The National tribune., 1901-03-14

nerva Ann, for her part, devoted herself
even more enthusiastically TO the care OF
the Colonefs tent and the preparation OF
his meals. She packed his bedding in the
wagon at the commencement of the
march, and made his couch up carefully
after his tent was pitched, and from the
time she arose with the reyeillc, until tat
too sent her TO bed, was busy planning,
cOntriving and executing something for
his comfort, and that of Pete Skidmore,
whom she made report to her in the
morning before they started, and in the
evening after arriving in camp.
On the march Uncle Ephraim rode rs
near as possible to Co. Q. and at any mo-
ment he saw ST and his squad leaving the
column, would hand his horse over to a
young negro and join them, musket IN
hand.
Stories began to come in about foragers
and others absent from the main col
umns being shot down mercilessly and
shamefully mutilated by guerrillas.
AS the division approached the little vii
lage of Shady Dale the 200th Ind. came
up to the 1st Oshkosh, to find the regi-
ment i'll q frenzy Of rage over the dis
covery of five of its number, who had
been sent out in the morning, lying by the
roadside, each shot in q dozen places, ap-
parently in pure malice, after having been
killed, and his thoat cut. The 200th Ind.
ragged sympathetically with its sister regi-
mcnt. to which, III spite of frequent little
tiffs between the members, it was as de-
vOtedly attached as only two regiments of
the same brigade will get to be after a
campaign together. Dire vengeance was
vowed, but as both regiments were deep
in the marching column that and the next
day, there was no opportunity to execute
the threats.
The next day and the day after there
all shamefully maltreated, exposed along
the roadside. Some men, after being shot,
were hung up to trees, and their bodies
made targets.
Shorty ragged and swere terribly at each
exhibition, but 81 soon passed the point
where he said anything. He had reached
that dangerous stage with him when he
merely locked. set his teeth, and went on
with a savage glare in his blue eyes,
which every one had learned to know and
beware of.
The next day the 2O0th Ind. at last
came to the head of the column, but, to
Sis disappointment, Lieut.. Mufiler, with
10 men of Co A. was sent forward with
the fOraging detail.
"How's that, Adjutant?" said Col. Nc
Gillicuddy, as he saw the Lieutenant
march out. do you think Lieut.. Muf-
fler's the man for the duty today? He's
had very little experience, if any, on such
duty. Owing to his wounds he has been
very little with the regiment, and L have
never known him to be out with detach-
ment."
That's just it, Colonel" explained the
Adjutant Lieut.. Nufflcr feels that he
has been overslaughed in details for duty,
and is very sore about it. He has not
had a single tour of special duty since he
received his commission, and had no OPP
pOrtunity to show what he could do when
4. H.. l. Il...,
young felow. has had hard luck in being
wounded both times as soon as he went
into action, and so kept away from the
regiment during most OF its service, con-
valescing He put it to me in such away
that couldn't refuse him the detail"
Il see," answered the Colonel. "But,
somehow, while Muffier is brave enough,
I've always had some doubts about his
cOolness and judgment in u tight place.
We've had so many ugly things happening
lately, that we've got to- be unusually
careful. Ride back to Go. Q and tell
Capt. Buxton to give you Serg't Klegg
and his squad. Tell Klegg TO follow up
Muffler at little distance and keep an
eye on him, but. of course, not to let him
know that he is being followed and watch
ed. It's hardly the thing. l know, to set
a non-commissioned officer TO watch an
officer, but I'd trust klegg as l would no
other non-com. in the regiment"
Your judgment is right, as usual. Colo
nel," said the Adjutant, as he wheeled his
horse to go back after ST.
When 81 took his squad out of line and
started in quick time across the fields, to
get to the head of the regiment, Uncle
Ephraim jumped from his horse and join
ed them, gun in hand and cartridge-Box
OH. Pete Skidmore ran back, mounted
Abednego, and overlook Si just as the Ad-
iutant was pointing out the direction in
which Lieut. Muffier had gone.
With Pete trotting ahead on Abednego,
Si pushed on as rapidly as possible for
some miles. but only caught a glimpse or
two, from the top of hill of Lieut Muf-
fler in the far distance. The Lieutenant
was evidently bent on making his mark
ON his first expedition, and was letting no
grass grow under his feet.
Presently, from the top of hill, 81 !
heard the sound OF guns two or three miles |
ahead, and column of smoke arising in |
the same direction indicated that some
thing was happening near house.
Muller has found plantation with q !