Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER xxI.--consInusd.

C1RP EH NNls--Ionfinued.
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 re American pitted against
American. a struggle ever worthy oil
the gods. Slowly rode back down
the files Of my men, marking theiI
alignment and accoutrements Will
ptsctised eye. smiling grimiy as
noted their eager faces. war.worn and
hronzed by exposure. yet reanima.ed
by hope OF active service. AS
watched them thus. thought again
II 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 fnd three strong, gay in
bright new uniforms. with unstained
banner kissing the breeze above our
proud young heads. we rode hopeful
l. forth from Charlottesville scarce
three years before. untried, undis.
ciplined. unknown. to place our liver
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 stili
set grimly 10 the northward. our flag
a torn and ragged rosmant barely
forty men wore the ID between the
crossed sabres on their slouched
brown hats, In spite OF all recruiting.
The cheer 10 my heart was for the
living: the tear in my eye was for
the dead.
Colgate" said gravely. es Z
ranged up beside him at the rear Of
the troop. the men ook exceedingly
well. and do not appear 10 have sur.
Tered greatly because of short ra-
tons
Oh, The lads are always in fine
fettie when they expect a fight" he
answered. his own eyes dancing as he
swept them over that straight line Of
backs lie his front. They'll scrap the
better for being bit hungry. lit
makes them savage, Beats all. Cap
tain. wat foolish notions some of
those people on the other side have
OF us Southerners, They seem 10
think We are entirely different from
themselves. yet reckon Il would puz
zle any recruiting officer up yonder
10 show finer lot OF fighting men
ahan those fellows Ahead thuse.
rode Slowly forward to my own
position at the lead 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 ohscured by the
enveloping cloud OF dust. wss riding
without the column. in an independ.
euce Of military discipline not 10 be
permitted. In the state of mind | was
tnen In this discovery strangely ir.
ritated me
Sergeant" I questioned sharply. Of
the raw-boned trooper at the end of
the first p atoon, what ftslow is that
riding out yonder?'
ITS thef pesky little cnss as come
in with ye yesterday. sir" be returned
with grin He's conflscated a muel
somewhat an says he's a goin back
hum long o we uns,"
Curious to learn how Jed had
emerged from his arduoas adventures.
] spurred my horse alongside of him.
The little man. bending forward
obviously. as II fearful OF accident,
was riding bareback or 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 aud saw me,
"Jlst as durn quick ms / kin git
thar" he returned emphatically. by
gum. Cap, amt bin way from Marian
long as this sfore in twelve year
Reckon she thinks I've skedaddled fer
good this time. al IN be a takin'
up with some other mals critter lest
] git bseK thar mighty sudden. Won.
ems odd. Cap. iurn nigh as ornAry
bout some things as muel.-
He eyed his mount critically
burned IL ever l thought Id git
astraddle o. any four-legged critter
agin." he said, rubbing himself as II
I'm sudden and painful recollection OF
the past. But sort picked up this
we're mnel down et Their corral. an he's
tew durn wore out totin' things fer
you uns ter ever move often a walk
sorter. reckon it's heap easier &
ulttin yere than ter take ii afut al
Their way ter thes lountings.
It was long after dark the second
day waen. thoroughly wearied. va
nI-s-sd into ar old tobacco fled ant