The National tribune., 1901-10-17

/ nOiu on IL were Dragging II back ND the
bank for another shot.
Another shot like that, Sergeant viii
| sign and seal your commission" said the
/ Colonel deliShtcdly. walking up to the gun.
But the Sergeant was too busy prepar-
/ ing for another shot to waste time listen
| ing to compliments. Almost as the Colonel
I spoke the gun gave another of the deep
mouthed roars of the Napoleons. and again
/ bounded back into the mud just in time to
/ avoid shell which rebel fieid-piece
| hurled Mt it. This in turn walked up n
\ rihed gun which had been hurried up on
/ the hill behind to the support of tho
| Napoleon. and il sent n shell to distract
the attention Of the rebel piece.
The air was rent with cheers, and 81
and Shorty rushed their gum to near the
/ center of the field. Company Q. fiat on
the brush behind, with only room between
/ the ranks for the brush-carriers to pass,
was pushing up close behind them.
Pretty soon we might chance the mud
/ the rest of the way said 81. taking ad-
vantage of the confusion in the rebel ranks
4 produced by the canister, TO study the
ground in front. "Tain't very far now,
and once behind that canal bank we're
safe. We've got so much mud on us al
| ready that a little more won't natter
| Lets try it now" said Shorty. after a
moments look about. That canister right
| in their faces is clustering them so that
| they cant shoot. The right wing sees it
and they're throwing down their brush.
and running out on it without any pro-
| lection. Let's beat em to the canal bank"
| up. everybody, Up, everybody For
ward, Forward" shouted 81, at the top
of his Stentorian lungs as he seized his
| gun. and sprang out into the mud, and
waded forward.
There was a mad race all along the line
TO reach the shelter of the canal bank,
| while all the cannon belched at one an
other overhead. and the Sergeant and his
| squad tore up the top of the rebel works
| with canister
Pete and Sandy slipped and fell head
| long in the mud, to be instantly snatched
upright by 81 and Shorty. The other boys
splashed and stumbled forward while the
bullets splattered the mud around them,
| but just before their breath gave clear
out, the whole squad flung themselves
painting on the safe shelter of the canal
| bank. and were soon joined by the rest OF
| Co. Q.
Every one was covered with a layer OF
Shiny mud. but their cartridges were all
| right. and as soon as they recovered their
breath n little. they climbed little higher
| on the bank, and began sharpshooting at
| that closer range, to help the rest of the
regiment get across with as little loss as
possible.
Don't expose yourself for your men,
| Sergeant" said Col. McGillicuddy. wading
along in the mud behind them. He seemed
| even worse muddied and bedraggled than
| they. THE whole regiment is now over,
| and we are perfectly safe behind this bank.
We can hold it a good deal longer than
| the rebels can that over there. The Kan
| kakees and OShkOShers seem to be having
a hard time, but guess they'll get through
all right. We can't help them. any way.
You can Just lie still and rest awhile. I
think we've done all we can for today.
| wish l knew how we are going to get
over that Internal canal
The clock III the Savannah steeple
struck 4.
The rified guns on the hill behind had
now such good range on the rebel works
that the firing from them died down to
infrequent shots, and the boys took the
Colonefs advice. and began cleaning of
the clinging mud They scraped off all
emptied them. and washed their socks and
their feet in the pools. A lot of driftwood
lay along the top of the bank, which they
pulled down, and started little fires under
the shelter of the bank to dry themselves.
As early darkness came on. the firing
died clear down, and 81 and Shorty rose
above the bank to study the looks OF
things beyond.
Some rebels appeared above the breast
works. and one of them called ont:
Say. Yanks.. kings ex. If You won't
shoot. we WON'T
y
enough shooting for awhile. What do you
think of the Yankees by this time? You
can't stop us no way you can fix it,
90 you'ns think you'ns air monty smart.
don't you'ns, jest bekase you'ns got crost
them fields?'
well you tried your best to keep Us
back
80. that was only jest warmer.
You'ns hain't hardly begun your troubles.
We'uns alters expected you'ns d git to
that canal thar. But yOu'ns IL never git
acrost hit in the living world. We'uns
II pile you'ns up thar like rabbits in n
battoO. An any o you'ns that git acrOst
II be ketched in the abatis in front. And
that ground is full o torpedies. You'ns
We got no more chanst o. gettin' into
Savanny than Abe Linkhorn has Of
'scapin' the devil"
There was a guffaw from the rebels, at
this flash of wit.
as that so?' inquired 81. with interest.
who's in command over there
'LOotenant Gineral Hardee."
80, old Hardee. We know him of old.
We begun licking him at Stone River. two
years ago, and a thousand miles from here
We've done it ever since wherever we
could catch him. until he amt holding
hardly enough ground to bury you. You
don't think you can keep us Offn that
measly little patch o. alligator pasture, do
you?"
THAT buzzard-roost. where You live off
of the dead fish that floats ashore said
Shorty.
whats that you're sayin' bout the
great city o. Savanny. yo' nigger-thief?"
retorted the man angriy, reaching back
for his rifle.
As usual Pete and Sandy We're putting
in the time exercising their passion for
investigation. \ little ways to the left
they had found Il fOot-log across the canal,
and had cautiously crawled along it to
take a closer look at what WAS on the
other side. There was Il staging leading p
through the field from this, for the use Of
those passing in and out and they crTlwied
cautiously along this for some little dis
lance. They heard n voice among the
rebels say warningly in an undelt1no:
Hist, Not SO fast. Keep ON jaw;n-
until you git more o them up thar. Amt
quarter enough yit. Besides, the guns
amt ready vi"
The boys could then make ont sounds
of the movement of cannon. and their bad
ing. They slid back in all haste. and
warned 81 and the rest.
Everybody. tired of cTouching under the
bank, was now sticking his head up to
hear the wordy battle between the two
sides 81 passed the word along what was
threatening, and to be ready to disappear
like flash.
whats the matter with you fcllcrs.
anyway" Shorty tainted them. at
first you bowed about one of you being
able to lick FIVE Yankees. Now. few of