The National tribune., 1902-11-13


jutant, "Hardee was out in our front a
few miles, gathering up everybody he
could, to check us until Joe Johnston can
come up with the rest OF his army and
save Fayetteville"
20, -eternally blast-old Hardee.' "
snorted Shorty contemptuously. IF he
gets in the way of the United States mail
train he'll be smashed all to thunder. We
allow nobody to interfere with our private
correspondence"
But what are your orders to us for the
Iday, Adjutant?" repeated 81, who never
lost sight of the main question.
"Well, you had better get these wagons
hitched up. and started in directly after
the headquarters wagon. and as soon as
We are fairly Strengthened out, I'll try to
keep an eye on them, and then you can
bear away to the north, and see what you
can pick up, or find out. Well strike the
Fayetteville Plank Road, presently, which
runs a little north of east, remembering
which it will be easy for you to keep your
bearings. We are on the extreme left OF
the army, you know, with nothing 10 our
left but Kilpatrick's cavalry. Keep that
in mind, too, and don't get too far away,
for we may bump up against Hardee's
! whole army before the day is very old.
So-l0ng."
The boys went out and looked over the
mules and teamsters for the wagons. They
were good, strong mules, in excellent con-
dition.
''Mr Dilber seems to have had the pick
of things, all the time," 81 remarked.
"Glad he did. So much the better for
u.s." returned Shorty. Don't think it's
wise for us, though, to take those same
teamsters. Know too much, and you can't
keep nigger from talking. Let's send
these two teamsters over to Shad Graham,
l.
and have him give US a couple that he
can recommend, and who need little
rest''
"All right, Shorty. Shads right over
there. Take these two over. and get two
others. while I'm hitching up and getting
ready"
Shorty presently came back with two
/ sedate uncles, who had been family coach
men "afo' de Lincoln army come along"
and 81 willingly entrusted the teams to
them, as fit for the precious care Of the
lady. To be still more secure, they We're
put under the charge of Otterbein Kramer.
who would ride with the wagons during
the day.
The teams were ready by the time the
regimental headquarters pulled out, and
followed close beEind. The boys rode along
a little ways, to see that everything work
ed well, and as soon as the brigade set
tied down for the days march, and the
Adjutant was free, they struck off through
the woods to the left.
The country was in some respects poorer
than the sandy pine barrens of Georgia,
with which they were familiar. The pine
trees were not so tall, but they grew much
closer together, and there was hardly any
where a pretense of even such farms as
those of the poor white er-grabbers'
of eastern Georgia.
q Presently they came to great turpen-
tine plantation, where the trees were scar
red up for many feet with white, leprOus-
looking wounds, from which exuded
trickles and scabs of rosin.
''There don't seem to be anything to
eat in this region, Shorty remarked ST,
ly any use looking for it. But what
think we can find, without much looking,
is large force of rebels, and that not
very far off,"
"Yes; those men We have been seeing
all morning lodging around through the
trees are not very far from their main
body. You could tell that plain from the
that we should come on, and it seems to
me they are working over to the right, to
get ut the main road and our trains''
Seems to me so, too. Keep together,
boys. Close up, and stay so. Pete, you
and Sandy don't go skylarking around, but
stay in your places. We're liable to run
up against circumstance, any minute"
A squad of four or five butternuts ap-
peared on slight rise, quarter of mile
away, and stood watching.
Lets run those fellows back, and see
where they belong. We may find out
something of importance. Forward,
TROTr'
The rebels did not seem to think it worth
while to waste cartridges on them, but
rode off to the right, and disappeared be-
hind the denser woods lining the creek.
Il don't like the looks Of that at ALL"
said 81, halting on the rise, and studying.
the ground in front. '"rhOse fellers are
neither scouting cavalry, nor guerrillas, or
they would have fred at US. They were
sent out from some main body to under
orders just to watch. l wonder where the
main body is?"
'Tain't wise to make a rush down into
that ford after them," commented Shorty.
1T looks miry. and they're probably lay
ing for us, on the other side"
THAT'S just what they're doing" called