The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-07-21

road, TO be fooiing around so.
At every derisive yell from the bank
above they got more savagely angry, and
plunged around more frantically to release
their wagon.
Monty Scruggs swore loudly at the total
deprayity of a country which had mud
holes without any fences near to furnish
rails for prizes.
medical or surgical remedy available, stood
at one side, looking on despairingly.
Harry JoslyN, covered with mud and
with face bleeding. was lining IN the COM
pany for another effort, which promised re-
suits.
Sandy Baker had gotten the ak out OF
the wagon. and was cutting his way
through the entangling cat-briar, with Pete
pulling the briars out of his way as he cut
toward hickory, which he proposed I'd
fell and use as pry. The fiendish vines
swung around them in every way. tors
their hands, faces. ears and necks, but the
boys worked on. Like the rest, they were
now too mad TO care much what happened
TO them.
We've got to come to it. boys" said thu
AdJutant, taking in the situation. Get
out the picket rope. and I'll bring back the
regiment to haul on the line"
The regiment, astonished at this require
ment away up there in that country, tool
hold OF the rope with the unanmity of Ions
practice, and with an altogether pull
snaked'' the wagon out of the quagmire
From the looks of the road ahead, the
Major decided that they had better hold
onto the rope until they had gotten the
wagon clear across the bottom, and onto
the high ground
To think of such a road within 10 miles
of Richmond" he said to the Adiutant
The Army of the Potomac had a harder
time than any of us thought"
The regiments behind had tried to take
ADVANTAGE nj nd = IN
pass on TO one side, and gain the lead. but
the barrier of cat-briar prevented any such
Ranking as could have been done through
the laurel of the Georgia mountains, and
the regiment pushed on so vigorously that
it led the column into camp that evening
at Hanover Courthouse, Is miles from
Richmond.
Its spirit was undated by its labors,
and the next morning it was in line bright
and early to lead off in crossing the Pa
munkey.
.'Confound il all. the pontoon's busted"
reported Little Pete, who had made pre-
liminary scout out TO the river. while they
were waiting for the bugle." The river is
up, bank full, and running like q mill-race
and the drift wood has broken the pontoons
apart. in spite of all they can do"
They all lighted their pipes and walked
struggling energetically, profaneiy, with the
booming current.
Some were trying to get boats into place
TO refill the gap made in the center some
were wading around near the shore, fas-
tening lines, and dropping anchors to hold
the line more firmly. some were on the
bridge with iron-shod poles, trying to catch
the logs and pull them over to where they
would pass between the boats. Some
were out in boats catching the largest
pieces, and steering them in shore where
they could be fastened The current was
so powerful that these boats would get
| away from the oarsmen and pole-men in
| spite OF their efforts. and come crashing
against the bridge, when there would be q
furious interchange of angry explosives and
comments from all hands-oficers and men
Everybody was wet to the skin and covered
with slime, for everybody had been under
| water more than once and everybody was
as savage as meat-ax.
On the bank were couple of groups
! working to resuscitate two pontoniers,
who had been under water too long.
Monty and the rest of the boys still too
| sore from their efforts with the wagon the
day before. to want to lend helping hand,
watched the operations in the river q while
and the resuscitators until the men began
to show signs of returning life, and then
| their old foraging instincts revived.
Say boys, they can't possibly get that
bridge fixed for a couple of hours" said
Monty Scruggs. Il never saw drift run
so. Where in the world does it all come
from. | wonder? Let's float out into the
country. little ways, and see if we can
find some chickens and early potatoes. I've
got money. Well buy them.s
Shall We take our guns along" in
quired Pete.
Cert" answered Harry Josyln. "a SOL
der should always have his gun with him
out of camp. I'm not sure that these
people are so blamed peaceful and friendly
thn Noan fv,Ec Avxr hos Ao
peacefuller and friendlier if We have our
guns"
Seems to me l have noticed that my
self" said Monty Scruggs. reaching for his
gun. Come on boys"
They went out a couple of miles along
road leading up the river. Everything
had been swept away by the foragers of
the contending armies. Even the fencerails
and outbuldings had been burned, and it
seemed useless to go farther.
They heard the faint blows of an ak
coming from where thick woods were still
standing in a creek valley, ahead and to
their right.
There seems to be somebody working
down there said Pete. Lets go there.
Mebbe they can tell us where we can find
something"
Through force of habit they moved quiet
~ and cautiously forward, through a dense
growth of sumach bordering the path, and
or eight men in an open space where stood
an old saw-mill. They were busly en-
Gagged in rolling the saw-logs and other
stuff they could find into the creek. where
they would float down against the bridge.
Two were chopping at the roots of a
sycamore overhanging the creek.
Cit her down. boys" shouted the lead
er encouragingly. 'That1l carry heap
o truck with it. and so everastingly bust
their ole bridge that they never kin fix
hit"
The men were so deeply engrossed in
their work that they did not notice the
boys, who crept up to within 80 yards of
them.
Here. stop that at once" shouted Monty
Scruggs. Hold up your hands and march
over here. every one of you. or We'll blow
your heads off"
"Same ole Yanks. Same ole talk" said
the leader promptly hold 'ng up his hands.
Alters around interfering with folks /
thought they'd quit medding when the war
was over"
Get around there in front of us. and
start up that path" commanded Monty
with leveled gun. Don't anv one try to
get away. or off goes his head"
What do you mean. By such actions"
sternly demanded Maj Bowersox. when the
ol he