The National tribune., 1901-07-11
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0C*3DShorty
On the March to the Sea
Copyrighted, 1899. by the publishers of NATIONAL
TRIBUNE

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Copyrighted, ls9s by the publishers of THE NArIoSA
TRIBUNE.
Rations Get Down to the Low Diet Point
Successful Skirmish for Rice Plantation
Difficulties of New Kind of Food.
There was no longer any doubt as t.
the objective of the army, for it was ap
preaching the principal city in Georgia
the seaport of Savannah. 0ccasi0na
prisoners, picked up from McLawS's com
mand, told of a great force being collected
there to oppose them; of powerful forti
iications, heavy guns, and flooded rice
fields, which they could not pass.
More apprehension was felt on account
of food, which was running lower every
day, and there was absolutely nothing il
the country. Rations were being cut dOwI
until ST and Shorty began to fear re
turn of Chattanooga conditions.
Though it was hard work finding forage
for them, 81 and his squad retained theii
horses, and were kept at the front, scout
ing. and looking for prisoners who might
be trying to escape from Savannah.
One day, when both men and horses
were feeling the grip of hunger Sorely, they
came out of the open pines, upon cult
waited fields, lying near the Savannah
River.
"Queerest-looking farm l ever saw
said 81, studying the landscape. Seems
to be all medder, with banks of earth fol
! fences, and bitches running between
Raises lots of hay, though, from them
| stacks standing around the house"
His further reflections were cut short
| by series of shots coming from behind
| the stacks.
"A handful o rebel cavalry over there,
after forage he remarked, dismounting,
and getting behind tree, which example
was followed by the rest. Guess we need
| that hay for ourselves, and had better
drive 'em away. Queer looking hay,
| though. Yaller as straw. Must be straw
its bound up in sheaves. But they amt
| raising no wheat nor oats down this way.
Can this be that rice we've bin hearing
so much about? Never thought about how
rice grOwed before. Thought probably it
| growed like seeds in n gOurd. Anyway,
| there's something over there that them
! fellers want, and if they want it, we need
| it, and we must drive 'em away. Take
good cover, boys. Don't any of you get
hit. Wen work up through them swamp
medders and get over there to the house"
Before them lay a number of rice fields.
of about five or six acres each, separated
from one another by banks two or three
feet high, and bitches. The level surface
was covered with high, yellow stubble,
and fringes of brush grew along the
banks
One hundred yards from the house, and
running from the Savannah River, ran a
larger ditch, about six or seven feet wide,
and having Usage orange trees growing
at intervals along its banks.
Putting himself i'll the center, Shorty
on the extreme right, and Harry JOslyn on
the left, 81 deployed his squad into a long
line and began a cautious advance.
Leaving the large pine behind which
he was taking observation, he ran down
the slope, and gained the cover Of the near
est bank, though a rebel, stepping out
from behind of one of the stacks, took a
long shot at him.
lie lay there a minute to recover his
breath and his steadiness Of hand, and
watched the rebel reload his gun. cap it,
and then shelterins himself behind the
stack, gaze warily out for his foe. 81
took careful aim across the bank, and
fred. His bullet knocked out a bunch Of
straw into the rebels face, disturbing his
aim, and sending his return shot wild.
What's the matter? Old guns getting
to carry to the left again." he commented,
as he turned over to load Needs clean
ing. Must We got a rust-spot inside"
From the popping to the right and left,
81 could see that the others were getting
into position and to work.
Feeling secure behind the network of
rice-fields and bitches, the rebels were dis
posed to be quite saucy, aad show them
selves recklessly. They INDUCED in a
great many bantering gestures and rough
taunts.
You're at the end o. youc rope,
Yanks, they shouted. "Yo'uns can't git
no furder. We'uns S a-gwine to bury all
yO'uns i'll these hyah swamps."
Look ont, Yanks; the alligators's arter
yo'uns. They'll done cotch yo'uns sure"
'Alligators like Yankee meat even bet
tern they do niger meat or dog-meat.
We'uns 3 a-gwine to fatten 'em on
yo'uns."
Look out, thar, Yank; thar's a great
big 'gater arter you now"
.'Yo'uns amt a-foutin' no Jawgy goober-
grabbers now. Yo'uns we run up agin
South Caroliny gentlemen, an weuns III
born"
Come out from behine them mud banks,
an show yo'selves, like we'uns do. Don't
sneak thar like the pOle-cats y0'Uns is, but
stand up an be men,.
rs ole Fitzpatrick over thar? l want to
git pop at him. He's my meat, when
ever | lay eyes on him."
"We'uns We got thousand Yanhs
buried over hyah now, an we'uns s a
gwine to put youns with EN-
The man in front of 81 was partiCu-
larly and ingeniously insulting in his
gestures. 81 fired at him. in the midst of
one of his antics, holding his gun enough
to the right 10 correct its deviation, but
its only effect was to make the rebel put
his thumb to his nose, and take a derisiYe
sight" at 81.
BEt he fired back and 81 took advantage
Of his re-lOading to jump the ditch in
front, and rush through the stubble to
the next bank The rebel fred again as
81 dropped behind the cover. This made
the rebel think he had killed him. He
dropped his gun, Topped his arms like a
rooster, and crowed. Hoping to catch
him in this 81 fired without properly aim
ing, and only stimulated the rebels chanti-
Cheering.
From the rebels jibes at their shooting,
the freedom of exposure, the outlaws, and
the obscene taunts, 81 knew that the rest
were doing no better craftsmanship, and
he became little hot and anxious.
He whistled. and everybody's attention
was drawn to him. Pass the word
along" he said, loud enough for those next
10 him to hear, Ito draw their fire, and
then We'll make a rush for that big ditch
in front. Then somebody will have to,
fsh, cut bait, or go ashore, in short meter.
There amt any more of them than there
is of us, so there's no fear o. them rush
ing u.s."
Following Sis motions, they all fred al
most simultaneously, and the instant the
rebels returned the volley they sprang up
and ran for the big bank, which they
reached before their enemies finished re-
loading.
NAt won tnt MI ,nI a. Il.