Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-03
CHAPTER |.
NO MANS LAND.

i was the tWeUlloln Oh august,
eighteen hundred and sixty-two
Corinth had been evacuated more
- than two months before. The ar
my of the Ohio had moved east
ward into northern Alabama. The
president and eminent Union generals
were anxious as to east Tennessee,
where, it was rumored. the COnfeder-
ates were preparing for some new
move
High in the Cumberland mountains
soldier in the blue and yellow uniform
of a private of cavalry sat on his
horse looking down on the valleys of
the SeQuatchie and the Tennessee. A
carbine was slung over his shoulder;
Colts revolver was at his hip. He
was long and 1.-THE and graceful. About
him was an air Of refinement seldom
found under a prvate's uniform ex-
cept during that war which called out
men from all classes, both In the
north and in the south. His hair was
light, his blue eye was restless and
denoted its possessor to be a man Of
great mental and physical activity.
AS the soldier gaZed down upon the
expansive view different expressions
fitted across his face. At one moment
there was serious look, such as men
wear on the eve of battle; at another a
shrinking expression: then dreamy
one. He saw territory that lay beyond
the Union lines He wondered what
warlike scenes were hidden down there
within the blending of rocks and rivers
and undulations, lying calm and sweet
before him that summer afternoon.
Were clusters Of white tents there?
Were brigades. divisions. army corps
marching?
Now he thought he could hear a dis
tant creaking Of caissons and gun car
riageS. But he knew this could not be.
If they were there, they were too far
to be heard. The sounds never became
real The young mans fancies were
always broken by the actual rustic of
the leaves or some sound from the
furred or feathered inha bitants Of the
mountains.
the previous evening came up before
him.
He stood in the presence of general
of division-the finest specimen of phys
ical Splendor of all the generals of the
Union army-one who was a year later
to achieve the title Of 1.-The Rock of
Chickamauga." The general was speak
ing while his subordinate was listen
ing respectfully and attentively.
IL am ordered by the department
commander to find out what is going
on at Chattanooga. Our reconnoiter-
ing parties have thus far brought lis
nothing except that there is no enemy
very near We are liable to be fianked
and cut off from east Tennessee. See
here"' He turned to a map spread
out on a pine table. Here is Chatta-
nooga: here the Sequatchie valley; up
here to the north is Knoxville. held
by General Kirby Smith for the Con
federates. Here is Cumberland gap.
II the enemy is concentrating at Chat
tanooga. he may not only hold 1t
against a greatly superior force. but
can march right along here"-he traced
the route with his fnger-'form s
juncture with General Smith at Knox
vile. and into Kentucky. Louisville
and Cincinnati will be in danger. For
rest and Morgan are hammering at
our communications: we get reports of
immense forces of the enemy at Knox
vile; everything points TO this or some
similar plan of campaign on the part
of the Confederates. If so. they must
be concentrating at Chattanooga as
point of rendezvous"
The general paused: then looking the
soldier in the eye said impressively:
You are the only man to whom |
can intrust so important a mission.
can't order you. as you know. beyond
our lines. except in uniform Go as
far as you dare as soldier; | leave
the rest to you VIII you undertake