The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28

mountain sides. With the rain and mud
shoes were quickly worn out and many
were hare-footed while others made foot
wear from rawhiGes and coffee sacks
Trousers were frayed far up the legs
mud-soaked coats were buttonless and ou1
at the elbows. But cartridge-boxes Were
always full.
Tie Confederate army crossed the Ten
nessec at Bridgeport, burning the railway
bridges behind them, thinking themselves
secure from further trouble. But they
knew not the pluck of the men from the
Northwest, who. going into forests. rap
Idly prepared the materials for crossing.
Canoes by the hundred were dug out of
sweet-gum logs, trestle timbers were
hewn. and men and mules hauled them
to the river bank by the hundreds. For
miles about buildings were torn down and
the lumber brought to the point for plank
ing the bridge to be built, upon which the
clothing. ammunition and guns were to be
placed when the right time came.
Upon the opposite side of the river the
tents OF the Confederates, like chips upon
the shoulders of the great mountains, were
waiting to be Knocked off.
spatter of musket balls, harmless
play, for distance lent safety to the view;
until, one early Summer morning. the
gum-tree canoes came silently out of their
hiding in the woods, the RATS of chestnut
rails floated out of the creeks, behind each
in each canoe, two to shoot, if necessary,
the other to paddle, and quickly they
doated away from shore in six-mile
current across the half-mile stream. There
came no alarm but the night birds as they
fluttered in the canebrakes that lined the
shore. Behind the trees 'the boys in
gray" were quietly doing about the picket
post fires, until the men from Michigan.
Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin came out
Of the water, seized their guns from the
RATS, rushed up the bank with shouts that
walked the oak girdlings standing mutely
dead in the cornfelds just beyond.
1t was bloodless victory. The john
MES at sight of the marble statues that
eprang from behind tree and bush. in the
dim cold gray morning, thought the devil
had arrived to take hand in the war.
A few old gray blankets much infested
with graybacks, a few old muskets, bat
tered canteens and fryingpans. relics we
cared not to own. Everything on legs had
vanished and gone to the other shore.
Then came the building of the combined
trestle and pontoon bridge, that followed
the ups and downs of the river bottom
a crazy affair. Yet on this bridge passed
the vast trains and the thousands of men
to fight in the woods of Chickamauga; and
yet / never think of the man who passed
over on the bridge. IT'S the fellow who
went over behind the RATS and in the
gum-tree canoes that makes my heart rise
up in my throat I see his anxious face.
just peeping above the water, his eyes
eagerly seeking the danger he knows lies
hidden along the banks. Were they shiv-
ering with cold or just thinking of the lit
tie home away in the North, where quietly
sleeping were the loved ones?
One of these fellows said an hour after
the sun was up. as the coffee was steam
ing over the Goals, Captain, / didn't feel
a - bit scared until just as / touched
the bank. Then as reached for my gun
the raft ran under some bushes and a big
black water snake dropped off branch
plumb on my bare back. bit my tongue
to keep from yelling, while the cold cuss
OF reptile slid along by back. down be-
tween my legs into the water. Then l cut
my bare feet on the clam shells on the
beach, and the first. jump after getting
my arms In nettles. 'Gee-whiz.' how they
did burn! By that time I was so -
mad could eat live Louisiana Tiger or
q fullblood Texas Ranger"
Then few days to build the bridge
across the branches of the great river and
the army advanced against the mountains.
Many miles Of heavily-laden armv wag-
0ns. requiring a small army of fankers
for protection against the enemy's cavalry.
and the countless bushwhackers Of the
country. calling for constant vigilance on
did the soldiers pull at the wheels. pull at
the ropes up the mountainside and going
down the other side hold back the wheels
and steady the wagons and gun carriages,
over cliffs and down ravines, covered with
dpst. suffering agOnies of heat and thirst.
oh HAL at ,Srh% ~A14-
rains. living on scant rations Of bread and
meat.
SUNNY PLACES.
But every here and there the soldiers
found sunny places. Turning a point on
upon narrow, deep gorge that barred the
;Way. The smoking timbers of bridge
fallen deep down among the rocks were
the evidences of retreating foe. At first
glance it seemed job for the bridge
builders and days Of delay to the Four
teenth Corps; but here is another trail
following the bank, suddenly ending in a
Erist mill, set in between the cliffs that
filled the space. except at one side, where
b rushing stream Of foaming waters went
headlong over giant overshot wheel
Here, with its great top timbers just
above the level of the banks, was ground
The corn Of all the nearby country, corn
for homes and corn for whisky; but there
was grist of neither kind. for the Johnnies
had been there ahead Of us, leaving only
faint smell from empty kegs and tubs
tantalizing the invaders Of all this Area.
dian happiness.
The great wheel with mossgrown brack
cts turned lazily in the Summer sun, tie
honey bees drowsed sleepily In the azaleas
while the miller sat On a nearby bench
IN the shade. whiting out Of piece OF
cedar wooden leg for himself. On that
New Years Day at Stone River this
Georgian stepped in front Of six FOUNDER
Ind one leg went off with the she'll The
Surgeon tied up the mangled stump a.
best he knew how and put him on a fla,
Car for Bridgeport.
There he was met by his wife and eigh'
children with a mule. The shadow Of hi.
former self, he was "toted critterback,'
Along the trail to the old mill In the gorge
Now, months afterwards, having neve
met up with a real bone doctor, he sa
kontentediy In the shade growing a new
leg, on which he has carved muskets. ,
Parrott gun and sabers and guns, witt
shells flying about. and In colors, eth
ktars and bars" ever loyal to the LOS
Far below. along the mountain trail
the rumble Of heavy trains warned the ad
Sance guard that work must be done, an,
With quick Western wit they were at ii
Trees were felled and from fhe cfon