The National tribune., 1902-06-12
A FRIEND WITH THE
* COUNTERSIGN
CONTINUED from first page.)

small bodies of troops were moving; som'
coming, others going Ambulances ant
wagons blocked the road in places, and
could hear grOans of wounded men.
A man behind me slapped me on thu
shoulder.
"Whar you gwine, Bud?'
ITO Heth's Division l aswered, by
inspiration.
Me too, Pete What brigade?'
Don't belong to any brigade in tina
division. Coin ON business for my Gen
eral''
what about. Bud?"
Mustn't tell"
Bet you don't know, yourself"
Maybe you're right What brigade il
yours?"
.'Davis's."
you're from Mississippi, then"
mo, Bud, l belong to the bloody 5otf
Moth Ca'lina.''
What, l didn't know there were an!
tar-heels in that brigade.
None but our'n. All Mississip' eX
cusin' the 55th.''
Il remember your brigade. Gen
Davis commanded Heth's Division aftel
Gettysburg|'
You're right. Bud"
"And Gen. Davis is Jeff Davis's
nephew?"
You're right agin. Amt caught you
in lie yit.'
but your regiment was not with us
before the Gettysburg campaign"
How the hell you know that!
where were you before!'
1--WE jined Longstreet at Suffolk. and
come on to yOu-uns after yiu fit the Chan
cellor's fight. Say, you private!'
yes"
well. sir, You shorely do beat my
times for rememberin'. You know Joe
Davis?'
mo; not at ALL
"My names Saddler; watts yOur'n?'
Jones'
"What State?''
"South Carolina
Thought so. You got the lingo o them
sea-island folks. -,
"You know where Heth's Division is?'
81 know whar it ought to be eff it hain't
moved"
when did you leave it,"
"Bout O'clock"
But it's been fighting since then"
81 know that better'n yOu-damn f !
don't; that's one thing | know better,n
you; damn f it amt. l lef' 'em while
they was fightin'."
"Sent back on an errand?'
You're right, Bud-sent back on
errand.'
"Well, Saddler, tell you what-Tm
mighty glad to strike up with you. How
far is it vet, you Think"
"Must be two or three miles. Got any
papers?"
what sort of papers?
ITO cross the bridge"
papers"
Il didn't have none when 1 come, but
got 'em now" -.
ibid you have any trouble in coming!''
Lots of it; hadn't been for a officer
that knowed me happenin' along, they'd
ha' turned me back
81 reckon they'll stop us long time
anyhow"
Eyes, they're mighty slow about it."
Cant you add my name to your pass
NO: / wouldn't resk it, Bud; but I'll
tell 'em you're all right"
/ doubted that my friend Saddler's word
would be taken for guaranty of my
character-dOubted it so strongly that
began to wish 1 could get rid of him,
for / believed that alone 1 could make
my way across the river. at the bridge,
perhaps; or, if not there, then by fording
in the darkness.
We had reached a cross-road: Saddler,
without a moments hesitation, filed right.
A leetle more IL lille 10 TIE DTluSe,
now" he said.
Troops were marching west-an infan.
try regiment; perhaps more than regi-
ment, for the losses of the Confederates
had been so great that brigades seemed
regiments. l saw my chance.
"Saddler"
whats the matter, Bud|'
Lets get in with these folks, and go
across with 'em without having to wait"
you're right, by gannies"' said he:
"we'll save lots o time"
mind, now" said L; don't say word
to 'em; get in at the end of a company if
we can, and We'll be all right; they won't
know any better"
We did it. The troops crossed without
halting No man had said a word to me;
the men were tired and sleepy and did
not talk / have never known what
troops they were; asking would have be-
trayed my intrusion. We continued to
march for mile in the ranks; then felt
Saddler pull my sleeve: l stepped out
with MIN to the left, and the column went
on by. The night was yet cloudy and
dark.
Saddler soon left me. to make his way
to Davis's Brigade. The kindhearted fell
low babe me gOOd-by with words Of re-
gret.