The National tribune., 1902-01-09

town meeting already mentioned, when
the appeal for volunteers had failed, that
Jim Wright had appeared in the town hall
and, yelling: Hear men' had delivered
Scorchlng address to the men present,
calling them towards, who would wait
like cattle to be drafted, rather than vol
unteer like men." His uncouth yell and
rough, rude eloquence at first angered.
then shamed, then excited his hearers. He
was followed by his son Jack; the excite
ment grew, and the wavering ones came
forward amid cheers; before the meeting
closed the quota was filed.
At the oyster supper provided for the
volunteers previous TO their going into
camp, Katie Hawes, the only daughter of
the one rich man in town, and the ac-
knOwledged leader among the girls, had
taken Jack Wright's arm, saying: You
will take me to supper, won't you, ,jackF
she knowing full well that Jack would
never have the courage tc ask her, and
that the other girls would probably re-
fuse him. Jack, delighted and bashful,
had escorted her to the table and waited
upon her in a fairly acceptable manner
During the evening she had adroitly
learned from him the real reason of his
enlisting, and he rose many degrees in her
estimation. She also mentally resolved
that Jacks mother should not be neglect
ed during his absence. Jack himself
would not have been a human boy if he
had remained insenSible to the attractive
girl beside him. She had been his school.
mate for years, but never before had ex-
tended to him any special recognition.
When she called ont to him as he had
marched away: Come back with shnul
deI-straps," and he had answered:
Would you care, Katic:' he had spoken
from his heart, and she knew it. AS soon
as the words were spoken Jack could
have bitten his tongue for speaking them;
but the remembrance Of the beautiful
blusbing face chccred him wonderfully as
he took his seat in the crowded train.
The 10Th We're ordered 10 Newberne, y.
c. They suffered the usual diScOmforts
Of a crowded transport steamer, poor ra-
tons and seasickness. Arriving at their
destination, they were encamped near vet
cran troops; experienced drillmastcrS
were detailed from the older regiments TO
assist the officers in getting the regiment
into serviceable condition. The enlisted
men OF the 10th learned with Indignation
that they must not sit down in the Cap
tain's tent, and that the Colonel would
no longer entertain a personal applica-
ton for a pass. Jim Wright had seen
something of the Regular Army and he
promptly took his position as a high pri-
vate, willing to let the officers take care
VI Ai-fsll DNH ShdllS llt BID"Itu at Iue
rigidness Of the drill, and called it ''fal-
delal."
To Jack every new movement in the
tactics was a delight. He scrapcd ac-
quaintance with the soldiers of the older
regiments, watched their movements. cop
led their style, and made rapid progress
as Il soldier. His rife was the finest i'll
the company. His especial delight was to
visit light battery and mingle with the
artillerymcn.
For some time his anxiety for his
fathers failing caused him considerable
w0rriment, but the elder man attended
strictly and sobcrly to duty, and Jack be-
gan TO hope that the army discipline was
the tonic required.
In December, 1862 a large Union force
left Newbcrne with the intention of cap
turing Goldsboro and destroying railroad
communication between Wilmington and
Richmond. In the slirmishcS and bat
ties at Southwest Greek, Kinston, and
WhiteLcll, the 10Th was under fire, but
took no active part. AT GOldsboro the
Federal advance was checked by heavy
force. The railroad bridge over the Neuse
River was burned, but 10 further advance
could be made. Gen. Foster, the Union
commander, ordered a return TO Ncwbefne
and the column had started to fall back
BelGcrs Rhode Island Battery was guard
ing the rear, and in the hurry was left
too far behind. The infantry had gone
some distance, when the sharp and rapid
cracking of the artillery indicated than
there was heavy attack. The 10Th were
started back On the run 10 support the
battery. Jack IS heart was beating wildly.
and he was fearful that his courage would
fail him, until glance at the other pale
faces assured him that he was not the
only one who had been attacked by the
army ague."
The cannoncers were working the guns
with all the energy of desperate men.
Two hundred yards to the front of them
the enemy were in two lines Of battle. ad-
yancing rapidly and firing as they came
The Captain of the battery was sitting on
his horse, yelling: Smash 'em, Feed il
to them. Keep your lnuzzle down." or
derlng, encouraging, directing
A Lieutenant was standing in the rear
OF the first section, as the two guns on
the right are called. and in n monotonous.
sing-song voice, as regular as the tick of
clock, was saying: Number one, FIRE!