The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
holding Aggregation Of Young Wolverines into Splendid
Regiment.
By CAPT. c. E. BELKNAP, zlst Mich.

honey-bees were in their honeymoon. filling
stones.
In fact, Mollie's father lived in Paradise
until the war of secession came that way
and Paradise was lost" He was a
Union man. as nearly all mountaineers
were, and his home became the resting
place of other Unionists refugeeing from
East Tennessee and North Georgia, on
guide he became not only famous, but
the Confederate authorities called him a
traitor, and sent many parties for his cap
ture. One day there was fight; some of
the Confederate press gang were buried
in the same grave with Mollies father in
diers came that way, sometimes in blue,
but oftener in gray. The shoats and
chickens went the way of all flesh, the
bean poles burned we'll in camp fires, and
the bee gums were turned wrong end up.
Then Mollie became the guide. and many
is the man that blessed the mountain girl
that trailed them along the tangled paths,
down through the Gulf" that place where
the Maker of the Universe let slip cog
and tumbed section of the ridge up end
wise; wild jangle of ravines, caverns,
ridges and cliffs, for the homes of bears,
cats and rattlesnakes but that's another
story. The end had come: with all mule,
old and broken down, could tote, MOllie
and the mother found shelter in an ADAM
dOned cabin on the Point, where they
earned bread and meat doing laundry for
the soldiers of the camp. The terrors of
war had not robbed her hair of the golden
tints that cleaned in the morning sun
shine, and her cheeks were as rosy as the
mountain sunset in the west. Her eyes
were the reflection of wild woods spring
of pure water, and her form, clad in scant
al cul ntn
could desire And her feet at home they
were bathed in the morning dews as she
chased the COWS out of the corn and the
sun went behind cloud to blush as she
climbed the fence to feed the pigs. limo
cent of the wicked ways of men, charmed
by the brass buttons of the soldiers, she
was willing to join the army. And Dad
he padded his chest with the Majors army
blanket. boiled his only shirt in a camp
kettle. with plenty of salt, and buttoned
his blouse up high as it was drying on 4
bush by the riverside. He soaped his neck
and ears and got trusted for a shave over
in another regiment; then, greasing his
hair and his boots, he went out to swing
on Mollie's gate. He made a favorable
impression: 1t was a good maxim in the
army. When you get 'em on the run,
keep 'em agoin," and he didn't give the
girl chance to see another fellow But,
with his chum, Andy, to personate the
Chaplain, he went to the home on the
Point, and this was the nearest Andy ever
came to being Christian. except the time
he had the job of shingling the steeple on
the new church at Brenica.
Early in the war he engineered a six
mule team, but he became so profane that
the shoes melted off their feet, they say
Then he was reduced to the ranks and
never again jerked lead line. The solemn
look Andy Wore when they arrived at
ny -
Methodist minister the morning after
a donation party; and there and then that
morning Mollie and Dad were married,
for three months-or during the war"
Andy thought it joke too good to keep.
and when it got to the Captains ears.
great snakes there was a time. He
had mother. sister and sweetheart up
IN Michigan, and revered all womankind
Dad and Andy came in under guard
| don't just remember all the Captain said
but there is living proof that the air was
full OF sulphur, the leaves dropped off
the trees. and the bark curled up in rolls.
while the water in the mud holes sizzled
under the shower. When the storm ratified
by. the Captain. with Dad and regular
praying minister, marched away to
Mollie's house and undid the ceremony of
the brevet chaplain: and. Mollie standing
by the great. open fireplace, under wreaths
of dried pumpkins and strings of red pep
pers. that hung from rafters overhead, was
Joined for life, and not for three months.
The Captain kissed the bride, the same
fee the Chaplain received.
The war went on. Mollie washed on.
Dad marched on, until the Spring of 90
Then Dad. with 10 months pay in his
pocket. left Sherman's army at Washing
ton, and back to Tennessee as fast as
cars could go. He found Mollie. and TO-
gether they have gone down the trail.
Dads legs getting thinner every year and
Mollie's golden hair turning to gray. But
if there is another war, their sons and
grandsons could fill up good company
Ito be continued.)