The National tribune., 1902-09-18

Sandy, as his partner approached the
row of gums.
"You just tend to my mule and sheep.
and I'll tend to this knitting. will you?"
Pete shouted back. He opened his blan-
ket and began marching up to the gum
which seemed to be about the right size.
lifted the gum from the stand, wrapped
the blanket carefully around it, and re-
mounted Abednego. Sandy assisted, by ty
ing the string attached to the sheep to a
ring in the cantle of Abednego's saddle, so
as to relieve Pete's hands of the trouble of
leading. They started off at trot to
overtake the others, who had by this time
gained some distance ahead.
Popular, paternal old Gen. Alpheus S.
Williams, the loved and hOnored COM
mander of the Twentieth Corps, rode
down one of the several roads that met
on high, dry, sunny cleared space. stop
ped at the crossroads, wiped his full.
smooth face, and took a survey of the
country. He was followed by two or
| three boyish staff officers. who sprang
from their horses and drew together for
chat, as if they expected to wait there
some time for others. The Corps Com
mander remained in his saddle, either
from dignity or because he was not so
nimble in mounting and dismounting as
the youngsters, and drawing out his
glasses studied the landscape to the north
| and east. He was fine specimen of the
old public man of the West-editor.
lawyer, soldier, politician, sIdge-ever
ready and always well-equipped for any
duty that his fellOw-c;tizens might require
of him. Lieutenant-COlonel of Michi
gan regiment in .he Mexican War, militia
General and office-holder afterward, he
had promptly rallied the Democrats of his
State at the firing on Fort Sumter and
won laurels as the commander of a bri-
gade and division in the Twelfth Corps
at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancel-
lorsville and Gettysburg. Presently one
| of those for whom he was waiting rode
up on another road, tall, bearded man
with Il high forehead, and with the look
Of sternness cultivated at that time by
lawyers and politicians. He was the
Commander of the Second Division, and
had in his time played more conspicuous
and diverse parts than even Gen. Williams
himself. A Pennsylvania school teacher,
he had become civil engineer, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment in
the Mexican War, distinguishing himself
so at the attack on the City OF Mexico
that he was made Governor of the cap
| tured city, a gold-hunter of 40, and the
first Mayor of San Francisco, and for one
stormy year Governor of Kansas. He
had re-entered the army as Colonel of the
2Sth Pa. His was the nearest division to
Savannah when the rebels evacuated, and
Sherman had made him Military Governor
| of the city as, f6 years before, Gen. Scott
had set him to rule over the City Of Mex
leo.
Good morning, Gen. Geary," said the
Corps Commander, with the stately pO-
likeness due to man Of such history,
you are very prompt, as usual"
Gen. Geary returned the salutatiOn with
digniied formality, and riding up close to
Gen. Williams began an earnest conversa-
ton with him, while his Aids joined the
others out of ear-shOt.
Hello, there comes Jim Robinson"
one Of them shouted joyfully, as a tall
bearded young man Of superb physique,
riding fine large PAGER with the ease
and grace of a natural horseman, came
flying from his horses hoofs. "Hello,
Buckeye JIM"
Hello. boys: howdy?" cordially re-
sponded the gallant young commander of
the First Division, who three years before
had entered the 4th Ohio as a green
country yOungster and had fought his way
up to the one Brigadier-Generars star
the War Department allotted for the
March to the Sea to the best Colonel in
the army. He turned his horse to ride
over to the Aids and dismount, but was
checked by General Williams's stately ad-
monition:
"Gen. Robinson, you were sent for for
consultation"
Pardon me, General; I forgot" an
swered Gen. Robinson, turning his horse
toward his superiors. "Ses you later,
boys"
"Mai.-Gen. Slocum was to be here,
was he not, Gen. Williams" inquired
Gen. Geary, in his slow, measured, ora
torical way.
"Yes and there he comes now," answer
ed Gen. Williams. "You can always rely
upon Gen. Slocum being punctual to his