The National tribune., 1903-10-29

rebel cavalry ana the COnscr1peoHo, until
We got strong enough to fsht them. and
march our men right into camp"
Great scheme. That's the way those
tennessee regiments were organized"
Precisely. Well, We found horses and
got across the Chattahoochee all right, and
made our way over toward the mountains
without any trouble from the rebel cav.
airy. and Larry and I struck out for Q
cove in the Kenesaw Range in Harrison
County, where Sandbreaker-that was bis
name-was sure We could gather In Q
lot Of layers-out The rest Of the boys
went of to the southeast into Carroll
County. We stopped by a spring in .
hidden place, up on the side of the noun.
tain. to eat dinner, and Sandbreaker gave
three peculiar blasts on a conch-shell he
took out Of a hollow tree. We made q
tire to boil our coffee. and before we had
finished our dinner about 10 Of as shaggy
lot of rascals as l ever saw had gath
cred around US. In answer to Sandbreak.
er's signal. They were all heavily armed.
Some had Yankee guns and accouter-
nents: some had rebel, and when they
saw there were only two Of Us. they be-
gan to put on airs. We hau each seven.
shooting Spencers we had borrowed from
the cavalry, and cavalry revolver. and
| felt glad TINT we were so well heeled,
for the crowd wasn't one that looked as IL
it could have had Sunday school training.
If these are prosecuted, long-suffering
men it must be on account Of their looks
| said to myself, I'D hate to have to de-
fend one of those faces before a jury
l noticed that Sandbreaker did not seem
rieased at the appearance Of the first
man, and he wasn't cordial to the second.
l recOllected afterward that he lost ap-
petite for his dinner. and began to edge
away and try to make signals to me.
Larry and I spoke to each one pleas.
| sntly as he came up. and they answered
| shortly with word or two, which didn't
sstonish me, for the mountaineers don't
taik much before strangers. They seemed
surprised that there were only two of US.
| and after four or Eve Of them came in they
began acting queerly. We noticed them
giving each other significant looks. and
they weren't civil We had offered Q
| 'hare Of our rations. They gulped down
all Of our coffee. and then wanted US to
| make them some more Larry and I
didn't like their tones, and We kept to-
gether, and our hands on our carbines. We
gave them some coffee, aud told them to
| make it themselves. The last man to
come up was low-set, black-bearded man,
with face to scare bear-does. He seemed
to DO the leader. They were evidently
waiting for him. and Sandbreaker looked
| actually scared. As soon as he had come
and looked Us over. two OF them plucked
him BY the sleeve and walked of with
him little ways. and talked in q way
intended for Us not to hear. He came
back and looked US over again scowiingly.
"WhatfOr gun Is that you're totin',
YankT he asked, reaching for my carbine.
That's Spencer-eight-shoote
it up on Sunday and shoot all week I
answered, holding fast to it.
Hits monty queer-lOoking weepon.
Let me see hit he said, still reaching for
No. sir; that gun never leaves my
hand to no man, when I'm ont Of camp
] said decidedly. This Is not the sign Of
the moon when a sensible man lets any.
body else handle his gum
He growled little. and then thinking
that I'd say something to bring about q
iivelier feeling ! remarked:
Well. gentlemen. let's give three
cheers for the Union. Hip-Hip-Hoo-
ray
Not hang-dog one of them uttered Q
sound.
II looked at them with great astonish-
ment.
".BIast the Union. Blast the Confed.
eracy. Blast 'em BOTH said the black
bearded man. What's pore man got to
do with either O. themY
Why. I thought you'd come here to
enlist in the Union army said
More fool you.' growled the black.
bearded man. 'We'uns haint jumped the
Confedrit camps to run into the Yankee
corrals. by jug-full. We'uns haiot
foutin' for the Niger neither way nor
fother. We'uns air for we'una selves,
we'uns air. Hits none o. we'uns fuss
whether the rich men keep their nigrers
or the Aboltionists git them away from
EN- Pore mems got to look out for their
selves in this world. and an that's what
we'uns ia a-gwine to do. Yank and Con.
fed ia all the same to we'uns, If the'uns
has got anything We 'uns need. That's our
gospel
"'Then you don't want to join tho
Union armyr asked.
Not for minute. No army Of any
kind in our'n- The Confedrit army is hell
for a pore man. an the Yankee army u
a blamed sight wuss We'uns haint no
truck with either o them. excent to mike
what we'nns can often both. They 'uns 3
both rnbbin' the pore man. an SOS every
body else who kin. an we'uns Is tryin' to
git even'
"T.ook here, Sandhreaker.' I yelled at
the guide. whats this outfit you've stack.
ed Us up against? A gang OF rebel DESERT
ers ard rohhers?'
'.Sandbreaker. who had been edging of
toward his horse. made a gesture of de-
spair. and mounting disappeared in the
bushes down the mountain-side.
" See here. youngster.' said the man
wirh the black heard 'thar's no use o.
wasting words. 'We-uns done heared that
20 'uns had come into the settlement. and
rode over to see you'uEs, and what yo'uns
had Hit don't seem to be mnrh but
yo'uns is likely young fellers. en- If yo'uus
keer TO iine rs. an share an share alike
with we'uns. pony mp what yo'uns we done
got an we'nns II all start fair an sguar
FL yo'urs don't we'uns II jest natcherally
feed yO'uns to the buzzards. Speak quick,
for we'uns We got no time for to lose
Every blackguard of them lowered his
gun to cover US Go to the fiery biaZes'
Larry and I yelled. jumping back to the
heech trees behind which our horses were
tied. and levelins our carbines. Won see
rou up to your necks in the middle kettle
FIRST. Drop those guns, you robbing.
apiece. and Wen make carrion of you be-
fore you can pull trigger
"'And Oi'll make my beginning on you,
r0u sooty-muZZled SHAWN of Onld Nick
said Larry. showing his carbire in the face
Of the black-benrded man. by the tonne
Oi Imply this gun into that swat head Of
yours, your foive sinses will be scattered
over the County
"'IIold on said the man with the black
heard. irving to back out of the range Of
Larry's Spencer. Don't he SO fast Let's
talk this over little
"'Halt there commanded Larry If
Won move another stem hefN-e ordering