The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-19

the example. you've all had enough Stop
at once, and gather up what's left, and
| we'll take it up to the road for the Maui
NEE boys, who helped us out last night"
| They all gladly obeyed, and started off
the boat with their hands full.
Here, what are all you men doing
down here in the brush?" called harsh,
wiry voice, from a horseman who had rid
den down through the thicket. Get back
| into the column at once, you worthless
stragglers."
Looking up, they saw man in pri-
yate soldiers overcoat, with a rugged face,
fringed with bristly, sandy whiskers, a
hawklike nose and piercing blue eyes.
"Why, Gen. Sherman" exclaimed ST,
trying 10 get his right free enough to sa-
| lutte.
what have you got down there in that
boat?' demanded the General, harshly,
paying no attention to the salute. .Whis-
| ky, III be bound. Struck boat load Of
| it, l expect, and the whole corps will be
drunk first thing you know Internal
stuff. It's the curse of the country and
the army. About face, there, Go back
| and burn the boat, and everything on it.
Go on. III stay and see it done"
And he pushed his horse forward to
| where he could get better view Of the
boat.
mo, Gen. Sherman" said ST. quietly
and respectfully, I'VE have no whisky
there. We are as much opposed to it as
you are. We're not struggling, either. We
have been on detached service in the adj
vance. We got the crossing yesterday.
and then pushed forward to the creek and
captured the boat. where we laid down,
for we were dead tired
Say" said the General, his stern coun-
tenance relaxing, as he studied Sis face,
"arent you that Injianny Sergeant that
brought that boat-load of pontoons
through"
I'VE helped to do it. General
You belong to the 200th Injianny?"
Eyes, General
''And you're the men that Howard sent
through to Ossabaw Sound?'
Yes, General"
The Generals voice was getting better
all the time.
.'And you're the fellows that captured
the crossing of the Saluda last night, that
Davis and Baird have been telling me
about?"
1--WE had that good luck, General"
''It was good luck for us, but good SOL
diership on your part, boys" replied the
General, getting quite familiar. Very
good soldiership, should say. What about |
this boat?'
30. it's just flatboat that the rebels |
have been using to pole their supplies up
Tie Sltth w spiltc SUN III IL, |
but not as much as we expected"
ANY whisky" asked the General, with |
Il little return of his sharpness.
Not Il drop, General" answered 81 |
earnestly. Not n drop
Il believe YOU" said the General. "Any-
thing of consequence i'll the boat?'
Nothing except some rationS, and not |
great quantity of them
1T isn't much of boat. for fact"
said Gen. Sherman, with quick estimat-
ing glance. What were you going to do
with her? Burn her?'
well, General, we'd thought that a
boat of any kind ought TO come in handy
somewhere in this water-logged country.
and we had about made UP our minds to
float her down toward Columby, and meb-
be we'd set along faster than by riding,
and she'd come in useful in making n
crossing somewhere"
Not bad idea. by any means" re-
sponded the General, in his quick, ener-
getic way. Il wish had some men with
eagles and stars on their shoulders who
would do as much thinking. As you prob
ably know, the Saluda runs off there
pointing south of east almost straight for
Columbia. Ion get right back in the
boat--What are you doing with all that
grub in your hands?'
We're taking it up to some Of the sick
AIanmee boys. Won't you have some,
General!'
No: not now. Too soon after break
fast Besides. those boys need it.
Better have some, General. Its aw-
ful good"
1T locks so. It's quite tempting. But
give It to the sick"
That's what we're going TO do, Cen
erai":
..Well. well. hurry UP with it. They i
Feed it, poor fellows. But get back to
the boat us soon rs you can, and push her
out. Make your way down the Saluda