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

Therefore riding in the WORKOUT, shack
ling cars had much the exhaustion of q
journey over a corduroy road in the old
fashioned stagec0aches.
Huh, | begin to think there's much
worse ways of going somewhere than hoof-
ing it along the road carrying your own
artillery, ordnance supplies, bed-clothes
aud family groceries" grumbled Shorty,
as the train bumped along through the
darkness, the crazy old cars creaking and
grooming Us if about to tear themselves
apart. If it wasn't for the girls, and
walk the rest of the way"
1T feels as if the road was running
crosswiSe of the Mountains sulkily re-
| turned his partner. And humping against
the Lookout palisades at every rod. Won
der how far it is yet to Richmond? They
was only 20 miles. Taking our ups and
downs, it seems to me we have come
about 100 miles since then. What do you
say to getting off at the next town. stay
lug all night at the tavern, and walking
into Richmond in the cool of the morn
ing:"'
| riding on Il free pass for the first time in
my life. and I'll go on to the end. if il
unjoints me. Some of these days. though.
III come down here and pay my fare over
this Old road. and I'll haste it from Wash
broken bones every time we pass n
switch"
Here. what's making that horse buck
SOP yelled 81, trying to infuse some jolli-
ty into the situation, as the engine ran off
the track for at least the dozenth time.
and piled them all together between the
seats. Who put chestnut burr under
the saddle? I'll break his neck if can find
him"
lyon call this railroad" muttered
Maria with sleepy crOssncss. as she eXtri-
Gated herself from the heap. and helped
in mind Of the time l went riding on
Pap's wood-sled. and the oxen ran away
through the stony woods lot"
This old train" remarked the Adju-
tant, with unfailing good humor. rs they
settled themselves down again. reminds
me of the poets description of the wreck
of 4 canal boat:
"'Sie heaved and sot, and sot and heaved
And high her rudder flung.
But every time she heaved and sot,
A wusser leak she sprung"
"Well, if I've kept my geography on
straight. we are % or 80 miles from Rich
mond. We are running-if it can be called
rlnning-on the old road from Richmond
TO Fredericksburg. one of the main AFTER
les of the late unlamented Southern Con-
slabs last year. Grant was doing some
heavy knocking off himself, right in this
neighbOrhOOd, while we were punching
around at Joe Johnstons fifth rib down
there in the mountains of Georgia. We
have made q big circle around to reach
Gordonsvile, and are only % or 80 miles
south Of Fredericksburg, and the battle
fields of Fredericksburg. Charlottesville,
Salem Nights, the Wilderness, Spotsylva-
MIA. and so on. Phil Sheridan got in a lot
of fine work along this road, while Grant
and Lee were making the country up
above n continuous graveyard for about
of making stern chases after the rebel
cavalry, and pulling his own men together,
he gave Jeb Stuart something else to think
about than our wagons. by cutting around
behind Lees army, and striking for Rich
mond."
Great idea, that, of Phil Sheridan's,"
remarked 81, waking up at the mention Of
the great cavalry leader. Phil had head
as long as q watermelon. He was brought
up and educated in the Army of the Cum
berland."
make his count?' asked Shorty. mo use
asking. though He always did. That was
the kind OF hair-pin Phil Sheridan was"
Indeed he did" answered the Adjutant.
eff there was ever a man square onto his
job. it was n certain red-headed Mick
named Sheridan. But it was about as
tickl;sh business as playing jackstraws
with rattlesnake to piroute around in
this little neck of woods. with a trail of
cavalry 10 miles long. with Lees army on
one side. the garrison Of Richmond OIL the
other. and Stnart's cavalry coming in on
the flank