The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-12-28

biOhn anu FNOCheb y DdtJohiob dio
with us; did not learn who went out
with McDaniel's. Longstreet has
crossed the White Briar."
Yes, l know" l said, drawing on
the last Of my equipments, and quick
ly glancing about to assure myself I
had overlooked nothing likely to be
OF value. "All ready, Jack, and now
for another dance OF death"
Our regiment was drawn up in the
square of the little town, and as we
came forth into the glorious sunlight,
the stentorian voice of the Colonel
called them into column Of fours. Staff
officers, gray with dust from their all
night service, we're riding madly along
the curb, while at the rear Of our men,
just debouching from one Of the side
streets appeared the solid front of
division of infantry. We had barely
time to swing into the saddles of the
two horses awaiting US, and ride swift
ly to the head Of our command, when
the short, stern orders rolled along
the motionless line of troopers, and
the long, silent column swung out to
the northward, the feet Of the horses
raising thick cloud of red dust
which fairly enveloped 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, a 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
noted their eager faces, war-worn and
bronzed by exposure, yet terminated
by hope of active service. AS
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 3D. 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 gravely, 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." ..
"Oh, 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 scrapsthe
better for being 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 l reckon II 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
reflection to be clearly conscious OF
much that was occurring about me.
| Suddenly however, | became aware
that some one. nearly obscured by the
enveloping cloud of dust, was riding
without the column, in an independ-
ence Of military discipline not to be
permitted. In the state Of mind was
then in this discovery strangely ir-
ritated me.
Sergeant" questioned sharply, of
the raw-boned trooper at the end of
the first platoon, what fellow Is that
riding out yonder?'
ITS ther pesky little cuss as come
In with ye yesterday, sir" he returned
with grin He's confiscated muel
somewhar an says he's a goin' back
hum long o. we uns."
Curious to learn how Jed had
emerged from his arduous adventures,
! spurred my horse alongside of him.
The little man, bending forward
dubiously, as If fearful of accident,
was riding bareback on gaunt, long
legged mule, which, judging from all
outward appearances, must have been
some discarded asset of the quarter
masters department.
Going home, jedi" / asked, as he
glanced up and saw me.
"Jist as durn quick as | kin git
thar" ha raturnpd emDhaticallV "Ry