The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-09-22
CHAPTER /.
NO MANS LAND.

eighteen nuuufeu II Sixty | NO
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 a
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:
q 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 %private'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
denoted Its possessOr to be a man Ut
great mental and physical activity.
As the soldier gazed down upon the
expansive view different expressions
fitted cross his face. At one moment
there was a serious look. such as men
wear OF the eve of battle: at another q
shrinking expression: then a 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 undnlations. lying calm and sweet
before him that summer afternoon
Were clusters Of white tents there:
Were brigades. divisions. army corps
marching?
Now be thought he could hear a dis
tant creaking Of caissons and gun car
riages. But he knew this could not be.
IL they we're there. they were too far
to b heard. The sounds never became
real. The young mans fancies were
always broken BY the actual rustic Of
furred or f~eathercd Inhabitants OF the
mountains.
Then q scene he had passed through
the previous evening came up before
him.
he stood In the presence of a general
or division the finest specimen OF phys
tcal splendor Of all the generals Of the
Union army who was a year later
70 achieve the title OF 1.-THE Rock Of
Chickamausa.r The general was speak
ing while his subordinate was listen
ing respectfully aud uttcntivety.
II am ordered by the department
commander to tind ont what il going
on ut Chattanooga. Our r~ec0nnOiter-
ing parties have thus far brought us
nothing except that there is no enemy
very near. We are liable to be fianked
aud cut Oh from east Tennessee. See
herer He turned to a map spread
III on a pine table. Here Is Chatta-
nooga: here the Sequatchie valley; up
here to the north II Knoxville. held
By General Kirby Smith for the Con-
federates. Here is Cumberland gap
II the enemy Is concentrating at Chat
tanooga. be may not only hold It
against a greatly superior force. but
can march right along here"-he traced
the route with his f~inger-:form a
&A4A~ ~ HEuCld 0Alilu ut AuOA
willie. 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
willie; everything points to this or some
similar plan Of campaign on the part
Of the Confederates. II SO. they must
~ concentFating At Chattanooga as q
point ~ rendezvous"
Tho eenerais paused: then looking the
soldier u the eye said impressively:
ssXou aro ~ only mi to whom
60 lntrnst - Important : mission l
eonit oe6es -. - 90 know. beyond
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