The National tribune., 1904-06-16

piled up his men 50 On Snodgrass Hill that
ne took the cars back for Richmond,
where he could lead a quiet life"
"Chickamauga. What was Chicka
Western events as Pete was of Eastern.
Some fracas over cOmmissary train.
You fellows ont in de back woods couldn't
snap a cap without writin' a report about
it. The Second Corps done more hard
fightin' dan any other in the whole army;
killed more rebels, and lost more men,"
IF you could only whip rebels with
your mouth you'd be a terror" retorted
Pete. 1--WE couldn't do it that way out
West. The Fourteenth Corps had to shoot
them. Why don't you go on and claim
Grant? We had TO send you Grant to
learn you how to fight, and we was afraid
Sherman would have to come, too"
"Yes. and you ought to've kept Grant at
home with you. He was only i'm the way
here. We'd've got along a heap better
without him. AS for Bill Sherman, it was
lucky for him that he didn't come, and
find out how small taters he was alongside
o George G. Meade"
Pete could stand depreciation of Gen
Grant but never that of Gen. Sherman.
Meade bigger man than Billy Sherman?
There goes that cordurOyed mouth of yours
again. Why, every time that Billy Sher-
man goes into barber shop the barber
man than George Meade"
Skinny Mclaughlin had never before
held so long discussion without a fight,
and it seemed that the time was ripe for
his favorite rejOinder, which was a light
ming right handler for Pete's head Under
Shorty's able training Pete had become as
skillful as the best with his fists, and he
not only countered quite neatly, but landed
quite effective one on Skinny's cheek.
which rather made the graduate from the
coal mines open his eyes
Say. cullies. de chump knows some
| thing bout putin up his daddles.' re-
| marked Skinny, beginning to remove some
of his clothes preparatory to a more seri-
Gus encounter than he had contemplated
"Jes hold my cap an blouse, Straddles,
an I'll polish him off before his daddy's
calf can bawl twice"
| A passing provost squad stopped the
| fight and scattered the crowd Pete heard
his regimental bugle calling, and ran back
| to fall into line.
Gathering his crowd about him, the un-
satisfied Skinny had followed him up to
| teach the impudent Western kid a con-
vincing. lesson as to speaking disrespect-
fully or the Second Corps and its achieve
ments.
The fight followed which had disturbed
| the 2OOth Ind.'s fawless review. Si and
Shorty had managed TO separate the coz
batants and restore order by the time the
| Generals had ridden on, the Adjutant had
dismissed the review, and be and Maj
BowersOx had come raging down the line
to find and punish those guilty of the out
rage upon the-regiment's high reputation
for discipline.
BY the time the Major and Adjutant
reached that flank ST and Shorty had Pete
back into line, with Sandy Baker. ALI Rus
seA. Harry Joslyn and Monty Scruggs,
ranged alongside of him, and confronted
two PAGES away by Skinny Mclaughlin
and "de gang"
All had suffered more or less in the
fracas, but Pete's putting eve was well
matched by Skinnys streaming nose and
swelling mouth.
Say. cullies, dem Western geezers amt
sich slouches, after all, remarked Skinny,
as he and his companions repaired dam
ages and made ready to renew the fight.
Dey're no one-rounders and we've got to
jump dem agin. OATS de Second Corps
way. Dey mustn't think dey kin stand off
de Second Corps. Dey've got to say dey
amt deuce high to de Second Corps an
DAT Billy sherman amt fit to be George
Meade's Orderly"
OATS big job" said the boy whose
teeth Sandy Baker had loosened., but de
Second Corps is good for it." -
what in the world does all this mean ?"
angrily demanded Maj. Bowersox stridiny
down. sword in hand.
Merely little tiff, sir, among the boys
as to the two armies, reported 81. Its
all settled"
!. "Istood every thing, sir, until he begun
slamming Gen. Sherman" explained Pete.
Then l handed him a little one. can
lick any gutter-snipe that eyer lived who
says word agin Uncle Billy"
He doubled up his fists again, at the
memory. and would have reopened hos
tiiities but for Sis restraining hand.
He begun it by thumpn' de Second
Corps" explained Skinny. "Hancock's
-Corps-wat whipped Pickett at Gettys-
burg, and took Johnson at Spotsylvania.
I'll welt de stuffin' outen any corn-tassei
chump wat says de Second Corps amt de |
greatest corps dat ever drawed hardtack"
His dists were already doubled, and he |
would have jumped Pete had not New |
Jersey Sergeant held him back. !