
''Yores, heart and soul,
William"
Pete and Sandy felt that they had to
follow the example of their elders. Pete's
Dot-hooks and hangers resolved themselves
into the following, which he gravely in
closed in an envelope, and took to the
Orderly Sergeant to address:
Miss Mcbride.
81 talk mi pen in hand 2 inform u that
me well, fat, & sum ov them sails sassy.
Il start in the morning, with general
Sherman to capcher Sayanny.
'Theyrez lots of mockin' birds round
hear 81 ime going 2 send u one.
''Sai, Nell yore pickcher is Beaute.
mo moar from Pete"
Sandy had found Complete and Ele-
CANT Lottery Writer" himself, l.. the pos
session of one of the boys, and followed
carefully one of its model epistles":
Respected Miss:
your polite inquiry as to my health
has been received, and l thank you much
lyin into \ will
ply that my health is excellent, and /
hope that it will continue so
during the next three days, if not longer,
as tomorrow morning We move out to
fight Hardee for Savannah.
THANK you for your picture. 1t is
very pretty. VIII send you one of me
as soon as 1 can get one taken.
with sincerest wishes for your health
and well-being, have the honor to be,
VERY respectfully,
your Obedient Servant,
Alexander Baker.
"To Miss Matilda Irwin"
The regiment ate breakfast by the light
Of the pitch-pine fires, and as the chill
dawn came stood in solid ranks in the
dense fog, waiting the ColonePs order. 1t
ooked a portentous and mighty engine OF
mems stalwart forms magnified
by their heavy overcoats, and exaggerated
by the vapor-cioud around them. There
were 600 youths from the fertile lands of
Indiana, well nourished in bone and mus
cle by the fruitful soil on which they were
reared, hardened. strengthened, and
trained TO perfect soldiership by years of
incessant practice of the highest feats and
achievements in the great trade of war.
Every one was as perfect soldier as
humanity ever developed. and collectively
the 200th Ind. was as formidable a mill