The National tribune., 1902-01-09
By CAPT. FREE S. B0WLEY.
COPYRIGHT 1902, BY THE PUBLISHERS OF
THE NATIONAL Tribune.

sTT
ing down upon u long line of soldiers Il
army blue. The T6th,# regiment o
Western Massachusetts men, were ieaS
ing their first camp in the State Tor IN
front. They were awkwardly manaSin:
their big knapsacks and trying to look a
if they could handle themselves with east
and comfort in their new military harness
but the red, pcrspiring faces belled then
attempts. The heavy knapsacks sasSe'
backward the canteGns swung around II
front, the bayOnet scabbards persisted IL
coming around to meet the canteenS, ant
each cartridge box dragged down as If L
would strike the heels Of its wearer; the
bright, new Springfield rifles were heavy
and slippery. \ lump was in the throat
of nearly every man; tears courSed doWl
the cheeks of many.
In the rear of the line were the fathers
mothers, wives, SweetheartS, relatives anC
friends of the departing soldiers tear
stained. sobbing, sOber-faCed crowd. Ar
old Irish woman, lamenting her sons de
parture, shrieked and walled: "Ah-roo
Ah-roo! Ah-roow but no one smiled; hel
noisy grief was sincere.
In the rear rank, on the right of the
sixth company, designated H, only
three or four files away from the coiorS
was man of 10 years. He was tail
raw-boned, with a big, red mustache and
very red hair. His face and hands were
covered with freckles, and he had a
square-set Jaw that gave his $face a bull
dog expression; his eyes were large and
expressive, with way CT shading brown
or black, according to the emotions OF
their owner.
In the front rank of the second platoon
of the same company was young. boy
ish-looking soldier, barely 1S He had the
red hair and brown-black eyes of the man
in the rear rank on the right, also the
,1,,4a sar1- hrrt
head was higher than that of
the older man, and his face was
more intelligent. Anyone would have
guessed that they were father and son,
and probably would have said that the
son was very much superior to the father:
The soldiers friends had gathered rs
near to the rear rank as the line Of file
closers permitted. An old clergyman was
talking to a handsome young Sergeant,
saying: 1T grieyes me greatly that you
have not finished your course and been
regularly ordained; but there may be
great field for Gods work in the army.
He knows what is best God bless and
protect you, my boy" and the old minis
ter turned away.
The command. Attention. battalionw
rang out, and the men Strengthened up.
by platoons--right wheel-marchi"
commanded the Colonel, and the regiment
broke into columns, wheeling awkwardiy,
breaking in the center, and crowding each
other in spite of all the efforts OF their
officers to steady them.
As the platoons halted for alignment,
sweet-faced, p1ainiy-dresSed woman sprung
from the crowd and throwing her arms
around the neck of the red-haired man OF
the right of Co. Ii, kissed ham passionate
ly, saying: 'Oh, Jim, remember, for my
sake, remember
.'Yes, Mary, yes" he answered huskily,
and the woman turned 10 look for some
one else. The change of formation in the
company had confused her, and she failed
to see the one for whom she was looking.
She ciasped her hands in anguish, moan
ing, when a beautiful girl of 10, with blue
eyes and heavy brown curis, ran 10 her,
saying: Here he is; this way, Mrs.
Wright" and taking her hand, led her to
the, right of the second platoon. She
rushed TO the boy soldier, and he clasped
her in his arms, regardless of the break
it made in the alignment.
''Oh, Jack" she said, you Will watch
over him anG protect him, won't you?
Don't desert him, even if he does disgrace
you, Jack; promise me, my boy; promise
me-
''Yes, mother, I'll do all that l can.
GOod-by, mother, good-by," and he kissed
her and started, for the column was
marching. The mother stood, white-faced
and fearless; her sorrow was too deep for
tears.
The pretty girl ran along by the side
of the column. "Good-by, Jack, gO0d-by;
come back with shouldei-str:tus,' she
cried out gaiiy.
Would you care, Katie?" hc called out
quickly. The girl blushed and made no
answer, but Dade SoOd-by to others of her
acquaintance The Irish mother shlicked
and walled afresh; the old minister had
dropped on his knees and was praying fer
yently.
The regiment passed over the hill to
where a train WAS awaiting them: there
were cheers from the spectators; the flies
and drums were playing The Girl Left
Behind Me hEtterlng OF haudkerchicfS,
and the Goth was gone; alas, many, very
Inany of them would never return.
For proper understanding OF events,
IT IS necessary TO 20 back Tor a period OF
six weeks previous to the departure OF
the 18th.
President Lincoln had issued a call for
Three Hundred Thousand More" and a
town meeting had been held in the little
village Of Walnut Meadows TO procure
the necessary - recruits. that being the
quota Of that town. The citizens had
readily voted that each volunteer should
be paid bounty of $500; State aid, a
small sum. was promised to the family of
each soldier.
The enlistment roll was produced, but
no one seemed to be IN a hurry to accent
the very liberal offer. TIE Selectmeu had
made patriotic speeches, and the Noder-
atOr had hOuriShed the muSter-ron and
demanded time and again: WHO will
have the honor 10 first sign the roll!" !
None seemed to care for the chances OF
travel and promotion" The good min /
lister had eXhoIted. calling on the men to
night for the affairs Of their foreIatlcrs. |
even though they wadcd through bloody
seas and perished in garments rolled in
blood The eNhortation of the kind old
man had fallen like a wet blanket upou
his hearers. The reference to garments,
rolled in blood" took the gilt edge off the
SZOO bait, and brought to mind some of
the suffering wounded who had returned
from the Summer battles
In every little town there is ALWAYS one
or more families who are not admitted TO
fuli fellowship in society. Walnut Mead |
oWs was no exception 10 the general rule !
The black sheep in this case was James
Wright known as Old Jim Wright"
the red-haired man previously referred 10.
lie had rowing, shiftless disposition. a
great SIN IN the eyes Of the frugal New
Englanders He had crossed the plains
10 California in the days Of 40, made
money, and returned to spend It. The
Pixies Peak rush was the cause nf
second Western trip. He had made
more money and returned and speut that
4 small farm in his Nife'S name was all
that was left Of the goOdly sums that
he had brought from the West IL WAS
common report that he had led a wild
ilfe on the plains: certain il was thar
when ne was under the influence Of liq-
HsNa 1