The National tribune., 1904-06-09

and went off with bas-and Baggage"
same as Lee left Mcclellan at Antie-
tam: and Meade at Williamsport"
Yes. but both times you had had the
which We hadn't. We wanted to even
| up for Shiloh. but Ealleck wouldn't let
| US. Then Halleck made the greatest mis-
take of his life in not marching us straight
for New Orleans or Mobile. He had
magnificent army of 10000 men. all vet
Grams by that time. and under such com
manders as Grant. Sherman, Thomas,
Buell. and Sheridan we could have gone
where We pleased. Beauregard had thrown
up the sponge and struck out for tall tim
Orleans it would have saved the vicks-
burg campaign. cut the Confederacy in
two year before it was done. and short
ened the war at least one-half."
They have drawn up to receive u.s."
said Gen. Halleck to Gen. Meade. Lets
looks as if they had some discipline left"
20, they can't have. It's impossible"
said Gen. Meade petGlantly. "An army
handled as Gen. Sherman has his, and GO
ing through such experiences must de-
generate into a mob. I've seen some Of
| them lallygagging round town here. just an
they did in the Carolinas. hunting pies and
| whisky. Their uniforms were disgrace
to any soldier. Half OF them wore more
butternut than blue. And all sorts of togs
--pine-leaf hats. broadcloth frock coats.
od-time militia uniforms. Not one of them
| appeared as a soldier should IN a city like
| this. with his shoes polished, his coat but
| toned up. L never saw such scarecrows.
| ! intended issuing an order 10 arrest all
men not in proper uniform, and put them
| in the guardhouse"
Don't think | would" said Gen. Hal
| leck. LET Gen. Sherman manage his
own men his own way. He's not in the
| best of temper now. anyway. He's very
| sore over the way his arrangement with
Joe Johnston was turned down, and he
blames me for most of it. Don't do any
| thing to aggravate him more"
But l can't have the city overrun with
| a horde of ragamuffins. What will the
people of Richmond think of the Yankee
| soldiers?'
"Well. General. 1 reckon the people of
Richmond have by this time got their
minds so well settled as to Yankee soldiers
that the appearance of few tatterdemal-
| ions will not change them. They have
all been enriched by a pretty intimate ac-
quaintance with the Yankee soldier in all
| his aspects Tisn't like it was in the be-
ginning of the war. But let's go over and
| take look at this regiment It's an In
diana regiment, l heard some one say.
Well, Indiana sent out a heap of very
| good soldiers."
The two Generals rode up the street
to the center OF the regimental line. and
faced it, with their staff disposing them
| selves in the rear.
"Present-Amsr' commanded Maj.
Bowersox.
Every gun came up In front Of the
cisely the right way. The officers drop
ped the points Of their swords, the colors
dipped and the bugles blared a sonorous
fanfaronade.
The Generals and the staff saluted.
That's one of our ragamuffin Western
Nayf,r 70 IYoI
panion. did you ever see anything done
better than that?"
THAT is quite good, indeed" answered
Gen. Meade scanning the line with the
| fastidious eye of an old regular. "Quite
good"
"Isn't it as good in every way as any
| thing in the Army of the PotomacT per-
sisted Gen. Halleck.
"Yes: / must say it is. The manual
seems perfect, the appearance of the men
| very fine. and as for the line, / never saw
anything better, except in the old Sd Artil-
| lery."
The Sd u. s. Art. was the regiment
Meade entered when he left West Point.
Major" he continued, speaking to one
| of his staff, "tell the commanding officer
| to come here. 1 want to speak to him.
Bring his officers with him."
Mai. BOwersOx marched up at the head
| of his officers. and after they had all been
| presented. Gen. Meade said:
Maj. BOwersOx, / sent for you and
your officers because / wanted to express
| to you personally my qualification at tho
appearance and discipline of your men. /
| had some misgivings about the advent OF
| Sherman's men here. but / want to say
| that l never saw better drilled or disci-
| plined men in the volunteers"
''Or Regulars either" put in Gen. Hal
| leck. "Your discipline seems as good as
| your
He was interrupted by shrill dis
| turbance on the extreme left of the regi-
| ment. where little Pete stood. Pete had,
Of course, been discussing the merits OF
| the two armies with youngsters of the
Army of the Potomac, whom he had met.
| and one drummer boy about his size. re-
senting a little too savageIy Pete's claims
that the Army of the Cumberland was the
greatest army on earth, Pete had tried TO
| pound it into him.
The affair had not gone to clean
finish. and now the drummer boy gather
| ing up some companions had come up to
bring the matter to a decisive vote.
There's the little guerrilla whelp now"
shouted the drummer boy. catching sight
of Pete standing at parade rest at the left
of the line IF you say that Bill Sher-
mans a better General than George
Meade. you're a cumming. chicken-steal-
ing little liar"
Little Pete forgot discipline at this chal-
| lenge He flung his gun to Sandy Baker
and landed blow on the drummer boys
| face. This had been expected. ard the
mix-up at once became general. Sandy
Baker could not stand still TO see his part
ner taken at odds. and jumped to his assist
ance. Then the other boys hutted in, be-
cause some Army Of the Potomac men
| were taking a hand ST and Shorty We're
having all they could do to prevent the
row spreading, for there were many East
| ern men around, who felt that il it was
| squabble between the two sections they
should take their share.
Maj. Bowersox's face grew red with
confusion.
| 'rm very sorry. General" he began.
| "You deserve all the compliments ! have
| given you as to your drill and discipline.
Disciplined regiments" laughed Gen.
Meade good naturedly as he rode off.
20. such things will happen in the best
am sorry that can't stay TO see whether
my champion whips Billy Sherman.s or
not I'd like to see il out"
(To be continued)
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