The National tribune., 1902-07-31

soldiers-si and the Rest Start OF II
Search Of the Fourteenth Corps.
Come on, boys said ST, gathering up
his things, as he saw the man follow ms
advice, let the boat go, and begin to hoat
down the river. AFTER all, don't know
but what advising that fellow to so to
Charleston was like telling him to jump
from the frying-pan into the fire. L sup
pose that Charlestons our meat next
time But he will be among his friends
there. anyway, and'll have had some ex-
pcricnce with burning cities" :,
If he sticks to his boat he'll be all
right, let them burn as much as they
please" remarked Shorty, and he may
reap another harvest of heir-looms.'
We'll. I'm awful glad we're shet OF
the blamed silver, anyway. Gather up
your things, boys, and come on. wen
20 over to the western side of the city and
wait for the Fourteenth Corps to come up,
with the 1st Oshkosh and our horses.
They can't be far away. All the rest or
the arniy's coming up
"Of course, the 1st Oshkosh is at the
very tail end" grumbled Wash Lambert.
THAT comes o my being away from the
regiment
AS they moved out they found they had
much more to carry than they expected,
and it was particularly cumbersome. This
WAS especially so with Alf and Monty,
and their precious law and medical books.
They had wrapped these up i'll their bian-
kets which they slung over their shoul-
ders.
Ottcrbein Kramer had n quantity of
kitchen utensils which he highly esteemed
and would not leave behind. Shorty had
Il pair of silver candlesticks which he
thought would be nice for Maria's dress
ing case. They We're wrapped up in his
blanket, and they We're particularly heavy
because he did not want his partner 10
know that he had them.
| Even without these additional burdens,
carbines, cartridge-boXes. havcrsacks.
blankets and canteens become very bur-
densOme to boys on foot, who have been
used 20 riding.
They tried to get some negroes to help
them. as they toilcd along. but by this time
| the blacks We're so Interested Ill proving
around among the ruins that they would
not do anything else. ANY ruin was more
attractive to them than Il gold mine. and
!, half-melted silver watch, or an ax, with
| its handle burnt out, and its temper re-
duccd to that of hoop-iron. was Il bigger
| find than the Ballarat nugget.
| 81. Shorty or Otterbein Kramer would
get hold of some able-b0died ones, and
load them with blankets, canteens and ket-
ties. but presently the things would be
found OH the road, and the negroes skip
| ping over to where a group of others were
ltflIHG anu luEhihS III tAtittbiSht oNSi
some wonderful find of the works of n
| clock or the barrels md lock of shot
gun. IN
The streets We're clogged with fallen
walls and telcgraphUwireS, and progress
was difficult. Rondsl leading to the north
east had been cleared in some places, but
these were filled with trains and troops.
There was Il wilderness of men and
horses. but nowhere the sight Of the
much-soueht-for Acorn badge. Wagons
blazoned and flags Haunted i'll every direc-
ton. stars. arrows. eartridge-boxes with
40 rounds, Indicating the Fifteenth, Sev-
entecnth and Twentieth Corps, but the
Acorn YVES nowhere. 3
What has BECOME of the blasted old
hog-fodder. anyway" inquired Shorty ir-
ritably, as he walked over toward the
stone steps of burned tavern, to sit down
and rest. and scan the wide stretch of
marching men and moving wagons. Has
| the whole dinged gang of hard-tack de-
stroyers got sick of the job and gone
home. or have they struck some bottom
less hog and sunk out of sight,"
NO fear of either" answered 81. "They
couldn't go home if they wanted to. The
an opening somewhere. And they haven't
crossed the Salkehatchie swamps to be
mired by anything else"
well, it's the first time in my life that
| haven't seen The Fourteenth Corps show
| ing up bigger'n six bits. wherever any
thing was going on, and don't under
| Stand'-
Shorty's observations abruptly con-
cluded with a wild YELL as he sprang up,
for the stones on which he had sat were
burning hot. His blanket fell to the
gronnd and partially unrolled, revealing
the silver canLIesticks. S did not see
them, however, for he was turning to take
a seat beside his partner, when the yell
attracted his attention.
| why, Shorty, what's the matter?
Colicy he exclaimed and then noticing
that his partner was not rubbing the part
usually devoted to collie, he seated himself
to think the matter over and rose with
a howl and an exclamation,
dumb the condemned thing! It's as
hot as n fat-iron- Say, Wash, don't sit
down there"
Think I'm a blamed fool" said Wash,
arresting himself just in time. Il don't
want no fried ham about me-"
Shorty managed to roll up his blanket
again, while Sis attention was distracted.
| Their further progress was arrested by
a line Of guards thrown out to keep men
away from wagons which were hauling
ammunition from the arsenal and dump
ing il into the river.
60 way back there. You're smoking"
shouted the sentries.
Il feel as if | was" said Shorty with
a rearward glance. Hurts bad enough,
yet"
SOS everything else in this late la
mented town. shouted Wash Lambert
Were only in fashion,
We'll all stop smoking If you'll let us
go on through" called out 81. I'VE want
Ito find our regiment"
Where do you belong?" asked the sen.
tinel
Fourteenth Corps.'
"Ain't no such corps no more 1t slipped
on a rotten log and was drowned in the
Saludy River. No mourners."
You're a liar" shouted Shorty "The
Fourteenth Corps III be alive and moving
on when all you blue cartridge-box fel-
lows are nursing your sore feet in the
hospital. We've showed you the way
over every river we've come to yet"
'Well, you cant come across here, all
the same. Go way back beyond that gully
there, and don't come any nearer, or we'll
fire on You, and we won't have no more
back talk neither. aThem's ORDERS"
''He has the call on us, Shorty" said
81. gathering mp his things "And he's
right. There don't seem to be much
chance Of getting around the line. for it
reaches away up there to where they are
burning those factories and warehouses.
But they'll get through hauling that stuff
out pretty soon. lat the rate they're work
ing. Let's go down there on the bank Of
the river. Maybe we can see something
of our corps on he1Other side"
They found aiplace which gave good
IL. .A.x.