Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
heDrummerB Boy A1arum

An army lay sleeping or, the tumbled land
around Chattanooga oaIhe moon was full.
but fell through fleecyi white vapor. and
lighted the camps but vaguely with diff
fused radiance. ID
The white tents cleaned out OF the OBJ
scure shadow Of valleys, and dark masses
of horses and rows of itommissariat wagons
showed as anomalous humps and splotches
of darker masses on the banks OF the deep.
silent river which had the mystery Of
death. -
The picket line extended in q wide, irregu-
lar semicircle for miles. Behind the pick
cts lay the skrmshers entrenched. rolled
in their blankets, their muskets beside
them.
In one Of the tents we'll to the van Of the
army drummer boy lay wide awake-a
young. slender, imaginative lad, who had
been IN camp but a few days. and who
hungered to be soldier, not a drum beater.
He longed to handle guns. To play rat-tat-
tat was childish.
He tossed restlessly about for long
time. and at last mastered by a desire.
arose ard looked out on the camp. No one
stirring and the stacked arms proved
irresistible. He dressed and went out eau
tiously and stood erect in the shadow of
small oak. near the first stand of muskets.
Gaining courage he cautiously took a gun
from it's fellows and sat down to look at it
by the moonlight.
1t seemed as if he were man already 9
he handled the gun. He would have
marched up and down with it. only he was
a little afraid some one might See him and
order him to bed.
1t was marvelously still and beautiful
and solemn, If the army had been reab-
sorbed into mother earth again. The boy
II.
across his lap he sat and listened with beat
ing heart.
If only they would .et him march in the
ranks tomorrow.
Suddenly the cooked hammer of his gun
fell. ard the flash and its report stunned
him for moment. 1t seemed as loud as
cannon shot. and rolled away into the still
air like the crack of DOOM
For three beats Of his heart the lad lis
tened to the ochoes bounding from the hills
and stabbing the perfect stiffness of the
night Ike aSSassins.
Then scared picket fired an answering
shot. Another sxcitab,e answered it: then
a third, farther away. With a flash of de
fensive inspiration the boy replaced the
gun and scurried into his tent and lay lis
tenirg like fugitive rabbit. A wild.
hoarse. taroaty voice arose. captains
voice:
Company X. fall in, fall in, fall in
there
y drummer ha.f asleep. seized his drum
and began the long roll. that terrible snarl
that brings the sleeping soldier to his feet
as if by lightning stroke.
Dim forms arose like phantoms. Officers
ca led and raced to and fro between the
tents.
The whole picket line seemed to be firing
The skirmi>hers took it up ike watch dogs
On winter farms. and passed the alarm
along in drowsy thoughtlessress.
Drum after drum took up the wild call.
The still beautiful night palpitated with
he "a ted
r. girnenta! bEgleS added heir wild sweet
r.v"ille ard their voices ran over the hills
ia :Eter. fainter, far into the valley.
''FaI in
''FaI in
''Fa in
Commands and queries ran along the regi-
m ntai camps down the valley and over the
hills. Before each group of tents squads
of soldiers formed in Inc with marvellous
CELEBRITY.
Old war horses Weighed as shadowy troop
ers flung rafting saddles over them. The
c,ank of accouterments was heard all
sides. The hCarse far shouting Of men to
horses ran back to the river. where the
wagon trains lay encamped
And still the bug;ss called and the drum
me-s played on. With roll after roll of
SnarlirS drums. with buyles echoing bugle s.
mile after mile of rana.d and ready men.
the army rose. Their rise like the
waking of the nations on resurrection
morn. 1t was majestic, it was terrible.
Tn. boy lying there shuidered with hor-
and grew rigid with 1t st e:ned
that the et.d of the word had come sudden
ly- without warning Oh. it was grand
and terrible.
Tn TIE firing on the picket lire began
II Gle away. The skirmish line also woke
to its folly.
ore by ore the near drums ceased their
si!. ut ard the distant calls seemed but
echoes. sleepy ard ocular.