Middletown transcript., 1911-12-16

DILlCeESb kFhS Win QusJ LEOu LQelE All
night service, were riding madly along
the curb, while at the rear Of our men
just debouching from one Of the sidG
streets appeared the solid front Of 8
division of infantry. We had barely
time TO swing into the saddles Of the
two horses awaiting us. and ride swift
" to the head OF our command, WheE
the short, stern orders rolled along
the motionless line OF troopers, and
the long, silent column swung out tc
the northWard, the feet Of the horses
raising a thick cloud of red dust
which fairly enYeloped us in its chok
ing folds.
With the ardor of young manhood ]
looked forward to the coming battle,
when knew the mighty armies OF
North and South would once again
contest for the fertile Shenandoah. II
was to be American pitted against
American, struggle ever worthy Of
the gods. Slowly rode back down
the files Of my men, marking their
alignment and accoutrements with
practised eye, smiling grimly as I
noted their eager faces, war-worn and
bronzed by exposure, yet terminated
by hope of active service. AS I
watched them thus, thought again
of those many other faces who once
rode as these men did now, but who
had died for duty even as these also
might yet be called upon to die. One
hundred and three strong, gay in
bright new uniforms, with unstained
banner kissing the breeze above our
proud young heads, we rode hopeful
ly forth from Charlottesville scarce
three years before, untried, undis-
ciplined, unknown, to place our lives
willingly upon the scared altar Of our
native State. What speechless years
Of horror those had been; what his
tory we had written with our
naked steel; what scenes of
suffering and death lay along that
bloody path we travelled! To-day,
down the same red road, our eyes still
set grimly to the northward, our flag
torn and ragged remnant, barely
forty men wore the "D' between the
crossed sabres on their slouched
brown hats, in spite of all recruiting.
The cheer in my heart was for the
living; the tear in my eye was for
the dead.
Colgate" I said graYely, as I
ranged up beside him at the rear of
the troop, "the men look exceedingly
well, and do not appear to have suf-
fered greatly because OF short ra-
tions."
"0h, the lads are always in fine
fettle when they expect a fight" he
answered, his own eyes dancing as he
swept them over that straight line Of
backs in his front. They'll scrap the
better for being a bit hungry,-It
makes them savage. Beats all, Cap
tain, what foolish notions some Of
those people on the other side have
Of us Southerners. They seem to
think we are entirely different from
themselves; yet I reckon 1t would puz-
zle any recruiting officer up yonder
to show a finer lot Of fighting men
than those fellows ahead there"
rode slowly forward to my own
position at the head of the troop. As
| swung my horse into our accustomed
position was too deeply buried in |
iSfleetton to be clearly conscious of /
@uch that was occurring about me.
uddSnly, however, became aware
that some one, nearly obscured by the
snveloplng cloud Of dust, was riding /
without the column, in an independ-
eace Of military discipline not to be
permitted. In the state Of mind was
then in this discovery strangely ir.
ritated me:
Sergeant" l questioned sharply, Of
The raw-boned trooper at the end Of
he first platoon, what fellow Is that
riding out yonder?"
Its thsr pesky little cuss as come
n with ye yesterday, sir" he returned
With a grin: He's conHscated muel
'omewhar an says he's a goin' back
lum long O. we uns."
Curious to learn how Jed had
from his arduous adventures,
spurred my horse alongside of him.
Fhe little man, bending forward
Iubiously, as If fearful of accident,
vas riding bareback on a gaunt, long
egged mule, which, judging from all
'utward appearances, must have been
ONE discarded asset Of the quarter
masters department.
Going home, jedi" asked, as he
lanced up and saw me.
"Jist as durn quick as / kin git
har," he returned emphatically. "By
un, Cap. amt bin way from Mariar
ong as this afore in twelve year.
leckon she thinks I've skedaddled fer
ood this time. an Ill be a takin'
p with some other male critter lest
git back thar mighty sudden. Won.
MS odd, Cap, durn nigh as ornary
'out some things as a muel."
He eyed his mount critically.
burned If ever / thought I'd git
straddle O. any four-legged critter
gin" he said, rubbing himself as If
sudden and painful recollection of
le past. But sortsr picked up this
ere muel down ct ther corral, an he's
W durn wore out q totin' things fer
ou uns ter ever move often a walk.
sorter reckon it's heap easier a
ttin' yere than ter take it afut all
Ter way ter ther nountings."
It was long after dark the second
" when, thoroughly wearied, we 4
Irned into an old tobacco field and 1
ade camp for the night. TO right
I'd left Of our position slowed the
leery fires, teing where Early's
'mmand bivouaeked in line o9 battle.
rom the low range of hills in front ).
where we rested one could look =
ross an intervening valley, and see :
r off to the northwaFd the dim
ines Which marked the position Of 5,
9 enemy Down In the mysterious
rkness between. divided only by a
y4@& j