The National tribune., 1901-01-03


hear the pensive notes of my bugle: Just
as soon as we hit Atlanty, me and Pete
are going to point our gunbOats in the di-
rection of the 200th Injianny Camp, and
stop on no switches for through trains I'M
til we hear the grateful music of Capt.
BowersOx cussing the teamsters."
They had stopped at Marietta. when
Shad came back into the car. and the con
versation was substantially repeated.
Nov, Shorty" he demonstrated, ''you
shouldn't talk that way. It's our duty
to all go back, just as Sherman's ordered.
| happen to know that he's got n very
high opinion of this detachment, and I'm
sure that he wants it for some particular
purpose. something out of the ordinary.
He asked me all about our coming through
the Muscle Shoals, and praised the per-
Torrance quite as highly as Sherman ever
praises anything. You know he never
slobbers over anybody. He thinks that
when you've done the very best you can
you've only done what you ought to. and
don't deserve any special praise. But he
said we'd done very good, sOldierly piece
of work, and that he hoped Col. Bone
steel would properly report it TO the De
partment. That's Il great deal for Sher-
man. Now | feel sure that he wants us
for some special purpose, where we can
be of better service than with our regi-
ments, even, and it's our duty to obey
"Acbbe he wants to slip off somewhere
and surprise and capture Il town." said
81, hopefully, catching at the idea
'Mebbe," said Shad. 'Or mebbe he
knows where we can gobble big rebel
General, or the Governor of Georgia, pos
sibly even jeff Davis himself. You know
he was down near here not great while
ago"
IF he wants anything extra-hazardous
Il atf.h hos
struck the right crowd" said 81. We
can squeeze through n narrower hole with
out barking our Sims than any other men
in the army. You'd better stay with us,
Shorty. Don't go back on us now. Let's
all go to the regiment together. It'll
probably only be a few days more"
I'd strongly recommend it." said Shad.
long memory. You may dodge him now,
but he'll come up with you, sooner or
later, and make you wish You hadn't
The motion to reconsider has carried,
said Shorty, after Il moments thought.
Though / long for Il quiet life in the
bosom of the 20Oth Injianny Volunteer
Infantry, III take just one more whirl
with you, if its for big game"
They reached Atlanta, turned over the
pontoOn stuff, which had cost them such
an iniinity of worry and trouble, to the
Chief Engineer. brayely resisted the
temptation to abandon the train for their
regimental camps, and returned to Kings
ton, reaching there again early in the
morning, to find Gen. Sherman already
up, and impatiently pacing up and down
the platform, overseeing everything, and
commenting. criticising. blaming. directing
and ordering i'll I'm i2cessant flow of en-
ergetic language.
Dayton" he called to his Adjutant
General, prepare an order to Gen. CorSe
at Rome. to Immediately burn everything
there that can be of the slightest Use to
the rebels. and start for this place to-
morrow morning. Impress upon him that
the destruction must he complete and
thorough; not {: mill, factory, StOrehOuse,
locomotive or car must be left in shape
to be of@aDy ,lse to the rebels. He must
destroy the bridges as he marches"
Gen. Steednian." he continued ad-
dressing q fine-looiing man with leonine
face and name of curling hair. Il must
now say goOd-by to you. Give Gen.
Thomas my compliments when you see
him, and impress upon him that | expect
him to destroy Hood, and not let a frag-
ment of his army recross the Tennessee.
You will take this train, which has just
come in, to Chattanooga, and gather up
your men from Resaca onward. I'll send
another train after you, which will be the
last to go north. and pick up those from
here to Recaca. After it passes over Doth
caloga Creek I'll have the bridge burned
and cut my communications with Gods
When they will be restored
again, and where, God only knows. Only,
I'm sure that We'll come out all right
somewhere on the coast, after having
made the State OF Georgia feel that it is
very serious business to begin an unjusti-
fable rebellion against the authority of
the United States, and continue the war
in hardness of heart and reprobacy of
spirit. Good-by. Make thorough work of
selves"
Lieutenant" he called to Shad, 'have
your men make coffee and get their break
lasts by thai fire there. Make short work |
IF it, for l want you to take this train in |
I few minutes. You will go out on it as |
lar as the first large bridge. and get off |
,n this side of the bridge, letting the train |
20 over. After it has passed You will burn |
he bridge. Burn it thoroughly, so that |
not a stick of timber shall be left to re-
build it. While it is burning destroy the
for some distance--a mile or so. |
You must get through by noon. At noon |
march up the creek couple of miles until |
fou come to where the Adairsville and
Jassville road crosses the creek by an old |
og westinghouse. Halt there, and you
will receive further orders"
'What in the world has he laid out for
Is, Sip asked Shorty, full of wondering
expectancy. DO you know of any town
lown there in this neighborhood that's
worth takingI There amt no big rebels