The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-31
CHATTER VII
IN THE ENEMY's COUNTRY.

out Dy the rOau on Wnich We hS'u W p'
picket duty as infantry. across the bridge
which we had laid and relaid so many
times, far out 10 where we used 10 see
the cavalry outpost's picket. We rode
past the picket also. He was In the same
place, as IL he had been there ever since
the Ninety eighth went away. After that
We began TO eye each tree and fence Tor
rebels. for were we not In the enemys
country?
Except for this feature OF the ground
We might as well have been anywhere
else in Virginia for anything that was
OF interest. The fields of yellow corn
stalks looked so much alike that one
might easily have been taken for another.
and the bits OF woodland between were
as like as two fragments Of single
forest. The negro cabins were all OF logs,
the farmhouses OF wood. painted white,
and there were not many OF either. The
road, like all other roads In the south
(and everywhere else I'm farming coun-
tries in the United States. was just
about wide enough for two wagons 10
pass each other. so II allowed us 10 ride
only four abreast.
Sometimes the road bent and suggested
that there might be a change of view
beyond. but there wasn't. There was alb
solutely no change OF scenerey that we
could remember for the first ~ miles OF
our ride that day, so we really felt some
pleasu excitement when we halted
at a railroad crossing and saw nearby
Q station building. freight depot. tank
house, a blacksmith shop and a store
building though our captain told us that
al had been unoccupied for months.
We fed our horses with oats which we
had taken with US on our saddle-bows,
with instructions as TO just how much
L. n.
from our haversacks and water from a
brook. The long ride had given me such
an appetite that / was sorry that l had
not brought at least part OF my ration
Of pork. IL might pass for butter when
q man was very hungry. ] was some
what comforted. however, 10 note that
my horse, which was tied next TO Mick
McTwyny's at the long rail fence beside
the road. had frightened Mick's horse
and eaten that animals oats before tast-
ing It's own.
Brainard and I met at lunch, and l
had just asked him how he liked being
. trooper. and he had expressed the hope
that the Confederacy might feel as shaky
on its legs as he when we heard a shot
or two I'm the advance. sensation
passed down the line, and we all started
on foot TO see what was the matter. but
the captain ordered:
morse.
fours! Forward!"
Looking out the road, we could see by
the dust cloud that the other companies
were I'm the saddle and moving forward.
We rode about Ave minutes, hearing
from time to time few shots, but no
bullets. Suddenly, however tacross a
field of wheat stubble came one. OF our
men on horseback, making great noise
rs he appeared TO be trying 10 check his
horses gallop
"A cavalryman ought to be able to
manage his horse without so much fuss"
said L. with some pride, for ! had been
taught to manage horses by the rein
alone.
THE poor fellow Is hurt" said the
lieutenant who commanded our platoon.
Seems to be his thigh. / guess his horse
Is hit too
Down went my heart into my boots
or UP into my throat, couldn't deter
mine which IL this was war. | wanted
It to stop at once. Just to imagine my
self coming wounded and screaming
across a field like that poor fellow made
me feel deadly sick. / strained my eyes
in the direction fro mwhich the wounded
man had come. but saw nobody else.
Meanwhile the surgeon had gone out To
meet the man, who now was quite near
us, and called to some one to take down
part OF the fence 80 the horse coulo
reach the road. BY the time the poor
fellow reached the roadside he was very
pale and leaning low on his horse, and
we could see broad red stain along the
leg Of hia light blue trousers. He was
helped to the ground, and the surgeon
quickly cut away his clothing and ex-
amined the wound while We moved on.
my heart still being elsewhere than In Its
proper place.
On, on we rode, and the farther we
went the more wished we were going
in the opposite direction. l am ashamed
even now TO remember how many differ
snt kinds OF coward was that day. but
was giving my entire mind TO the sub
5ect, and In such circumstances man
can accomplish a great deal. Fortunately
Il was impossible 20 keep up the strain n
long time, 80 within an hour or two was
cool enough for anything. | was too ex-
hausted 20 be anything else.
When regained my senses sufficiently
TO think OF something besides myself.
was astonished at the coolness or care
lessness OF our lieutenant He had once
been n private soldier In one Of the older
companies which were at the head OF
the column. but ne did not ride ahead TO
ask questions. nor did he even dlsmount
and speak TO the wounded man. though
he must have known him. In the mid
ole OF the AFTERNOON we ptsstu II
Of one Of the old companies going TO the
rear for something. and our lieutenant
asked:
What is it?''
"Nothin' much" said the man. Their
pIckets was layin for us"
Nothing else?'
mo, except Big Browns hoss was
killed. He got one Of theirs, though.
that's all
Nothing much That's all!' II
poor fellow shrieking with agony over
q broken thigh. which was being hurt
still more at every step Of his horse. was
nothing much. what would be regarded
as something7 II the 'pickets laying
for us" could innict so much misery.
what would be the result OF full bat
tleg Again wanted TO go home.
But no battle occurred that day and
We dismounted before dark and prepared
20 bivouac I'm the woods for the night n
stream crossing the road supplying am
pie water for men and horses. Brainard
and wanted TO go right up TO the front
and learn all about the fight with the
pickets. but the captain told as not to
stray far from our norses. Some OF the
men began 20 ask wnen and where were
FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS.
MRS WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP