The National tribune., 1902-09-04

CONDEANED EnF11
on sight. and you are authorized to do so. -
Il tell you it wasn't the guerrillas,
yelled Fitzpatrick. 1T was Wheeler's own
men, done by the orders of commissioned
officers.'
20, can hardly believe that"
Il tell YOU it is so. A Lieutenant, Ser
geant and seven men of one of my bat
teries Were surrounded and captured by a
Texas regiment, which carried Spencer
carbines. and was commanded by Lieu
tenant Colonel. After the artillerymerl
surrendered the Texas Lieutenant Colonel
ordered them shot, and they WERE
How do you know it was by orders OF
Il commissioned Officery
"One OF my scouts, n very reliable man
saw the whole, thing"
"This is really serious" said Gen. Sher-
man, his face burning with anger. 1.-The
scOundrels should be taught lesson"
Il propose to shoot at once 36 of Wheel
er's men that have in my hands. That's
only fair. One of my men is worth at
least two of his. And propose to burn
everything around here for FIVE miles"
Il can't believe that Wheeler would
cOuntenance the murder Of prisoners said
Sherman. wait till you send a flag of
. truce to him, and tell him these facts, and
ask for an explanation"
Cant | shoot these men first and then
send the flag notifying him what ] have
done, and what l propose to do? 1t will
have great deal better effect, and my
men are crazy over the murders"
mo. Do nothing until you have sent a
flag and demanded an explanation from
Wheeler. Then if his answer is not sat
isfactory, we'll take such steps as will
bring him to his senses"
Very good, il those are your ORDERS
said Fitzpatrick, turning away angrily.
But my men are in such a state of mind
that few prisoners may be taken"
''Gen. Fitzpatrick" said Gen. Sherman,
sternly, Il hold you responsible for the
maintenance of discipline in your COM
mand and the observance of the laws of
war. Remember that"
Saddle up your horses, Sergeant" said
Gen. Sherman curtly to ST. land come
along with me. have no escort, and you
must act as that until we reach Hanging
Rock, or Lynch's Greek, when the others
will come up."
The wet saddles were flung on the drip
ping horses, and the squad trOtted off
through the mud and rain after the impa-
tient General leaving Otterbein Kramer
to gather up his things as best he could.
They did not so far, however. A mile
from the river they found the brigade,
brought to a standstill by an impossible
swamp. Men We're struggling through the
mud, probing the depths with poles, seek
ing out the best route. The rest were
cutting poles for corduroy, brush to fill up
the deeper places, and carrying chunks,
brush and poles to those working on the
roadway. All the time the cold, cheerless
rain was pouring down in penetrating
streams which seemed to seek mems mar
rows.
Gen. Sherman took in the whole terrain
with that quick, comprehensive glance for
which he was famous, and, as usual. be-
gan 'bossing" everything in sight.
His quick, restless eyes were alert to
everything, from shoetie to the move
ment of corps, and he wanted to criti-
cize, approve, condemn or direct every
thing. He began vOlleying, as usual, all
around the horizon:
Say, you men cutting at that tree, look
out, or you'll have it down on you first
thing you know. l can see from here
you're not slanting that kerf right. There
it goes! What did tell yOu?"
"You men laying down that corduroy
drive stakes at least every yard, to keep
the poles from spreading or humping up"
Here, what in blazes makes you men
keep coming down that way? You're al
most certain to slip and fall. Go around
that way"
Say, you fellows are not carrying half
loads. Bend your backs, there. This is
no picnic"
Say, out there. You're pointing the
road too far to the left. Can't you see
you're running into deep water2 Bear of
to the right, l say"
This reused the attention of broad
shouldered, loud-voiced Sergeant, who had
Immediate. charge of the work, and who
had been doing some vigorous ordering
himself. He had only rejOined his regl-
ment at Savannah after long period Of
detached service, and was not at all IA |
miliar with the looks and voice of the |
He snorted Indignantly |
every time he heard an order given, and |
when one came actually changing the di- ]