The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-01-04
CHAPTER xxl.--continued.

with re1nforcementS to join Early.
CHAPTER xxl.--Contnued
81 With the ardor of young manhood l
looked forward to the coming battle.
when ! knew the mighty armies of
North and South would once again
contest for the fertile Shenandoah. 1t
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, warworn and
Eronzed 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
hunGred end three strong, gay in
bright new uniforms. with unstained
banner kissing the breeze above our
proud young heads, we rode hopeful-
" 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 speeches. years
of horror these had been; what his
tory we had written with our
naked steelS 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
a torn and ragged remnant. barely
forty men wore the 3D. between the
crossed sabres on their slouched
, brown hats. in, spite of allgrecruiting
The cheer in my heart was for the
living; the tear in my eye ~was for
1.-The dead.
Colgate" said gravely, as l
8 ranged up beside him art the rear of
she troop, .the men look exceedingly
well, and do not appear to have suf-
fered greatly because of short ra-
TONS"
'Oh, the lads are always in me
zfettle when they expect a fight" he
1 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, lit
:. makes them savage. Beats all, Cap
tain, what foolish notions some OF
those people on the other side have
,sof us Southerners: They Seem to
! think we are entirely different from
themselves; yet reckon it would puz-
szle 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
Z envelopiag cloud OF dust, was riding
without the column, in an independ-
ebce 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 atoon, what fellow is that
ridiag out yonder?''
ITS ther pesky little cuss as come
lin with We yesterday. sir he returned
with grin Hes confiscateds muel
ssomewhar an says he's a goins back
hum long q we -uns.''
Curious to learn how Jed had
emerged from his ardpous adventures.
spurred my horse alongside of him.
The little. man, bending forward
obviously, as if fearful Of accident.
was riding bareback on~as gaunt, long
legged mule, which. judging from all
outward appearances. mustshave 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" he returned emphaticallys by
gum, Cap, amt bin way from Mariar
long as this afore in twelve year.
Reckon she thinks I've skedaddled fer
good this time, al Ill be takin.
up with some other mare critter lest
git back thar mighty sudden. Wom-
ems odd. Cap. durn nigh as ornary
bout some things as a~muel'
He eyed his mount critically.
burned if ever thought I'D git
astraddle b any four-,egged critter
agin." he said, rubbing himself as if
in sudden and painful recollection of
the past. But sort picked up this
yere muel down ct Their corral, an he's
tew durn wore out q totin' things fer
you uns ter ever move often walk.
sorter- reckon it's heap easier a
rittin'. yere than ter take it afut all
Their way ter Their iountfugs
1T was. long after dark the second
day wnen. thoroughly wearied. we
..sy.s Vi into ar old tobacco field and
A.