The National tribune., 1901-06-27

"HE STRUCK A MATCH AND AT @
fire, but 81 could hear the shouts of the
rebel officers as they rushed their men tC
the threatened point, and lined them up oil
the works.
The sweeping volleys were directed
down the face of the HILL to meet al
enemy supposed to be advancing up it
and only the stray shots of excited mer
came over as far as where the boys were
but 81 said:
Il guess we'd better get back into the
ravine, where we'll be entirely out OF
range. l hear them bringing up a battery
and it'll be sitting canister through that
abatis to beat the band. Get back into
the gulch, boys"
They gathered there, and listened
amusedly to the roar of the cannon and
the fearful hurtling of the canister through
the limbs of the abatis. They would
break out into cheers at times to convey
the idea of reinforcemerts coming in. DC
casionally they would catch glimpses
through the smoke and flames of the can,
noneers working like demons. Where they
were they were as safe as if at home, eX-
cept that an occasional wild shot, strik-
ing on q tree, would bound back.
I'm much obliged to those gentlemen
for all these fireworks, I'm sure" re-
marked 81. I've often wanted to look
at n battle when I'd have nothing on my
mind to disturb me, and now I'm satisfied
I'd like to stay longer, and see this to the
end, but guess we've had the best Of the
show, now, and have kicked up enough
hullabalOo to satisfy the Colonel. Let's
get back to the regiment. Forward
march,
On the way they met Aunt Minerva
Ann on her mule, tearing through the
woods in search of them. The low-hang-
ing limbs had torn off her gaudy turban,
and the brush had whipped into tatters
the gay calico skirt of which she was so
proud-the first calico she had ever worn.
The spuds of wool on her head had lost
their trim plating, the strings binding
them were loose, and they were frazzled
like wisps OF black tow. Tears stood in
her big eyes and coursed down her cheeks.
AT the sight of Pete marching along, safe
and unharmed, she burst out with a min
gled Groom of joy, thanksgiving, wrath,
and reproach:
80, yo' worrisome leetle brat, Use jes'
gwine t skin yo' alibe, so L is. Ans yo's
not hurt eben leetle mite, when l t'ink,
ebbery time dat one of dem big cannons
go off Gat time, sho's preaehin' yo's
bowed ALT pieces. l jes' died my own
self, whenebber one OBJ dem awful can
mons bow-wowed, lack de crack OBJ DOOM
| nebber 'speeted t see 20. alibe agin, yo'
darlin' leetle hOney-boy, an now yo' come
straight up t de Cunnel, an I'll see he'll
hab ebbery bit OBJ hide took often yo' for
runnin' away, so he will. If he don't I'll
done kill yo' my own-self."
WELL Sergeant" said Col. McGilIi-
cuddy, when they reached the regiment,
you certainly have stirred up bobbery
over there, that'll give our vis-a-vis some
thing to think on for some hours. They
are clearly expecting the main attack from
that side, and as We have no objection to
their thinking that way, the battery's
moved over to throw a few shells in to the
force they've massed there. That young
Lieutenant who is in command of the
battery takes deep professional pride
in the number of rebels that he can knock
out, and he thinks it a finer chance than
he's had since he came into command
After he works off all the shots that the
Generals allowed--and l think the Gen
eral entirely too stingy in his limit-he
will fall back by that road running down
there, and we'll bring up the rear. You'd
better go over there to the Quartermaster
and get your horses, and act as rear-guard
to the regiment"
The march to rejoin the Corps was
very deliberate, as a number of trains
coming in from various directions, had
to be covered by the brigade, and the
200th Ind. must keep proper dis
tance in the rear to make sure of this
After the excitement of the morning
this was very stupid work, and presently
became irritating. There was just enough
movement to keep the boys from getting
any rest, which they needed after the
early morning routing out and the subse
quent excitement, and not enough progress
to give them the stimulus of q march.
81 was ordered to habitually keep on the
next range of hills behind the regiment,
so as to give timely notice of any pursuit,
or the approach of the rebel cavalry.
But the long hours passed without a
sign Of rebel of any kind to break the