The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08

white sycamoress He wasn't out jus
shooting for Fourth of July. He was afte
meat u. lr.
"Wisht that some of ENID stop Ions
enough to let us try these new guns OF
EN-" ferventIy calculated Pete. Tn
with my Spencer"
Now, you want to be careful with that
repeater" admonished Shorty. You al
ways got into gobs and slathers of mis-
chief with single-shooter. What in crea
tion'll happen to you with an eight-shoOt'
ier? You'll be as dangerous as boy in
the meadow with a scythe. l don't know
what to do with you, for I'm afraid to let
you stay behind us, and l cant trust you
in 'front.'
Don't you worry n minute about me,
Mr.. Corpl Elliott" Pete replied impudent-
lily. Me and Sandy knows how to use
these guns better'n anybody in the squad.
We learnt all about EN- from them Illinois
boys"
They got across the South EdistO at
Pine Log Bridge, and worked their way
up toward the North Edisto. aiming to
strike some distance above Guntcr' S
Bridge where the main column was cross
ing, and come into the road for Lees
vile.
Still only small and scattered parties Of
watchers appeared, who rode away, after
firing long shots ut them.
At the crest of hill they came to a
long, straight road, cut like n deep canal
through the tall trees and rank under
growth of the river bottom, and leading
directly to the North Edisto River, which
appeared 10 be couple of hundred yards
wide there, counting the overflow on the
| low ground. The road had been thrown
up into Il cauSeway to raise it above the
overflow. and a rude staging built across
the stream itself. This had been hastily
torn up in the center by a party of rebels
at the approach of a Union squad, who
had interrupted the work and was now
Diminishing with them to drive them away,
restore the timbcrs and cross over. There
were 10 or II rebels and as many Union
soldiers, all under cover of the trees on
either side, and SharpShOOting mt one an
other with quiet, but savage determina-
ton.
NO use Of our going down there.
Shorty" said 81, after taking survey of
the situation. There's as many down
there as the wOodsIl hold, and them Osh-
kOsh fellers are doing all they can with
that front Let's work over to the left
somewhere, and see if we can't find some
way to get across the river and come in
behind those rebels"
Lets ride back n little ways out Of
sight" suggested Shorty, land make the
rebels over there believe we've backed out.
If we turn into the woods here they'll
know that we're trying to flank them
They entered Il sparse growth of pines
on the sand-hil behind, deployed and be
gan hunting for trail which would lead
down to the river.
Shorty at last struck blind one, which
seemed rather promising, and he rode on
la hundred yards or more to survey it bet
ter before calling on 81 to follow him.
He pushed through a clump of peach
brush which had grown up across the
trail, to come upon three men in rebel uni
form, but without arms.
Hello, thar" said Shorty, remember
ing that he still wore rebel clothes, and
leyeling his carbine; who air yOu?"
We belong to Cheatham'S Division, and
air gwine on to Columby to jine our riji-
minis" answered one of the men, n tall,
black-haired handsome young fellow,
whose face looked too intelligent for him
TO be speaking that dialect.
''Cheatham's -DivisonF' echoed Shorty.
| Why. Cheatham's Division amt nowhar
round heah. Cheatham's Division is up
thar in Tennessee, somewhat
No, mister, you're mistaken" asserted
the first speaker. "Cheathams Division
was in Tennessee all durin' de war. but
hits now ordered down heah to fout Sher-
man."
Yes. hit got to Augus'y last week. -
cOrrOboratcd one of the others, shorter.
older man, with black whiskers. An is
now marching acrost the country, L Co
iumby. We wuz in the horsepital, an was
sent acrost the country to pick the easiest
way, and build up as we went along, bet
tern we could by marchin' with the col
umn. They wuz afeared we couldn't keep
up with the column"
| The third a stOcky, fair-haired, blue
eyed man, said nothing. Something about
them told Shorty that they were not tell
ing the truth. and that they were not regu-
lar rebel soldiers. He jumped at the con
clusion that they were the usual fringe of
villains hanging around the outskirts of
the Observation-Disclosures, robbers, muir
dcrcrs, thieves, Notwithstanding wick
ed for which opportunity might present it
lSelf-anything but actual soldiers. They
had probably thrown their arms and ac-
cOuterments into the brush, as they saw
| him approach to give countenance to their
story.
He looked them over quickly and care
| fully. They certainly looked far from
strong. which supported their story. They
We're dressed in ragged hOmespun, no bet
ter nor no worse than the rebel soldiers
generally, and their shoes We're old and
bound up with strips of paw-paw bark.
What's yer names an what Tijmints
do You belong to" Shorty asked sternIy.
Bob Hawkins. Fust Tennessee Riji-
mint-Cunnel Bradshaw's rijimint,' an
Swcred the tall, black-haired young man
promptly. "Briggydeer Jinerul Joe b.
Palmer's Tennessee Brigade"
| An yOur'n!'
Jim Ellis. Fust Tennessee Riiimint-
Cunnel Bradshaw's rijiment. Briggydeer-
Jineru Joe b. Palmer's Tennessee Bri-
gade. Cheatham's Division" reeled off the
short man with black whiskers.
| AN your'n?'
OSCAR Freilsh Wrist Dennessee Rechi-
ment-COl. Pradshaw's Rechiment-Brik-
kyteer Chineral Chloe =. Banners DENIES
see Prikade. Cheatham's Tivision" an
Swered the blue-eyed man, with fair wills
| kers, and the others cast troubled gances
ut each other.
What's a Dutchman doin' in a Tennes-
see regiment?" asked Shorty, with severe
suspicion.
Il yass in Chattanooga in pizness when
de var prokc oud, unit | enlisted to wight
v0r Southern liberty" answered Oscar
sturdily. and the other two looked relieved
/ You've got your stories damned well;
must've bin rehearsing EN-" said Shorty
sayagely, for he was still more convinced
that they were not telling the truth. Il
believe more'n ever that y're lynn Whar
was you at Chickamaugy? | was thar
| myself"
We wuz in Gregg's Brigade o. Walk
ers Division, Hills Corps" answered Bob
Hawkins promptly. I'VE wuz only bat
talon then. We wuz all cut up at Chap
lin Hills
The readiness and accuracy Of the re-
"A 4,