The National tribune., 1902-02-27

THE TINY BLAZE WA
the march through Georgia, and trying to
make it appear that it is shelter. 'Taint
much more'n a seine would be. l invited
them to come over to our log, and get
thawed out, and they're coming"
There's no use of our staying here"
said Shorty. Il move we saddle up, and
strike out. We can't get into any worse
place, and it'll be surprising if we don't
find something better. We may at least
find a cabin somewhere, to stay tonight" :"
The Colonel, Adjutant and many of the
officers came plOdding and splashing
through the rain and the dripping wire
grass over to the fire. Those who were
fortunate enough to have India rubber
coats found themselves well repaid for
the bother these had been in carrying.
All their eyes frightened as they saw
the generous proportions Of the fire.
Ahead, as usual, Sergeant" said Col.
McGillicuddy. You have certainly man
aged to make the best out of one of the
most disagreeable situations in my army
experience. We used to think it rained
on the Atlanta Campaign, but those were
mere showers to lay the dust, compared to
this"
''They said up at Corps Headquarters
that about go inches of water fall year
at Savannah" remarked the Adjutant
dolefully. 'As near as / can judge, we
are getting our five feet of water about
every minute. 1t looks as if it was pour
ing n steady, solid stream from about five
miles up in the air"
Il knew that our good times in Savan-
nah were Il weather-breeder," remarked
Capt. Wicklow, who was the pessimist of
the regiment. "ThOse days were too good
to last. The sweetest things turn to the
sourest very soon. This is an inauspi
ciOus opening for Sherman's great cam
paign."
30, we shall come out all right" an
swered the sanguine Colonel. ''They can
not down Shernan's army, though all the
elements fight on the side of the rebels, as
they have been doing most Of the time"
What I'm most worried about just
now is rations. We started out with
three days rations. which will be gone
tomorrow. Our teams cannot get up, for
the creeks behind have become great riv-
ers." This was the paint of the Regi-
mental Commissary.
well, if the 200th Ind. goes hungry
in Georgia." replied the Colonel hopefully,
''it will be the first time since we have
entered the State, and will surprise me
more than anything else. Let's see, first,
if we can't do something to provide some
shelter. This rain acts as if it was going
to last indefinitely, and there is no telling
when we shall be able to move either for
ward or back. so that we had better make
take your men over to the wagon, and the
Quartermaster will issue them the new
axes and spades he drew before starting.
Well move the camp over into these
woods, so as to lessen the distance the
men will have to carry. It's going to be
hard work in this storm. but it will be
much better for the men than to lie idle"
81 and the others had scattered out and
gathered up all the chunks and limbs they
could find, to increase the fire, since it
had become the regimental headquarters.
They soon had roaring conflagration,
which gave as much cheer as was posi-
BILE under the circumstances.
The regiment raised a cheer at the or
der to draw axes and build quarters. They
were the kind of soldiers who cheered
everything that came down from head
quarters. 1t was clumsy, disccuraging
work, chopping, fettered by soaked gar
ments and a dashing rain, into the hard
wood of the giant philippines and cy-
presses, but the axes rang industriously,
and soon the trees were toppling.
81 and Shorty decided not to go into |
quarter-building, but saddled their horses |
and led the squad off nOrthward, in search |
of what they might find.
1t was slow travelling. The roads were |
torn up by wagons trying to get along |
and when the squad cut off |
into the fields they came across brooks
swelled to unfOrdable torrents, and deep |
back-water, which stopped and turned |
them back to find some way around.
1t was a barren and very discouraging
sort of country, with no habitations of
any kind in sight until they approached
a creek larger than any OF the others,
which ran directly to the Savannah River,
several miles distant. There they saw a
couple of deserted and dilapidated cabins,
md went inside to make some coffee and
eat dinner.
They took n survey of the creek, and
t seemed to them so broad that it was
Useless to try to get around its head, and
hat the better chance would be to follow
t down to the road, where there was
bridge.
They came upon company Of men la
,oring sulkily and slowly to erect wall
ent on a rise of bare ground a little dis
ance from the road. Near them, with