The National tribune., 1903-07-09

| toons swung across the vaulted space, all
exhaling a sweet, fresh fragrance that
densely filled the air. making it almost
cloyingly heavy. The entrance was a
great arch of gay-colored flowers,
with "Shorty" and Maria worked out
in large letters, with the great, waxy-
white flowers Of the cabbage magnolias.
Hearts, Cupd's darts and wedding rings
were wrought out in tasteful combina-
tions of bright hues, and 60. Q, 200th
Ind. Inf. Vols" was blazoned in the red
dcst flowers that could be found. Under
the direction of the Chaplain of the Kan
kakees, who fully entered into the spirit
of the thing, and whom the Deacon found
! to be 4 very genial, sOldierly fellow, in
spite of his robes, the boys had impro-
vised an altar out of boxes, and covered
| it with flags. A great garrison flag be-
hind the altar, stretched its full length and
breadth, formed the end of the church.
A floor was laid in front of the altar, and
upon this spread a new white wall-tent
fly" for the wedding party to stand on.
The battery boys, anxious to contribute,
brought up the red blankets they had just
drawn, and laid them for scarlet path,
over which the bride could walk to the al
tar.
The presence Of the Adiutant was i'm
mediately felt. His dandyism-which the
men duullEet. dS lntJ ulu III
genuine soldier-eXtended from his per-
sonal appearance to that of the appear
ance and discipline of the regiment. He
could get results in this direction which
no other man in the regiment could, and
he proceeded to get them. The idea of
the wedding captured his susceptible
fancy-thc more readily as he was look
ing forward to a like proceeding in which
he would have a deep personal interest
and he decided at once to assist at it, and
at the same time bring the regiment back
to the standard he had maintained for it
| when in peaceful camp.
An order at once issued from headquar-
ters to every Captain to carefully inspect
his company, and prepare it for grand re-
view and inspection, drawing everything
necessary to put his men in the best pos
sible shape.
Never had the boys prepared for re-
view more willingly. 1t was arranged that
the regiment should attend the wedding
in body. without arms. and the review
and inspection take place in the after
noon.
The brigade band, glorious rs the morn.
in uniforms braided wherever braid could
be twirled and twined. new silver instru
ments, with a Drum Major six feet fouc
inches high and weighing 225 pounds, but
who looked as if he were 10 feet high and
weighed n ton, came out on shady,
grassy knoll, and played all the merry airs
which attuned with the moods of the boys,
cheering. as they formed without arms,
to march out for preliminary inspec-
ton.
But the bands splendor. and even that
of the Drum Major, faded when the bright
sun of the Adjutant's radiance shone upon
the scene, as he strobe out from his tent
to form the battalion.
1t was evident that he had spent much
Of his convalescence in New York in in
vestigating the military fnery in the
shops, which had at that time reached its
highest bloom, and nothing had escaped
which would add splendOr to his appear
ance. The boys had been crushed into
dumb admiration by his marvels of dress
at Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, during
their long stays at those places, but it was
nothing to this.
Some of them retained composure
enough to call for smoked glass, to save
their eyes from the magnifcence, but most
Of them, after the first startle, broke into
loud applause. The Adjutant's dandyism
had become as much a part of the regi-
ment as its official designation, and far
from wanting any abatement of it, they
gloried in it, and were tickled to the
hearts core at any fresh manifestation.
The Adjutant realized this, and 'heaped
on style" far more for them than for any
body or anything else.
Attention, Battalion he sang out, in
that clear, ringing voice which it did them
all good to hear once more in command.
fright dress!. Come out in the center,
there. Back there on the left! Close up
there, with your company, Capt. COOmbes
Forward there in the center little more
Steady! Back more on the LETT. Steady!
Move lively. What's the matter with you
fellows, anyway2 Been hoeing- corn since
l left? Don't be all day forming a decent
line. You're worse than the 1st Ky. Cav.
Straighten out all the along the line.