The National tribune., 1904-06-09


point of his sword to the ground, and re-
ported to Maj. Bowersox:
"Sr, the battalion is formed
Maj. BOwersOx replied:
Take your place. sir"
The Adjutant meekly sheathed his
to the rear and left of the commanding
officer.
Garry arms! Order-Arms! Parade
Restw commanded Maj. Bowersox.
Then he walked down the line with the
Adjutant, and explained to the officers
that he had received word Of the ap-
proach of Mai. Halleck, at one time
United States. and Maj j.-Gen. Meade. the
Commander of the Army Of the Potomac,
and had turned out the regiment to re-
ceive them.
"Say, Mr.. Adjutant, you're not going
to keep the boys with the regiment, are
you? begged Annabel piteously, as the
Major and Adjutant came down near
them, and the Adjutant separated little
from his commanding officer, SO that she
thought there was an opportunity to speak
to him. "We can't get along without
them"
"No, indeed You tell them to come
hets hete is sad Maria decidedly i US 0acA % the
"Yes, tell 'em to come right back.
Please do," begged Annabel
Fright off-at once" Maria demanded.
'sThere's no telling what foolish notions
they'll get into their heads if they stay
there among them awful men. Order
them right back. please"
II can't give any orders. said the Ad-
jutant teasingly. II haven't anything to
sHow can you say that?" asked Maria,
hotly. I'VE just saw you bossing the
whole outfit. Everybody. jumped when
you spoke. and they minded you down to
the least thing-everyone of them. We
II was bossing il until !. turned over
the battalion to the Major" answered the
Adjutant '"Then took big reef in
myself. You ought to have noticed it.
1t was big enough. certainly: Nothing
comes up to the tumble an Adjutant takes
"Wen, if had command once 1
wouldn't give Il up." snapped Maria.
"Go, please, and take It back. and order
wifi and 81 to leave the ranks and come
"Hardly," answered the Adjutant, with
q shrug. "I'm willing to do almost any
thing to oblige you, ladies' but buck up
against the o. s. Army Regulations. The
Regulations give g Major a. great big
bulge over a First Lieutenant"
"I think you're just as hateful as You
CdH De, dHSWoIeu nuuuDci. All u SOu'
Si included"
81 wish I could catch Wills eye," said
Maria. "I'd fetch him out of there mighty
quick"
The Adtutant broke off the discussion
to hasten back to the Majors side, for
the bugle called "Attention." The Cen
erals were coming.
At the head of cavalcade Of young
staff officers, brilliantly uniformed, ac-
cording to the last letter of the Regula-
tions, rode two more plainly-attired. mid
dle-aged men, both with the double stars
Of Major rGeuerals.
The one on the right was tall, un-
usually thin, zspectacled man, with FULL
heavy, black beard already beginning to
streak with gray. and thinning dark hair
His eyes were full and thoughtful, and
his face refined, highbred, but deeply fur
rowed with the mountainous cares which
had weighed upon him since he had as
sumed the command Of the Army Of the
Potomac just before the battle of Gettys-
burg. He looked the intense, nervous, un-
flinchingly resolute and daring soldier, and
the prudent, far-seeing commander that
Geo. G.. Meade showed himself to be
throughout his career
.is companion was q much larger,
heavier man. with broad, cleanly-
shaven face large, protruding eyes, q wide
mouth and full lips. While he wore the
uniform, he was much less carefully
dressed than Gen. Meade, and might have
been taken for q Chaplain OF regiment.
While Gen. Meade looked the soldier, ev-
cry inch Of him, Gen. Halieck appeared
more like Q good. kindly Methodist cir
Quit rider In uniform. and hA sat his horse