The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03
The Boys Find an Opportunity on the Way
to Columbia to be of Servics-The Army
Before the South Carolina Capital.


water. in eager pursuit of the fleeing reb
els. The batterymen, their work done
when the rebel guns We're silenced. inn
mcdiately began solicitous examinations
| of their pieces to see if they had suffered
any damage in the action. There
more than enough out there to tend tc
| that Job and no need Of us. When those
battery boys begin wiping of their guns
the heavy works done
IF there amt enough already, there 5
u heaping plenty coming added Shorty
looking back at the river. swarming with
men coming on RATS of logs. canoes, pom
tcon-boats, skiffs. and everything else they
could get to carry them. This is the Eff
teenth Ccrps's job. anyway. We may
make hard feelings by mixing in any fur
ther. And I'm willing to say over my own
signature that I'm actually hungry, though
| you might not suspect II.
Never dreamed that you'd be hungry
grinned 81. IF you should ever lose your
appetite, and some lazy man should find
it. there would be a catastrophe; he'd
either have to steal or go to hard work
to satisfy it."
Il wouldn't say nothing about appetites
| if | was you." retorted Shorty. Yours
is of the buzz-saw build that-hello, there
comes Black Jack himself. with his head
quarters flag. | never saw Major-G Gen
very front like he does. Hooray! Three
cheers for Gen. John \. Logan! Hip
| hipp-hoorayr'
Everybody turned to look at and cheer
to the full power of his lungs the beloved
General, who was standing erect in the
bow of a large siiff, with his headquar-
tiers flag Swapping in the sharp wind.
go ahead, there, boysi Don't mind
me" shouted the General. with salute,
as he sprang from the skiff into the water
and ran up the bank. to survey with his
glass the rush to the front. mo time for
| ceremony. Forward everybody! For
ward, along the whole line! Keep them
on the jump. Don't let them stop"
Hello, Injianny," he called out famil-
iarly, rs he passed 81 and Shorty. you've
done noby. You've done your share"
"Well?' remarked ST. interroGatively.
as, after having taken the first edge off
his hunger, he was eating more leis-
urely. and looking around. to see what
havoc had been made on their craft by
the action. THE old ark looks as if she'd
been stove up in n head-on collision.
Well?" and he looked inquiringly at
Shorty.
Her hull's as good as it ever was
answered Shorty.
Then there's nothing to do but to con-
tinue our VOYAGE,
well. as we're chartered for Columby.
nothing but fire. wreck and the acts of
public enemies preventing. | don't see as
there is. After dinner, with Sandy's help.
I'm going to rig up some Mississippi
River sails, that work by elbow grease,
and make us Independent of the pernick-
ctiness of the Saludy."
Say. you fellows might have Major
General to dine with you if you extended
him real cordial invitation" called out
a weil-known voice from the bank above,
and they all sprang to their feet and to
the position OF soldier. as they recog-
nized Gen. John \. Logan standing
above them smiling approximately the
fragrance of their feast.
''No; never mind the guards" said the
General, acknowledging their salute. with
a deprecatory wave OF his hand. Time
enough for that when we aren't so busy.
Go on with your dinner. boys; but I've
cheek enough to repeat that if you were
a little more hosptabe. you might have Il
Major General for company at dinner
Why, General, certainly" gasped 81,
catching on Mt last. Excuse us. We
weren't thinking. Wait, wen bring you
up all you can eat"
we have to draw the line somewhere,
but we didn't intend to at Major-Gen-
erals" remarked Shorty, reaching around
with 81 to find the choicest morsels to
carry up the bank. You're always more
than welcome. Gen. Logan, to anything
that we have"
nice for the General? Stir up the fire,
there. boys"
No, NO; don't come up. I'll come down
to you. You mustn't disturb yourselves
on my account" expostulated the General.
What you have there looks and smells
good enough for anybody. My mouth has
been watering for the last 10 minutes for
some of it. I'm playing in great luck to
have some of it."
Yes. General; we think we've got a lit
tie the best cook in the army. We're a
good deal afraid all the time that some of
you officers Will take him away.
I'd better end yoar fears By taking
him for my own headquarters. said the
General, teasiDgly, as he held out his
plate for another helping of the roast pork
and sweet potatoes. This is positively
the best dinner I've had since ! left Chi
cago, and think this meat is better roast
ed than they can do it at the Sherman
House. What is your cooks name?'
"Otterben Kramer. SIR"
Kramer, would you like to go to my
headquarters rs cook!' inquired the Gen
cral.
mo, General; thank you. I'd rather
stay with the boys" answered Kramer
quietly, as he helped the General to some
of the dressing.
''What?' exclaimed the General "Pre-
fer to stay cooking for enlisted men to
going to Corps Headquarters? You'd
have Il heap better tima-wagon to ride
and sleep in. nisgers to help you, and a
safe place in the rear"
The Lord didn't send me into the
world, General, to have good times, nor
even to consult my own safety" replied
Kramer, with quiet earnestncss. HE
sent me 20 do my duty, and let the conse-
quences be His. | see my duty plainly
to stay with these boys, and help them
their work of doing everything possible
to put down this unholy rebellion"
Wouldn't you be doing just as much,
and cooked for me?' asked the General,
mo, indeed, General"
the General, a little tartly, for the laugh
that went around seemed to imply some
thing. Don't you think I'm doing as
much to put down the rebellion as they
are, and my health and strength are as
necessary to the cause?''
:" Tisn't that, General. You can get all
the good cooks you want. These boys
would probably never get another who
would be on the lookout to save every
atom of their strength that they might
devote it to their duty. Then, it would
be 4 sin for me to turn away from where
I've been PLACED, probably by the Lord
Himself. to where l can have it easier
and safer"
IF you are SO opposed to the rebellion"
l.. Al.