The National tribune., 1902-07-10

phasized the rule, as he repeated it slow
ly, by shaking his index finger and grave
ly gesticulating.
Colonel, don't we have to arm an
mount fust?'
This question came from the ranks.
from Mai. Peeler, Il gentleman about the
age Of the Colonel. who had also served
in the Mexican War; and who thought he
knew quite as much of military matters
as the Colonel. Out of ranks he WIS
never happier than when telling of the
various battles he was engaged in; in
ranks, he took every occasion to correct
any errors that the Colonel might make,
much to that gentleman's disgust. In
fact, he had been candidate against the
Colonel for the Captainey of this COM
pany, but being self-important and AFRO
CANT and a poor mixer" he had met the
fate of all such in this free country and
had been left in the ranks.
ARMED and mounted fustr' exclaimed
the Colonel hotly. Why, we're supposed
to be mounted, er else we'd be nothing
but infantry. Look here, Major" said
the Colonel with great dea! Of spirit,
.'ef you want to drill this company, sir,
I'll send in my resignation"
$50 on, Colonel. go on" shouted the
company. who were beginning to get tired.
'Of course, you're right: cavalrr's bound
to be mounted. ennybody knows that. Go
on; don't resign; drill US, and let us go
home"
well. gentlemen said the Colonel,
calming down at this manifestation of his
popularity with the boys, 'as l was sayin'
the only rule / know is to set straight in
the saddle, turn out yer toes, and ride at
the enemy An right in that rule was
where We got the best of the Mexcans;
fur their rule, as fer as l WAS able to see,
was to hump up themselves on their
grass-bellied ponies, and git up and git
Yet, gentlemen, by knowin' an enforcin'
this rule we whipped the dirty greasers
in every battle. an by foIIerin' it
to-morror-" he added, rising in his stir
rups and shaking his saber, 1--WE can whip
the whole wcrld." Here the company
yelled cut its applause in a long, dismal
howl, which, when it had died away. a
squeaking voice shouted in the further
rank, "Whooraw for our rule and JeeIns
Il. Polk"
$50 that's the fust rule" said the
Colonel; now, how to do this is the
| next" for the Colonel saw that as he had
but few rules he must try to spread out
what he did have as far as possible
First set straight in yer saddle, like
you see me-" riding down the line with
his shoulders thrown uncomfortabIy back
Yer coat buttons square between yer
horses ears, yer left hand holding yer
reins, yer right grasping yer sword, with
the pint elevated about 45 degrees, yer
toes turned well out, so" And he rode
down the line in great style, at sight of
which every man Strengthened himself up
as near like the Colonel as possible.
Second, gentlemen, you must ride at
the enemy. Now, AT, gentlemen, is n
very little word, but it's bigger than a
bombshell in battle, and means more than
everything else: in facr, gentlemen, it's
about the chief thing of this important
rule, although it appears to be so small
| Ef you'd leave out all the other words in
! this rule, and jes' git in yer saddles and
say at EN- and then do it, you'd come
mighty nigh knowing all the rules of war
| Don't gallop around, nor ride about, then
stop, but straight at, and do it - fast
! to keep yer courage upr'
How about making detour and q
flank moyementT" inquired the irrepressi-
bic Maj. Peeler.
"DetoHrs and flank movements" re.
7eated the Colonel sarcastically. "Them's
mighty hiSh-sounding words, Major but
| they amt worth er - in war. Where u
he said, getting excited and waving his
| sword, did we ever make enny detours
in the Mexican War? The only detour
| ever saw" he Numbered with whitening
sarcasm, was when Il piece of an Ala,
bama and Tennessee regiment made de
tour after Mexican roast goose one night
an got cut off from the regular army
they came detourn' back to camp next
morning with pack of greasers at theiI
heels-the only time in the whole wal
that emmy of our troops showed theil
heels to a Mexican"
This last was home thrust, for it was
we'll known in the village that the Maio,
had been the leader of the unfortunate
company that went off on the raid and
came back so Drecipitately
Now, gentlemen" said the Colonel, 81
have told you all the rules. an Wen now
put 'em into practice. Wen now pro.
ceed to march-but we won't go nc
further apologetically, since some OF
the men began to grumble about
moving at all-'than ;he black stump
at the crossroads aud back again
Now, when l say Forward you mustn't
go forward, but only prepare for it: but
when l say March, why jes' spur up and
march off" Here there was visible
commotion in ranks. as several men had