The National tribune., 1904-06-23

II notice she's got steam up. all
right" answered Shorty. a little sulkily,
"but l can't somehow notice where she is
about to start for. 'Tain't painted on her
any place.
"Well, Smarty, she is going to Wash
ington. That's the only place that yes
sells leaving here now can go to. She will
leave in an hour or two, as soon as a not
of Congressman and big officials and their
wives can be gotten aboard"
"You must be a clairvoyant. to see all
those things from here, Adjutant," said
Shorty.
There you go again. Smarty," re-
sponded the Adjutant good-humoredly.
L can see some distance beyond the end
of my nose, in which | differ markedly
from some members of Co. Q. whom
could mention. | can see some things Of
which | have been told. but which are
out of sight, as clearly as if they were
before me. That is why the 2O0th Ind.
has had such an unsurpassed Adjutant.
and been pioted out of SO many difficult
| ties. Excuse my mOdesty, but verify he
who bloweth not his own horn the same
shall not be blown. But to return to our
narrative. as c. F. r. James would say
Let us go back to the hotel. get your
things, and drive down to that boat.
know some of the officers. and can get
yOu state-roOms. The steamer will reach
Washington tomorrow afternoon or even
ing, you can take your wives back TO yonr
| clearinghouse. and the next morning
you-Si and Shorty-can take the Balti-
more boat down the river. stop at Aqua
Greek landing. take the little military rail-
road that runs from there to Falmouth
opposite Fredericksburg. meet US there
and march with us back to Washington
Fredericksburg is just halfway between
here and Washington"
What head you have for strategy.
dIf1fa mt -aI lfnI
''Such genius as yours is wasted in max
ing up the regimental reports and re-
turns
Yes. Gen. Sherman has often said
sadly that he got acquainted with me too
Late said the Adjutant modestly. Il
differently on the Atlanta Campaign"
There are Others, remarked the
Major.
Maria and Annabel accepted the COM
promise. ard they and their husbands
were soon in comfortable staterOOms on
the steamer. which began threading her
way down the James, between wrecks of
the Confederate navy. burned and blown
up when Richmond was evacuated.
At the bottom of the long. wide, open
stretch in the river. which had been the
harbor in which the Confederate navy
rode at anchor, they came on the right
to an abrupt, high-rising bluff Scared
by heavy works of every species Of mill
tary engineering. The Notifications were
by far the most extensive and elaborate
that the boys had seen. They greatly sur
passed even those around Atlanta, which
had been thought to be n marvel of de-
fensve engineering. Farther down. on
the left-hand side, or north bank of the
James. was another steep bluff, with an
equally extensive and intricate series of
heavy works.
A group of well-dressed ladies and gem
tlemen. among whom were several field
and general officers in uniform. occupied
the stern of the steamer. and studied the
country through which they were passing.
Some Of the officers We're pointing out the
places of interest, and explaining the
operations which had taken place around
them.
Si and Shorty and their wives We're
seated about the middle Of the deck. with
the girls talking together of the multitude
of things which concern women alone,
while, their husbands were scanning the
scenery with the interest that veterans
feel in great battlefelds.
"And all them works, Shorty. weren't
put up for Fourth Of July" said ST.
reading the signs with praetieed eyes.
"They were needed. aud badly needed. in
the business of the men who built them.
and the devil seems to have been to pay
quite often all around them. See. the
rusty pieces of shells ever there makes
it look like an old brick yard. Must've
been lively fighting around there"
'sYes. and often" answered his partner.
E"Proba bly, with the gunboats pitching i'm.
as this IS the water-foad to Richmond II
wonder what they call these plaeess
Wish tue AdiutaRt were here. He'd know
all abaut etheni."
THAT place over there on the right
Sergeant. said a tall, fine-looking man
who WAS. passing, sis Drewry's Bluff,
with Fert Darling. on the crest. and a
long fine of forts stretching of clear to
Petersburg. That below there. on the
other side, is Chapn's Bluff, with Fort