The National tribune., 1901-01-03

| score cannon, were distributed over thou
sands Of square miles, extending from
Rome and Kingston to Atlanta and De
catur. At his word of command all these
were to flow together in a mighty, resist
less tide, cOnverging on Atlanta, and leav'
ing behind it desOlation-burned mills
factories, bridges, destroyed roads and ex.
hausted food supplies. The wave rolling
on toward Thomas was to leave similar
devastation in its rear.
The fighting ground of the past bitter
battle Summer was to be made an inhOs-
pitable desert of ruined towns, desolated
farms, felled forests. mOldering forts and
breastwOrks, wrecked railroads and burned
bridges.
Even the buzzards would soon leave it,
after having picked white the bones of the
starved animals.
Gen. Sherman's sweeping thoughts took
in the imperial expanse Of country, and
in his minds eye he saw where every rcgi-
meut, battery and train of his mighty host
was camped, just what he wanted it to do,
and when and how to march to timely
cOalcsce and coordinate with the Stupcn-
dous whole.
As soon as he alighted from the cars
his quick eyes took in every detail of the
great activity everywhere i'll sight, and he
began to order, admonish, correct, stimu-
late and lash everyone within range of
his voice.
Though all were busy. none seemed to
be working fast and hard enough to suit
his impatient desires. He wanted to di-
rect everything himself, without waiting
for the circumlocution of giving orders
through his staff.
Here, you Sergeant, there he called
to one who had charge of Il gang of negro
laborcrs, and had stopped a moment to
look at the wreck and wipe his face.
Don't stand around idling. Put your
men to work clearing the track of this
wreck. Shove that car off to the right.
Pile the other things on it, 50 that they'll
all burn, and help burn the road. Put
some men to work with sledges to break
those axles and wheels, so that the reb-
els can't gather them up and use them.
Where's the Lieutenant in charge of this
train?"
Here, sir" said Shad saluting.
Lieutenant, rush this train through to
Atlanta as fast, as you can, and deliver
the stuff to Col. Poe, for assignment afd
distribution. Tell him from me that it
must all be distributed and arranged by
tomorrow evening. AS soon as you can
get the stuff off hurry right back here with
the train
You mean that I only shall come back
with the train, General, do you, and let
the men go to their regiments ut At
lanta?'
a compact force of good men, such as
need, and I'd better keep them awhile
than disorganize regiment. Bring them
all back with you"
"Confound it, Shad, why did you ask
him that?' grumbled 81, as Shad came
back to thep. why didn't you just say
nothing, and let us jump the train at At
lanty and make for the 200th Injianny :?
I'm all on edge to get back to the regi-
ment and report to Col. McGillicuddy.
Sherman'd never thought about it if you'd
just let us co.
Don't you fool yourself minute, 81.
Sherman not only knows how many /
have, but he knows every man in this de-
tachment by this time, and has something
mapped out for us. It'd we been as much
as my life was worth to have come back
from Atlanta without you. l suspected
SO, and made sure by asking. / dent take
any chances on anything when Sherman's
around. It's altogether different from
what it was with BOnesteel."
Shorty, who had been watching pro-
ceedings from the cover of freight car,
came out and rejoined the boys as they
jumped upon the cars.
Glad to have you in here with us,
Shorty" said 81. Il was afraid you'd
want to run the engine some more, and
try to pass another train on the same
track or butt a hole in the Allatoona
Mountains, or some Otner experiment of
that kind. You ought to know that the
only way to pass another train on the
same track is by climbing over it, and so
fix up your engine with scaling ladders.
Mebbe you thought we were still on the
Lorena, and could spar over that other
train
20, dry up, ST." answered Shorty, irri-
tably. 1T wasn't my fault ut ALL but the
engineers of the other train. He didn't
know enough to get his old meat-wagon
out O. my way. As l was running the
headquarters train, he ought've had sense
to know that had the right o. way, and
give me clear track. Oughtn't to let
such dunderheads have hold o. throttle
Valves
Cant be too careful in picking the men
to handle the thrOttle-valyes," returned
ST, significantly. Anyhow, We'll all feel
better now that you're with US, instead of
on the engine. BY the way, did you hear
Gen. Sherman's orders to Shad? We're
not to go with the regiment from Atlanty,
but must come back here"
''The thunder we must" gasped Shorty.
"Well, you fellers can come back, but rs
for me and Pete we're going on to Join
the regiment, and we'll strike out for it
the minute we hit Atlanty. I'm sick and
tired o being out In the weather. / want
to git home. and homes tho 20Oth Injianny
Volunteer Infantry. l want to settle down.