The Marshall republican., 1911-08-24
CHAPTER I.
NO MANS LAND.

ttkutctu uuuuFtu uuu biNtystWO.
Corinth had been evacuated more
- than two months before. The ar.
my of the Ohio had moved east.
ward Into northern Alabama. The
president md eminent Union generals
were anxious rs "a east Tennessee.
where. Il was rumored. the Confeder.
ntes were preparing for some new
move
High Ia the Cumberland mountains d
soldier IN the blue and y.ii"w uniform
Of u private OF cavalry snt ON his
horse looking down on the valleys VI
the SeQuntchie aud the Tennessee. A
cnrbine was slung over his shoulder:
a Colts revolver was nt his hip lie
was long aud 1.-THE and graceful. About
him WINS mn mir OF refinement seldom
found under a %prlvnic's uniform cx'
cept during TINT wal which called out
men from NIL classes. both IN the
north and In tho south. His hair wns
light. ILLS blue eye wns restless aud
denoted it, l'OSSessor 10 he n mnn Of
grent mental aud physical activity.
An the soldier gnxed down upon the
expansive view different expressions
fitted across his fnce. AZ one moment
there was q serious look. such rs men
wear on the eve OF battle: nt another n
shrinking expression: then u dreamy
n lie saw territory that lay beyond
the Union lines. lie wondered what
wariike scenes were hidden down there
within the blending OF rocks and rivers
and fluctuations. lying calm and sweet
before him that summer afternoon.
Were clusters Of white tents there?
Were brigndes. divisions. army corps
marchings
Now he thought he could hear q dis,
tant creaklng Of caissonr ana gun cur
riages. Hut he knew this could not be.
II they were there. they were too far
to be heard. The sounds never became
real. The young mans fnncies were
always broken by the actual rustic OF
tho leaves " some sound FROM the
furred or f~eaihered Inhabitants Of the
mountains.
Then a 9 he had passed through
the previous evening came up before
him.
He stood IN the presence OF a general
Of divislon-th finest specimen OF phys.
zeal splendor OF nil the generals Of the
Unien army-one who was n year later
TO achieve the title OF the Rock of
Chlckamauga." The general was speak
Ing while his subordinate was listen
ing respectfully and attentively.
II am ordered by the department
commander TO hnd out what Is going
on at Chattanooga. Our reconnoiter-
ing parties have thus FAR brought US
nothing except that there Is no enemy
very near. We are liable to be nanked
and cut or from east Tennessee. See
here" He turned to a map spread
out on a pine table. "Here Is Chatta-
nooga; here the s~equatchie valley; up
here to the north IL Knoxville. held
by General Kirby Smith for the Con.
federates. Here ~ Cumberland gap.
II the enemy Is concentrating Mt Chat
tanooga. he may not only hold II
against a greatly superior force. but
can march right along here"--he traced
the route with his inger-"form a
juncture with General Smith at Knox
willie, and into Kentucky. Louisville
and Cincinnati win be In danger. For.
rest and Morgan are hammerins at
U communications; we get reports OF
immense forces OF the enemy at Knox
willie; everything points 10 this OF some
similar plan Of campaign on the part
Of tho Confederates. II 50. they must
30 concentrating at Cbattanocga a. a
point Of ~rsndesvous."
Ths general paused; then looking the
soldier n the ere said ~imprsseivelys
'You are the only mar to whous ]
cor lntrust - important aemissions ]
can't ord1e yoGs ss&yo9 knosT beVond
lour liness exepp)aio' upAfDeus 90 -
or - ~ vdopo, 49, eea6lsrs ] loave
~ ~ tssysus Wu yos undorfnh1