The National tribune., 1901-10-17
The Siege of Savannah - The Adjutant's
Troubles Another Rebel Line Carried
Copyrighted, 1892 by the publishers of The NATIONAL
iTR.srSE

where you are and fortify," said an Aid
making his way up to Col. McGillicuddy
as the brigade lined up with the regiment
| along the bank and gazed across the ex
panse of flooded rice-fieids, canals, bitches
abatiS, chevaux-de-frise, and other terri
| them and the main line of works around
Savannah. He says you have done
magnificently, and are far ahead of the
rest of the line. You will wait here unit
the rest of the line has advanced even
with you"
Il don't see any need of fortifying'
said the Colonel to the Adjutant. It'll
be as hard for them to get at us, as it will
be for us to get at Them
He means for you to fortify the men,
said the punning Adjutant. Make them
as comfortable as possible, after their hard
work. and have them ready for anything
else that may come up. l think that a
good dinner would be the very best forti-
icatiOn that we could have now"
There is something within me, just
below my belt answered the Colonel,
that says the same thing. Is there any
way to restore communications with Aunt
Minerva Anny'
Heaven only knows where that sable
Sultana of the soups and sauces is by this
time" sighed the Adjutant. Il saw her
come forward to the edge of the bank. to
look out for little Pete, Just before that
big siege gun let drive at u.s. Then she
gave yell that | could hear above the
roar of the shell, and / saw piece of
calico and large pair of brogans flying
back toward Atlanta, like feathers in Il
high wind. She's probably away over the
Ogeechee River by this time"
We'll. we must eat. though darkies may
fly" said the Colonel. take Orderly
Skidmore back with you. He'll find her,
if you can't"
Come on. Pete" called the Adiutant.
As they gained the higher ground back
of the rice-ields they came upon the fear.
ful destruction wrought by the siege-guns
of Savannah in their rear. Great holes
had been dug in the sand. trees cut down
and mangled, which in falling had
torn other trees, and so that the ground
was a chaos of debris.
$50 glad that we was in safe place
ont in front" murmured Pete, gazing at
the widespread ruin with SILVER But
where in the world is Aunt Minerva ANN
he added. as deepest apprehension seized
him
Il hope nothing has happened TO the
headquarters wagon muttered the Ad-
jutant, turning n little pale. There are
niggers enough around here TO patch
pandcmOnium Il mile, though it might be
rather hard to find another as good n cook
such a demijohn- Of French brandy this
side the ocean: White in the world can
that wagon be-
Say, there's Bill Dodds. the head
quarters teamstef." said Pete. pointing to
distractedlookin individual. who was
making his way through the ruck Of
branches. trunks and brush. Say, Bill,
o. Bill. Where's Aunt Minerva ANN"
How in thunder do know" answered
the man angriiy, Il amt Keeping track
o no Niger wcntiicsii y I'm looking for NIX
mules. Did you eipny mule ever that
AWAY Where in biazes have they run
to-" 10 ~
'Durn your OH rnties,''' shouted Pete
Whats mule. any way? You can git
plenty o them. Whers's' Aunt Minerva
Ann?" >,
20. confound your old Niger wench.
What do care about her? You can find
a thousand D. 'enl over there in camp. if
you want that kind of livestock. Come
over here and help me hunt nv mules"
Pete picked up a club to throw at the
teamster. but the Adjutant's presence re-
strained him.
"Say. Dodds," asked the Adjutant
where's the headquarters wagon?'
Headquarters wagon bowed to hell
answered the tcamster sentent 'Ously.
One o them big camp-kittle shells busted
right n under it and sent it IN where the
rain comes from. It's all mixed up with
the clouds now. Come over here and help
me hunt for my mules
Did you notice anything of demi-
john anywhere in the Settlement.
Dodds?" asked the Adjutant. eagerly. "A
two-gallon demiiohn! Big bottle covered
with basketworli?'
.'Dimmyjohn be damned roarcd the
teamster. ''Spose | wuz looking out for
any kind Of blamed bulge, when my mules
wuz so skeered that they wuz throwing
seven kind o fits in minute. I'm afcared
their system is totally wrecked. Twant
no time TO think about guZZling of any
kind. Come over here, and help me hunt
ny mules"
THAT fellow hasn't soul above mules"
the Adjutant, disgustedly. He
has no more idea of French brandy than
he has of the delegated powers OF the
Constitution. Come over this way, and
lets look for the wagon"
a few steps brought them to a havoc
center.
There. around n deep hole torn out by
the explosion of the huge shell, Were the
fragments of the headquarters wagon, and
its contents The shell could not have
struck more fairly unle: the wagon if it had
been deliberately laid there, and its work
had been complete. The hind wheels
stood near but the front wheels had dis
appeared Remnants of the Adjutant's
desk. his and the Colonels trunks, the
wagon-bed. clothing boots, caps.
papers, horse-furniture, and the like, had
been blown INFO the rent and tangled brush
4 pair of the Colonel's
drawers was waving like Il flag Of truce
from the top of tall cyprus. fa: above
he Adjutant's dandified dress-coat, with
its wealth of gold-lace- shoulderknots
which had caught on a lower limb. His
boiled Shirts" which he had been care,
fully saving for the gala days Mt the end
Of the campaign. were now white flecks on
widely -separated parts of the landscape
His neatly-kept papers were the sport of
the vagrant winds.
The teamster was right" said the Adj
jutant, surveying the wreck. THAT shell
simply blew the wagon and all that was
in it to - WELL The Colonel's wardrobe
distributed over the Southern COnfederacy
and well be mighty good marks for the
first clOthes-dealer that happens around.
Well, most of the buds were pretty well
worn, any way. land we both needed a
new outfit. It's awful about the regi-
mental papers. but I'll have to report,
Lost in Action and start a new set.
Some fellows will be mighty glad to have
it so, for it will sponge off their black
boards, and give them a fresh start in
life. But it simply breaks my heart to
lose that demijohn. I'll never get over
it as long MS / live. One never ceases re-
And such drinks us they were. Well, life
abounds in bitter disappointments, and
suppose | must have my share of them.
wonder where Aunt Minerva Ann can
be-"
Here's piece of her Dress" sobbed