The National tribune., 1901-03-14
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On the March to the Sea
Copyrighted, 1899, by the publishers of THE NArrosAL
TRInuSE.
UNCLE EPHRAIM AND AUNT MINERVA
ANN PROMOTED TO HEADQUARTERS.
Murder of Foragers and Swift Vengeance
Melted Out.

|
Don't bother about me, Colonel,
laughed the Adjutant, wiping his mouth.
I'm all right. l just feel nice and
smooth, as the little girl said
Il wish every man of the regiment
could have as good a meal as this every
| day." continued the Colonel. Wed be
able TO tear the State of Georgia up by
| the roots, then"
I'VE seem to be getting pretty near
| down to the roots as it is, Colonel" said
| 81, with grin. Il don't know what more
we could'ye done to that railroad, unless
we had tipped the embankment over and
| turned the tunnels wrong side out"
THAT was n pretty thorough job," said
| the Colonel, retrospectiyely. And we are
| doing .:bout as effective work in other
directions. | looked back from the top Of
| a hill today, and could mark the line of
| march of each division by the fires rising
| from burning cotton-g1ns, railrOad sta
| tions and rebel storehouses.> We are now
on the way to Miledgeville, after the
Government of the State of Georgia. /
wish we could destroy it as thoroughly as
We have the railroads, and replace it by a
loyal administration"
AT any rate, we're making these folks
pretty sick of having fred on Fort Sum-
ter remarked Shorty. It'd "a been a
heap o money in their pockets il they'd
| kept that powder for Fourth of July
celebration"
Il do hope Uncle Billy is heading Ms
for South Carolina" said ST. with his
mouth full. I'VE ought to do an ever
lasting amount OF wholesale arson, bur-
glary and highway robbery here in Geor-
gia, to pay up for Andersonville; but If
we get into South Carolina, we simply
ought to burn everything. and SOW salt on
the ground, so that there won't be no
chance TO raise another crop o traitors" :"
Il III not in the confidence of Gen.
Sherman answered Col. McCfillicuddy,
but Ill miss my guess very badly if he
hasn't his weather eye fixed on South
Carolina, and is putting up full dose of
physic for her, before he shuts up his pill
bags"
"By-the-way, Sergeant" continued Col.
Mctiillicuddy, after a moments silence,
coming down from general matters to
personal, I've a great notion to appro-
pirate something, myself. l believe I'll
my headquarters"
"As usual, Colonel" said the Adju-
tant, you anticipate my thoughts. So
good cook as Aunt Minerva Ann should
be kept in tlse 200th Ind, by all means.
II she stays with Co q. some Colonel, or
Brigadier- General. or Major-General is
liable to get sceIit OF her bacon and col
lards and take her away. It's lucky that
Gen. Sherman himself hasn't caught the
fragrance, or he would have had her,
sure" 81
Hear that, Aunt Minerva Ann?" asked
81, delighted with the favor she had
found in the eyes of his officers. 'The
Colonel is so pleased with your cooking
that he wants to take you for himself"
I What: WHAT" asked the negress du-
biously. ME go cook fer de Cunnel-
man? De Councilman monty nice man,
but | don't wanter cook fer nobody but
you, an Corpril Elliott, an Leetle Pete.
Who take keer oh Leetle Pete, if / go
away? An who take care OBJ Eph?
Eph's an ole fool bout lots oh t'ings, an
needs me wild him ebbery minnit."
II think Uncle Ephraim could make
himself useful about headquarters, Adju-
tant," said the Colonel, surveying his
strong, well-knit frame and intelligent
face.
81 kin beat any Niger on de hull Oco-
nee bottoms takin keer oh hosses, Mistah-
Councilman" sad Uncle Ephraim. show
ing his worries, touching his foretop, and
scraping the ground with his foot
But | hain't a-gwine nowhar from
Leetle Pete" said Aunt Minerva, obdu-
rately. HE hain't no mudder an 1 must
take keer oh him"
near ali the time" said 81. Aunt Minerva
Ann continued TO look obstinate.
20. you're here, are you, Colonel?'
said Maj. Bowersox, coming i'll and sur
yeying the remnants Of the feast. II
guess I've come too late. | was looking
for you to invite you TO dinner. / picked
up today what / thinks a very good
cook. They call her Aunt Betsy Turpin,
and she's now down at my tent getting up
II meal, and I've been hunting ,you to see
if you wouldn't join me. But now /
think I'd better have joined you
You certainly had, Major. I've had
the best meal that Eve had since we en-
range for continuance by engaging the
woman who cooked it,
Hear that, Aunte?" said ST. "Betsy
Turpin Is going TO cook for the Major
The ColOnefs heap bigger man than the
Major, and as the ColoneTs cook you can
just rank her clear out of her boots"
What. dat Turpin's Bets settin' up
jealousy. Dat nigger, bought mt mort
gage-vandOo, purtendin ter be cook.
Why, she nebber baked pone oh wheat
bread in her life, an nebber knowed de
taste OBJ soffee, till las night. She a
cooki Why, she can't cook as well as
pots an skillets dat l ebber seed. She
cook fer de Major-man? I'll go right
along an cook fer de Councilman, and
show what rayle cullud lady. what wuZ
raised on de place, kin do, beside niger
wench bought at mortgage-vandoo. An
Leetle fete, ne IL be mgh, whar kin see
him. ebbery day."
"Yes, Aunty," said 81, glad TO have the
matter happily disposed of, .'Pete's resi-
dence and piace Of business will be al
ways in n 'holler' or at least n see of
regimental headquarters and your kitchen,
SO that you'll be all right"
Uncle Ephraim," said the Adjutant.
"go and get that wagon. and those mules.
and drive them over there to headuuar-
ters. They'll be safer there, and come in
handy to carry. our things, as well as
yours and Go. Q's."
So it happened that Uncle Ephraim and
Aunt Minerva Ann found themselves in
stalled at the headquarters of the 2OOtb
Ind, and Immediately the overwhelming
dignity of the position began to possess
them Their eyes, quick to note all iDdi-
cations of social station. took in every de-
tail of the Difference paid the Colonel by
all inside or outside the regiment, all the
respectful standing at attention and
saluting; all the deferential speech and
action: all the curt, sharp commands from
the Colonel, and the instantaneous obedi-
ence of his 500 men. BY the end of the
first day they began to feel great deal of
this greatness reflected upon them. On
the second, they distinctly assumed the at-
tituie that the favored "house-servantsp
always observed toward the field hands. ;"
They began TO speak of themselves as
headquarters people," and hold the
other negroes at rigid distance.
Come t 'tensli;in, dar, an saIufe me
Won low-dOwn, ignerrunt Niger" Uncle
Ephraim sternly commanded one of his
former asSociateS whom thu 0uor,on,,,,-,