The National tribune., 1902-01-16
he would take the most desperate chances

he would take the most desperate chances
| to escape.
| 1t was nearly daylight when the Ranger
camp was reached he was placed i'll
stout log hut and guard posted over him;
| the prospects for escape were poor in
| deed. His captors treated him kindly, and
a good breakfast of corn bread, bacon and
sweet potatoes was given him.
During the day he slept little, intend
| ing to keep awake all night, ready to take
advantage of any remissness on the part
Of the guard. When the night came the
guard ordered him into corner Of the
hut and notified him that he must stay
there. In spite of all his efforts to keep
awake he dozed off to sleep; when he
awoke early daylight was showing
through the chinks of the cabin. The
guard was sitting on a stool inside the
hut, with his earbine in his hand wide
awake and alert. Jacks hopes fell. He
had hoped to catch the guard mapping; in
stead he had been mapping himself
Had good sleep, Yank?' asked the
guard. He was a pleasant-faced young
fellow, about Jacks own age.
Yes" said Jack, 4 slept all right"
Your luck beats mine" said the guard
4 had four hours on and four hours off
all night; but I'll be relieved in the morn
in; then I'll take Il good sleep"
| While he was speaking, they heard the
: clatter of horses hoofs. ringing cheer,
and the cracking of pistols. The guard
sprang to the door, looking in the direction
of the shots. Jack saw a powerful, hairy,
freckled hand catch the boy by the thrual
and fling him across the cabin, and caught
tie CLEAN of pistol barrel as the other
hand pointed it at the fallen boy.
Don't kill him, Dad! don't kill him.
Jack yelled, and Jim Wright, for it was
he, threw up the pistol.
You spoke just in time, Jack" he said.
Get up, young fellow, take his carbine
Jack; take off them 'quipments, johnny;
things has changed. Git out of here!
Ctr
The young soldier cast a grateful look
toward Jack. II low you sholy spoke
4 good word for me that time" he said
| The Rangers, completely surprised
! made but feeble resistance. The Union
! troopers rode them down, capturing most
/ Of them, with their arms and horses. The
hutS were set on fire, and the Yankee cav
alrymen, with their prisoners, were soon
on their way to the Union lines.
Jack rejOined his company and made
Il full confession to the Captain. That
officer talked to him very seriously. Jack
promised never 10 offend III such man
ner again. The Captain then sent him
to his company. To the First Lieutenant
the Captain said that a boy who had
spunk enough to do a thing like that, had
the making of a rattlng good soldier in
| like him.
The cavalry Major, elated by his sue
cess, made an elaborate report in which
he praised Jim Wright highly; consequent
| ~, Jim retained his chevrons, and was not
reduced or punished. He was warned,
however, not to take matters in his own
hands again.
During the Winter of 1863. the 10Th
were engaged in several small engage
ments.and skirmishes. in which they took
creditable part. They did not escape
unscratched, and on the rolls of every
company were the words, killed in ac-
| tion, ''s'died in hospital. absent ""wound-
| ed" sick in hospital" and from the full
ranks of LOGO men only 500 were present
for duty. The drills were continual
grind; it was drill, drill, drill; even after
! the regiment WAS very proficient. Having
the names of several battles inscribed i'm
golden letters on their colOrS the men be-
gan to consider themselves as veterans.
and had mutual confidence in each other
! They believed that their regiment was a
I little superior 10 any other in the service.
The old 10th. she's the boss regiment"
was their proud boast, and they really had
/ very good reasons for their pride.
! There were some changes among the
officers. Three resigned; two We're dis
charged for disability, and one was
caShiercd. The Chaplain received a call
from wealthy church in the North, and
concluded that his mission lay in that
direction. The officers of the regiment
elected to the vacant Ghaplaincy the
young theological studcnt-soldier, Serg't
Parker Addison, greatly to his surprise.
and much to the elatiOn of his comrades
| This left Sergcant's position vacant, and
Jack Wright was made Fifth Sergeant.
His place in the line OF file-closers in the
tactics Of those days brought him OH the
right of his company, only a few files from
the coiors.