The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-11-10

Bonny Blue Flag
What regiment air thet arr" asked
Marx of a soldier standing beside him
putting at a rank cigar.
Eighth Tennessee"
"Whar they all come from?"
"Tupelo. Come from thar m'self a
spell ago."
"Whar y goen?"
"Only old Bragg knows. and he won't
tell. Reckon we're goen moth to Knox
vile ter foller tn two brigades ez
went up a spell ago."
what troops air all these hyar and
them ez Is comen"
"Waal, thar's Cheatham's and With
ers' divisions. and | reckon Anderson's.
saw Gineral Polk today, n they say
Hardee's hyar. I'm In the Twenty
fourth Tennessee m'self. and thet's
Cheatham's. Lays cavalry brigade is
hyar. That's all the cavalry l knows
on"
Mark was amazed. A large south
ern force was concentrating at Chatta-
nooga, and perhaps they would pour
into Tennessee or Kentucky by one Of
the routes pointed out to him by his
general. 1t was Il splendid plan. pro-
vided the general who was to execute
ii could keep his enemy from knowing
his intGntions long enough to throw
an army on his flank or rear.
Then in making a circuit of the town
Mark was impressed with the natural
strength Of the position. He gazed
over the plain eastward. his eyes rest
ing OF Missionary ridge. but did not
dream of the soldiers battle destined
to take place there Il year later, when
the men Of the Army of the Cumber-
land, disregarding the plans of their
superiors, would start from the bottom
Of that mountain and defeat an enemy
pouring shot and shell down upon
them from the top.
why didn't our generals occupy this
place when they could?" sighed Mark.
Now 1t is too late"
While it was evident to Mark that
the enemy were concentrating for 4
nov against the Union lines, there
was nothing to indicate where they
would strike except the mention of the
two brigadcs as having gone to Knox
vile. He knew that they might strike
any one Of several points from Battle
Greek to Knoxville. and eagerly sought
for some indication where it would be.
He strolled about with Jakey all the
afternoon. the two sufficiently resem.
bling country pumpkins to avoid sus.
Mark went inside the tent. where an
officer was writing at a pine table.
Cap" he said. ~ ben thinker I'd
like ter jine the army"
you're just the man We want.
You've got plenty Of bone and muscle.
! should reckon you'd beer In the
ranks afore this"
"Waal, I don't want ter fight outen
my state + I can help it."
what state"
Tennessee"
II reckon you'n have a chance to
fight in 1t II you join the army"
Reckon So"
"Yas; I'm recruiten fur Cheatham's
division. Thar all Tennessee rige-
ments in our division except the ar:il-
iery n a rigement O. Georgia and one
O. Texas infantry"
"Whar is yer division"
ACROSS the river. At Dallas or Poe's;
" har up thar. Y better let me
put yer down fur my rigement, the
til Tennessee"
II mought hev to 60 way down
south"
mo fear O that jest now"
What makes y calclate on I'll"
There's two divisions across now
BURN and Withers'. Y don't reckon
their goen ter cross the river fur the
purpose o. marchen south. do ""
"Oh, l don't know nothen about mill
tary."
WAL. will you join u.s."
"Ef v reckon ali the sojers here Is
goen to fight in old Tennessee l reck-
on I will. The abolition army hez over.
run our state. n l want ter see EN-
driv out"
The way to do 1t. my good man, Is
to take a musket and help"
do " reckon this what we're goen
ter doT
Il tell you that two divisions are al
ready across and l happen to know
that ali the transportation in the shape
Of ears aud locomotives that can be
found are bein corraled hyar fur a
further movement. Come. now. my
man. stop taken and take yer place
whar We oughter be. What's yer
name?"
The oficer took up a pen.
"Ali right. cap. count me in. I'll jest
SO n git my bundle and be back hyar
in half an hour"
The captain hesitated. Mark began
to fear that he was thinking Of using
force rather than let SO promising Il
recruit so.
Are you sure you'll come back?"
"Sarten. cap"
Mark moved away. and it was not