Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-24
lery n a rigement O. Georgia and one
o. Texas infantry"
sGVUbo, ie 80, 5I-;1;ox,


"Whar Is yer division?"
Across the river. At Dallas or Poe's:
somewhat up thar. Y better let me
put yer down fur my rigement. the
til Tennessee
Il mought hev to go way down
south"
NO fear o that jest now"
What makes y cal'clate on TT"
There's two divisions across now
ourn and Withers'. Y don't reckon
their goen ter cross the river fur the
purpose o marchen south, do ""
'Oh, don't know nothen about mill
tary."
WAL. will you join us?'
EFF y reckon all the sojers here is
goen to fight in old Tennessee 1 reck-
on will The abolition army hez over
run our state. n l want ter see 'em
driv out"
THE way to do it, my good man. is
to take musket and help"
do We reckon this what we're goen
ter do?"
81 tell you that two divisions are al
ready across, and l happen to know
that all the transportation in the shape
of cars and locomotives that can be
found are bein corraled hyar fur
further movement. Come, now. my
man. stop talken and take yer place
whar We oughter be. What's yer
nameT
The officer took up a pen.
"All right cap, count me in. I'll jest
go n git my bundle and be back hyar
in half an sour
The captain hesitated. Mark began
to fear that he was thinking of using
force rather than let so promising
recruit go
Are you sure you'll come back?"
"Sarten, cap"
Mark moved away. and it was not
until he had got out Of sight that he
realized be had run great risk, for
he saw that the captain would have
detained him had he not believed in
his sincerity about enlisting.
Mark went straight to the hotel and
paid his bill. He feared the recruiting
officer might send for him or have him
followed. so without waiting to eat his
supper he made package of his pur-
chases. Jakey took his gun and slung
his powder and shot flask over his
shoulder. Then the two left the hotel
to begin an attempt to leave Chatta-
nooga. Their stay had been only from
sunrise to sunset, but Mark had gained
all the information he was likely to
acquire and was anxious to get away
with it. True he did not know where
the enemy would strike, but this he
would not be likely to learn.
Going down to the ferryboat they
found a boat which had all it could do
to carry the soldiers and citizens who
were crossing Mark thought he would
try what assurance would do in get
ting across without a pass. He found
the guard more watchful than he ex
pected.
Cant y pass me n my leetle broth
er, lieutenant? he asked. 1--WE ben
dozen some traden in Chattanooga and
want ter git home. We ben buyen
some caliker for the women folks"
"Od Bragg himself couldn't go over
without a pass" responded the officer.
'Whar mought l git one" asked
| Mark
"At headquarters, l reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered
/ + ho Of TO
ters and asking for pass, but re-
garded this course fraught with too
much risk He determined to make an
attempt to get out Of town and across
the river by the route over which he
| had entered. He knew the ground by
this route, and that was a great advan-
tage If he could steal his way be-
yond the picket he could doubtless find
a method Of crossing. Perhaps he
might make his way down the river
and across to Shell mound, or. still
lower. to the mouth Of Battle creek,
held by the Union forces.
Mark skirted the town on the west,
and then took course directly south
till he came to the railroad This he
followed to a point near where he had
bivouacked the night before. Crawling
to a rise in the ground and motioning
Jakey to keep back. he laid down on
his stomach to make a survey.
1t was nearly dark. SilhOuettes of
figures were passing between him and
a campfire beside the railroad track.
Beyond. the palisades of Lookout
mountain stood out boldly against q
streak Of twilight in the west. Be
tween the track and the river was an
open space. over which he must pass
to get by the picket. The river bank
would afford some protection. Near
where he was it was steep, and the
current set directly against it. but
lower down by the picket there APP
peared to be places where a man
could walk under the low bluff.
The moon was about quarters
full, and the night was clear except
for clouds that would float lazily over
Lookout mountain and across the
/ moons face so that at times her light